[Newsbits] 21.1.2026 – Daily Current Affairs Notes & Mindmap

Artemis II Mission

NASA is targeting February 6 for the launch of Artemis II, a major mission to send humans back to the Moon’s vicinity.

• What it is: This is the first crewed mission of the Artemis program. It will do a lunar flyby, meaning it will go around the Moon but not land.
• Involved Agencies: Led by NASA with help from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
• Aim: The mission wants to test if the deep-space systems are safe for humans. It is a practice run for Artemis III, which will land on the Moon, and for future trips to Mars.
• Key Features:
  • Crewed Flyby: Four astronauts will fly around the dark side of the Moon.
  • Trajectory: They will use the gravity of the Earth and Moon to loop back safely without using too much fuel (free-return trajectory).
  • Testing: The crew will test life support, steering, and radiation protection.
  • Distance: They will travel over 230,000 miles from Earth, which is farther than any human has gone before.
• Significance: It revives human exploration of the Moon after 50 years (since Apollo 17 in 1972) and boosts international collaboration in space.

Lok Sabha to Launch Digital Attendance System

The Lok Sabha is set to modernize its daily operations starting from the Budget Session 2026. A new digital attendance system will replace the old method to ensure that Members of Parliament (MPs) are truly present during sessions.

• What it is: This is a seat-based biometric attendance tool. MPs must mark their attendance electronically from their specific seats inside the House, instead of signing a register in the lobby.
• Announced by: The initiative was announced by Om Birla, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
• Aim: The main goal is to ensure the actual presence of MPs during sittings. It aims to boost transparency, discipline, and the overall productivity of the Parliament. It also strictly links the daily money allowance to the MP’s presence in the House.
• How it works: Every seat has a digital console. MPs use biometric thumb verification to prove they are there. This stops anyone else from marking attendance for them (proxy marking).
• Strict Rules: The system is locked as soon as the House is adjourned. MPs cannot mark attendance later if they missed it. If they fail to record their presence, they lose their daily allowance and other benefits.
• Key Features: The old practice of signing outside is gone. This new method uses biometric verification to stop tampering. It forces MPs to be serious about legislative engagement and not just leave immediately after signing in. It is part of a larger plan for a paperless and AI-assisted Parliament.

Two New Rare Ant Fly Species Discovered

Researchers have found two very rare species of ant flies in Delhi and the Western Ghats.

• What they are: These flies belong to the Microdontinae family. They are unique because they are myrmecophilous, meaning their babies (larvae) live inside ant nests and eat the ant’s babies. This makes them very hard to find.
• Species 1: Metadon ghorpadei:
  • Found in the Northern Ridge Forest of Delhi.
  • This discovery is important because it happened in a disturbed urban forest, showing that cities can still hold valuable nature.
• Species 2: Metadon reemeri:
  • Found in the Siruvani Hills of the Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu.
  • This adds to the rich list of unique insects in the Western Ghats.
• Significance: Only 27 species of this group are known in the Indian subcontinent. These findings show we need to protect native vegetation and study hidden insects in both cities and forests.

UNESCO Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Alliance

The UNESCO MIL Alliance has elected its first-ever Global Board, a big step for its management.

• What it is: The MIL Alliance is a global network run by UNESCO. It fights against disinformation, misinformation, and hate speech.
• Timeline: It was launched in 2013 in Nigeria and relaunched in 2025 with the Cartagena Declaration.
• Membership: It includes over 300 organizations and experts from more than 100 countries.
• Aim: It aims to make societies stronger against fake news and help people understand media better.
• Key Functions:
  • Global Board: This is the main group that makes decisions and ensures everyone works together well.
  • Policy: The Alliance gives expert advice to help shape global rules on media literacy.
  • Sharing: It shares tools and research to help communities handle media risks.
  • Transparency: The Board ensures the group grows properly and reports its progress every year.

Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary Eco-Sensitive Zone

The government has declared the area around Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary as an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) to protect the Aravalli Range.

• What it is: Kumbhalgarh is a wildlife reserve famous for its dry forests and the historic Kumbhalgarh Fort.
• Location: It is in Rajasthan, spreading across Rajsamand, Udaipur, and Pali districts.
• Geology: It sits on ancient rocks in the Aravalli hills and has a dry deciduous forest ecosystem.
• Flora and Fauna: It is home to animals like the Leopard, Indian wolf, Sloth bear, and birds like the Grey junglefowl.
• ESZ Status: The zone covers 0 to 1 km around the sanctuary. This status helps control bad activities like mining and construction to keep the wildlife safe.
• Significance: This sanctuary is a key biodiversity corridor. The ESZ will stop the forest from being broken up into small pieces and help manage human impact.

Internet Governance Internship & Capacity Building Scheme (IGICBS)

The National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) celebrated the first anniversary of its internship scheme, designed to teach Indian youth about how the internet is governed.

• What it is: The IGICBS is a training program. It teaches young people about internet governance so they can participate in making rules for the internet at national and global levels.
• Launch: It started in 2025 and completed one year in January 2026.
• Involved Bodies: It is run by NIXI under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• Aim: The goal is to create a team of skilled Indian experts who can speak for India in global internet platforms. It wants to make the internet safe, inclusive, and trustworthy.
• Key Features:
  • Structured Internships: It offers 6-month and 3-month terms that mix research with real-world work.
  • Mentorship: Interns are guided by senior experts from the government and global bodies.
  • Capacity Building: Interns must run awareness programs in colleges and communities.
  • Global Exposure: Participants get to engage with international internet groups.
• Significance: This helps India bridge the gap between policy and technology, creating future digital leadership.

Silver Metal Market and Production

Silver prices are expected to jump by nearly 20% soon because of a shortage in global supply and high demand from industries.

• What it is: Silver is a precious metal known for being shiny and white. It is used to store value (money) and is essential for making electronics and renewable energy equipment.
• Key Characteristics: It has the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of all metals. It is soft and does not rust easily, making it perfect for solar cells, jewelry, and medical tools.
• India’s Production: In 2022-23, India produced 7,13,768 kg of silver, which is a 10% increase from the year before. Most silver in India is found while mining other metals like lead and zinc.
• Top Indian States:
  • Rajasthan: produces about 99% of India’s silver, mostly from Hindustan Zinc Ltd.
  • Karnataka: produces a small amount from gold refining at Hutti Gold Mines.
  • Andhra Pradesh: has very limited silver resources.
• Global Scenario: The top producers in the world are Mexico (26%), China, and Peru. India holds only about 1% of global silver reserves but processes a lot of it.
• Market Trends: The demand for silver is growing fast because of solar PV panels, electronics, and electric vehicles (EVs). This rising demand is making the market tight and prices volatile.