Current Affairs 29 January 2026

DRI Busts Mobile Mephedrone Lab under Operation Sahyadri.

• Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI's) Operation Sahyadri Checkmate busted a mobile mephedrone lab camouflaged as a poultry farm in Maharashtra’s Sahyadri ranges.
• Nearly 22 kg mephedrone (in liquid, semi-liquid, crystalline forms) and 71.5 kg raw material seized; five people arrested.
• Exposed lab’s frequent relocations to evade detection; seized NDPS substance valued at ₹55 crore.

Govt Amends Uniform Consent Guidelines of Water Act 1974, Air Act 1981.

• The Centre amended Uniform Consent Guidelines under the Air & Water Acts to streamline industrial approvals & boost environmental oversight.
• Key changes include Consolidated Consent & Authorisation, permanent Consent to Operate (valid until cancelled) & faster Red Category clearances.
• Reduce paperwork, permit auditor‑led verification, aiding MSMEs in industrial estates via consent mechanism.

IIT Guwahati Develops Early Warning System for Glacial Lake Hazards.

• IIT Guwahati researchers unveiled an advanced system to predict potential glacial lake formation in the Eastern Himalayas, identifying 492 high-risk locations.
• Uses Google Earth images & digital elevation models for accurate mapping & supports early warning for glacial lake outburst floods.
• Aids disaster management, infrastructure planning, & sustainable water use in climate-prone region.

Union Health Ministry Notifies Key Amendments to NDCT Rules, 2019.

• The Union Health Ministry notified amendments to the New Drugs & Clinical Trials Rules (2019) to simplify processes & accelerate pharma research.
• The test licence requirement for non‑commercial drug manufacture is replaced by a simple online intimation, saving around 90 days in R&D timelines.
• Reforms lower regulatory burden and support India’s role as a global R&D and manufacturing hub.

UGC Issues 2026 Regulations to Curb Caste‑Based Discrimination.

• The UGC introduced the Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026 to combat rising caste‑linked bias in universities and colleges.
• Replacing the 2012 rules, the framework explicitly defines discrimination against SCs, STs & OBCs & mandates institutional accountability for timely redress.
• Institutions must set up Equal Opportunity Centres (EOC) & Equity Committees.