Current Affairs 20 January 2026

Coconut Root Wilt Disease

• Issue: Phytoplasma-induced root wilt disease is severely affecting coconut plantations in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, which together contribute 82–83% of India’s coconut production.
• Cause & Spread: The disease spreads through insect vectors, wind movement, and continuous coconut belts; its spread has accelerated due to climate change, erratic temperatures, and rising whitefly infestations.
• Impact: Over 30 lakh coconut palms have already been affected, leading to loss of productivity and collapse of intercropping systems (e.g., cocoa, nutmeg).
• Current Research Status: Despite 150+ years of research, no permanent cure exists. Breeding resistant and tolerant varieties remains the most effective management strategy.

The Palermo Protocol (2000)

Child trafficking continues to be a serious human rights concern in India. In a recent judgment (K. P. Kiran Kumar vs State), the Supreme Court issued strict guidelines to prevent child trafficking and categorically held that trafficking grossly violates the fundamental right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. The Court emphasised a preventive, victim-centric and coordinated approach involving both the Centre and States.

• India’s legal framework to tackle child trafficking draws from international and domestic laws.
• The Palermo Protocol (2000) provides a global definition of child trafficking, while the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 under Section 143 defines trafficking broadly to include recruitment, transport, harbouring or receipt of persons for exploitation.
• Constitutional safeguards under Articles 23, 24 and Article 39 protect children from exploitation, forced labour and hazardous employment.
• Despite multiple laws such as the POCSO Act, JJ Act and Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, conviction rates remain low, highlighting the need for stronger enforcement, rehabilitation, and Centre-State coordination.

Soft Matter Physics

Soft matter refers to a class of materials that exhibit properties of both solids and liquids depending on the applied force and time scale. Common household products like toothpaste, shampoo, gels, and creams are examples of soft matter. These materials can flow like liquids under pressure but retain their shape when the force is removed.

The unique behaviour of soft matter arises from their internal structure, which consists of large molecular assemblies such as droplets, clusters, or flexible macromolecules held together by weak interactions. Their response is highly time-dependent and force-dependent, a phenomenon studied under the branch of physics known as rheology.

C-DOT wins SKOCH Award 2025

The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the premier telecom R&D organisation under the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India, has been awarded the SKOCH Award 2025 for its Cell Broadcast Solution (CBS).

The award was presented during the 104th SKOCH Summit, themed “Resourcing Viksit Bharat”. The SKOCH Awards recognise outstanding contributions in governance, technology, public service delivery, and development across India.

Disclaimer: This article is prepared for competitive exam preparation using publicly available information.