Current Affairs 15 January 2026

Government & Smartphone Source Code Debate

Recent media reports suggested that the Indian government was considering a proposal requiring smartphone manufacturers to disclose their source code to third-party testing agencies and to inform authorities before rolling out major software updates. The government has denied making any final demand but confirmed that discussions are ongoing.

Why it matters:

• Source code is the backbone of software systems and includes proprietary modifications made by companies.
• Companies guard it closely for commercial secrecy and cybersecurity reasons.
• Full disclosure could expose vulnerabilities, increasing the risk of cyberattacks and data breaches.
• The proposal is linked to telecom security standards (ITSAR) under earlier frameworks like MTCTE, though smartphones are now mainly regulated under BIS certification after the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
• Digital rights groups have raised concerns over lack of transparency in stakeholder consultations.

Inter-departmental Panel to Tackle ‘Digital Arrest’ Scams

The Union government has constituted a high-level Inter-Departmental Committee (IDC) to combat the rising menace of “digital arrest” scams, which have led to massive financial losses, especially among elderly and vulnerable citizens. The panel was formed on December 26 and is chaired by the Special Secretary (Internal Security), Ministry of Home Affairs. The committee was formed following directions of the Supreme Court.

The Inter-Departmental Committee includes senior officials (Joint Secretary level and above) from key bodies such as MeitY, Department of Telecommunications (DoT), RBI, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Law & Justice, CBI, NIA, Delhi Police, and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), with the CEO of I4C as Member-Secretary. Representatives from major digital platforms like Google, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Microsoft have also participated in meetings.

Attorney-General R. Venkataramani would attend the meetings of the IDC on a regular basis.

Nipah Virus Cases in West Bengal

Two healthcare workers from a private hospital in Barasat, North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, are suspected to be infected with the Nipah virus and are currently in critical condition. One patient has tested positive for Nipah, while the confirmation report of the second patient is awaited from the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune.

NITI Aayog releases Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2024

NITI Aayog released the Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2024 on 14 January 2026, providing a comprehensive assessment of export readiness across Indian States and Union Territories. This is the 4th edition of the index, first launched in August 2020.

Aligned with India’s goals of achieving USD 1 trillion merchandise exports by 2030 and the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, the EPI evaluates the strength, resilience, and inclusiveness of subnational export ecosystems. The index is structured around four pillars—Export Infrastructure, Business Ecosystem, Policy & Governance, and Export Performance—further divided into 13 sub-pillars and 70 indicators.

Top-performing Large States in EPI 2024 include Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh, while leading performers among Small States/UTs include Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Nagaland, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, and Goa.

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