SNIPPETS 30 JANUARY 2026

Gallantry Awards: Conferred by: President, who is the supreme commander of the Armed Forces+ Wartime Awards: Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, and Vir Chakra were instituted on January 26, 1950+ Peacetime Awards: Ashoka Chakra Class-I, Class-II, and Class-III were instituted on January 4, 1952+ Recognitions given for acts of bravery, valour or self-sacrifice both during wartime and peacetime+ Announced twice a year, on the occasion of Republic Day and Independence Day

International Data Privacy Day: Observed annually on 28 January to commemorate the signing of Convention 108 and raise awareness about the importance of protecting personal data in the digital age+ India is the world’s 3rd-largest digitalised economy+ Convention 108: Adopted by the Council of Europe in 1981, is the world’s first legally binding international treaty on data protection, aimed at safeguarding individuals’ personal data from misuse.

Hoya nagaensis: Previously undocumented flowering plant species belonging to the Hoya genus (known for ornamental and waxy flowers), newly described through taxonomic research+ Found in: Kavünhou Community Reserved Forest, Located in Phek district, within the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity region+ Key features: Distinctive leaf morphology and floral traits that clearly differentiate it from known Hoya species+ High-altitude temperate forest habitat, largely unexplored scientifically+ Extremely restricted distribution

Euratom: India and the European Union have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy under the India-Euratom Agreement+ EURATOM (European Atomic Energy Community) was established by the Treaty of Rome, 1957+ Objective: Promote peaceful use of nuclear energy, research cooperation and dissemination of technical knowledge.