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CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING, FINANCE & BUSINESS

Reserve Bank of India Proposes Banks to Cap Dividend Payouts at 75% of Net Profit

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed to raise the dividend payout cap for banks to 75% of net profit, up from the earlier 40%, subject to conditions.
• Bank boards are required to review asset quality, provisioning gaps, capital projections, and long-term growth plans before declaring dividends.
• The RBI has introduced a graded structure for dividend payment based on banks' Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital levels.
• Stronger banks with CET1 above 20% can pay 100% of adjusted net profit, which is calculated as net profit minus net non-performing assets for the dividend payment year, while adhering to the 75% payout limit.
• Systemically important banks such as State Bank of India (SBI), HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank require CET1 ratios of 20.8%, 20.4%, and 20.2% respectively to pay 100% of adjusted profits.
• Banks with CET1 below 8% will not be permitted to declare dividends.
• These RBI directions will come into effect from the financial year 2026-27.
• The term dividend refers to the amount paid on equity shares, including interim dividend, but excludes dividends on Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preference Shares (PNCPS).
• Banks can declare dividends only if they have a positive adjusted profit after tax (PAT) in the year for which the dividend is proposed.
• For Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) and Local Area Banks, the RBI has proposed a higher dividend cap of up to 80% of PAT.

Reserve Bank of India Reports Supervisory Data Quality Index Score of Scheduled Commercial Banks Rises to 90.7 in September 2025

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reported that the Supervisory Data Quality Index (sDQI) score of Scheduled Commercial Banks improved to 90.7 in the September 2025 quarter, up from 89.9 in April–June 2025.
• The sDQI measures the quality of supervisory data submitted by banks in terms of accuracy, timeliness, completeness, and consistency.
• Among bank groups, Small Finance Banks recorded the highest sDQI score of 91.5, followed by Public Sector Banks at 91.1 in September 2025.
• Private Sector Banks (90.6) and Foreign Banks (90.4) also showed improvement and remained in the “good” category.
• The sDQI was created to assess compliance with the RBI’s Master Direction on Filing of Supervisory Returns, 2024.
• In September 2025, no Scheduled Commercial Bank scored below 80, indicating overall improvement in data quality.
• According to RBI classification, a score above 90 is rated “good”, while 替scores between 80–90 are considered “acceptable”.
• The sDQI currently covers 87 Scheduled Commercial Banks and evaluates their key returns on asset quality, liquidity, risk-based supervision, and capital adequacy.

Federal Bank Launches New Brand Identity ‘The Fortuna Wave’

• Federal Bank Limited, an Indian private sector bank, launched a refreshed brand identity named ‘The Fortuna Wave’ as part of a strategic brand refresh to signal modernization and future-readiness.
• The launch of ‘The Fortuna Wave’ took place in Mumbai, Maharashtra, in the presence of Vidya Balan, the brand ambassador of Federal Bank.
• The core element of the brand refresh is a new visual insignia called the ‘Fortuna Wave’.
• The Fortuna Wave insignia is built around three wave elements representing authenticity, togetherness, and prosperity.
• The new design is more fluid and adaptable than the earlier boxed logo structure, enhancing visibility across both digital and physical platforms.
• Key visual features of the refreshed identity include a dynamic wave motif, a fluid and rounded typeface for the ‘FEDERAL BANK’ wordmark, the retention of the signature yellow underline, and a vibrant, digital-friendly colour palette.

About Federal Bank:

• Founded: 1931
• Headquarters: Aluva, Kerala, India
• Managing Director & CEO: KVS Manian
• Tagline: "Your Perfect Banking Partner"

Axis Bank Introduces ‘Safety Centre’ on Mobile App to Enhance Customer Control Over Digital Banking

• Axis Bank has launched a new ‘Safety Centre’ on its mobile banking app, open, to help customers protect their accounts from unauthorised or suspicious activities.
• The Safety Centre empowers customers to control and customise security settings independently, without the need to visit a branch or contact customer care.
• Customers can tailor security settings based on their usage patterns and comfort levels, enhancing digital banking safety.
• The Safety Centre includes an SMS Shield, which verifies the authenticity of SMS messages by checking the Sender ID against Axis Bank’s official IDs.
• Customers can disable Internet Banking access completely if not required, and instantly restrict all fund transfer capabilities across Mobile Banking and Internet Banking with a single toggle.
• The platform also allows blocking of transactions initiated through third-party apps (e.g., e-commerce platforms) that use Net Banking as a payment mode.
• Users can restrict UPI transactions via the bank’s mobile app, prevent the addition of new payees, and set limits for fund transfers and UPI transactions.
• Overall, the Safety Centre strengthens account security, gives customers control over key digital banking functions, and reduces the risk of unauthorised access or fraud.

About Axis Bank:

• Founded Year: 1993
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• CEO: Amitabh Chaudhry
• Slogan: "Badhti Ka Naam Zindagi" (A Life of Progress)

HDFC Bank Enables Digital Rupee (CBDC) Payments on SmartGateway

• HDFC Bank integrated the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), known as the Digital Rupee (e₹), into its online merchant payment platform, SmartGateway.
• The integration allows SmartGateway to support Digital Rupee (CBDC) payments alongside existing options such as Unified Payments Interface (UPI), cards, and net banking.
• Under the new system, merchants can accept Digital Rupee payments at zero transaction cost, enabling an intermediary-free and efficient settlement process.
• The integration provides customers with a seamless, instant, and secure digital payment experience, combining UPI-like convenience with a sovereign-backed digital currency.
• The initiative strengthens HDFC Bank’s digital-first strategy and supports India’s transition towards a cash-light and inclusive digital economy.

About HDFC Bank:

• Founded: 1994
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• Managing Director & CEO: Sashidhar Jagdishan
• Tagline: "We understand your world"

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL AND STATE NEWS

India Launches e-Production Investment Business Visa (e-B-4) for Chinese Nationals

• India introduced a new electronic business visa category e-B-4 Visa for Chinese nationals to facilitate structured and legitimate business engagement.
• The move aims to simplify business travel, support production and investment-related activities, and gradually normalise India–China people-to-people exchanges.
• The e-B-4 Visa can be applied entirely online, without visiting the embassy.
• It is specifically meant for production, investment, technical and industrial business activities, not for general commercial visits.
• Processing Time: Around 45–50 days.
• Maximum Stay: Up to 6 months in India.
• Permitted activities include installation and commissioning of equipment, plant setup, IT and ERP systems ramp-up, staff training, quality checks, maintenance, supply chain development, vendor empanelment, and senior management visits.
• Applications can be submitted through the Indian e-Visa portal (Bureau of Immigration).
• Indian companies inviting Chinese nationals may also register through DPIIT’s National Single Window System (NSWS) for coordinated processing and regulatory oversight.

RECENT NEWS

• India and Saudi Arabia have taken another significant step to deepen their growing strategic relationship by signing a bilateral visa waiver agreement. The agreement aims to simplify and facilitate official travel between these two countries and further strengthen cooperation under the India–Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council.

Assam Governor Launches ‘Sanskaar Shaala’ Value-Based Education Programme

• Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya inaugurated the Sanskaar Shaala programme in Guwahati.
• It is a value-based education initiative designed for children aged 4 to 14 years.
• The programme focuses on moral education, ethics, compassion, Indian cultural values, and social responsibility.
• It aims to complement formal education and help build responsible, disciplined and value-oriented citizens.
• The Governor highlighted that values form the foundation of personality and social harmony and should accompany academic learning.
• He also stressed that ancient Indian texts provide timeless guidance on righteous living.
• The initiative is significant for preserving India’s moral and cultural heritage, encouraging early social responsibility, and balancing technological progress with ethics.
• During the event, the Governor also attended the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Guwahati Blind High School.

RECENT NEWS

• Assam has taken a lead in government pay reforms by becoming the first state in the country to set up its 8th State Pay Commission. This proactive decision comes just before the end of the 7th Pay Commission’s term on January 1, 2026.

About Assam:

• Chief Minister: Himanta Biswa Sarma
• Governor: Lakshman Prasad Acharya
• Capital: Dispur
• National Parks: Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, Dibru-Saikhowa National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuaries: Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Orang National Park, Bura-Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary, Nameri Wildlife Sanctuary

‘SAMPANN’ System Transforming Pension Administration for Department of Telecommunications Pensioners

• The Government of India announced that SAMPANN (System for Accounting and Management of Pension) enables pensioners to securely access, store, and retrieve official pension documents anytime and anywhere.
• SAMPANN is an integrated online pension management system for Department of Telecommunications (DoT) pensioners.
• It provides a single platform for processing, sanctioning, and directly disbursing pension into bank accounts.
• The system offers online grievance redressal, digital profile management, and transaction records, improving transparency and efficiency.
• Important pension documents including Gratuity Payment Orders, Pension Certificates/ePPOs, Pension Commutation Orders, and Form 16 are now available through DigiLocker, supporting digital governance and paperless services.
• During the 15th Pension Adalat held at IIPA on 24th December 2025, 1,087 long-pending pension grievances were taken up and 815 were resolved on the spot.
• Gross enrolment under Atal Pension Yojana (APY) reached 8,45,17,419 (as on 30 November 2025).
• APY aims to provide a universal social security system, especially for the poor and unorganised sector workers, offering minimum guaranteed pensions of ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 per month.

Ministry of Corporate Affairs Introduces New Triennial KYC Requirement for Directors (Companies Act, 2013)

• Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has revised the Director KYC compliance under the Companies Act, 2013.
• The annual KYC filing has been replaced with a once in 3 years (triennial) process.
• The change will be effective from 31st March 2026.
• As per the notification dated 31st December 2025, directors must submit an abridged KYC form every 3 years instead of annually.
• The new KYC form enables updates like mobile number, email ID, residential address, and DIN reactivation.
• Digital signature verification and professional certification are required only if contact or address details are updated.
• Directors who have already completed KYC will submit the next KYC by 30th June 2028.
• Directors who have not completed KYC can continue DIN reactivation under existing rules till 31st March 2026.
• The amendment is based on the recommendation of the High Level Committee on Non-Financial Regulatory Reforms (HLC-NFRR).
• Objective: Reduce compliance burden, improve ease of doing business, and ensure efficient, streamlined regulation.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOUS AND AGREEMENT

Memorandum of Understanding between Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Department of Posts for Nationwide Logistics of Agro-Input Samples

• The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) and the Department of Posts (DoP) signed an MoU to establish a nationwide logistics mechanism for transporting pesticide, seed and fertiliser samples to designated laboratories across India.
• The MoU was signed in New Delhi in the presence of Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya M. Scindia and Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
• The collaboration is part of the PAN-India Online Pesticide, Seed and Fertiliser Quality Management System, being developed by Centre for Research and Industrial Staff Performance (CRISP).
• India Post will provide end-to-end logistics support, ensuring secure, traceable and time-bound movement of samples, leveraging its network of over 1.60 lakh post offices, including 1.40 lakh in rural areas.
• Services include designated booking points, specialised handling, QR code-based digital tracking, address masking, and temperature monitoring for select samples.
• The initiative aims to curb fake and substandard pesticides, seeds and fertilisers, strengthen quality control and regulatory enforcement, and protect farmers from financial loss.
• Sample transportation time will reduce from 10–15 days to 48–72 hours, enabling timely testing and corrective action.
• The initiative strengthens institutional coordination, improves agricultural input quality assurance, and enhances farmer confidence in the quality of agricultural inputs.

Department of Posts & Ministry of Rural Development sign Memorandum of Understanding to Boost Rural Financial & Digital Inclusion

• The Department of Posts (DoP) and Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen rural development, financial inclusion, digital empowerment, logistics and livelihood opportunities for Self Help Groups (SHGs) and rural households.
• The MoU was signed in New Delhi in the presence of Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (Communications & DoNER) and Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Rural Development & Agriculture).
• The initiative aligns with the Government vision of “Dak Sewa, Jan Sewa” and supports Union Budget 2025–26 focus on using India Post’s network for rural economic growth.
• India Post’s extensive network includes 1.5 lakh+ rural post offices, India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) and 2.4 lakh Gramin Dak Sevaks, ensuring strong last-mile connectivity.
• IPPB will provide doorstep banking services including savings, payments and remittances through its digital platform.
• SHG members will receive electronic tablets and PoS machines to enable cashless transactions, digital payments and better record-keeping.
• Certificates will be issued to SHG members to support credibility and strengthen financial and market linkages.
• DoP will enhance market access for SHG products through Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras, supporting domestic and international marketing and exports.
• The collaboration will support Aadhaar enrolment and updation in rural areas for easier beneficiary verification under MoRD schemes.
• Insurance penetration will increase through Postal Life Insurance (PLI) and Rural Postal Life Insurance (RPLI), with SHG members also getting opportunities as insurance agents.
• IPPB will onboard and train SHG women as Business Correspondents, promoting livelihoods, digital literacy and financial empowerment.
• The partnership reinforces India Post as a technology-enabled, citizen-centric institution contributing to inclusive growth, women-led development and rural prosperity.

Tamil Nadu Government Signs Memorandum of Understanding with UN Women to Strengthen Gender Equality & Women Empowerment

• The Government of Tamil Nadu signed an Memorandum of Understanding with UN Women to strengthen cooperation in advancing gender equality, women’s safety, and women empowerment in the State.
• The MoU was signed in the presence of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.
• Tamil Nadu government will establish technical support mechanisms to promote gender equality and sustainable development focusing on women’s welfare.
• Key implementing departments: Social Welfare and Women Empowerment, Home and Excise, and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj.
• A tripartite MoU was also signed among UNICEF, OECD, and OPSI to promote innovative governance services and validation mechanisms for government and quasi-government sectors.
• This MoU focuses on creating new infrastructure facilities, formulating State-level innovative policies, and strengthening collaborative reform initiatives.
• The State termed OECD collaboration as a major milestone in international institutional partnership.
• The Chief Minister also released Tamil Nadu State Indicator Framework 2.0 with 244 indicators aligned to 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Four research reports by the State Planning Commission were released, including:
• Assessment of 61 wetlands
• Mapping of peri-urban areas
• Evaluation of Chief Minister’s Mann Uyir Kappom Scheme
• Report on persistent anaemia among adolescent girls
• The reports were presented by State Planning Commission Vice-Chairman J. Jeyaranjan.
• Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin, Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam, and senior officials attended the event.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Appointments Committee of the Cabinet Approves One-Year Extension of Abhishek Dev as APEDA Chairman

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a one-year extension of Abhishek Dev’s tenure as Chairman of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).
• The extension will be effective from February 8, 2026, and was granted under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I).
• Abhishek Dev is a 2007-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer belonging to the Arunachal Pradesh–Goa–Mizoram and Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre.
• He previously served as Director in the Department of Commerce (DoC) under the MoC&I from 2021 to 2023.
• In July 2023, Abhishek Dev was appointed as the Chairman of APEDA.

About APEDA :

• Established : 1985 under the APEDA Act, 1985.
• Headquarters : New Delhi
• APEDA is responsible for the promotion, development, and regulation of exports of agricultural and processed food products from India.
• The export items regulated by APEDA include fruits and vegetables, meat and poultry, dairy products, cereals, processed foods, and organic products.

A.K. Balasubrahmanian Appointed as Chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, appointed distinguished scientist A. K. Balasubrahmanian as the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) for a three-year term.
• A.K. Balasubrahmanian succeeded Dr. D. K. Shukla, who completed his tenure on December 31, 2025.
• A.K. Balasubrahmanian has nearly 40 years of experience in the design, development, safety assessment, construction, and commissioning of Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs).
• He previously served as Director (Technical) on the Board of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL).
• He held the position of Chairman of the Project Design Safety Committee for Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR)-based nuclear power plants.
• He also served as a member of the Safety Review Committee for Operating Plants (SARCOP) under the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB).
• He contributed to first-of-a-kind nuclear systems with indigenous safety features, promoting self-reliance in nuclear reactor technology.
• A.K. Balasubrahmanian represented India at international conferences and technical forums related to reactor technology and nuclear safety.

About AERB :

• The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) is India’s apex nuclear safety regulator.
• AERB was constituted on November 15, 1983, by former President Giani Zail Singh under the Atomic Energy Act (AEA), 1962.
• The headquarters of the AERB is located in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : DEFENCE NEWS

Defence Research and Development Organisation Commemorates Its 68th Foundation Day at Headquarters in New Delhi

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), under the Ministry of Defence (MoD), celebrated its 68th Foundation Day at DRDO Headquarters, New Delhi, Delhi.
• The event was attended by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Minister of State Sanjay Seth (MoD), and Samir V. Kamat, Chairman of DRDO and Secretary, Department of Defence R&D, MoD.
• DRDO reaffirmed its role as a pivotal force in Aatmanirbhar Bharat, strengthening India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem with future focus areas in Cyber, Space, and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Key Highlights :

• The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) and Strategic Policy Board (SPB) accorded 22 Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) approvals valued at approximately ₹1.30 lakh crore to facilitate indigenous production of critical defence systems.
• As part of its expanding operational footprint, 11 defence contracts worth ₹26,000 crore were signed with production partners.
• Multiple DRDO-developed systems were inducted into the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), Police Forces, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), extending usage beyond the Indian Armed Forces.
• User Evaluation Trials (UETs) were completed or nearing completion for Pralay, Akash Next Generation (Akash NG), Guided Pinaka, Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM), Advanced Lightweight Torpedo (ALWT), Battlefield Observation Surveillance System (BOSS), Specialised Demolition Robot (SDR), and CBRN water systems.
• Developmental trials are currently underway for the Indian Light Tank, Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS), New Air-to-Surface Missile–Short Range (NASM-SR), Rudram-2, Gaurav Glide Bomb, advanced radars, and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) life support systems.
• In 2025, 245 Licensing Agreements for Transfer of Technology (LAToT) were signed, raising the cumulative total to 2,201 agreements.
• 13 new Defence Corridor Production/Production Agency (DcPP/PA) partnerships were added, taking the total to 145, while over 4,000 industry tests were conducted for the private sector and Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs).
• 15 Industry–Academia Centres of Excellence (CoEs) are operational, with 66 new projects sanctioned in 2025 at a total cost of ₹228 crore.

About DRDO :

• Chairman DRDO : Samir V. Kamat
• Headquarters : New Delhi, Delhi
• Established : January 1, 1958.

Indian Army Awards Pinaka Multiple Launch Rocket Systems Overhaul Contract to Tata Advanced Systems

• The Indian Army (IA) granted a supply order to Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) for the overhaul-cum-upgradation of in-service first-generation Pinaka Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS) and Battery Command Posts (BCPs).
• The order marks a significant Public–Private Partnership (PPP) in defence sustainment and was formalised at an event held in New Delhi, Delhi on January 6, 2026.

Key Highlights :

• In the pilot overhaul phase, TASL, in collaboration with the Indian Army’s 510 Advance Base Workshop (ABW), will jointly overhaul selected Pinaka MLRS and BCPs.
• In the full-scale overhaul phase, the remaining Pinaka MLRS and BCPs will be overhauled by 510 ABW, Meerut (Uttar Pradesh) under the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME).
• TASL will provide engineering expertise, certified spares, and quality assurance for the entire overhaul programme.
• TASL will also ensure close coordination with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to maintain the sustained availability of frontline artillery systems.
• The Pinaka Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) was jointly developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and TASL with a modular and future-ready design and software architecture.
• Since 1989, TASL and DRDO have collaborated on the Pinaka programme, delivering key contracts in 2006, 2016, and 2020, with systems in service for over 15 years and upgraded in later batches.
• Pinaka MLRS is an all-weather, indirect-fire artillery system capable of delivering high-volume firepower with net-centric operational capability.
• The system is mounted on an 8×8 High Mobility Vehicle (HMV), enabling high mobility and effective operations in difficult terrain.
• Pinaka MLRS is equipped with an automated ‘shoot-and-scoot’ capability, allowing rapid deployment and enhanced survivability.
• The fire control system uses a microprocessor-based all-electric servo drive and an Inertial Navigation System (INS)-based digital fire control for precise targeting.
• Pinaka MLRS fires Pinaka Mk-I rockets and is adaptable for future guided variants with extended ranges of 120 km and 300 km.
• The system achieves nearly 80% indigenous content, strengthening self-reliance and strategic autonomy in defence manufacturing.

About Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) :

• It is the aerospace and defence arm of the Tata Group.
• Established : 2006.
• Headquarters : Hyderabad, Telangana
• Managing Director and CEO : Sukaran Singh.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Indian Scientists Use Supercomputer Simulation to Explain the Mpemba Effect

• Indian scientists from the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru (Karnataka), under the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoS&T), developed the first-ever supercomputer-powered simulation to explain the Mpemba effect.
• The Mpemba effect refers to the counter-intuitive phenomenon in which water at a higher initial temperature freezes faster than water at a lower initial temperature under certain conditions.
• The phenomenon is named after Erasto Mpemba, who reintroduced it to scientific discussion in the 20th century.
• Scientists at JNCASR used high-performance computing (supercomputers) to simulate ice formation at the molecular level, enabling a deeper understanding of the freezing process.
• The study revealed the role of non-equilibrium thermodynamics, molecular rearrangements, and energy dissipation in allowing hotter water to freeze more rapidly.
• The research demonstrates how abrupt temperature variations can influence material relaxation processes at the microscopic scale.
• The findings were published in the international journal Communication Physics, highlighting India’s advancement in computational physics and material science.
• The study provides a technical and theoretical framework for understanding anomalous thermal behaviors observed in everyday and industrial processes.

Pakistan Successfully Tests Indigenous ‘Taimoor’ Air-Launched Cruise Missile

• Pakistan Air Force (PAF) successfully conducted a flight test of the indigenously developed Taimoor Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) during a live-trial exercise.
• The Taimoor ALCM was launched from a Mirage IIIE fighter aircraft, demonstrating Pakistan’s operational air-launch capability.
• The missile is developed by Pakistan’s Air Weapons Complex, reflecting indigenous defence manufacturing efforts.
• Taimoor is a turbojet-powered, subsonic cruise missile, capable of engaging both land and sea targets.
• It carries a conventional high-explosive warhead, optimized for precision strikes against defended infrastructure.
• The missile has an operational range of approximately 600 kilometres (km), enabling long-distance precision attacks.
• It is equipped with a state-of-the-art navigation and guidance system, ensuring high accuracy.
• The missile can operate at very low altitudes, enhancing its ability to evade enemy air defence and missile interception systems.

About Pakistan:

• Capital: Islamabad
• Currency: Pakistani Rupee (PKR)
• President: Asif Ali Zardari
• Prime Minister: Shehbaz Sharif

National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Hubble Telescope Identifies Starless, Dark Matter–Dominated Gas Cloud ‘Cloud-9’

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s Hubble Space Telescope discovered a starless, gas-rich, dark-matter-dominated cloud named ‘Cloud-9’.
• The research findings on Cloud-9 were published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters and later presented at the 247th meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) held in Phoenix.
• Cloud-9 is located about 14 million light-years from Earth, near the spiral galaxy Messier 94 (M94).
• Scientists consider Cloud-9 a ‘relic’ or remnant of early galaxy formation, representing conditions from the early universe.
• Cloud-9 is classified as a Reionization-Limited HI Cloud (RELHIC) due to its nearly identical composition to other RELHICs.
• Both RELHICs and Cloud-9 are composed of neutral hydrogen (HI) with a mass of about 1 million times that of the Sun, and are dominated by dark matter.
• The diameter of Cloud-9 is approximately 4,900 light-years, similar to known RELHIC structures.
• The dark matter mass of Cloud-9 is estimated to be around 5 billion solar masses, highlighting its massive dark matter dominance.
• Cloud-9 is invisible in visible light and can only be detected through its hydrogen emission, making it a rare ‘fossil’ cloud from the universe’s early epochs.
• Cloud-9 was first discovered in 2023 using China’s Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) radio telescope.
• In 2025, the presence of a neutral hydrogen core in Cloud-9 was confirmed by the Very Large Array (VLA) and the Green Bank Telescope (GBT).
• In January 2026, Hubble’s Advanced Camera detected no stars within the boundaries of Cloud-9, confirming it as a starless dark-matter cloud.

About NASA:

• Established: 1958
• Headquarters: Washington, D.C., USA

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited Launches World’s Largest LC-Max Residue Upgradation Unit at Visakhapatnam Refinery, Andhra Pradesh

• Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), successfully commissioned the world’s first and largest Liquid Conversion–Maximum (LC-Max) Residue Upgradation Facility (RUF) at its Visakhapatnam (Vizag) Refinery, Andhra Pradesh.
• HPCL also introduced a digital optimization system for the LC-Max unit to enhance operational stability and productivity.
• The RUF was developed by HPCL as part of its Visakh Refinery Modernization Project (VRMP).

Key Highlights :

• With an investment of ₹31,407 crore, HPCL’s Visakh Refinery expanded its crude processing capacity from 33 million tonnes per annum (MMTPA) to 15 MMTPA.
• Engineers India Limited (EIL) served as the Project Management Consultant (PMC), and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) acted as the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor.
• The core LC-Max technology was licensed by Chevron Lummus Global (CLG).
• The facility includes India’s first residue hydrocracking unit, with a capacity of 55 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), capable of converting approximately 93% of low-value residues into high-value products such as diesel, jet fuel, gasoil, and middle distillates.
• The LC-Max unit comprises three massive reactors, each weighing about 2,200 tonnes, making it one of the heaviest refinery modules globally.
• Diesel and kerosene yields are expected to increase by up to 10% compared to pre-upgrade levels.
• The facility improves the Gross Refining Margin (GRM) by converting more heavy residues into marketable fuels.
• The Nelson Complexity Index of the refinery has increased to around 11.6, making it one of India’s most sophisticated and complex refineries capable of advanced deep-conversion processes.
• The digital optimization system combines advanced digital tools with refinery operations to enhance LC-Max unit performance, including real-time data monitoring, predictive analytics, and AI-driven optimization.
• The system improves operational stability, product yields, energy efficiency, and on-stream performance, while reducing downtime and variability.
• LC-Max technology is a next-generation residue hydrocracking technology that upgrades heavy refinery residues into high-value fuels, using advanced catalysts, hydrogen management, and digital optimization.
• Key features of LC-Max technology include conversion of vacuum residues and heavy fractions into lighter products, maximizing diesel and jet fuel output, processing heavy and sour crudes, and employing high-pressure reactors with robust hydrocracking catalysts.

About Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) :

• Established : 1974
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) : Vikas Kaushal.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (NRI Day) 2026 – Observed on 9th January

• Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (NRI Day) 2026 is observed on 9th January every year.
• The day marks the return of Mahatma Gandhi to India from South Africa on 9 January 1915, symbolising the contribution of overseas Indians in nation-building.
• The Government of India decided to observe Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in 2000, acknowledging the role of the Non-Resident Indian (NRI) community.
• Although conceptualised in 2000, the day was first officially celebrated in 2003.
• The idea of celebrating this day was proposed by L. M. Singhvi, an Indian lawyer, diplomat and author.
• It was formally declared on January 9, 2002, by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• On 9th January 2006, the concept of OCI – Overseas Citizen of India was introduced during Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrations.
• The day recognises and celebrates the contribution of NRIs towards India’s development and global presence.

Daily CA One- Liner: January 9,2026

• India introduced a new electronic business visa category e-B-4 Visa for Chinese nationals to facilitate structured and legitimate business engagement
• Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya inaugurated the Sanskaar Shaala programme in Guwahati
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed to raise the dividend payout cap for banks to 75% of net profit, up from the earlier 40%, subject to conditions.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reported that the Supervisory Data Quality Index (sDQI) score of Scheduled Commercial Banks improved to 90.7 in the September 2025 quarter, up from 89.9 in April–June 2025.
• Federal Bank Limited, an Indian private sector bank, launched a refreshed brand identity named ‘The Fortuna Wave’ as part of a strategic brand refresh to signal modernization and future-readiness.
• Axis Bank has launched a new ‘Safety Centre’ on its mobile banking app, open, to help customers protect their accounts from unauthorised or suspicious activities.
• HDFC Bank integrated the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), known as the Digital Rupee (e₹), into its online merchant payment platform, SmartGateway.
• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a one-year extension of Abhishek Dev’s tenure as Chairman of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).
• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, appointed distinguished scientist A. K. Balasubrahmanian as the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) for a three-year term.
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), under the Ministry of Defence (MoD), celebrated its 68th Foundation Day at DRDO Headquarters, New Delhi, Delhi.
• The Indian Army (IA) granted a supply order to Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) for the overhaul-cum-upgradation of in-service first-generation Pinaka Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS) and Battery Command Posts (BCPs).
• Indian scientists from the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru (Karnataka), under the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoS&T), developed the first-ever supercomputer-powered simulation to explain the Mpemba effect.
• Pakistan Air Force (PAF) successfully conducted a flight test of the indigenously developed Taimoor Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) during a live-trial exercise.
• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s Hubble Space Telescope discovered a starless, gas-rich, dark-matter-dominated cloud named ‘Cloud-9’.
• Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), successfully commissioned the world’s first and largest Liquid Conversion–Maximum (LC-Max) Residue Upgradation Facility (RUF) at its Visakhapatnam (Vizag) Refinery, Andhra Pradesh.
• The Government of India announced that SAMPANN (System for Accounting and Management of Pension) enables pensioners to securely access, store, and retrieve official pension documents anytime and anywhere
• Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has revised the Director KYC compliance under the Companies Act, 2013
• The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) and the Department of Posts (DoP) signed an MoU to establish a nationwide logistics mechanism for transporting pesticide, seed and fertiliser samples to designated laboratories across India
• The Department of Posts (DoP) and Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen rural development, financial inclusion, digital empowerment, logistics and livelihood opportunities for Self Help Groups (SHGs) and rural households
• The Government of Tamil Nadu signed an Memorandum of Understanding with UN Women to strengthen cooperation in advancing gender equality, women’s safety, and women empowerment in the State.
• Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (NRI Day) 2026 is observed on 9th January every year.