Dear Readers, Here we have given the list of Important Weekly Current Affairs of Jan 22nd to 31st Jan 2026. Candidates those who are preparing for Upcoming SBIClerk 2026 and other competitive exams can make use of it.

Weekly Current Affairs Jan 22nd to 31st PDF Download

CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

• Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti 2026 is observed on 23 January 2026 to mark the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, one of India’s most prominent freedom fighters.
• International Day of Education 2026 is observed on 24 January
• National Girl Child Day 2026 is observed on 24 January 2026 across India.
• National Tourism Day is observed on 25th January each year in India.
• National Voters Day 2026 is observed on 25th January across India.
• The first-ever International Day of Clean Energy is observed on 26th January 2026.
• Republic Day is observed on 26th January every year in India.
• International Customs Day 2026 is observed on 26th January every year.
• International Holocaust Remembrance Day 2026 is observed every year on 27th January.
• Veteran journalist, author, and broadcaster Mark Tully passed away in Delhi at the age of 90.
• Inderjit Singh Bindra, former BCCI President, passed away in Delhi at the age of 84.
• International Data Privacy Day is observed annually on 28 January to promote awareness about personal data protection and privacy in the digital age.
• Martyrs Day 2026 is observed on 30th January.
• World Leprosy Day 2026 is observed on 30th January 2026.
• The World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day 2026 is celebrated every year on the 30th of January 2026.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING, FINANCE & BUSINESS

• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released the World Economic Outlook (WEO) titled “Global Economy: Steady amid Divergent Forces”, revising India’s GDP growth for FY26 to 7.3%, up from 6.6% (October 2025 estimate).
• The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, approved the continuation of Atal Pension Yojana (APY) up to FY 2030-31.
• The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, approved equity support of Rs 5,000 crore to the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).
• Global credit rating agency Moody’s Ratings projected that India will record a GDP growth rate of 7.3% in FY26, higher than 6.5% in FY25.
• Credit-focused Indian fintech firm ZET has received approval from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to operate as a Third-Party Application Provider (TPAP).
• Fintech major Razorpay’s offline payments arm, Razorpay POS, has received authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as an offline payment aggregator (PA-P).
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted in-principle approval to Payoneer India Private Limited to operate as a Payment Aggregator – Cross Border (PA-CB).
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued operational guidelines for extending interest subvention on pre- and post-shipment export credit under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) – NIRYAT PROTSAHAN (1st Component).
• Bank of Baroda signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited. (IIFCL) to facilitate joint lending and loan syndication for a wide range of infrastructure projects.
• Suryoday Small Finance Bank partnered with HyperVerge to deploy an AI-powered Video KYC (VKYC) solution for digital customer onboarding.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows into India rose sharply by 73% to USD 47 billion in 2025, driven largely by investments in manufacturing, services, digital infrastructure, IT, and R&D.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the report “State Finances: A Study of Budgets of 2025–26”, themed “Demographic Transition in India – Implications for State Finances.”
• Receivables Exchange of India Limited (RXIL), a Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) platform, has declared and paid an interim dividend of 21.6% on the face value of its shares.
• The PFRDA has constituted a committee named SAARG (Strategic Asset Allocation and Risk Governance) to review, recommend, and modernize the investment framework under the National Pension System (NPS).
• PhonePe has received Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) approval to launch its Initial Public Offering (IPO).
• Juspay, a Bengaluru-based payments infrastructure company, has become India’s first homegrown unicorn of 2026 after raising USD 50 million in a Series D follow-on funding round led by WestBridge Capital.
• Tata Power has secured World Bank Group financing for the 1,125 MW Dorjilung Hydropower Project (DHPL) in Bhutan, strengthening India–Bhutan cross-border clean energy cooperation.
• EbixCash World Money, a flagship subsidiary of EraayaLifespaces Limited, announced that its wholly owned entity Buyforex received in-principle approval for Payment Service Provider (PSP)
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued amendment directions for Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) and Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) applicable to commercial banks, updating the 2025 directions.
• The World Bank has approved ₹5,700 crore in technical and financial assistance for Haryana under the Jal Sanrakshit Haryana Project, aiming to make the state self-reliant in the water sector.
• According to Swiss Re, India’s insurance premiums are projected to grow at a real annual rate of 6.9% during 2026–2030, making India the fastest-growing major insurance market globally.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) flagged deficiencies in Priority Sector Lending (PSL) compliance at HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank during its annual supervisory review, mainly due to misclassification of agricultural loans.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on January 27, 2026, for cooperation and information exchange related to Central Counterparties (CCPs) regulated by RBI.
• A survey by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) revealed that out of 33.72 crore Indian households, only 3.21 crore households (9.5%) invested in securities markets such as equities, mutual funds, and corporate bonds.
• Bharti AXA Life Insurance has launched a non-linked, non-participating individual deferred annuity plan named “Swabhimaan Retirement” to help customers lock in current annuity rates and secure guaranteed lifelong income.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the Priority Sector Lending (PSL) (Targets and Classification) Amendment Directions, 2026, to align the Priority Sector Lending (PSL) framework with updated capital adequacy, credit risk transfer, securitisation, and regulatory norms notified in 2025.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the revised Integrated Ombudsman Scheme, which will come into effect from 1 July 2026, to strengthen the RBI Ombudsman framework and improve efficiency in complaint resolution.
• SMFG India Credit (SMICC) has partnered with Google Pay to offer collateral-free personal loans to users across India.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has notified the Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2026, replacing the 2015 regulations, effective from 1 October 2026.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed changes to the framework for calculating banks’ net foreign exchange (FX) exposure and the capital requirements for FX risk.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has put on hold plans to require domestic banks to disclose and manage climate-related risks.
• The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the Report of the Expert Group on Comprehensive Updation of the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
• The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) permitted the launch of ‘NPS Swasthya Pension Scheme’ as a Proof of Concept (PoC) under its Regulatory Sandbox Framework to integrate health benefits with pension savings.
• The Economic Survey 2025–26 highlights India’s ambition to become a global financial and services hub, led by GIFT City IFSC and large-scale Global Capability Centre (GCC)
• Punjab & Sind Bank has received Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approval to open a branch at the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in GIFT City, Gandhinagar.
• India has agreed to allow European Union (EU) banks to open up to 15 branches over a four-year period under the India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL AND STATE NEWS

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off India’s first sleeper Vande Bharat train, connecting Kolkata (Howrah) with Guwahati (Kamakhya).
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the ₹6,957 crore Kaziranga Elevated Corridor in Assam and virtually flagged off two Amrit Bharat Express trains, aiming to improve road, rail, wildlife protection, tourism, and employment in the region.
• The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has approved the establishment of two MSME Technology Centres in Himachal Pradesh at Pandoga (Una district) and Parwanoo (Solan district) as part of a nationwide expansion initiative.
• Punjab has opened its first Dog Sanctuary in Ludhiana as a pilot project to manage stray dog populations humanely and reduce dog bite cases in urban areas.
• India will host the India AI Impact Summit 2026 from 16–20 February at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, as the first global AI summit in the Global South.
• Telangana and the UAE agreed to explore cooperation for Bharat Future City during the World Economic Forum 2026.
• Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu announced a new spaceport at Hope Island under the Space City initiative to support private and commercial launch missions.
• The SAMPANN pension portal has been integrated with the UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) platform, enabling nearly 4 lakh pensioners of the Department of Telecommunications to access Pension Payment Order (PPO) details and Life Certificate validity
• The Government of Assam announced a monthly financial assistance scheme for research scholars under the Atal VichalAgragami Assam programme.
• Vice President of India Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan released the book titled “Chalice of Ambrosia: Ram Janmabhoomi – Challenge and Response” at the Vice President’s Enclave, New Delhi.
• Rajasthan government has planned a new Biological Park in Alwar district, which will become the first biological park of its kind in the National Capital Region (NCR).
• Government of India notified Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity (GEI) targets in January 2026 for additional carbon-intensive sectors under the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS).
• India delivered 7.5 tonnes of life-saving cancer medicines to Kabul, reinforcing its humanitarian support to the people of Afghanistan, particularly in the health sector.
• Odisha State Health and Family Welfare Department announced a complete ban on gutkha, pan masala, and all products containing tobacco or nicotine to safeguard public health and prevent misuse.
• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin announced a new annual state-sponsored literary award named “Semmozhi Illakiya Virudhu (Classical Language Literary Award)” during the valedictory ceremony of the Chennai International Book Fair.
• Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) has adopted a scientific and modern waste management system to manage solid waste generated by a population of around 40 lakh and nearly 7.5 lakh establishments.
• Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) completed 11 years since its launch in January 22, 2015.
• Gujarat marked a major milestone in India’s space sector with the laying of the foundation stone for India’s first integrated private satellite manufacturing unit at Khoraj in Sanand, Gujarat.
• The Punjab government has introduced the Mukhya Mantri Sehat Yojana to provide free and cashless medical treatment up to ₹10 lakh per family per year.
• Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL), a Vedanta Group company and one of the world’s largest integrated zinc producers, has awarded contracts to CIMIC Group companies Sedgman and Leighton Asia.
• The India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management is being held in New Delhi.
• Anandiben Patel, Governor of Uttar Pradesh, inaugurated the 86th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference (AIPOC 2026) at the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
• Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and World Trade Centre (WTC) Mumbai have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost outreach and strengthen MSME participation in public procurement.
• Researchers from Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati have developed a new scientific framework to predict glacial hazards in the Eastern Himalayan region.
• The Government of Uttarakhand has implemented the Uniform Civil Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026 after receiving approval from the Governor of Uttarakhand, giving the ordinance immediate legal effect.
• The Government of Gujarat has announced Indian Rupees 1,250 crore financial assistance under the Namo Laxmi Scheme for the 2025–26 academic year.
• Kerala has officially declared Bacillus subtilis as its State Microbe, becoming the first Indian state to accord formal recognition to a microorganism.
• The Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026 have been notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and will come into force from 1 April 2026, replacing the 2016 rules.
• The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) is strengthening India’s commitment to sustainable use of biological resources and fair benefit sharing under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework.
• On the eve of the 77th Republic Day, Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj S. P. Singh Baghel honoured elected Panchayat representatives invited as Special Guests for the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi.
• Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Electronics & IT Jitin Prasada dedicated the new Aadhaar App to the nation.
• The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI), in association with INSOL India, organised the 3rd International Conclave to mark a decade of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) and discuss the future of insolvency resolution in India.
• Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Minister of State, Ministry of Education (MoE), outlined the Government of India’s vision for integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) across education and skilling ecosystems at Google’s AI for Learning Forum held in New Delhi.
• India has formally submitted the nomination dossier of Meghalaya’s living root bridges, titled “JingkiengJri / Lyu Chrai Cultural Landscape”, to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the 2026–27 World Heritage evaluation cycle.
• Montra Electric, the electric commercial vehicle business vertical of the Murugappa Group, became the first heavy-duty electric truck manufacturer in India to receive certification under the Prime Minister Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement Scheme (PM E-DRIVE) of the Government of India.
• The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare constituted a high-level Committee to review and strengthen the functioning of Farmer Producer Organisations in Tamil Nadu.
• The National Institution for Transforming India launched Sampoornata Abhiyan 2.0 to ensure essential services reach the most remote and underserved populations.
• Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Union Commission, and Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, President of the European Union Council, paid an official visit to India from January 25 to January 27, 2026, as Chief Guests for the 77th Republic Day of India, on the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS

• Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi undertook a 3-day official visit to India from January 15–17, 2026, to strengthen India–Japan bilateral relations.
• The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that the so-called ‘BRICS Naval Exercise’ was not an official BRICS activity and was entirely a South Africa–led initiative.
• The International Labour Organisation (ILO) released the report titled ‘Employment and Social Trends 2026: World of Work Series’ from Geneva, Switzerland.
• The World Economic Forum (WEF) published the 21st edition of its annual risk assessment titled ‘Global Risks Report: 21st Edition Insight 2026’.
• Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, undertook a one-day official visit to India at the invitation of Dr.S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs (MEA), India.
• Donald Trump, President of the United States, officially launched the Board of Peace initiative at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, aimed at promoting global geopolitical stability.
• The United States (US) has officially finalised its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), one year after President Donald Trump announced the decision, ending America’s 78-year membership since WHO’s founding in 1948.
• The Ministry of Power has released the Draft National Electricity Policy 2026 to transform India’s power sector in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat at 2047.
• India has participated as a Partner Country at Gulfood 2026, the world’s largest annual food and beverage sourcing exhibition, marking its first-ever partner role in the event’s 31-year history.
• The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released the 4th edition of the report titled “State of Finances for Nature: Nature in the Red – Powering the Trillion Dollar Nature Transition Economy”, based on global financial data of 2023.
• The Brazilian theatre productionPassado PresenteZenturo was scheduled for its international debut in 2026, with performances in India and Russia, marking a major milestone for Brazil’s contemporary theatre.
• The 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) was held from 19–23 January 2026 at Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, with the theme “A Spirit of Dialogue.”
• Pakistan and Bangladesh have resumed direct air connectivity after a 14-year gap, indicating a notable improvement in bilateral relations.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

• Uganda’s Electoral Commission declared 81-year-old President Yoweri Museveni of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) as the winner of the 2026 presidential election, securing 71.65% of the votes and a seventh term (2026–2031).
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the continuation of senior leadership at HDFC Bank, ensuring stability at India’s largest private sector lender.
• Deepinder Goyal resigned as Director, Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Eternal Limited with effect from 1 February 2026, subject to shareholders’ approval.
• Tata Communications Limited appointed Ganesh Lakshminarayanan as its new Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
• Nitin Nabin has been elected as the National President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), marking a significant organisational development for the party.
• Arijit Basu has been appointed as part-time Chairman of IndusInd Bank, effective January 31, 2026, succeeding Sunil Mehta after the completion of his tenure.
• Veteran Indian sports administrator and 5-time Olympic shooter Randhir Singh announced his premature resignation as President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) due to health reasons.
• The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has officially appointed Amelia Valverde as the Head Coach of the Indian Senior Women’s National Football Team.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

• The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) has received the SKOCH Award 2025 at the 104th SKOCH Summit for its Cell Broadcast Solution (CBS), a national disaster and emergency alerting platform.
• Renowned music maestro Ilaiyaraaja has been selected for the Padmapani Award, which will be conferred at the 11th Ajanta–Ellora International Film Festival in early 2026.
• Karnataka Bank won the ‘Best Fintech & DPI Adoption’ award at the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) Banking Technology Awards 2026, recognising its excellence in digital banking and technology adoption.
• Banaras Literature Festival announced the winners of the 2nd Banaras Lit Fest Book Awards 2026, recognising outstanding literary contributions in English, Hindi, and other Indian languages.
• Graca Machel, a renowned human rights activist from Mozambique, has been awarded the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development 2025.
• Ahead of Republic Day 2026, a provisional list of Padma Awards 2026 recipients has been released, recognising individuals forlong-standing and sustained contributions across diverse fields.
• President Droupadi Murmu has approved gallantry and service awards for 70 Armed Forces personnel, recognising extraordinary courage, leadership, and devotion to duty across the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• The Department of Food and Public Distribution has been selected among the top six global finalists for the 2026 Franz Edelman Award for its initiative Anna Chakra.
• Sikkim Police has been awarded the President’s Police Colour (Nishaan) for its outstanding service, professionalism, and dedication to duty.
• Chandrakant Lahariya, an Indian doctor and public health expert, has won the Wiley Research Heroes Prize 2025.
• Taylor Swift (aged 36) will become the second-youngest songwriter to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
• The results of the Best Marching Contingents and Best Tableaux of the Republic Day Parade 2026 were announced after evaluation by three separate panels of judges.
• IEEE, the world’s largest technical professional organization with over 500,000 members, has named Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA, as the recipient of the 2026 IEEE Medal of Honor.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: RANKING AND INDEX

• Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, has been ranked the world’s safest city for the 10th consecutive year in an international safety ranking released by Numbeo, reaffirming its global reputation for security and high quality of life.
• Former President Ram Nath Kovind officially launched the Responsible Nations Index (RNI) in New Delhi, introducing a new global framework to assess countries based on responsibility rather than power or wealth.
• Brand Finance released the “Brand Finance Global 500 2026” report, ranking the world’s most valuable IT services brands.
• The Numbeo Safety Index 2026 was released in January 2026, covering 304 cities worldwide, and ranks cities based on public perception of safety and crime levels.
• India has been placed 6th among 11 Asian countries in the Asia Manufacturing Index 2026, showing moderate progress but also revealing gaps in manufacturing competitiveness.
• As per the Brand Finance report, the total brand value of the world’s top 25 Information Technology services brands reached United States Dollar 167.2 billion in 2026, recording a modest growth of 2 per cent compared to 2025.
• Among the 10 States with Fifth Schedule Areas where PESA Act applies, Maharashtra bagged the first position in implementation of PESA, closely followed by Madhya Pradesh in second position and Himachal Pradesh in third position.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

• Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the proposed acquisition of a significant stake in RBL Bank Limited by Emirates NBD Bank (P.J.S.C.) (ENBD).
• Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved Tata Steel Limited’s (TSL) acquisition of 50.01% equity share capital of Thriveni Pellets Private Limited (TPPL) from Thriveni Earthmovers Private Limited.
• Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the proposed combination involving Bhushan Power and Steel Limited (BPSL), JSW Sambalpur Steel Limited, JFE Steel Corporation (Japan) and JSW Kalinga Steel Limited.
• LIC (Life Insurance Corporation of India) has reduced its shareholding in ICICI Bank to below 5% after a series of market transactions.
• State Bank of India (SBI) surpassed ICICI Bank to regain its position as the second-most valuable bank by market capitalization after a gap of more than six years.
• GAIL (India) Limited has signed a term sheet for equity participation in a ship-owning company based in Singapore, in partnership with J M Baxi Marine Services and Japan’s Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K LINE).
• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the proposed acquisition of a majority stake in RBL Bank Limited by UAE-based Emirates NBD Bank, allowing the lender to take control of the Indian private sector bank.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOUS AND AGREEMENT

• India and theUnited Arab Emirates agreed to double bilateral trade to USD 200 billion by 2032 during delegation-level talks held in New Delhi between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
• India and Namibia held the 5th round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) and agreed to deepen cooperation in defence, critical minerals, health, agriculture, and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), reaffirming commitment to South–South Cooperation.
• The Governments of Odisha and Meghalaya signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen Early Childhood Care, Education and Development (ECCED) through inter-state collaboration.
• The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to strengthen vocational education, training and skill development in India.
• The Goa government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Starlink Satellite Communications, led by Elon Musk, to strengthen digital connectivity, expand internet access in remote areas, enhance disaster resilience, and improve emergency response and smart governance across the state.
• The Uttarakhand government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) under a new initiative named ‘Swasth Seema Abhiyan’ to improve healthcare facilities in remote border villages of the state.
• Drip Capital has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Maharashtra to expand access to trade finance for micro, small and medium enterprises engaged in exports.
• India and the European Union signed their first comprehensive Defence and Security Partnership, alongside the conclusion of the India–European Union Free Trade Agreement.
• Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon and Mr. Ranjan Tandon for the establishment of the Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence at IIMA.
• The All India Institute of Ayurveda, the apex institution under the Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy), signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Centre for Ayurveda Education, Innovation and Technology, marking a significant step towards strengthening digital health initiatives in Ayurveda.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : DEFENCE NEWS

• Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a Medium Calibre Ammunition Manufacturing Facility at Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL) in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
• Bharat Forge Limited (BFL)’s aerospace division secured contracts worth nearly Rs 300 crore under the Emergency Procurement-VI (EP-VI) framework for the supply of indigenously built unmanned systems to the Indian Army (IA) and Indian Navy (IN).
• General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), released the Military Quantum Mission Policy Framework in New Delhi, providing a comprehensive policy roadmap for adopting quantum technologies across the Indian Army (IA), Indian Navy (IN) and Indian Air Force (IAF).
• Indian Army achieved a major medical milestone as the Ophthalmology Department, Army Hospital (Research & Referral), Delhi Cantt successfully performed India’s first-ever 3D Flex Aqueous Angiography with iStent, marking a breakthrough in advanced glaucoma care.
• B. Rangarao, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Helicopter Complex, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), along with the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Gajraj Corps, laid the foundation stone for HAL’s Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hub at Missamari, Assam.
• The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed contracts worth Rs 4,666 crore for the procurement of Close Quarter Battle (CQB) Carbine and Heavy Weight Torpedoes in New Delhi, in the presence of Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh.
• The Indian Navy signed a contract with M/s Suryadipta Projects Private Limited, a Thane-based MSME shipyard, for the construction and delivery of three 200-tonne bottom-opening non-propelled barges.
• The Indian Army (IA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru (Karnataka) to jointly develop a fully indigenous Artificial Intelligence (AI) system.
• The Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron (1TS) departed Belawan, Indonesia, after a successful three-day port call, aimed at strengthening maritime engagement with Indonesia under the IONS framework and the MAHASAGAR vision.
• At the 77th Republic Day Parade on Kartavya Path, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) unveiled the Long Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile (LR-AShM) for the first time, highlighting India’s advances in hypersonic weapon systems.
• Taiwan has successfully completed the first underwater sea trial of its domestically developed submarine, marking a major milestone in strengthening maritime deterrence against China.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : ENVIRONMENT

• Researchers from Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) discovered a new genus and species of microscopic harpacticoid copepod from the Kavaratti lagoon, Union Territory of Lakshadweep.
• Researchers from Kerala and Tamil Nadu (TN) discovered two new rare ant fly species named Metadonghorpadei and Metadonreemeri.
• A team of scientists led by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Western Regional Centre, Pune discovered a new subterranean amphibian speciesnamed Gegeneophisvalmiki in the northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra, marking the first discovery in the genus Gegeneophis in over a decade.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : PERSON IN NEWS

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced the retirement of Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Lyn Williams from service effective 27th December 2025, ending her 27-year career in human space exploration.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SUMMITS & CONFERENCES

• The Government of India (GoI) hosted the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) from January 14–16, 2026 at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, Parliament House Complex, New Delhi.
• Election Commission of India (ECI) hosted the 1st India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM 2026) at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi from 21–23 January 2026.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

• GalaxEye, an Indian space start-up, is set to launch its first satellite ‘Mission Drishti’ in the first quarter of 2026, marking a major milestone for India’s private space sector.
• China unveiled its most advanced ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), the Type 096 Tang-Class, marking a major upgrade in its sea-based nuclear deterrence.
• Union Minister Manohar Lal of Ministry of Power (MoP) and Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) inaugurated the Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Regulatory Affairs in the Power Sector at IIT Delhi, New Delhi.
• India’s first privately built national Earth Observation (EO) satellite constellation will be developed by a consortium led by Pixxel Space, with the first satellite launches expected next year.
• China’s Fengyun-3D meteorological satellite detected that iceberg A23a, once the largest iceberg in the world by surface area, has entered the final stage of disintegration.
• Peeyush Ranjan, former executive of Google, Airbnb, and Flipkart, launched an AI-first edtech startup Fermi.ai to transform high-school STEM education with a focus on deep learning.
• Indian Railways has introduced a humanoid robot named “ASC ARJUN” at Visakhapatnam Railway Station to enhance passenger safety, security, and service delivery.
• Scientists have identified Veronika, a 13-year-old Brown Swiss cow from Austria, as the first known cow to use a tool, challenging assumptions about cattle intelligence.
• Kavach 4.0 has been commissioned on Gujarat’s Bajwa (Vadodara)–Ahmedabad section (96 km), covering 17 stations with infrastructure including 23 towers, 20 Kavach buildings/huts, 192 km optical fibre cable, and 2,872 RFID tags.
• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has rolled out its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket to the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center, marking a major milestone in lunar exploration.
• Zoho Corporation has launched a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform, targeting India’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
• Japan has restarted Reactor No. 6 at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant, marking a major step in its gradual return to nuclear energy.
• Japan decided to return its last two giant panda cubs to China, leaving the country without any pandas for the first time since 1972.
• Ola Electric has received Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification to commercially launch its residential Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), marking its entry into the clean energy storage
• Brazilian aerospace major Embraer has partnered with Adani Defence & Aerospace to develop a made-in-India Regional Transport Aircraft (RTA).
• Microsoft has introduced the second generation of its in-house artificial intelligence processor, “Maia 200”, along with a new suite of AI-focused software tools, strengthening its push to build an integrated AI ecosystem.
• The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) with NIIT Foundation to advance digital literacy, financial inclusion, and skill development across Aspirational Blocks.
• The Department of Posts (DoP), Ministry of Communications, signed an agreement with Stock Holding Services Limited (SSL) at Dak Bhawan, New Delhi, to expand regulated capital market services across India through the India Post (IP) network.
• The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), under the Ministry of Ayush, in collaboration with the Central Sanskrit University (CSU), successfully completed a 15-day Transliteration Capacity-Building Workshop on Ayurvedic manuscripts in Kerala.
• The 2026 Doomsday Clock was moved to 85 seconds to midnight, the closest point ever, highlighting heightened risks to humanity from nuclear weapons, climate change, and artificial intelligence.
• India’s space economy is currently valued at USD 8.4 billion, with 399 space start-ups operating in launch vehicles, satellites, propulsion systems, and space-grade electronics.
• Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) signed a resource-sharing agreement during India Energy Week (IEW) 2026 in Goa (27–30 January 2026) to enhance operational efficiency and strengthen India’s energy security.
• The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has operationalised PAIMANA (Project Assessment, Infrastructure Monitoring & Analytics for Nation-building) to monitor Central Sector Infrastructure Projects worth ₹150 crore and above.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BOOKS & AUTHORS

• A book titled The Life and Legacy of Arun Jaitley has been formally launched, chronicling the life, contributions, and legacy of late leader Arun Jaitley.
• The Telugu book 'Agni SarsuluVikasinchina Kamalam Draupadi Murmu' (The lotus that bloomed in the fire of embers), which describes the life of President Draupadi Murmu from her tribal roots to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, was released at Andhra University in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP).

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

• The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has signed a ₹270 crore sponsorship agreement with Google’s AI platform Gemini for the Indian Premier League (IPL), starting from the 2026 season, providing a major commercial boost to the league.
• Saina Nehwal, one of India’s most celebrated badminton players, has officially retired after nearly two years of inactivity due to severe knee injuries, including cartilage degeneration and arthritis.
• Uttarakhand hosted the National Paralympic Powerlifting Championship in January 2026, which was inaugurated by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami through a virtual ceremony from COER University, Roorkee.
• Nat Sciver-Brunt became the first batter to score a century in Women’s Premier League history during WPL 2026.
• The sixth edition of the Khelo India Winter Games 2026 was inaugurated by Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta at the Nawang Dorjan Stobdan Stadium, Leh, Union Territory of Ladakh.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : OBITUARIES

• Former Indian football team defender and East Bengal legend Ilyas Pasha passed away at the age of 61 in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister (DyCM) of Maharashtra and chief of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), passed away at the age of 66 in a Learjet 45 aircraft (VT-SSK) crash at Baramati Airport, Pune, Maharashtra, on January 28, 2026.
• Michael Nobbs, former Australian hockey player, passed away at the age of 72 after a prolonged illness.