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Current Affairs January 2026
Complete Monthly Digest for UPSC · SSC · Banking · Defence · Railways & All Competitive Exams
🇮🇳 National 🌍 International 💰 Economy 🛡️ Defence 🏆 Awards 🔬 Science ⚽ Sports 🌿 Environment
📖 Compiled from PIB · The Hindu · Indian Express · Economic Times | Exam-relevant facts highlighted
⚡ January 2026 — At a Glance
Republic Day
77th | Theme: "150 Years of Vande Mataram"
Chief Guests
EU Commission & Council Presidents (First-ever EU duo)
India's GDP Rank
4th Largest — surpassed Japan ($4.18 Trillion)
Padma Awards
131 Total (5 Vibhushan + 13 Bhushan + 113 Shri)
Budget Session
Commenced Jan 28 | Economic Survey: Jan 29
UAE State Visit
Jan 19 | Multiple MoUs + Defence LoI signed
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National Affairs
HIGH PRIORITYBudget Session of Parliament — Commenced January 28, 2026
The Budget Session commenced on January 28, 2026 with 30 sittings in two phases: Phase I (Jan 28–Feb 13) and Phase II (Mar 9–Apr 2). President Droupadi Murmu addressed the joint sitting on Jan 28. The Economic Survey 2025-26 was tabled on January 29 by FM Nirmala Sitharaman, projecting real GDP growth of 6.8%–7.2% for 2026-27.
UPSC SSC BANK
India Surpasses Japan — World's 4th Largest Economy
India surpassed Japan with a nominal GDP of $4.18 trillion to become the world's 4th largest economy. Strong domestic demand and services-led growth drove the expansion. India is expected to surpass Germany by 2030 to become 3rd largest.
UPSC SSC BANK RRB
Economic Survey 2025-26 — Key Highlights
GDP: 2025-26 estimated at 7.4%; 2026-27 projected at 6.8%–7.2%. Retail Inflation: Dropped to 1.7% (Apr–Dec 2025), down from 4.6% in 2024-25 due to lower food prices. India's Median Age: 28 years — short demographic dividend window. Youthful states need jobs & skills; ageing states face pension fiscal stress.
UPSC BANK
Nitin Nabin Elected BJP National President
Nitin Nabin was elected as the National President of BJP in January 2026, succeeding J.P. Nadda (inducted into Union Cabinet).
UPSC SSC
National Sports Governance Rules 2026 Notified
Released under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025. NSB general body must include at least 4 Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) — 50% mandatory women. SOM eligibility: Indian citizen, ≥25 years, retired from active sports.
UPSC SSC
India Becomes World's Largest Rice Producer
India surpassed China to become the world's largest rice producer. Also: India launched its first sleeper Vande Bharat train (Kolkata–Guwahati) and its first LNG-diesel dual fuel train. India delivered 7.5 tonnes of cancer medicines to Afghanistan.
UPSC SSC RRB
Rare Earth Reserves — India Ranks 3rd Globally
India confirmed as the 3rd largest holder of Rare Earth Reserves globally with 6.9 million tonnes of rare earth oxides. Critical for EVs, defence, and semiconductors.
UPSC SSC
MeitY Approves 22 Proposals — ₹41,863 Crore (ECMS)
On January 2, MeitY approved 22 proposals worth ₹41,863 crore under the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS), boosting India's semiconductor ecosystem.
SSC BANK
Nipah Virus Outbreak — West Bengal (Barasat)
A Nipah virus outbreak was reported in Barasat, West Bengal with at least 2 cases. Nipah is a zoonotic virus (bats/pigs → humans), high case fatality rate (40–75%), no approved vaccine, WHO Priority Pathogen.
UPSC SSC
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Republic Day 2026 — 77th Anniversary
MUST KNOW🌟 Key Facts — Republic Day 2026
- Date: January 26, 2026 | 77th Republic Day
- Theme: "150 Years of Vande Mataram"
- Chief Guests: Ursula von der Leyen (President, European Commission) & António Costa (President, European Council) — first-ever EU leadership duo as chief guests
- Venue: Kartavya Path, New Delhi | Presided by President Droupadi Murmu
- Beating Retreat Ceremony: January 29, 2026 at Vijay Chowk
- India–EU Summit: 16th edition co-chaired during EU leaders' visit (Jan 25–27)
Padma Awards 2026 — 131 Recipients
• Padma Vibhushan (5): Dharmendra (Posthumous, Arts) & others
• Padma Bhushan (13): Alka Yagnik (Music), R. Madhavan (Actor), Harmanpreet Kaur, N. Rajam, Nori Dattatreyudu, Satish Shah & others
• Padma Shri (113): Across medicine, arts, social work, science
• 19 women awardees | 16 posthumous | 6 foreigners/NRI/OCI
• Padma Bhushan (13): Alka Yagnik (Music), R. Madhavan (Actor), Harmanpreet Kaur, N. Rajam, Nori Dattatreyudu, Satish Shah & others
• Padma Shri (113): Across medicine, arts, social work, science
• 19 women awardees | 16 posthumous | 6 foreigners/NRI/OCI
UPSC SSC BANK
Gallantry Awards 2026 — 70 Recipients | Ashok Chakra
Ashok Chakra (1): Group Captain Sudhanshu Shukla — first Indian on the International Space Station (ISS). Ashok Chakra is India's highest peacetime gallantry award. Total 70 recipients received peacetime gallantry awards.
UPSC DEFENCE
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International Affairs
HIGH PRIORITYUAE President's State Visit — January 19, 2026
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited India on Jan 19. Key MoUs/LoIs:
• Strategic Defence Partnership Framework Agreement (LoI)
• HPCL–ADNOC Gas LNG deal for 10 years (from 2028)
• Investment LoI for Dholera Special Investment Zone, Gujarat
• Space infrastructure cooperation + Supercomputing cluster in India
• Target: double bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032
• Strategic Defence Partnership Framework Agreement (LoI)
• HPCL–ADNOC Gas LNG deal for 10 years (from 2028)
• Investment LoI for Dholera Special Investment Zone, Gujarat
• Space infrastructure cooperation + Supercomputing cluster in India
• Target: double bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032
UPSC SSC BANK
Donald Trump Sworn in as 47th US President
Donald Trump inaugurated as 47th President of the USA. JD Vance as VP. Trump's second non-consecutive term — a rare event in US presidential history.
UPSC SSC
Bulgaria Adopts Euro — January 1, 2026
Bulgaria adopted the Euro (€) from January 1, 2026, replacing the Bulgarian Lev. Bulgaria became the 21st Eurozone member.
UPSC SSC BANK
EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) — Fully Enforced
From January 2026, EU's CBAM fully enforced on carbon-intensive imports: steel, cement, aluminium, fertilisers, electricity, hydrogen. Indian exporters face cost pressures — seen as a "carbon tariff." Pushes India toward green production.
UPSC BANK
US Forces Capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro
US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Trump called it a modern update of the Monroe Doctrine. Critics called it neo-imperialism. Venezuela is rich in oil (Lake Maracaibo Basin).
UPSC
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Defence & Security
DEFENCE EXAMSK4 SLBM Test from INS Arighat — Nuclear Triad Complete
India successfully tested the K4 Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) from INS Arighat, completing India's Nuclear Triad — the ability to launch nuclear weapons from land (Agni), air (aircraft), and sea (submarine). Significantly enhances India's second-strike capability.
DEFENCE UPSC
"Bhairav" — New Indian Army Drone Warfare Force
Indian Army announced "Bhairav" — a new warfare force dedicated to integrating drone technology into combat. Army also declared 2026 as "Year of Networking and Data Centricity."
DEFENCE UPSC
Suryastra Rocket System — ₹293 Crore Procurement
Indian Army signed a ₹293-crore emergency procurement with NIBE Ltd. (Elbit Systems, Israel) for Suryastra — India's first indigenous universal multi-calibre long-range rocket launcher; range up to 150 km and 300 km.
DEFENCE
HAL Dhruv-NG Helicopter Inaugural Flight | Naval Base at Haldia
Indigenous Dhruv-NG (Next Generation) helicopter inaugural flight flagged off at HAL, Bengaluru. Also: New naval base announced at Haldia, West Bengal for Bay of Bengal maritime security. Tejas LCA completes 25 years since first flight. DRDO developed SWaDeS (Sea Water Desalination System) for soldiers.
DEFENCE UPSC
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Science & Technology
China Maglev Train — 700 km/h World Record
China set a world record by accelerating a superconducting electric maglev train to 700 km/h in just 2 seconds — fastest maglev acceleration test ever conducted.
SSCRRB
MoSPI Mascot "Sankhyiki" Launched — January 1, 2026
MoSPI launched mascot "Sankhyiki" (संख्यिकी) and a new logo with theme "Data for Development." Logo features Ashoka Chakra + ₹ symbol.
SSC
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Environment & Geography
India Adds 2 New Ramsar Sites — Total Now 98
India's Ramsar wetland count reached 98 (globally 2,500+). New wildlife corridors announced in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh & Odisha.
UPSCSSC
MP Reports 55 Tiger Deaths in 2025 — Conservation Alert
Madhya Pradesh reported 55 tiger deaths in 2025 — over 30% of India's total. Causes: habitat saturation, illegal electric fencing, weak corridor protection. Need for landscape-level conservation beyond tiger reserves.
UPSC
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Sports
Khelo India Beach Games 2026 — Diu | Karnataka Tops
Khelo India Beach Games 2026 held in Diu. Karnataka topped the medal tally. Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 to be held in Chhattisgarh; mascot: Morveer.
SSCRRB
Vidarbha Wins Vijay Hazare Trophy 2026
Vidarbha won the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2026 — India's premier List A one-day cricket tournament organised by BCCI.
SSCBANK
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Key Appointments — January 2026
| Person | Appointment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rakesh Agarwal (IPS) | Interim DG, NIA | Appointed by ACC, Ministry of Home Affairs |
| Justice M.S. Sonak | Chief Justice, Jharkhand HC | Appointed Jan 2 by President Murmu; from Bombay HC |
| P.T. Usha | President, National Olympic Academy | IOA President; NOA reactivated Jan 2026 |
| Gagan Narang | Director, NOA | Olympic medalist; IOA Vice President |
| Nitin Nabin | BJP National President | Elected Jan 2026; succeeds J.P. Nadda |
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Important Days — January 2026
SSC / BANK| Date | Day / Occasion | Key Fact |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | Global Family Day / World Peace Day | Promotes peace & unity among all nations |
| Jan 4 | World Braille Day | UNESCO standardized Braille (1950); UN recognized it in 2005 |
| Jan 9 | Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (NRI Day) | Gandhi's return from S. Africa 1915; biennial convention (2026 = non-convention year) |
| Jan 12 | National Youth Day | Birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda (1863) |
| Jan 15 | Army Day | Gen. K.M. Cariappa took command as C-in-C (1949) |
| Jan 23 | Parakram Diwas (Netaji Jayanti) | Birth anniversary of Subhas Chandra Bose; Parakram Diwas since 2021 |
| Jan 24 | National Girl Child Day | Launched by WCD Ministry in 2008 |
| Jan 25 | National Voters' Day & National Tourism Day | ECI founded Jan 25, 1950 |
| Jan 26 | Republic Day (77th) | Constitution in force; Theme: "150 Years of Vande Mataram" |
| Jan 27 | International Holocaust Remembrance Day | Marks liberation of Auschwitz (1945) |
| Jan 30 | Martyrs' Day / Shaheed Diwas | Death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi (1948); also World Leprosy Day |
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Rapid Fire One-Liners — January 2026
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Booktime.in — Your Partner for Competitive Exam SuccessCompiled from PIB · The Hindu · Indian Express · Economic Times · January 2026
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