Current Affairs — January 2026
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Fri, 09 Jan 2026
Indian Railways' TAG 2026 timetable speeds up 549 trains; 122 new trains introduced
Under the Timetable of Trains (TAG) 2026, Indian Railways speeded up 549 trains and introduced 122 new trains, including 28 Vande Bharat and 26 Amrit Bharat trains, the Railway Ministry said on 9 January 2026.
Sports Governance Conclave in Ahmedabad: Mandaviya calls top-10 Olympic finish 'non-negotiable'
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya addressed the Sports Governance Conclave, organised by the Centre with the Gujarat government and the Indian Olympic Association, at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad on 9 January 2026, calling a top-10 Olympic medal-table finish a non-negotiable national goal.
Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurates Third International Conference on Indian Languages
Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated the Third International Conference on Indian Languages in New Delhi on 9 January 2026, saying India's languages have united, not divided, the nation.
Thu, 08 Jan 2026
Centre notifies National Sports Board (Search-cum-Selection Committee) Rules, 2026
The Union Government notified the National Sports Board (Search-cum-Selection Committee) Rules, 2026 under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 on 8 January 2026, setting up a Cabinet Secretary-led committee to recommend the Board's Chairperson and two Members.
Women and Child Development Ministry launches PANKHUDI, a CSR and partnership portal
Women and Child Development Minister Annpurna Devi launched PANKHUDI on 8 January 2026, a single-window digital portal for CSR and voluntary partnerships with individuals, NRIs, NGOs, companies and government agencies working for women and children.
UIDAI launches Aadhaar mascot 'Udai' chosen through MyGov contests
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) launched 'Udai' (उदय), a mascot to simplify communication about Aadhaar services, at a function in Thiruvananthapuram on 8 January 2026; the design and name were chosen from 875 entries in national contests on MyGov.
Veer Gatha 5.0 draws record 1.92 crore students; Super-100 winners to watch Republic Day parade
Project Veer Gatha 5.0, a joint initiative of the Defence and Education ministries for Republic Day, drew a record 1.92 crore students from about 1.90 lakh schools, the Defence Ministry said on 8 January 2026, with 100 national 'Super-100' winners to attend the parade on Kartavya Path as special guests.
National Biodiversity Authority releases ₹68 lakh to Maharashtra BMCs under Access and Benefit Sharing
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) released ₹68 lakh on 8 January 2026 to Biodiversity Management Committees in Wada tehsil (Palghar) and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation under the Access and Benefit Sharing framework, for commercial use of Bacillus soil bacteria in probiotic products.
Sonowal rolls out ₹235 crore port projects at Chennai Port and Kamarajar Port
Ports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal rolled out port infrastructure and digital projects worth ₹235 crore at Chennai Port Authority and Kamarajar Port Limited in Tamil Nadu on 8 January 2026, including a ₹105 crore rehabilitated Northern Breakwater Head at Kamarajar Port.
PM Modi holds roundtable with 12 Indian AI start-ups ahead of India AI Impact Summit 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a roundtable at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg on 8 January 2026 with 12 Indian AI start-ups that qualified under the Foundation Model Pillar of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, urging that Indian AI models promote local content and regional languages.
Textiles Ministry unveils District-Led Textiles Transformation plan for 100 champion and 100 aspirational districts
The Ministry of Textiles unveiled the District-Led Textiles Transformation (DLTT) initiative at the National Textiles Ministers' Conference in Guwahati on 8 January 2026, aiming to turn 100 high-potential districts into global export champions and lift 100 aspirational districts into self-reliant hubs.
Tourism Ministry: 75 Swadesh Darshan projects completed; 20.57 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2024
The Ministry of Tourism's year-end review on 8 January 2026 said 75 of 76 projects sanctioned under the Swadesh Darshan scheme (launched January 2015) are complete, and reported 20.57 million international tourist arrivals and ₹2,93,033 crore in foreign exchange earnings in 2024.
SWAMIH Fund delivers about 61,000 homes; entire investible corpus committed
The Finance Ministry said on 8 January 2026 that the SWAMIH Investment Fund, launched in November 2019 for last-mile financing of stalled housing projects, had delivered about 61,000 homes across 110 projects and fully committed its corpus before its investment period ended on 5 December 2025.
SECL and Sri Sathya Sai Trust to set up ₹35.04 crore healthcare skill centre in Nava Raipur
South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) signed an MoU with the Sri Sathya Sai Health & Education Trust on 8 January 2026 to set up a ₹35.04 crore Healthcare Skill Development Centre at Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh, under CSR, offering free job-oriented healthcare training to youth from coal belt areas.
Wed, 07 Jan 2026
First Advance Estimates: India's real GDP to grow 7.4% in 2025-26
The National Statistics Office (MoSPI) released the First Advance Estimates of GDP for 2025-26 on 7 January 2026, projecting real GDP growth of 7.4% (6.5% in 2024-25), nominal GDP growth of 8.0% and real GVA growth of 7.3%.
CSIR transfers bio-bitumen technology that turns rice straw into road binder
CSIR transferred its 'Bio-Bitumen via Pyrolysis: From Farm Residue to Roads' technology, developed by CSIR-CRRI and CSIR-IIP, at an event in New Delhi on 7 January 2026; it can replace 20–30% of conventional bitumen using bio-oil from rice straw.
Odisha launches Godabarish Mishra Model Primary School scheme; foundation laid for 118 schools
On 7 January 2026 at Banpur in Khurda district, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi launched the Godabarish Mishra Model Primary School scheme and laid foundation stones for 118 schools, the start of a ₹12,000 crore first phase covering 2,200 schools.
Piyush Goyal visits Liechtenstein to review India–EFTA TEPA implementation
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal visited Liechtenstein on 7 January 2026, meeting Hereditary Prince Alois and Prime Minister Brigitte Haas, to speed up implementation of the India–EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) and seek investment.
Centre invites comments on draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025 to replace Insecticides Act, 1968
The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare invited public comments on 7 January 2026 on the draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025, which will replace the Insecticides Act, 1968 and the Insecticides Rules, 1971; suggestions are due by 4 February 2026.
India crosses 50,000 NQAS-certified public health facilities
The Health Ministry said on 7 January 2026 that 50,373 public health facilities across all states and UTs were certified under the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) as of 31 December 2025, up from 10 when certification began in 2015.
Indian Navy's First Training Squadron heads on long-range deployment to South East Asia
The Indian Navy said on 7 January 2026 that its First Training Squadron — INS Tir, Shardul, Sujata and ICGS Sarathi — will make a Long Range Training Deployment to South East Asia for the 110th Integrated Officers' Training Course, with port calls in Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand.
Labour Ministry holds first of six regional conferences on Labour Codes in Goa
Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya virtually inaugurated a two-day regional conference in Goa on 7 January 2026, the first of six planned to smooth implementation of the four Labour Codes, in force since 21 November 2025, and to discuss ESIC, EPFO and the PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana.
Directorate General of Mines Safety marks 125th Foundation Day in Dhanbad
The Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), set up in 1902 under what is now the Labour Ministry, celebrated its 125th Foundation Day at its headquarters in Dhanbad, Jharkhand, on 7 January 2026, with MoS Labour Shobha Karandlaje as chief guest.
Water Resources Secretary reviews Farakka Barrage Project in West Bengal
Water Resources Secretary V. L. Kantha Rao reviewed the Farakka Barrage Project in West Bengal on 6–7 January 2026, inspecting the main barrage, head regulator, navigational lock, feeder canal, Jangipur Barrage and an eroded embankment on the Ganga's left bank.
National review of Metropolitan Surveillance Units for 20 cities held in Nagpur
A two-day National Review Meeting of Metropolitan Surveillance Units (MSUs) for 20 cities, themed 'Proactive Surveillance, Protected Cities', was held in Nagpur on 6–7 January 2026 to strengthen urban disease surveillance.
Rural Development Ministry and Department of Posts sign MoU for SHG financial and logistics services
The Ministry of Rural Development and the Department of Posts signed an MoU on 7 January 2026 to combine the DAY-NRLM network with India Post's 1.5 lakh rural post offices and IPPB to deliver financial, logistics and market services to SHGs, women entrepreneurs and rural enterprises.
Tue, 06 Jan 2026
ASI enables online ticket booking for over 170 monuments and museums on ONDC
The Archaeological Survey of India announced on 6 January 2026 that tickets for over 170 centrally protected monuments and museums can now be booked through the Open Network for Digital Commerce.
Rajasthan Regional AI Impact Conference launches programme to train 1 million youth in AI
The Rajasthan Regional AI Impact Conference on 6 January 2026, a precursor to the India AI Impact Summit of 15–20 February 2026, launched a programme to train one million young people in AI skills.
DEA releases three-year PPP project pipeline of 852 projects worth over ₹17 lakh crore
The Department of Economic Affairs announced on 6 January 2026 a three-year Public Private Partnership pipeline of 852 projects with a total cost of over ₹17 lakh crore, fulfilling a Union Budget 2025-26 announcement.
NITI Aayog releases fifth Trade Watch Quarterly with focus on automotive exports
NITI Aayog Member Arvind Virmani released the fifth edition of Trade Watch Quarterly, covering April–June 2025, in New Delhi on 6 January 2026, with a thematic section on India's automotive exports.