Current Affairs — January 2026
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Tue, 06 Jan 2026
Dharmendra Pradhan releases 55 literary works in classical Indian languages
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan released 55 literary works in classical Indian languages in New Delhi on 6 January 2026, including a Tirukkural series in Indian Sign Language.
Pralhad Joshi and Nitin Gadkari take joint ride in hydrogen fuel-cell car Toyota Mirai
Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and Nitin Gadkari rode together in a Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle in New Delhi on 6 January 2026 to promote green hydrogen and clean mobility.
Ministry of Coal holds two-day Chintan Shivir at Manesar
The Ministry of Coal's two-day Chintan Shivir at Manesar, Gurugram, chaired by Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, concluded on 6 January 2026 with a review of coal-sector reforms.
ARIES and PRL study of W Ursae Majoris contact binaries sheds light on star evolution
The Department of Science and Technology reported on 6 January 2026 that ARIES and PRL astronomers used the Devasthal Fast Optical Telescope and NASA's TESS to study four W Ursae Majoris-type contact binary stars.
Indian Railways plans 4,838 LHB general and non-AC coaches in 2025-26; Amrit Bharat services reach 30
Indian Railways said on 6 January 2026 that it plans to produce 4,838 LHB general and non-AC coaches in 2025-26 and 4,802 in 2026-27, and that 13 Amrit Bharat trains added in 2025 took the total to 30 services.
Human Capital Working Group meeting with Assam and IIT Guwahati focuses on language AI and BHASHINI
Day 2 of the Human Capital Working Group meeting, organised by MeitY and the IndiaAI Mission with the Government of Assam and IIT Guwahati, concluded on 6 January 2026 with sessions on the National Language Translation Mission and BHASHINI.
MOIL records best-ever Q3 and nine-month manganese ore production in FY 2025-26
MOIL, under the Ministry of Steel, reported on 6 January 2026 its highest-ever third-quarter manganese ore output of 4.77 lakh tonnes and best-ever nine-month output of 14.21 lakh tonnes for FY 2025-26.
Tribal Affairs Ministry's Hackathon 2.0 brings all SIH 2025 finalists together for a national FRA digital platform
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs concluded Hackathon 2.0 at NTRI, New Delhi, on 6 January 2026, engaging all five Smart India Hackathon 2025 finalist teams to co-develop a national Forest Rights Act digital platform.
Mon, 05 Jan 2026
Rajnath Singh commissions ICGS Samudra Pratap, India's first indigenously designed pollution control vessel
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commissioned ICGS Samudra Pratap, the first of two pollution control vessels built by Goa Shipyard Limited and the largest ship in the Coast Guard fleet, in Goa on 5 January 2026.
HPCL commissions Residue Upgradation Facility with world's first LC-Max unit at Visakh Refinery
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited commissioned a 3.55 MMTPA Residue Upgradation Facility at its Visakh Refinery in Andhra Pradesh on 5 January 2026, featuring India's first resid hydrocracking unit and the world's first LC-Max unit.
Power Minister Manohar Lal reviews Pakal Dul, Kiru and Kwar hydro projects in J&K
Union Power Minister Manohar Lal inspected the Pakal Dul, Kiru and Kwar hydroelectric projects of Chenab Valley Power Projects Ltd in Kishtwar on 5 January 2026 and set commissioning deadlines of December 2026 and March 2028.
India's first commercial-scale tropical RAS rainbow trout farm opens in Telangana
Union Fisheries Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh inaugurated India's first commercial-scale tropical Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) based rainbow trout farm and research institute in Ranga Reddy district, Telangana, on 5 January 2026.
Indian Railways spends 80.54% of its 2025-26 capital budget by December
Indian Railways said on 5 January 2026 that it had spent ₹2,03,138 crore, or 80.54% of its ₹2,52,200 crore Gross Budgetary Support for 2025-26, by the end of December 2025.
ONGC signs ₹28 crore CSR MoU with NSTFDC for Eklavya Model Residential Schools
ONGC signed an MoU with the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation on 5 January 2026 and sanctioned ₹28 crore of CSR funds for digital learning, girls' hygiene and teacher training in 144 Eklavya Model Residential Schools.
Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan attends inauguration of NCC Republic Day Camp 2026
Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan was chief guest at the inauguration of the NCC Republic Day Camp 2026 at the DGNCC Camp, New Delhi, on 5 January 2026.
CAQM inspects 142 Noida road stretches for dust under GRAP
The Commission for Air Quality Management inspected 142 road stretches maintained by the Noida Authority on 5 January 2026 and found only four with high visible dust.
C. R. Paatil chairs 17th Empowered Task Force meeting on Ganga; drain dashboard and smart STP monitoring reviewed
Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Paatil chaired the 17th meeting of the Empowered Task Force on 5 January 2026, reviewing an aerial drainage-mapping dashboard and AI-enabled CCTV monitoring of sewage treatment plants under Namami Gange.
SAIL records highest-ever December sales of 2.1 million tonnes
Steel Authority of India Limited reported on 5 January 2026 provisional sales of 2.1 million tonnes in December 2025, its best December ever and about 37% higher than December 2024.
DoT's SAMPANN pension system makes pension documents available on DigiLocker
The Department of Telecommunications said on 5 January 2026 that pension documents of its pensioners issued through SAMPANN, such as ePPOs and Form 16, are now available on DigiLocker.
CSIR-NPL marks 80th Foundation Day with new environmental standard and solar cell calibration facilities
Union Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurated a National Environmental Standard Laboratory and a National Primary Standard Facility for Solar Cell Calibration at CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi, on its 80th Foundation Day on 5 January 2026.
Sun, 04 Jan 2026
PM Modi inaugurates 72nd National Volleyball Tournament in Varanasi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 72nd National Volleyball Tournament in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, via video conferencing on 4 January 2026, with teams from 28 states taking part.
AYUSHEXCIL marks 4th anniversary; AYUSH exports rise 6.11% to USD 688.89 million in 2024-25
The Ayush Export Promotion Council observed its 4th Establishment Anniversary in New Delhi on 4 January 2026, as the Commerce Ministry reported AYUSH and herbal exports of USD 688.89 million in 2024-25, up 6.11%.
Design Linked Incentive Scheme: 24 chip design projects, 16 tape-outs so far
A PIB backgrounder on 4 January 2026 said MeitY's Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme under the Semicon India Programme supports 24 chip design projects, which have achieved 16 tape-outs, 6 ASIC chips and 10 patents.
DSIR relaxes three-year existence norm for deep-tech startups on its 42nd Foundation Day
On the 42nd Foundation Day of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research on 4 January 2026, Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced that deep-tech startups no longer need three years of existence to be recognised under DSIR's Industrial R&D Promotion Programme.
World Braille Day: Braille, rights and inclusion in India
World Braille Day was observed on 4 January 2026; a PIB backgrounder noted that Braille came to India in 1887 and that Bharati Braille was adopted as the single national standard in 1951.
First validation flight lands at Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport, Bhogapuram
An Air India A320 from New Delhi carrying Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu made the first validation landing at the Alluri Sitarama Raju (Bhogapuram) International Airport in Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh, on 4 January 2026.
ADA's 'Aeronautics 2047' seminar opens in Bengaluru, marking 25 years of LCA Tejas flight
Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh inaugurated the Aeronautical Development Agency's two-day national seminar 'Aeronautics 2047' at CABS, Bengaluru, on 4 January 2026, congratulating ADA on 25 years of LCA Tejas flight.
Desert Vipers beat MI Emirates by 46 runs to win maiden ILT20 title
Desert Vipers won their first International League T20 title by beating MI Emirates by 46 runs in the season-four final in Dubai on 4 January 2026, led by Sam Curran's unbeaten 74.
Sarbananda Sonowal attends Mridangiya Gayan-Bayan Sanstha state convention in Dibrugarh
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal attended the second biennial state convention of the Mridangiya Gayan-Bayan Sanstha, Assam, at Rajgarh in Dibrugarh on 4 January 2026, and felicitated Banshi Bakliyal for his contribution to the tradition.
MoRTH explains Rah-Veer protections under the Good Samaritan Rules
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways highlighted on 4 January 2026 the legal protections for 'Rah-Veers' — Good Samaritans who help road accident victims — under rules notified in 2020 under Section 134A of the Motor Vehicles Act.