Current Affairs — January 2026
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Mon, 19 Jan 2026
PSBs sanction ₹52,300 crore to MSMEs under digital Credit Assessment Model
Public sector banks sanctioned over 3.96 lakh MSME loan applications worth more than ₹52,300 crore between 1 April and 31 December 2025 under their digital-footprint Credit Assessment Model, the Finance Ministry said on 19 January 2026.
NBWL Standing Committee considers 70 proposals at 88th meeting
The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife, chaired by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, considered 70 proposals in and around protected areas at its 88th meeting in New Delhi on 19 January 2026.
TDB and BIRAC approved as first fund managers of ₹1 lakh crore RDI Fund
The Technology Development Board and BIRAC have been approved as the first Second-Level Fund Managers of the ₹1 lakh crore Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund, with industry project funding to start by the end of January 2026.
Centre of Excellence for power sector regulation launched at IIT Delhi
Union Power Minister Manohar Lal inaugurated the Centre of Excellence for Regulatory Affairs in the Power Sector at IIT Delhi on 19 January 2026.
NDRF Raising Day observed on 19 January
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) marked its Raising Day on 19 January 2026, with greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Navy signs contract with Thane MSME shipyard for three 200-tonne barges
The Indian Navy concluded a contract on 16 January 2026 with Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd, an MSME shipyard in Thane, for three 200-tonne Bottom Opening Non-Propelled Barges.
Overhead electrification masts going up on Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train corridor
The Railways Ministry said on 19 January 2026 that installation of overhead electrification (OHE) masts is progressing on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train corridor, with more than 20,000 masts planned.
About 10,000 special guests invited to 77th Republic Day Parade
About 10,000 special guests from different walks of life were invited to watch the 77th Republic Day Parade at Kartavya Path on 26 January 2026, the Defence Ministry said on 19 January.
Railways run 244 special trains for Mauni Amavasya, 40 in Prayagraj on peak day
Indian Railways ran 244 special trains for the Mauni Amavasya period from 3 January 2026, carrying about 4.5 lakh passengers, with 40 special trains in Prayagraj on 18 January alone.
C-DOT wins SKOCH Award 2025 for Cell Broadcast emergency alert system
The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) received the SKOCH Award 2025 for its Cell Broadcast Solution at the 104th SKOCH Summit, the Communications Ministry said on 19 January 2026.
Sun, 18 Jan 2026
PM lays foundation of ₹6,950 crore Kaziranga Elevated Corridor in Assam
PM Narendra Modi performed the Bhoomi Pujan of the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Project — 4-laning of the Kaliabor–Numaligarh section of NH-715, worth over ₹6,950 crore — at Kaliabor, Assam, on 18 January 2026.
Rajnath Singh opens 30mm ammunition plant in Nagpur, flags off first Guided Pinaka rockets to Armenia
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a Medium Caliber Ammunition Manufacturing Facility at Solar Defence & Aerospace Ltd in Nagpur on 18 January 2026 and flagged off the first tranche of Guided Pinaka rockets to Armenia.
PM launches ₹830 crore projects in Singur, including hybrid electric catamarans and Amrit Bharat trains
PM Narendra Modi inaugurated, laid foundation stones for and flagged off projects worth more than ₹830 crore at Singur in Hooghly district, West Bengal, on 18 January 2026.
INS Sagardhwani flagged off for Sagar Maitri V
DRDO's oceanographic research vessel INS Sagardhwani was flagged off from Kochi on 17 January 2026 for the fifth edition of the Sagar Maitri initiative, the Defence Ministry said on 18 January.
India's first open-sea marine fish farming project launched at North Bay, Andaman
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh launched India's first open-sea marine fish farming project at North Bay, Sri Vijaya Puram, in the Andaman Sea on 18 January 2026.
Power distribution utilities post ₹2,701 crore profit in FY 2024-25 after years of losses
India's power distribution utilities collectively recorded a positive Profit After Tax of ₹2,701 crore in FY 2024-25, against a loss of ₹25,553 crore in FY 2023-24, the Power Ministry said on 18 January 2026.
PM Vishwakarma Haat 2026 opens at Dilli Haat
MSME Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi inaugurated PM Vishwakarma Haat 2026 at Dilli Haat, INA, New Delhi, on 18 January 2026, with more than 117 artisans taking part.
First IndiaSkills regional competition for the North East to be held at Gauhati University
The Skill Development Ministry announced on 18 January 2026 that the North East Regional Competition of IndiaSkills 2025-26 — the first dedicated to the region — would be held at Gauhati University from 19 to 22 January.
Joint Services medical camp in Lakshadweep treats 4,719 patients
The Indian Navy concluded a five-day Joint Services Multi-Speciality Medical Camp across five Lakshadweep islands on 16 January 2026, with 4,719 patients receiving specialist consultations.
High-speed-capable rail track grows to 84,244 km from 31,445 km in 2014
Indian Railways said on 18 January 2026 that track fit for 110 km/h or more has grown from 31,445 km in 2014 to 84,244 km, covering about 80% of the network, and that 6,851 km of track was renewed in 2024-25.
Sat, 17 Jan 2026
Second range-wide estimation of riverine dolphins begins from Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh
The second range-wide estimation of riverine and estuarine dolphins in India began from Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, under Project Dolphin, the Environment Ministry announced on 17 January 2026.
DGCA imposes ₹22.20 crore penalty on IndiGo over December 2025 flight disruptions
The Civil Aviation Ministry said on 17 January 2026 that DGCA imposed penalties totalling ₹22.20 crore on IndiGo and required a ₹50 crore bank guarantee after the airline's 3–5 December 2025 disruptions.
PM flags off India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper train from Malda; ₹3,250 crore projects launched
PM Narendra Modi flagged off India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper train, between Howrah and Guwahati (Kamakhya), at Malda Town station and launched rail and road projects worth ₹3,250 crore in West Bengal on 17 January 2026.
CAQM invokes GRAP Stage IV across Delhi-NCR as AQI crosses 400
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage IV of GRAP across the entire Delhi-NCR on 17 January 2026 after Delhi's AQI rose from 400 at 4 PM to 428 at 8 PM.
Amrit Bharat Express: 30 trains running since December 2023, 9 more services coming
A PIB backgrounder of 17 January 2026 said 30 Amrit Bharat Express trains have run since the service's launch in December 2023, with 9 more services being added, and non-AC sleeper fares of about ₹500 per 1,000 km.
Indian Coast Guard Ship Sankalp makes port call at Port Louis, Mauritius
Indian Coast Guard Ship Sankalp, an Offshore Patrol Vessel on overseas deployment in the Indian Ocean Region, made a port call at Port Louis, Mauritius, on 17 January 2026.
PM attends Bagurumba Dwhou, a Bodo cultural programme, in Guwahati
PM Narendra Modi attended Bagurumba Dwhou, a traditional Bodo cultural programme, at Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati, Assam, on 17 January 2026.
Indian Navy's First Training Squadron arrives at Changi Naval Base, Singapore
The Indian Navy's First Training Squadron (1TS) — INS Tir, INS Shardul, INS Sujata and ICGS Sarathi — arrived at Changi Naval Base, Singapore, on 15 January 2026, the Defence Ministry said on 17 January.
PM pays tribute to Bharat Ratna M.G. Ramachandran on his Jayanti
PM Narendra Modi paid tribute to former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Bharat Ratna Dr M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) on his birth anniversary on 17 January 2026.
Secretary (Defence Production) to lead delegation to 3rd India–Kenya Defence Exhibition in Nairobi
The Defence Ministry announced on 17 January 2026 that Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar would lead a four-member delegation to Kenya for the 3rd India–Kenya Defence Exhibition and Seminar in Nairobi on 19 January.