Current Affairs

Union Budget 2026–27, presented in Parliament by Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, is first prepared in Kartavya Bhawan and structured around three kartavya for Viksit Bharat: growth, inclusion and resilience. Since 15 Aug 2025, 350+ reforms include GST simplification and labour code notification. Public capex rises to ₹12.2 lakh crore (BE 2026–27); ₹10,000 crore SME Growth Fund announced. DFC Dankuni–Surat and 20 National Waterways (from NW-5, Odisha) planned. Fiscal deficit targeted at 4.3% and debt-GDP 55.6%. New Income Tax Act, 2025 effective April 2026; TCS under LRS cut to 2%.

Prime Minister addressed the first India–EU Business Forum in New Delhi, held during the 16th India–EU Summit. Launched in 2026, it aims to strengthen India–EU economic partnership via trade, investment and business collaboration, supporting the India–EU FTA (concluding 2026; EU India’s 22nd FTA partner), R&D, services and resilient supply chains. Priorities: de-risking EVs/batteries/semiconductors/APIs; defence/space/telecom/AI; green transition (hydrogen/solar/smart grids); nuclear SMR cooperation. India (4th) and EU (2nd) together form 25% of global GDP; EU–India goods trade USD 137.41 billion (2023–24).

France’s National Assembly passed (116–23) a bill to ban under-15s from accessing social media platforms and embedded social networking features (e.g., Facebook/Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat), mandating EU-law-compliant age verification. It goes to the Senate; government targets implementation by September (next academic year). It also extends school smartphone bans to high schools. Macron cited youth violence and mental-health risks; 2024 Harris Interactive found 73% support.

India reports widespread vitamin D deficiency: 30–50% have levels <20 ng/dl (insufficiency 21–30; sufficiency 31–75; toxic >100). Vitamin D is fat-soluble (with A, E, K), difficult to excrete; excess may cause toxicity. Types: D2 (ergocalciferol; almonds, mushrooms) and D3 (cholecalciferol; fish, egg, liver); vegetarian diets often poor. Causes include low sunlight exposure, pollution and limited dairy fortification. Receptors exist in most tissues; roles include bone-mineral metabolism, immunity and mood. Deficiency is linked to muscle weakness, falls, respiratory infections, TB, cardiovascular and metabolic disorders (diabetes). Fortification needs toxicity testing, limited in India; supplementation follow-up blood test at 2–3 months; intake: children/adults 600–800 IU/day, elderly 800–1000, pregnant women 1000–1200.

Scuba divers reported a rare live sighting of whale shark (Rhincodon typus) off Visakhapatnam’s Chinna Rushikonda coast, highlighting monitoring needs in India’s coastal waters. The world’s largest fish inhabits epipelagic and coastal–oceanic zones, migrating along India’s east coast (Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Machilipatnam). It is Endangered and listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; threats include fishing/by-catch, ship strikes, pollution and irresponsible tourism.

International Data Privacy Day is observed annually on 28 January, designated in 2006 by the Council of Europe, commemorating the signing of Convention 108, the world’s first legally binding international treaty on data protection. It promotes awareness on personal data privacy in the digital age, with shared responsibility of government, platforms and citizens. India, the world’s 3rd-largest digitalised economy, follows DPDP Act, 2023 and DPDP Rules, 2025; Budget 2025-26 allocates Rs 782 crore for cybersecurity.

India’s Gallantry Awards are conferred by the President, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, for acts of bravery, valour or self-sacrifice in wartime and peacetime. Wartime awards (instituted 26 January 1950): Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra. Peacetime awards (instituted 4 January 1952): Ashoka Chakra Class I–III, renamed in 1967 as Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra. The Ministry of Defence invites recommendations twice yearly from the Armed Forces and Union Ministry of Home Affairs; awards are announced on Republic Day and Independence Day.

Two Bactrian camels will feature in the 2026 Republic Day Parade. The Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus), named after Bactria (ancient Central Asian region), is a large even-toed ungulate native to Central Asian steppes and arid zones, including the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts. In India, about 300–400 occur, all in Ladakh’s Nubra Valley. It has two fat-storing humps, thick winter fur, tolerates −30°C to 40°C, and is IUCN Critically Endangered.

Some States have reported issues over the Governor’s address to the State Legislature at the start of the year’s first session, raising questions on Articles 175 and 176. Article 175 allows the Governor to address or send messages to the House(s) anytime (discretionary), while Article 176 mandates a special address at the first session after each general election and the first session each year. Both are on Council of Ministers’ aid and advice, as affirmed in Nabam Rebia (2016).

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) conducted a high-altitude rescue and road restoration operation at Chatergala Pass (~10,500 ft) in Jammu & Kashmir to restore connectivity between Bhaderwah (Doda district) and Basohli (Kathua district). BRO, established in 1960, has been under the Ministry of Defence’s administrative control since 2015. It strengthens border connectivity and strategic infrastructure (roads, tunnels) through civilian-military personnel.

NASA introduced ExoMiner++, a deep learning software tool to support exoplanet detection. It analyses datasets from NASA’s Kepler mission and the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). ExoMiner++ scans stellar “light curves” to detect signature brightness dips (transits) when a planet passes in front of its star. It provides explainable-AI outputs, including probability scores and specific reasoning, aiding astronomers’ scientific trust.

Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) was named a finalist for the 2026 Franz Edelman Award for Anna Chakra, an operations research–based decision support system for supply-chain optimisation under the Public Distribution System (PDS), optimising state-specific foodgrain logistics using advanced algorithms. Developed with WFP India and IIT Delhi, it integrates PM Gati Shakti and Railways’ FOIS via ULIP. Edelman honours high-value OR/analytics; winner gets $10,000.

DRDO showcased the indigenously developed LR-AShM (Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile) hypersonic glide missile system and its launcher at the 77th Republic Day parade, its first public appearance. Designed for the Indian Navy, it meets land-based coastal battery requirements for anti-ship coastal defence. Hypersonic vehicles exceed Mach 5 and follow low, manoeuvrable trajectories, making detection/interception difficult, enabling rapid, precise strikes and enhancing sea-denial and deterrence in the Indian Ocean Region.

Microsoft launched Maia 200, its second-generation in-house AI chip (original Maia: 2023), manufactured by TSMC on 3-nanometre technology. It is live in a Microsoft data centre in Iowa, deployed across US data centres with rollout planned for Arizona. Designed for large-scale AI workloads (chatbots, generative AI), it reduces reliance on Nvidia. It uses HBM (older-gen) and large SRAM, and bundles an open-source software stack including Triton (with OpenAI contributions) to rival CUDA.

Botanical Survey of India recorded a new flowering plant, Strobilanthes riteshii (Acanthaceae), from Chayangtajo, East Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh. Named after Dr Ritesh Kumar Choudhary, it grows on open hill slopes along roadsides near streams/waterfalls in evergreen patches. Endemic to Eastern Himalayan Arunachal; ~25 mature individuals noted. Resembles S. gigantea; purple-violet bell flowers. Flowers Aug–Oct; fruits Sep–Dec. IUCN: Data Deficient; threats include road widening, jhum cultivation, and stream pollution.

India observes the 16th National Voters’ Day on 25 January to promote voter participation and democratic values, commemorating the Election Commission of India’s establishment in 1950 under Article 324. Launched in 2011, NVD honours voters, encourages youth enrolment and universal adult suffrage. The ECI theme is “My India, My Vote” with tagline “Citizen at the Heart of Indian Democracy”. Main event in New Delhi includes EPIC distribution by the President and National Electoral Awards for electoral management excellence nationwide.

PM Modi congratulated 2026 Padma awardees. Padma Awards (instituted 1954)-Padma Vibhushan/Bhushan/Shri—are top civilian honours, conferred annually by President with sanad+medallion for arts, social work, public affairs, science, industry, medicine, literature, education, sports, civil services. Public nominations (self ok); all eligible; govt/PSU staff ineligible except doctors, scientists; usually non-posthumous; cap 120 (excl posthumous, NRI/foreigner/OCI); non-title. Committee yearly by PM: Cabinet Secretary (chair), Home Secretary, Secretary to President, 4–6 eminent; recommendations to PM+President.

Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, is the world’s largest non-continental island in the North Atlantic–Arctic, between North America and Europe; about two-thirds lies above the Arctic Circle. Dominated by the world’s 2nd-largest ice sheet, nearly half is protected as the National Park of Greenland (world’s largest). It is in NATO via Denmark, hosts a key U.S. air base, and lies in a region rich in oil, gas and critical minerals; melting ice opens new Arctic routes amid U.S.-Russia-China competition. India, Arctic Council Observer since 2013, tracks Greenland ice-melt impacts on sea level/monsoon; India operates Himadri in Svalbard.

CERT-In, under MeitY, is India’s national cyber incident response agency, established in 2004 under Section 70B of the IT Act, 2000; it analyses incidents, issues alerts and coordinates with law enforcement. Key mechanisms include Cyber Swachhta Kendra, National Cyber Coordination Centre, sectoral/state CSIRTs (e.g., CSIRT-Fin, CSIRT-Power), Cyber Crisis Management Plan, and Security Assurance Framework. NCIIPC (Sec 70A) protects critical infrastructure; I4C (MHA) runs the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal; National Cyber Security Coordinator (NSCS) ensures inter-agency coordination; CFCFRMS provides helpline 1930.

India’s 77th Republic Day Parade (26 January 2026) is a ~90‑minute event with 18 marching contingents and 13 military bands; chief guests are European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Portugal PM Antonio Costa. Firsts include Suryastra indigenous universal rocket launcher (surface‑to‑surface deep strike up to 300 km) and newly raised Bhairav Light Commando Battalion. Shaktiban fields drones/counter‑drones/loiter munitions; displays include BrahMos, Akash, MRSAM, ATAGS, Dhanush, Rafale/Apache flypast, Bactrian camels, Zanskar ponies, dogs, raptors led by Capt Harshita Raghav, Mixed Scouts, and tableaux marking 150 years of “Vande Mataram”.

World Economic Forum (WEF) is establishing five new Centres for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including one in Andhra Pradesh, India, besides centres in France, the UK and the UAE. Partnered with the Andhra Pradesh government, it will operate as the Centre for Energy and Cyber Resilience, focusing on energy transition and cyber resilience. WEF’s 4IR network (launched 2017; term coined 2016 by Klaus Schwab) supports policy frameworks, pilots and cooperation; India already hosts centres in Mumbai and Telangana.

Kerala declared Bacillus subtilis its State Microbe and dedicated the Centre of Excellence in Microbiome (CoEM) to the public, becoming India’s first State to officially name a state microbe. Proposed by CoEM Director Dr Sabu Thomas, B. subtilis is a widely found probiotic, a model organism with heat-resistant spores and sequenced genome. CoEM, motto “Microbes for Life”, was set up via KSCSTE with K-DISC, mentored by RGCB. India named Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus National Microbe (Oct 2012).

UNCTAD’s GITM report (2025) analyses foreign direct investment (FDI) patterns and supply-chain integration policies. UNCTAD, founded in 1964 and based in Geneva, is the UN’s principal organ for trade, investment and development. India’s 2025 FDI inflows surged 73% to $47 billion, driven by services and manufacturing; services included finance, IT and R&D. Global FDI rose 14% to $1.6 trillion. China’s FDI fell 8% to $107.5 billion, declining for a third year.

Atlas of Climate Adaptation in Indian Agriculture (ACASA-India) is a digital platform developed by the ICAR-led National Agricultural Research and Extension System (NARES) with BISA–CIMMYT to enable location-specific, data-driven climate adaptation planning and guide government investment for climate-risk mitigation. It aligns with ICAR’s NICRA (2011), which validates climate-resilient technologies. Climate change may cut yields 4.5–9% and GDP 1.5% annually; 57% rural households depend on farming; 51% net sown area is rainfed, producing ~40% food, worsening undernourishment and malnutrition risks.

The President of India inaugurated Granth Kutir at Rashtrapati Bhavan as a manuscript repository. It houses manuscripts and books in 11 classical languages: Tamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Odia, Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali. The collection spans epics, philosophy, linguistics, history, governance, science, devotional literature and the Constitution of India. It supports the Ministry of Culture’s Gyan Bharatam Mission to preserve, digitise and disseminate manuscript heritage.