NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Uttarakhand Police Tops ICJS 2.0 Rankings: Uttarakhand Police secured first position nationally in the ICJS 2.0
rankings with a score of 93.46, as per the NCRB’s CCTNS/ICJS
Progress Dashboard, ahead of Haryana and Assam.The achievement reflects
advanced digital adoption, strong inter-departmental coordination, and
effective implementation of ICJS modules across districts under the “One Data, One Entry” principle.The
Uttarakhand SDRF earned national praise for exemplary service at Prayagraj
Mahakumbh-2025, where a 112-member team provided rescue, medical aid, crowd
management, and pilgrim assistance, receiving medals and commendations from the
UP Government.
2. New Reed Snake Species Calamaria mizoramensis
Discovered in Mizoram: Researchers have discovered a new reed snake species in
Mizoram, named Calamaria
mizoramensis, after the state where it was found.The discovery was
led by Prof. H. T. Lalremsanga of Mizoram University, along with Indian and
international collaborators, and was published in Zootaxa.Belonging to the
genus Calamaria (69 species globally), the newly identified snake is
non-venomous, nocturnal, and semi-fossorial, inhabiting humid forested hill
regions.
3. India Energy Week 2026 to be held in Goa from January
27–30: India Energy Week (IEW) 2026 will
be held in Goa from January 27 to 30, bringing
together global ministers, CEOs, policymakers, academia and technology leaders
to discuss energy security, investment and decarbonisation.Organised under the patronage of the Ministry
of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and jointly hosted by FIPI and dmg events,
IEW 2026 will be the first major international energy event of the year, with
participation expected from 120+ countries.The event will highlight India’s
growing role in the global energy landscape, with discussions aligned to IEA
projections that India will account for over 23% of global incremental energy
demand by 2050, alongside strategies for clean energy transition.
4. India’s First Fully Paperless District Judiciary
Inaugurated in Kalpetta, Kerala: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant virtually inaugurated India’s first fully paperless
district judiciary at Kalpetta in Wayanad district, Kerala, marking a
major milestone in judicial reform.All courts in the district will function in
end-to-end digital mode, with e-filing, online scrutiny, and digital access to
case records through an in-house District Court Case Management System
developed by the Kerala High Court.The paperless courts are supported by
AI-enabled tools, including case summarisation, digital annotations,
voice-to-text transcription, and secure digital signatures for legally valid
orders and judgments.Describing the initiative as “green jurisprudence,” the CJI said the move ends the “tyranny of
the file,” enhances transparency, accessibility, accountability, and builds
greater public trust in the justice delivery system.
5. 9 January – NRI (Non-Resident Indian) Day / Pravasi
Bharatiya Divas: Pravasi Bharatiya
Divas is celebrated every year on 9th January to mark the contribution of
Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to India’s development.The day commemorates the
return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India in 1915, who became a key
figure in India’s freedom struggle.It aims to strengthen the bond between India
and its diaspora, recognize their achievements, and promote engagement in
India’s growth.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 Begins at Bharat
Mandapam: New Delhi World Book Fair
(NDWBF) 2026 begins at Bharat
Mandapam, New Delhi, and runs till January 18, 2026, and for the
first time offers free entry to promote a stronger reading culture across India.The
53rd edition is organised by the National Book Trust (NBT), India, under the
Ministry of Education, with participation from 35+ countries, 1,000+
publishers, 3,000+ stalls, and 600 literary & cultural events.The fair will
be inaugurated by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and is based on
the theme “Indian Military
History: Valour & Wisdom @ 75”, honouring the legacy and
sacrifices of India’s armed forces.Qatar has been named the Guest of Honour and
Spain the Focus Country, adding rich international literary and cultural
perspectives to one of the world’s largest book fairs.
2. WEF Annual Meeting 2026 to Be Held in Davos-Klosters
from January 19–23: The World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2026 will be held
from January 19 to 23, 2026, at
Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, marking the 56th edition of the global
forum.The meeting will bring together world leaders, policymakers, business
executives, economists and civil society representatives to deliberate on major
global challenges.Theme – A Spirit of
Dialogue.India’s participation will include representation from 10
States and four Union Ministers, highlighting the country’s active engagement
in global economic and policy discussions.States Andhra Pradesh, Assam,
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Jharkhand, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh,
Karnataka and Gujarat German economist
Klaus Schwab founded the World Economic Forum in 1971 as a non-profit
international organisation to provide a platform to promote collaboration
between all stakeholders of global society to find common solutions to global
issues.
3. 8 January – African National Congress Foundation Day: African National Congress
(ANC) Foundation Day, celebrated on 8 January, marks the establishment of the ANC in 1912, the
party that played a central role in South Africa’s struggle against
apartheid.The day recognises the ANC’s contributions to democracy, equality,
and social justice, honouring leaders and activists who fought for liberation.
4. 10 January – World Hindi Day: World Hindi Day is
observed every year on 10th
January to promote the Hindi language globally.Theme 2026 – Promoting Hindi on Global PlatformsThe
day aims to spread awareness about Hindi, encourage its use internationally,
and honour its cultural and literary significance.It commemorates the first
World Hindi Conference held in 1975 in Nagpur, which marked the recognition of
Hindi as a global language.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Army Day Highlights India’s Missile
Strength: India
observes Army Day every year on January 15 to commemorate the appointment of
Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the
Indian Army in 1949. On the eve of the occasion, attention has turned to the
missile systems that form the backbone of India’s military deterrence,
reflecting decades of indigenous development and strategic planning. Army Day
honours the professionalism, discipline, and sacrifices of the Indian Army
under the leadership of pioneers such as K. M. Cariappa. In the contemporary
security environment, missile capabilities are central to safeguarding national
sovereignty, enabling credible deterrence across land, sea, and air domains.
BrahMos, the supersonic cruise missile jointly developed with Russia, represents India’s premier
precision-strike weapon, with an extended range variant of up to 800 km nearing
induction. Alongside it, the Nirbhay long-range land attack cruise missile
offers subsonic, terrain-hugging penetration for deep strikes against
high-value infrastructure and command centres.
2. 10th Defence Forces Veterans’ Day Observed
Nationwide: India marked
the 10th Defence Forces Veterans’ Day on January 14, 2026, with nationwide
events honouring the service, sacrifice and continued contribution of
ex-servicemen. Rallies, wreath-laying ceremonies, grievance redressal counters
and facilitation help desks were organised across States and Union Territories,
reflecting the country’s institutional and social commitment towards veterans.
The central समारोह was
held at the Manekshaw Centre, Delhi Cantt, and was graced by Raksha Mantri
“Rajnath Singh”. Around 2,500 veterans from Delhi and NCR participated.
Addressing the gathering, he described veterans as living pillars of national
consciousness and urged them to guide youth, mentor Agniveers, assist civil
administration during emergencies and strengthen grassroots patriotism. He
underlined that a soldier never truly retires, as the spirit of service remains
lifelong.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. 8 January- Earth’s Rotations Day: Celebrated every year on 8 January to recognise the Earth’s
rotation on its axis.Highlights how Earth’s rotation causes day and night and
affects climate, timekeeping, and planetary motion.Aims to raise awareness
about astronomy and Earth sciences, helping people understand planetary
dynamics.
2. India’s Renewable Energy Push Is Running
Into a Grid Wall: India’s green
energy transition is often projected as a success story of scale and
speed. Renewable
energy capacity has surged
from about 75 GW in 2015 to nearly 250 GW in 2025. Yet, beneath this headline
growth lies a serious structural problem: electricity grids and transmission
networks are failing to keep pace with renewable generation. The result is
rising curtailment, stranded capacity, financial stress for developers, and a
slowing momentum in what is meant to be a cornerstone of India’s climate
strategy. India today has one of the world’s largest
transmission networks. However, renewable energy capacity
has expanded far faster than the grid’s ability to evacuate power. Solar and
wind projects can be commissioned within a year, while transmission lines
typically take at least two years, often more, because of land, forest and
regulatory hurdles.Between 2019 and 2025, India’s solar capacity alone tripled
from around 35 GW to over 100 GW, growing at nearly 24% annually. Over the same
period, transmission capacity grew at barely 6.5%. This mismatch has created a
generation overshoot, where power is available but cannot be transported to
demand centres.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. FSS Becomes First Payments Company in
India and APAC to Achieve ISO/IEC 42001 AI Governance Certification: Financial Software and Systems (FSS) has become the first
payments company in India, the Middle East, APAC, and South Africa to be
certified as ISO/IEC 42001 Lead, highlighting its leadership in
responsible and ethical AI use in payments and banking technology.By achieving
ISO/IEC 42001 certification, FSS has shifted from ad-hoc AI usage to a formal,
organisation-wide AI governance framework, making AI governance a core business
priority alongside information security and quality management.The ISO/IEC 42001
framework ensures clear ownership, defined governance structures, continuous
monitoring, and proactive risk assessment, addressing AI-specific challenges
like fairness, explainability, and accountability, which are critical in
financial services.
2. K. Balasubrahmanian Assumes Charge as Chairman of
Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB): Shri
A. K. Balasubrahmanian Assumes Charge as Chairman of Atomic Energy
Regulatory Board (AERB), succeeding Dr D. K. Shukla.He earlier served as
Chairman of the Project Design Safety Committee for PHWR-based Nuclear Power
Plants and as a Member of the Safety Review Committee for operating plants of
AERB.
3. Ramesh Kumar Juneja Assumes Charge as Chairman of
Council for Leather Exports (CLE):
Ramesh Kumar Juneja has taken charge as Chairman of the Council for
Leather Exports (CLE) during the 184th meeting of the Committee of
Administration. Juneja has been a board member for over 15 years and has served
as Regional Chairman of the Eastern Region since 2014, and as Vice-Chairman of
CLE since April 2024.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang Wins 2026 IEEE Medal of Honor for Pioneering Accelerated Computing: NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang has been awarded the 2026 IEEE Medal of Honor, the highest recognition of IEEE, carrying a $2 million prize.He was honoured for a lifetime of visionary leadership and pioneering contributions to accelerated computing, which positioned NVIDIA at the forefront of global technological innovation. Under his leadership, NVIDIA invented the first GPU in 1999 and became the first company to cross $5 trillion market capitalization (October 2025), enabling breakthroughs across AI, medicine, robotics, and autonomous systems.
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