Daily GK Update- 15th Jan, 2026

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Bajaj Finserv Acquires Allianz’s Stake, Gains Complete Control of Insurance Businesses: Bajaj Finserv, along with Bajaj Holdings & Investment and Jamnalal Sons, acquired Allianz SE’s 23% stake in Bajaj General Insurance and Bajaj Life Insurance for Rs 12,190 crore and Rs 9,200 crore, marking the largest transaction in the Indian insurance sector.The acquisition raises the Bajaj Group’s ownership in both insurance companies from 74% to 97%, giving Bajaj Finserv complete control over the businesses.The remaining 3% stake of Allianz SE is expected to be bought back over the next few months, which will adjust Bajaj Finserv’s holding to approximately 77.3%, Bajaj Holdings & Investment to 18.1%, and the balance with Jamnalal Sons.

 

2. Retail Inflation Hits 3-Month High at 1.33% in December: Retail inflation rose to a three-month high of 1.33% in December 2025, but remained well below the RBI’s lower comfort limit of 2%, reflecting overall price stability.Broad-based price decline kept inflation low, with food and beverages prices contracting by 1.85% in December, mainly due to a high base effect from 7.7% inflation in December 2024.Inflation stayed unchanged at 2.96% for pan, tobacco and intoxicants, eased in clothing & footwear (1.44%), housing (2.86%), and fuel & light (1.97%), while prices of meat, oils and fruits remained above 5%.Core inflation jumped to a 28-month high of 4.8%, driven largely by precious metals; however, core CPI excluding gold and silver stayed stable at 2.4%, indicating limited underlying inflation pressure.

 

3. 12 January – National Youth Day: National Youth Day is observed on 12 January every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.Theme 2026 – Ignite the Self, Impact the WorldThe day celebrates the ideas, ideals, and teachings of Swami Vivekananda, which continue to inspire India’s youth.It aims to motivate young people towards nation-building, character development, and social responsibility.

 

4. Why Defining the Aravalli Hills Has Become India’s Latest Ecological Flashpoint: Stretching nearly 680 km across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi, and older than the Himalayas by geological time, the Aravalli ranges are among India’s most critical — and most contested — ecological systems. What should have been a technical exercise to define these ancient hills has instead triggered protests, legal reversals and fears of large-scale ecological loss, exposing a deeper policy contradiction between conservation, mining and climate resilience. The Aravalli ranges act as a natural barrier against the eastward spread of the Thar desert and play a key role in deflecting westerly winds, bringing winter rainfall to Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and western Uttar Pradesh. Their forests function as vital carbon sinks, moderating winter air pollution in Delhi-NCR, while their fractured geology supports groundwater recharge and biodiversity across semi-arid north-west India.Ecologically, these hills are far more than “elevated landforms”. They are integrated systems of ridges, slopes, scrub forests, valleys and aquifers — many of which lie well below dramatic hilltops.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. NHAI Sets Four Guinness World Records During Construction of Bengaluru–Kadapa–Vijayawada Corridor : NHAI created four Guinness World Records during construction of the Bengaluru–Kadapa–Vijayawada Economic Corridor (NH-544G), showcasing unprecedented speed and scale in highway paving works.On January 6, two global records were set near Puttaparthi, including the longest continuous laying of bituminous concrete (28.89 lane km) and the highest quantity laid in 24 hours (10,655 metric tons).Two more records were achieved on January 11, with continuous paving of 156 lane km and laying of 57,500 metric tons of bituminous concrete, surpassing the previous world record.The 343 km, access-controlled six-lane corridor will significantly cut travel time by nearly four hours, boost regional connectivity in Andhra Pradesh, and support economic growth once completed.

 

2. India Registers High-Yielding Synthetic Cattle Breeds: India has expanded its livestock genetic base with the registration of two high-yielding synthetic cattle breeds capable of producing over 3,000 kg of milk in a 10-month lactation period. With this addition, the country’s total number of registered livestock and poultry breeds has reached 246, reinforcing India’s dual strategy of productivity enhancement and indigenous breed conservation. Agriculture Minister “Shivraj Singh Chouhan” presented registration certificates for 16 newly recognised livestock and poultry breeds at an event organised by “Indian Council of Agricultural Research”–National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources. The registration provides legal recognition and supports region-specific breeding and development programmes under government schemes. Emphasising sustainability, ICAR Director General “M L Jat” underlined the need to conserve indigenous genetic resources in the face of climate change. Of the 16 newly registered breeds, 14 are indigenous, including Medini and Rohikhandi cattle, Melghati buffalo, Palamu and Udaipuri goats, and Nagami Mithun. Several poultry and waterfowl breeds from eastern and southern India were also included, highlighting regional biodiversity.

 

3. US Suspends Immigrant Visas for 75 Countries: The United States has announced an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, starting January 21, as part of a renewed immigration crackdown under President Donald Trump’s administration. The decision, confirmed by the US State Department, has triggered widespread debate due to the unexpected inclusion of several economically stable and friendly nations. The suspension applies only to immigrant visas, including family-based and employment-based permanent residency pathways. Non-immigrant visas such as tourist, student, and business visas remain unaffected. According to officials, the pause will continue until a comprehensive reassessment of screening and eligibility standards is completed. The move follows earlier directives asking US diplomats to prioritise financial self-sufficiency among visa applicants.

 

4. Iran’s Unrest Beyond the Headlines: Economic Anger, Regime Tactics, and What It Means for India: The latest wave of civic unrest in Iran has unfolded amid heavy information fog and sharply polarised narratives. Yet reducing it to binaries — regime versus people, foreign hand versus domestic anger — misses the deeper structural story. What began as an economic protest over currency collapse has exposed the limits of Iran’s governance model, even as the state appears to have weathered the immediate storm. For India, located in Iran’s extended geopolitical neighbourhood, the implications are far from remote. The immediate trigger for the crisis was economic despair. On December 28, 2025, merchants in Tehran’s historic bazaars — the influential “Bazaari” class — shut down shops to protest the relentless devaluation of the rial. While the official exchange rate remained pegged at 42,000 rials to a dollar, the market rate had collapsed to around 1.45 million, reflecting decades of erosion since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

In 2025 alone, the rial lost nearly 45% of its value, making it impossible for traders to import essentials such as rice, sugar and edible oil at market prices and sell them domestically at government-controlled rates. As losses mounted, the agitation spilled beyond merchants. Unemployed youth, low-paid workers and urban poor joined in, transforming a sectoral protest into a country-wide anti-government movement marked by arson, vandalism and violent clashes.

By January 13, Iranian authorities claimed over 2,000 deaths, attributing the violence to unnamed “terrorists” — a familiar framing in moments of crisis.

 

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. India’s strategic deterrence is anchored by the Agni-5 intercontinental ballistic missile, with a range exceeding 5,000 km and multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle capability. Complementing it is Agni-Prime, a new-generation medium-range ballistic missile with a 1,000–2,000 km reach, designed for rapid deployment and enhanced survivability through canisterisation.

 

SPORTS

 

1. MS Dhoni Named Goodwill Ambassador for Pune Grand Tour 2026: Former India captain MS Dhoni has been appointed Goodwill Ambassador for the Pune Grand Tour 2026, marking a significant step in India’s entry into the global professional cycling circuit. The five-day international road cycling race will be held in Pune from January 19 to 23, positioning the city and the country prominently on the world cycling map. The Pune Grand Tour 2026 will be India’s first-ever Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) 2.2 category Continental Road Cycling Race for men. Spanning five stages, the event will cover a demanding 437-km route across the Deccan Plateau and the Sahyadri Range. The course features sharp bends, varied terrain, and significant elevation changes, designed to test endurance and tactical skills.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. 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.

 

2. AI’s Hidden Carbon Cost: Why the Environmental Impact of Algorithms Needs Policy Attention: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is widely discussed as a transformative tool — from improving health diagnostics to boosting agricultural productivity. Far less attention, however, is paid to the environmental footprint of developing and deploying AI systems. Recent international reports suggest that behind the promise of “smart” technologies lies a growing and largely unaccounted ecological cost, raising questions that are particularly relevant for countries like India that are rapidly expanding their digital and AI ambitions. A working paper by the OECD on measuring the environmental impacts of AI compute highlights a fundamental concern: advanced AI models require enormous computational power, which in turn demands electricity, water and physical infrastructure. The global information and communication technology (ICT) sector — including devices such as televisions and servers — is already estimated to account for roughly 1.8% to 2.8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with some studies placing the figure even higher.Isolating the precise carbon footprint of AI is difficult because companies rarely disclose detailed energy-use data. This opacity has led to contested claims. For instance, a 2025 report by Google suggested that a single text-based AI prompt consumes just 0.24 watt-hours of electricity. Critics argue that such figures, while technically accurate at the user level, obscure the cumulative energy costs of training, maintaining and cooling large-scale AI systems.

 

 

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. IEPFA Organises Niveshak Shivir in Bengaluru to Resolve Unclaimed Investment Claims: The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, in collaboration with SEBI and Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs), organised a Niveshak Shivir in Bengaluru to facilitate the resolution of unclaimed dividends, shares, and pending IEPFA claims.The one-day investor facilitation camp provided a single-window platform for grievance redressal, claim assistance, KYC and nomination updates, with active participation from over 900 investors across Karnataka.The event was attended by senior officials from IEPFA, SEBI, MIIs, RTAs, BSE and CDSL, including Smt. Anita Shah Akella, CEO, IEPFA, highlighting strong institutional support for investor services.IEPFA launched an explainer booklet, “A Complete Guide to IEPFA Claims and Investor Services”, to enhance investor awareness and ensure smoother claim resolution.The Bengaluru camp followed successful editions of Niveshak Shivir held earlier in Pune, Hyderabad, Jaipur and Amritsar.

 

2. RBI Revises WMA Limits to Strengthen Cash Management for States and UTs: The RBI has included the Government of NCT of Delhi (GNCTD) under its standard cash management framework, fixing a Ways and Means Advances (WMA) limit of ₹890 crore effective from January 9, 2026.With Delhi’s inclusion, the aggregate WMA limit for all States and UTs increased to ₹61,008 crore from ₹60,118 crore, while limits for other States and UTs remain unchanged.WMAs are short-term liquidity facilities provided by the RBI to manage temporary cash mismatches and do not expand borrowing capacity or finance fiscal deficits, ensuring continued fiscal discipline.Structurally, the move is significant as it aligns Delhi with RBI’s institutional cash management system, improves liquidity planning, enhances transparency, and strengthens sub-national fiscal stability without impacting markets or long-term debt.

 

3. RBI Proposes Mandatory Cooling-Off Period for Directors of Co-operative Banks: The RBI has proposed amendments to its Governance Directions, 2025 for Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) and Rural Co-operative Banks, introducing a mandatory three-year cooling-off period for directors completing the maximum tenure.The move aims to prevent circumvention of tenure limits, after RBI observed cases where directors resigned briefly and returned through re-election or co-option, undermining the intent of the Banking Regulation Act.Under the proposal, directors completing 10 years of continuous tenure will be eligible for reappointment to the same bank’s board only after three years, with the cooling-off period counting even if breaks are less than three years.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Karnataka Bank Wins IBA Award for Fintech Adoption: Karnataka Bank has emerged as a key winner at the Indian Banks’ Association Banking Technology Awards, underlining its growing focus on digital transformation and technology-led banking. The bank secured the top honour in the ‘Best Fintech & DPI Adoption’ category, reflecting its progress in leveraging digital public infrastructure and fintech-driven solutions. The ‘Best Fintech & DPI Adoption’ award recognises banks that effectively integrate fintech solutions and India’s digital public infrastructure to enhance service delivery. Karnataka Bank’s initiatives in this area were evaluated for scalability, security, and customer impact. The recognition places the bank among leading adopters of advanced digital frameworks in the Indian banking sector. In addition to the top award, Karnataka Bank was adjudged runner-up in the ‘Best Tech Talent’ category, highlighting its efforts in building and retaining skilled technology professionals. The bank also received Special Mention in three categories: ‘Best Technology Bank’, ‘Best Digital Financial Inclusion’, and ‘Best Digital Sales’. These honours collectively point to a broad-based approach to digital banking rather than isolated technology upgrades.