Daily GK Update- 19th Jan, 2026

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. NITI Aayog Releases Export Preparedness Index 2024: NITI Aayog released the Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2024, the 4th edition of the index, which assesses export readiness across India’s States and Union Territories; the first edition was published in August 2020. and the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, providing an evidence-based framework for strengthening subnational export ecosystems.The Index evaluates the strength, resilience, and inclusiveness of export systems at the State and district levels, while identifying structural challenges, growth drivers, and policy opportunities.The EPI 2024 framework is based on 4 pillars, 13 sub-pillars, and 70 indicators, enabling a granular and policy-relevant assessment of export preparedness.The four pillars are Export Infrastructure, Business Ecosystem, Policy & Governance, and Export Performance, covering areas such as logistics, finance, MSMEs, human capital, and trade facilitation.

 

2. Makaravilakku Festival Celebrations Commence at Sabarimala Temple in Kerala: The annual Makaravilakku festival celebrations have begun at the Sabarimala temple in Kerala, attracting thousands of devotees of Lord Ayyappa.The festival is observed on Makara Sankrama night, considered one of the most sacred occasions in the Sabarimala pilgrimage calendar.The highlight of the festival is the Makarajyothi, a divine celestial light that appears in the evening at Ponnambalamedu, witnessed by lakhs of pilgrims.

 

3. Government and Netflix Conclude ‘Inspiring Innovators – Naye Bharat Ki Nayi Pehchaan’ Initiative: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, in collaboration with Netflix Fund for Creative Equity, concluded the ‘Inspiring Innovators – Naye Bharat Ki Nayi Pehchaan’ initiative.The programme aimed to promote social innovation through impactful storytelling while training young creative talent across India.The initiative was implemented with the support of Graphiti Studios, focusing on nurturing innovation-driven narratives.

 

4. Centre Launches ‘Paripoorna Mediclaim Ayush Bima’ for CGHS Beneficiaries: The Department of Financial Services launched Paripoorna Mediclaim Ayush Bima for Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) beneficiaries, offering cashless treatment, modern medical procedures, and access to a wide hospital network.The policy is exclusively for CGHS beneficiaries, covering up to six family members per policy, and provides indemnity-based in-patient hospitalisation coverage within India.Beneficiaries can choose a sum insured of ₹10 lakh or ₹20 lakh, with an optional co-payment structure of 70:30 or 50:50 between the insurer and the subscriber.The insurance will be available as a retail product without GST to ensure affordability and can be purchased through New India Assurance Company Limited’s offices and online platform.

 

5. WEF Davos 2026 Begins With India in Spotlight : The “World Economic Forum” Annual Meeting 2026 begins today in Davos, Switzerland, bringing together more than 3,000 global leaders at a time of slowing growth, geopolitical strain, rapid technological change, and declining global trust. Held under the theme “A Spirit of Dialogue”, the five-day summit aims to revive cooperation between governments, businesses, and institutions amid mounting global uncertainty. Discussions at Davos this year are centred on economic resilience, artificial intelligence, energy transition, global risks, and geopolitics. Policymakers and corporate leaders are expected to debate how AI-led growth can be balanced with job creation, financial stability, and ethical governance. Climate finance, supply-chain resilience, and rebuilding trust in global institutions are also prominent on the agenda. For India, Davos remains a critical platform to project policy continuity, reform momentum, and openness to global capital. As the world’s fastest-growing major economy, India is positioning itself as a current engine of global growth rather than a future opportunity. The focus is on attracting long-term investment, integrating into global value chains, and strengthening partnerships in manufacturing, digital infrastructure, and clean energy.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. IPA Launches Pharmaceutical Academy for Global Excellence (PAGE) in Ahmedabad to Bridge Industry Skill Gap: The Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) has launched the Pharmaceutical Academy for Global Excellence (PAGE) in Ahmedabad, Gujarat to address the gap between academic output and industry-ready skills in India’s pharmaceutical sector. The initiative was inaugurated in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Gujarat Chief Minister, with IPA committing USD 50 million to establish and operate the programme.

 

2. Kochi to Host 9th International Spice Conference (ISC 2026) in February: Kochi, Kerala, will host the 9th International Spice Conference (ISC 2026) from February 23 to 26, bringing global focus to India’s role in the international spice economy.Organised by the All India Spices Exporters Forum (AISEF), the four-day conference themed “Spice 360 – Getting Future Ready” will address challenges like changing trade dynamics, climate change and evolving consumer preferences.The conference will be inaugurated by Amitabh Kant, former G20 Sherpa and ex-CEO of NITI Aayog, with Martin Sonntag, CEO of Oterra, attending as Guest of Honour.

 

3. Nagaland–Beijing Study Turns Apple Leaves into Corrosion Shield : A joint research collaboration between Indian and Chinese universities has unveiled a sustainable method to protect metals from corrosion using waste apple leaves. The breakthrough offers an eco-friendly alternative to toxic industrial inhibitors and highlights the growing role of green chemistry in infrastructure and manufacturing. The study was conducted by researchers from Nagaland University and the University of Science and Technology Beijing. Led by Prof. Ambrish Singh and Prof. Yujie Qiang, the international team focused on converting discarded apple leaves into high-performance corrosion inhibitors. The collaboration demonstrates how cross-border academic partnerships can address global industrial challenges through sustainable science. Researchers developed carbon quantum dots derived from apple leaves using a green hydrothermal process. These nanoscale particles, doped with nitrogen and sulfur, create multiple active sites that strongly bind to metal surfaces. Laboratory tests showed that these apple-leaf carbon quantum dots can suppress copper corrosion in acidic environments with inhibition efficiency ranging from 94% to 96.2%, even at low concentrations and extended exposure periods.

 

4. China Population Declines for Fourth Year Despite Incentives: China’s demographic decline deepened in 2025 as the country recorded its fourth consecutive annual fall in population, underlining mounting social and economic pressures despite expanded family-support policies. Official data released on Monday showed that the population fell by 3 million to 1.404 billion, keeping “China” as the world’s second-most populous nation, behind India.The number of births dropped sharply to 7.92 million in 2025, a fall of 1.62 million or 17 per cent from the previous year. This erased the modest rebound seen in 2024 and extended a longer trend of declining births that began after 2016. The crude birth rate fell to a record low of 5.63 births per 1,000 people, the weakest level since modern records began. China’s fertility rate continues to remain far below replacement level. The government last reported an official fertility rate of 1.3 in 2020, while recent estimates place it closer to 1.0. Both figures are well below the 2.1 births per woman required to maintain population size, pointing to sustained population shrinkage and accelerated ageing in the coming decades.

 

5. IMF Lifts 2026 Global Growth Outlook to 3.3%: The “International Monetary Fund” has raised its global growth forecast for 2026 to 3.3%, signalling sustained resilience in the world economy despite persistent trade tensions, geopolitical conflicts, and supply-chain disruptions. The upward revision is driven largely by a surge in artificial intelligence-led investment, which the Fund says is offsetting the drag from protectionist trade policies. In its latest World Economic Outlook update, the IMF increased its 2026 growth estimate by 0.2 percentage points compared with its October projection, bringing it in line with its revised forecast for 2025. The Fund highlighted rapid expansion in AI-related spending, particularly on data centres, advanced semiconductors, and power infrastructure, as a key driver of improved growth prospects across major economies. IMF chief economist “Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas” said the global economy has adapted better than expected to higher tariffs and geopolitical shocks. Firms have diversified supply chains and rerouted trade flows, while selective trade agreements have reduced duties. The IMF now assumes an effective US tariff rate of 18.5%, down from earlier estimates of around 25%, reflecting partial easing of trade pressures.

 

 

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Praveen Kumar Named BSF Chief, Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor Appointed DG ITBP: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment of Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor, a 1990-batch IPS officer of the Haryana cadre and former Haryana DGP, as Director General (DG) of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) till October 31 or until further orders.Praveen Kumar, a 1993-batch IPS officer of the West Bengal cadre, currently serving as DG, ITBP, has been appointed as Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF), holding the post till September 30, 2030 or until further orders.Praveen Kumar is presently holding dual charge of DG, BSF and DG, ITBP following his new appointment.The ACC also cleared the appointment of Rakesh Aggarwal, a 1994-batch IPS officer, as Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), with tenure up to July 31, 2028 or until further orders.

 

2. Guatemala Declares Emergency After Prison Riots and Police Killings: Guatemala has entered a period of heightened security after President “Bernardo Arévalo” declared a 30-day state of siege following deadly gang-linked violence. The decision came after seven police officers were killed in coordinated attacks, apparently in retaliation for authorities regaining control of maximum-security prisons seized by inmates during violent riots. The emergency followed coordinated disturbances at three maximum-security prisons, including the Renovación facility in Escuintla. Inmates, many linked to organised crime, took dozens of prison guards hostage to protest the withdrawal of long-standing privileges for jailed gang leaders. Hundreds of anti-riot police later stormed the facilities, freeing all hostages without reported fatalities among guards. Soon after prison control was restored, armed gang members launched attacks across Guatemala City and nearby areas. Interior authorities confirmed that seven national police officers were killed and at least ten wounded. One gang member also died in clashes. Officials described the assaults as an effort to intimidate the state and pressure the government into reversing its crackdown.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Vidarbha Clinch Maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy Title: Vidarbha scripted a landmark moment in Indian domestic cricket by winning their first “Vijay Hazare Trophy” title with a commanding 38-run victory over two-time champions “Saurashtra”. The final, played at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, marked the culmination of a consistent campaign built on depth in batting and disciplined bowling. Opener “Atharva Taide” delivered his finest List A knock at the biggest stage, scoring a fluent 128. Coming after a long gap since his last century in the format, Taide’s innings combined patience with controlled aggression. His ability to rotate strike early and accelerate after settling in allowed Vidarbha to recover from a cautious start against the new ball.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Explained: How Assam’s New Highway Project Aims to Save Wildlife: Prime Minister “Narendra Modi” is set to flag off a 34.5-km elevated corridor cutting through Assam’s Kaziranga landscape — a ₹6,950-crore infrastructure project that officials and conservationists say could offer a long-term solution to one of the national park’s gravest challenges: wildlife deaths caused by heavy highway traffic. The project attempts to reconcile development needs with ecological realities in one of India’s most biodiversity-rich regions. The elevated stretch is part of National Highway 715 (earlier NH-37), a crucial arterial road linking Tezpur on the north bank of the Brahmaputra with towns in eastern Assam and onward to Guwahati. The highway forms the southern boundary of “Kaziranga National Park”, beyond which rise the Karbi Anglong hills.In October, the Union Cabinet approved widening an 86.675-km stretch of this highway from two lanes to four. A substantial portion runs along or through the park’s boundary. The centrepiece of the project is the 34.5-km elevated corridor, designed to allow uninterrupted animal movement underneath while diverting heavy vehicular traffic above.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. DFS Launches Composite Salary Account Package for Central Government Employees with Banking and Insurance Benefits: The Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, launched a composite ‘Salary Account Package’ for Central Government employees to provide integrated banking and insurance benefits, supporting the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and Insurance for All by 2047.Banking features include zero-balance salary account, free RTGS/NEFT/UPI, concessional loans for housing, education, vehicles, personal needs, locker fee waivers, and family banking benefits.Insurance coverage includes Personal Accident Insurance up to ₹1.5 crore, Air Accident Insurance up to ₹2 crore, Disability cover up to ₹1.5 crore, Term Life Insurance up to ₹20 lakh, and comprehensive health insurance with top-up options.Digital and card benefits offer enhanced debit/credit card perks, including airport lounge access, reward programs, cashback offers, unlimited transactions, and nil maintenance charges.

 

2. World Bank Raises India’s GDP Growth Forecast to 7.2% for FY 2025–26: The World Bank has revised India’s GDP growth forecast upward to 7.2% for FY 2025–26, citing strong domestic demand, supportive tax reforms, and resilient exports despite global trade uncertainties.In its flagship report “Global Economic Prospects”, the World Bank raised the estimate by 0.9 percentage points from its earlier 6.3% projection made in June.India is expected to remain the fastest-growing major economy, though growth is projected to moderate to 6.5% in 2026–27 and 6.6% in 2027–28.

 

3. Tripura Gramin Bank Launches India’s First Solar-Powered ATM Van to Boost Rural Banking: Tripura Gramin Bank became the first Regional Rural Bank in India to introduce India’s first fully solar-powered mobile ATM van, named “TGB on Wheels.”The project was launched with the support of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development. NABARDThe initiative earned the bank the SKOCH Group Silver Award, recognising excellence in governance, innovation, and public service delivery.The initiative was inaugurated on July 21, 2023, by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and currently, three solar-powered ATM vans are operational, supporting basic banking transactions in hard-to-reach locations.