NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Assam Government Announces Monthly Financial
Assistance for Research Scholars: The Government of Assam announced
a monthly financial assistance scheme for research scholars under
the Atal Vichal Agragami Assam programme.The scheme will be launched
on February 11, 2026.₹25,000 per month will be provided to regular
research scholars.₹40,000 per month will be provided to Divyang
research scholars, ensuring inclusive higher education support.The scheme
is applicable to scholars enrolled in universities and higher education
institutions across Assam.The initiative aims to reduce financial stress,
allowing scholars to focus on quality research and academic excellence.The
announcement was made by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who described
it as a transformative step for Assam’s academic ecosystem. The scheme
focuses on empowering young talent, promoting high-quality and
interdisciplinary research, and strengthening Assam as a knowledge-driven
economy.
2. Vice President Releases Book on Ram Janmabhoomi Issue: Vice President of India Shri C. P.
Radhakrishnan released the book titled “Chalice of Ambrosia: Ram
Janmabhoomi – Challenge and Response” at the Vice President’s
Enclave, New Delhi.The book is authored by Shri Surendra Kumar Pachauri,
a former Secretary to the Government of India.The Vice President stated
that the book presents the long and complex journey of reclaiming the
birthplace of Lord Shri Ram in a balanced, factual, and scholarly
manner, without exaggeration or bias.He described the construction of Shri
Ram Mandir in Ayodhya as a landmark moment in India’s civilisational
history, where faith, history, law, and democracy converged peacefully.The
Vice President credited Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for guiding
the revival of the sacred site in a manner consistent with democratic
values and cultural confidence.
3. Rajasthan to develop Alwar Biological Park in NCR
region: Rajasthan government has
planned a new Biological Park in Alwar district, which will become
the first biological park of its kind in the National Capital
Region (NCR).The park will be developed in the Kati Ghati–Jaisamand
area of Alwar and will cover around 100 hectares of land.30% area
will be developed as a zoo, while the remaining 70% will be maintained as
green and natural forest space to ensure an eco-friendly environment.The
biological park will house over 400 wild animals belonging to 81 species,
including lions, cheetahs, Indian tiger species and African giraffes.A key
attraction will be the availability of lion safari, tiger safari and
herbivore safari at a single location, a first-of-its-kind feature in the
NCR region.A high-tech animal rescue centre will be set up inside the
park, developed on the lines of the Gir National Park rescue facility in
Gujarat.The park will also include a modern veterinary hospital with
advanced medical facilities and a dedicated team of wildlife doctors
and forest officials.
4. India notifies GEI targets under Carbon Credit Trading
Scheme: Government of India
notified Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity (GEI) targets in January
2026 for additional carbon-intensive sectors under
the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS).208 new obligated entities have
been brought under the compliance framework, expanding coverage of the Indian
Carbon Market (ICM).With this notification, the total number of obligated
entities has increased to 490, strengthening India’s industrial decarbonisation
framework.Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity (GEI) refers to emissions
per unit of output, focusing on efficiency improvement rather than
absolute emission cuts.GEI-based targets allow industrial growth while reducing
carbon footprint, making them suitable for developing economies like
India.The move encourages adoption of cleaner technologies, energy
efficiency measures, and sustainable production practices in
emission-intensive industries.The notification was issued by the Ministry
of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the nodal ministry
for climate policy and emission regulation.
5. India delivers cancer medicines to Afghanistan as
humanitarian medical aid: India
delivered 7.5 tonnes of life-saving cancer medicines to Kabul, reinforcing its
humanitarian support to the people of Afghanistan, particularly in
the health sector.The assistance was confirmed by the Ministry of External
Affairs and forms part of India’s ongoing humanitarian
outreach to Afghanistan.Cancer patients in Afghanistan face severe challenges due
to shortages of medicines, weak healthcare infrastructure, and high
treatment costs, making external medical support critical.The consignment aims
to ensure continuity of cancer treatment, prevent therapy interruptions,
and save lives of vulnerable patients dependent on essential oncology
drugs.India reiterated its commitment to the Afghan people irrespective of
political developments, focusing on health, food security, and essential
humanitarian needs.The medical aid reflects India’s “people-first diplomacy”,
prioritising humanitarian assistance in conflict-affected and fragile
regions.
6. Odisha imposes complete ban on gutkha, pan masala, and
tobacco products: Odisha
State Health and Family Welfare Department announced a complete ban on gutkha, pan
masala, and all products containing tobacco or nicotine to safeguard public
health and prevent misuse.The ban covers manufacture, processing, packaging,
storage, transportation, distribution, and sale of these products across
the state.Both packaged and unpackaged products are included, even if
components are sold separately but intended to be mixed for consumption.The
notification makes Odisha fully compliant with the Supreme Court’s nationwide
directives on prohibition of gutkha and pan masala.Odisha had earlier
banned the sale of tobacco products in 2013, but the new notification removes
loopholes and ensures strict and uniform enforcement.The ban applies to
all chewable food products, whether flavoured or unflavoured, scented, or
mixed with additives, and irrespective of the name or form under which they are
sold.
7. Lucknow becomes first Zero Fresh Waste Dump city in
Uttar Pradesh: Lucknow
Municipal Corporation (LMC) has adopted a scientific and modern waste
management system to manage solid waste generated by a population of
around 40 lakh and nearly 7.5 lakh establishments.Lucknow
inaugurated its third fresh waste processing plant at Shivari, making it
the first city in Uttar Pradesh to process 100% of its fresh municipal
waste scientifically. With this, the city has achieved the status of
a ‘Zero Fresh Waste Dump’ city.The Shivari waste processing
plant has a capacity of 700 metric tonnes per day (MT/day). With
three plants operational, Lucknow’s total waste processing capacity is
2,100 MT/day, which matches the city’s daily waste generation of around
2,000 MT.LMC has partnered with Bhumi Green Energy to operate the
three waste processing plants. Door-to-door waste collection efficiency
stands at 96.53%, and over 70% waste is segregated at source.Daily waste
is segregated into organic waste (55%) and inorganic waste
(45%). Organic waste is converted into compost and biogas,
while inorganic waste is recycled or converted into Refuse
Derived Fuel (RDF) used in cement and paper industries.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Global Risks Report 2026 by World Economic Forum
Identifies Geoeconomic Confrontation as Top Global Threat: The World Economic Forum (WEF) published
the 21st edition of its annual risk assessment titled ‘Global
Risks Report: 21st Edition Insight 2026’.Top global risks identified
are geoeconomic confrontation, state-based conflict, extreme
weather, social protection gaps, and misinformation.The 2026
global risks outlook is marked by pervasive uncertaintyExtreme
weather has dropped from 2nd to 4th place in the two-year
outlook, but remains the most severe long-term (10-year) risk.The report
is based on the Global Risks Perception Survey (GRPS) with insights
from 1,300 global leaders and experts, covering 33 key global
risks.It also uses the Executive Opinion Survey (EOS 2026) with
inputs from 11,000 business leaders in 116 economies to
identify country-specific risks.GRPS 2025-26 featured 4 key
components: risk landscape, consequences, risk governance,
and outlook.The report examines global risks across 3 time
horizons: immediate (2026), short-to-medium term (up to 2028),
and long term (2036).
2. Albinder Dhindsa Appointed as Chief Executive Officer
of Eternal Group Following Deepinder Goyal’s Exit: Deepinder Goyal resigned as Director, Managing
Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Eternal
Limited with effect from 1 February 2026, subject
to shareholders’ approval.Albinder Singh Dhindsa, currently CEO of
Blinkit, has been appointed Group CEO and Key Managerial Personnel
(KMP) of Eternal Limited, effective 1 February 2026.Deepinder
Goyal will continue on the Board of Directors
(BoD) of Eternal Limited as Vice Chairman, pending
shareholder approval.As Vice Chairman, Deepinder Goyal will
focus on high-risk and experimental ideas outside the company’s
immediate strategic scope while remaining involved in long-term
strategy and governance. Deepinder Goyal began his professional career as
a management consultant at Bain & Company. In 2008, Deepinder
Goyal co-founded Zomato Ltd. and served as
its CEO since inception.
3. Ganesh Lakshminarayanan Appointed as Managing Director
and Chief Executive Officer of Tata Communications Limited: Tata Communications
Limited appointed Ganesh Lakshminarayanan as its
new Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He will
succeed A.S. Lakshminarayanan, who is set to retire on 13 April 2026.
Ganesh Lakshminarayanan brings over 30 years of international
management experience across technology, telecommunications, B2B start-ups,
multinational corporations, and Indian enterprises. Prior to this
appointment, he served as Managing Director and Group Vice
President of ServiceNow India and the SAARC region. He was formerly
the CEO of Airtel Business (India) and also headed Airtel’s
Enterprise Business Unit. His leadership experience spans global
enterprise services, digital transformation, and large-scale telecom
operations. He has been elected twice to the Executive Council of NASSCOM,
highlighting his role in India’s IT and technology ecosystem.
4. Brand Finance Global 500 2026 – IT Services Brands: Brand Finance released the “Brand Finance
Global 500 2026” report, ranking the world’s most valuable IT
services brands. Infosys ranked 3rd globally among IT services
brands, with a brand value of USD 16.4 billion, Brand Strength Index
(BSI) score of 86.8/100, and achieved a 15% Compound Annual Growth Rate
(CAGR) over the last six years. Accenture retained the 1st
position as the world’s most valuable IT services brand, valued at USD
42.2 billion, with a BSI score of 90.7, reflecting strong investments
in technology, consulting, and digital services. Tata Consultancy Services
(TCS) secured the 2nd position with a brand value of USD
21.2 billion and BSI score of 84.6, holding the rank for
the fifth consecutive year and achieving an AAA brand rating for
the first time. The combined brand value of the world’s top 25 IT services
brands stood at USD 167.2 billion in 2026.
5. International Day of Education 2026 – January 24: International Day of Education 2026 is observed
on 24 January worldwide.The day was declared by the UN General
Assembly in December 2018 to honour education and highlight its role
in peace, development, and progress.
The day aims to advocate for universal access to quality
education and to campaign for education reforms.Millions of children
around the world are still denied this basic human right, with UNESCO
estimating 258 million children out of school.Marginalized groups, people in
unequal regions, and citizens of developing countries are the most
affected.International Day of Education calls on governments, civil
society, institutions, and individuals to ensure primary and secondary
education for all children.The observance encourages the design
of inclusive learning programs that cater to diverse populations,
equipping children with the skills needed for employment and improved
livelihoods.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Why
the India–UAE Defence Talks Matter Amid a Fracturing Gulf Order: A brief, nearly two-hour
visit to New Delhi by UAE President and Abu Dhabi ruler Sheikh Mohamed bin
Zayed Al Nahyan — marked by a single meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi
— has produced outcomes with implications far beyond the headline economic announcements.
While the focus was on trade, energy and investment, the most consequential
signal was political-strategic: the intention to negotiate an India–UAE
“Strategic Defence Partnership”, a first for New Delhi with any Gulf country.
India and the UAE reaffirmed the depth of their economic partnership. The two
sides committed to doubling bilateral trade to $200 billion, announced a $3
billion LNG agreement, and confirmed fresh UAE investments, particularly
in Gujarat. These build on a rapidly expanding relationship: the
UAE is India’s third-largest trading partner, second-largest export
destination, seventh-largest foreign investor, and the first country to sign a
bilateral trade agreement with India in 2022.Yet the standout announcement was
strategic rather than commercial — a proposed framework for a defence
partnership, with details to be negotiated. Though still undefined, the very
idea marks a shift in India’s engagement with West Asia, traditionally cautious
and calibrated.
SPORTS
1. Surat’s
Yash Rashiya Wins Gold at Roll Ball World Cup 2025: Yash Anil Rashiya, a
20-year-old Roll Ball athlete from Surat, has emerged as one of India’s
brightest young sports talents after winning the gold medal at the 7th Roll
Ball World Cup 2025 in Dubai. Representing Team India, Rashiya played a
decisive role in the country’s title-winning campaign, marking a major
milestone for Indian Roll Ball on the global stage and bringing international
recognition to Surat’s growing sports ecosystem. Selected among 12 elite
players to represent India, Rashiya delivered consistent match-winning
performances throughout the tournament. During the league stage, he scored two
goals each against Saudi Arabia and Brazil. He followed this with two crucial
goals against Pakistan in the quarter-final, a vital goal
against Egypt in the semi-final, and the
match-winning goal in the final against Kenya. His contributions proved instrumental
in India clinching the Roll Ball World Cup title.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Pixxel-Led Consortium to Develop India’s First Private
National Earth Observation Satellite Constellation with Launches Planned Next
Year: India’s first privately built national Earth Observation
(EO) satellite constellation will be developed by a consortium led by
Pixxel Space, with the first satellite launches expected next year.The Pixxel-led
consortium signed an agreement with IN-SPACe (Indian National Space
Promotion and Authorisation Centre) to build India’s first indigenous
commercial EO constellation.The consortium
includes PierSight, SatSure Analytics India, and Dhruva Space,
and will deploy a total of 12 satellites.The project is valued at
over ₹1,200 crore, marking a major boost to India’s private space
ecosystem, with the government entrusting a strategic national
mission to startups.By Q1 2027, the first four
satellites are planned to be placed in orbit, with the remaining
satellites launched in phases over subsequent years.Pixxel is
a global space data company operating the
world’s highest-resolution commercial hyperspectral imaging constellation.
2. China’s Fengyun-3D Satellite Detects Antarctic Iceberg
A23a Approaching Complete Disintegration: China’s Fengyun-3D meteorological
satellite detected that iceberg A23a, once the largest iceberg
in the world by surface area, has entered the final stage of
disintegration.A23a detached from Antarctica in 1986 and
drifted across the Southern Ocean for nearly four decades.Recent
satellite observations indicate that A23a’s main body has reduced to
around 506 square kilometres, down from 4,170 square
kilometres at detachment, and 948 square kilometres just three
weeks earlier.The Fengyun-3D satellite, part of China’s Fengyun-3
constellation, has been tracking A23a continuously since 2023,
providing high-resolution imagery with a spatial resolution of 250 metres.The rapid
breakup of A23a is primarily due to hydrofracturing,
where meltwater accumulates on the iceberg’s surface,
forming ponds and lakes that exert pressure on internal cracks.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Reserve Bank of India Issues Updated FEMA Regulations
for Export and Import Transactions Effective 1 October 2026: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued
the Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services)
Regulations, 2026 under FEMA, 1999, introducing uniform
timelines and enhanced monitoring for trade-related foreign
exchange transactions.These regulations supersede the FEMA
(Export of Goods & Services) Regulations, 2015 and will come into
effect from 1 October 2026.The regulations are notified
under Sections 7, 8, 10(6), and 47(2) of FEMA, 1999.They are
applicable to exports, imports, and merchanting trade transactions,
covering goods, services, software exports, and service imports.All
references to RBI must be routed via the Platform for Regulatory
Application, Validation and Authorisation (PRAVAAH) portal portal, and any
doubtful transactions must be reported to the Directorate of Enforcement
(ED) under the Ministry of Finance (MoF).
2. Indian fintech firm ZET Secures National Payments
Corporation of India Nod to Enable UPI Payments via RuPay Credit Cards: Credit-focused Indian fintech
firm ZET has received approval from the National Payments
Corporation of India (NPCI) to operate as a Third-Party Application
Provider (TPAP).With this approval, ZET becomes eligible to
offer UPI services, marking a major step in integrating credit card
functionality with the UPI ecosystem.After receiving NPCI approval,
the company launched ZET UPI, enabling users to make UPI
transactions using RuPay credit cards issued via the ZET
platform.ZET UPI service is supported through a banking partnership
with RBL Bank (earlier known as Ratnakar Bank Limited).
The transaction processing infrastructure is powered
by Juspay, a payments technology platform.
3. Razorpay POS Obtains Reserve Bank of India Approval to
Operate as Offline Payment Aggregator: Fintech major Razorpay’s offline payments
arm, Razorpay POS, has received authorisation from the Reserve Bank
of India (RBI) to operate as an offline payment aggregator (PA-P).With
this approval, Razorpay now holds all three key RBI
licences: online payment aggregator, cross-border payment
aggregator (granted in December 2025), and offline payment
aggregator.The PA-P (Offline) licence will enable Razorpay
POS to expand in-store payment infrastructure and
handle high-volume transactions across sectors such as large
retail chains and SMEs.Currently, Razorpay POS offers
a hardware suite including Android Smart POS, mPOS
(magnetic stripe POS), and Soundbox devices, supporting secure and
compliant in-store payments.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Banaras Literature Festival announces winners of 2nd Banaras Lit Fest Book Awards 2026: Banaras Literature Festival announced the winners of the 2nd Banaras Lit Fest Book Awards 2026, recognising outstanding literary contributions in English, Hindi, and other Indian languages.The awards honour fiction, poetry, non-fiction, translation, along with lifetime achievement and youth contribution, reflecting India’s diverse literary ecosystem.Veteran writer Namita Gokhale received the Bhartendu Harishchandra Lifetime Achievement Award for her long-standing contribution to Indian literature. She is best known for “Paro: Dreams of Passion” and is also the co-founder of the Jaipur Literature Festival.
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