Daily GK Update- 5th Jan, 2026

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India Extends PLI Scheme for Textiles to March 2026 to Boost MMF and Technical Textile Production: India extends PLI Scheme textile application deadline to March 31, 2026, following strong response from textile companies across priority segments like MMF Apparel, MMF Fabrics, and Technical Textiles.As of September 9, 2025, 91 companies have been selected under the scheme, with investments of ₹7,731 crore, exports of ₹733 crore, turnover of ₹7,290 crore, and creation of around 30,838 jobs.The PLI Scheme for textiles, approved in September 2021 with a budget of ₹10,683 crore over five years, aims to boost production of MMF apparel, MMF fabrics, and technical textiles, strengthening India’s textile sector.

 

2. Punjab to Launch ‘Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna’ on January 15: Punjab to launch ‘Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna’ on January 15, 2026, offering free cashless medical treatment up to ₹10 lakh per family for all 65 lakh families in the State.Any resident of Punjab with a valid Aadhaar card and voter ID can avail the benefits; the scheme aims to cover 100% of the state’s population.Over 9,000 camps will be conducted for issuing scheme cards; after enrolment, beneficiaries will be eligible for free treatment covering around 2,200 medical procedures.The scheme provides cashless and paperless treatment, including hospitalisation, surgeries, ICU care, diagnostics, medicines, and pre- & post-hospitalisation treatments under approved packages.

 

3. Assam Becomes First State to Constitute 8th State Pay Commission Ahead of 7th Pay Commission Expiry: Assam becomes the first Indian state to constitute its 8th State Pay Commission, taking proactive action ahead of the 7th Pay Commission’s expiry on January 1, 2026, signalling early focus on salary and pension revisions for state employees.Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the formation, appointing former chief secretary Subhas Das as the head of the new pay commission, positioning Assam ahead of other states and even the Union Government’s 8th Pay Commission.To revise salaries, allowances, and pensions for government employees and pensioners, replacing the 7th Pay Commission framework, with the actual implementation expected after detailed consultations, financial assessments, and approvals.Early constitution may lead to faster clarity and implementation of revised pay, potentially giving Assam’s workforce an advantage in the upcoming pay revision cycle, with recommendations expected in about 18 months and rollout likely in late 2026 or early 2027.

 

4. NHAI-Backed Raajmarg Infra InvIT Rated AAA (Stable) by CARE Ratings, Signaling Strong Creditworthiness: Raajmarg Infra InvIT, backed by NHAI, receives a AAA (Stable) rating from CARE Ratings, reflecting strong credit quality and investor confidence in the infrastructure investment trust.The rating underscores the InvIT’s robust revenue model, largely supported by toll collections from national highways and long-term contracts with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).AAA (Stable) rating indicates minimal credit risk, positioning Raajmarg Infra InvIT as a highly secure investment option for investors seeking stable returns in the infrastructure sector.The recognition is expected to boost investor interest and enhance the InvIT’s ability to raise funds for future highway projects, supporting India’s broader infrastructure development goals.

 

5. Union Government Launches Integrated E-Bill Platform for ₹2 Lakh Crore Fertiliser Subsidy: Union Government has launched an integrated e-bill platform to digitally process fertiliser subsidies of nearly ₹2 lakh crore annually, replacing manual and paper-based systems.Inaugurated by Union Fertilisers Minister J.P. Nadda, the platform enables end-to-end online submission, processing and approval of fertiliser subsidy claims, reducing delays and bottlenecks.The system integrates the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) of the Department of Fertilisers with the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) under the Ministry of Finance, strengthening public financial management.Key features include real-time bill tracking, tamper-proof digital audit trails, built-in validation checks and faster FIFO-based payments, improving transparency, accountability and ease of doing business for fertiliser companies.

 

6. ADB Approves ₹4,100 Crore Loan in Principle for Phase-I of Telangana’s Musi River Development Project: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to provide a ₹4,100 crore ($500 million) loan to the Telangana Government for parts of Phase I of the Musi River Development ProjectThe Musi River project is divided into five zones, with the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Zone I currently under preparation.Out of the 55 km stretch in Zone-I, 21 km in the first phase is being executed by the Musi Riverfront Development Corporation Ltd. (MRDCL), while the state has also sought ₹3,188 crore from the Ministry of Jal Shakti under the National River Conservation Plan.

 

7. India Loses 166 Tigers in 2025, Madhya Pradesh Records Highest Deaths: India lost 166 tigers in 2025, forty more than 2024, according to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), highlighting increasing threats to the world’s largest tiger population.Madhya Pradesh accounted for the highest number of tiger deaths (55), followed by Maharashtra (38), Kerala (13), and Assam (12); 31 of the deceased tigers were cubs.Experts cite territorial conflicts due to space crunch as a major reason for tiger fatalities, reflecting pressures on habitats and ecosystem imbalances.The year’s first reported death occurred in Bramhapuri forest, Maharashtra (Jan 2), while the last was in North Sagar, Madhya Pradesh (Dec 28), with intermediate deaths including Pench Tiger Reserve, MP.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India Ranks 3rd in Rare Earth Reserves but Lags in Global Production Due to Mining and Processing Bottlenecks: India has the world’s 3rd-largest rare earth reserves at about 6.9 million tonnes of rare earth oxide (REO), behind China (44 million tonnes) and Brazil (21 million tonnes), accounting for nearly 6–7% of global reserves.Despite abundant reserves, India’s production is very low—only 2,900 tonnes in 2024, ranking 7th globally, and contributing less than 1% of global rare earth output, far behind China’s 270,000 tonnes.Structural and regulatory bottlenecks hinder mining: most reserves lie in monazite-rich coastal sands containing radioactive thorium, making extraction complex and subject to strict regulations; mining was long dominated by IREL, with rare earths treated as by-products.Lack of processing and refining capacity is a major constraint: China controls about 90% of global refining capacity and dominates heavy rare earth processing, while India has minimal refining infrastructure, limiting its role in the global rare earth value chain.a

 

2. UN General Assembly Approves $3.45 Billion Regular Budget for 2026: The UN General Assembly has approved a $3.45 billion regular budget for the United Nations for 2026, authorising funding for core organisational activities including peace, security, sustainable development and human rights.The budget was adopted after weeks of intensive negotiations by the 193 member states, reflecting consensus through the Assembly’s main budgetary body, the Fifth Committee.The approved amount is about 7 % lower than the 2025 regular budget and is slightly above the Secretary-General’s original proposal, highlighting financial constraints and reform priorities under the UN80 initiative.India’s share of the United Nation’s regular budget is 1.016 per cent, calculated based on factors such as gross national income, population and economic capacity. The United States remains the largest United Nation contributor at 22 per cent, followed by China at 20 per cent.

 

3. Bulgaria Officially Joins Eurozone, Adopts Euro as National Currency: Bulgaria officially joined the Eurozone on 1 January 2026, adopting the euro as its official currency, replacing the Bulgarian lev after a long transition process.With this move, Bulgaria becomes the 21st member of the euro area, deepening its economic and monetary integration with the European Union.The switch to the euro follows approval of required legal acts by the Council of the European Union and fulfilment of convergence criteria set by the European Commission and European Central Bank.During the transition period, both the lev and the euro will circulate, with dual pricing in stores, and citizens can exchange levs for euros at banks and post offices free of charge until mid-2026.

 

4. Turkmenistan Legalises Cryptocurrency Mining and Exchanges Under New Law: Turkmenistan has officially legalised cryptocurrency mining and exchanges, marking a major policy shift in its tightly controlled and gas-dependent economy; the law was signed by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.The new legislation brings virtual assets under civil law and introduces a licensing framework for crypto exchanges, to be regulated by the Central Bank of Turkmenistan.

Despite legalisation, cryptocurrencies are not recognised as legal tender, currency, or securities, and cannot be used as a means of payment in the country.

 

5. Why India Is Missing from Trump’s ‘Pax Silica’ — and What It Says About Power in Today’s Geopolitics: When US President “Donald Trump” unveiled the US-led “Pax Silica” initiative — aimed at securing supply chains in critical minerals, energy, semiconductors and artificial intelligence — it immediately stood out for two reasons. First, Trump’s well-known scepticism towards multilateralism. Second, India’s conspicuous absence from a grouping that is clearly designed to counter China’s technological and resource dominance. Trump has never hidden his discomfort with traditional multilateral institutions. Bodies such as the “United Nations”, “NATO”, “G7” and “G20” have all faced either open hostility or strategic indifference during his presidency.That makes “Pax Silica” unusual. It is multilateral in form but transactional in substance — a compact among countries that bring tangible, immediately usable assets to the table. The nine members — the US, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the UK, the Netherlands, Israel, the UAE and Australia — are bound not by shared values but by complementary strengths in high technology or critical resources.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor Takes Charge as Vice Chief of Air Staff: Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor assumed charge as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff on January 1, 2026, succeeding Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, who retired after 40 years of distinguished service to the nation.

An alumnus of NDA, Defence Services Staff College and National Defence College, Air Marshal Kapoor is an accomplished fighter pilot with over 3,400 flying hours on MiG-21 and MiG-29 aircraft.He has held several key command, operational and instructional appointments, including Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Training Command and South Western Air Command, and is a recipient of multiple gallantry and distinguished service awards.In another key appointment, Lt. Gen. Harpal Singh assumed charge as the 29th Director General Border Roads (DG BRO); commissioned into the Corps of Engineers in 1991, he brings over three decades of experience in strengthening strategic border infrastructure and connectivity through the BRO (raised in 1960).

 

2. Maharashtra’s First Woman DGP Rashmi Shukla Retires After 37.5 Years of Service: Rashmi Shukla, Maharashtra’s first woman Director General of Police (DGP), retired on 3 January 2026 after 37.5 years of service in the Indian Police Service (IPS).She was honoured with a Guard of Honour at her farewell ceremony held at Naigaon Police Ground, Bhoiwada, attended by senior police officers.Senior IPS officer Sadanand Date, a 26/11 hero and former DG of NIA, has been appointed as the new Maharashtra DGP.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Usman Khawaja Announces Retirement After Final Ashes Test at Sydney Cricket Ground: Usman Khawaja has announced his retirement from international cricket after the fifth and final Ashes Test against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), which will be his 88th and last Test match, at the same venue where his first-class career began.Debuting in 2011 at the age of 24, Khawaja enjoyed a 15-year-long Test career, scoring over 6,000 Test runs; his international journey began after an injury to then captain Ricky Ponting opened the door for his debut.Born in Pakistan and raised in Australia, Khawaja created history as Australia’s first Pakistan-born and first Muslim cricketer, and was later honoured with the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year (2023) and Shane Warne Test Cricketer of the Year awards for his outstanding performances.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Why India’s Cyber Fraud Losses Are Surging — And What the Data Reveals About the New Crime Economy: Indians lost more than Rs 52,976 crore to fraud and cheating over the last six years, according to fresh data compiled by the “Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre” (I4C) under the “Union Ministry of Home Affairs”. The numbers point to a sharp and sustained rise in cyber-enabled financial crimes — from fake investment schemes and “digital arrest” scams to credit card fraud and online phishing — underscoring how India’s rapid digitisation has also created fertile ground for organised cybercrime. Data drawn from the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal shows an exponential rise in both the value of fraud and the number of complaints. In 2025 alone, Indians reported losses of Rs 19,812.96 crore across more than 21.7 lakh cheating-related complaints. This follows losses of Rs 22,849.49 crore in 2024, Rs 7,463.2 crore in 2023, and Rs 2,290.23 crore in 2022.The early years show far lower numbers — Rs 551.65 crore in 2021 and just Rs 8.56 crore in 2020 — highlighting how cyber fraud has grown in scale alongside the explosion of smartphones, digital payments and online financial platforms.

 

2. Prasar Bharati Moves to Restore Thadou Language Broadcast in Manipur: Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati has initiated steps to resume live radio programming in the Thadou language from All India Radio, also known as Akashvani, in Imphal. The move is being seen as a significant confidence-building measure in Manipur, where ethnic tensions between Meitei and Kuki groups erupted in May 2023. Prasar Bharati has sought inputs from the programme head of “All India Radio” Imphal on recruiting staff for restarting live broadcasts in Thadou and other major dialects of Manipur. The broadcaster’s letter dated December 12 followed a formal request from Thadou Inpi Manipur, the representative body of the Thadou tribe, which urged either the return of earlier Thadou language staff or fresh recruitment from all concerned communities. Live Thadou language programmes from Akashvani Imphal had stopped after Thadou staff left the Imphal valley during the ethnic clashes that began in May 2023. Since then, only recorded Thadou songs have been aired. Prasar Bharati clarified that recorded programmes in major dialects, including Thadou, are currently broadcast daily, with Thadou content aired between 5 pm and 5.30 pm.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Karthikeyan Manickam Appointed Chairman of ESAF Small Finance Bank: ESAF Small Finance Bank has appointed Karthikeyan Manickam as its new Chairman, aiming to strengthen leadership with his decades of experience in banking, risk management, and regulatory compliance.A former Executive Director of Bank of India, Manickam will provide strategic guidance and independent oversight to the board, with expertise in banking operations, credit monitoring, risk management, regulatory compliance, and human resource management.

 

2. Why the RBI Is Warning Against New Financial Risks Even as Banks Look Healthier: ndian banks are stronger than they have been in decades — leaner balance sheets, lower bad loans, and solid profitability. Yet the Reserve Bank of India’s latest Financial Stability Report (FSR) strikes a careful note of caution. Beneath the surface of improved asset quality, the central bank flags emerging risks — from unsecured lending and fintech exposure to global shocks and the growing footprint of stablecoins. The message is clear: stability today does not guarantee safety tomorrow. The most reassuring signal in the FSR is the sharp improvement in asset quality. Gross non-performing assets (NPAs) fell to 2.1% in the September 2025 quarter, down from 2.5% a year earlier and far below the peak of 11.5% seen in 2017–18. Net NPAs have declined in tandem, and under the RBI’s baseline projections, could fall further to 1.9% by March 2027.Strong capital adequacy, comfortable liquidity buffers, and stable profitability have given banks a resilience they lacked a decade ago. According to the “Reserve Bank of India”, these buffers should allow lenders to absorb moderate shocks without threatening systemic stability.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. I&B Ministry Announces Badalta Bharat Mera Anubhav Winners: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has announced the winners of four creative challenges organised under the Badalta Bharat Mera Anubhav campaign. The initiative invited citizens to share personal stories and creative expressions reflecting India’s transformation over the last 11 years. The campaign was organised by the “Ministry of Information and Broadcasting” in collaboration with the “MyGov” platform. Aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, it witnessed enthusiastic participation from citizens across diverse age groups and backgrounds. Participants showcased how governance reforms and development initiatives have impacted everyday life across sectors. Citizens expressed their experiences through multiple creative formats, including Instagram reels, YouTube shorts, audio-visual storytelling and blog writing. These entries highlighted themes such as infrastructure growth, digital empowerment, social inclusion and improved public services under the leadership of “Narendra Modi”. The wide variety of submissions reflected the evolving narrative of a rapidly developing India.