Daily GK Update- 28th Jan, 2026

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. President Droupadi Murmu Inaugurates Granth Kutir at Rashtrapati Bhavan to Promote India’s Classical Languages: President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Granth Kutir at Rashtrapati Bhavan, housing around 50 manuscripts and 2,300 books in 11 Indian classical languages covering subjects like epics, philosophy, science, history, governance, devotional literature, and the Constitution.The Granth Kutir aims to enhance awareness of India’s rich cultural and literary heritage, promote the spirit of unity in diversity, and support the preservation and promotion of classical languages through universities, libraries, and youth engagement.Developed under the Gyan Bharatam Mission, the initiative is a collaborative effort involving the central and state governments, universities, research institutions, cultural organisations, and individual donors, focusing on digitising and disseminating India’s manuscript heritage.

 

2. NSD to Host 25th Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2026 Across 40 Locations: National School of Drama (NSD) will organise the 25th Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM) 2026 from January 27 to February 20, across 40 locations in India, featuring productions from all seven continents, making it the largest and most inclusive edition ever.The festival will present 277 Indian productions (136 selected/invited), 12 international productions, and performances in 228 Indian and foreign languages and dialects, selected from 817 national and 34 international applications, highlighting unparalleled linguistic diversity.BRM 2026 significantly expands its cultural reach by including tribal, endangered, and regional languages, adding new centres in remote regions like Ladakh, Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, and Haryana, and showcasing theatre in far-flung areas.

 

3. PM Modi Launches PM SVANidhi Credit Card, Flags Off Multiple Amrit Bharat Trains in Kerala: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the PM SVANidhi Credit Card during his visit to Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.The credit card aims to benefit street vendors, hawkers, and footpath workers by providing easy access to formal credit across India.During the visit, the PM flagged off multiple trains, including Thiruvananthapuram–Tambaram, Nagercoil–Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram North–Charlapalli Amrit Bharat Express, and the Thrissur–Guruvayur Passenger train.

 

4. 25 National Voters’ Day: National Voters’ Day is observed every year on 25 January to mark the foundation day of the Election Commission of India (ECI).The day aims to encourage, facilitate and maximise enrolment of voters, especially new and young voters, across the country.The theme for NVD 2026 is “My India, My Vote”, with the tagline “Citizen at the Heart of Indian Democracy.

 

5. 25 January – National Tourism Day: National Tourism Day is observed every year on 25 January to highlight the importance of tourism in India’s economic growth and cultural exchange.

Theme 2026 – Rural and Community Centric TourismThe day aims to promote sustainable, responsible and inclusive tourism, encouraging people to explore India’s rich heritage and natural diversity.

 

6. Maharashtra Launches India’s First Menopause Clinics: Maharashtra has become the first state in India to establish dedicated menopause clinics within government hospitals and urban health facilities, marking a significant step towards women-centric public healthcare. The initiative aims to address the long-ignored physical and mental health challenges faced by women during menopause through structured and accessible medical support. Officials said the menopause clinics offer integrated services at a single location. These include expert medical consultations, mental health counselling, and screening for bone density, cardiovascular health, and hormonal balance. Essential medicines and lifestyle guidance are also provided, ensuring continuity of care without the need for multiple referrals. Menopause is a natural biological phase but is often associated with significant physical changes and psychological stress. Women commonly experience hormonal imbalance, osteoporosis, sleep disturbances, anxiety, and depression. The state government acknowledged that this stage has historically received limited attention within the public health system, despite its long-term impact on women’s quality of life.

 

7. Ajit Pawar Chartered Plane Crash in Baramati: A chartered aircraft carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar crash-landed near the runway threshold at Baramati on Wednesday morning, triggering a major emergency response. The aircraft was flying from Mumbai to Baramati and met with the accident at around 8.45 am. Multiple casualties and injuries have been reported, with authorities still verifying final details. According to preliminary information, the chartered plane had departed from Mumbai and was scheduled to land at Baramati, Pawar’s political stronghold in Pune district. Pawar was reportedly travelling to attend a public rally linked to the Zilla Parishad elections. On board were five people, including two crew members, a personal security officer, and an attendant.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. GeM and WTC Mumbai Sign MoU to Boost MSME Participation and Global Outreach in Public Procurement: Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and World Trade Centre (WTC) Mumbai signed an MoU to enhance outreach and strengthen MSME participation in public procurement.The partnership will promote inclusive access for startups, women entrepreneurs, and small enterprises, focusing on capacity building, supplier outreach, and knowledge sharing in areas like AI, sustainability, and green procurement.GeM officials highlighted that with over one crore registered users, the collaboration aims to improve global visibility, market access, and make GeM a globally benchmarked digital procurement platform, supporting Atmanirbhar Bharat.

2. Kochi to Host Global Seaweed Expo and Summit on January 29-30.: The 7th India International Seaweed Expo & Summit will be held on January 29–30 at ICAR-CMFRI, bringing together global experts, policymakers, industry leaders, investors and entrepreneurs.Delegates from countries including the US, Russia, Australia, France, Maldives, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Tanzania will discuss the economic, nutritional and environmental potential of seaweed, highlighting it as a sunrise sector for India.The two-day event is being organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in collaboration with CMFRI and CSIR-CSMCRI, with participation expected from senior officials of central government departments.

 

3. Japan Restarts Reactor at World’s Largest Kashiwazaki–Kariwa Nuclear Plant After 15 Years: Japan restarted Reactor No. 6 at the Kashiwazaki–Kariwa nuclear plant, the world’s largest nuclear power plant, nearly 15 years after the Fukushima nuclear disaster led to a nationwide shutdown of reactors.The Kashiwazaki–Kariwa plant is located northwest of Tokyo, and the reactor restart was delayed by one day due to an alarm malfunction, with commercial operations expected to begin next month.Before 2011, nuclear energy contributed about 30% of Japan’s electricity, and the country had planned to increase this share to around 50% by 2030, highlighting the importance of nuclear power in Japan’s energy strategy.

 

4. Gulfood 2026 Makes History in Dubai, India Named Partner Country for First Time: Gulfood 2026, the world’s largest annual food and beverage exhibition, will be held from January 26–30, 2026, making history as the first exhibition to operate simultaneously across two mega venues—Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai—with India as the partner country for the first time.India’s participation marks a major milestone with 161 exhibitors, a doubled Indian pavilion, and the Bharati Pavilion by APEDA, showcasing export-ready agri-food and agri-tech startups, including eight high-potential startups selected from over 100 applicants.Gulfood 2026 spans over 2.8 lakh sq metres across both venues, featuring 8,500+ exhibitors, 1.5 million products from 195 countries, and a strong focus on sustainability, innovation, and future food systems, recording a 100% expansion in a single year.

 

5. India, EU Boost Nuclear and Research Cooperation: India and the European Union have agreed to deepen cooperation on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and expand collaboration in advanced research and innovation. The commitment was outlined in the Joint India–European Union Comprehensive Strategic Agenda released after their summit on January 27, 2026, reflecting a renewed focus on science-led strategic engagement. The two sides reaffirmed cooperation under the India–Euratom agreement on research and development in nuclear science and technology, which was signed in July 2020. Areas identified for enhanced collaboration include advanced materials for detectors, radiation safety, nuclear security and non-power applications of atomic energy. The agenda also highlighted cooperation in radio-pharmaceuticals, which have growing importance in healthcare diagnostics and cancer treatment. India and the EU agreed to strengthen cooperation in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), a flagship global fusion energy project. Both sides view fusion research as critical for long-term clean energy solutions.

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Indian Naval Vessel INSV Kaundinya Reaches Muscat, Marking 70 Years of India-Oman Diplomatic Ties: The Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Kaundinya reached Port Sultan Qaboos, Muscat, completing its maiden voyage from Porbandar, India, strengthening India-Oman ties.The vessel is a traditionally built stitched sail ship, inspired by a 5th-century ship depicted in Ajanta Caves paintings, and is named after the legendary Indian mariner Kaundinya.The visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Oman, highlighting historical and cultural maritime connections.

 

2. Bangladesh, China Sign Deal to Produce UAVs Locally: Bangladesh has taken a significant step towards strengthening its indigenous defence manufacturing base by signing an agreement with china/">China to establish a facility for the production and assembly of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The move underscores Dhaka’s focus on technology transfer, capacity-building, and long-term self-reliance in aerial surveillance and defence platforms. The agreement was signed between the Bangladesh Air Force and China Electronics Technology Group Corporation International at the BAF headquarters in Dhaka Cantonment. The signing ceremony was attended by senior military and diplomatic officials, including the Air Chief Marshal of Bangladesh and the Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh. The deal marks a new phase in bilateral defence cooperation between the two countries. Under the pact, CETC will transfer critical technologies and provide technical assistance to enable Bangladesh to independently manufacture UAVs in the future. The agreement includes structured capacity-building measures aimed at developing local expertise in design, assembly, and systems integration. Over time, the facility is expected to reduce Bangladesh’s dependence on imports while enhancing operational flexibility.

 

SPORTS

 

1. ITBP Clinches Title at 5th LG Cup Ice Hockey Championship in Kargil, Ladakh: The 5th LG Cup Ice Hockey Championship concluded at the Biamathang Ice Hockey Ground, Kargil, Ladakh.ITBP won the men’s final by defeating the Ladakh Scouts team of the Indian Army.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Indian Scientists Discover Rare Worm-Like Amphibian ‘Gegeneophis valmiki’ in Northern Western Ghats: Indian scientists discovered a rare worm-like amphibian, Gegeneophis valmiki, in the northern Western Ghats, marking the first addition to its genus in over a decade.Gegeneophis valmiki is a caecilian, a limbless, blind amphibian that lives mostly underground, with eyes covered by bone and skin, making it nearly invisible.

 

2. SpaceX Completes First-Ever Medical Evacuation from ISS: SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, successfully conducted the first-ever medical evacuation mission from the International Space Station (ISS), safely returning four astronauts to Earth.The returning crew included NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, who landed aboard SpaceX’s Dragon capsule off the coast of San Diego, USA.The astronauts concluded a 167-day mission, travelling nearly 71 million miles and completing over 2,670 orbits around Earth, returning earlier than scheduled due to medical reasons.

 

3. James Webb Captures Light-Bending Galaxy Cluster MACS J1149: NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has delivered a striking new image of the distant Universe, revealing a massive galaxy cluster that bends light and warps space itself. The observation showcases MACS J1149.5+2223, a colossal cluster located around five billion light-years away in the constellation Leo, offering a vivid demonstration of one of astrophysics’ most powerful phenomena. MACS J1149.5+2223 is among the most massive galaxy clusters known to science. Astronomers have already confirmed more than 300 galaxies within its bounds, with several hundred more under analysis. Dominated by large, elliptical galaxies, the cluster is bound together by immense gravity, making it a key laboratory for studying how matter assembles on the largest cosmic scales. One of the most eye-catching features is a stretched spiral galaxy resembling a pink jellyfish near the cluster’s centre. This lensed galaxy is scientifically significant, as it previously hosted the most distant individual star ever detected and a supernova whose light appeared multiple times due to lensing delays. Such observations provide rare insights into stellar evolution in the early Universe.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. ZET Gets NPCI Nod to Launch UPI Payments on RuPay Credit Cards: ZET, an Indian fintech firm, has received NPCI approval to operate as a Third-Party Application Provider under the UPI framework.Following this approval, ZET has launched ZET UPI, allowing users to make UPI payments using RuPay credit cards issued through its platform.The transaction processing and technology infrastructure for ZET UPI is powered by Juspay, ensuring secure and smooth digital payments.

 

2. Odisha Launches Samikshya Portal for Finance Commission Projects : Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has launched the ‘Samikshya’ portal to enable real-time monitoring of projects funded under the State Finance Commission (SFC) and Central Finance Commission (CFC) grants. The digital platform marks a significant step towards strengthening transparency, accountability and timely delivery of public services at the grassroots level across the state. The Samikshya portal allows citizens, elected representatives and government officials to track the physical and financial progress of development works funded through SFC and CFC grants. These include projects related to roads, drinking water supply, sanitation, street lighting, parks and other essential public utilities. By offering real-time data, the portal seeks to reduce delays, curb cost overruns and improve the quality of local infrastructure delivery.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Lieutenant Colonel Sita Ashok Shelke, Sikkim Disaster Authority Honoured with Subhas Chandra Bose National Award 2026: Lieutenant Colonel Sita Ashok Shelke has been awarded the Subhas Chandra Bose National Award for Disaster Management 2026 in the individual category for her exceptional contributions in disaster management.The Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority has been selected for the award in the institutional category. These awards honour outstanding efforts in disaster preparedness, response, and resilience, recognising exemplary contributions across India.