Daily Current Affairs Quiz
20 January, 2026
International Affairs
1. Pax Silica
Source: The Hindu
Context:
The Pax Silica initiative, launched by the United States in December 2025, aims to secure rare earth elements (REEs), semiconductor, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) supply chains, reduce coercive dependencies, and build trusted digital infrastructure. India is expected to be invited to join, reflecting its growing role in the global digital and AI ecosystem.
What is Pax Silica?
- A multilateral initiative focused on:
- Securing critical mineral and semiconductor supply chains
- Supporting AI and advanced manufacturing ecosystems
- Reducing over-dependence on single countries for key technologies
- The term:
- “Pax” = peace
- “Silica” = core material for semiconductor manufacturing
- Objective: Ensure that future tech supply chains promote peace, resilience, and prosperity
Key Members & Observers
Core participants
- United States – Strategic lead
- Japan, South Korea – Semiconductor manufacturing strength
- Australia – Lithium and REE reserves
- Netherlands – Advanced lithography (ASML)
- Singapore – Chip manufacturing hub
- Israel – AI, defence tech, cybersecurity
- UK – Third-largest AI market
- UAE & Qatar – Capital-rich AI ecosystem builders
Observers
- Canada, European Union, OECD, Taiwan
National Affairs
1. India–UAE Pledge to Double Bilateral Trade to $200 Billion
Source: ET
Context:
India and the UAE have agreed to double their bilateral trade to USD 200 billion by 2032 and jointly reaffirmed their commitment to counter terrorism in all its forms, strengthening the India–UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
What is the India–UAE Pledge?
A broad strategic understanding to deepen cooperation across:
- Trade and investment
- Energy security
- Defence and counter-terrorism
- Space and advanced technology
- Infrastructure and finance
- Cultural and people-to-people ties
Key Provisions of the Agreement
| Area | Key Provisions | Key Details / Implications |
|---|---|---|
| Trade & Economic Cooperation | Target to double bilateral trade | Bilateral trade aimed at USD 200 billion by 2032 |
| Builds on India–UAE CEPA (2022) | Reduced tariffs; boosted services and investment flows | |
| Priority sectors | Manufacturing, services, digital trade, supply-chain integration | |
| Energy Partnership | Long-term LNG agreement | USD 3 billion deal: ADNOC Gas to supply LNG to HPCL for 10 years |
| Strategic energy shift | India becomes UAE’s largest LNG customer | |
| Broader energy cooperation | Civil nuclear energy, energy infrastructure, clean energy transition | |
| Defence & Security | Strategic Defence Partnership | Letter of Intent to conclude a formal partnership |
| Counter-terrorism | Joint condemnation of terrorism in all forms | |
| Security cooperation | Defence manufacturing, intelligence sharing, maritime security | |
| Space & Advanced Technology | Space collaboration | LoI on joint space infrastructure development and commercialisation |
| Digital infrastructure | Establishment of a supercomputing cluster in India | |
| Frontier technologies | Cooperation in AI, high-performance computing, space applications | |
| Investment & Infrastructure | Industrial development | UAE participation in Special Investment Region at Dholera, Gujarat |
| Financial services expansion | DP World and First Abu Dhabi Bank operations in GIFT City | |
| Strategic objective | Strengthens India’s role as a global financial and logistics hub |
2. Environmental Protection Fund (EPF)
Source: The Times of India
Context:
The Union Government has notified detailed rules for the utilisation and administration of the Environmental (Protection) Fund, giving operational effect to provisions introduced under the Jan Vishwas Act, 2023. The Fund aims to ensure that penalties collected for environmental violations are reinvested into environmental protection and restoration.
What is the Environmental (Protection) Fund?
- A statutory fund of the Government of India
- Created to utilise monetary penalties imposed for violations of environmental laws
- Focuses on:
- Pollution control
- Environmental restoration
- Monitoring and research
- Capacity building of regulatory institutions
Legal Basis
- Provided under: Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
- Operationalised: Through rules notified in January 2026
- Strengthened by: Jan Vishwas Act, 2023
- Decriminalised several environmental offences
- Retained financial penalties as enforcement tools
Nodal Authority
- Administered by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
- Or any authority notified by the Central Government
Objectives
- Recycle pollution penalties for:
- Environmental remediation
- Promotion of clean technologies
- Strengthening environmental governance
- Shift from punitive criminalisation to compliance-based regulation
3. Indian Skimmer Conservation Project Launched
Context:
The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), in collaboration with the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), has launched a new conservation project to protect the endangered Indian Skimmer and its breeding habitats across the Ganga River Basin.
About the Indian Skimmer
- A riverine bird species scientifically known as Rynchops albicollis
- Known for its unique feeding behaviour:
- Flies low over water
- Skims the surface using its elongated lower mandible to catch fish
Habitat
- Prefers large, slow-flowing rivers
- Nests on:
- Exposed sandbars
- River islands
- Major breeding rivers:
- Ganga
- Chambal
- Yamuna
- Tributaries
- Uses coastal areas during the non-breeding season
Conservation Status
- IUCN Red List: Endangered (EN)
- Global population: ~3,700–4,400 individuals
- India hosts ~90% of the global population, making conservation efforts in India critical
Key Characteristics
- Bill: Bright orange; lower mandible longer than upper
- Plumage: Black upperparts and white underparts
- Breeding behaviour: Colonial nester, often alongside terns
- Considered an indicator species of healthy riverine ecosystems
Threats to the Species
- Sand mining on riverbeds
- Alteration of river flow due to dams and barrages
- Pollution and decline in fish availability
- Human disturbance at nesting sites
About the Conservation Project
- Focus areas:
- Protection of breeding sandbars
- Habitat restoration
- Monitoring population trends
- Community engagement and awareness
- Aligns with:
- River rejuvenation under the Clean Ganga initiative
- Biodiversity conservation goals
4. Export Promotion Mission (EPM)
Source: News on Air
Context:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued operational guidelines for extending interest subvention on export credit under Niryat Protsahan, bringing eligible exporters under the ambit of the Export Promotion Mission (EPM)—a flagship, mission-mode export framework announced in the Union Budget 2025–26.
What is the Export Promotion Mission (EPM)?
The Export Promotion Mission (EPM) is a unified national, mission-mode framework aimed at strengthening India’s export competitiveness by integrating:
- Affordable export finance
- Market access support
- Compliance readiness
- Digital governance
It replaces fragmented export-support schemes with an outcome-linked, digitally driven approach.
Key Details
Established in
- Union Budget 2025–26
Mission Period
- FY 2025–26 to FY 2030–31
Nodal Implementing Agency
- Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)
Objectives
- Boost export competitiveness of:
- MSMEs
- First-time exporters
- Labour-intensive sectors
- Non-traditional and low-export districts
- Ensure:
- Affordable trade finance
- Global market readiness
- Reduced compliance burden
Structure of Export Promotion Mission
Two Integrated Sub-Schemes
1. Niryat Protsahan (Financial Enablers)
- Interest subvention on:
- Pre-shipment and post-shipment export credit
- Export factoring
- Deep-tier financing
- Support mechanisms:
- Collateral support
- E-commerce exporter credit cards
- Interest subvention regulated by RBI, routed through banks and financial institutions
2. Niryat Disha (Non-Financial Enablers)
- Support for:
- Quality certification
- Branding and marketing
- Participation in trade fairs
- Logistics and warehousing
- Inland transport reimbursement
- Cluster-based and district-level export capacity building
5. Parbati Giri
Context:
The Prime Minister of India paid tribute to Parbati Giri on her birth centenary, recalling her fearless participation in India’s freedom struggle and her lifelong dedication to social service, especially among marginalised communities in western Odisha.
Who was Parbati Giri?
- Indian freedom fighter and social reformer from Odisha
- Widely known as the “Mother Teresa of Western Odisha”
- Worked extensively for:
- The poor and landless
- Tribal communities
- Prisoners and leprosy patients
Early Life
- Born: 19 January 1926
- Birthplace: Samlaipadar village, Bargarh district, Odisha
- Inspired by nationalist leaders and her uncle Ramachandra Giri
- Left formal education early
- Joined the Indian National Congress organisational work by 1938
- Adopted Gandhian principles as her guiding philosophy
5. Hooghly River Mapped Using Drones
Source: The Times of India
Context:
For the first time, State Mission for Clean Ganga (SMCG), West Bengal, has begun deploying drones to map pollution sources along a 120-km stretch of the Hooghly River, marking a technology-driven approach to river rejuvenation under the Clean Ganga framework.
About the Hooghly River
- The Hooghly River (also spelled Hugli) is a major distributary of the Ganga River system in West Bengal.
- It serves as a vital lifeline for:
- Navigation
- Industry
- Urban settlements, including Kolkata
Origin
- Formed near Nabadwip
- Originates from the confluence of:
- Bhagirathi River
- Jalangi River
- The Bhagirathi is itself a distributary of the Ganga, placing the Hooghly firmly within the Ganga deltaic system.
Course
- Flows southward through the districts of:
- Nadia
- Hooghly
- Howrah
- Kolkata
- South 24 Parganas
- Empties into the Bay of Bengal through a wide estuary
Major Tributaries
- Ajay
- Damodar
- Rupnarayan
- Haldi
River System
- Hooghly is a distributary (tributary arm) of the Ganga
- Provides direct navigable access from the Bay of Bengal to inland Kolkata
6. Tamil Nadu Assured Pension Scheme (TAPS)
Context:
The Tamil Nadu government has introduced a new hybrid pension model called the Tamil Nadu Assured Pension Scheme (TAPS) to address long-standing demands from government employees for pension security while avoiding the heavy fiscal burden of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
Why TAPS was introduced
- Political commitment by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) to improve pension security
- OPS restoration deemed fiscally impractical
- Pressure from employee unions ahead of Assembly elections
- Recommendations of a committee headed by Gagandeep Singh Bedi
What is TAPS?
TAPS is a hybrid pension scheme combining features of:
- Old Pension Scheme (OPS)
- Andhra Pradesh Guaranteed Pension Scheme (APGPS)
- Unified Pension Scheme (UPS)
It aims to provide assured, inflation-linked pension while retaining employee contributions.
Key Features of TAPS
- Contribution:
- Employee: 10% of basic pay
- Government: Matching or higher contribution
- Pension amount:
- 50% of the last month’s basic pay (more generous than UPS)
- No pension reset (unlike OPS)
- Dearness Allowance (DA):
- Extended to pensioners and family pensioners
- Eligibility:
- Assured pension regardless of length of service
- Family pension:
- 60% of the pension last drawn
- Death-cum-Retirement Gratuity (DCRG):
- Up to ₹25 lakh
- Special compassionate pension:
- For CPS retirees before TAPS implementation
7. India ranks 6th in Asia Manufacturing Index 2026
Source: BS
Context:
India has ranked sixth among 11 Asian countries in the Asia Manufacturing Index (AMI) 2026, which assesses the relative competitiveness of manufacturing economies across eight pillars and 43 sub-parameters. The ranking highlights India’s strong economic and workforce fundamentals but flags persistent structural and policy bottlenecks.
Overall Rankings (Top & Bottom)
- China – 1st (retains top position for 3rd year)
- Malaysia – 2nd (up from previous years)
- Vietnam – 3rd
- Singapore – 4th
- South Korea – 5th
- India – 6th
- Indonesia
- Thailand
- Japan
- Philippines
- Bangladesh
India’s Performance Snapshot
India retains its 6th position for the second consecutive year:
- Ranked 4th in 2024 (when only 8 countries were assessed)
- Slipped to 6th in 2025 after expansion to 11 countries
The index describes India as exhibiting a “unique duality” — strong growth momentum alongside deep-seated structural constraints.
Pillars Used in the Index
Countries are evaluated across 8 key pillars:
- Economy
- Political risk
- Business environment
- International trade
- Tax policy
- Infrastructure
- Workforce
- Innovation
Scores are on a scale of 100, with higher scores indicating stronger performance.
India’s Pillar-wise Ranking
| Pillar | Rank |
|---|---|
| Economy | 3 |
| Workforce | 1 |
| Infrastructure | 4 |
| Innovation | 5 |
| Business environment | 6 |
| Political risk | 9 |
| International trade | 9 |
| Tax policy | 9 |
8. Automatic Weather Stations (AWS)
Source: PIB
What is the News?
On 15 January 2026, Union MoS (IC) Dr Jitendra Singh announced the deployment of 200 Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) across four major Indian cities to strengthen urban weather observation and forecasting.
Announcement Details
- Occasion: 151st Foundation Day of the India Meteorological Department (IMD)
- Venue: Mausam Bhawan, New Delhi
- Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)
- Mission: Mission Mausam – Phase II
Key Features of the Initiative
Coverage
- Total AWS: 200
- Cities Covered (50 each):
- Delhi
- Mumbai (Maharashtra)
- Chennai (Tamil Nadu)
- Pune (Maharashtra)
Objective
- To generate high-resolution, granular urban weather data
- Improve forecasting of:
- Sudden downpours
- Thunderstorms
- Extreme heat events
- Rapid pressure changes
New Facilities Inaugurated at IMD
As part of the foundation day celebrations, the following were inaugurated:
- Model Observatory
- 3D-Printed Automatic Weather Station
- Agro-AWS
9. 17th Trilateral Coast Guard Exercise DOSTI-17
What is the News?
The 17th edition of the trilateral Coast Guard exercise ‘DOSTI-17’ involving India, Sri Lanka, and Maldives was conducted in Male, Maldives.
Key Details
- Exercise Name: DOSTI-17
- Type: Biennial Trilateral Coast Guard Exercise
- Dates: 17–19 January 2026
- Location: Male, Maldives
- Participants:
- Indian Coast Guard (ICG)
- Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG)
- Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) – Coast Guard
Objective
- Enhance maritime cooperation
- Improve interoperability
- Strengthen operational coordination among the three countries
Background of Exercise DOSTI
- Initiated: 1991
- Originally: Bilateral exercise between India and Maldives
- Expanded to Trilateral: 2012 (Sri Lanka joined)
- Previous Edition: February 2024, Maldives
About the Indian Coast Guard
- Director General: Paramesh Sivamani
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Established: 1977
- Motto: Vayam Rakshamah (We Protect)
10. SBI Life launches ‘Smart Platina Advantage’
What is the News?
SBI Life Insurance launched ‘SBI Life – Smart Platina Advantage’, a guaranteed savings life insurance plan aimed at long-term financial security and life cover.
Product Snapshot
- Type: Individual, non-linked, non-participating life insurance savings plan
- Objective: Long-term guaranteed savings + life cover for key life goals
- Target Users: Planning for children’s education, retirement, wealth creation, secondary income
Key Features
- Premium Payment: Limited Premium Payment Term (LPPT) of 7 or 10 years
- Policy Term: 15 / 20 / 30 years
- Minimum Premium: ₹50,000 per annum
- Guaranteed Additions: Accrue annually; higher additions for larger premiums & longer terms
- Maturity Options:
- Lump sum or
- Installments up to 7 years (post-maturity liquidity)
- Life Cover: Protection throughout the policy term in case of death
- Predictability: Guaranteed benefits independent of market fluctuations
- Tax Benefits: As per Income Tax Act provisions
Why it matters (Exam Angle)
- Non-linked & non-participating → low risk, predictable returns
- Supports household financial planning amid market volatility
- Aligns with long-term savings and insurance penetration
Banking/Finance
1. IMF Upgrades India’s Growth Forecast for FY 2025-26
Source: The Hindu
Context:
The IMF has revised upward India’s GDP growth projection for the current financial year 2025-26 to 7.3%, from its earlier estimate of 6.6%, citing stronger-than-expected economic performance in the third quarter and strong momentum in the fourth quarter.
India’s Growth Outlook
- FY 2025-26: 7.3% (up from 6.6%)
- Revision driven by:
- Better-than-expected Q3 growth
- Strong Q4 momentum
- Growth expected to moderate to 6.4% in 2026 and 2027 as temporary and cyclical factors fade
- IMF projection is slightly below the Union government’s estimate of 7.4%
Global Economic Outlook
- Global growth projections:
- 2026: 3.3%
- 2027: 3.2%
- Growth remains resilient, broadly unchanged from earlier estimates
- Balance of forces:
- Headwinds: Shifting and restrictive trade policies
- Tailwinds:
- Rising investment in technology, especially Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Supportive fiscal and monetary policies
- Accommodative financial conditions
- Adaptability of the private sector
2. PSBs Urge RBI to Include SDLs in OMO Auctions
Source: BS
Context:
Public Sector Banks (PSBs) have urged the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to include State Development Loans (SDLs)—state government bonds—in its Open Market Operation (OMO) purchase auctions, amid a sharp widening of yield spreads between SDLs and central government securities.
What Are SDLs?
- State Development Loans (SDLs) are bonds issued by State governments
- Used to finance:
- Fiscal deficits
- Capital expenditure
- Generally carry higher yields than G-Secs due to:
- Higher perceived risk
- Lower liquidity
What is Open Market Operation (OMO)?
Open Market Operations (OMOs) are the buying and selling of government securities by the RBI in the open market to regulate liquidity conditions and support the monetary policy stance.
Objective of OMOs
- Manage liquidity in the banking system
- Influence interest rates and bond yields
- Ensure smooth monetary transmission
- Maintain orderly conditions in the government bond market
3. SEBI proposes ₹20,000-Crore Threshold to Identify Significant Indices
Source: The Hindu
Context:
SEBI has proposed a ₹20,000-crore asset under management (AUM) threshold to identify “significant indices” that will come under the scope of the Index Providers Regulations, 2024, with the aim of strengthening governance, transparency, and oversight of market benchmarks used by mutual funds.
What is the Proposal?
- An index will be classified as “significant” if:
- It is tracked or used as a benchmark by domestic mutual fund schemes
- The cumulative AUM exceeds ₹20,000 crore
- Such indices will be subject to enhanced regulatory oversight under the new Index Providers Regulations.
Assets Under Management (AUM)
Assets Under Management (AUM) refers to the total market value of financial assets that a financial institution manages on behalf of investors at a given point in time.
It represents the size, scale, and investor confidence in a fund or financial entity.
Who Reports AUM?
- Mutual Funds
- Asset Management Companies (AMCs)
- Pension funds
- Hedge funds
- Portfolio Management Services (PMS)
- Insurance companies
What Does AUM Include?
- Equity investments
- Debt instruments (bonds, G-Secs)
- Money market instruments
- Hybrid assets
- Cash and cash equivalents
AUM fluctuates daily based on market movements and investor inflows/outflows.
4. EPFO Simplifies PF Withdrawal Rules
Source: BS
Context:
The EPFO has simplified the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) withdrawal framework, making it easier for members to understand when, why, and how much PF money can be withdrawn, while cautioning against excessive early withdrawals that may affect retirement security.
What Has Changed?
1. Fewer Withdrawal Categories
- Earlier: 12+ categories with different service requirements (2–7 years)
- Now: 5 broad categories
- Outcome:
- Simpler eligibility rules
- Fewer claim errors
- Faster processing
2. Reduced Minimum Service Requirement
- Minimum service period reduced to 1 year for most withdrawals
- Earlier rules varied depending on purpose
- This improves access for younger and mobile workers
3. Wider Access to PF Corpus
Members can now withdraw:
- Employee’s contribution
- Employer’s contribution
- Accrued interest on both
(This was not always uniformly allowed earlier)
When Can You Withdraw 100% of PF Funds?
Full withdrawal of PF balance is allowed for the following purposes:
- Medical treatment
- For self or dependent family members
- Higher education
- Marriage
- Self, children, siblings
- Housing needs
- Purchase or construction of house
5. SEBI Introduces Closing Auction Session (CAS) for Equity Markets
Source: Mint
Context:
SEBI has directed stock exchanges and clearing corporations to implement a Closing Auction Session (CAS) in the equity cash market. This will change how closing prices are discovered, replacing the current VWAP-based mechanism and aligning India’s markets with global best practices.
What is a Closing Auction Session (CAS)?
- CAS determines the closing price through an auction, not continuous trading.
- All buy and sell orders during the auction window are pooled together.
- A single equilibrium price is discovered where maximum shares can be traded.
Current system (to be replaced)
- Closing price based on Volume Weighted Average Price (VWAP) of the last 30 minutes of trading.
- Vulnerable to manipulation such as “marking the close” using large last-minute trades.
Key Features of CAS
- Auction duration: 20 minutes at the end of the trading day
- Random closing time: Traders won’t know the exact second the auction ends
- Single price discovery: Reduces last-minute volatility
- Reduced scope for manipulation
Why SEBI introduced CAS
1. Improve price integrity
- Prevents artificial price movement near market close
- Closing price reflects true demand–supply balance
2. Reduce volatility
- Eliminates sudden spikes caused by large end-session trades
3. Global alignment
- Matches practices followed in:
- US
- UK
- European exchanges
- Closing auction prices are globally used for:
- Index calculation
- Mutual fund NAVs
- Derivatives settlement
Facts To Remember
1. Senegal stuns Morocco to win AFCON title in extra time
Senegal stunned Morocco in Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat as Pape Gueye’s goal gave it a 1-0 extra-time win over the host at the end of a match marred in controversy. It was Senegal’s second title in the last three editions.
2. Shaea Muhssin Mohammed Al-Zindani Appointed PM of Yemen
On 15 January 2026, Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) appointed Shaea Muhssin Mohammed Al-Zindani as the Prime Minister of Yemen.
3. ICICI Bank Re-appoints Sandeep Bakshi as MD & CEO
In January 2026, ICICI Bank re-appointed Sandeep Bakshi as MD & CEO.
4. Indian Army Day 2026
Indian Army Day (Bhartiya Sena Diwas) is observed annually on 15 January.
5. Bharat Electricity Summit 2026
- Host Country: India
- Dates: 19–22 March 2026
- Venue: Yashobhoomi, New Delhi
- Theme: “Electrifying Growth. Empowering Sustainability. Connecting Globally”
6. UNSW (Australia) to Open Bengaluru Campus
- University: University of New South Wales
- Location: Manyata Tech Park, Bengaluru
- Opening: August 2026
7. Ashwini Vaishnaw to Attend G7 Critical Minerals Meeting
- Venue: Washington DC, USA
- Focus: Secure global supply chains for critical minerals
- Linkage: Viksit Bharat, manufacturing, high-technology sectors
8. Piramal Finance Secures $350 Million Multilateral Funding
- Lenders:
- International Finance Corporation – $200M
- Asian Development Bank – $150M
- Tenor: 5 years
- Framework: Sustainable Finance Framework
9. Goodwill Ambassador
- Person: MS Dhoni
- Event: Pune Grand Tour 2026
- Nature: International road cycling event
10. ICC Players of the Month – December 2025
- Men: Mitchell Starc
- Women: Laura Wolvaardt
11. Pune Grand Tour 2026
- Dates: 19–23 January 2026
- Category: UCI Continental Road Cycling Race (2.2)
- Route: 437 km (Deccan Plateau & Sahyadri Range)
- Participation: 171 riders, 29 teams, 35 countries
12. FIFA World Cup 2026 Trophy in India
- Unveiled by: Mansukh Mandaviya & Gilberto D’Silva
- Cities: Delhi → Guwahati
- Host Countries (2026): USA, Canada, Mexico
- Teams: 48 (first time)
13. Major Awards
- Asia Best Employer Brand 2026: Bombay Stock Exchange
- UN SG Award 2025: Major Swathi Shantha Kumar (Indian Army)
- IEEE Medal of Honor 2026: Jensen Huang (NVIDIA)
- Scientist of the Year (NSW): Nalini Joshi
- Tyler Prize: Toby Kiers (fungal networks research)
14. AI Film Award
- Winner: Zoubeir Jlassi (Tunisia)
- Film: Lily
- Prize: $1 Million
15. Indian Army Day 2026
- Date: 15 January
- Edition: 78th
- Venue: Jaipur, Rajasthan
- Host Command: South Western Command
16. National Startup Day
- Date: 16 January
- Objective: Promote startups, innovation, employment
- Linked Initiative: Startup India
17. International Solar Alliance highlightsIndia’s success in delivering affordable solar power to millions at World Economic Forum
The International Solar Alliance (ISA) highlighted India’s success in delivering affordable solar power to millions of homes and farmers at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos.
18. 16 teams to perform in grand finale of National School Band Competition on Jan 24
The National School Band Competition organised as part of the Republic Day Celebrations 2026 has culminated at the zonal level.
19. Over 4 crore 53 lakh bank accounts opened under Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, says Govt
The government has said that over four crore 53 lakh bank accounts have been opened under the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana with total deposits of more than three lakh 33 thousand crore rupees.
20. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi meets world leaders on World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos
Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi today met with world leaders on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum 2026, which is currently being held in Davos, Switzerland.
21. India to host AI Impact Summit from 16th to 20th February at Bharat Mandapam
India will host the AI Impact Summit from 16th to 20th February this year at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
22. VP Radhakrishnan launches book Chalice of Ambrosia: Ram Janmabhoomi-Challenge & Response in New Delhi
Vice President Dr C. P. Radhakrishnan today launched a book titled Chalice of Ambrosia: Ram Janmabhoomi-Challenge and Response in New Delhi.
23. Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren participates in CII-organised global sustainability roundtable at World Economic Forum in Davos
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren participated in a CII-organised global sustainability roundtable and outlined Jharkhand’s vision for sustainable and inclusive growth.
24. Fisheries Dept to organise round table conference in New Delhi tomorrow
The Department of Fisheries will organise a round table conference with Ambassadors and High Commissioners from 83 partner countries in New Delhi
25. C-DOT wins SKOCH Award 2025 for Cell Broadcast Solution
The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) has been conferred the SKOCH Award-2025 for its Cell Broadcast Solution.
