Daily Current Affairs: 16 January 2026

Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor appointed as Director General of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)

[Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)]

Key Updates:

• Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor, former Haryana Police chief, has been appointed as the Director General of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
• He succeeds Praveen Kumar, who has become the head of the Border Security Force (BSF).
• Kapoor, a 1990-batch IPS officer, had been relieved from the post of Haryana DGP following controversy related to the suicide of IPS officer Y Puran Kumar.
• Kapoor will serve as ITBP chief until October 31, 2026.

Rakesh Aggarwal appointed Director General of National Investigation Agency (NIA)

[National Investigation Agency (NIA)]

Key Updates:

• Rakesh Aggarwal, a 1994 batch IPS officer of Himachal Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as the regular Director General of National Investigation Agency (NIA).
• He had been serving as interim head of NIA after the premature repatriation of incumbent Sadanand Date.
• Praveen Kumar, a 1993 batch IPS officer of West Bengal cadre, has taken over as Director General of Border Security Force (BSF).
• He was earlier serving as ITBP DG while also holding additional charge as BSF DG.
• Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor, a 1990 batch IPS officer and former DGP of Haryana, has been appointed as Director General of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).

Vikas Chadha appointed as Global Chief Executive Officer of TVS Supply Chain Solutions Limited (TVSSCS).

[TVS Supply Chain Solutions Limited (TVSSCS)]

Key Updates:

• Vikas Chadha has been appointed as the Global Chief Executive Officer of TVS Supply Chain Solutions Limited (TVSSCS) with effect from January 22, 2026.
• He succeeds Ravi Viswanathan, who will retire during the 2026-27 financial year.
• During the transition, Viswanathan will continue as Managing Director and work closely with Chadha to ensure leadership continuity.

Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) records USD 51 billion FDI inflow in six months

[Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)]

Key Updates:

• India has received foreign direct investment (FDI) worth USD 51 billion in the last six months.
• DPIIT will organise National Startup Day on January 16, during which 75 Grand Challenges will be launched to foster innovation and problem-solving across sectors.
• More than 3,000 requests have been received to participate in National Startup Day.
• 20 National Startup Awards will be presented on National Startup Day to recognise excellence in entrepreneurship.

Chinese customs data records India-China bilateral trade at all-time high of USD 155.62 billion in 2025.

[China]

Key Updates:

• Indian exports to China rose to USD 19.75 billion in 2025, up USD 5.5 billion from the previous year.
• Chinese exports to India increased 12.8% to USD 135.87 billion in 2025.
• The India-China trade deficit widened to a record USD 116.12 billion in 2025, crossing the USD 100-billion mark for the second time since 2023.
• In 2024, the trade deficit stood at USD 99.21 billion with China’s exports at USD 113.45 billion and India’s exports at USD 14.25 billion.
• China’s global trade surplus reached almost USD 1.2 trillion in 2025, up 20% from 2024, with exports at USD 3.77 trillion and imports at USD 2.58 trillion.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) tightens complaint review norms and expands Internal Ombudsman oversight.

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI)]

Key Updates:

• All complaints wholly rejected or partially resolved by regulated entities must be auto-escalated to the Internal Ombudsman for review.
• Regulated entities must ensure that no complaint is closed by the same branch or touch point that handled it.
• Compensation may be offered for material loss, loss of time, expenses, and mental agony suffered by complainants.
• Internal Ombudsman shall be a retired or serving officer of rank equivalent to General Manager, appointed for three years and below 70 years of age at tenure end.
• Internal Ombudsman reports administratively to the competent authority and functionally to the Customer Service Committee of the Board.
• Internal Ombudsman shall be a permanent invitee to Customer Service Committee meetings to ensure board oversight.
• Internal Ombudsman shall not handle complaints received directly from the public, only those escalated after internal review.
• Decisions by Internal Ombudsman or Deputy Internal Ombudsman must be submitted to the RBI Ombudsman.
• The directions apply to commercial banks, small finance banks, payments banks, NBFCs, prepaid payment instrument issuers, and credit information companies.
• Housing finance companies, core investment companies, infrastructure debt fund-NBFCs, NBFC-infrastructure finance companies, non-operative financial holding companies, primary dealers, and mortgage guarantee companies are excluded.

Indian Banks' Association (IBA) honours Karnataka Bank with multiple Banking Technology Awards

[Indian Banks' Association (IBA), Karnataka Bank]

Key Updates:

• Karnataka Bank won the 'Best Fintech & DPI Adoption' category at the IBA Banking Technology Awards.
• Karnataka Bank was adjudged runner-up in the 'Best Tech Talent' category.
• Karnataka Bank received special mention in 'Best Technology Bank', 'Best Digital Financial Inclusion', and 'Best Digital Sales' categories.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) releases draft foreign exchange risk capital rules effective April 2027.

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI)]

Key Updates:

• Banks must compute foreign exchange risk capital requirements on a continuous basis at both consolidated and standalone levels.
• Capital for foreign exchange risk must be maintained at the close of each business day.
• Banks may exclude specific 'structural' foreign exchange positions from the net open position subject to strict conditions.
• The methodology for structural foreign exchange positions must be documented in the bank's risk management policy.

World Bank (WB) raises India’s FY26 growth forecast to 7.2%

[World Bank (WB)]

Key Updates:

• The World Bank (WB) raised India’s growth forecast for FY26 to 7.2%, up from the 6.3% projected in June 2025.
• India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth is estimated to moderate to 6.5% in FY27 and edge up to 6.6% in FY28.
• The National Statistical Office (NSO) estimated India's FY26 growth at 7.4% on January 7.
• South Asia’s growth is expected to rise to 7.1% in 2025 and slow to 6.2% in 2026.
• Global growth is projected to moderate to 2.6% in 2026 from 2.7% in 2025.
• The United States economy is estimated to rise to 2.2% from 2.1%, while China's economic growth is forecast to slow to 4.4% from 4.9%.
• The WB projections assume that 50% tariffs by the United States remain in place throughout the forecast horizon.

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) constitutes high-level committee to enable assured payouts under National Pension System.

[Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA)]

Key Updates:

• The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has constituted a high-level committee to formulate guidelines and regulations for establishing a framework for assured payouts under the National Pension System (NPS).
• The committee will be chaired by Dr. M. S. Sahoo, Founder of Dr. Sahoo Regulatory Chambers and former Chairperson of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI).
• The 15-member panel comprises experts from law, actuarial science, finance, insurance, capital markets, and academia.
• The committee has been established as a standing advisory committee on structured pension payouts.
• Its core objectives include formulating regulations for assured payout products, designing an end-to-end framework for transition from accumulation to payout phase, and enabling legally enforceable, market-based guarantees for assured payouts.
• The committee will define operational parameters such as lock-in periods, withdrawal limits, pricing methodologies, and fee and cost structures for service providers.
• It will establish capital and solvency requirements for providers and examine tax implications for payout options within the NPS architecture.
• The committee will develop standardized disclosure norms to prevent mis-selling and align subscriber expectations with market-based guarantees.

Karnataka Bank enables Khajane-2 e-receipt payments via Internet Banking.

[Karnataka]

Key Updates:

• Karnataka Bank has integrated Khajane-2 e-receipt payments into its Internet Banking platform.
• The integration follows authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and approval from the Department of Treasuries, Government of Karnataka.
• Customers can now pay State government taxes and fees through the Khajane-2 Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) using the bank’s net banking service.

World Bank (WB) raises India’s FY26 growth forecast to 7.2%

[World Bank (WB)]

Key Updates:

• The World Bank (WB) raised India’s growth forecast for FY26 to 7.2%, an increase from the 6.3% projected in June 2025.
• India’s growth is estimated to moderate to 6.5% in FY27, assuming 50% tariffs by the United States remain in place throughout the forecast horizon.
• The WB projects India’s growth to edge up to 6.6% in FY28, supported by resilient services activity, a recovery in exports, and a pickup in investment.
• The National Statistical Office (NSO) estimated India’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth for FY26 at 7.4% on January 7.
• Growth for South Asia is expected to rise to 7.1% in 2025 and slow to 6.2% in 2026, reflecting the impact of higher US tariffs on India’s exports.
• Global economic growth is expected to moderate to 2.6% in 2026 from 2.7% in 2025.
• The United States economy is estimated to rise to 2.2% in 2026, while China’s economic growth is projected to slow to 4.4% from 4.9%.

Paripoorna Mediclaim Ayush Bima offers CGHS beneficiaries extra health cover with cashless treatment

Key Updates:

• The government has introduced a new health insurance plan for central government health scheme (CGHS) beneficiaries known as Paripoorna Mediclaim Ayush Bima.
• It offers indemnity-based in-patient hospitalisation cover within India, with sum insured options of Rs 10 lakh or Rs 20 lakh available to CGHS beneficiaries.
• AYUSH treatments are covered up to 100% of the sum insured for in-patient hospitalisation; modern treatments are covered up to 25% of the sum insured, with an optional rider for 100% coverage.
• CGHS beneficiaries need to pay a premium, but the plan is available at a discount of 28% and 42% for 70:30 and 50:50 premium co-sharing, respectively.
• The policy is optional and can cover up to six family members under a single policy with no GST applicable.

National Campaign on Entrepreneurship to Train 50,000 Community Resource Persons and 50 Lakh SHG Members

Key Updates:

• The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) launched the “National Campaign on Entrepreneurship” under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
• The key objective of the campaign is to “train and build capacity of 50,000 community resource persons (CRPs) on enterprise promotion and impart EDP training to 50 lakh SHG members of DAY-NRLM.”
• The campaign was launched on 12th January 2026 with the theme “Promoting Rural Women Entrepreneurship – Har Ghar Udyam, Har Gaon Samriddh.”
• The initiative supports the MoRD commitment to “enabling at least 3 crore Lakhpati Didis, i.e., SHG women members earning ₹1 lakh or more per annum.”
• The campaign aims to “catalyse millions of rural entrepreneurs, paving the way for a resilient, inclusive, and self-reliant non-farm rural economy.”
• The program focuses on the “promotion of non-farm rural enterprises” as a critical pathway to bring transformational change in the income levels of rural women.

Karuna Abhiyan: Gujarat Deploys 8,500 Personnel for Bird and Animal Rescue

[Gujarat]

Key Updates:

• The Gujarat Government launched 'Karuna Abhiyan' to rescue birds injured by kite strings and address cattle food poisoning: 'the state government has launched Karuna Abhiyan, a campaign aimed at rescuing birds injured by kite strings and addressing cases of cattle suffering from food poisoning.'
• The campaign is a joint initiative of the Department of Forest and Environment and the Department of Animal Husbandry: 'launched jointly by the departments of Forest and Environment and Animal Husbandry, in coordination with various voluntary organisations.'
• The initiative runs from January 10 to January 20 and has established 85 control rooms and over 480 treatment centres: 'The campaign, which began on January 10 and will continue until January 20, has set up 85 control rooms and over 480 treatment centres.'
• The campaign involves 740 veterinary doctors and approximately 8,500 officials and volunteers: 'More than 740 veterinary doctors and approximately 8,500 officials and volunteers are involved in providing services at the 450 collection centres throughout the state.'
• Citizens can access assistance via the 1962 helpline or a dedicated wildlife WhatsApp number: 'People can call the helpline at 1962 for assistance with injured birds or unwell animals. Additionally, a wildlife helpline has been created at 8320002000.'

Ayushman Arogya Mandirs Delhi Expansion Adds 81 New Centres

[Delhi]

Key Updates:

• Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta inaugurated 81 new Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, raising the city’s total to 319 centres.
• Patients can now book OPD appointments and access medical records through mobile phones.
• The BJP government targets 15 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs per Assembly constituency and 1,100 centres across Delhi.
• Over six lakh Delhi residents have registered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, with thousands receiving free treatment.

Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2024: Maharashtra tops rankings

[Maharashtra, Uttarakhand]

Key Updates:

• NITI Aayog released the fourth Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2024 on Jan 14, 2026, where Maharashtra emerged as the top-performing state followed by Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.
• The rankings place Maharashtra at the top, followed by Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Punjab, reflecting states’ readiness in terms of export potential, policy support and performance outcomes.
• Among the smaller states and Union Territories, Uttarakhand secured the top position, followed by Jammu and Kashmir, Nagaland, Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu, Goa and Tripura.
• The EPI 2024 follows a consistent, data-driven methodology to assess states across parameters such as export policies, business environment, infrastructure quality and export outcomes.
• NITI Aayog CEO B V R Subrahmanyam stated that the index helps states in fostering ecosystems that can respond to new opportunities, align with global standards, and build competitiveness across districts.

Gruha Lakshmi Digital Marketing Portal launched to showcase women entrepreneurs' products globally

Key Updates:

• The Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Karnataka, has launched the Gruha Lakshmi Digital Marketing portal under the guidance of Chief Minister Sri Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister Sri D.K. Shivakumar.
• The portal, accessible at gruhalakshmidigital.org, serves as a state-backed e-commerce marketplace to promote women entrepreneurship across Karnataka.
• Women entrepreneurs can register on the portal through the website, via District In-charge Officers, or by visiting the Department Head Office.

India to Host 16th ADMM-Plus Experts Working Group on Counter-Terrorism in New Delhi

[ASEAN]

Key Updates:

• India will host the 16th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus Experts Working Group (EWG) on Counter-Terrorism (CT) in New Delhi from January 14 to 16, 2026.
• The 16th EWG on Counter-Terrorism will be co-chaired by India and Malaysia.
• Participation will include 11 ASEAN member states, 7 ADMM-Plus dialogue partners (Australia, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Japan, China, United States and Russia), and representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat.
• Malaysia will host the Table Top Exercise (TTX) in 2026 and India will conduct the Field Training Exercise (FTX) in 2027.

ICAR registers high-yield synthetic cattle breeds Karan Fries and Vrindavani to boost dairy output

[ICAR]

Key Updates:

• The Indian government has officially registered two high-yielding synthetic cattle breeds, Karan Fries and Vrindavani, capable of producing more than 3,000 kg of milk during a standard 10-month lactation period.
• Karan Fries was developed by the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) as a cross between the indigenous Tharparkar cow and the Holstein-Friesian bull.
• Vrindavani was developed by the ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) using Holstein-Friesian, Brown Swiss, and Jersey breeds with the indigenous Hariana cattle.
• These synthetic breeds have been engineered to maintain high milk production while successfully adapting to India’s challenging subtropical climate.

Ultracold atoms drive India’s quantum leap in precision clocks and future quantum computers

Key Updates:

• Ultracold atoms sit at the heart of the quantum-technology revolution.
• India has built a strong and steadily growing presence in cold and ultracold-atom research.
• Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Mumbai was the first laboratory in India to create a Bose–Einstein condensate.
• Bose–Einstein Condensate is a state where billions of atoms act like a single “super-atom” with quantum effects visible on a macroscopic scale.
• Laser cooling, awarded the 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics, uses light’s momentum to slow atoms to a few billionths of a degree above absolute zero.
• Today’s best atomic clocks based on cold atoms would not lose even one second over the age of the universe.
• Cold-atom gravity sensors can detect underground structures, monitor volcanoes, and test Einstein’s theory of gravity.
• Ultracold atoms arranged by laser light form quantum simulators that mimic exotic solids, superconductors, or black-hole-like systems.
• Cold atoms are being developed as building blocks for quantum computers to solve problems like molecular design and cryptography faster than classical machines.

Durham University-led team detects impossible bow shock from discless white dwarf RXJ0528+2838

[United Kingdom]

Key Updates:

• A powerful outflow generating a persistent bow shock has been discovered around the white dwarf RXJ0528+2838, 730 light-years away.
• The star is described as a ‘supposedly quiet, discless system’ yet drives a spectacular nebula.
• The shock wave indicates the dead star has been ejecting material for at least 1,000 years, contradicting current understanding.
• Researchers state the finding challenges the standard picture of how matter moves and interacts in extreme binary systems.

Sentynl Therapeutics Inc. Announces FDA Approval of ZYCUBO® (copper histidinate) for Menkes Disease

[United States, Food and Drug Administration (FDA)]

Key Updates:

• ZYCUBO® is now the first and only therapy approved for the treatment of Menkes disease in the United States.
• Menkes disease is a rare X-linked recessive pediatric disease caused by mutations of the copper transporter ATP7A encoded by the ATP7A gene.
• ZYCUBO® is a subcutaneous injectable formulation of copper histidinate that restores copper homeostasis and maintains copper levels in patients with Menkes disease.
• Early treatment with ZYCUBO demonstrated a nearly 80% reduction in the risk of death compared to an untreated contemporaneous external control cohort.
• The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥7%) included pneumonia, viral infection, respiratory failure, seizure, bacterial infection, hemorrhage, hypotension, vomiting, tachycardia, pyrexia, volume depletion, fracture, dyspnea, transaminases elevation, diarrhea, fungal infection, anemia, and local administration reaction.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Schedules Artemis 2 Crewed Lunar Mission for February 2026

[National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)]

Key Updates:

• The Artemis 2 crewed mission is scheduled to launch on February 5, 2026, carrying Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen on a historic lunar flyby.
• The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, which produces 8.8 million pounds of thrust, will launch the mission from the Kennedy Space Center.
• The Orion spacecraft will carry the crew on a 10-day mission following a free-return lunar trajectory that passes 5,000+ nautical miles beyond the lunar far side.
• The crew includes Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
• Mission objectives include the validation of Orion life support systems and the execution of biomedical research investigating radiation exposure and immune system function.
• The Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS) will execute translunar injection maneuvers to propel the spacecraft toward the lunar vicinity.

University of New South Wales (UNSW) opens Bengaluru campus at Manyata Tech Park

[Australia]

Key Updates:

• UNSW will offer undergraduate programmes in commerce, media, computer science and data science, along with a postgraduate programme in cyber security.
• UNSW’s academic council will directly oversee the Bengaluru campus, ensuring students gain industry exposure and skill-focused learning at Manyata Tech Park.
• UNSW already has close academic and institutional links with organisations such as IIM Bengaluru, IISc, the National Law University, the Union Ministries of Highways and Steel, and the State Renewable Energy Development Corporation.

Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B Ministry) and Netflix Conclude ‘Inspiring Innovators’ Skilling Initiative

[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B Ministry)]

Key Updates:

• The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) and Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B Ministry) marked the culmination of ‘Inspiring Innovators – Naye Bharat Ki Nayi Pehchaaan’, a skilling initiative developed in collaboration with the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity.
• The initiative showcases the contributions of eight Indian start-ups identified by the Office of the PSA for their work in driving social-impact innovation.
• Eight short animated films were created by students from eight universities across India, including the National Institute of Design (NID), Chitkara University, and Satyajit Ray Institute of Film and Television.
• Voiceovers for the films were recorded by participants from the Voicebox, a skilling initiative by Netflix in collaboration with the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).
• The initiative provided hands-on creative experience to a cohort of 26 students, where fifty per cent of the participants were women and several students came from Tier-2 cities.
• Students were mentored by experts from the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, and Graphiti Studios to gain practical exposure to industry processes and emerging technologies like AI-led narratives.

Tamil Nadu and Sarvam AI sign Rs 10,000 crore pact to build India’s first Sovereign AI Park

[Tamil Nadu]

Key Updates:

• The Tamil Nadu government has signed an agreement with Sarvam AI to establish a full-stack Sovereign AI Park with an initial investment of Rs 10,000 crore.
• The park will generate 1,000 high-skilled, deep-tech jobs and integrate AI compute infrastructure, secure data frameworks, model research labs and AI innovation clusters.
• Data, models and compute will remain within the state’s trust boundary, ensuring a sovereign, ethical and inclusive ecosystem for deployment of AI systems.
• The initiative will develop foundational Tamil-first AI models linking classical vocabulary with modern use-cases, ensuring inclusive, accurate and locally rooted AI systems.

Galgotias University Inaugurates IIT Mandi Catalyst Satellite Centre to Boost Deep-Tech Startups

Key Updates:

• The centre aims to support early-stage startups, promote deep-tech innovation, and bridge the gap between research and real-world application.
• Two strategic MoUs were signed—between Galgotias University and the National Institute of Technology, Jamshedpur, and between Galgotias University and Jharkhand University of Technology, Ranchi—for joint research, faculty and student exchange, co-creation of deep-tech startups, shared labs, and incubation programmes.
• The collaborations are expected to strengthen the innovation pipeline by translating academic research into market-ready solutions, enhancing funding access, and creating nationwide pathways for student entrepreneurs and startups.

Pongal 2026 observed on January 14, 2026

Key Updates:

• Pongal is a four-day Hindu harvest festival dedicated to the Sun God that marks the beginning of Uttarayan, the sun’s journey northward.
• Thai Pongal and Makar Sankranti both fall on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, with the Sankranti Moment occurring at 03:13 PM.
• The festival includes four specific days: Bhogi Pandigai (Jan 13), Thai Pongal (Jan 14), Mattu Pongal (Jan 15), and Kaanum Pongal (Jan 16).
• The traditional sweet dish Pongal dates back to the Chola dynasty, with recipes appearing in temple inscriptions from the Chola and Vijayanagara Empire periods.
• The AIFF announced that the 2025-26 Indian Super League (ISL) season will be recognized by the AFC.
• Nasa's crewed lunar mission, Artemis II, is scheduled for a February 6 liftoff.

Indian Army Day observed on January 15, 2026: Year of Networking and Data Centricity

[Indian Army]

Key Updates:

• India will observe Indian Army Day on January 15, 2026, marking 78 years since the country took full command of its own Army after Independence.
• The theme for 2026, Year of Networking and Data Centricity, focuses on digital transformation within the Indian Army.
• On January 15, 1949, Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa took over as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army, replacing British General Sir Francis Roy Bucher.
• In 2026, the main ceremony will take place in Jaipur, where the Chief of Army Staff will take the salute at a grand parade.
• The Indian Army supports Atmanirbhar Bharat through indigenous systems like Tejas aircraft and Akash missiles.
• India remains one of the largest contributors to United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions worldwide.
• Previous themes, including the Year of Reforms in 2025, reflect the Army’s push for continuous structural and technological upgrades.
• Recruitment initiatives such as Agnipath encourage young Indians to serve the nation.

Chadar Trek Postponed as Zanskar River Fails to Freeze

Key Updates:

• The Chadar trek on the frozen Zanskar river in Ladakh has been deferred due to inadequate ice formation.
• The trek, scheduled to begin on January 10, is now expected to commence around January 15.
• Additional Deputy Commissioner, Leh, Ghulam Mohammad said a team visited the trek route on Saturday and will submit its report by Monday.
• The district administration will deploy additional National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel this year to enhance rescue preparedness.
• Rigzin Wangmo Lachic, President of the All Ladakh Hotel and Guest House Association (ALHGHA), said the delay was due to incomplete ice formation on the Zanskar River.
• In 2024, the route was truncated due to the construction of the Nimu–Padum–Darcha Road (NPDR) by the Border Roads Organisation under Project Yojak.
• Concerns have been raised over lack of complete ice formation reportedly due to global warming and changing climatic conditions.
• Last year, the trek commenced on January 13.

Armed Forces Veterans' Day observed on January 14

Key Updates:

• Armed Forces Veterans' Day is celebrated on January 14 every year.
• The day marks the birth anniversary of the Late Field Marshal KM Cariappa, who retired on this day in 1953.
• Field Marshal Cariappa was the First Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) of the Indian Army.