Saturday, Jan 17
Daily current affairs for 17 January 2026 with exam-focused key facts, connected news context, and revision notes for UPSC, SSC, banking and government exams.
Today at a glance
[Yemen]
Key Updates:
Saudi-led coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Maliki stated 'any military movements that violate these [de-escalation] efforts will be dealt with directly and immediately'. Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin…
Mohammed Azharuddin, Telangana Congress working president and former cricketer, was sworn in as a minister. His induction brings the total number of ministers to 16 in chief minister A Revanth Reddy-led cabinet.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started a three-nation visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman. The tour focuses on diplomacy, trade expansion, and partnerships with the Global South.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with the Order of Oman, the Sultanate's uniquely distinct civilian honour, by Sultan Haitham bin Tarik for his contributions to strengthening bilateral ties. Prime Minister Modi…
Key Updates:
Harmanpreet Kaur has been appointed as the first female brand ambassador of Punjab National Bank (PNB). The appointment was announced during the launch of PNB's new initiatives including the RuPay Metal Credit Card…
Harmanpreet Kaur is Captain of the World Cup-winning Indian Women's Cricket Team. Priya Agarwal Hebbar is Non-Executive Director of Vedanta Ltd and Chairperson of Hindustan Zinc Ltd.
India's Women's World Cup-winning team member Shafali Verma was felicitated by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. She was honoured with a shawl and a cheque of Rs 1.50 crore and a 'Grade A' sports gradation…
Paradeep Phosphates has unveiled a partnership with cricket superstar Rahul Dravid as their new brand ambassador. The collaboration aims to forge an association between two names that represent trust, discipline…
[Delhi]
Key Updates:
Recognised as the largest open-air theatre in the world, the festival recreates episodes from the Dwapar Yuga, centring on the reign of King Kansa. Over an 8 km radius, the spectacle unfolds across three royal courts—Raj…
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi inaugurated the Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, on December 25, 2025. The memorial was established to honor the 101st birth anniversary of former PM and Bharat Ratna Atal…
The 10th Gita Jayanti Mahotsav in Kurukshetra is set to be a grand spiritual and cultural event. The festival is running from November 15th to December 5th.
The festival will feature poets from thirteen countries presenting works in sixteen different languages. The event reinforces the festival’s spirit of global poetic exchange as stated in the article.
[United States, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics]
Key Updates:
Unemployment Rate for persons aged 15 years and above declined to 4.7% in November 2025, the lowest since April 2025. Rural unemployment rate fell to 3.9% in November 2025, while urban unemployment rate decreased to…
Wholesale price inflation recorded at 0.83% in December 2025, returning to positive territory after negative readings of (-)0.32% in November and (-)1.21% in October. Retail inflation rose to 1.33% in December from 0.71%…
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says there is a 55 per cent probability of a weak La Niña over the next three months. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) confirms La Niña has emerged and is now firmly established…
India’s industrial output rose 6.7 per cent year-on-year in November, posting the highest rate of growth in 25 months. Manufacturing production grew 8 per cent, the most in 25 months.
[Karnataka, Indian Banks' Association (IBA)]
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 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…
DBS has been named Global Bank of the Year 2025 by The Banker. This marks DBS's third win in the Global Bank of the Year category.
Scheme Name: Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP) 2024 national Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) ratings released by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Union Government of India Kerala’s…
[Madhya Pradesh, Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD)]
Key Updates:
Madhya Pradesh to set up India’s first PPP-model medical colleges in Dhar and Betul tribal districts. State government provides up to 25 acres of land on lease; private partners build academic and clinical…
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology will organise the BHASHINI Samudaye workshop, Strengthening India’s Language AI Ecosystem, in New Delhi. BHASHINI Samudaye is a BHASHINI-led collaborative initiative…
Odisha is hosting a two-day Regional AI Impact Summit 2025 in Bhubaneswar organised by the Electronics and Information Technology Department, Government of Odisha. The summit focuses on scalable public AI solutions…
India’s national compute capacity crossed 34,000 GPUs under the IndiaAI Mission. BharatGen AI, the first multimodal large language model built to work across 22 Indian languages, was launched on June 2, 2025.
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…
The National Commission for Women has launched SHAKTI Scholars: NCW’s Young Research Fellowship programme. The fellowship invites applications from citizens aged 21 to 30 years with a minimum qualification of graduation…
Project Name: GBV Solve Project; launched by Mizoram Social Welfare Minister Lalrinpuii; implemented in the state by Mission Foundation Movement (MFM) in collaboration with the state women and child development…
MoU signed between Government e-Marketplace (GeM) under Ministry of Commerce & Industry and UN Women to integrate women entrepreneurs from informal sector into India’s public procurement ecosystem. Aims to advance GeM’s…
[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…
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) received 13,34,244 complaints under RB-IOS in FY25, up 13.55% from 11,75,075 previous year. Loans and Advances accounted for 29.25% of total complaints.
Portal Name: e-Jagriti digital consumer grievance redressal platform, Consumer Affairs Ministry, Government of India Objective: Provide seamless global access and improve resolution efficiency for consumer complaints…
Senior forest officials, including the PCCF Wildlife, appeared before the Odisha Human Rights Commission regarding alleged inadequate compensation for families relocated from Satkosia Tiger Reserve. Complainants alleged…
[Karnataka]
Key Updates:
The Karnataka Cabinet has approved the statewide implementation of the 'Akka Pade' scheme across all 31 districts and five police commissionerates. The decision is aimed at strengthening efforts to prevent atrocities…
The Karnataka government tabled the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025, in the legislative assembly. The bill proposes stringent punishment for those indulging in hate speeches, considering it…
The Goa government will introduce a bill to stop landlords from selling land until mundkars’ rights are settled. The bill is likely to be introduced in the winter session of the Goa legislative assembly beginning from…
The Tamil Nadu District Mineral Foundation Rules, 2025 supersede the 2017 rules. A minimum of 70% of the District Mineral Trust Fund must be spent on directly affected areas and high-priority sectors such as drinking…
[Supreme Court of India]
Key Updates:
The Supreme Court stated: 'EC does not claim that it has the power to determine citizenship of a person or declare him as a foreigner. But, if it has doubts about the citizenship of a person registered as a voter or…
Interim direction to Bar Council of India to immediately approve creation of two dedicated seats for transgender students in all Kerala law colleges Approval mandated within ten days of receiving the court order copy
Initiative Name: Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission's separate Court Room (first-of-its-kind in any State Scheduled Castes Commission in India) Objective: "to ensure faster hearings, timely disposal of cases and…
President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday appointed Justice Surya Kant as the 53rd Chief Justice of India. Justice Kant, who is likely to take oath on November 24, will succeed CJI B R Gavai, who is due to retire on November…
Key Updates:
The United Arab Emirates has issued its first official license for an online sports wagering and internet gaming platform. The approval was granted by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA).
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancelled the Certificate of Registration of 35 NBFCs including Satya Prakash Capital Investment Limited and Sunlife Securities Private Limited for regulatory non-compliance. The cancellations…
The new Australian law, which takes effect on 10 December, will block under-16s from using major social media platforms. The ban also applies to TikTok, YouTube, X, Reddit and several other platforms.
The Reserve Bank of India has expanded its alert list of unauthorised online forex trading platforms by adding seven more names, bringing the total count to 95. The newly added platforms are Starnet FX, CapPlace, Mirrox…
[Uttar Pradesh]
Key Updates:
The Bhoramdev Corridor project has been approved under the Central Government's Swadesh Darshan Yojana. An amount of Rs 148 crore has been sanctioned for the project to develop the 1,000-year-old Bhoramdev Temple…
The Union Cabinet approved Line 4 Kharadi–Hadapsar–Swargate–Khadakwasla and Line 4A Nal Stop–Warje–Manik Baug under Phase-2 of the Pune Metro Rail Project. The project has an estimated cost of Rs 9,857.85 crore, to be…
The Union Cabinet approved Delhi Metro’s Phase V(A) project, which will add three new corridors spanning 16 kilometres and 13 stations to the network. The Rs 12,014.9-crore project, scheduled for completion in three…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off four new Vande Bharat Express trains. The new routes include Banaras–Khajuraho, Lucknow Junction–Saharanpur, Firozpur Cantt–Delhi, and Bengaluru–Ernakulam.
Key Updates:
PM-JANMAN focuses on housing, health, education and livelihood for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan improves village-level infrastructure and governance.
The Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine kicked off on Wednesday, with a focus on 'Restoring Balance: The Science and Practice of Health and Well-Being,' at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Union Health Minister…
The Ministry of Ayush (MoA) will host a dedicated side event on Ashwagandha titled 'Ashwagandha: From Traditional Wisdom to Global Impact – Perspectives from Leading Global Experts' during the 2nd WHO Global Summit on…
Department of Social Justice & Empowerment signed MoUs with Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram and University of Patanjali under NMBA. NMBA launched on 15th August 2020 in 272 vulnerable districts and now covers…
Key Updates:
India’s Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, delivered the national statement at the 16th Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on January 12, 2026. Joshi…
Odisha is hosting the Global Energy Leaders’ Summit (GELS) 2025 at Puri from 5 to 7 December. GELS 2025 is positioned as a cooperative federalism platform for states to share replicable clean-energy innovations.
Event: Eighth Session of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Assembly scheduled from 27–30 October 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Participants: ISA brings together 124 Member and Signatory Countries; launched by…
Summit Name: Global Energy Leaders' Summit 2025, organised by Department of Energy, Government of Odisha in partnership with Tony Blair Institute for Global Change and IIT Kanpur Location: Puri, Odisha
[United States]
Key Updates:
The Trump administration directed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to stop final adjudication on all cases involving individuals from 19 countries listed in President Trump’s June proclamation. USCIS…
India's trade with Iran stood at USD 1.6 billion, approximately 0.15% of India's total trade. Iran does not figure in India's top 50 global trading partners.
United States President Donald Trump withdrew the country from 66 international organisations — including 31 United Nations Organisations — via an executive order. The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is the only…
Trump ordered 'a total and complete' blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. Venezuela's government denounced the move as 'warmongering threats'.
[United States, Venezuela]
Key Updates:
The Trump administration unveiled a new National Security Strategy Thursday evening, calling for a greater emphasis in the Western Hemisphere. The 33-page strategy document says, 'After years of neglect, the United…
Italian cooking has been awarded special cultural heritage status by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco). Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been pushing for Italy's cuisine to be…
India's trade with Iran stood at USD 1.6 billion, approximately 0.15% of India's total trade. Iran does not figure in India's top 50 global trading partners.
J&K refers to Jammu and Kashmir, as seen in 'J&K's Kishtwar'. TOI refers to Times of India, indicated by 'TOI News Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM'.
[World Economic Forum (WEF)]
Key Updates:
Heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, and storms cost the world more than USD 120 billion in 2025. The single costliest event, California wildfires, caused USD 60 billion in damage and over 400 deaths.
Aviation Safety Awareness Week 2025 was observed from 24th to 28th November 2025. The event is organised annually by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Publication Name: Guidelines on the protection of the natural environment in armed conflict: rules and recommendations relating to the protection of the natural environment under international humanitarian law, with…
India's resolution on strengthening global wildfire management was adopted at the seventh session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in Nairobi, with wide support from member states. The resolution responds to the…
[Sweden, Russia]
Key Updates:
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight-tested the Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM), a third-generation ‘fire and forget’ type of missile with top attack capability…
Turkey's Kizilelma aircraft, developed by Baykar, achieved a historic milestone by accurately targeting a jet-powered drone with a Gokdogan missile. The test was guided by radar information during trials in the Sinop…
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) successfully tested the Taimoor Weapon System, which was developed in Pakistan and can hit targets up to 600 kilometres away. The Taimoor Air-Launched Cruise Missile can accurately strike…
The Russian-made S-400 air defence system brought Pakistan to its knees during India's Operation Sindoor earlier this year, shooting down at least six enemy aircraft. The IAF called the S-400, a surface-to-air missile…
Key Updates:
The Finance Ministry (MoF) is working to remove the registration requirement for bidders from bordering nations. The restrictions, imposed in 2020 after a deadly clash, required Chinese bidders to register with an Indian…
Contracts worth ₹1.82 trillion have been signed in nine months through December to acquire weapons and equipment for the armed forces. Approximately ₹1.2 trillion of the ₹1.49 trillion capital-acquisition budget for FY26…
India recorded its highest-ever defence production of Rs 1.54 lakh crore and record exports of Rs 23,622 crore in FY25. Indigenous production stood at Rs 1,27,434 crore in FY24, marking a 174% rise compared to FY15.
The United States and Singapore together accounted for over one-third of the FDI in India during 2024-25. Out of 45,702 responding entities, 41,517 reported foreign direct investment and/or overseas direct investment in…
[Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO)]
Key Updates:
Low Ash Metallurgical Coke accounts for 35-40% of steel production costs. India imposed country-wise quantitative restrictions limiting imports to 1.4 million tonnes per half-year.
The integration enables real-time, two-way data exchange between customs systems and land port operations, creating a unified digital ecosystem for cross-border trade. Critical customs data elements—including Bill of…
Consumer Unity & Trust Society (CUTS) International launched the global initiative “Trade Not Just Aid: Winners and Losers in the WTO” (TRaNJA). The TRaNJA steering committee is co-chaired by Shashi Tharoor, MP and…
India extended safeguard duties on select steel products until April 2028, starting at 12 per cent and tapering to 11 per cent. The Director General Trade Remedies (DGTR) investigation found imports of specific steel…
[Kerala]
Key Updates:
Vingroup commits $3 billion investment to establish a multi-sector ecosystem covering smart urban development, electric mobility, healthcare, education, tourism and renewable energy across approximately 2,500 hectares in…
Andhra Pradesh captured 25.3% of all proposed investments nationwide in the first nine months of FY26. Odisha and Maharashtra followed with 13.1% and 12.8% shares respectively.
Hinduja Group has agreed to invest Rs 20,000 crore in Andhra Pradesh in phases. An agreement of Rs 20,000 crore investment in phases was signed between the Andhra Pradesh government and the Hinduja Group.
[Department of Posts]
Key Updates:
India and Germany have signed a bilateral agreement to enhance cooperation in postal, express, and logistics services focusing on cross-border e-commerce and time-definite deliveries. The collaboration aims to boost…
Indian Army has launched Depot Integration Management Edition (DIME), a pan-Army digital platform that delivers real-time visibility of logistic items from units to Army Headquarters. Developed jointly by the Indian Army…
Union Minister for Communications and Northeast Region Development Jyotiraditya Scindia announced two new India Post services, Speed Post 24 and Speed Post 48, at Pichor in Shivpuri district. Speed Post 24 and Speed Post…
Department of Posts (DoP) and Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) signed an MoU to create a nationwide logistics mechanism for transporting pesticide, seed and fertiliser samples to designated…
[Tufts University]
Key Updates:
Researchers at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) have developed experimental drugs aimed at enhancing the efficiency of mitochondria, the 'powerhouses' of cells, to burn more calories. The research team from UTS…
CSIR–Central Food Technological Research Institute (CSIR–CFTRI) has developed a batch-type percolation technique to extract annatto dye into crystal-like form usable as water-soluble, oil-soluble or refined powder…
Researchers at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, have identified a new pathway involving nanoparticles to treat Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The therapy involves nanoparticles that integrate…
WHO issued its first guideline on GLP-1 therapies including liraglutide, semaglutide and tirzepatide. Obesity affects more than one billion people worldwide and was linked to 3.7 million deaths in 2024.
Key Updates:
India’s total Internet subscriber base climbed to 1,017.81 million by the end of the July–September quarter (Q2 FY26), marking a 1.49 percent increase from 1,002.85 million in the previous quarter. Of the total 1,070.81…
India has emerged as the world’s largest and most active market for large language model (LLM) adoption, according to an analysis by Bank of America (BofA). The country now leads globally in the number of users for…
Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, released the National Frequency Allocation Plan 2025 (NFAP-2025). NFAP-2025 allocates radio-frequency spectrum in the range 8.3 kHz to 3000 GHz.
The Union Minister of Communications, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, chaired the Apex Council meeting under the Bharat 6G Mission and reviewed the progress of the Bharat 6G Alliance. The Government has approved a ₹1-lakh-crore…
[Google]
Key Updates:
Runway Gen-4.5 secured an Elo score of 1247, ahead of Google Veo 3 (1226) and OpenAI Sora 2 Pro (1206). The model delivers ‘unprecedented physical accuracy’ and visual precision, generating realistically moving objects…
Grokipedia is an AI-generated site developed by Elon Musk's company xAI Content is generated by artificial intelligence and the generative AI assistant Grok
Technology: ChatGPT Atlas browser integrates an "Ask ChatGPT" sidebar that activates on every website visited Functionality: Browser can perform tasks such as booking flights and editing documents on behalf of the user
Google on Tuesday announced fresh collaborations and funding commitments worth $8 million to strengthen India’s artificial intelligence ecosystem. Research funding will go to TANUH at the Indian Institute of Science…
[Andhra Pradesh]
Key Updates:
The Union Cabinet approved a new brownfield ammonia-urea plant of Assam Valley Fertiliser and Chemical Company Ltd (AVFCCL) within the existing premises of Brahmaputra Valley Fertiliser Corp Ltd (BVFCL) in Namrup…
The World Bank has green-lighted a financial assistance package worth USD 305 million for the Haryana Clean Air Project for Sustainable Development (HCAPSD). The project has a total budget of Rs 3,646 crore, with Haryana…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for the Namrup-IV Ammonia-Urea project at the existing Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited complex. The brownfield fertiliser project involves an…
Uralchem JSC has signed a memorandum of understanding with Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited (RCF), National Fertilizers Limited (NFL), and Indian Potash Limited (IPL) to establish a joint venture for…
[New Zealand, Te Herenga Waka–Victoria University of Wellington]
Key Updates:
Three-quarters of Goniopora corals at One Tree Reef have died after bleaching and black band disease. The losses occurred during the fourth global mass bleaching event, affecting 84% of reefs worldwide.
Thousands of dinosaur footprints dating back 210 million years have been found in a national park in northern Italy. The footprints - some of which are up to 40cm (15in) in diameter - are aligned in parallel rows, and…
A new species of coelacanth, *Whiteia anniae* sp. nov., has been discovered. The discovery is based on two specimens (Holotype CHU 2016 and Paratype CHU 2017) from the late Smithian (~249 Ma) marine deposits in…
Researchers have discovered a new species of giant stick insect, Acrophylla alta. The discovery was made in North Queensland's rainforests, specifically in the Tablelands region, at heights between 1,600 and 3,900 feet…
[United States]
Key Updates:
The skull belonged to a 40-year-old man who lived in the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range more than 1,000 years ago during the Mesoamerican Classic period. The peculiar cube shape of the skull was a sign of…
Researchers led by Stockholm University paleogeneticist Love Dalén extracted RNA from the permafrost-preserved woolly mammoth named Yuka found in eastern Siberia. The recovered RNA fragments, though short, were…
Robotic sensors discovered a nearly intact pottery vessel more than 10,000 years old resting upright in the silt near Tsuzuraozaki underwater ruins. The vessel measures about 25 centimeters tall with a tapering pointed…
Jellyfish have been on Earth for more than 500 million years, predating fish, insects, and trees, and are considered one of the first complex multicellular animals. They possess a simple design, lacking a brain, bones…
Key Updates:
The US Food and Drug Administration has cleared the FL-100 headset developed by Flow Neuroscience for home treatment of moderate to severe depression. The device delivers transcranial direct current stimulation to the…
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…
Researchers at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, have identified a new pathway involving nanoparticles to treat Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The therapy involves nanoparticles that integrate…
Discovery: Down-regulating the transcription factor PU.1 converts a small subset of microglia into neuroprotective cells that suppress brain-wide inflammation and curb amyloid pathology in Alzheimer’s mouse models…
[International Cricket Council (ICC)]
Key Updates:
South Africa’s Simon Harmer claimed 17 wickets in the two-Test series against India. Harmer returned figures of four for 30 and four for 21 in Kolkata, and three for 64 and six for 37 in Guwahati.
India U19 defeated South Africa U19 by 233 runs in the third Youth ODI at Benoni. India U19 posted 393/7 in 50 overs, with twin centuries from openers Aaron George and skipper Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Shafali Verma scored 87 off 78 balls in the Women's World Cup final against South Africa. India posted 298 for 7 and won the final by 52 runs in Navi Mumbai.
Jay Shah was honored with the 'Transformational Leader Of The Year' award at the NDTV Indian Of The Year 2025 event. He served as the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from 2019 to 2024.
[International Cricket Council (ICC)]
Key Updates:
South Africa’s Simon Harmer claimed 17 wickets in the two-Test series against India. Harmer returned figures of four for 30 and four for 21 in Kolkata, and three for 64 and six for 37 in Guwahati.
Shafali Verma scored 87 off 78 balls in the Women's World Cup final against South Africa. India posted 298 for 7 and won the final by 52 runs in Navi Mumbai.
Jay Shah was honored with the 'Transformational Leader Of The Year' award at the NDTV Indian Of The Year 2025 event. He served as the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from 2019 to 2024.
Sarayu Velpula became India's 26th Woman Grandmaster on 18/11/2025. She scored her final norm at First League of Central Serbia.
Key Updates:
Chennai's 16-year-old Ilamparthi AR has become India's 90th Grandmaster, achieving his final norm at the Bijeljina Open. He previously secured norms in Vietnam and Singapore, crossing the 2500 Elo mark.
Javokhir Sindarov from Uzbekistan became the youngest chess World Cup winner. Javokhir Sindarov won the FIDE World Cup title by defeating China’s Wei Yi in the second tie-breaker game of the final.
Sarwagya Singh Kushwaha from Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, became the youngest FIDE-rated chess player in history at the age of three years, seven months and 20 days. He holds a rapid rating of 1,572, surpassing the previous…
Arjun Erigaisi triumphed at the Jerusalem Masters, defeating Viswanathan Anand in a thrilling all-Indian final. Arjun Erigaisi secured victory with a 2.5-1.5 score.
Key Updates:
India and Bangladesh have begun talks on renewing the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, set to expire in Dec 2026 - 30 years after it was signed - according to officials. Both started measuring water levels in the Ganga and…
Name: Guwahati Gateway Terminal and Jetty – India’s first modern river ferry terminal on the Brahmaputra River. Launched by: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Along the Kutch coast, researchers unearthed fossils hinting at an ancient serpent, now estimated to be a mind-blowing 49 feet long and weighing nearly 1,000 kilograms. For almost two decades, dedicated researchers from…
Bangladesh became the first country in South Asia to join the U.N.’s Water Convention, officially known as the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes. The convention…
Key Updates:
Ponduru khadi has been granted the geographical indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indications Registry under the Union ministry of commerce and industry. The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) submitted…
The government is reviewing India’s performance on 26 global indices through inter-ministerial coordination to identify gaps and address them, thereby supporting country's growth. The Development Monitoring and…
UP maintained its dominance in GI-tagged goods with 79 GI products, surpassing Tamil Nadu’s 69. Mathura zari poshak and Meerut bugle received fresh GI tags.
The 'Darjeeling Mandarin Orange' has officially been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. The GI status was formalised by the GI Registry on November 24, 2025.
[Iran]
Key Updates:
Abdolnasser Hemmati has been appointed as the new governor of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI). He succeeds Mohammad Reza Farzin, who resigned as the rial plunged to a record low against the US dollar.
Pakistan and Egypt agreed to deepen ties in economic, commercial, cultural and defence sectors after years of stagnant relationship. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held discussions with Pakistani counterpart…
Canada's foreign ministry announced it was revoking the 'terrorist' designation for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Canada cited efforts by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government to 'advance Syria’s stability'.
Kazakhstan is set to join the Abraham Accords between Israel and Muslim majority countries. Proof: "Kazakhstan is set to join the Abraham Accords between Israel and Muslim majority countries"
Key Updates:
The Delhi government’s New Era of Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Vision (NEEV) programme embeds structured, activity-based entrepreneurial exercises into classrooms. NEEV targets students from Classes 8 to 12 and replaces…
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…
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…
India filed over 64,000 patents, with more than 55% filed by resident Indian innovators Country climbed from 81st to 38th rank in the Global Innovation Index
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…
APEDA launched BHARATI—Bharat’s Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement and Incubation for Export Enablement—to support agri-food and agri-tech startups. BHARATI will provide mentorship, incubation, and policy…
India filed over 64,000 patents, with more than 55% filed by resident Indian innovators Country climbed from 81st to 38th rank in the Global Innovation Index
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…