Daily Current Affairs: 20 January 2026

Chandana Sinha received the Ati Vishisht Rail Sewa Puruskar

Key Updates:

• Railway Protection Force (RPF) inspector Chandana Sinha was conferred with the Ati Vishisht Rail Sewa Puruskar, the highest service honour of the Indian Railways.
• She received the award at a ceremony in Delhi on January 9 for her efforts in rescuing children from trafficking and exploitative labour.
• Sinha has led the rescue of more than 1,500 children across the rail network of Uttar Pradesh over the past three years.
• She was appointed to lead Operation Nanhe Farishte, the child rescue initiative of the Indian Railways, in June 2024.
• Her unit rescued 1,032 children in 2025, including 39 children trafficked for labour and a six-year-old girl.
• Sinha joined the RPF in 2010 and is originally from Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh.

Yoweri Museveni re-elected as President of Uganda

[Uganda]

Key Updates:

• Yoweri Museveni won a seventh term with 71.65 percent of the vote, defeating main challenger Bobi Wine who received 24.72 percent.
• Bobi Wine, real name Robert Kyagulanyi, claimed he escaped a police and army raid on his house and remains in hiding while his family is under house arrest.
• Election observers led by former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan reported intimidation, arrests and abductions targeting the opposition and civil society.
• A nationwide internet blackout disrupted observation of the vote and increased suspicion, though observers said Election Day itself was peaceful.
• The Ugandan opposition alleged at least 10 people were killed by police in Butambala, while local authorities reported seven deaths after alleged opposition attacks on a police station.

Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) invests Rs 35,000 crore to build 10 lakh cars per year plant in Gujarat.

[Gujarat, Maruti Suzuki India Limited]

Key Updates:

• Maruti Suzuki India Limited will invest Rs 35,000 crore to develop a new plant in Khoraj, Gujarat.
• The new facility targets an annual production capacity of 10 lakh cars.
• The plant will provide employment to about 12,000 people.
• The Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) has provided 1,750 acres of land for the plant.
• Maruti Suzuki India MD & CEO Hisashi Takeuchi handed over the investment letter to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
• The project is expected to catalyse growth of ancillary units and MSMEs, creating a robust auto manufacturing cluster.
• Maruti Suzuki currently manufactures 17 models and over 650 variants across its facilities.
• In 2025, Maruti Suzuki produced over 22.55 lakh units, its highest-ever production in a calendar year.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announces India clocks record $47 bn electronics exports in 2025

Key Updates:

• India achieved a record $47 billion (₹4.15 lakh crore) in electronics exports in 2025.
• Nearly $30 billion of total exports came from PLI-driven smartphone manufacturing.
• Electronics has emerged as the country’s third-largest export category.
• Domestic electronics production surged six-fold from ₹1.9 lakh crore in 2014–15 to ₹11.3 lakh crore in 2024–25.
• Electronics exports have grown 11 times since 2014–15.
• The sector has created around 25 lakh new jobs.

India Ratings projects credit growth at 13% and deposit growth at 11.4% for FY27

Key Updates:

• India Ratings & Research expects advances growth to remain at 13% for FY27, unchanged from FY26.
• Deposit growth is forecast at 11.4% in FY27, up from 10.7% in FY26.
• The loan-to-deposit ratio is projected to rise to 83.2% in FY27 from 81.9% in FY26 and 80.3% in FY25.
• Banks are expected to bridge the funding gap by tapping the certificate of deposit and corporate bond markets.
• Gross non-performing assets are projected to fall to 1.9% in FY26 and 1.7% in FY27 from 2.2% in FY25.
• Non-bank finance companies are projected to record moderated loan growth of 15%-16% in FY27, down from 18% in FY26.

Commerce Ministry highlights Brazil and Nigeria as key drivers of Indian pharmaceutical export growth.

[Brazil, Nigeria]

Key Updates:

• Nigeria added USD 179 million in exports and contributed over 14 per cent to total export growth during the first eight months of this fiscal year.
• Brazil recorded an increase of nearly USD 100 million in exports during April-November FY26.
• India's pharmaceutical exports rose by 6.5 per cent to USD 20.48 billion during April-November 2025-26.
• The US remains the single largest destination, accounting for over 31 per cent of exports in April-November 2025.
• The Netherlands added over USD 58 million in exports, reflecting India's strengthening integration into European pharmaceutical distribution networks.

State Bank of India (SBI) Forecasts India's Transition to Upper-Middle-Income Status by 2030

[State Bank of India (SBI)]

Key Updates:

• State Bank of India (SBI) projects India to reach a per capita income of $4,000 by 2030, transitioning the nation into the upper-middle-income category alongside China and Indonesia.
• India moved from a low-income to a lower-middle-income economy in 2007, with per capita gross national income (GNI) rising from $90 in 1962 to $910 in 2007.
• The Indian economy reached $1 trillion six decades after independence, $2 trillion by 2014, $3 trillion by 2021, and is projected to reach $4 trillion by 2025.
• The economy is expected to cross the $5 trillion threshold in approximately two years.
• India’s per capita income reached $1,000 in 2009, doubled to $2,000 in 2019, and is projected to touch $3,000 by 2026.
• India’s percentile rank in the cross-country distribution of average real GDP growth has risen from the 92nd percentile to the 95th percentile.
• To reach the current high-income threshold of $13,936 by 2047, India’s per capita GNI must grow at a compound annual rate (CAGR) of 7.5%.
• If the high-income threshold increases to $18,000 by 2047, the required annual growth rate for per capita GNI would rise to 8.9%.
• Achieving the Viksit Bharat 2047 targets would imply a nominal GDP growth in dollar terms of approximately 11.5% over the next two decades.
• The number of high-income countries globally has more than doubled to 87 in 2024, while low-income countries have decreased to 26.

Government of China (GoC) Records Record Low Birth Rate of 5.63 Per 1,000 People

[China]

Key Updates:

• China's birth rate fell to a record low of 5.63 per 1,000 people in 2025, the lowest since 1949.
• The national death rate rose to 8.04 per 1,000 people, marking the highest level since 1968.
• The total population of China decreased by 3.39 million to reach 1.4 billion by the end of 2025.
• The Government of China (GoC) offers parents 3,600 yuan ($500) for each child under the age of three to boost birth rates.
• A new 13% tax has been implemented on contraceptives, including condoms, birth control pills, and devices.
• The YuWa Population Research Institute (YPRI) reported that China's fertility rate is approximately one birth per woman, significantly below the 2.1 replacement rate.
• The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) indicates the national pension pot is running dry as the country faces a population of 300 million pensioners.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) upgrades 2026 global growth forecast to 3.3%

[International Monetary Fund (IMF)]

Key Updates:

• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) raised its 2026 global growth projection by 0.2 percentage points to 3.3%.
• The IMF now assumes an effective U.S. tariff rate of 18.5 per cent, down from around 25 per cent in earlier estimates.
• The IMF upgraded its U.S. growth forecast for 2026 to 2.4 per cent and trimmed the 2027 outlook to 2.0 per cent.
• Spain’s 2026 forecast was raised to 2.3 per cent, while Britain’s projection remained unchanged at 1.3 per cent.
• China’s 2026 growth forecast was lifted to 4.5 per cent, below its stronger-than-expected 5 per cent performance in 2025.
• The euro zone 2026 projection was lifted to 1.3 per cent, driven by higher public spending in Germany and better performance in Spain and Ireland.
• Brazil’s 2026 forecast was cut to 1.6 per cent as tighter monetary policy weighs on growth.
• Global inflation is expected to ease from 4.1 per cent in 2025 to 3.8 per cent in 2026 and 3.4 per cent in 2027.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) revises India’s FY 2025-26 growth forecast to 7.3%

[International Monetary Fund (IMF)]

Key Updates:

• International Monetary Fund (IMF) raised India’s 2025 growth projection by 0.7 percentage point to 7.3% from 6.6% in October 2025.
• IMF lifted India’s 2026 growth estimate to 6.4% from 6.2%.
• World Bank pegs India’s FY2026 growth at 7.2%, an upward revision of 0.9 percentage points.
• Government estimates India’s GDP growth at 7.4% for FY 2025-26, up from 6.5% last FY.
• IMF projects global growth at 3.3% for 2026 and 3.2% for 2027.
• IMF forecasts US growth at 2.4% in 2026, Euro area at 1.3% in 2026 and 1.4% in 2027, China at 4.5% in 2026 and 4.0% in 2027.
• Global headline inflation seen easing to 3.8% in 2026 and 3.4% in 2027 from 4.1% in 2025.

SBI Life Insurance launches SBI Life - Smart Platina Advantage guaranteed savings plan.

[SBI Life Insurance]

Key Updates:

• SBI Life - Smart Platina Advantage is an individual, non-linked, non-participating life insurance savings product offering long-term guaranteed benefits and life insurance protection throughout the policy term.
• The product provides assured guaranteed additions every policy year and allows premium payment for a limited period while maintaining life cover for the entire policy term.
• Tax benefits are available as per applicable provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
• Policyholders can opt to receive maturity proceeds in instalments, providing post-maturity liquidity and financial flexibility.

Ireda Global Green Energy Finance IFSC Ltd (IGGEFIL) sanctions USD 22.5 million green loan to Swarna Solar for 100 MW Zambia solar project.

[Zambia]

Key Updates:

• Ireda Global Green Energy Finance IFSC Ltd (IGGEFIL) approved its first international loan of USD 22.5 million during the board meeting held in New Delhi.
• The loan will finance Swarna Solar Limited's development of a 100 MW Photovoltaic Solar Power Plant in Serenje District, Central Province, Zambia.
• IGGEFIL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd (Ireda).

ICICI Bank board approves Sandeep Bakhshi’s reappointment as MD & CEO till 2028.

[ICICI Bank]

Key Updates:

• The board of ICICI Bank approved the reappointment of Sandeep Bakhshi as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer for a two-year term from October 4, 2026 to October 3, 2028.
• The reappointment is subject to approvals from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the bank’s shareholders and other statutory authorities.
• Bakhshi took over as MD & CEO in October 2018 and has been credited with steering the bank through tighter risk controls, improved asset quality and steady growth across retail and corporate banking.
• The board noted the reappointment aligns with RBI’s Commercial Banks: Governance Directions, 2025.

Bembla River Project approved with Rs4,775 crore outlay

[Maharashtra]

Key Updates:

• The Maharashtra cabinet approved Rs4,775 crore for the completion of the long-pending Bembla river project in Yavatmal district.
• Once completed, the scheme is expected to bring irrigation to 58,768ha of cultivable land across Ner, Babhulgaon, Kalamb, Ralegaon and Maregaon talukas of Yavatmal district.
• An allocation of Rs89.32 crore was approved for the rehabilitation of Mouza Dhamak village in Amravati district.

Project Dolphin (PD): Second Pan-India Survey Launched to Assess River Dolphin Populations

Key Updates:

• The Union Environment Ministry (UEM) launched the second pan-India counting exercise for dolphins, which will assess the status of Gangetic dolphin along with Indus river and Irrawaddy dolphins on 17 January 2026.
• The survey, Under Project Dolphin (PD), commenced at Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh with 26 researchers in three boats, recording ecological and habitat parameters while also using hydrophones for underwater acoustic monitoring.
• In the first phase, the survey will cover the main stem of the Ganga from Bijnor to Ganga Sagar and the Indus River.
• In the second phase, it will cover Brahmaputra, the tributaries of the Ganga, the Sundarbans, and Odisha to include the Irrawaddy dolphin found in the Sundarban delta.
• The survey is Led by Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun... in coordination with state forest departments and in collaboration with other organisations like WWF India, Aaranyak and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI).
• The counting exercise will generate robust scientific data to support conservation planning and policy action for river ecosystems.

Vande Bharat Sleeper Express Launch Enhances Overnight Rail Connectivity

Key Updates:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper train from Malda Town railway station in West Bengal.
• The train will operate on the Howrah–Guwahati (Kamakhya) route and is expected to cut travel time by up to six hours.
• Developed by BEML using ICF technology, the train includes catering services in the fare for all classes.

Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Launched with ₹6,957-Crore Outlay

[Assam]

Key Updates:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the Rs 6,957-crore Kaziranga Elevated Corridor in Assam.
• The corridor is aimed at ensuring safe wildlife movement across the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve and reducing road accidents on National Highway-715.
• The project is intended to boost ecotourism while generating local employment opportunities.
• Two Amrit Bharat trains were virtually flagged off in the Nagaon district of Assam.
• The foundation stone for the project was laid on 18 Jan 2026.

PM Modi launches projects worth over ₹11,000 crore in West Bengal and Assam

[West Bengal, Assam]

Key Updates:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit West Bengal and Assam to inaugurate, lay foundation stones and flag off rail, road, port and inland water transport projects worth more than ₹11,000 crore.
• The projects include India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train between Howrah and Guwahati, new Amrit Bharat Express services, highway works and port-linked infrastructure.
• In West Bengal, projects worth more than ₹3,250 crore include a new rail line between Balurghat and Hili, freight maintenance facilities at New Jalpaiguri, and rail electrification works on the New Coochbehar–Bamanhat and New Coochbehar–Boxirhat sections.
• In Assam, the ₹6,950-crore Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Project involves four-laning of the Kaliabor–Numaligarh section of NH-715, including a 35 km elevated wildlife corridor through Kaziranga National Park.

Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) releases December 2025 unemployment data

Key Updates:

• The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) reported the unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above at 4.8 per cent in December 2025.
• The rural unemployment rate remained stagnant at 3.9 per cent, while the urban unemployment rate increased to 6.7 per cent from 6.5 per cent in the previous month.
• The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) among persons aged 15 years and above improved to 53.4 per cent in December 2025 from 53.2 per cent in November 2025.
• The overall labour force participation rate (LFPR) among persons aged 15 years and above rose to 56.1 per cent in December 2025 compared to 55.8 per cent in November 2025.

Rabi Sowing Area Expansion Supported by Surplus Monsoon

[Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoAFW)]

Key Updates:

• India’s rabi sowing for 2025-26 rose 2.8% to 64.42 million hectares, exceeding the seasonal average of 63.78 million hectares.
• The increase was driven by higher acreage under wheat, rice, pulses, and oilseeds, with wheat coverage up by 613,000 hectares.
• The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare released the data, attributing the rise to adequate soil moisture from an above-normal monsoon.

MSME Technology Centres: Two facilities sanctioned for Himachal Pradesh at an outlay of Rs 10 crore

[Himachal Pradesh]

Key Updates:

• The Union Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has sanctioned two MSME Technology Centres for Himachal Pradesh, as part of a larger approval of 13 such centres across the country.
• The two centres for the state would be established in the industrial areas of Parwanoo in Solan district and Pandoga in Una district.
• The Technology Centre at Pandoga Industrial Area in the Haroli Assembly segment would be set up in the Community Centre building at a cost of Rs 10 crore.
• MSME Technology Centres are set up by the Centre to provide micro, small and medium enterprises with access to advanced technology, skilled manpower and specialised technical services.
• These centres aim to enhance competitiveness, modernisation and growth in manufacturing sectors such as engineering, plastics and automation.

West Bengal Health System Reform Program Operation approved with USD 286 million loan

[World Bank, West Bengal]

Key Updates:

• The World Bank (WB) approved the 'West Bengal Health System Reform Program Operation' with a USD 286 million loan to improve quality of life and life expectancy through equitable healthcare access.
• The program will 'support the delivery of personalised healthcare services across the state for people aged 30 and above through digital tracking of non-communicable diseases ( NCDs ) such as hypertension and diabetes.'
• The 'USD 286 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has a final maturity of 16.5 years, including a three-year grace period.'
• Target beneficiaries include 'boys, married adolescents, and healthcare providers' through the strengthening of gender-based violence (GBV) services.
• In the five districts of 'Purulia, Birbhum, Murshidabad, Maldah and Uttar Dinajpur, the Program will improve access to quality healthcare services and reduce inequities in maternal and adolescent health.'
• The initiative aims to 'bring a patient-centric care approach to the state's health systems, improve health outcome measurement, and enhance healthcare facilities' resilience to extreme weather events.'

India fields largest-ever CEO delegation at World Economic Forum 2026 Davos summit

[World Economic Forum (WEF)]

Key Updates:

• More than 80 Indian CEOs are slated to attend the World Economic Forum's 56th annual conference in Davos from January 19 to 23.
• Senior Union ministers and delegations from a record nine states will spotlight efforts to engage global investors.
• Expected Indian corporate attendees include N Chandrasekaran of Tata Sons, Sunil Mittal of Bharti Group, Sajjan Jindal of JSW Group, Anish Shah of Mahindra Group, and Infosys non-executive chairman Nandan Nilekani.
• States sending delegations include Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Kerala, some led by chief ministers such as Devendra Fadnavis and N Chandrababu Naidu.
• The WEF 2026 will feature six leaders of the G7, 65 heads of state and government, 850 top CEOs and chairpersons and around 100 leading unicorns and technology leaders.

Indian Coast Guard and Japan Coast Guard conduct joint HNS response drill onboard ICGS Samudra Prahari in Mumbai

[Japan, Indian Coast Guard, Japan Coast Guard]

Key Updates:

• The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) conducted a joint Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) response drill in Mumbai.
• Japan Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Yoshio Seguchi led a high-level delegation visiting the Indian Coast Guard Regional Headquarters West.
• Inspector General Bhisham Sharma, Commander, Coast Guard Region West, held a courtesy meeting with Admiral Seguchi.
• The joint training exercise was conducted onboard the Indian Coast Guard’s pollution response vessel ICGS Samudra Prahari.
• The ICG Pollution Response Strike Team and the JCG National Strike Team (NST) participated in the drills.
• Prior to the sea exercise, planning sessions, rehearsals, and classroom interactions were held in Mumbai focusing on response protocols for hazardous chemical spills at sea.
• A joint demonstration of HNS response procedures was reviewed by the JCG Commandant and the ICG Regional Commander onboard Samudra Prahari.
• The Japanese delegation also visited Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited to gain insight into India’s shipbuilding capabilities.

India, Sri Lanka, and Maldives Conduct 17th Edition of DOSTI Exercise in Male on January 17, 2026

[Sri Lanka, Maldives]

Key Updates:

• The 17th edition of the trilateral exercise 'DOSTI' is being held in Male, involving the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), Sri Lanka Coast Guard, and Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).
• The harbour phase of the exercise includes collaborative Marine Pollution (MARPOL) exercises, joint Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) drills, and pollution response demonstrations.
• A four-member delegation from the ICG, led by Director General Paramesh Sivamani, is participating in the exercise to foster reciprocal learning and capacity augmentation.
• The exercise features tabletop exercises and the implementation of cross-boarding Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to enhance interoperability.
• Originally started as a bilateral exercise between India and the Maldives in 1991, DOSTI transitioned into a trilateral framework in 2012 with the addition of Sri Lanka.
• The trilateral engagement reflects India's 'Security and Growth for All in the Region' (SAGAR) vision and its 'Neighbourhood First' policy.

Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty Enters into Force, Legally Binding 81 Ratifying Nations

Key Updates:

• The BBNJ Agreement, covering ocean zones beyond national waters, enters into force 120 days after ratification by at least 60 countries.
• The treaty area represents over two-thirds of the ocean’s surface and over 90 per cent of Earth’s habitat by volume.
• It is the first legally binding ocean instrument to provide for inclusive ocean governance, with provisions on the engagement of Indigenous Peoples and local communities and on gender balance.
• The Agreement becomes legally binding for the 81 nations that have ratified it so far.
• Major economies that have ratified include China, Germany, Japan, France and Brazil.
• The US signed in 2023 but has not ratified; India adopted in 2024 but ratification is pending; UK legislation introduced in 2025 but not yet ratified; Russia has neither adopted nor ratified.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) to deploy 200 Automatic Weather Stations across Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Pune

[India Meteorological Department (IMD)]

Key Updates:

• 200 Automatic Weather Stations will be installed—50 each in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Pune—to enable hyper-local, real-time weather monitoring.
• The dense network will generate high-resolution spatial data for accurate prediction of sudden downpours, thunderstorms, heatwaves and rapid pressure changes.
• IMD’s forecast accuracy has improved by 40–50 per cent over past decades, with cyclone track prediction accuracy up by 35–40 per cent.
• Weather radar coverage has expanded to about 87 per cent of India’s geographical area, and forecasts now reach lead times as precise as three hours.
• India shares weather data and satellite-based support with Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka, reinforcing regional disaster preparedness.
• IMMD headquarters runs fully on solar power, feeding surplus electricity back into the national grid.

Second Pan-India Dolphin Survey Launches from Bijnor under Project Dolphin

[Uttar Pradesh]

Key Updates:

• The Union Environment Ministry launched the second pan-India counting exercise for dolphins to assess the status of Gangetic, Indus river and Irrawaddy dolphins.
• The survey commenced at Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh with 26 researchers in three boats, recording ecological and habitat parameters while using hydrophones for underwater acoustic monitoring.
• In the first phase, the survey will cover the main stem of the Ganga from Bijnor to Ganga Sagar and the Indus River.
• In the second phase, it will cover Brahmaputra, the tributaries of the Ganga, the Sundarbans, and Odisha.
• The previous survey recorded an estimated 6,327 dolphins in Ganga, Yamuna, Chambal, Gandak, Ghaghara, Kosi, Mahanada and Brahmaputra systems, and a small population of Indus river dolphins in the Beas.
• This survey will include Irrawaddy dolphin, found in the Sundarban delta and Odisha, to update population estimates, assess threats and habitat conditions.
• Led by Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, the survey is coordinated with state forest departments and organisations like WWF India, Aaranyak and Wildlife Trust of India.

Viasat and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to modernise Indian Navy’s satcom infra with Ka-band systems

[Viasat, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)]

Key Updates:

• Viasat and BSNL will deploy Ka-band satellite systems for the Indian Navy as part of a satellite communications equipment upgrade programme.
• The programme will enable the Indian Navy to transition toward a multi-band, multi-constellation satcom strategy, leveraging BSNL’s gateway earth station and Viasat’s global satellite network.
• The upgrade combines the resilience of L-band with the power of high-throughput Ka-band, providing enhanced connectivity for mission-critical operations.

Vidarbha defeats Saurashtra to win maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy

Key Updates:

• Vidarbha secured their maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy title by defeating Saurashtra by 38 runs in the final held in Bengaluru.
• Atharva Taide scored 128 runs off 97 balls, marking his first List A hundred in five years, to help Vidarbha reach a total of 317/8.
• Yash Thakur took 4 wickets for 50 runs to bowl out Saurashtra for 279 and secure the victory.
• For Saurashtra, Prerak Mankad top-scored with 88 runs and Chirag Jani made 64, while bowler Ankur Panwar took 4 wickets for 65 runs.
• This win marks the first senior white-ball title for Vidarbha in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) domestic circuit.

Kokborok Day observed in Tripura on January 19

[Tripura]

Key Updates:

• Kokborok Day is observed on January 19 to mark the 1979 decision when Kokborok was formally recognised as a state language.
• The Tripura government officially recognised Kokborok as a state language on 19 January 1979.
• Kokborok belongs to the Tibeto-Burman branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family.

Guatemala declares state of emergency after prison riots and police killings

[Guatemala]

Key Updates:

• President Bernardo Arevalo issued a 30-day state-of-emergency order on Sunday.
• The order restricts civil liberties and allows arrests without prior court approval.
• Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) were designated as 'foreign terrorist organizations' by the United States in September.
• Aldo Duppie, imprisoned leader of Guatemala’s Barrio 18 gang, is also known by the nickname El Lobo.