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GK Update

Thu 29 Jan, 2026

National News

Beating Retreat ceremony

  • The Beating Retreat ceremony, marking the culmination of the 77th Republic Day celebrations held at Vijay Chowk in New Delhi.
  • Theme: The 2026 ceremony celebrates the 150th anniversary of India's national song, "Vande Mataram".
  • Performers: Massed bands from the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).

Best Marching Contingents and Tableaux announced

  • The winners of the 77th Republic Day Parade in 2026 were officially announced.

Major Winners

Winners (Judges' Choice)

  • Best Marching Contingent (Services): Indian Navy.
  • Best Marching Contingent (CAPF/Auxiliary): Delhi Police.
  • Best Tableau (States/UTs):
    • Maharashtra (Theme: Ganeshotsav, a symbol of Aatmanirbharta).
    • Jammu and Kashmir.
    • Kerala (Theme: First Water Metro & 100% Digital Literacy).
  • Best Tableau (Central Ministries/Departments): Ministry of Culture (Theme: Vande Mataram – A Nation’s Soul Call).

Popular Choice Awards (Online Voting)

The public cast their votes via the MyGov portal, resulting in the following winners:

  • Best Marching Contingent (Services): Assam Regiment.
  • Best Marching Contingent (CAPF): Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
  • Best Tableau (States/UTs):
    • Gujarat: (Theme: Mantra of Swadeshi – Self-Reliance: Vande Mataram).
    • Uttar Pradesh: (Theme: Culture of Bundelkhand).
    • Rajasthan: (Theme: Golden Touch of the Desert: Bikaner Gold Art).
  • Best Tableau (Ministries): Department of School Education and Literacy (Theme: National Education Policy 2020).

Notable Honours

  • Ashoka Chakra: Conferred upon Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the second Indian astronaut to travel to space, for his contributions during the Axiom-4 mission.
  • Special Award: The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) received a special award for its floral tableau celebrating 150 years of Vande Mataram.

High-level committee for Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)

  • Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare officially constituted a high-level committee to review and strengthen Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) in Tamil Nadu.
  • The panel includes representatives from NABARD, NAFED, the Small Farmers' Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) – Tamil Nadu, and the ICAR–National Research Centre for Banana (NRCB), alongside NGOs and FPO representatives.
  • Special emphasis will be placed on crops critical to the state's economy, such as banana, turmeric, coconut, and tapioca, as well as promoting natural and organic farming systems.

NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development)

  • Establishment: 12th July 1982, based on the B. Sivaraman Committee recommendation.
  • Status: Statutory body owned 100% by the Government of India.
  • Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.
  • Supervises Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) and Cooperative Banks.
  • Manages the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF).

NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd.)

  • Establishment: 2nd October 1958.
  • Purpose: To promote cooperative marketing of agricultural produce to benefit farmers.

ICAR-NRCB (National Research Centre for Banana)

  • Establishment: 21st August 1993.
  • Location: Tiruchirappalli (Trichy), Tamil Nadu.

Sampoornata Abhiyan 2.0

  • NITI Aayog launched Sampoornata Abhiyan 2.0 as a high-intensity, three-month nationwide campaign.
  • Building on the 2024 initiative, this renewed phase aims to achieve 100% "saturation" of critical development markers in India’s most underserved regions by April 14, 2026.
  • The campaign encompasses 112 Aspirational Districts and 513 Aspirational Blocks. It focuses on achieving saturation in specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), including six for Aspirational Blocks related to nutrition, Anganwadi facilities, school toilets, and animal vaccination, and five for Aspirational Districts concerning birth weight, TB notification, health days, school toilets, and animal vaccination.

NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India)

  • Established: 1 January 2015
  • Chairperson: The Prime Minister of India (ex-officio).
  • Vice-Chairperson: Appointed by the PM; currently Shri Suman Bery.
  • CEO: Currently B. V. R. Subrahmanyam.
  • Governing Council: Comprises the PM, Chief Ministers of all States and Union Territories with Legislatures, and Lt. Governors of other UTs.

Major Indices and Initiatives

NITI Aayog is frequently tested for its monitoring roles and reports:

  • SDG India Index: Monitors progress toward Sustainable Development Goals.
  • Aspirational Districts Programme: Targets 112+ underdeveloped districts for rapid transformation.
  • Atal Innovation Mission (AIM): Promotes a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.
  • Health Index & School Education Quality Index (SEQI): Ranks states on sector-specific performance.

Amendments to New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019

  • The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare notified significant amendments to the New Drugs and Clinical Trials (NDCT) Rules, 2019, to promote the "Ease of Doing Business" and reduce the regulatory burden on the pharmaceutical sector.

STATE SPECIAL NEWS

Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project in Kerala

  • Kerala Cabinet gave in-principle approval for a 583-km Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project connecting Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod.
  • The network is planned to integrate with existing and proposed metro systems in Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kozhikode to enhance last-mile connectivity.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India-Saudi Arabia

  • The 3rd meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Security Working Group was held in Riyadh. Operating under the Political, Consular, and Security Cooperation Committee of the Strategic Partnership Council (SPC), the dialogue focused on high-level counter-terrorism and law enforcement collaboration.
  • This meeting followed India's signing of a Strategic Defence Partnership with the UAE, indicating India's growing security presence in the Gulf.

Saudi Arabia

  • Prime Minister & Crown Prince: Mohammed bin Salman (MbS)
  • Capital: Riyadh
  • Currency: Saudi Riyal (SAR) (1 Riyal = 100 Halalas)
  • Legislature: Majlis al-Shura (Consultative Assembly)
  • Geographic Neighbors: Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Yemen
  • Water Bodies: Red Sea (West), Persian Gulf (East), Gulf of Aqaba (Northwest)
  • India is Saudi Arabia's 2nd largest trade partner.

SUMMITS AND CONFERNCES

Wings India 2026

  • Ministry of Civil Aviation (Govt of India), Airports Authority of India (AAI), and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) organised ‘Wings India 2026’ held at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad.
  • Theme of the event was "Indian Aviation: Paving the Future – From Design to Deployment, Manufacturing to Maintenance, Inclusivity to Innovation and Safety to Sustainability"

Technology and Innovation Conclave 2.0

  • Technology and Innovation Conclave (TIC) 2.0 was Jointly hosted by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) (Ministry of Science & Technology) and the Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT) of the United Nations ESCAP in New Delhi.
  • The "SANKALP" (Synergy for Advanced Networks, Knowledge, and Academia–Industry Learning Progress) lecture series was launched to strengthen engagement between researchers, industry, and policymakers.

ECONOMY & BANKING

Economic Survey 2025-26

  • Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tabled the copy of the Economic Survey 2025-26 in the Lok Sabha which was prepared by the Economic Division of the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) under the supervision of Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) V. Anantha Nageswaran.
  • This annual document serves as the official "health report" of the Indian economy and provides the analytical foundation for the Union Budget 2026-27.

Economic Survey 2025-26: Highlights

I. GDP and Growth Projections (FY26 & FY27)

  • FY26 Real GDP Growth: Revised upward to 7.3%–7.4%.
  • FY27 Real GDP Growth Projection: Expected to be in the range of 6.8%–7.2%.
  • Quarterly Growth: Real GDP grew by 8.2% in Q2 FY26 (up from 7.8% in Q1).
  • Medium-Term Potential: The survey argues India can hold a growth pace close to 7% if reform momentum and investment strength continue.
  • Driver: Resilient domestic demand, robust consumption, and high capital investment.

II. Inflation and Monetary Policy

  • Retail Inflation (2025): Eased significantly, with projections suggesting it will align with the 4% target.
  • Repo Rate: Maintained at 6.5% for a significant portion of the fiscal year, with a shift to a "neutral" stance.
  • Food Inflation: While headline inflation is under control, food inflation (vegetables/pulses) remained a risk factor, often accounting for a large portion of headline inflation.

III. Sectoral Performance

  • Agriculture: Expected to grow, aided by robust rural demand and a rebound in production.
  • Industrial Sector: Estimated to grow by 6.2% (fueled by construction and electricity).
  • Services Sector: Remains the primary growth driver at 7.2%, with high growth in financial services and real estate.
  • Electronics: Continued high growth, with 99% of smartphones manufactured domestically.

IV. External Sector (FDI & Forex)

  • Forex Reserves: Increased significantly, crossing USD 700 billion in September 2024 before settling around USD 634-640 billion in early 2025-26.
  • FDI Revival: Gross FDI inflows registered a revival, growing by 17.9% to $55.6 billion in the first eight months of FY25, continuing into 2025-26.
  • Remittances: Increased by 10.7% (y-o-y) in Q2:2025-26.
  • Trade: India ranks 7th in global services exports.

V. Banking and Finance

  • Bank NPAs: Gross Non-Performing Assets (GNPAs) of Scheduled Commercial Banks fell to a 12-year low of 2.6% of gross loans (as of September 2024).
  • CRAR: Capital-to-Risk-Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) remained strong at 16.7%.
  • Stock Markets: Total resource mobilization from primary markets reached ₹11.1 lakh crore (Apr-Dec 2024).

VI. Employment and Social Sector

  • Unemployment Rate: Dropped to 4.7% in November 2025 (lowest since April 2025).
  • Women’s Participation: Women's apprenticeship share in NAPS grew to 22.8% in FY25.
  • Digital Inclusion: eShram portal registered over 30.5 crore unorganized workers (as of Dec 2024).
  • Infrastructure: Rural households with access to piped water (Jal Jeevan Mission) increased to 15.3 crore (as of Nov 2024).

Aadhar App

  • Minister for state of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Jitin Prasada, launched the Aadhar App in New Delhi on the occasion of the Unique Identification Authority of India day.
  • The New Aadhaar App supports QR code-based verification, allowing for instant identity checks without needing physical documents or a constant internet connection.

Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)

  • Establishment: Established on 12 July 2016 as a Statutory Authority under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
  • Governed by the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016.
  • Headquarters: New Delhi

Aadhaar

  • Definition: A unique 12-digit identification number linked to an individual’s biometric and demographic data, stored in the Central Identities Data Repository (CIDR).
  • Launch: The first UID was issued in September 2010.
  • Eligibility: Available to any resident of India who has resided in the country for 182 days or more in the preceding twelve months.
  • Core Data: Encompasses photograph, ten fingerprints, and iris scans.
  • Ownership: Serves as proof of identity, not citizenship.
  • Aadhaar Mascot: UIDAI introduced the Aadhaar Mascot 'Udai' in Jan 2026.

Online access to AYUSH products

  • Ayush Ministry signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ayush Export Promotion Council (AYUSHEXCIL) and Zepto Limited in New Delhi to facilitate structured online access to Ayush medicines and wellness products across the country.
  • The agreement was executed by Anurag Sharma, Chairman of AYUSHEXCIL, and Kaivalya Vohra, co-founder and CEO of Zepto, in the presence of Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary of the Ministry of Ayush.

PERSON IN NEWS

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar

  • Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar tragically died in a plane crash at Maharashtra’s Baramati.
  • Preliminary reports from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) indicate the crash occurred during a second landing attempt due to poor visibility.
  • He holds the record for the longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, serving six separate terms under different coalition governments including those of Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, and Eknath Shinde.

Roman Babushkin

  • Roman Babushkin, the Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) of the Russian Embassy in New Delhi, attended the President's address to the joint sitting of both Houses of the Indian Parliament.
  • Babushkin was among ambassadors and representatives from 37 countries who attended the address in the Lok Sabha Chamber, including officials from Australia, China, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.

ART & CULTURE

Meghalaya’s living root bridges

  • India formally submitted the nomination dossier for Meghalaya’s Living Root Bridges (locally known as Jingkieng Jri) to UNESCO for consideration in the 2026–27 World Heritage List.

Mazor Highlights

  • Official Title: The nomination is titled “Jingkieng Jri / Lyu Chrai Cultural Landscape”.
  • Formal Handover: India’s Ambassador to UNESCO, Vishal V. Sharma, presented the dossier to Lazare Assomo Eloundou, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, in Paris.
  • Significance: The site highlights a centuries-old tradition of the indigenous Khasi and Jaintia communities, who grow these functional bridges from the aerial roots of Ficus elastica (rubber fig) trees.
  • Cultural Context: This move follows the recent conferment of the Padma Shri on Bah Halley War, a local custodian who has spent over 50 years building and maintaining these bridges.

UNESCO

  • Full Form: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
  • Formation: November 16, 1945.
  • Headquarters: Paris, France.
  • Director-General: Khaled El-Enany
  • Total Sites: India has 44 UNESCO World Heritage Sites as of July 2025.
  • Latest Addition (44th): The Maratha Military Landscapes of India (inscribed in 2025).
  • India's Rank: 6th in the world for the number of World Heritage Sites.
  • Highest Site Count: Maharashtra has the highest number of UNESCO sites in India.

Medaram Sammakka-Saralamma Jatara

  • The historic Medaram Sammakka-Saralamma Maha Jatara started in the Mulugu district of Telangana.
  • Often called the "Kumbh Mela of Telangana," this biennial event is recognized as Asia's largest tribal congregation, attracting over 1.5 crore devotees.
  • The Jatara commemorates the 13th-century struggle of a mother and daughter, Sammakka and Saralamma, against the Kakatiya king Pratapa Rudra.
  • Medaram Sammakka-Saralamma Maha Jatara is Celebrated by the Koya Tribe, the second-largest tribe in Telangana.

12th edition of Smile International Film Festival

  • The 12th edition of Smile International Film Festival for Children and Youth- SIFFCY, organised by Smile Foundation held in New Delhi.
  • The event is organised with the support of the embassies of Ukraine, the Netherlands, Finland, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Cyprus, Estonia, the Polish Institute, and the Italian Cultural Centre.

9th National Conference of Correctional Administrators

  • The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) in collaboration with the Andhra Pradesh Prisons and Correctional Services organised 9th National Conference of Correctional Administrators in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
  • Theme of the event was "Towards Humane and Reformative Correctional Administration in Amrit Kaal".
  • The conference brought together approximately 75-90 delegates, including Director Generals (DGs) and Inspector Generals (IGs) of Prisons from all States and Union Territories to exchange best practices and policy insights.

ENVIRONMENT + SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Solid Waste Management Rules 2026

  • The Government of India notified the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026, which will supersede the 2016 framework and come into full effect on April 1, 2026. These rules are designed to align waste management with Circular Economy principles and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).

Highlights

  • Mandatory Four-Stream Segregation: Waste must be segregated at the source into Wet Waste (for composting), Dry Waste (for recycling), Sanitary Waste, and Special Care Waste (such as paint cans and bulbs).
  • Stricter Onus on Bulk Waste Generators (BWGs): Entities like residential societies or malls meeting certain size or generation thresholds must process wet waste on-site.
  • "Polluter Pays" Principle: New environmental compensation will be levied for non-compliance.
  • Digital Monitoring: A centralised online portal will track waste and handle facility registrations.
  • Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) Mandates: Industries must increase their use of RDF from waste.
  • Hilly Areas & Islands: Local bodies can levy user fees on tourists and regulate inflow based on waste management capacity.
  • Landfill Restrictions: Landfill use is strictly limited to non-recyclable and inert materials, with higher fees for sending unsegregated waste.

Uniform Consent Guidelines under the Air (1981) and Water (1974) Acts

  • The Union government has amended the Uniform Consent Guidelines under the Air (1981) and Water (1974) Acts to streamline industrial approvals by making the Consent to Operate (CTO) valid until cancelled, removing periodic renewals.
  • These reforms aim’s to foster a better "Ease of Doing Business" environment while maintaining strong environmental safeguards through, for instance, a shift from fixed distance rules to site-specific assessments.

The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974

  • Constitutional Provision: Passed under Article 252 (Power of Parliament to legislate for two or more States by consent).
  • Key Institutional Structure: Established the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs).
  • Key Amendments:
    • 1988: Empowered boards to close defaulting industrial plants, cut water/electricity supply, and allowed citizens to file complaints.
    • 2024 (Jan Vishwas Act): Decriminalized minor offences, replacing imprisonment with penalties (₹10,000 to ₹15 lakh).

The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981

  • India’s first major step to combat air pollution, implemented after the 1972 Stockholm Conference.
  • Constitutional Provision: Passed under Article 253 (Legislation for giving effect to international agreements).
  • Key Amendments:
    • 1987: Added "Noise" as an air pollutant. Empowered Boards to declare "air pollution control areas".
    • 2024 (Jan Vishwas Act): Replaced imprisonment with financial penalties, which are determined by adjudicating officers.

DEFENCE NEWS

Vande Mataram Coastal Cyclothon 2026

  • The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) flagged off the second edition of the Vande Mataram Coastal Cyclothon 2026 under the theme "Surakshit Tat, Samridh Bharat" (Secure Coasts, Prosperous India), the event commemorates the 150th anniversary of the national song "Vande Mataram".

Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)

  • Establishment: 10 March 1969 via the CISF Act, 1968.
  • Became an armed force of the Union by a 1983 amendment.
  • Headquarters: New Delhi.
  • Director General: Praveer Ranjan

SPORTS

Stop Unauthorised Use of Official Logos

  • Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MoYAS) issued a directive to all recognised National Sports Federations (NSFs) to immediately stop the unauthorised use of the State Emblem of India, as well as the logos of the Ministry and the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
  • The Purpose behind this order was to prevent the "incorrect impression" that NSFs are a direct part of the government.
  • The Ministry emphasized that this unauthorised usage violates the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011 and relevant laws governing official emblems.

Sports Authority of India (SAI)

Establishment: 1984

  • Headquarters: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi.
  • Director General (DG): Sh. Hari Ranjan Rao
  • Ex-officio President: Shri Narendra Modi (Hon'ble Prime Minister of India).
  • Ex-officio Chairman (Governing Body): Shri Mansukh L. Mandaviya (Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports).
  • Key Schemes: Khelo India, TOPS, NCOE, and the Fit India Movement.

Vijay Merchant (U-16 boys) Trophy

  • Mumbai secured the 2025-26 Under-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy (Elite Group) by defeating Maharashtra on the basis of a first-innings lead in a four-day final in Rajkot, led by skipper Aayush Shete.
  • The Vijay Merchant Trophy is a prestigious national-level multi-day cricket tournament for U-16 boys in India, organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)

  • Founded: December 1928
  • Headquarters: Cricket Centre, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
  • Status: Autonomous, private organization
  • President: Mithun Manhas
  • Vice President: Rajeev Shukla

 

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