• Project: Baikunth-Urkura Fourth Line (26.40 km)
• Cost: ₹426.01 crore
• Location: South East Central Railway (Bilaspur-Raipur-Nagpur main line)
• Significance: This route is part of the Mumbai-Howrah high-density rail network, which is currently saturated.
• Economic Impact: An additional revenue of approximately ₹61.70 crore is expected from the very first year.

• India's first high-speed rail
• Route: Mumbai (Maharashtra) to Sabarmati (Gujarat)
• Stations: 12 stations (Bandra Kurla Complex, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad, Sabarmati)
• Technology: Japan's E5 Series Shinkansen
• Funding: Soft loan from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) (more than 80%)
• Implementing Agency: The project is managed by the National High Speed ​​Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL)

• Dates: January 28 to February 3, 2026, a seven-day festival
• Venue: Siri Fort Auditorium, New Delhi
• Organized by: Smile Foundation in collaboration with the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, and the European Union.
• Film Selection: Over 100 films from more than 20 European countries are being screened.
• The festival promotes education and awareness among children through quality films, starting with the Polish-Czech film "Grandpa, Let's Go!".

• Cine Startup Incubator: Founded by Talitha Pulijala and Sunil Pulijala, it will provide skill development, mentorship, and venture support to startups in the media and entertainment sector.
• 'SHE NARRATES' Campaign: This is a nationwide initiative aimed at empowering 10,000 girls and women across India.
• Drone Cinematography: Under 'SHE NARRATES', women will be trained in drone cinematography and storytelling techniques.

• Duration: A three-month intensive nationwide campaign, running from January 28 to April 14, 2026.
• Main Objective: To achieve 100% saturation of key performance indicators (KPIs) in 112 aspirational districts and 513 aspirational blocks.
• Background: This campaign builds upon the success of the first 'Sampoorna Abhiyan' conducted in 2024.

Economic Growth and GDP Estimates:

• FY26 Growth Rate: The real GDP growth rate for the financial year 2025-26 is projected at 7.4%.
• FY27 Projection: The growth rate for the next financial year (2026-27) is expected to be between 6.8% and 7.2%.
• Potential Growth Rate: India's potential growth rate has been increased from 6.5% to 7%.

Key Economic Indicators:

• Inflation: Average domestic inflation remained at a historically low level of 1.7% during April-December 2025.
• Fiscal Deficit: The fiscal deficit target for FY26 is set at 4.4% (compared to 4.8% in FY25).
• Foreign Exchange Reserves: As of January 16, 2026, India's foreign exchange reserves reached $701.4 billion, sufficient to cover 11 months of imports.

Sectoral Performance:

• Banking Sector: Banks' Gross Non-Performing Assets (GNPA) declined to a multi-decade low of 2.2% in September 2025.
• Agriculture: Food grain production in 2024-25 is estimated to be a record 3577.3 lakh metric tons.
• Services Sector: Services exports reached an all-time high of $387.6 billion in FY25. Infrastructure: The government's capital expenditure (Capex) has increased from ₹2.63 lakh crore in FY18 to ₹11.21 lakh crore in FY26.
• India has been a global leader in greenfield digital investments between 2020 and 2024.
• The survey describes India as an "Oasis of Stability" amidst global volatility.
• It has been prepared under the guidance of Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) V. Anantha Nageswaran.

• Valuation: This funding has pushed the company's valuation to $1.2 billion.
• Unicorn Status: Juspay has officially become the first unicorn of 2026 and India's 127th unicorn.
• Market Position: Juspay currently plays a significant role in India's payment gateway and checkout market, providing payment orchestration for giants like Swiggy, Zomato, and Tata Digital.

Unicorn:

• Definition: It is a privately held company (startup) whose valuation reaches $1 billion (approximately more than ₹7,500 crore) or more.
• Origin: The term was coined in 2013 by venture capitalist Aileen Lee, reflecting the rarity of such startups.

Terminology:

• Decacorn: A company valued at over $10 billion (e.g., PhonePe)
• Hectocorn: A company valued at over $100 billion.
• Soonicorn: A company on the verge of becoming a unicorn.

India's Status:

• Global Ranking: India is the world's third-largest startup ecosystem (after the US and China). India now has approximately 32,000-35,000 startups, with over 2,000 new startups added in the calendar year 2025.

• Best Marching Contingent (All Three Services): Indian Navy
• Best Marching Contingent (CAPF and Other Auxiliary Forces): Delhi Police
• Best Tableau (States and Union Territories):
• First: Maharashtra — "Ganeshotsav: A Symbol of Self-Reliance"
• Second: Jammu and Kashmir — Handicrafts and Folk Dances
• Third: Kerala — Water Metro and 100% Digital Literacy
• Best Tableau (Ministries and Departments): Ministry of Culture — Theme: "Vande Mataram – The Call of a Nation's Conscience"
• Special Award: Central Public Works Department (CPWD) for "Vande Mataram – 150 Years of Commemoration"

Popular Choice Awards (MyGov):

• Best Marching Contingent (Armed Forces): Assam Regiment
• Best Marching Contingent (CAPF): CRPF
• Best Tableau (States): Gujarat — Theme: "The Mantra of Swadeshi – Self-Reliance – Freedom: Vande Mataram" (First for the fourth consecutive year)
• Best Tableau (Ministries): Department of School Education and Literacy

• Nobbs was a brilliant defender who played 76 international matches for Australia between 1979 and 1985.
• He took over as the head coach of the Indian men's hockey team in 2011, after the team failed to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
• Under his guidance, India qualified for the 2012 London Olympics.

Hockey:

• Players: Each team has 11 players (10 field players and 1 goalkeeper).
• Important Terminology:
• Penalty Corner: Awarded when the defending team commits a foul inside their circle (D).
• Bully: A method of restarting the game (now rarely used).
• Green, Yellow, and Red Cards: For disciplinary purposes. Green card means a 2-minute suspension, Yellow means at least 5 minutes, and Red means being sent off the match.
• Hockey India (HI): The official governing body responsible for men's and women's hockey in India.

• Full Name: Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
• Born: October 2, 1869, Porbandar (Gujarat). This day is celebrated globally as International Day of Non-Violence.
• Died: January 30, 1948 (Delhi). This day is observed as Martyrs' Day in India.
• National Memorial: Rajghat

Key Principles:

• Truth and Non-violence: The two main pillars of Gandhiji's life and movements.
• Satyagraha: Non-violent resistance to injustice by adhering to truth.
• Swadeshi and Self-reliance: He made the spinning wheel (Charkha) and Khadi symbols of self-reliance.

Important Movements:

• Champaran Satyagraha (1917): His first successful movement in India.
• Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22): A nationwide non-violent rebellion against British rule.
• Dandi March/Salt Satyagraha (1930): A historic 24-day march against the salt tax.
• Quit India Movement (1942): Forced the British to leave India with the slogan "Do or Die".

Famous Titles:

• Mahatma: This title was given to him by Rabindranath Tagore.
• Father of the Nation: He was first addressed by this name by Subhas Chandra Bose.

Literature:

• Autobiography: 'The Story of My Experiments with Truth'
• Magazines: 'Young India', 'Navjivan', and 'Harijan'