Current Affairs 28 January 2026

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs January 28 2026, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2026 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

India Celebrates 77th Republic Day on 26 January 2026India celebrated its 77th Republic Day (R-Day) on 26 January 2026, commemorating the adoption of the Constitution of India on January 26, 1950. The Republic Day parades and events took place at Kartavya Path (formerly known as Rajpath) in New Delhi, Delhi.

• President of India Droupadi Murmu unfurled the National Flag, followed by the National Anthem and a 21-gun salute using 105-millimeter (mm) Light Field Guns by the 1721 Ceremonial Battery of the 172 Field Regiment.

Highlights of 77th Republic Day Celebrations :
Theme: The 77th republic celebrations were held under the theme titled “150 Years of Vande Mataram”
Paid Tribute: The ceremony started with Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi paying tribute at the National War Memorial, followed by him and other dignitaries witnessing the parade at Kartavya Path.
Chief Guests: Antonio Costa, President of the European Council; and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, participated at the event as Chief Guest, marking the first time the top leaders of the EU were invited together.
Music Composer: Oscar-winning composer M.M. Keeravani composed a special musical piece for the Republic Day Parade 2026, with the performance marking the 150th anniversary of the Vande Mataram.
Parade Command: The parade was commanded by Lieutenant General Bhavnish Kumar, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, a second-generation officer, while Major General Navraj Dhillon, Chief of Staff(CoS), Headquarters(HQ) Delhi Area and a third-generation officer, served as the Parade Second-in-Command.
Hypersonic Arsenal Unveiled: Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), under the Ministry of Defence (MoD), showcased its first Long Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile (LR-AShM), developed by the DRDO. It is a hypersonic glide missile designed primarily to meet the coastal defence needs of the IN.
Bharat Parv: It was organised at the Red Fort, in New Delhi, from 26 to 31 January 2026 by the Ministry of Tourism(MoT). The festival will showcase Republic Day tableaux, regional cuisine displays and sales, handicrafts and handlooms, cultural and heritage performances, central ministries stalls, and a citizen engagement zone.
Beating Retreat Ceremony: The Beating Retreat will be held on 29 January 2026 at Vijay Chowk(New Delhi), marking the formal end of Republic Day celebrations. It followed the centuries-old military tradition of troops ceasing battle, sheathing arms, and returning to camp at sunset.

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia Launches Multiple Developmental Projects in NERIn January 2026, Union Minister Jyortiraditya Scindia, Ministry for Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) and Ministry of Communications inaugurated multiple development projects to promote economic growth and employment in the North Eastern Region (NER).
Key Launches:
Matabari Tourism Circuit: Union Minister Jyortiraditya Scindia laid the foundation stone for the Rs 450 crore Matabari Tourism Circuit project at Narkel Kunja near the scenic Dumboor Lake, Tripura.

• The project will integrate the Tripura Sundari Temple, Chabimura and Dumbur Lake, positioning Tripura as a key destination on the global spiritual and eco-tourism map, with Rs.276 crore of the total project outlay contributed by the MDoNER.

Agarwood Value Chain Development Scheme (AVCDS): Union Minister Jyortiraditya Scindia also laid the foundation stone for the AVCDS in North Fulkabari, Tripura with a financial outlay of Rs 80 crores (Cr).

• Under this scheme, two Central Processing Centres (CPCs) – one in Golaghat (Assam) and the other in this region of Tripura.

Bamboo Projects: Union Minister Jyortiraditya Scindia launched two major bamboo sector projects with a combined outlay of Rs 82.5 Cr at Guwahati, Assam.

• The initiative aims to transform the NE Region into a national hub for sustainable bamboo-based products through collaborations with Amazon, Flipkart, and All Time Plastics.
• The projects are being executed by the North East Cane and Bamboo Development Council (NECBDC) in collaboration with the MDoNER, North Eastern Council (NEC), and strategic private sector partners.

MoPR Facilitates Panchayat Leaders and Launches Key Initiatives in New DelhiOn January 25, 2026, the Minister of State (MoS) Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) honoured the Elected Panchayat representatives, who were invited as Special guests for the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi, Delhi.

• The event also featured the unveiling of several key initiatives and publications by the MoPR, including PANCHAM – the Panchayat Assistance and Messaging Chatbot, the 2024-25 (Provisions of the Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas(PESA) State Rankings, the 17th edition of Gramoday Sankalp magazine, the Compendium of Basic Statistics on Panchayati Raj Institutions – 2025, and the Expert Committee Report on Service Delivery at the Panchayat level.”

Key Highlights
Panchayat Leaders: The honourees include around 240 Sarpanches, Mukhiyas, Gram Pradhans (GP) and Block and District Panchayat Presidents from Panchayats that have achieved saturation in flagship Central Government schemes.
Key Officials: The event was also attended by Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary, MoPR and other senior officials of the Ministry.
About PANCHAM
Purpose: During the event, the MoPR launched Panchayat Assistance & Messaging Chatbot (PANCHAM) developed in collaboration with UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund).

• It is designed as a digital companion for Panchayats, providing timely and contextual guidance, simplified workflows, and easy access to information to support day-to-day governance and service delivery functions.

Digital Connect: It is a direct digital connect between the Government of India (GoI) and over 30 lakh Elected Representatives and Panchayat Functionaries across the country.
PESA State Rankings for 2024 -25:
PESA: The MoPR also released the PESA (Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996) rankings of the states for the year 2024-25.
Top State: Maharashtra bagged the 1st position in implementation of PESA, closely followed by Madhya Pradesh (MP) in 2nd position and Himachal Pradesh (HP) in 3rd position.

Government of Rajasthan Launches Raj-UNNATI to Monitor Development Projects
In January 2026, the government of Rajasthan launched Raj-UNNATI, a state level digital governance platform inspired by the Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation (PRAGATI) model of the Government of India (GoI).

• With this move, Rajasthan becomes the first Indian state to replicate the PRAGATI governance framework at the regional level.

About RAJ-UNNATI: 
Overview: It is designed to monitor and track the fast-track development projects and government schemes using digital tools that integrate real-time data, performance tracking, and coordination among departments, replicating the PRAGATI model.
Objective: Raj-UNNATI aims to fast-track development by resolving long-pending project issues, eliminating administrative delays, ensuring time-bound implementation of Central and State schemes, and enabling structured resolution of public grievances.
About PRAGATI: It is an electronic (e)-governance and monitoring platform initiated by the GoI in 2014, designed to oversee key infrastructure and development projects in real time. It integrates technology, administration, and coordination to reduce delays in public service delivery.

BNHS Signs MoU with Jharkhand to Conserve Critically Endangered Vulture Species
In January 2026, the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) signed a five years Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chief Wildlife Warden (CWLW), Jharkhand to strengthen the conservation of critically endangered vulture species in the state.

• The MoU was signed by Paritosh Upadhyay, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) & Chief Wildlife Warden, Jharkhand, and Kishor Rithe, Director, BNHS, in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Key Details of MoU:
Purpose: The MoU aims to boost scientific breeding, monitoring, capacity-building, and long-term protection of two critically endangered vulture species in India such as Oriental White-backed Vulture and Long-billed Vulture.
Aim: The collaboration aims to strengthen the operations of the Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centre(VCBC) in Muta, near Ranchi, enhancing efforts to protect and breed critically endangered vulture species.
Role of Entities: Under the MoU, BNHS will provide technical expertise for captive breeding, support training for field and veterinary staff, guide health monitoring and best practices for conservation, and transfer breeding stocks from BNHS centres to Jharkhand’s facility.

• Jharkhand forest department will run the local conservation breeding centre and implement conservation activities on the ground with BNHS support.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

UNEP’s Report State of Finances for Nature 2026 : Harmful Investments Outpace Nature Protection by 30 to 1 In January 2026, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released the 4th edition of the report titled ‘State of Finances for Nature : Nature in the Red – Powering the Trillion Dollar Nature Transition Economy’, based on global financial data from 2023, which highlights that for every USD 1 invested in protecting nature, roughly USD 30 is spent on activities that harm it.
Key Highlights:
Focus: This report presents the latest data and proposes a new approach to fast-track the transition away from nature-negative finance while scaling up investment in Nature-based Solutions (NbS).
Nature-negative spending: The report shows that in 2023, global spending on activities harmful to nature totaled around USD 7.3 trillion.

• Out of this amount, USD 4.9 Tn was contributed by the private sector, primarily concentrated in sectors such as energy, utilities, industrial manufacturing and basic materials. In 2024, this rose further to USD 5.5 Tn, increasing by 12%.

Triple Crisis: The resulting ratio of more than 30:1 in favour of nature-negative activities, the report warns, is fuelling the ‘triple planetary crisis’ of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
NbS Funding: Public and private finance for NbS reached USD 220 billion (Bn) in 2023, a 5 % increase from 2022.

• Public Finance of USD 197 Bn was the main source of NbS investment and private finance of USD 23.4 Bn remained comparatively limited.

Regional Trend: Regionally, Asia led government spending on NbS in 2023, with investments totaling USD 93 billion. North America recorded the largest Year-on-Year (YoY) increase in NbS spending, at more than 19%.
X- Curve: The report introduces the Nature Transition X-Curve, a new framework designed to help policymakers and businesses reform capital flows, sequence policy actions, and scale up high-integrity NbS across all sectors of the economy.

BANKING & FINANCE

World Bank Approves Rs.5,700 crore for ‘Jal Sanrakshit Haryana Project’In January 2026, the World Bank (WB) approved technical and financial support of Rs.5,700 crore for the ‘Jal Sanrakshit Haryana Project’ to help the state achieve self-reliance in water resources.

• The WB has also approved a USD 815 million financing package for the 1,125-Megawatt (MW) Dorjilung Hydropower Project in Bhutan.

Approval of Rs.5,700 crores to Jal Sanrakshit Haryana Project:
Implementation: The funds will be disbursed in phases from 2026 to 2032, facilitating long-term planning and execution of various water management components.
Canal Restoration: Out of 1,570 main canals in Haryana, 892 have already been restored, and the remaining 678 are planned to be completed within the five years.
Minor Canal Restoration: Out of 15,562 minor canals managed by the Micro Irrigation & Command Area Development Authority, 4,487 have been restored over the past 20 years, while the remaining 1,961 minor canals are planned for restoration over the next five years.
Micro-Irrigation Expansion: With World Bank(WB) funding of Rs.900 crore, micro‑irrigation systems will be installed across approximately 70,000 acres of agricultural land in Haryana.
Approval of USD 815 million for Dorjilung Hydropower Project:
Overview: The WB has approved a USD 815 million long‑term financing package for the 1,125 MW Dorjilung Hydropower Project in Bhutan, a Public Private Partnership(PPP) in which Tata Power Company Limited(TPCL) holds a 40 % stake and Bhutan’s Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC) holds the remaining 60 % in the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) implementing the project.
Financing Structure: The USD 815 million financing package includes a USD 150 million grant and a USD 150 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA), along with a USD 15 million enclave loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) to DGPC, the Government of Bhutan’s entity.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Padma Awards 2026: President Approves 131 Padma Awards, includes 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma ShriOn January 25 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced the Padma Awards for 2026, a day before the 77th Republic Day of India.

• This year’s list comprises 5 Padma Vibhushan; 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri awardees.

About Padma Awards 2026:
Total Winners: Droupadi Murmu, the President of India has approved the conferment of 131 Padma Awards, including 2 duo case cases (in a duo case, the award is counted as one) for year 2026.

• Among these Padma awardees, there are 19 women and the list also comprises 06 persons from the category of foreigners or Non-Resident Indians (NRI) or Person of Indian Origin (PIO) or Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI), along with 16 Posthumous awardees.

States Representation: Among the states,  Maharashtra received the highest number of Padma awards (15), followed by Tamil Nadu (TN) (13);  Uttar Pradesh(UP) and West Bengal(WB)(11 each) and Kerala (8).
Prominent Padma Vibhushan Winners: Among 5 Padma Vibhushan awardees, veteran actor Dharmendra Singh Deol (Arts, Maharashtra)and former Chief Minister (CM) of Kerala V.S. Achuthanandan (Public Affairs, Kerala) have been conferred with the award, posthumously.

• Other 3 eminent personalities featured on the list are: former Judge of Supreme Court (SC) K.T. Thomas (Kerala); educationist P. Narayanan (Literature and Education, Kerala); and violinist N. Rajam (Art).

Prominent Padma Bhushan Winners: Shibhu Soren (Posthumous), founder of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) party and former Chief Minister (CM) of Jharkhand; Bhagat Singh Koshyari, former CM of Uttarakhand; renowned Malayalam actor Mammooty; famous playback singer Alka Yagnik; Uday Kotak, were among this year’s Padma Bhushan laureates.
Prominent Padma Shri Winners: Some of the famous sports personalities such as: former Captain of Indian Test Cricket team Rohit Sharma; Captain of Indian Women’s cricket team Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar; para-high jumper Praveen Kumar; hockey player Savita Punia and also, coach of Indian women’s hockey team Baldev Singh, have been conferred with the Padma Shri.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Veteran Indian Sports Administrator Randhir Singh Steps Down as President of OCA
In January 2026, veteran Indian sports administrator and 5-time Olympic shooter  Randhir Singh announced the end of his tenure as President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) prematurely due to health issues.

• Following his resignation, the members of OCA elected Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani who is currently serving as the President of Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), as their new President during the General Assembly in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

About Randhir Singh:
Previous Tenure: In September 2024, Randhir Singh scripted history becoming the 1st Indian to be elected as President of OCA for a 4-year term (till 2028) during the 44th General Assembly of the continental body held in New Delhi, Delhi.
Previous Role in OCA: Prior to his appointment as OCA President, he served as acting President of the continental body since 2021, filling in for Kuwait’s Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, who was handed a 15-year ban due ethics violations.
Other Key Roles: During his long career in sports administration, he held various posts in Indian and Asian sports bodies like: served as the Secretary General of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) from 1987 to 2012.

• He also served as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) between 2001 and 2014 and later continued as the honorary member of the international sports body.

OBITUARY

Veteran Journalist & Padma Awardee Mark Tully Passed AwayIn January 2026, veteran journalist and renowned broadcaster Sir William Mark Tully, who was widely known as British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)’s ‘voice of India’, passed away at the age of 90 in New Delhi, Delhi. He was born on October 24, 1935 at Tollygunge, Calcutta (now Kolkata, in West Bengal(WB)), then part of British-ruled India.

• He was honored with the Padma Shri, India’s 4th highest civilian honor, in 1992 in the field of Literature and Education; and the Padma Bhushan, India’s 3rd highest civilian honor, in 2005 in the field of Literature and Education.

About Sir William Mark Tully:
Profile: He was a veteran journalist, renowned broadcaster, and acclaimed author who made India his home and became one of the most respected foreign correspondents covering the subcontinent.
Early Career: He joined the BBC in the 1960s and was later posted to India as junior administrative assistant in 1965.

• He served as Bureau Chief for BBC, New Delhi (India) for 22 years.

Author: Apart from being an award-winning journalist, he was also a renowned author and had written several books on India for instance: ‘No Full Stops in India’; ‘India in Slow Motion’; and ‘The Heart of India’.
Key Events Covered in South Asia History: During his several decades long career in journalism, he covered the most turbulent events in South Asia history, specifically India, which included:

• 1971 Bangladesh war; the Emergency between 1975 and 1977;
• Operation Blue Star; the assassination of former Prime Minister (PM) of India Indira Gandhi and the anti-Sikh riots and the Bhopal Gas tragedy (thousands of people died due to leakage of  methyl isocyanate in Madhya Pradesh, MP)in 1984;
• The assassination of former PM of India Rajiv Gandhi in 1991; and the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992.

Awards/Accolades: He was also knighted(KBE) by the British government in 2002 for his exceptional services to journalism.

Former BCCI president Inderjit Singh Bindra Passed Away
In January 2026, Inderjit Singh Bindra, former president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and a key architect of modern cricket marketing and administration in India, passed away at the age of 84 in New Delhi, Delhi.
About Inderjit Singh Bindra:
Profile: He was a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, serving in the Punjab cadre before his long association with cricket administration.
Cricket Administration: He served as the President of the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) from 1978 to 2014, marking one of the longest tenures in cricket administration

• He served as BCCI President (1993–1996), modernising its operations, governance, and commercial strategy, and strengthening Indian cricket’s global stature.
• He retired from cricket administration in 2014, also served as the Principal Adviser to the International Cricket Council (ICC).

International Contributions : Played a key role in bringing the 1987 and 1996 ICC Cricket World Cups to India.
Commercial Reforms: In 1994, Bindra ended Doordarshan’s cricket monopoly, bringing ESPN and TWI to India and expanding the cricket market globally.
Honour: In 2015, the PCA stadium was renamed IS Bindra Stadium to honour his outstanding contributions as a cricket administrator.

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Voters’ Day 2026 – January 25National Voters’ Day (NVD) is observed annually across India on 25 January to commemorate the establishment of the Election Commission of India(ECI) in 1950 and to promote the importance of voting, electoral participation, and voter registration, especially among youth.

• 25 January 2026 marks the 16th NVD and commemorates 76 years of service of the ECI.
• 2026 Theme: “My India, My Vote” with a tagline of ‘Citizen at the Heart of Indian Democracy’.

Background: 
Approval : The observance of NVD was approved in 2011 during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Dr. Manmohan Singh, the then Prime Minister(PM) of India.
Inception: The first NVD was observed in 2011 to commemorate the foundation day of the ECI, a permanent constitutional body established on 25 January 1950 under , under Article 324 of the Indian Constitution.
16th National Voters’ Day Celebrations (NVD-2026):
Event: On January 26, 2026, the ECI celebrated the 16th National Voters’ Day (NVD-2026) in New Delhi, Delhi.
Chief Guest: The event was graced by President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, as the Chief Guest, with Union Minister of State(MoS)(Independent Charge, IC)Arjun Ram Meghwal, Ministry of Law and Justice (MoL&J), as the Guest of Honour, and was led by Chief Election Commissioner(CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners(ECs) Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi.
Best Electoral Practices Awards 2025: During the event, President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Best Electoral Practices Awards 2025 across multiple categories.
Release of Publications: On the occasion of NVD-2026, two publications “2025: A Year of Initiatives and Innovations” and “Chunav Ka Parv, Bihar Ka Garv,” highlighting the successful conduct of the General Elections in Bihar were released.
Exhibition on Electoral Processes: A special exhibition was organised showcasing electoral roll preparation, conduct of elections, key voter-centric initiatives of the ECI.

National Tourism Day 2026 – January 25National Tourism Day is observed annually across India on January 25 to highlight the role of tourism in India’s economy and promotes the preservation of cultural heritage and the country’s diverse tourist destinations.
Background:
Initiation: The Tourist Traffic Committee, established in 1948, started the observance of National Tourism Day to promote tourism across India.
Origin : On January 25, 1949, the Government of India (GoI) declared this day as National Tourism Day, coinciding with the formation of the Ministry of Tourism (MoT).
Significance: The day underscores the role of tourism in driving India’s economic growth, a vision officially recognized in 1982 to further boost tourism development.
Related Observance: The United Nations (UN) observes World Tourism Day every year on September 27 to commemorate the adoption of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Statutes in 1970.
About Ministry of Tourism (MoT):
Union Minister – Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (Constituency – Jodhpur, Rajasthan)
Minister of State (MoS) – Suresh Gopi (Constituency – Thrissur, Kerala)

STATE NEWS

MP Governor Mangubhai Patel Declares 2026 as ‘Year of Agriculture’
On January 26, 2026, Governor of Madhya Pradesh (MP) Mangubhai Patel, announced that MP will observe 2026 as the ‘Year of Agriculture’, with a focus on the welfare and development of farmers, during the 77th Republic Day celebrations in Bhopal, MP.
About ‘Year of Agriculture’ Observance:
Priority Sectors: It is designated to prioritize farmers’ welfare and strengthen agricultural productivity and sustainability in MP.
Approach: Under the theme “Prosperous Farmers, Prosperous State”, the initiative emphasizes technology adoption, income enhancement, promotion of natural farming, improved marketing and export support, innovation, and greater digital transparency across agricultural activities.
Budget Share Growth: The agricultural sector’s budget has grown around Rs.600 crores in Financial Year 2002-03 (FY 03) to over Rs.27,000 crores in Financial Year 2024-25 (FY25).
Implementation: A multi-dimensional model for agriculture growth is being implemented including Technology Transfer (TT), income enhancement, natural farming, marketing, exports, innovation, and digital platforms across MP.

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