Did you miss crucial developments from the past week for your UPSC Prelims and Mains 2026 preparation? This comprehensive guide covers all major events, reports, and policy changes from January 5 to January 11, 2026, providing you with the essential facts needed to stay ahead.
Global Economic Outlook and Key Reports
The United Nations released its World Economic Situation and Prospects Report 2026 on January 8, 2025. The report forecasts global economic growth at 2.7 percent for 2026, a slight dip from the 2.8 percent estimated for 2025. This report is a collaborative effort by the UN's Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and the five UN regional commissions.
A concerning highlight from the UN document is the sharp rise in global military expenditure, which reached $2.7 trillion in 2024. This marks the steepest annual increase since at least 1988, driven primarily by the world's ten largest spenders who account for nearly 75 percent of the total.
Significant Events and Conferences
Kochi, Kerala, hosted the first International Spice Routes Conference from January 6 to 8, 2026. Organized at the historic Bolgatty Palace by the Muziris Heritage Project and the Kerala Tourism Department, the conference revisited the ancient maritime trade network. It focused on the port of Muziris (1st century BC to 4th century AD), a hub that linked Southeast Asia, Africa, West Asia, and Europe, trading pepper, beads, silk, gold, and grain.
In the sports arena, a Sports Governance Conclave was held in Ahmedabad on January 9, 2026. Organized by the Government of India with the Gujarat government and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), it unveiled a ambitious medal strategy. Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao outlined goals of 12-14 gold medals and 30-35 total medals by the 2036 Olympics, aiming for a top-10 finish, and 35-40 golds with around 100 total medals by 2048.
National Sports Governance Act Comes into Force
A major policy development was the partial implementation of the National Sports Governance Act (NSGA) from January 1, 2026. The Act, notified in August 2025, establishes governance frameworks for National Sports Bodies. Key mandates include Executive Committees with up to 15 members, including at least two outstanding sportspersons and four women. It also paves the way for a National Sports Tribunal to adjudicate disputes.
Polity, Defence, and Internal Security
In a significant legal observation, the Supreme Court relied on an expansive interpretation of a "terrorist act" under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) while denying bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the 2020 Delhi riots case. The court examined the hierarchy of roles among the accused, creating a precedent for evaluating individual involvement in alleged conspiracies.
On the defence front, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commissioned the Indian Coast Guard's first indigenously built Pollution Control Vessel (PCV), 'Samudra Pratap', in Goa. This vessel, equipped with Dynamic Positioning capability and advanced oil spill response systems, is the largest in the ICG fleet.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the National IED Data Management System (NIDMS), a centralized platform under the National Security Guard (NSG) for managing data on Improvised Explosive Device incidents to bolster prevention and investigation.
International Developments
The OPEC+ group decided to keep oil output unchanged in its January 4 meeting, following an 18 percent price drop in 2025. The grouping, which supplies 54 percent of India's imported oil, faces internal tensions, notably between Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
In a major foreign policy shift, US President Donald Trump signed a memorandum to withdraw from 66 international organizations, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the India-headquartered International Solar Alliance (ISA). He also articulated a new "Donroe Doctrine," blending the historical Monroe Doctrine with a policy of assertive primacy.
Following US operations in Venezuela, Trump administration officials reiterated claims that Greenland should be US territory, a stance Denmark has rejected. Greenland, a self-governing Danish territory, hosts the critical Pituffik Space Base (Thule Air Base).
Environment, Science, and Health
The ecology community mourned the passing of renowned ecologist Madhav Gadgil on January 7 in Pune. He was best known for chairing the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), which recommended designating the entire Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA).
In a setback for space exploration, the collaborative Mars Sample Return mission between ESA and NASA was officially cancelled due to budgetary sanctions from the Trump administration.
Delhi Police used gait pattern analysis for the first time to solve a murder case, studying walking patterns from CCTV footage. In public health, the Delhi government moved to declare human rabies a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act, aligning with a national goal of zero dog-mediated rabies deaths.
Places and Projects in News
- Somnath Swabhiman Parv: A four-day event (Jan 8-11) in Gujarat marked 1,000 years since Mahmud of Ghazni's first attack on the Somnath Temple in 1026.
- Virat Ramayana Temple: A massive 33-ft, 210-tonne Shiva Lingam, carved with 1,008 smaller lingams, is set for installation on January 17 in East Champaran, Bihar.
- Indian National Cine Academy (INCA): Launched in Mumbai to bridge 12 regional film industries, with its first pan-India awards show scheduled for March 9.
- Agriculture: Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced India as the world's largest rice producer with 150.18 million tonnes output in 2024-25, surpassing China.
Test Your Knowledge
1. ‘Gadgil Committee Report’ and ‘Kasturirangan Committee Report’, sometimes seen in the news, are related to (UPSC CSE 2016)
(a) constitutional reforms
(b) Ganga Action Plan
(c) linking of rivers
(d) protection of Western Ghats
2. Consider the following statements about the location of Greenland:
1. Surrounded by the Arctic Ocean in the north
2. North Atlantic Ocean in the south
3. Baffin Bay in the west
How many of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
3. Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2016)
1. The International Solar Alliance was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015.
2. The Alliance includes all the member countries of the United Nations.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer Key: 1. (d), 2. (c), 3. (a)
