Did you miss crucial current affairs updates last week for your UPSC, State PCS, or other competitive exam preparations? This weekly roundup brings you all the must-know facts from January 12 to 18, 2026. We cover major events, policy changes, and international developments to keep your study schedule on track.
Art and Culture Highlights
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Bagurumba Dahou performance in Guwahati, Assam. This traditional folk dance of the Bodo community featured 10,000 dancers from 23 districts and 81 Assembly constituencies. The Bodos represent Assam's largest tribal community, making up about 5% of the state's population.
Bagurumba dance draws deep inspiration from nature. It symbolises blooming flowers and showcases harmony between human life and the natural world. Young Bodo women traditionally perform this dance, with men providing musical accompaniment. The dance involves gentle, flowing movements that imitate butterflies, birds, leaves, and flowers. Performers usually organise in groups, forming circles or lines that enhance visual elegance.
Significant Events and Conferences
National Youth Day 2026
India observed National Youth Day on January 12 to commemorate Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary. Vivekananda remains one of India's greatest spiritual leaders and thinkers. He introduced Hinduism to the Western world and advocated for national integration during colonial times.
28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth
The 28th CSPOC took place in New Delhi from January 14 to 16, 2026. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla hosted speakers and presiding officers from over 45 Commonwealth parliaments. India last hosted this conference in 2010, making this event particularly significant after a 16-year gap.
Established in 1969 by Canada's House of Commons Speaker, CSPOC operates independently from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and Commonwealth Secretariat. The conference follows a two-year cycle, with full membership meetings every two years. During the valedictory session, Speaker Birla handed over chairmanship of the 29th CSPOC to UK House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle.
National Startup Day 2026
January 16 marked National Startup Day, celebrating India's entrepreneurial spirit. This year also commemorates a decade of the Startup India initiative launched on January 16, 2016. The initiative supports entrepreneurs and builds a robust startup ecosystem.
At the Google AI Startups Conclave, Google India introduced the Google Market Access Programme. This new initiative helps Indian AI startups scale their products for enterprise adoption using Google's distribution network and international market access.
Armed Forces Veterans Day and Army Day
India celebrated the 10th Armed Forces Veterans Day on January 14 to honour veterans' sacrifices and show solidarity with their families. The first observance occurred in 2017 under the Ministry of Defence. January 14 holds special significance as Field Marshal KM Cariappa retired on this date in 1953.
Army Day followed on January 15, observing the Indian Army's 78th anniversary. The 2026 theme focuses on Year of Networking and Data Centricity. This day commemorates General KM Cariappa taking command from British Commander-in-Chief General Sir FRR Bucher in 1949.
Policy and Governance Updates
Jal Jeevan Mission
The central government plans to reduce Jal Jeevan Mission funding by nearly 60% in revised estimates. The rural tap water scheme allocation drops from Rs 67,000 crore to Rs 17,000 crore. Launched in August 2019, the mission aims to provide functional household tap connections to all rural households.
Kaziranga Elevated Corridor
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a 34.5-kilometre elevated corridor in Assam's Kaziranga region. This corridor forms part of National Highway 715, connecting Kaziranga National Park to Guwahati. The structure allows safer animal crossings between the park and Karbi Anglong Hills.
Kaziranga National Park hosts the world's largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses. The park contains 37 mammal species and nearly 500 bird species across Nagaon and Golaghat districts.
Cyber Financial Fraud SOP
The Ministry of Home Affairs approved a Standard Operating Procedure for cyber financial crime reporting. For fraud amounts below Rs 50,000, banks can process refunds without court orders. Financial institutions must lift holds on such amounts within 90 days if no court order exists.
Jamma Bane Land System
The Karnataka Land Revenue (Second Amendment) Act, 2025 modernises land records for Jamma Bane holdings in Kodagu district. This unique land tenure system originated from grants by Coorg kings and British rulers between 1600 and 1800. The amendment empowers tahsildars to update land records according to the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964.
International Relations Developments
India-Germany Partnership
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed 19 agreements during bilateral talks in Gandhinagar on January 12, 2025. This marked Chancellor Merz's first official visit to India outside EU and NATO countries.
Key outcomes include roadmaps for defence cooperation and higher education, a joint declaration on critical minerals, and a bilateral dialogue mechanism for the Indo-Pacific. Both nations announced visa-free transit for Indian passengers through Germany and established an Indo-German Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Renewable Energy.
India-Japan Strategic Dialogue
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi for the 18th India-Japan Strategic Dialogue. They launched an AI Dialogue and planned a Joint Working Group on Critical Minerals for early 2026. Both ministers designated 2027 as the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and India.
India's BRICS Presidency 2026
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar unveiled the logo, theme, and website for India's BRICS chairship on January 13, 2026. The theme Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability draws inspiration from Prime Minister Modi's people-centric vision. The BRICS logo features a lotus in member nations' colours with a Namaste gesture at its centre.
Pax Silica Initiative
The United States invited India to join Pax Silica, a US-led initiative securing AI and tech supply chains. The initiative brings together friendly countries to ensure technology safety and reliability. Pax Silica measures include joint ventures, strategic investments, and protecting critical infrastructure from hostile control.
Environment and Technology Updates
EV Retrofitting Policy
The Delhi government announced incentives for converting old petrol and diesel cars into electric vehicles. Under consideration is a Rs 50,000 incentive for the first 1,000 retrofitted vehicles. Retrofitting involves replacing fuel systems with batteries, controllers, and motors.
Orobanche Aegyptiaca Threat
Mustard crops face increasing infestation from Orobanche aegyptiaca, locally known as margoja. This parasitic weed attaches to mustard roots, extracting nutrients and causing wilting, yellowing, and stunted growth. Mustard accounts for over 4 million tonnes of India's annual edible oil production.
PSLV-C62 Mission Setback
ISRO's PSLV-C62 mission failed to reach its intended orbit on January 13 due to rocket problems. The rocket carried EOS-N1 earth observation satellite and 15 other payloads from Brazil and Nepal. This marks the second consecutive failure for PSLV rockets, raising reliability concerns.
NASA's First Medical Evacuation
SpaceX Crew-11 capsule executed NASA's first medical evacuation with a Pacific splashdown near San Diego. The capsule returned less than 11 hours after astronauts exited the International Space Station. NASA has not disclosed which astronaut experienced health issues due to medical privacy.
Places in News
Shaksgam Valley
Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta urged China to halt infrastructure projects in Shaksgam Valley, calling such activities illegal. This valley lies north of Siachen glacier in Pakistan-occupied territory. Pakistan ceded the area to China in 1963, though India has never recognised this agreement.
World's First Mountain Ice Core Repository
Scientists inaugurated the first global repository of mountain ice cores at Antarctica's Concordia station. The Ice Memory Foundation transported 1.7 tons of ice from Alpine glaciers for preservation at -52°C. Ice cores serve as atmospheric time capsules, preserving Earth's climate history.
BSL-4 Laboratory in Gujarat
Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone for a Bio-Safety Level 4 containment facility in Gandhinagar. This will become India's second civilian BSL-4 laboratory and the first state-funded facility. BSL-4 labs handle the world's most dangerous pathogens with maximum containment measures.
Test Your Knowledge
Try these MCQs to reinforce your learning:
- Bagurumba is the folk dance of which community?
- (a) Bhils community
- (b) Santhal community
- (c) Bodo community
- (d) Toda community
- Consider statements about Pax Silica:
- It is a NATO-led initiative headed by the US.
- India is invited to join it along with China.
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) 1 and 2
- (d) None
- Match these observances with dates:
- National Youth Day: January 16
- Army Day: January 15
- National Startup Day: January 12
- (a) Only one
- (b) Only two
- (c) All three
- (d) None
Answer Key: 1. (c), 2. (d), 3. (a)
This comprehensive update covers essential current affairs for competitive exam preparation. Regular revision of such information significantly enhances retention and recall during examinations.
