🇮🇳 National News
The National Textiles Ministers’ Conference 2026 was organised from January 8 to 9, 2026, in Guwahati, Assam.
- Theme – “India’s Textiles: Weaving Growth, Heritage & Innovation”
- Organisers – Ministry of Textiles (MoT) and Government of Assam
- Participants – Textile Ministers and senior officials from various States and Union Territories
The conference aimed to deliberate on growth, innovation, and preservation of India’s textile heritage, bringing together stakeholders from across the country.
On January 8, 2026, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) signed a contract with the Indian Army through the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME).
- Scope – Overhaul, upgrade, and long-term maintenance support for Pinaka Multiple Launcher Rocket Systems (MLRS)
- Objective – Enhance operational efficiency and lifespan of in-service Pinaka weapon systems
The Pinaka is an indigenous multi-barrel rocket launcher system developed by DRDO, capable of firing a salvo of 12 rockets in 44 seconds, providing area suppression capability to the Indian Army.
On January 8, 2026, the Indian Army launched a new digital platform named Depot Integration Management Edition (DIME).
- Purpose – Modernise logistics management systems within the Army
- Benefits – Assists commanders in making faster, data-driven, and well-informed decisions
- Goals – Improve efficiency, transparency, and integration in logistics operations
DIME is part of the Indian Army’s broader digitisation efforts to enhance operational readiness through technology-driven logistics management.
In January 2026, the Indian Army placed an order worth ₹168 crore with NewSpace Research & Technologies (NRT) for the Medium Altitude Persistent Surveillance System (MAPSS).
- Type – Fully electric and solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
- Purpose – Long-endurance surveillance missions
- Significance – First instance of Indian Army deploying solar-powered UAVs
This marks a major shift in the Army’s drone capabilities, moving beyond existing battery-operated and tethered drones to renewable energy-powered surveillance systems.
In January 2026, Innovation Tamil Nadu Technology Hub signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with XeedQ GmbH, Germany, during UmagineTN 2026 in Chennai.
- Partner – XeedQ GmbH, a leading German quantum technology company
- Objective – Launch India’s first state-backed Quantum Computing Programme
This initiative positions Tamil Nadu at the forefront of quantum technology development in India, building on the state’s Deep-Tech Startup Policy announced earlier.
In January 2026, the Karnataka Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, approved the “Akka Pade” (Elder Sister Force) Scheme.
- Objective – Enhance the safety and protection of women and minor girls across the state
- Focus Areas – Preventive measures, community support, and women-centric safety mechanisms
The “Akka Pade” scheme represents Karnataka’s commitment to creating a safer environment for women through community-based protection mechanisms.
On January 9, 2026, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw conferred the 70th Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar (AVRSP 2025) at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi.
- Recipients – 100 railway officers and employees
- Shields – 26 shields presented to best-performing railway zones
- Venue – India International Convention and Expo Centre (IICEC), Yashobhoomi
Ashwini Vaishnaw holds charge of Ministry of Railways (MoR), Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB), and Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY).
💼 Business & Economy
In January 2026, Bank of Baroda (BoB) received in-principle approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to transition its existing Bank Primary Dealer (PD) operations into a wholly-owned Standalone Primary Dealer (SPD) subsidiary.
- Purpose – Part of the bank’s strategic restructuring efforts
- Status – Subject to additional regulatory approvals
RBI has increased the aggregate limit under Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) for SPDs from ₹10,000 crore to ₹15,000 crore, effective April 2, 2025, at the existing repo rate.
In January 2026, PayG, a leading payment gateway service provider, received RBI’s approval to operate as:
- Payment Aggregator – Physical (PA-P) – For offline (in-person) transactions
- Payment Aggregator – Cross Border (PA-CB) – For global payment use cases
With this approval, PayG has completed its entire suite of Payment Aggregator licenses, enabling support for online payments, offline transactions, and cross-border payments within RBI’s regulatory framework.
In January 2026, Bharat Forge Limited (BFL) of India and Agile Robots S.E. of Germany signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Pune, Maharashtra.
- Focus Areas – AI-driven robotics and smart industrial automation solutions
- Objective – Enhance manufacturing efficiency through advanced automation technologies
This Indo-German collaboration aims to explore opportunities in intelligent industrial automation, positioning Indian manufacturing for the next generation of smart factories.
On January 8, 2026, Choice Wealth Private Limited, a subsidiary of Choice International Limited, secured a contract from India Post Payments Bank (IPPB).
- IPPB – Operates under Department of Posts (DoP), Ministry of Communications
- Objective – Launch a comprehensive digital investment platform
- Benefits – Enable IPPB customers across India to access formal investment products seamlessly
The platform will ensure secure, technology-driven operations with compliance to regulatory norms and strong data protection standards.
In January 2026, global brokerage firm Morgan Stanley projected India’s real GDP growth at 7.6% (YoY) for FY 2025–26.
| Source | GDP Growth Projection |
|---|---|
| Morgan Stanley | 7.6% |
| NSO (First Advance Estimate) | 7.4% |
Half-Yearly Breakdown:
- H1 (April–June FY26) – 8.0%
- H2 (July–September FY26) – 6.9% (slowdown expected)
🔬 Science & Technology
On January 9, 2026, DRDO conducted a successful long-duration ground test of a full-scale actively cooled scramjet (supersonic combustion ramjet) engine.
- Test Facility – Scramjet Connect Pipe Test (SCPT) facility at DRDL, Hyderabad, Telangana
- Programme – Part of India’s Hypersonic Cruise and Missile Development Programme
A scramjet (supersonic combustion ramjet) is an air-breathing jet engine that operates at hypersonic speeds (above Mach 5). This achievement marks a major milestone in India’s development of hypersonic weapons technology.
In January 2026, scientists from the University of Delhi discovered two new frog species in remote mountainous regions of Arunachal Pradesh.
| Species Name | Scientific Name |
|---|---|
| Soman’s Slender Arm Frog | Leptobrachium somani |
| Mechuka Slender Arm Frog | Leptobrachium mechuka |
The research findings were published in PeerJ, a USA-based peer-reviewed scientific journal, adding to India’s rich amphibian biodiversity documentation.
👔 Appointments
On January 10, 2026, Justice Soumen Sen was sworn in as the 40th Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court.
- Oath Administered By – Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar
- Venue – Raj Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram
- Predecessor – Justice Nitin Madhukar Jamdar (retired January 9, 2026)
Prominent attendees included Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Speaker A.N. Shamsheer.
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