Environment
Indian Skimmer Conservation Project
BNHS and NMCG jointly launched a conservation project for the Endangered Indian Skimmer (Rynchops albicollis) in the Ganga Basin. India hosts nearly 90% of the world’s Indian Skimmer population, making this initiative critical for species survival.
International
ILO Employment Trends 2026
The ILO’s Employment and Social Trends 2026 report projects global unemployment at 4.9%, equivalent to 186 million workers. The wider global jobs gap is projected to reach 408 million in 2026, highlighting persistent labour market challenges worldwide.
Rankings & Indices
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
Mangaluru emerged as India’s safest city, ranking 46th globally with a score of 74.4. Ahmedabad (87th, 68.5) and Jaipur (106th, 65.3) also featured. Qingdao, China topped the global list with a score of 89.2.
Economy
Moody’s India GDP Projection
Moody’s Ratings projects India’s GDP growth at 7.3% for FY26, higher than the 6.5% in FY25. India’s GDP per capita rose 8.2% year-on-year to reach USD 11,176 in FY25, reflecting strong economic momentum.
Space & Science
Sunita Williams’ Space Career
NASA astronaut Sunita Williams retired in December 2025 after logging 608 days in space across three missions, making her second on NASA’s cumulative orbit time list. Her missions included Expeditions 14/15, 32/33, and the Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test.
Awards
Tyler Prize 2026
Dr. Toby Kiers won the 2026 Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement for her research on mycorrhizal fungal networks in carbon cycling and nutrient exchange. The Tyler Prize, established in 1973, carries a prize of USD 250,000.
Sports
Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26
Vidarbha won its maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy, defeating Saurashtra by 38 runs in the final at Bengaluru. Atharva Taide (128 runs) was Player of the Match, while Aman Mokhade (814 runs in series) was Player of the Tournament.
Energy & Governance
CoE for Power Sector Regulatory Affairs
A Centre of Excellence for Regulatory Affairs in the Power Sector was inaugurated at IIT Delhi on 20th January 2026. It was jointly established by IIT Delhi, CERC, and Grid Controller of India Limited.
Sports
India vs New Zealand 1st T20I
Abhishek Sharma scored a blistering 84 off 35 balls as India defeated New Zealand by 48 runs in Nagpur. India posted 238/7, and the match aggregate of 428 runs set a new record for India-NZ T20Is.
Business & Economy
Brand Finance IT Services Rankings 2026
Accenture retained the top position as the world’s most valuable IT Services brand at USD 42.2 billion. TCS ranked second (USD 21.2B) and Infosys third (USD 16.4B). The top 25 IT services brands combined value stood at USD 167.2 billion.