Judiciary
Judicial Appointments Process
Chief Justice appointments are made by the Centre based on recommendations from the Supreme Court Collegium headed by the Chief Justice of India. Justice Mahesh Sharadchandra Sonak’s appointment as CJ of Jharkhand HC exemplifies this constitutional process.
Sports
Tennis Milestones
Venus Williams will compete at age 45 in the 2026 Australian Open, breaking Kimiko Date’s record (44 years in 2015). Williams is a seven-time Grand Slam champion and two-time Australian Open finalist (2003, 2017).
Monetary Policy
Foreign Exchange Reserves Components
India’s forex reserves comprise four components: Foreign Currency Assets ($559.61 billion), Gold reserves ($113.32 billion), Special Drawing Rights ($18.80 billion), and IMF reserve position ($4.87 billion). Total: $696.61 billion as of Dec 26, 2025.
Infrastructure
Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project
The 508-km high-speed corridor includes 27.4 km of tunnels (21 km underground + 6.4 km surface). Eight mountain tunnels span Maharashtra (7 tunnels, 6.05 km) and Gujarat (1 tunnel, 350m). Travel time will reduce from 6-7 hours to approximately 2 hours.
Agriculture
India’s Rice Production Leadership
India became the world’s largest rice producer with 150.18 million tonnes, surpassing China’s 145.28 million tonnes. Top producing states: Uttar Pradesh (13.8%), Telangana (11.6%), West Bengal (10.6%). India is also the largest rice exporter (20.1 million metric tonnes in 2024-25).
History
Rani Velu Nachiyar – First Female Freedom Fighter
Known as “Veeramangai” (Brave Woman), Rani Velu Nachiyar (1730-1796) was the first Indian queen to wage war against the British East India Company, decades before 1857. Trained in warfare, weapons (Valari, Silambam), and proficient in Tamil, English, French, and Urdu.
Important Days
World Braille Day – January 4
Commemorates Louis Braille’s birthday (born Jan 4, 1809) who invented the six-dot tactile code at age 15 after losing sight at age 3. UN designated this day in 2018, celebrations began in 2019. Braille is a universal code (not a language) used for almost any language.
Regional Development
Andaman & Nicobar Development
Development projects worth βΉ373 crore inaugurated including Integrated Command & Control Centre and district hospital. The Great Nicobar project aims to establish a transshipment port, international airport, power plant, and townshipβpositioning it as a future global cargo and tourism hub.
International Trade
AYUSH Export Promotion
AYUSHEXCIL (Ayush Export Promotion Council) completed 4 years on Jan 4, 2026. AYUSH exports increased by 6.11% between 2023-24 and 2024-25. India’s traditional medicine systems gained recognition in bilateral agreements including India-Oman CEPA and India-New Zealand FTA.