🇮🇳 National News
On 22nd January 2026, the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY), a Government of India backed small savings scheme launched under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Campaign, completed 11 years.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the SSY on 22nd January 2015. The scheme is administered by the Department of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance.
4.53 crore accounts have been opened with total deposits exceeding Rs 3.33 lakh crore.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | Indian girl child (account opened by parents/legal guardians) |
| Where to Open | Any India Post office or authorized bank branch |
| Minimum Initial Deposit | Rs 250 |
| Annual Deposit Limit | Rs 1,50,000 |
| Interest Rate | 8.2% per annum |
| Maturity | 21 years from account opening date |
On 22nd January 2026, General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), released the ‘Military Quantum Mission Policy Framework’, a comprehensive policy and roadmap for adopting quantum technologies across the Indian Armed Forces.
The framework is designed to harness quantum technologies to enhance defence capabilities and secure technological dominance in future warfare scenarios.
Four Pillars of the Framework:
- Quantum Communication – Secure military communications
- Quantum Computing – Advanced computational capabilities
- Quantum Sensing and Metrology – Precision detection systems
- Quantum Materials and Devices – Next-gen military hardware
The framework lays out a roadmap for coordinated implementation, highlighting civil-military cooperation and close collaboration among the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, aligned with the National Quantum Mission.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) expanded the scope of the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) by notifying Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity (GEI) targets for four additional carbon-intensive industrial sectors.
Newly included sectors:
- Petroleum Refineries
- Petrochemicals
- Textiles
- Secondary Aluminium
With this latest inclusion, the compliance framework has expanded from 282 to 490 obligated entities across India’s most emission-intensive industries, covering 208 entities in the new sectors.
GEI targets specify the amount of Greenhouse Gas Emissions per unit of output that an industry is allowed to emit. Entities meeting targets earn Carbon Credit Certificates (CCCs), while those failing must purchase certificates from the market. The scheme aligns with India’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, notified the de-licensing of the lower 6 GHz band (frequencies ranging between 5925 MHz to 6425 MHz) to boost Wi-Fi services in India.
The decision came into effect from 21st January 2026 and was formalised under the Low Power and Very Low Power Wireless Access System Rules, 2026.
This unlocks the potential of Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 technologies in India. The government allows Low Power Indoor (LPI) and Very Low Power (VLP) outdoor devices to operate without a licence, on a shared, non-exclusive, non-interference basis.
Restrictions: Use is prohibited in vehicles, boats, oil platforms, drones, and aircraft below 10,000 feet.
The upper 6 GHz band (6425-7125 MHz) is reserved for advanced mobile services under the National Frequency Allocation Plan.
The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, released the 32nd edition of the National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment (NeSDA) Way Forward Monthly Report covering progress up to December 2025.
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Total e-Services | 24,090 across States and UTs |
| Largest Sector | Local Governance & Utility Services (8,656 services) |
| New Services (Nov 2025) | 156 services added |
22 States and UTs achieved over 90% saturation of 59 mandatory e-services, including Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.
Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh, inaugurated its third fresh waste processing facility at the Shivari Solid Waste Management Plant, becoming the first city in the state to achieve 100% scientific processing of municipal solid waste under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U).
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| New Plant Capacity | 700 Metric Tonnes per day |
| Total Processing Capacity | 2,100+ MT daily |
| Total City Waste | 18.5 lakh MT |
| Processed So Far | ~12.86 lakh MT |
Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) is planning to set up a 15 MW Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plant at Shivari to convert Refuse Derived Fuel from waste into electricity.
Arjunbhai Modhwadia, Minister of Gujarat’s Science and Technology, laid the foundation stone for India’s first integrated private-sector satellite plant named ‘Palmnaro’ at Khoraaj Industrial Estate in Sanand, Gujarat.
Azista Space Limited has signed MoUs with the Gujarat government, worth more than Rs 500 crore in total, to establish this facility.
The Electro-Optical Payload Factory (EOPF) aims to indigenously design, develop, and manufacture satellites, electro-optical payloads, and other high-tech space components under one roof.
The facility is set to strengthen India’s aerospace manufacturing, boost self-reliance in key space technologies, and create numerous high-skilled jobs locally.
P.B. Rangarao, Chief Executive Officer of Helicopter Complex, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), along with the General Officer Commanding, Gajraj Corps, laid the foundation stone for HAL’s Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hub at Missamari in Assam.
The new facility will reduce repair turnaround time, streamline logistics support, and provide sustained MRO support to the Indian Army Aviation and the Indian Air Force.
The proposed facility is expected to enhance combat readiness in the region and reflects a major milestone in bolstering indigenous aerospace support infrastructure. This initiative aligns with the Government of India’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
A team of scientists led by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Western Regional Centre, Pune, announced the discovery of a new species of subterranean amphibian named Gegeneophis valmiki from the northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra, marking the first discovery within the genus Gegeneophis in over a decade.
The findings were published in the international journal Phyllomedusa. The species was first collected in 2017 by K P Dinesh, senior scientist at ZSI, during surveys on the Valmiki Plateau in Maharashtra’s Satara district.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Classification | Blind caecilian, Family Grandisoniidae, Order Gymnophiona |
| Appearance | Limbless, worm-like amphibian, ~160 mm long |
| Colour | Dark bluish-grey skin with ring-like annuli |
| Adaptation | Eyes concealed beneath bone (fossorial adaptation) |
| Named After | Maharshi Valmiki Mandir near Paneri, Palashi (Maharashtra) |
The Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (DITE&C), Government of Goa, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited (Starlink India) to strengthen the digital infrastructure, connectivity, and disaster resilience of the state.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Dr. Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa, and Prabhakar Jayakumar, Head of Starlink India.
The Government of Goa and Starlink will explore collaboration in digital connectivity, disaster resilience, and smart governance initiatives. Focus areas include providing connectivity to select government schools, healthcare facilities, and disaster management centres using Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology.
The Government of Uttarakhand signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) to launch the ‘Healthy Border Campaign’ (Swasth Seema Abhiyan), aimed at delivering integrated primary healthcare services to residents of 108 border villages.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, in Dehradun.
The first phase will be implemented in the border districts of Pithoragarh, Chamoli, and Uttarkashi.
ITBP will deploy qualified doctors and paramedical staff, provide Medical Inspection Rooms and telemedicine facilities, conduct regular village visits, and manage medical health records.
On 22nd January 2026, Bhagwant Mann, Chief Minister of Punjab, launched a state-wide universal healthcare scheme ‘Mukhya Mantri Sehat Yojana’ (MMSY) to provide free cashless medical treatment of up to Rs 10 lakh to every family in the state.
The scheme provides coverage at both government and empanelled private hospitals throughout Punjab.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Coverage Amount | Up to Rs 10 lakh per family |
| Treatment Packages | More than 2,356 medical treatment packages |
| Specialities Covered | Cardiology, Oncology, Neurology, Nephrology, Orthopaedics, General Medicine, Urology |
| Eligibility | Any Punjab resident with valid Aadhaar or voter ID card |
Existing Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries receive an additional Rs 5 lakh, bringing total coverage to Rs 10 lakh.
On 23rd January 2026 (Parakram Diwas), the Ministry of Home Affairs announced the recipients of the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar 2026 in recognition of outstanding contributions in the field of Disaster Management.
This recognition coincided with the 129th birth anniversary celebrations of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
| Category | Recipient |
|---|---|
| Institutional Category | Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) |
| Individual Category | Lieutenant Colonel Seeta Ashok Shelke (Indian Army) |
💼 Business & Economy
Razorpay’s offline payments arm, Razorpay POS (Point of Sale), has received the Payment Aggregator Physical (PA-P) licence from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), enabling it to function as an authorised payment aggregator for in-store transactions.
The PA-P licence enables Razorpay POS to scale its in-store payment infrastructure, handling high-volume transactions for large retailers and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
Razorpay POS offerings:
- Android Smart POS
- Magnetic Stripe POS (mPOS)
- Soundbox devices for physical transactions
With this approval, Razorpay now holds all three key RBI PA licences – online (PA-O), physical (PA-P), and cross-border (PA-CB) – making it one of the few fintech firms fully authorised to operate across India’s payments ecosystem.
Receivables Exchange of India Limited (RXIL), a Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) platform, has declared and paid an interim dividend of 21.6% on the face value of its shares, becoming the first TReDS platform in India to return capital to stakeholders.
This marks a historic milestone in India’s TReDS ecosystem.
| Milestone | Details |
|---|---|
| RBI Approval | December 2016 |
| First TReDS Transaction | 9th January 2017 |
| Promoters | Joint venture of SIDBI and NSE, along with SBI, ICICI, and Yes Bank |
RXIL stands as the only TReDS platform allowing state government participation, with Goa and Tamil Nadu governments actively engaged.
🌐 International News
On 21st January 2026, Jose Manuel Albares, Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain, undertook a one-day official visit to India at the invitation of Dr. S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister.
The visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Spain, established in 1956.
Key outcomes of the visit:
- Spain joined the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) by presenting the ‘Declaration of Accession’ to the External Affairs Minister
- India and Spain upgraded their relationship to a ‘strategic association’, the highest level of diplomatic partnership accorded by India
- Both ministers jointly unveiled the logo for the India-Spain Dual Year of Culture, Tourism and Artificial Intelligence commemorating 70 years of diplomatic relations
India will celebrate its 77th Republic Day on 26th January 2026 with a grand parade at Kartavya Path in New Delhi.
European Council President Antonio Luis Santos da Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have been invited as chief guests for the Republic Day celebrations, marking the first time two EU officials are set to attend the ceremony together.
The theme of this year’s parade reflects 150 years of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’, honouring its enduring spirit in India’s freedom journey.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total Tableaux | 30 (17 from States/UTs and 13 from Ministries/Departments) |
| Delhi Metro | Services commence at 3 AM on all lines on 26th January |
🔬 Science & Technology
The Allied Orbits consortium, led by Pixxel Space India, signed an agreement with the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) in Bengaluru to design, build, own, and operate India’s first privately-led national Earth Observation (EO) satellite constellation under the Earth Observation Public-Private Partnership (EO-PPP) programme.
Consortium Partners:
- Dhruva Space Private Limited – Satellite manufacture and ground infrastructure
- PierSight Space Private Limited – SAR satellites
- SatSure Analytics India Private Limited – Multispectral data and analytics
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of Satellites | 12 low-Earth orbit satellites |
| Sensors | Optical, multispectral, hyperspectral, and SAR |
| Capabilities | Day-night, all-weather imaging |
| Applications | Agriculture, disaster management, climate monitoring, infrastructure, security |
| Timeline | First four satellites in orbit by Q1 2027 |
🕊️ Obituaries
On 22nd January 2026, former Indian football team defender and East Bengal legend Ilyas Pasha passed away at the age of 61 in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
He was born in 1964 in Bengaluru. He debuted for India on 27th January 1987 against Bulgaria in the Nehru Cup at Kozhikode and earned eight caps.
International Career:
- Nehru Cup – 1987, 1991
- SAF Games – 1991
- Asian Cup qualifiers – 1992
Club Career with East Bengal (1990-1998):
- Joined East Bengal in 1990
- Captained the side in 1993-94
- Won multiple titles including Calcutta Football League, IFA Shield, Durand Cup, Federation Cup (1996), and Super Cup (1996-97)
Won two Santosh Trophy titles with Bengal in 1993 and 1995. Received East Bengal’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.
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