1. National Youth Festival 2026 & “Viksit Bharat” Dialogue
Subject: Polity
- Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the finale of the ‘Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue’ at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, marking National Youth Day (Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary).
- Non-Political Youth Engagement: The government launched a new initiative to engage 100,000 “non-political” youth in nation-building, aiming to decentralize governance ideas and reduce the entry barrier for youth in policy-making.
- Digital Democracy: A new digital platform was unveiled to allow young citizens to submit legislative suggestions directly to parliamentary committees, enhancing participatory democracy.
- National Youth Day Honors: The government conferred the National Youth Awards 2026 to individuals for excellence in social work, technology, and climate action.
- Concept – Article 51A: These initiatives align with Fundamental Duties, encouraging citizens to strive toward excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity.
2. Tamil Nadu Launches India’s First “Deep Tech” Startup Policy
Subject: National / Tamil Nadu
- Policy Launch: The Tamil Nadu government officially notified its “Deep Tech Startup Policy 2026,” becoming the first Indian state to have a dedicated framework for startups working in AI, Robotics, and Quantum Computing.
- Strategic Funding: The policy includes a ₹500 crore “Tamil Nadu Deep Tech Fund” to provide patient capital to startups with long gestation periods.
- Conservation Tech: In the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, the state forest department integrated AI-based thermal sensors to mitigate human-wildlife conflict, a first-of-its-kind project in South India.
- Infrastructure: The state cabinet approved the expansion of the “Chennai-Kanniyakumari Industrial Corridor,” focusing on green hydrogen manufacturing hubs.
- Concept – Seventh Schedule: Industrial development and planning are subjects where State governments exercise significant autonomy to drive regional economic growth.
3. India-Germany Strategic Partnership Summit 2026
Subject: International
- Chancellor’s Visit: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz held a bilateral summit with PM Modi in New Delhi, focusing on a “Green and Sustainable Development Partnership.”
- Defense Co-production: Both nations agreed to a roadmap for the joint manufacturing of conventional submarines and heavy-lift transport aircraft in India.
- Labor Mobility: A new fast-track visa process was established for Indian healthcare professionals and engineers to address Germany’s labor shortage.
- Maritime Heritage: Germany signed a pact to provide technical expertise for the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat.
- Concept – Multipolarity: India’s strengthening ties with Germany represent a shift toward diversified strategic alliances in Europe, moving beyond traditional power blocs.
4. India’s GDP Growth Revised Upward to 7.4%
Subject: Economy
- Economic Forecast: Major global rating agencies revised India’s FY26 GDP growth forecast to 7.4%, citing robust domestic demand and a surge in manufacturing output.
- Direct Tax Collection: The Finance Ministry reported a 9.2% year-on-year growth in net direct tax collections, reaching ₹18.4 trillion as of mid-January.
- Semiconductor Milestone: The government announced a 2032 roadmap to achieve 3nm chip fabrication capability in India, supported by the expanded PLI 2.0 scheme.
- Export Surge: Following the removal of export curbs, India’s non-basmati rice exports reached a record high, stabilizing global food prices.
- Concept – Fiscal Deficit: The rise in tax collection helps the government stay on the glide path of reducing the fiscal deficit to below 4.5% of GDP.
5. Successful Launch of PSLV-C62 and EOS-N1
Subject: Defence / Space Tech
- ISRO Milestone: ISRO successfully launched the PSLV-C62 mission today, placing the EOS-N1 (Earth Observation Satellite) into a sun-synchronous orbit.
- Strategic Surveillance: The EOS-N1 is equipped with advanced Hyper-spectral imaging technology, designed to provide high-resolution data for border surveillance and maritime security.
- Republic Day Debut: The Ministry of Defence confirmed that the newly formed high-tech ‘Bhairav’ drone battalion will make its debut at the January 26 parade.
- Indigenization: The DRDO successfully flight-tested the ‘New Generation Anti-Radiation Missile’ (NGARM), which can destroy enemy radars and communication sites.
- Concept – Strategic Autonomy: The success of the EOS series reduces India’s dependence on foreign satellite imagery for military intelligence.
