1. PARLIAMENT PREPARES FOR BUDGET SESSION 2026
SUBJECT: POLITY
- Session Schedule: The Budget Session of Parliament is scheduled to commence on January 28, 2026, and will continue until April 2. The session will be held in two phases: January 28 to February 13, and March 9 to April 2.
- Union Budget Date: The Union Budget for 2026-27 is expected to be presented on February 1 (Sunday).
- Multilingual Debates: In a landmark move for inclusivity, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced that MPs will now be able to participate in debates in all 22 regional languages listed in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution, supported by AI-based real-time translation.
- Digital Reforms: Parliament is transitioning to the “Digital Sansad” platform. Written replies to questions will be delivered directly to MPs via WhatsApp, and official records will be made available within 30 minutes of a sitting.
- Presidential Address: The session will begin with a joint address by President Droupadi Murmu to both Houses, outlining the government’s achievements and vision for the upcoming fiscal year.
Concepts: * Article 112: Deals with the Annual Financial Statement (Budget).
- Article 87: Mandates the President’s special address at the commencement of the first session of each year.
2. ARMY CHIEF ADDRESSES NATIONAL SECURITY CHALLENGES
SUBJECT: NATIONAL ISSUES
- LAC Stability: Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi stated that while the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China is stable, it remains sensitive, requiring “constant vigil.”
- Counter-Terrorism: Under ‘Operation Sindoor’, Indian forces have intensified operations in Jammu and Kashmir. In early 2026, 31 terrorists have been neutralized, with a high percentage identified as foreign nationals.
- Shaksgam Valley Concern: India has reiterated its stand that the 1963 Shaksgam Valley agreement between Pakistan and China is illegal, as the territory belongs to the Indian Union Territory of Ladakh.
- Military-Civil Fusion: The Indian Army’s Southern Command successfully conducted ‘Exercise Sanjha Shakti’, a mock drill involving 16 civilian agencies to enhance coordination during border tensions and internal security crises.
- Digital Logistics: The Army launched DIME (Depot Integration Management Edition), a pan-Army digital platform to modernize logistics and provide real-time visibility of equipment from units to Headquarters.
Concepts:
- National Security Council (NSC): The apex body advising the PM on security matters.
- Border Management: Focuses on the role of ITBP (China border) and BSF (Pakistan/Bangladesh border).
3. INDIA-GERMANY STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP STRENGTHENED
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL
- Friedrich Merz Visit: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz concluded his official visit to India (Jan 12-13). This marks 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
- Defence Roadmap: Both countries finalized a Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap, focusing on the co-production of submarines, counter-drone systems, and aircraft engine technology.
- Military Exercises: Germany confirmed its participation in India’s major wargames in 2026, including Naval Exercise MILAN and Air Combat Exercise TARANG SHAKTI.
- India-Oman CEPA: India and Oman signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), granting India 100% duty-free market access on 98% of tariff lines.
- Blue Food Security: Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh is visiting Israel (Jan 13-15) for the Global Summit on Blue Food Security, focusing on sustainable fisheries and aquaculture technology.
Concepts:
- Strategic Partnership: A formal relationship between two nations involving high-level cooperation in security and economy.
- CEPA vs. FTA: CEPA is more comprehensive, covering services, investment, and regulatory cooperation beyond just goods.
4. UN PREDICTS INDIA AS FASTEST GROWING ECONOMY IN 2026
SUBJECT: ECONOMY
- Growth Forecast: The United Nations’ latest economic report projects India to grow at 6.6% in 2026, remaining the fastest-growing major economy globally despite geopolitical headwinds.
- Renewable Energy Milestone: India’s non-fossil fuel installed capacity reached 266.78 GW by early 2026, a 22.6% increase from the previous year, led primarily by solar energy.
- Seafood Exports: India achieved a record high in seafood exports, reaching ₹62,408 crore, driven by increased demand for frozen shrimp and tuna in global markets.
- Food Processing: The 9th edition of ‘Indusfood 2026’ was inaugurated in Greater Noida, aiming to position India as the “Food Basket of the World” through the BHARATI Startup Challenge.
- Logistics Speed: India Post launched Speed Post 24 and Speed Post 48, guaranteed delivery services within 24 and 48 hours, respectively, to compete with private courier majors.
Concepts:
- GDP (Gross Domestic Product): A measure of the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country.
- Energy Transition: Moving from fossil fuels (coal/oil) to clean energy (solar/wind) to meet Net Zero targets.
5. DEFENCE INDIGENIZATION AND ‘MAKE IN INDIA’ MILESTONES
SUBJECT: DEFENCE
- Import Substitution: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has achieved 100% domestic production for over 100 key items on the “Positive Indigenisation List” as of January 2026.
- Private Sector Growth: Private companies now contribute 23% of India’s total defence production, supported by a network of over 16,000 MSMEs.
- Submarine Technology: India has invited Expressions of Interest (EoI) for the indigenous development of SAVIOR (Semi-Autonomous Vessel for Intelligence and Reconnaissance), a specialized semi-submersible craft.
- Drone Centricity: The Army is implementing a new “Drone-Centric Doctrine,” aiming to train 1 lakh drone operators and integrate swarm drone technology into front-line infantry battalions.
- Indus-X Progress: Under the iCET framework, the Indus-X initiative between India and the US has moved to the co-development phase for AI-enabled battlefield surveillance systems.
Concepts:
- Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Defence: Reducing dependency on foreign OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers).
- MSMEs in Defence: Small scale industries providing specialized components for major platforms like LCA Tejas or INS Vikrant.
