🏛️ Polity & Governance

🔷 PM Inaugurates Animal Corridor in Kaziranga

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a 34.5-kilometre elevated corridor in Kaziranga National Park, Assam.
Purpose: To allow wild animals to move safely from the park to the Karbi Anglong Hills without getting hit by vehicles on the highway.
This is a major step in wildlife conservation for the world's largest population of one-horned rhinoceros.

🔷 Centre Notifies New Rules for Environmental Penalties

The Central Government issued new rules for using money collected from environmental fines.
The funds must now be used strictly for pollution control and environmental protection projects.
This move aims to make industries more accountable for their carbon footprint and environmental damage.

💰 Economy & Banking

🔷 IMF Projects India’s GDP Growth for FY27

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected India's GDP growth at 6.4% to 7.3% for FY27.
The report highlights strong domestic demand and investment momentum as the main drivers of growth.
India continues to be one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world.

🔷 First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) Opens in GIFT City

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) has opened its branch in GIFT City, Gujarat.
This will help Indian companies get better access to global markets and investments from the GCC (Gulf) region.
DP World also established its branch, strengthening GIFT City’s status as a global financial hub.

🔬 Science & Technology

🔷 India’s First Open-Sea Marine Fish Farming Project

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launched India's first Open-Sea Marine Fish Farming project in Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
It uses open-sea cages to grow high-value fish like seabass and cobia.
This project is a key part of India's Blue Economy mission to increase fish production and help local fishermen.

🔷 200 New Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) Deployed

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced the deployment of 200 high-resolution weather stations across Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Pune.
These stations are part of Mission Mausam – Phase II to predict sudden rain, heatwaves, and storms more accurately.
Note: These are 3D-printed AWS, making them cost-effective and easy to maintain.

🪖 Defence & Security

🔷 Republic Day 2026 to Feature "Battle Array"

For the first time, the Republic Day Parade will display a "Phased Battle Array".
This means military equipment like tanks and artillery will move in the same sequence they use during an actual war.
The theme for the 2026 parade is "150 Years of Vande Mataram".

🌐 International Relations & Agreements

🔷 Visit of UAE President to India

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited India for the 5th time in ten years.
Both countries agreed to explore "Digital Embassies" and signed a 10-year LNG supply deal for 0.5 million tonnes per year.
India and UAE will also collaborate on a supercomputing cluster and AI technology.

🏅 Sports

🔷 Aaryan Varshney Becomes India's 92nd Grandmaster

Aaryan Varshney has officially become India’s 92nd Chess Grandmaster (GM).
He achieved the title after crossing the 2500 Elo rating mark in recent international tournaments.
India now has one of the highest numbers of Grandmasters in the world.

🎭 Culture & Important Events

🔷 Tripura Celebrates 48th Kokborok Day

Kokborok Day (Tripuri Language Day) was celebrated across Tripura on January 19-20.
The day marks the date in 1979 when the Kokborok language was officially recognized as the state language.
Various cultural events and rallies were organized to promote the tribal language and heritage.

📌 January 20, 2026 General Knowledge

Frontier Gandhi: Today is the death anniversary (1988) of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, a great freedom fighter and the first non-Indian to receive the Bharat Ratna.
Hindu College (Presidency University): On January 20, 1817, the Hindu College was established in Calcutta (Kolkata) with the help of Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
Ajit Doval: Today is the birthday of India's National Security Advisor (NSA), Ajit Doval (born 1945).
US Presidential Inauguration: In the United States, January 20 is the official day for the Presidential Inauguration (swearing-in ceremony).
First Atomic Reactor: India's first atomic research reactor, APSARA, was dedicated to the nation on this day in 1957 by PM Nehru.