Current Affairs One - Liner : 15th & 16th Januray 2026

National:

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled development projects worth over ₹629 crore in Mansa, Gujarat on 14 January 2026. The projects include infrastructure upgrades, civic amenities, and initiatives to boost local economic growth. This marks a major push for regional development and public welfare in his home constituency.

• The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) and the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) launched the “Inspiring Innovators” skilling initiative with Netflix on 13 January 2026. It trains students in storytelling and animation to highlight India’s innovation ecosystem. Eight universities produced short films on social-impact startups chosen by PSA.
• The Government of Tamil Nadu partnered with Sarvam AI to establish India’s first Sovereign AI Park in Chennai on 12 January 2026. The park will focus on building indigenous AI capabilities and secure digital infrastructure. It aims to drive research, innovation, and startups in artificial intelligence with global competitiveness.
• Bamanwas Kankar Panchayat in Kotputli–Behror district, Rajasthan, has become the State’s first village body to be officially certified as fully organic on January 12, 2026. This milestone reflects a collective shift to chemical-free farming and eco-friendly livestock practices, addressing soil degradation, groundwater decline, and health concerns linked to chemical inputs.

International:

• Dr. S. Jaishankar launched India’s BRICS Chairship 2026 logo, theme, and website on 13 January 2026 in New Delhi. The theme is “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”. The lotus-inspired logo with a Namaste gesture symbolizes unity, respect, and diversity. India’s chairship also marks the 20th anniversary of BRICS (2006–2026).
• In 2025, France recorded more deaths (651,000) than births (645,000) for the first time since World War II, marking a historic demographic shift. The country’s fertility rate fell to 1.56 children per woman, its lowest level in decades, and population growth now depends mainly on net migration rather than natural increase.

Banking:

• Karnataka Bank has enabled Khajane-2 (K2) e-receipt payments via its Internet Banking platform as of January 14, 2026. This integration with the RBI e-Kuber system allows customers to pay state taxes and fees securely and without manual paperwork. Users can generate a challan on the K2 portal and select Karnataka Bank's KBL MoneyClick to complete transactions in real-time.

Economy:

• The World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects report was released on January 14, 2026. It projected India’s GDP growth at 7.2% for FY26, citing strong domestic demand and rural incomes. For FY27, growth is expected to moderate to 6.5%, mainly due to U.S. tariff pressures. India will still remain the fastest-growing major economy despite global headwinds.

Science & Technology:

• Galgotias University inaugurated the IIT Mandi Catalyst Satellite Centre in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh on 11 January 2026. The centre will nurture innovation, incubation, and entrepreneurship among students and startups. It offers mentoring, funding access, and collaboration opportunities with IIT Mandi Catalyst.

Committees:

• The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) in January 2026 constituted a High-Level Committee under the chairmanship of M. S. Sahoo, former IBBI chief. The committee’s primary task is to design a framework for assured payouts under the National Pension System (NPS). This move aims to strengthen retirement income security for subscribers by ensuring predictable returns.

Apps & Portals:

• On 13 January 2026, the Government of Karnataka launched the ‘Gruha Lakshmi Digital Marketing’ portal to empower women entrepreneurs by giving them a platform to showcase and sell their products globally. The initiative is led by the Department of Women and Child Development under CM Siddaramaiah and Dy CM D.K. Shivakumar.

Important Days:

• The 10th Defence Forces Veterans’ Day was observed on 14 January 2026. It began in 2016, marking Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa’s retirement day. The 2026 theme was “Honouring Our Veterans: Commitment, Dignity, and Welfare”. Nationwide events included wreath-laying, rallies, and veteran welfare programs.

Appointments:

• The Centre appointed senior IPS officer Rakesh Aggarwal as the new Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on 14 January 2026. A 1994 batch officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre, he was earlier serving as Special DG and holding additional charge of the agency. His tenure will continue until 31 August 2028, the date of his superannuation.
• On 12 January 2026, Anup Kumar Saha was appointed as Whole-time Director of Kotak Mahindra Bank. His role covers consumer banking, marketing, and data analytics. He brings vast experience from Bajaj Finance and ICICI Bank in retail and digital transformation.
• Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor, a 1990-batch IPS officer of Haryana cadre, became ITBP Chief on 14 Jan 2026. He earlier served as Director General of Police, Haryana. Kapoor succeeds Praveen Kumar, who moved as BSF Director General.nHis tenure as ITBP DG lasts till 31 Oct 2026 (superannuation).

Questions:

Q.1 The ‘Gruha Lakshmi Digital Marketing’ portal was launched by which state government?
a) Maharashtra
b) Karnataka
c) Tamil Nadu
d) Kerala

Answer: b) Launched on 13 January 2026 by the Karnataka Government’s Department of Women and Child Development.

Q.2 Karnataka Bank integrated with which system to enable Khajane-2 e-receipt payments?
a) UPI
b) RBI e-Kuber
c) NEFT
d) IMPS

Answer: b) The integration with RBI e-Kuber system allows real-time payment of state taxes and fees via the bank’s Internet Banking platform.