Current Affairs One - Liner : 18th & 19th January 2026

National:

• On 17 Jan 2026, AP CM N. Chandrababu Naidu with Dy CM Pawan Kalyan laid the foundation at Kakinada. The project by AM Green (Greenko Group) will produce 1.5 MTPA green ammonia using renewable energy. It is the world’s largest green hydrogen & ammonia project, backed by ₹18,000 crore investment.

• On 15 January 2026, Wikipedia partnered with Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon through its Wikimedia Enterprise platform. The move aims to monetize AI training by offering structured access to over 65 million articles in 300+ languages. Google had already signed a similar deal in 2022, setting the precedent.
• On January 18, 2026, Punjab’s first Dog Sanctuary was inaugurated at the Haibowal Dairy Complex in Ludhiana to address the rising stray dog menace. The facility can house 500 dogs, providing medical care and sterilization in compliance with Supreme Court animal welfare guidelines. Launched as a pilot project by Minister Sanjeev Arora.
• The New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 was held from 10–18 January at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan. It was the 53rd edition, organized by the National Book Trust (NBT) under the Ministry of Education. Qatar was the Guest of Honour country, showcasing its literature and culture. The theme was “Indian Military History – Valour & Wisdom @75”, marking 75 years of Independence.
  

Banking:

• Piramal Finance has raised USD 350 million in its first-ever multilateral borrowing, with USD 200 million from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and USD 150 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The funds will be deployed toward affordable housing, MSMEs, and women-led enterprises, especially in tier-2 and tier-3 cities across India.

MoUs:

• On 15 January 2026 in New Delhi, the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) launched the 8th batch of its Post Graduate Insolvency Programme (PGIP) and signed an MoU with IIIPI–ICAI. The initiative aims to strengthen India’s insolvency ecosystem through academic collaboration, capacity building, and professional training.

Sports:

• Aaryan Varshney, a 21‑year‑old from Delhi, became India’s 92nd Chess Grandmaster on 15 January 2026. He achieved his final GM norm at the 16th Andranik Margaryan Memorial tournament in Armenia. Varshney scored 6.5/8 points, finishing two points ahead of the field. He is the 8th Grandmaster from Delhi, marking India’s steady rise in world chess.

Summits & Conferences:

• Global Summit on Blue Food Security 2026 was held in Eilat, Israel (13–15 Jan 2026) under the theme “Sea the Future.” It focused on sustainable fisheries, aquaculture innovations (RAS, biofloc, cage culture, seaweed farming) and boosting the blue economy. India, led by Rajiv Ranjan Singh, signed a strategic fisheries cooperation pact with Israel. The summit highlighted food security, climate resilience, and global marine partnerships.

Committees:

• 6th ASEAN–India Digital Ministers’ Meeting (ADGMIN) was held virtually on 16 Jan 2026, hosted by Vietnam. It was co-chaired by Amit Agrawal (India, DoT Secretary) and Nguyen Manh Hung (Vietnam’s Minister of Science & Technology). Theme: “Adaptive ASEAN – From Connectivity to Connected Intelligence.” Aim: To boost digital inclusion, cybersecurity, innovation, and regional integration between ASEAN and India. Highlights: Reviewed ASEAN Digital Masterplan projects, focused on AI, 5G, cloud, and digital public infrastructure.

Military Exercises:

• The Indian Coast Guard and Japan Coast Guard conducted a joint Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) response drill in Mumbai on 18 January 2026. The exercise took place onboard ICGS Samudra Prahari, India’s specialized pollution response vessel. It aimed to strengthen interoperability in tackling chemical spills and marine pollution emergencies.

Index & Ranking:

• The Asia Manufacturing Index 2026 was released by Dezan Shira & Associates on 12 January 2026. It ranked 11 Asian economies on manufacturing competitiveness using 8 pillars and 43 sub-parameters. China topped the list, followed by Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, and South Korea. India ranked 6th, reflecting progress but highlighting challenges in infrastructure and tax reforms

Important Days:

• National Startup Day 2026 was celebrated on 16 January, marking a decade of the Startup India initiative. Prime Minister Modi emphasized India’s emergence as the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world. With over 2 lakh DPIIT-recognized startups and more than 120 unicorns valued at $350 billion, the growth has been remarkable.

Appointments:

• Raymond Lifestyle Limited appointed Satyaki Ghosh as its new CEO on 19 January 2026. He brings over 25 years of experience in FMCG, textiles, and retail leadership. Previously, he held senior roles at the Aditya Birla Group, including CEO of Cellulosic Fashion Yarn.
• On 17 January 2026, the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) officially announced that Indian boxing legend Vijender Singh was appointed as a member of the Asian Boxing Council (ABCO). This marks a major milestone in India’s growing role in international sports governance.

Books:

• On January 19, 2026, the Vice-President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, released the Hindi edition of the book ‘Palanivelu GUTS’ at a ceremony held at the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi. The book is the autobiography of Dr. C. Palanivelu, an eminent surgeon and pioneer in the field of laparoscopic and robotic surgery in India.

Questions:

Q.1 As per the Asia Manufacturing Index 2026 released by Dezan Shira & Associates, what was India’s rank?
a) 4th
b) 5th
c) 6th
d) 7th

Answer: c) China topped the list, followed by Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, and South Korea. India ranked 6th, showing progress but also indicating challenges in infrastructure and tax reforms.

Q.2 Which Indian sports legend was appointed as a member of the Asian Boxing Council (ABCO) in January 2026?
a) Vijender Singh
b) M.C. Mary Kom
c) Mary Kom
d) Nikhat Zareen

Answer: a) Vijender Singh was appointed as a member of the Asian Boxing Council (ABCO).