Current Affairs One -Liner : 1st & 2nd January 2026

National:

• The Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) launched ‘Jal Seva Aankalan’ on December 30, 2025. It is a Gram Panchayat-led digital tool under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) portal. The initiative empowers Village Water & Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) to assess functionality, adequacy, quality, and sustainability of drinking water services.

• On 29 Dec 2025, Western Railway commissioned the indigenous Kavach 4.0 Automatic Train Protection system. It was deployed on the 96 km Bajwa–Ahmedabad section, covering 17 stations. The system prevents collisions, overspeeding, and signal passing at danger (SPAD) using RFID and radio alerts. This marks the first Kavach 4.0 rollout in Western Railway, boosting passenger safety and efficiency.
• In Dec 2025, NHAI announced a major relief for car owners. From 1 Feb 2026, the Know Your Vehicle (KYV) process will be discontinued for cars while issuing new FASTags. This relaxation applies only to private cars, while KYV will continue for commercial vehicles. The move aims to simplify FASTag issuance and ensure smoother toll collection across highways.
• On December 30–31, 2025, Air India and airBaltic signed a codeshare agreement. It connects India with the Baltic region through European hubs like Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, and London Gatwick. The deal builds on their June 2025 interline partnership, now upgraded to full codeshare. This partnership enhances tourism, trade, and cultural exchange between India and Northern Europe.
• On 31 December 2025, the Union Cabinet approved highway projects in Maharashtra and Odisha worth ₹20,668 crore. In Maharashtra, a six-lane Nashik–Solapur–Akkalkot greenfield corridor costing ₹19,142 crore was cleared. In Odisha, the widening of NH-326 at a cost of ₹1,562 crore was sanctioned. These projects aim to boost regional connectivity, logistics efficiency, and economic growth under the PM GatiShakti plan.
• In December 2025, Goa approved the creation of its third district, officially named Kushavati, with Quepem as the headquarters. The new district will be carved out of South Goa, comprising the talukas of Sanguem, Dharbandora, Quepem, and Canacona. This move follows cabinet approval earlier in 2025 and aims to improve administration, decentralization, and service delivery in the hinterland.
• On 15 August 2027, India will launch its first bullet train project, marking a historic milestone in the country’s transport sector. The train will run on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor (MAHSR), built with Japanese collaboration under the Shinkansen technology. This project aims to cut travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad from 6–7 hours to about 2 hours.
• On 1 January 2026, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers Jagat Prakash (JP) Nadda inaugurated the Integrated e-Bill System. It digitally processes around ₹2 lakh crore fertilizer subsidies annually. The system integrates Integrated Fertiliser Management System (IFMS) with the Public Financial Management System (PFMS). It ensures transparency, efficiency, and timely subsidy payments, supporting Digital India and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

International:

• On 30–31 December 2025, Russia deployed the nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic missile system in Belarus. The missile has a range of about 5,500 km and speeds exceeding Mach 10. Its deployment places NATO nations in direct strike range, raising major security concerns. This move strengthens Russia’s military posture amid the ongoing Russia–Ukraine conflict.
• On 1 January 2026, India Post discontinued Registered/Outward Small Packet and ordinary outward letter services. This step aligns with Universal Postal Union (UPU) guidelines, which restrict registration to documents only. The decision was driven by poor tracking, delays, customs and security concerns, and reduced acceptance abroad. It marks a shift toward streamlined operations, focusing on registered and tracked international mail for modern, accountable communication.

Banking:

• From 1 January 2026, the Central Bank of Syria will introduce a new currency series, redenominating the Syrian pound by removing two zeros. The reform aims to ease transactions, stabilize the economy, and rebuild public confidence after years of hyperinflation, sanctions, and conflict.
• On 30 December 2025, the Reserve Bank of India granted final PA-CB (Payment Aggregator–Cross Border) authorisation to BRISKPE. This approval empowers the Prosus-backed fintech to manage both inward and outward cross-border payments under RBI’s regulated framework. The move enhances trust, compliance, and efficiency for Indian MSMEs, exporters, and importers dealing in global trade.

Economy:

• On 31 December 2025, the Government of India imposed a final safeguard duty on steel imports. The duty will run from 21 April 2025 to 20 April 2028, starting at 12% and reducing yearly to 11%. This measure aims to protect domestic steel producers from cheap imports, mainly from China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. It ensures price stability, fair competition, and support for MSMEs in India’s steel sector.

MoUs:

• The Department of Posts (DoP) and the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on December 31, 2025. It enables Contact Point Verification (CPV) of Informal Micro Enterprises (IMEs) registered on the Udyam Assist Platform (UAP). The collaboration aims to improve data integrity, financial inclusion, and credit access for IMEs.

Science & Technology:

• On 30 December 2025, ISRO successfully conducted the static test of the third stage (SS3) of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV). The test was held at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The improved SS3 motor, with a composite case and nozzle divergent, boosts payload by ~90 kg. With this success, the stage is now qualified for induction in flight, enhancing SSLV’s efficiency.

Defence:

• On 30 December 2025, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed two landmark contracts worth ₹4,666 crore. The deals include 93,000 close-quarter battle carbines for the Army and heavy-weight torpedoes for the Navy. The signing took place at South Block, New Delhi, in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. These contracts, under the Buy (Indian) category of DAP 2020, boost self-reliance and modernize India’s defence forces.

Appointments:

• On 2 January 2026, Dutch coach Sjoerd Marijne was reappointed as Chief Coach of the Indian Women’s Hockey Team. He had earlier guided India to a historic 4th place finish at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, raising the team’s global profile. His comeback comes just before the 2026 FIH Women’s World Cup Qualifiers in Hyderabad (8–14 March 2026).

Questions:

Q.1 India’s first bullet train will run on which corridor?
a) Mumbai–Ahmedabad
b) Mumbai–Pune
c) Delhi–Varanasi
d) Chennai–Bengaluru

Answer: a) The Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor (MAHSR) is India’s first bullet train route.

Q.2 Russia deployed which nuclear-capable missile system in Belarus in late December 2025?
a) Iskander
b) Oreshnik
c) Topol-M
d) Sarmat

Answer: b) Russia deployed the nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic missile system in Belarus.