- On 27 January 2026, the Department of Posts (DoP) signed an agreement with Stock Holding Services Limited (SSL) in New Delhi. The partnership uses India Post’s 1.65 lakh post offices to provide citizens with capital market access. Services include opening demat accounts, investing in mutual funds, and participating in IPOs.
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- On 24 January 2026, NITI Aayog partnered with the NIIT Foundation in New Delhi. The initiative aims to boost digital literacy, financial inclusion, and skill development in Aspirational Blocks. It will cover 100% block-level beneficiaries, reaching nearly 1.2 lakh people with at least 40% women’s participation.
- On 27 January 2026, the Gujarat government announced financial support of ₹1,250 crore under the Namo Laxmi Scheme for the 2025–26 academic year. The scheme is aimed at empowering girl students by providing direct financial assistance to encourage school enrollment and retention. It seeks to reduce dropout rates, promote higher education, and strengthen the state’s commitment to women’s education and empowerment.
- On 28 January 2026, researchers at ARCI, Hyderabad announced the development of a 3.4-volt high-voltage supercapacitor. It delivers higher energy density, longer life, and simpler design compared to conventional supercapacitors. The device will enhance electric vehicle acceleration and range, while supporting renewable energy storage systems.
- On 27 January 2026, Adani Defence & Aerospace signed an MoU with Brazil’s Embraer in New Delhi. The partnership will set up a regional aircraft manufacturing ecosystem in India with final assembly lines. It supports Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the UDAN scheme, boosting domestic aviation capacity.
- On 28 January 2026, the Ministry of Ayush facilitated an MoU between AYUSHEXCIL and Zepto Limited in New Delhi. The aim is to provide structured digital access to Ayush medicines and wellness products, ensuring quality compliance and consumer trust. Highlights include a dedicated Ayush storefront on Zepto, strict quality standards, and support for MSMEs to expand their reach.
- On 27 January 2026, GAIL (India) Ltd signed an MoU with Japan’s K LINE and India’s J M Baxi Group at India Energy Week in Goa. The partnership involves acquiring equity in a Singapore-based LNG ship-owning company. An LNG carrier is being built at Samsung Heavy Industries, Korea, and will be deployed under long-term charter with GAIL from 2027.
- Microsoft unveiled its second-generation in-house AI chip, the Maia 200, on 26 January 2026. Built on TSMC’s 3nm process, it delivers breakthrough inference performance with FP8/FP4 tensor cores, 216GB HBM3e memory, and 30% better performance-per-dollar compared to current hardware, positioning it ahead of Amazon’s Trainium and Google’s TPU.
- In January 2026, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) set up the Strategic Asset Allocation and Risk Governance (SAARG) Committee. It is headed by Narayan Ramachandran, former CEO of Morgan Stanley India, with a 9-member expert panel. The committee will review and modernize the National Pension System (NPS) investment framework, benchmarking it against global pension practices.
- On 28 January 2026, the nation celebrated the 161st birth anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai, fondly remembered as the Punjab Kesari (Lion of Punjab).Events were organised across India to honour his role as a freedom fighter, social reformer, and nationalist leader, who was part of the famous Lal-Bal-Pal trio.
- On 26 January 2026, the world celebrated the International Day of Clean Energy to highlight the urgent need for a fair and sustainable energy transition. The 2026 theme, "Clean Energy for People and Planet," emphasizes a transition that is both just and inclusive. It calls for tripling global renewable capacity by 2030 to bridge the energy gap for 666 million people currently without power.
- Former Indian men’s hockey coach Michael Nobbs passed away on 29 January 2026 at the age of 72. An Australian international, he represented his country in 76 matches (1979–1985) as a defender. He coached India during the 2012 London Olympics, focusing on fitness and professionalism.
Questions:
Q.1 Under the Namo Laxmi Scheme announced by the Gujarat government on 27 January 2026, what is the announced financial support amount for the 2025–26 academic year?a) ₹1,000 crore
b) ₹1,250 crore
c) ₹1,500 crore
d) ₹2,000 crore
Answer: b) The Gujarat government announced ₹1,250 crore under the Namo Laxmi Scheme specifically for the 2025–26 academic year to provide direct financial assistance to girl students for enrollment, retention, and higher education.
Q.2 The MoU signed by Adani Defence & Aerospace on 27 January 2026 was with which foreign company to establish a regional aircraft manufacturing ecosystem in India?
a) Boeing
b) Airbus
c) Lockheed Martin
d) Embraer
Answer: d) Adani Defence & Aerospace signed the MoU with Brazil’s Embraer in New Delhi to set up final assembly lines, supporting Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the UDAN regional connectivity scheme.
