Current Affairs One - Liner : 31st January 2026

National:

• GoI established a new Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) – NSHIP (National Shipbuilding & Heavy Industries Park, Tamil Nadu) on 29 January 2026. It is a 50:50 JV between VOC Port Authority (GoI) and SIPCOT (TN Govt.) at Tuticorin. The project has an outlay of ₹19,989 crore under the Shipbuilding Development Scheme. Its aim is to boost India’s shipbuilding capacity to 4.5 million GT and make Tuticorin a global maritime hub.

• On 29 January 2026, the Government of India (GoI) notified Coking Coal as a Critical and Strategic Mineral under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. The move aims to reduce India’s 95% import dependence for steelmaking and strengthen mineral security.
• Indian Railways completed a 100‑metre steel bridge in Ahmedabad on 29 January 2026 for the Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train project. It is the 13th of 17 planned bridges in Gujarat, weighing over 1,000 tonnes and assembled with 45,000+ bolts. The bridge was built safely over an underground metro tunnel, showcasing advanced engineering.
• India and Japan held the 11th Naval Staff Talks in New Delhi (29–31 January 2026) to strengthen maritime cooperation. Both sides focused on interoperability, joint operations, and technology exchange between the Indian Navy and Japan Maritime Self‑Defence Force. The discussions emphasized a shared vision for a Free and Open Indo‑Pacific, aligning with frameworks like MAHASAGAR and OCEAN.
• On 30 January 2026, Indian Railways launched India’s first LNG–diesel dual-fuel DEMU train at Sabarmati, Ahmedabad. The 1,400 HP train’s driving power cars were retrofitted to run on a mix of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and diesel, replacing about 40% of diesel use. It successfully completed 2,000 km of trials and can run 2,200 km on a single LNG tank.
• On 30 January 2026, Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated and laid foundation stones for projects worth ₹1,715 crore in Dibrugarh district, Assam. Key works included a new Legislative Assembly complex & MLA hostel (₹284 crore), a multi‑disciplinary sports complex (₹447 crore), and a Wildlife Health & Research Centre (₹292 crore).
• On 31 January, Sikhs celebrate the Prakash Purab of the seventh Guru, Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji. Born in 1630, Guru Har Rai Ji became Guru in 1644, known for compassion and humility. He promoted healthcare, herbal gardens, and selfless service (seva). The day is marked with prayers, kirtan, and langar in gurdwaras worldwide.
• PM Vishwakarma Haat 2026 was organized at Dilli Haat, INA, New Delhi from 18–31 January 2026, showcasing India’s rich artisanal heritage under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme. The official theme was “Vishwakarma Ka Abhiyaan, Viksit Bharat Ka Nirman”, with participation from over 117 artisans across all States and Union Territories, and visits from foreign missions of 18 countries.

International:

• Gulfood 2026, the world’s largest annual food and beverage trade exhibition, was held in Dubai from 26–30 January 2026 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. For the first time, India participated as the Partner Country, with 161 exhibitors from 25 states showcasing Basmati rice, GI‑tagged rice varieties, millets, spices, tea, turmeric, and processed foods.

Banking:

• On 29 January 2026, the Reserve Bank of India approved Punjab & Sind Bank to open a branch in GIFT City, Gandhinagar, Gujarat. This marks the bank’s entry into international banking through the IFSC framework, enabling services such as foreign currency lending, trade finance, and treasury operations.
• The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) approved USDU, the country’s first USD-backed stablecoin, on January 29, 2026. Issued by Universal Digital, it is the only registered "Foreign Payment Token" compliant for settling digital asset trades in the UAE. The token is backed 1:1 by U.S. Dollar reserves held securely at major local banks like Emirates NBD, Mashreq, and Mbank.
• On 29 January 2026, fintech firm Slice launched India’s first UPI-centric digital banking ecosystem. The platform integrates savings, credit, and investments into a seamless UPI-first experience. Its highlight is a repo rate-linked savings account, offering returns directly tied to RBI’s benchmark rate.
• On 21 January 2026, Chennai-based fintech firm Paysharp secured the Payment Aggregator–Physical (PA-P) licence from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This authorizes Paysharp to operate as a physical payment aggregator, enabling merchants to accept payments through offline channels like POS machines and QR codes.

Economy:

• On 29 January 2026, Kerala Finance Minister K. N. Balagopal presented the FY27 state budget, calling it a “people-focused” roadmap. The budget emphasized welfare, pensions, and infrastructure, with ₹14,500 crore allocated for social security pensions, pay hikes for ASHA and Anganwadi workers, and new transport projects.

MoUs:

• On 29 January 2026, Assam Petro-Chemicals Limited (APL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) at Dibrugarh, Assam. The project will establish a 150 Tonnes Per Day (TPD) e-Methanol plant at Kandla Port, Gujarat. With an investment of about ₹1,200 crore, the initiative aims to promote green fuel production and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Summits & Conferences:

• The 9th International Spice Conference (ISC 2026) was held from 23–26 February 2026 at Le Meridien, Kochi, Kerala, organized by the All India Spices Exporters Forum (AISEF). With the theme “Spice 360 – Getting Future Ready”, it highlights sustainability, digital transformation, and resilience in the spice value chain. Delegates from 30+ countries will discuss climate resilience, blockchain‑based traceability, crop forecasts, and global food safety regulations.

Committees:

• On 28 January 2026, the IRDAI reconstituted the Reinsurance Advisory Committee (RAC) for a three-year term. A.V. Girija Kumar, former CMD of Oriental Insurance, was appointed as Chairman. The committee also includes industry leaders like Praveen Vashishta, Roopam Asthana, and T.L. Alamelu. Its purpose is to strengthen India’s reinsurance framework and regulatory oversight.
• On January 31, 2026, India hosted the 2nd India–Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi. The meeting was co-chaired by India and the UAE, with participation from Arab League member states and its Secretary-General. Discussions focused on trade, energy, technology, healthcare, education, and culture to deepen cooperation. It was India’s first time hosting the IAFMM, the previous one being held in Bahrain in 2016.
  

Apps & Portals:

• On 29 January 2026, MoSPI launched the PAIMANA portal to monitor central infrastructure projects above ₹150 crore. It replaces the legacy OCMS, using API integration and predictive analytics for real-time tracking. The portal manages nearly 1,400 projects worth ₹29.68 lakh crore, ensuring transparency.

Important Days:

• World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day 2026 was observed on 30 January 2026 with the global theme “Unite. Act. Eliminate.”. It highlighted the urgent need for collective action to fight NTDs that still affect 1.6 billion people worldwide. India marked the day by focusing on eliminating lymphatic filariasis, kala‑azar, leprosy, and dengue, aligning with WHO’s 2030 roadmap.
• On 31 January 2026, International Zebra Day was observed worldwide as a call to protect one of Africa’s most iconic yet increasingly threatened species. The 2026 theme was “Let’s Preserve the Zebras and Other Biodiversity”, highlighting their role as pioneer grazers that maintain the balance of grassland ecosystems. Zebras face mounting threats from habitat loss, poaching, and climate change, making conservation efforts urgent.

Appointments:

• On 31 January 2026, Shri Kota Ravi was appointed as the new Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). He will assume charge in May 2026 after the retirement of current CMD D.K. Sunil. Known as the “LCA Man”, Ravi has been instrumental in operationalising the Tejas fighter jet programme.
• Nivedita Dubey has made history as the first woman ever appointed to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) Board, taking charge as Member (Human Resources) on 30 January 2026. Her appointment marks a landmark moment in Indian civil aviation, breaking a decades-long male-only leadership tradition.

Awards & Honours:

• Indian-origin scientist Veerabhadran Ramanathan won the 2026 Crafoord Prize in Geosciences on January 29, 2026. He was honored for discovering that Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and aerosols are far more potent greenhouse gases than CO₂. His 1975 research laid the foundation for global treaties like the Montreal Protocol. He will receive a gold medal and 8 million Swedish kronor (~$900,000) during Crafoord Days in May 2026.

Obituaries:

• Former India men’s hockey coach and Australian great Michael Nobbs passed away on 29 January 2026 at the age of 72. He represented Australia from 1979–1985, earning 76 international caps, and played in the 1981 Hockey World Cup (Bombay) and the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

Questions:

Q.1 Indian-origin scientist Veerabhadran Ramanathan received the Crafoord Prize in Geosciences for research related to:
a) Ocean Current Systems
b) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and Aerosol Climate Impact
c) Solar Radiation Cycles
d) Polar Ice Cap Melting

Answer: b) His work highlighted the strong greenhouse effects of CFCs and aerosols, influencing global environmental treaties.

Q.2 Nivedita Dubey became the first woman appointed to the Board of:
a) Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
b) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
c) Airports Authority of India (AAI)
d) Air India Limited

Answer: c) Nivedita Dubey has made history as the first woman ever appointed to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) Board.