ASC ARJUN has been developed by which organization?

28th January, 2026 Current Affairs (Daily GK Update) |

National News

CCRAS and Central Sanskrit University Collaborate to Preserve Rare Ayurvedic Manuscript

India has taken a significant step to preserve its ancient medical heritage through a specialised Ayurvedic manuscript workshop in Kerala.
Organised jointly by the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) and Central Sanskrit University (CSU) from January 12–25, the 15-day residential programme focused on transliteration and research-based study of rare palm-leaf manuscripts.
Thirty-three scholars, including Ayurveda and Sanskrit experts, received hands-on training in manuscriptology, palaeography, and Ayurvedic terminology, with special focus on Grantha, Medieval Malayalam, and Vattezhuthu scripts.

Indian Railways Deploys Humanoid Robot ‘ASC ARJUN’ for Station Security

Indian Railways has marked a major technological milestone with the deployment of its first humanoid robot, ASC ARJUN, at Visakhapatnam Railway Station on January 27, 2026.
Developed indigenously by the Railway Protection Force (RPF), the robot is designed to enhance station security, surveillance, and passenger services as part of India’s push towards smart, AI-driven railway infrastructure.
Equipped with facial recognition, AI-based crowd monitoring, real-time connectivity with RPF control rooms, and multilingual announcement capabilities, ASC ARJUN supports proactive threat detection and passenger assistance.

Why Is India Counting Incomes Now? NSO Gears Up for First-Ever National Income Surveys

India is set to launch two landmark statistical exercises as the National Statistics Office prepares for the first-ever National Household Income Survey (NHIS) and the Annual Survey of Incorporated Service Sector Enterprises (ASISSE), with fieldwork beginning in April 2026.
Supported by nationwide training through the All-India Workshop of Trainers in Chennai, the surveys will generate comprehensive data on household income distribution and the corporate services sector.

State News

Gujarat to Support Girls’ Education with ₹1,250 Crore under Namo Laxmi Scheme

Gujarat is set to provide ₹1,250 crore under the Namo Laxmi Scheme in 2025–26, benefiting over 12 lakh girls studying in Classes 9-12.
The initiative aims to prevent dropouts, improve nutrition, and promote secondary and higher secondary education.
Under the scheme, each girl receives ₹50,000 over four years ₹20,000 for Classes 9–10 and ₹30,000 for Classes 11–12 combining monthly support with completion-based payouts.
Eligible students must be enrolled in government or recognised schools, have completed Classes 1–8 in eligible institutions, and come from families earning up to ₹6 lakh annually.

Kerala Officially Adopts Bacillus subtilis as Its State Microbe

Kerala has made history by officially declaring Bacillus subtilis as its State Microbe, becoming the first Indian state to accord such recognition to a microorganism.
Announced by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram, the move highlights the crucial role of microbes in human health, agriculture, and environmental sustainability.
Bacillus subtilis is a beneficial probiotic bacterium known for improving gut health, boosting immunity, enhancing soil fertility, and controlling plant diseases.
The declaration coincided with the launch of the Centre of Excellence in Microbiome (CoEM), which will advance microbiome research across health, nutrition, agriculture, and environmental sectors.

Is India’s Only Meteor Lake Slowly Dying? Rising Waters Threaten Lonar Lake and Ancient Temples

Lonar Lake in Maharashtra, the world’s only basaltic meteor crater lake, is facing an environmental crisis as rising freshwater inflow has increased water levels, submerged ancient temples, and reduced its highly alkaline nature.
Experts warn that unchecked groundwater intrusion from borewells could permanently damage the lake’s unique ecosystem and cultural heritage.

Uttarakhand Implements Uniform Civil Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026

Uttarakhand has strengthened its Uniform Civil Code by implementing the UCC (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, approved by the Governor to improve clarity, efficiency and enforcement.
Introduced under Article 213, the amendments streamline procedures, align penal provisions with new criminal laws, and enhance digital governance, especially in marriage registration.
Since the UCC’s rollout on 27 January 2025, over five lakh marriages have been registered online, reflecting the reform’s focus on transparency, equality, women’s empowerment and citizen-friendly administration.

International News

Key Outcomes of India–EU Leaders’ Visit 2026: Trade, Security and Green Growth

India–European Union relations reached a new milestone in 2026 with a high-level visit by EU leaders Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen.
The discussions strengthened the India-EU Strategic Partnership, covering trade, security, clean energy, technology, and people-to-people ties.
A key highlight was the announcement of the India–EU Free Trade Agreement to boost bilateral trade and investment, along with an MoU between the RBI and ESMA to enhance financial cooperation.
In defense and security, both sides launched a Security and Defense Partnership and agreed to negotiate a Security of Information Agreement for exchanging classified information.

India–EU Sign First-Ever Comprehensive Defence and Security Partnership

India and the European Union marked a historic milestone on January 27, 2026, by signing their first comprehensive Security and Defence Partnership alongside concluding the long-pending Free Trade Agreement.
The pact establishes a formal framework covering maritime security, defence industry and technology, cyber threats, counter-terrorism, and space security, reflecting growing mutual trust amid global uncertainties.
Both sides also launched negotiations on a Security of Information Agreement to enable secure exchange of classified data.

Banking News

RBI Introduces Draft Framework to Support Borrowers Hit by Natural Calamities

The Reserve Bank of India has issued draft guidelines on January 27, 2026, proposing a structured disaster relief framework for banks to support borrowers affected by natural calamities such as floods and landslides.
Applicable from April 1, the framework encourages banks to proactively factor climate risks into credit policies and design principle-based resolution plans instead of relying on ad hoc relief measures.
Relief options include rescheduling repayments, temporary moratoriums, converting interest into separate credit facilities, and providing additional finance, subject to the lender’s assessment.

How Will RBI’s ₹1 Lakh Crore OMO Purchases Ease Liquidity Stress?

The Reserve Bank of India has advanced its Open Market Operation (OMO) purchase schedule to inject ₹1 lakh crore into the banking system by buying government securities, responding to tightening liquidity and rising bond yields.
Banking system liquidity surplus fell sharply to ₹56,987 crore on January 26, well below the comfortable range of ₹1.5–2 lakh crore, while the 10-year benchmark G-Sec yield rose to an 11-month high of 6.72%.
The RBI will now conduct two OMO purchase tranches of ₹50,000 crore each on January 29 and February 5, 2026, instead of the earlier February schedule.

Business News

Juspay Becomes India’s First Unicorn of 2026 After $50 Million Fundraise

India’s fintech ecosystem began 2026 on a high with Juspay emerging as the first unicorn of the year after raising $50 million in a Series D follow-on round, taking its valuation to $1.2 billion.
The Bengaluru-based payments infrastructure firm received funding from WestBridge Capital through a mix of primary and secondary capital, giving liquidity to early investors and ESOP holders.
The fresh funds will be used to scale global operations and strengthen enterprise-grade payment technology across markets in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Europe, the UK, and the Americas.

Science & Technology News

IIT Guwahati Creates Technique to Track Glacier Hazards in Eastern Himalayas

Researchers at IIT Guwahati have developed a new method to predict glacial hazards in the Eastern Himalayas, identifying 492 potential sites for future glacial lake formation.
The study, published in Scientific Reports, focuses on mitigating risks of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), which can destroy villages, infrastructure, and farmland.
Using high-resolution satellite images and digital elevation models, the team analysed terrain features like slope, cirques, and neighbouring lakes, improving prediction accuracy compared to earlier models.

Scientists Discover Rare Mushroom in Uttarakhand’s Oak Forests

Scientists have discovered a new mushroom species, Hemileccinum indicum, in the high-altitude oak forests of Uttarakhand, marking the first recorded presence of the genus Hemileccinum in India.
Found in the Dhakuri region of Bageshwar district at over 2,600 metres during macrofungal surveys in 2022–23, the species was identified by researchers from the Botanical Survey of India, the University of Torino, and St. Xavier’s College.
Advanced DNA-based phylogenetic analysis confirmed its distinct genetic identity despite similarities with species from North America and China.

Important Days News

International Data Privacy Day 2026: India’s Drive to Safeguard Personal Data

International Data Privacy Day is observed on 28 January. It highlights the need to protect personal data.
India is the third-largest digitalised economy. Digital platforms operate at population scale.
Risks of data misuse and cyber threats are rising. The IT Act 2000 provides the base.
The DPDP Act 2023 strengthens citizen rights. DPDP Rules 2025 operationalise protection.
₹782 crore is allocated for cybersecurity. Trust, privacy, and innovation must grow together.