Which community is mainly responsible for creating Meghalaya’s living root bridges?

29th January, 2026 Current Affairs (Daily GK Update) |

Current affairs of 29th January, 2026 highlights a strong push toward inclusive governance, sustainability, and economic resilience. Key initiatives include Sampoornata Abhiyan 2.0 to saturate essential services in backward regions, a new Aadhaar App for frictionless digital governance, and the Solid Waste Management Rules 2026 promoting circular economy practices. States are advancing agriculture, gig worker welfare, knowledge infrastructure, and cultural heritage. Economic indicators show industrial recovery, while science, judiciary, and strategic mineral policies reflect India’s long-term focus on self-reliance, equity, and innovation.

National News

What Does Sampoornata Abhiyan 2.0 Aim to Achieve in Just 90 Days?

NITI Aayog has launched Sampoornata Abhiyan 2.0 from January 28, 2026, a three-month nationwide campaign aimed at achieving full saturation of essential government services in India’s most underdeveloped districts and blocks.
Running till April 14, 2026, the mission focuses on health, nutrition, sanitation, education and animal vaccination by closing last-mile delivery gaps.
It targets specific performance indicators for Aspirational Districts and Blocks, with monthly progress reviews, data-based monitoring, and community participation.

What Is India’s New Aadhaar App and How Will It Enable Frictionless Governance

India has strengthened its digital governance ecosystem with the launch of a new Aadhaar App on the occasion of UIDAI Day in New Delhi.
The app allows citizens to update mobile numbers and addresses online, manage multiple family Aadhaar profiles, and share Aadhaar details securely with consent, reducing the need for physical visits.
Designed with privacy-by-design principles, it enhances security, prevents misuse, and gives users greater control over their data.
Highlighting Aadhaar’s global significance, the government noted that the system now covers over 143 crore residents and is widely seen as a model for inclusive, large-scale, and privacy-focused digital identity infrastructure.

What Changes from April 1 Under India’s Solid Waste Management Rules 2026?

India has modernized its urban waste governance with the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules 2026, effective 1 April 2026.
The rules mandate four-stream waste segregation at source biodegradable, recyclable, domestic hazardous, and sanitary/inert waste and introduce polluter pays penalties to ensure accountability.
They promote circular economy principles and extended producer responsibility (EPR), making producers responsible for product lifecycles, especially packaging.

Why Madhya Pradesh Has Declared 2026 as the Year of Agriculture?

Madhya Pradesh has declared 2026 as the ‘Year of Agriculture’ to accelerate rural transformation and strengthen farming, animal husbandry, and allied sectors.
Announced by Governor Mangu Bhai Patel at the State-level Republic Day Function, the move reflects a sharp rise in agriculture spending from ₹600 crore in 2002–03 to over ₹27,000 crore in 2024–25 and a comprehensive development strategy focused on technology, natural farming, market reforms, and exports.

What Did the Supreme Court Decide About the UGC Equity Regulations 2026?

The Supreme Court of India has put the UGC Equity Regulations 2026 on hold. The 2012 UGC anti-discrimination rules will continue to apply.
The court cited vague provisions and potential societal impact in the new regulations.
Concerns include possible misuse and unfair targeting. The next hearing is scheduled for 19 March 2026.

Why Has India Declared Coking Coal a Critical and Strategic Mineral?

In January 2026, the Government of India notified coking coal as a Critical and Strategic Mineral under the MMDR Act, 1957, aligning with the goals of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047.
Coking coal is essential for steel production, yet despite reserves of about 37.37 billion tonnes, India meets nearly 95% of its requirement through imports, causing heavy foreign exchange outflow.
The notification, issued under Section 11C based on recommendations from NITI Aayog and a High-Level Committee, gives the Centre greater regulatory and auction powers.

State News

What Does Aadhaar Integration with PATHIK Mean for Law Enforcement?

Ahmedabad City Crime Branch has become the first police force in India to integrate Aadhaar verification with its PATHIK guest monitoring system, setting a national benchmark for smart policing.
Launched in 2017 and now used by over 9,000 hotels across Gujarat, PATHIK enables instant, consent-based guest verification through QR codes without storing Aadhaar numbers, ensuring privacy.
The system has helped trace over 50 missing persons and identify illegal immigrants, and its selection among just 11 national tech showcases highlights its role as a secure, paperless, and transparent model for modern law enforcement.

Why Has the Centre Suddenly Set Up a Special Panel for Tamil Nadu Farmers?

The Union government has constituted a high-level committee to strengthen Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) in Tamil Nadu following feedback from farmers during the Union Agriculture Minister’s recent visit to the state.
The panel will examine on-ground challenges such as weak governance, limited market access, lack of technical support, and low value addition.
It will review management structures, financial sustainability, business operations, and marketing linkages, and recommend practical, crop- and region-specific solutions.
The initiative aims to make FPOs more profitable, sustainable, and capable of effectively supporting small and marginal farmers in Tamil Nadu.

Can Karnataka’s New Board Redefine Gig Worker Protection in India?

Karnataka has operationalised gig worker social security by notifying the Karnataka Platform-Based Gig Workers Welfare Development Board under the 2025 Act.
The statutory board headed by the Labour Minister with senior officials, worker representatives, and platform aggregators will register gig workers, assign unique IDs, manage a welfare fund, and deliver benefits.
Aggregators must register workers within 45 days, and a modest 1–1.5% welfare fee (reviewable up to 5%) will finance schemes.
The move institutionalises protections for app-based workers and positions Karnataka as an early model for gig-economy labour reforms.

What Is Meghalaya’s First State-Led Spice Festival in Mumbai All About?

Meghalaya is hosting its first Meghalaya Spice Festival in Mumbai from January 30–February 1, 2026, to promote its premium spices and connect farmers, FPOs, and MSMEs directly with national and export buyers.
The festival will showcase products like GI-tagged Lakadong turmeric, ginger, black pepper, and indigenous spice blends, emphasizing quality, organic cultivation, and value addition.
By using Mumbai as a trade hub, the state aims to reduce middlemen, improve price discovery, and create sustainable livelihoods while expanding Meghalaya’s spice market nationally and internationally.

Why Are Meghalaya’s Living Root Bridges Nominated To UNESCO Heritage List?

India has nominated Meghalaya’s living root bridges for UNESCO’s 2026–27 World Heritage cycle, highlighting a centuries-old sustainable practice developed by the indigenous Khasi and Jaintia communities.
These bridges are formed by training the aerial roots of rubber fig trees across streams, which naturally strengthen over time and remain alive, unlike conventional bridges.
Located mainly in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills, including the famous double-decker bridge at Nongriat, they are vital for connectivity in a high-rainfall region.

Why Is Tamil Nadu Building a Knowledge City?

The Tamil Nadu government has launched the ambitious Tamil Nadu Knowledge City with Chief Minister M.K. Stalin laying its foundation stone, aiming to transform the State into a global hub for education, research, and innovation.
Spread across 870 acres in Tiruvallur district near Chennai, the integrated campus will bring together universities, research centres, incubation hubs, industry, and residential facilities within a single ecosystem.
Designed to promote collaboration between academia, startups, and industry, the project seeks to boost skill development, cutting-edge research, and entrepreneurship.

Banking News

Why Didn’t the US Cut Rates Again? Fed Holds Steady as Economy Shows Strength

The US Federal Reserve has paused further interest rate cuts at its January 2026 meeting.
Economic growth is now described as solid. Job gains are modest but stable.
Core inflation is around 3%, above the 2% target. Future rate decisions will depend on incoming data.
The move has global implications for capital flows and borrowing costs.

Economy News

What Drove India’s Industrial Production to a Two-Year High in December 2025?

India’s industrial production rose to a two-year high of 7.8% in December 2025, driven by strong performance across manufacturing, mining, and electricity.
Manufacturing led with 8.1% growth, supported by higher output in automobiles, electronics, and transport equipment, while mining expanded 6.8% amid steady infrastructure demand.
Electricity generation rebounded to 6.3%, signalling higher industrial activity.
The broad-based recovery marks improved demand conditions and a more sustained revival in the real economy after months of uneven growth.

Awards News

Which States Ruled Republic Day 2026 Tableaux? The Winners Might Surprise You

At the Republic Day Parade 2026 awards, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, and Kerala emerged as the top three winners in the States and Union Territories tableaux category.
Maharashtra secured first place for its tableau on Ganeshotsav, followed by Jammu and Kashmir’s depiction of handicrafts and folk dances, and Kerala’s showcase on Water Metro and 100% digital literacy.
In the marching contingent category, the Indian Navy was adjudged the best among the three Services, while Delhi Police topped the CAPFs and auxiliary forces.
Under the Popular Choice awards based on a MyGov poll, the Assam Regiment and CRPF won the top marching honours, while Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan ranked first, second and third respectively in the tableaux category.

Science & Technology News

What Is AlphaGenome and How Can It Predict DNA Mutations?

AlphaGenome is a new AI model developed by Google DeepMind that can analyse extremely long DNA sequences—up to one million base pairs at once—to predict how genetic mutations affect biological functions.
Unlike earlier tools focused mainly on protein-coding genes, AlphaGenome also interprets non-coding regions, giving a fuller picture of how DNA regulates health and disease.
A major breakthrough of the model is its ability to support the design of synthetic or “designer” DNA, enabling scientists to create precise genetic switches that can activate or deactivate genes in specific tissues, potentially making future gene therapies safer and more targeted.

Important Days News

Why Do Newspapers Still Matter? Indian Newspaper Day 2026 and the Power of Print

Indian Newspaper Day 2026, observed on 29 January, celebrates the legacy of print journalism in India, marking the anniversary of Hicky’s Bengal Gazette (1780), the country’s first newspaper.
The day honours journalists who uphold truth, ethics, and accountability while informing citizens.
Despite the rise of digital media, newspapers remain crucial for in-depth, verified reporting, acting as watchdogs of democracy and historical record-keepers.