23rd January, 2026 Current Affairs (Daily GK Update)

Tata Group announced a $11 billion investment to develop an AI Innovation City near the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport.

The project will focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI), data centres, and semiconductor-related services.

The Innovation City is expected to become a global hub for next-generation technology and digital services.

Its strategic location near the airport will boost global connectivity, attracting multinational companies and investors.

Maharashtra government leaders said the project gained attention at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Davos.

Parakram Diwas 2026 is observed on 23 January 2026 to mark the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

The day is celebrated as the “Day of Courage”, highlighting Netaji’s leadership and patriotism.

Netaji was born on 23 January 1897 in Cuttack, Odisha, and led the Indian National Army (INA).

The Government of India officially declared Parakram Diwas on 19 January 2021 during Netaji’s 125th birth anniversary.

Schools and institutions conduct patriotic programmes, speeches, debates, and cultural events.

Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan released the book “Chalice of Ambrosia: Ram Janmabhoomi – Challenge and Response” in New Delhi.

The book is authored by Surendra Kumar Pachauri, former Secretary to the Government of India.

The Vice President said the book presents the Ram Janmabhoomi journey in a balanced and scholarly manner.

He highlighted the Supreme Court verdict (2019) as a turning point restoring national self-respect.

The event saw the presence of eminent personalities like Nripendra Mishra, Vinod Rai, Amit Khare, Deepak Gupta.

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) signed an MoU with the World Economic Forum (WEF).

The partnership will launch the India Skills Accelerator to strengthen India’s skilling ecosystem.

It focuses on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) with industry-linked outcomes.

Priority sectors include AI, robotics, green energy, cybersecurity and advanced manufacturing.

The initiative aligns with NEP 2020 and Vision India@2047 for future-ready workforce.

Government notified Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity (GEI) targets for more sectors under Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS).

The new notification brings 208 additional obligated entities, raising total to 490 entities under compliance.

GEI targets focus on reducing emissions per unit of output, not absolute caps.

The notification was issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

Entities meeting targets earn carbon credits, while others must purchase credits for compliance.

Rajasthan is developing a new Biological Park in Alwar near Kati Ghati and Jaisamand on nearly 100 hectares.

The park will house 400+ wild animals across 81 species, including lions, cheetahs and tigers.

It will offer lion safari, tiger safari and herbivore safari at one location, a first in NCR region.

The project includes a modern wildlife rescue centre modeled on Gir National Park facilities.

A high-tech veterinary hospital and a butterfly park will also be developed.

India delivered 7.5 tonnes of life-saving cancer medicines to Kabul, Afghanistan.

The aid was sent under India’s humanitarian outreach, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Afghanistan faces major shortages in oncology medicines due to limited healthcare infrastructure.

The initiative strengthens people-first diplomacy and India’s support for Afghan civilians.

India has earlier supported Afghanistan with food grains, vaccines, medicines, and medical equipment.

The Central Government approved wage and pension revision for Public Sector General Insurance Companies (PSGICs), NABARD and RBI.

PSGIC wage revision is effective from 1 August 2022 with 12.41% wage bill hike and 14% basic pay + DA increase.

Government contribution to National Pension System (NPS) increased from 10% to 14% for employees joining after 1 April 2010.

RBI pension and family pension increased by 10%, effective from 1 November 2022.

Total financial implication includes ₹8,170.30 crore for PSGICs and ₹2,696.82 crore for RBI pension revision.

Tata Communications appointed Ganesh Lakshminarayanan as Managing Director and CEO-designate.

He will take charge after regulatory approvals; outgoing CEO A S Lakshminarayanan retires on 13 April.

The company posted ₹365 crore net profit in Q3 FY26, up 54.3% year-on-year.

Revenue rose to ₹6,188.97 crore, a 6.7% annual growth.

The firm booked an exceptional cost of ₹60.98 crore due to new Labour Codes impact on gratuity.

The National School of Drama (NSD) will host Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM) 2026 from 27 January to 20 February 2026.

BRM 2026 will cover 40 locations across India, including remote regions like Ladakh and Andaman & Nicobar.

It will feature 277 Indian productions and 12 international productions, representing all 7 continents.

Plays will be staged in 228 languages, including Bhojpuri, Maithili, Tulu, Sanskrit and Nyishi.

Special festivals include Adirang Mahotsav, Jashne Bachpan, and Poorvottar Natya Samaroh.

India-born Singapore environmentalist Kirtida Mekani died on 19 January at age 66 due to a heart attack.

She became the first executive director of the Singapore Environment Council in 1993.

She led the Plant-A-Tree Programme (2007) which helped plant 76,000+ trees with citizen participation.

She supported the Community in Bloom movement, growing thousands of community gardens.

She won the President’s Award for the Environment (2015) and entered the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame (2024).

Odisha Health Department banned manufacture, sale, storage, transport and distribution of gutkha, pan masala, tobacco and nicotine products.

The ban applies to both packaged and unpackaged products, including separately sold mixing items.

The notification ensures compliance with the Supreme Court’s nationwide directive on gutkha prohibition.

Odisha had earlier restricted tobacco sale in 2013, but the new rule removes loopholes.

From 1 February 2026, tobacco and pan masala will face higher taxes including 40% GST on pan masala.

Tamil Nadu launched Semmozhi Illakiya Virudhu, a new annual state-backed literary award.

It will recognise books in 7 Indian languages: Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Bengali, Marathi.

Each selected language winner will receive ₹5 lakh, making it one of India’s top state literary prizes.

Separate expert committees will select winners to ensure transparency and independence.

The initiative gained attention amid concerns over autonomy of national literary awards.

The 2nd Banaras Lit Fest Book Awards 2026 winners were announced for English, Hindi and Indian languages.

Namita Gokhale received the Bhartendu Harishchandra Lifetime Achievement Award.

English winners include Shinie Antony (Fiction) and Peggy Mohan (Non-Fiction).

Hindi winners include Mamta Kalia (Fiction) and Udayan Vajpeyi (Poetry).

Awards will be presented during Banaras Literature Festival from 30 January to 1 February 2026 in Varanasi.

Lucknow inaugurated its third fresh waste processing plant at Shivari, becoming UP’s first zero fresh dump city.

The Shivari plant can process 700 metric tonnes/day, taking total capacity to 2,100 MT/day.

Lucknow generates around 2,000 MT waste daily, now fully processed scientifically.

Waste is segregated: 55% organic (converted into compost/biogas) and 45% inorganic (recycling/RDF).

A 15 MW Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plant is planned at Shivari to use RDF for power generation.