National News
Female LFPR and WPR Hit Yearly Highs, UE Rate Remains Stable in December 2025
- Female labour force participation increased in December 2025. It reached the highest level of the year.
- Female workforce participation also improved. Overall LFPR rose to 56.1%.
- WPR increased to 53.4%. Rural areas led the gains. Unemployment stayed broadly stable at 4.8%.
- Urban female unemployment declined. The data reflects gradual labour market improvement. It supports inclusive growth.
GeM’s Womaniya Initiative Completes 7 Years Empowering Women
- GeM completed seven years of the Womaniya Initiative. It supports women-led MSEs in public procurement.
- Over two lakh enterprises are registered. Orders worth more than ₹80,000 crore were secured.
- The initiative exceeded procurement targets. Digital access removed intermediaries. Institutional support strengthened women entrepreneurship.
- A new MoU expanded capacity building. The initiative aligns with national economic priorities. It promotes inclusive and sustainable growth.
India Post Delivers First ONDC Order, Enters Digital Logistics Era
- India Post delivered its first ONDC order. The booking was done on January 13. Delivery was completed on January 15.
- The Department acted as a logistics provider. UdyamWell placed the first order.
- Click and Book model was used. MSMEs will benefit. Digital logistics is strengthened. Rural sellers gain access. National reach supports e-commerce.
Bharat Electricity Summit 2026: India to Host Global Power Sector Meet in March
- Bharat Electricity Summit 2026 was announced. The event will be held in March. Yashobhoomi is the venue.
- The power sector is the focus. Global stakeholders will attend.
- Clean energy and sustainability will be discussed. Buyer seller meet will be organised.
- Investment opportunities will be created. India’s energy abundance vision was highlighted. Global cooperation will be strengthened.
A Decade of Startup India: How Innovation Redefined India’s Entrepreneurial Journey
- Startup India completed ten years. The movement began in 2016. PM Modi marked National Startup Day. Youth innovation was praised. Reforms supported startups.
- Over two lakh startups were recognised. Jobs and growth were created. Self-reliance was strengthened. Global startup standing improved. Mentors and investors played key roles.
State News
Kerala Surges Ahead in Personal EV Adoption
- Kerala led personal EV adoption in 2025. Four-wheeler EV share was highest. Middle-class households installed chargers.
- EV policy started in 2019. Overall EV adoption matched Karnataka. EV penetration was second after Delhi.
- Two-wheelers boosted acceptance. Charging infrastructure expanded. Bigger states were overtaken. Electric mobility gained momentum.
Andhra Pradesh to Host World’s Largest Green Ammonia Project at Kakinada
- Andhra Pradesh will host the world’s largest green ammonia project at Kakinada. AM Green will invest $10 billion.
- The project targets 1.5 MTPA capacity by 2030. It will use large-scale renewable energy.
- India’s first green ammonia exports are planned. Jobs and clean energy investment will rise. The project supports the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
International News
Yemen PM Resigns, Foreign Minister Appointed as New Prime Minister
- Yemen’s prime minister Salem bin Breik resigned in January 2026. The Presidential Leadership Council accepted his resignation.
- Foreign Minister Shaya Mohsen Zindani was appointed as the new PM.
- The change comes amid tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. UAE-backed separatists had advanced in southern Yemen.
- Saudi-backed forces later regained control. The civil war continues to affect stability.
- The leadership shift reflects ongoing regional and internal challenges.
US Freezes Immigrant Visa Processing for 75 Countries Under Trump Administration
- The US froze immigrant visas. Seventy-five countries were affected. The policy starts January 21. Permanent visas are suspended.
- Tourist visas are excluded. Welfare concerns were cited. No end date was given.
- Family migration will suffer. Nationality-based restriction was imposed. Global criticism has emerged.
Pentagon Pizza Index: Why a Food Meme Is Trending Amid US–Iran Tensions
- Pentagon Pizza Index is trending. US–Iran tensions increased. Social media tracked pizza orders.
- The theory links food to crises. Experts reject its accuracy. Military planning is long-term.
- Many factors affect food orders. The index reflects anxiety. It is not a real indicator. Online speculation continues.
Agreements News
Madhya Pradesh Signs MoU with Digital India BHASHINI to Boost Multilingual AI Governance
- Madhya Pradesh signed an MoU with the Digital India BHASHINI Division. The agreement aims to integrate multilingual AI tools into state platforms.
- It was signed at the AI Impact Conference 2026 in Bhopal.
- The partnership supports voice-first governance. It improves accessibility and inclusion. Indian languages will power digital services.
- The move aligns with Digital India and AI missions. It strengthens last-mile service delivery. It promotes inclusive and citizen-centric governance.
Appointments News
MS Dhoni Appointed Goodwill Ambassador for Pune Grand Tour 2026
- MS Dhoni was named Goodwill Ambassador for Pune Grand Tour 2026.
- The race will be held from January 19 to 23. It is India’s first UCI 2.2 cycling event. The race spans 437 kilometres.
- Teams from 35 countries will participate. Indian cyclists will gain global exposure. The event promotes cycling and tourism.
- It strengthens India’s presence in international sports.
Awards News
Biologist Toby Kiers Wins Tyler Prize for Uncovering the Hidden Power of Fungal Networks
- Toby Kiers won the Tyler Prize. She studied underground fungi. Mycorrhizal networks connect plant roots. Carbon is stored in soils.
- Climate regulation is supported. Fungi exchange nutrients.
- They act strategically. A global atlas was created. Biodiversity gaps were revealed. Conservation of underground life was promoted.
Sports News
Mitchell Starc Wins ICC Men’s Player of the Month for December 2025
- Mitchell Starc won the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for December 2025. He starred in the Ashes series. Australia won the series 4–1. Starc took 31 wickets overall.
- He delivered a 10-wicket haul at Perth. He also scored key half-centuries. His all-round display earned Player of the Series honours. The award ends a two-year wait for Australia.
Laura Wolvaardt Named ICC Women’s Player of the Month for December 2025
- Laura Wolvaardt won the ICC award. December performances were outstanding. Three centuries were scored. T20I and ODI formats were covered. Ireland was the opponent.
- South Africa won the series. This was her second award. Shafali Verma was beaten. Sune Luus was also nominated. Momentum continues ahead of 2026.
Important Days News
National Startup Day 2026: A Decade of Startup India and India’s Innovation-Led Growth
- National Startup Day 2026 marks ten years of Startup India. India has over two lakh startups.
- Nearly half are from Tier II and III cities. Women-led startups have grown strongly. DPIIT-led schemes support funding and mentoring.
- Innovation spans technology, agriculture, and services. Startups generate jobs and inclusion. They support Viksit Bharat 2047.
CSIR-NIScPR Celebrates Fifth Foundation Day, Strengthens Science Communication and Policy Research
- CSIR-NIScPR marked its fifth Foundation Day in January 2026. The institute highlighted science communication and policy research.
- AI-based regional outreach was emphasised. TKDL’s global role was showcased.
- ANRF encouraged global collaboration. SVASTIK portal was launched. The event reaffirmed India’s science–policy integration goals.
Daily Current Affairs Quiz 16th January,...
Daily Current Affairs Quiz 15th January,...
15th January, 2026 Current Affairs (Dail...
