Daily current affairs: 15 January 2026

Long Description : India has officially begun preparations to assume the BRICS Chairship in 2026. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar unveiled the official logo, which integrates the colors of all ten member nations (including new members like Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE) with traditional Indian motifs. The 2026 summit will be a milestone as it marks two decades since the inception of the bloc. India’s presidency theme, "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability," emphasizes a "people-centric" approach. The chairship aims to address the concerns of the Global South and strengthen the bloc's role in a multipolar world order.

Long Description : In a historic diplomatic gesture, India has invited the top leadership of the European Union—President of the European Council António Luís Santos da Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen—to be the Chief Guests for the 77th Republic Day celebrations. This marks the first time that the duo representing the EU's executive and legislative arms will attend together. The visit, scheduled for January 25–27, will also include the 16th India-EU Summit. Discussions are expected to prioritize the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), green hydrogen partnerships, and maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.

Long Description : NITI Aayog released the fourth edition of the Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2024, assessing the export readiness of Indian States and UTs. The index is built on four pillars: Policy, Business Ecosystem, Export Ecosystem, and Export Performance. The 2024 report emphasizes "districts as export hubs" and identifies a widening gap between coastal "Achiever" states and inland "Aspirer" states. It serves as a data-driven tool for states to identify bottlenecks in logistics and infrastructure. The report is crucial for the "Viksit Bharat @2047" vision, focusing on sub-national competitiveness to drive global trade integration.

Long Description : Addressing the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) at Samvidhan Sadan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that India has demonstrated how democratic processes can provide stability, speed, and scale. He highlighted that democracy in India is not just a political system but a medium for public welfare, citing the removal of 25 crore people from poverty. The conference, attended by representatives from 50+ nations, also saw Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla raise concerns regarding the "misuse of AI" and "social media" in eroding the sanctity of democratic institutions and spreading misinformation.

Long Description : The Supreme Court characterized the Right to Education (RTE) Act’s 25% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) as a "national mission" for equality. The court noted that many states have failed to move beyond "guidelines" to "binding rules," leading to poor compliance by private unaided non-minority schools. The bench directed the creation of standardized SOPs for fund reimbursement to schools, monitoring of bias against EWS students, and strict timelines for admissions. This ruling aims to enforce Article 21A more rigorously, ensuring that social inclusion starts at the primary education level across all districts.

Long Description : To strengthen the consumer protection framework, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) notified that banks must now automatically escalate any complaint that is rejected (wholly or partially) to their Internal Ombudsman before communicating the final decision to the customer. This move is designed to ensure an independent review of the bank’s decision at the internal level itself. The IO will focus on systemic deficiencies and ensure that the bank's rejection is justified under existing regulations. This policy aims to reduce the burden on the RBI's Integrated Ombudsman Scheme and increase transparency in banking services.

Long Description : Following the consecutive failures of PSLV-C61 and PSLV-C62, both reportedly due to anomalies in the third stage (PS3) solid motor, ISRO has ordered a comprehensive quality-control reform. The loss of the EOS-N1 satellite—a hyperspectral imaging asset intended for national security and "material fingerprinting"—has created a temporary gap in India's Space-Based Surveillance (SBS) capabilities. The failure is a setback for NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) in the competitive global small-satellite launch market. The technical audit will re-evaluate the manufacturing and testing protocols of the PSLV, often called ISRO's "workhorse," to restore international commercial confidence.

Long Description : Data released for the full year 2025 shows that India’s trade deficit with China has touched an unprecedented $116 billion. While Indian exports to China grew in sectors like iron ore and agricultural products, they were dwarfed by the volume of imports, particularly in telecom hardware, solar components, and chemicals. The report highlights India's continued "structural dependency" on Chinese intermediates despite "China Plus One" strategies. Economists suggest that while the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes are making an impact, the gestation period for domestic manufacturing of high-tech components remains a challenge for narrowing the trade gap.

Long Description : In a major reshuffle of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) named senior IPS officer Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor as the Director General of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). Simultaneously, Praveen Kumar was appointed to lead the Border Security Force (BSF). These appointments come at a critical time as India continues to strengthen its border infrastructure along the LAC and the International Border. Additionally, Rakesh Aggarwal has been appointed as the New Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), reflecting a broader leadership transition in national security organizations.

Long Description : The Henley Passport Index 2026 was released, showing India’s climb to the 80th position, up from its previous ranking. Singapore continues to hold the top spot with visa-free access to 192 countries. India’s improvement is attributed to new bilateral visa-waiver agreements and the expansion of the e-visa regime. While India’s mobility score has increased, it still trails behind major emerging economies. The index, based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), is a key indicator of a nation’s diplomatic reach and its "soft power" in the global arena.

Long Description : The 78th Army Day was celebrated on January 15, 2026, with the main parade held in Jaipur. This follows the government’s policy to rotate major national events across different states to increase public engagement. Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi reviewed the parade, which showcased indigenous weapon systems like the 'Prachand' Light Combat Helicopter and 'Swathi' Weapon Locating Radars. Army Day commemorates the day in 1949 when Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa took over as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from General Sir Francis Butcher.

Long Description : The Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with the Ministry of Ayush, launched 'Paripoorna Mediclaim Ayush Bima' for Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) beneficiaries. This scheme provides comprehensive coverage for inpatient treatments under Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy. It is a strategic move to integrate traditional medicine into the mainstream healthcare system. The scheme includes cashless facilities at NABH-accredited Ayush hospitals. This aligns with the government's broader objective of "Holistic Health" and reducing the out-of-pocket expenditure for chronic lifestyle diseases that are effectively managed through Ayush.

Long Description : In its latest Global Economic Prospects report, the World Bank upgraded India's GDP growth forecast for FY26 to 7.2%, up from its previous estimate of 6.6%. The bank noted that India remains the fastest-growing major economy, bolstered by robust private consumption and the government’s continued focus on capital expenditure (Capex). However, the report warned of external risks, including global supply chain disruptions and potential tariff wars under new international trade regimes. The World Bank also highlighted the need for India to further improve its labor force participation, especially among women, to sustain this growth momentum.

Long Description : At the 21st IBA Annual Banking Technology Awards, Karnataka Bank bagged the "Best Fintech & DPI Adoption" award among small banks. The bank was recognized for its successful integration of 'KBL-NxT' digital transformation initiatives, which utilize India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (like UPI, OCEN, and Account Aggregator) to provide seamless credit to MSMEs. The award highlights the shift in traditional banks toward becoming tech-led financial institutions. The IBA awards are considered a benchmark for technological excellence in the Indian banking sector, encouraging banks to enhance cybersecurity and digital customer experience.

Long Description : To address the high rate of animal-related accidents on National Highways, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has initiated a pilot project for "Real-Time Stray Cattle Safety Alerts." The system uses AI-enabled CCTV cameras and thermal sensors to detect cattle movement near the carriageway. Once detected, the system sends real-time alerts to the NHAI’s 'RajmargYatra' app and displays warnings on Variable Message Signs (VMS) along the highway. This move aims to reduce the estimated 3–5% GDP loss caused by road accidents in India and transition from reactive enforcement to predictive safety governance.

Long Description : Developed at the NDRI in Karnal, 'Karan Fries' is a crossbreed of Holstein Friesian and Tharparkar cattle. In the wake of increasing summer temperatures, this breed has shown exceptional heat tolerance compared to purebred exotic cows while maintaining a high milk yield of over 3,500 kg per lactation. The ICAR highlighted this as a crucial development for India’s "White Revolution 2.0," which focuses on sustainable dairying. The breed is being promoted to farmers in North India to ensure milk production remains stable despite climate-induced thermal stress, which typically reduces bovine productivity.