Daily current affairs: 18 January 2026

Long Description : During his visit to Assam on January 18, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed the Bhoomi Pujan for the 86-km long Kaziranga Elevated Corridor. This environmentally conscious project aims to provide uninterrupted movement for wildlife across National Highway 715, which passes through the Kaziranga National Park. The corridor will span across Nagaon, Karbi Anglong, and Golaghat districts. By elevating the highway, the government aims to significantly reduce animal fatalities caused by vehicular traffic, enhance regional connectivity to Upper Assam, and support the growing freight traffic while maintaining ecological balance.

Long Description : On January 18, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially flagged off India’s inaugural Vande Bharat Sleeper train connecting Howrah (West Bengal) with Guwahati/Kamakhya (Assam). Unlike the existing chair-car versions, the sleeper variant is designed for long-distance overnight travel, featuring superior aesthetics, enhanced fire safety, and advanced suspension for a jerk-free ride. The PM also virtually flagged off four new Amrit Bharat Express trains and two LHB-equipped services, including the Radhikapur-SMVT Bengaluru Express, to improve affordable connectivity for migrant workers, students, and traders across state borders.

Long Description : CareEdge Ratings released a report on January 18, 2026, asserting that the Indian economy remains resilient despite global uncertainties. While the current FY26 growth is pegged at 7.4%, the agency projects 7% growth for FY27. Key drivers include controlled inflation, reasonable interest rates, and a robust banking sector with low NPAs. However, the report warned of challenges like a weakening Rupee (which fell 15% against the Pound/Euro) and declining Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Sustaining momentum for the "Viksit Bharat" vision will require recalibrating strategies to attract long-term investment.

Long Description : In a historic move for the judiciary in Northeast India, Justice Revati Mohite Dere took the oath of office as the Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court on January 17-18, 2026. The oath was administered by Governor Chandrashekhar H. Vijayashankar at Raj Bhavan, Shillong. Justice Dere succeeds Justice Soumen Sen, who was transferred to the Kerala High Court. Prior to this elevation, she served as a senior judge at the Bombay High Court. This appointment is significant as she becomes the first woman to lead the high court in the state.

Long Description : During a visit to the Atal Centre for Ocean Science and Technology for Islands (ACOSTI) in Port Blair on January 17-18, 2026, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized that untapped marine resources will drive India’s future economic growth. The government plans to leverage deep-sea exploration, sustainable fisheries, and marine biotechnology to create jobs and enhance GDP. The Minister launched several marine technology initiatives aimed at monitoring ocean health and sustainable resource extraction. This aligns with the "Deep Ocean Mission" and the national goal of achieving a $5 trillion economy through sustainable maritime activities.

Long Description : India is ready to showcase its economic prowess at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, beginning January 19, 2026. The delegation includes Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Pralhad Joshi, and K Rammohan Naidu, along with six Chief Ministers. Top corporate leaders like Mukesh Ambani and N Chandrasekaran will join discussions on India's potential to become the world’s third-largest economy. The summit, themed around dialogue in a fragmented world, will see India pitching itself as a stable investment destination amid global supply chain shifts and trade volatility.

Long Description : On the evening of January 17, 2026, the CAQM implemented GRAP-IV measures across the National Capital Region (NCR) after the Air Quality Index (AQI) crossed the 440 mark. These "Severe+" emergency measures include a total ban on the entry of heavy trucks into Delhi (excluding essential services), a halt on all construction and demolition activities for public projects (highways, flyovers), and a recommendation for 50% work-from-home for offices. The IMD also issued a yellow alert for dense fog, which has exacerbated pollution levels by trapping particulate matter near the ground.

Long Description : The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) imposed a ₹22.2 crore penalty on IndiGo on January 17-18, 2026. The action follows a probe into large-scale flight cancellations and delays in December 2025. The regulator found that the airline had systemic failures in managing crew rosters, leading to pilots and cabin crew exceeding duty time limitations (FDTL). This "overstretching" was cited as a critical safety risk and the primary reason for the operational meltdown. This is one of the highest fines ever imposed on a domestic carrier for operational mismanagement.

Long Description : NITI Aayog released the 4th edition of the Export Preparedness Index (EPI) on January 14-18, 2026. The report evaluates states on four pillars: Policy, Business Ecosystem, Export Ecosystem, and Export Performance. A key shift in this edition is the focus on "District as Export Hubs," encouraging sub-national strategies to integrate MSMEs into Global Value Chains. The index serves as a benchmarking tool for competitive federalism. Coastal states like Tamil Nadu and Gujarat continue to lead, while landlocked and Himalayan states showed significant improvement in policy frameworks but lagged in logistics infrastructure.

Long Description : Acting on recommendations from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the government blocked 242 website links associated with illegal online betting and gambling on January 17-18, 2026. These platforms were found to be operating in violation of the Information Technology Act and were often used for money laundering and terror financing. Many of these apps were operating from offshore locations, targeting Indian users through aggressive social media advertising. This move is part of a larger initiative to protect Indian citizens from financial fraud and ensure a safe, trusted internet environment.

Long Description : The Indian Army recently concluded "Sanjha Shakti" at the Dighi Hills Range in Maharashtra. The exercise, under the aegis of the Southern Command, involved participation from the Army, local police, and civil administration from Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Goa. The primary objective was to streamline "Civil-Military Fusion" to ensure a rapid, synchronized response during security threats or natural disasters. It tested interoperability between various agencies, including communication protocols and logistics sharing. This aligns with India’s broader defense strategy to integrate civilian resources for national security.

Long Description : On January 18, 2026, the Prime Minister participated in "Bagurumba Dwhou 2026" at the Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati. The event saw a massive, synchronized performance by over 10,000 artists from the Bodo community. Bagurumba is a traditional folk dance of the Bodo people, often referred to as the "butterfly dance" due to its rhythmic, graceful movements. The festival was organized to promote the rich cultural heritage of the Bodo tribe and signify the successful implementation of the Bodo Peace Accord, highlighting peace and development in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).

Long Description : On January 18, 2026, HDFC Bank released its Q3 financial results, reporting an 11.5% year-on-year growth in net profit. The bank's performance was bolstered by a steady increase in Net Interest Income (NII) and robust retail loan growth. Despite global economic headwinds, the bank maintained stable asset quality, with Gross Non-Performing Assets (GNPA) remaining within expected limits. This performance is seen as a bellwether for the Indian banking sector, indicating strong domestic credit demand and a healthy corporate balance sheet ahead of the 2026 Union Budget.

Long Description : Organized jointly with the West Bengal Department of Science & Technology, the "Mega Science Conclave" began at Kalyani University on January 16 and concluded on January 18, 2026. The event brought together 500 researchers from 22 universities. A major highlight was the release of a 278-page volume containing abstracts of 240 research papers in fields like Physics, Computer Science, and Biotechnology. Keynote speakers emphasized the need for "science in mother tongue" to democratize knowledge and urged for increased government funding to support research careers for Indian youth.

Long Description : US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, concluded a high-profile visit to Mumbai on January 18, 2026. He met with Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, and industry titans Mukesh Ambani and N Chandrasekaran. Discussions focused on the "iCET" (initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology) framework, specifically enhancing collaboration in pharmaceutical manufacturing, green energy, and the semiconductor ecosystem. The visit underscores the deepening strategic ties between New Delhi and Washington, aiming to build a resilient global supply chain independent of single-source dependencies.

Long Description : In a landmark judgment on January 17-18, 2026, the Supreme Court of India reaffirmed that "Unreserved" seats in public employment and education are open to all candidates, regardless of their category, based solely on merit. The court clarified that if a reserved category candidate (SC/ST/OBC) scores higher than the cut-off for the general category, they must be adjusted against the unreserved quota. This ensures that the 50% reservation limit is maintained while upholding the principle of equality of opportunity. The ruling is expected to have a significant impact on upcoming state and central recruitment exams.