Daily Current Affairs: 03.01.2026

1.1 Tamil Nadu to Announce Decision on Old Pension Scheme

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin to announce government’s decision on the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) on 3 January 2026.
OPS restoration has been long-standing demand of teacher and employee unions; government earlier planned announcement after 6 January.
Around 6.24 lakh employees currently under Contributory Pension Scheme; state pension expenditure ~₹46,214 crore annually with CPS corpus ~₹84,507 crore.

1.2 Three New Airlines Granted NOCs

Government of India has granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to Shankh Air, Al Hind Air, and FlyExpress to enter Indian aviation sector.
These airlines are expected to commence operations in 2026 with Air Operator Certificates (AOCs) pending.
Policy aimed at reducing market concentration dominated by IndiGo and Air India and expanding regional connectivity under UDAN.

2.1 Ongoing Iranian Protests Continue Across Cities

Protests in Iran (2025–2026) continued with workers and citizens in Tehran and Mashhad demonstrating against government policies.
Strikes expanded into central market sectors with reported use of tear gas by authorities.
Some leaders and academics detained earlier were reported released on 1 January 2026 as tensions persist.

2.2 Bulgaria Becomes 21st Member of Eurozone

Bulgaria joined the Eurozone as its 21st member, adopting the euro as official currency — a significant step in European economic integration and broader single market participation.

3.1 Indian Bank Performance Highlights (Q3 FY26)

Punjab National Bank (PNB) advances grew ~10.15% to ₹11.68 trillion.
Bank of India reported deposit and credit growth with advances up ~15.07%.
UCO Bank advances increased ~17.5% to ₹2.15 trillion.
Loan book expansion and robust deposit growth point to strengthening banking sector performance.

3.2 New Financial Regulations Effective from Jan 2026

Credit score update frequency increased to weekly, improving real-time credit assessment.
PAN-Aadhaar linkage deadline was 31 December 2025; unlinked PAN may become inactive.
RBI repo rate cuts led banks like SBI, HDFC, and ICICI to revise credit card perks, lounge access, and reward structures.

3.3 Important Observance — International Mind-Body Wellness Day (3 Jan)

Focus on mental health and holistic wellbeing globally, increasingly relevant in public health planning and workplace wellness initiatives.

4.1 Wolf Supermoon & Meteor Shower Phenomenon (3–4 Jan)

The Wolf Moon on 3 January 2026 appears brighter and larger due to perigee alignment (supermoon).
The Quadrantid meteor shower peaks early 4 January, producing 60–200 meteors per hour under optimal conditions.
Best observation: Moonrise evening on 3 Jan and pre-dawn hours on 4 Jan from dark locations.

5.1 PDC World Darts Championship Final (3 Jan)

Luke Littler (age 17) contends for back-to-back World Darts Championship titles in London final stages.
Tournament has a record-high £5 million prize pool, with £1 million for the champion.

5.2 Upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026

5.3 SAFF Futsal Championship Scheduled (14–26 Jan 2026)

Inaugural SAFF Futsal Championship to be held in Bangkok, Thailand featuring all seven South Asian member nations.

6.1 Vijayawada Book Festival 2026 (2–11 Jan)

36th edition inaugurated, showcasing 280 book stalls.
Guests include Odisha Governor Dr. Kambampati Hari Babu (3 Jan) and former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu (4 Jan).
Activities: quizzes, magic shows, writing contests, and author interactions.

6.2 International Storytelling Festival in Udaipur (9–11 Jan 2026)

7th edition to celebrate oral storytelling traditions spanning genres such as historical, mystery, and folk narratives.

2004 – Mars Rover “Spirit” successfully landed on Mars marking major space exploration milestone.
1957 – First battery-powered electronic wristwatch showcased, advancing portable timekeeping technology.

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