I. NATIONAL AFFAIRS
1. JEE Main Session-1 2026 Starts
The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026 Session-1 begins on 21 January 2026 across India.
Conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) from 21 to 29 January 2026.
Over 13.6 lakh candidates are registered nationwide.
Approximately 48,000 students from Gujarat alone are appearing in the first phase.
Candidates must follow strict exam-day guidelines including reporting time, document verification, and dress code to avoid disqualification.
2. Exam Postponement News
ICAI CA Intermediate Group-II Paper – Auditing & Ethics scheduled earlier in January 2026 has been postponed due to unavoidable circumstances; a new date will be announced.
3. Government & Political Affairs
President of India – Visit Restrictions: Rashtrapati Bhavan will remain closed to public from 21 to 29 January 2026 for official activities.
Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan scheduled official visits and public engagements including Karnataka visit on 21 January 2026.
Government continues infrastructure and socio-economic initiatives including multiple rail & road foundations and inaugurations announced throughout mid-January.
4. Judiciary & Law Enforcement Headlines
High-profile arrest in Noida water-filled pit drowning case and subsequent legal proceedings continue to make national headlines.
Supreme Court critical observations reflect ongoing jurisprudence discussions relevant for general awareness.
5. Cyber Fraud Bust
Law enforcement officials have busted a cyber fraud targeting a major pharmaceutical company resulting in recovery of approximately Rs 2.16 crore.
II. INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
1. Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2026
International figure skating event begins on 21 January 2026 in Beijing, China.
Championships will run till 25 January 2026, featuring disciplines such as men’s & women’s singles, pairs, and ice dance.
2. SAFF Futsal Championship 2026
Inaugural SAFF Futsal Championship is underway in Bangkok, Thailand (14–26 January 2026).
Features 11 matches, 69 goals scored so far with top scorers including Mohamed Imran & Moin Ahmed (5 goals each).
All seven South Asian nations are participating, marking a milestone in regional futsal development.
III. SPORTS UPDATES
1. Tennis Tournament – Shri O N Dixit Memorial MT-400
International tennis tournament at Jai Club, Jaipur from 17 to 21 January 2026.
Around 150 players from India, Slovenia, Canada, and Ghana competed in age categories 30 to 75.
2. Australian Open 2026 (Ongoing Grand Slam)
114th Australian Open underway at Melbourne Park, Australia (18 Jan – 1 Feb 2026).
Prize money A$111,500,000 ranking it as a top-tier Grand Slam event.
Defending champions include Jannik Sinner (Men’s Singles) and Madison Keys (Women’s Singles).
IV. BANKING & ECONOMIC NEWS
1. Policy & Economic Releases
Export Promotion Mission updates and RBI export credit interest subvention highlights remain key topics for banking exam aspirants.
Government releases data on crop coverage progress for Rabi crops as on 16 January 2026, showing agrarian growth trends relevant for economic current affairs.
2. Skill & Technology Initiatives
Launch of Skill the Nation AI Challenge advanced AI awareness and skilling across sectors including MSMEs, tech and AI.
V. EDUCATION & EXAM RELATED FACTS
1. Competitive Exams Impacting Students
Postponement of CA Intermediate Paper and commencement of JEE Main make January 2026 critical for exam aspirants.
NTA issues detailed dos and don’ts for JEE Main including reporting schedule, permitted items and misconduct avoidance to ensure smoother examination process.
2. Education Awareness & Preparatory Content
Multiple current affairs quizzes and study resources emphasize trends in national policies, environment discoveries (e.g., species discoveries) and governance reforms.
VI. APPOINTMENTS & AWARDS
1. Investiture Ceremony – Windsor Castle
Prince William hosted his first investiture ceremony of 2026 on 14 January at Windsor Castle, honoring individuals from sports, business and media sectors including Frank Rothwell, Dame Clare Barclay, and Millie Bright for outstanding achievements.
2. Government Leadership & Reforms
Lok Sabha Speaker reiterated significance of transparency and accountability in legislative institutions, crucial for polity and governance sections of competitive exams.
VII. IMPORTANT FACTS & DATA POINTS FOR EXAMS
JEE Main 2026 Phase-1: 21–29 January, conducted by NTA; central exam for engineering admissions.
Australian Open 2026: 114th edition with prize pool A$111.5M; commenced 18 January 2026.
SAFF Futsal: 1st SAFF Futsal Championship 2026; 14–26 January.
ICAI CA Intermediate Auditing & Ethics paper postponed; reschedule pending.
Multiple national development projects launched in mid-January with combined worth thousands of crorestargeting infrastructure growth.
