NATIONAL AFFAIRS
Republic Day 2026 Preparations
India is set to celebrate the 77th Republic Day on 26 January 2026, commemorating the adoption of the Indian Constitution on 26.01.1950.
Grand Republic Day parade scheduled in New Delhi showcasing defence equipment, cultural tableaux, and marching contingents.
Ursula von der Leyen (President, European Commission) and António Costa (Prime Minister of Portugal) confirmed as chief guests — first time EU representatives attend as chief guests.
President of India Droupadi Murmu to deliver the Republic Day eve address focusing on national unity and democratic values.
Flag will be unfurled instead of standard “hoisting” on Republic Day, aligning with specific ceremonial norms.
Major airspace restrictions in Delhi; airport operations suspended for around 2.5 hours daily from 21–26 January to support ceremonial preparations.
State-level patriotic drill involving over 2 crore students and 7 lakh teachers to mark Republic Day theme “Nation First”.
Kolkata Republic Day parade to prominently feature women components including all-women RAF unit and female police contingents.
Banking Holidays & RBI Activity
Banks across India observing a four-day holiday from 23–26 January 2026 (Republic Day weekend) in most states.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) actively managing liquidity:
RBI plans over $23 billion liquidity injection into the banking system through mixed tools including FX swaps, repo operations, government bond purchases, and liquidity adjustment operations to stabilize markets and support monetary policy transmission.
Initiatives include Variable Rate Repos, foreign exchange swaps and continuing government securities purchases totaling record amounts for the fiscal year.
Wider RBI focus remains on reinforcing recent interest rate cuts and countering rupee volatility.
RBI projected India emerging as one of the fastest-growing major economies in 2026, backed by robust domestic drivers and resilient financial flows.
Political & Social Movements
Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) called for a “People’s March” on Republic Day to defend democracy, federalism, and protest specific legislation introduced in 2025 aimed at reforming sectors like electricity, labour, seeds and insurance.
A special RSS exhibition marking its 100-year journey was inaugurated at Magh Mela Grounds, showcasing organizational history and contributions.
Regional Festival & Administrative Updates
Uttar Pradesh Diwas 2026 underway from 24–26 January celebrating “Viksit Bharat–Viksit Uttar Pradesh” with cultural showcases, economic achievements, ODOP and ODOC exhibits, and presentation of Uttar Pradesh Gaurav Samman 2025–26.
International Connectivity Impact
Air India announced cancellation of all flights to/from New York and Newark on 25–26 January 2026 due to an intense US East Coast winter storm forecasted to bring heavy snow and strong winds, affecting operations and passenger travel.
ECONOMY & BANKING
RBI Liquidity & Banking System
RBI’s liquidity measures include open market operations (OMO) and dollar-rupee buy-sell swaps, aimed at aligning banking system liquidity within targeted levels and mitigating volatility pressures.
Record bond purchases and a mix of instruments reflect proactive monetary operations ahead of Union Budget 2026 context.
Banking Sector Regulations
Regulatory guidelines issued leading to closures of certain dormant and inactive bank accounts from 25 January 2026 onward to improve banking system hygiene (types include long-inactive salary accounts and other unused accounts).
Remittances Trend
Indian outward remittances for education showed marked declines in 2025, reflecting changing global education and financial patterns.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
UN Human Rights Council Action
The United Nations Human Rights Council voted to deeply scrutinize Iran, increasing oversight due to concerns over human rights issues.
Global Economic Trends
Broader analyses indicate India’s economy retains resilient growth momentum heading into 2026 amidst global uncertainties, driven by strong domestic demand and structural reforms.
SPORTS AFFAIRS
Hero Dubai Desert Classic 2026
Major golf tournament concluded on 25 January 2026 at Emirates Golf Club, UAE.
Star field included Rory McIlroy, Tyrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Viktor Hovland, and others competing for a $9 million prize pool and valuable Race to Dubai points.
Event ran 22–25 January 2026, boosting early season golf narratives.
Men’s European Water Polo Championship 2026
Continental championships ongoing with the final day on 25 January, held in Belgrade, Serbia with 16 teams competing and high scoring across matches.
2026 Major Sports Calendar Outlook
Key events approaching in 2026 include Winter Olympics (6–22 Feb) in Milano-Cortina, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup (Feb–Mar) in India & Sri Lanka, and international football, cricket, and global tournaments later in the year.
IMPORTANT DAYS & OBSERVANCES
National & International Dates
25 January: National Voters’ Day — promotes electoral participation and awareness.
26 January: Republic Day of India — Constitutional celebration with grand parade.
Other important January observances relevant across competitive exams include:
26 January – Republic Day
30 January – Martyrs’ Day
