Current Affairs – 30.01.2026

🌐 International Affairs

India and the European Union (EU) concluded a historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on 27 January 2026, described by leaders as the “mother of all deals”.
The FTA is aimed at liberalising trade in goods and services between India and the 27 EU member states, covering nearly a quarter of global GDP and approximately 2 billion people.
Under the agreement:
- Tariffs on up to ~97% of EU export tariff lines will be reduced or eliminated, including machinery, medical equipment, wine, and spirits.
- India offers 92.1% of its tariff lines in negotiations, with phased elimination over 5–10 years for many goods.
- Projected savings of €4 billion annually in duties for EU exporters.
- Enhanced market access for Indian textiles, engineering goods, and seafood, potentially boosting Indian exports significantly.
- The pact includes regulatory cooperation, customs facilitation, and movement of professionals & students.
Industry bodies anticipate Indian engineering exports to the EU could reach $25 billion within two years, with broader job creation and diversification of trade away from US tariff pressures.
Implementation is expected after ratification by EU member parliaments and India’s domestic approval processes.

The 56th World Economic Forum concluded in Davos, Switzerland (19–23 January 2026) with global leaders focusing on geopolitical cooperation, economic resilience, technological governance, and sustainable growth.
Discussions included global trade frameworks, innovation investment, and multilateral cooperation amidst global tensions.

The 2nd International Olympic Research Conference is being hosted by the Bharat Centre of Olympic Research & Education (BCORE) at Rashtriya Raksha University from 27–30 January 2026.
More than 55 international & national speakers from 15 countries are participating, with over 100 research papers on Olympic governance, anti-doping, sports science, and policy.
The conference fosters global dialogue on sports education, transparency, and research in Olympic movements.

The Indian government is set to present the Union Budget on 01 February 2026, with emphasis on structural reforms to attract investment, boost manufacturing & infrastructure spending, and strengthen the banking and financial sectors.
Expected reforms include modernising labour laws, customs policy, easing foreign ownership caps in public sector banks, and potential bank mergers.

The Intelligence Bureau (IB) MTS Tier-I 2026 admit cards were released for the exam conducted on 27 January 2026, for 362 Multi-Tasking Staff positions across India, an important recruitment opportunity for aspirants in central services.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) renewed their cooperation framework for central counterparties, enhancing cross-border financial market stability.
SEBI Survey revealed that only 9.5% of Indian households participate in securities markets, indicating large potential for investment growth.
RBI’s policy developments include draft frameworks for borrower support during calamities and operational guidelines for interest subvention under export credit schemes.
Small Finance Banks like Suryoday partnered with tech firms to launch AI-powered Video KYC solutions to enhance digital onboarding.

Veteran Indian sports administrator and five-time Olympic shooter Randhir Singh ended his tenure prematurely as President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) in January 2026, a major leadership change in Asian sports governance.

India continues preparations for major sporting tournaments in 2026, including T20 World Cup and BWF World Championships, which are key events for Indian athletes in global competitions.

Martyrs’ Day (Shaheed Diwas) observed across India, commemorating Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination on 30 January 1948. This day holds significant national importance and is part of exam-oriented current affairs.