“IMPORTANT DAYS”

Earth’s Rotation Day 2026 – January 8

Earth’s Rotation Day is observed globally on January 8 each year to highlight the profound significance of Earth’s rotational motion and commemorate French physicist Léon Foucault’s historic 1851 pendulum experiment, which first publicly demonstrated conclusive evidence of Earth’s rotation. On January 8, 2026, the world observes the 175th anniversary of this groundbreaking scientific demonstration—a milestone that celebrates not only a remarkable physical achievement but also humanity’s evolving understanding of our planet’s motion in space.

“DEFENCE”

IAF Commemorates 25th Anniversary of Tejas Light Combat Aircraft’s First Flight

On January 4, 2026, the Indian Air Force (IAF) proudly commemorated the 25th anniversary of the maiden flight of the indigenously developed Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). This milestone marks a defining moment in India’s journey towards self-reliance in defence aviation under the broader vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. The Tejas programme stands as a testament to India’s growing technological capability in designing, developing, and manufacturing modern combat aircraft.

“SCIENCE”

ISRO to Launch PSLV-C62 With EOS-N1 Satellite on January 12

The Indian Space Research Organisation will begin its 2026 launch calendar with the PSLV-C62 mission scheduled for January 12 from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. The launch marks the space agency’s first mission of the year and underlines its continued focus on strategic, commercial, and international payload deployment.

 “APPOINTMENTS”

HSBC Private Bank Appoints Ida Liu as CEO

HSBC Private Bank has made a significant leadership announcement that is highly relevant for competitive exams and current affairs preparation. In January 2026, the bank appointed Ida Liu as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), marking an important development in the global banking and wealth management sector.

“NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL NEWS”

FSS Becomes First Payments Company to Receive ISO/IEC 42001 Certification

On January 6, 2026, Financial Software and Systems (FSS), a leading payment solutions and transaction processing company, achieved a major global milestone by becoming the first payments company across India, the Middle East (ME), Asia-Pacific (APAC), and South Africa (SA) to receive the ISO/IEC 42001 certification. This landmark recognition highlights FSS’s strong commitment to the ethical, responsible, and trustworthy use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across its digital payments ecosystem.

UN Declares 2026 International Year for Rangelands

The United Nations has declared 2026 as the ‘International Year for Rangelands and Pastoralists’, aiming to spotlight some of the world’s most overlooked yet vital ecosystems. The announcement comes amid growing concern that global climate action remains heavily forest-centric, despite mounting scientific evidence that grasslands and savannahs play an equally critical role in carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience.

Guntur to Host National SARAS Mela 2026

Guntur is set to host a major national event with the organisation of the National-level SARAS Mela 2026, marking a first-of-its-kind milestone for the district. Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications, , announced that the prestigious fair will be held from 6 January to 18 January 2026, bringing nationwide attention to rural livelihoods and women-led enterprises.