“IMPORTANT DAYS”

National Startup Day 2026: A Decade of Startup India and India’s Innovation-Led Growth

India celebrates National Startup Day on 16 January 2026, marking 10 years of the Startup India Initiative. What began in 2016 as a policy-driven effort to energise entrepreneurship has grown into one of the world’s largest startup ecosystems. Today, startups are central to India’s economic transformation, innovation capacity, and inclusive regional development. National Startup Day 2026 commemorates a decade of the Startup India Initiative, highlighting the scale, diversity, and global relevance of India’s startup ecosystem and its role in achieving Viksit Bharat 2047.

“SPORTS”

Laura Wolvaardt Named ICC Women’s Player of the Month for December 2025

South Africa’s star batter and captain Laura Wolvaardt ended 2025 on a high note. After a sensational run of form in December, she was crowned the ICC Women’s Player of the Month. Her consistent centuries across formats against Ireland not only powered South Africa to series wins but also underlined her status as one of the world’s most reliable top-order batters.

Nihal Sarin Clinches Tata Steel Chess India 2026 Open Rapid Title

Nihal Sarin emerged as the champion of the Open Rapid section at Tata Steel Chess India 2026 in Kolkata, scoring 6.5 points from nine games with five wins and three draws, while former world champion Viswanathan Anand finished second with six points. This is Nihal Sarin’s second Open Rapid title at Tata Steel Chess India (first in 2022), earning him a cash prize of $10,000, and he was a late entry replacing reigning world champion D Gukesh.

“APPOINTMENTS”

MS Dhoni Appointed Goodwill Ambassador for Pune Grand Tour 2026

India is set to make a historic entry into global professional cycling with the Pune Grand Tour 2026. Adding star power to the event, former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni has been appointed as its Goodwill Ambassador. The five-day international road cycling race will be held in Pune from January 19 to 23, 2026, marking a milestone for Indian sports beyond cricket.

“NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL NEWS”

Bengaluru Tops India’s 2025 Women-Friendly Cities Ranking for Safety and Employment

Bengaluru has been ranked India’s best city for women in 2025, topping a nationwide study on urban inclusion by effectively combining strong social infrastructure with wide industrial and employment opportunities. The study, released by Avtar, assessed 125 cities across India; Bengaluru secured the highest City Inclusion Score of 53.29, followed by Chennai (49.86) and Pune (46.27), with Hyderabad and Mumbai completing the top five.

Siddaramaiah Becomes Karnataka’s Longest-Serving Chief Minister

In a major political milestone, Karnataka has witnessed history in the making. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has emerged as the longest serving Chief Minister of the state, a rare achievement in a politically dynamic landscape. His journey reflects resilience, social justice politics, and deep grassroots connect, making his leadership tenure both politically and historically significant.

India Introduces New e-Business Visa for Chinese Nationals

India has launched a new electronic business visa category to simplify and regulate business travel for Chinese nationals. The e Production Investment Business Visa, called the e-B-4 Visa, aims to support legitimate business activities and respond to rising demand for structured business engagement between India and China.