Technology boosts 2026
=>Hydrogen powered train in India: India's First Indigenous Hydrogen Train is set to revolutionize rail transport! With a 1,200 HP engine (the world's most powerful hydrogen engine), zero emissions, and a 140 km/h speed, it marks a major leap toward sustainable transportation. The first trial run starts in January 2025 on the Jind-Sonipat route!
Places in the News 2026
=>Assam is the 1st state in India to adopt 8th pay commission: Assam Leads the Nation with 8th State Pay Commission, Bringing Timely Relief to Employees Assam has taken a decisive and forward-looking step in public administration by becoming the first state in India to constitute the 8th State Pay Commission, well ahead of the expiry of the 7th Pay Commission provisions in January.
Person in the News 2026
=>Saina Nehwal retires: Indian badminton legend Saina Nehwal has confirmed her retirement from competitive badminton!! 🇮🇳🥹 The 2012 Olympics bronze medallist was last in action in 2023. Happy Retirement Saina 🙏 A great badminton Ace says quits, after about 2 years lay off due to injuries
=>Astronaut Sunita Williams retires: NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has retired from the space agency, capping a stellar 27-year career during which she completed three missions aboard the International Space Station and set various human spaceflight records. Ms. Williams, 60, is currently visiting India. On Tuesday (January 20, 2026) afternoon, she participated in an interactive session hosted at the American Center here.
.jpg)
Economy 2026
=>Contribution of India in Global real GDP: Real GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is the inflation-adjusted value of all final goods and services produced within an economy in a given year, expressed in constant base-year prices. Unlike nominal GDP, which uses current prices, real GDP removes the impact of inflation or deflation, providing a precise measure of actual, volume-based economic growth over time.
Games 2026.
=>Australian Open(Tennis) 2026: Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic in the final, 2–6, 6–2, 6–3, 7–5 to win the men's singles tennis title at the 2026 Australian Open.
Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the final, 6–4, 4–6, 6–4 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 2026 Australian Open. It was her second major title.
.jpg)
Winners:
Roy J. Glauber – for his contribution to the quantum theory of optical coherence.
John L. Hall – for contributions to the development of laser-based precision spectroscopy, including the optical frequency comb technique.
Theodor W. Hänsch – for contributions to the development of laser-based precision spectroscopy, including the optical frequency comb technique.
Winners:
Yves Chauvin
Robert H. Grubbs
Richard R. Schrock
For: The development of the metathesis method in organic synthesis, a powerful tool for creating complex molecules efficiently.
Winners:
Barry J. Marshall
J. Robin Warren
For: Their discovery of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori and its role in gastritis and peptic ulcer disease.
Winner:
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and its Director General Mohamed ElBaradei
For: Their efforts to prevent nuclear energy from being used for military purposes and to ensure it is used safely for peaceful ends.
Winner:
Robert J. Aumann
Thomas C. Schelling
For: Their work on game-theory analysis — understanding conflict and cooperation through mathematical models.
Winner:
Harold Pinter (United Kingdom)
For: His plays that expose the struggles of power and truth in everyday life — known for works like The Birthday Party, The Caretaker, and The Homecoming.
Moments of Honor 2025
=>The Kevda Renewable Energy Park: India is constructing the world's largest renewable energy park in Khavda, Gujarat, and the numbers are staggering. This isn't just another solar farm—it's a 726-square-kilometre engineering marvel that's seven times the size of Paris.
Ecology 2025
New missions, projects and plans 2025
Budget 2025-2026
Read the summary of the said document:
Highlights of Budget 2025-26
●
India’s economy
is the fastest-growing among all major global economies. Over the past
10 years, Modi Govt’s development track record and structural reforms have
garnered significant international attention.
o The transformative
work during this Government's first 2 terms serves as a guiding light, enabling
this govt to move forward with determination.
●
In this Budget, the proposed development measures
span across various sectors focusing on Garib, Yuva, Annadata and Nari. (Poor,
Youth, Farmers, Women)
Income Tax
relief
●
Democracy, Demography and Demand are the key
support pillars in our journey towards Viksit Bharat. The middle class provides strength for India’s growth.
o Hon’ble Prime
Minister Modi led NDA Govt has always believed in the admirable energy and
ability of the middle class in nation building.
o In recognition of
their contribution, Govt periodically
has reduced their tax burden. Right after 2014, the ‘Nil tax’ slab was raised
to ₹2.5 lakh, which was further raised to ₹5 lakh in 2019 and to ₹7 lakh in
2023.
o In this Budget Govt has announced that there will
be No Income Tax payable upto income of ₹12 lakh (i.e. average income of
₹1 lakh per month other than special rate income such as capital gains) under the new regime.
o For the Salaried Class, No Income Tax is
applicable till annual income of ₹12.75 lakh, due to standard deduction
benefit available to salaried class of ₹75,000.
●
The total tax benefit of slab rate changes and
rebate at different income levels can be illustrated with examples.
o A tax payer in the new regime with an income of
₹12 lakh will get a benefit of ₹80,000 in tax (100% of tax payable as
per existing rates will be exempt). The effective income tax rate will be 0%.
o A person having income of ₹16 lakh will get a
benefit of ₹50,000 in tax. [The effective income tax rate payable will be
just 7.5%]
o A person having income of ₹18 lakh will get a
benefit of ₹70,000 in tax. [The effective income tax rate payable will be
just 8.8%]
o A person having income of ₹20 lakh will get a
benefit of ₹90,000 in tax. [The effective income tax rate payable will be
just 10%].
o A person with an income of ₹25 lakh gets a
benefit of ₹1,10,000. [The effective tax rate will be just 13.2%]
o A person with an income of ₹50 lakh also gets a
benefit of ₹1,10,000. [The effective tax rate will be just 21.6%]
As a result of these proposals, revenue of about ₹ 1 lakh
crore in direct taxes will be forgone.
Key
Announcements
●
Government will undertake a ‘Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana’ in partnership
with states.
o This scheme will cover 100 districts with low
productivity, moderate crop intensity and below-average credit parameters. It
will help 1.7 crore farmers.
●
Govt will now launch a 6-year “Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses” with a special focus on Tur, Urad and Masoor.
o It will focus on improving productivity, domestic
pulses production, assuring remunerative prices to the farmers and development
of climate resilient seeds.
●
Kisan Credit
Cards (KCC) facilitate short term loans for 7.7 crore farmers, fishermen, and
dairy farmers. The KCC loan limit will
be enhanced from ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh for
loans under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme.
●
A comprehensive multi-sectoral ‘Rural Prosperity and Resilience’
programme will be launched in partnership with states.
o This will address
under-employment in agriculture
through skilling, investment, technology, and invigorating the rural economy.
o The goal is to generate ample opportunities in
rural areas so that migration is an option, but not a necessity.
o In Phase-1, 100 developing agri-districts will be
covered.
●
A new scheme for
socio-economic upliftment of Urban Workers will be implemented to help them
improve their incomes, have sustainable livelihoods and a better quality of
life.
●
Govt will arrange for Gig Worker’s identity cards and registration on the e-Shram
portal. Gig workers will be provided healthcare under PM Jan Arogya Yojana. This measure is likely to assist nearly 1 crore gig-workers.
●
SWAMIH Fund 2
will be established as a blended
finance facility with contribution
from the Government, banks and private investors. This fund of ₹15,000 crore
will aim for expeditious completion of another 1 lakh units.
o SWAMIH has
delivered 50,000 dwelling units. Another 40,000 units will be completed in
2025.
●
To improve access
to credit, the Credit Guarantee Cover will be enhanced:
a)
For Micro and
Small Enterprises, from ₹5 crore to ₹10 crore, leading to additional
credit of ₹1.5 lakh crore in the next 5 years.
b)
For Startups,
from ₹10 crore to 20 crore, with the guarantee fee being moderated to 1 per
cent for loans in 27 focus sectors important for Atmanirbhar Bharat.
c) For well-run exporter MSMEs, for term loans up to
₹20 crore.
●
In the Tourism
sector, Top 50 tourist
destination sites in India will be developed in partnership with states through
a challenge mode. the following measures will be taken for facilitating
employment-led growth:
o Organizing intensive skill-development programmes for our youth
including in Institutes of Hospitality Management
o Providing MUDRA loans for homestays
o Providing performance-linked incentives to states
for effective destination management including tourist amenities,
cleanliness, and marketing efforts
o Introducing streamlined e-visa facilities.
●
To help MSMEs
achieve higher efficiencies of scale, technological upgradation and better
access to capital, the investment and turnover limits for
classification of all MSMEs will be enhanced to
2.5 and 2 times respectively.
This will give them the confidence to grow and generate employment
for our youth.
●
‘Export
Promotion Mission’ to be set up which will be driven jointly by the Ministries of
Commerce, MSME, and Finance. It will facilitate easy access to export credit,
cross-border factoring support, and support to MSMEs.
●
The revamped Central KYC Registry will be rolled out in 2025 for simplifying KYC
process. We will also implement a streamlined system for periodic
updating of KYC.
●
Presently, the Customs Act, 1962 does not provide any time limit to finalize
Provisional Assessments leading to uncertainty and cost to trade. As a measure of promoting ease of doing
business, Govt has fixed a time-limit of two years, extendable by a year, for finalising the provisional assessment.
●
To provide relief to patients, particularly those
suffering from cancer, rare diseases and other severe chronic diseases, Govt has proposed to add 36 lifesaving drugs and medicines to the list
of medicines fully exempted from Basic
Customs Duty (BCD).
o Govt also proposed to add 6 lifesaving medicines to
the list attracting concessional customs duty of 5%. Full exemption and
concessional duty will also respectively apply on the bulk drugs for
manufacture of the above.
●
New Income Tax
Bill to be introduced in the Budget
session. The New Income Tax Bill will be clearer and will have around 50%
lesser text compared to the present law, in terms of both chapters and words.
It will be simple to understand for taxpayers and tax administration, leading
to tax certainty and reduced litigation.
Key Highlights
Improving
Agricultural Growth and Rural Development
●
A Makhana Board will
be established in Bihar to improve production, processing, value
addition, and marketing of makhana.
●
A National
Mission on High Yielding Seeds will be launched.
●
We will undertake ‘Mission for Cotton
Productivity’, for the benefit of lakhs of cotton growing farmers.
o This 5-year
mission will facilitate significant improvements in productivity and
sustainability of cotton farming, and promote extra-long staple cotton
varieties.
●
Government will
bring in an enabling Framework for sustainable
harnessing of Fisheries from Indian
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and High Seas, with a special focus on
the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands.
●
A Urea
plant with annual capacity of 12.7 lakh metric tons will be set up at Namrup,
Assam.
●
India Post will
also be transformed as a large public
logistics organization.
o This will meet
the rising needs of Viswakarmas, new entrepreneurs, women, self-help groups,
MSMEs, and large business organizations.
Entrepreneurship, MSMEs & Employment
●
The Govt will
introduce ‘Customized Credit
Cards’ with a ₹5 lakh limit for Micro Enterprises registered on Udyam portal. In the first
year, 10 lakh such cards will be issued.
●
A new Fund of Funds for Startups, with a contribution of ₹10,000 crore will be
set up.
●
A new scheme will
be launched for 5 lakh women,
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes ‘First-time entrepreneurs’.
o This will provide Term Loans up to ₹2 crore
during the next 5 years.
●
For India’s footwear and leather sector, a focus product scheme will be implemented.
The scheme is expected to facilitate
employment for 22 lakh persons, generate turnover of ₹4 lakh crore and exports
of over ₹1.1 lakh crore.
o Basic Custom duty on Wet Blue leather is now
fully exempt to facilitate imports for domestic value addition and employment.
●
Govt will support
Clean Tech
manufacturing to improve domestic value
addition, jobs and build our ecosystem for solar PV cells, EV batteries,
motors and controllers, electrolyzers, wind turbines, very high voltage transmission
equipment and grid scale batteries.
●
5 National Centres of Excellence for Skilling will be set up with global expertise
and partnerships.
Budget 2026-27 The government is estimated to spend Rs 53,47,315 crore in 2026-27, 7.7% higher than the revised estimate of 2025-26. Interes...
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
