PM Modi’s Visit to West Bengal & Assam (January 2026)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook a significant two-day official visit to West Bengal and Assam from January 17–18, 2026, launching key connectivity, green transit, and infrastructure projects worth thousands of crores.

Key Highlights in West Bengal (Malda)

• Total Project Value: Rs 3,250 crore dedicated to rail and road infrastructure.
• India’s 1st Vande Bharat Sleeper Train: Flagged off between Howrah (WB) and Guwahati (Kamakhya, Assam) at Malda Town station.
• Green Transit Launch: Launched a 50-passenger hybrid electric aluminium catamaran costing Rs 12 crore to promote eco-friendly inland water transport.
• Infrastructure & Rail Upgrades:
  • Laid the foundation for the Extended Port Gate System at Balagarh (includes an Inland Water Transport terminal and a Road Over Bridge).
  • Dedicated the electrification of the New Coochbehar–Bamanhat rail section.
  • Flagged off 4 new Amrit Bharat Express trains.

Key Highlights in Assam

• Kaziranga Elevated Corridor: Performed the Bhoomi Pujan for the 86 km-long project in Kaliabor, valued at over Rs 6,950 crore, aimed at protecting wildlife and boosting connectivity.
• Cultural Engagement: Attended the ‘Bagurumba Dwhou 2026’ Bodo cultural programme at Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati.

India's Unemployment Rate Steady at 4.8% (December 2025)

The National Statistical Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released its 9th Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Monthly Bulletin for December 2025.

Core Labor Data at a Glance

• Overall Unemployment Rate (UR): Remained stable at 4.8% (compared to 4.7% in November 2025).
• Urban vs. Rural Trend:
  • Rural UR: Stagnant at 3.9%.
  • Urban UR: Increased slightly to 6.7% (up from 6.5%).
• Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR): Showed an upward trend, rising to 56.1% from 55.8%.
• Worker Population Ratio (WPR): Increased slightly to 53.4% (up from 53.2%).
• Survey Size: Based on a comprehensive survey of 3,73,990 individuals across India.

Rabi Sowing Area Records 2.8% Growth in India

Data released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoAFW) reveals that the total area sown under Rabi (winter) crops reached 64.42 million hectares (Mn ha) as of January 9, 2026. This marks a 2.8% increase (1.76 Mn ha) compared to the same period last year.

Crop-wise Area Distribution

• Wheat: 33.42 Mn ha (Increased by 6.13 lakh hectares)
• Pulses: 13.64 Mn ha (Driven heavily by Chana/Gram at 9.58 Mn ha)
• Oilseeds: 9.68 Mn ha (Driven by rapeseed and mustard)
• Coarse Cereals: 5.52 Mn ha (Jowar, bajra, ragi)
• Rice: 2.17 Mn ha

Quick Exam Info: The current coverage of 64.42 Mn ha has successfully surpassed the long-term seasonal average of 63.78 Mn ha.

• Union Agriculture Minister: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

200 Automatic Weather Stations to be Deployed Across 4 Metros

During the 151st Foundation Day celebrations of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Union MoS (IC) Dr. Jitendra Singh announced a massive upgrade to India's urban weather tracking.

Deployment Details

• Project Scope: 200 Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) will be deployed under Mission Mausam – Phase II.
• Target Cities: 50 AWS units each will be set up in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Pune.
• Objective: To capture high-resolution, localized data for predicting sudden heavy downpours, flash floods, heatwaves, and severe thunderstorms.

IMD Technical Milestones

• Cyclone Track Accuracy: Improved by 35% to 40% over recent years.
• Radar Coverage: Weather radars have tripled in a decade, now covering 87% of India's landmass.
• Advanced Tech Launched: Inaugurated India's first 3D-Printed AWS, a Model Observatory, and an Agro-AWS.

India’s First Open-Sea Marine Fish Farming Project Launched

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launched India's maiden open-sea Marine Fish Farming Project (MFFP) in the Andaman Sea at North Bay, Sri Vijaya Puram (Andaman and Nicobar Islands).

• Objective: To boost India’s Blue Economy, harness sustainable ocean resources, and uplift coastal livelihoods.
• Key Agencies Involved: National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), and the A&N Islands UT Administration.
• Core Activities:
  • Fish Cultivation: Utilizing specialized open-sea cages to rear high-value species like Seabass and Cobia.
  • Seaweed Farming: Allocating high-quality seaweed seeds to local fishermen for deep-water cultivation.

Project Dolphin: Second Nationwide Survey Flags Off from Bijnor

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav launched the second nationwide range-wide estimation of riverine and estuarine dolphins from Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh.

• Implementation: Led by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) alongside State Forest Departments, WWF India, Aaranyak, and WTI.
• Survey Phases:
  • Phase I: Covers the main stem of the Ganga River (Bijnor to Ganga Sagar) and the Indus River.
  • Phase II: Will extend to the Brahmaputra River, major Ganga tributaries, the Sundarbans, and coastal Odisha.
• Technology Used: Advanced hydrophones for underwater acoustic monitoring.
• Baseline Data: The previous survey (2021–23) recorded 6,327 riverine dolphins in India, with the highest numbers found in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

HP to Get Two New MSME Technology Centres

The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME) has greenlit the establishment of two new MSME Technology Centres (TCs) in Himachal Pradesh.

• Locations: Pandoga (Una district) and Parwanoo (Solan district).
• Funding: Set up at a cost of Rs 10 crore each as part of a national plan to launch 13 new Technology Extension Centres.
• Purpose: To give local MSMEs direct access to advanced manufacturing, skilled manpower, tool/die design, and modern tech like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics.

Exercise 'DOSTI 17': India, Sri Lanka, and Maldives Begin Maritime Drill

The 17th edition of the trilateral Coast Guard exercise ‘DOSTI 17’ commenced in Male, Maldives to enhance maritime security and cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region.

World Bank Approves $286 Million for West Bengal Healthcare

The World Bank has approved a USD 286 million loan through the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) to fund the West Bengal Health System Reform Program (WBHSRP).

• Target: Focuses on improving healthcare quality for 90 million people, specifically targeting individuals over 30 years old.
• Loan Terms: 16.5-year maturity period, including a 3-year grace period.
• Key Interventions:
  • Digital tracking systems for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) like diabetes and hypertension.
  • Strengthening Gender-Based Violence (GBV) response systems.
  • Focus Districts: High-priority interventions in Purulia, Birbhum, Murshidabad, Maldah, and Uttar Dinajpur to tackle challenges like adolescent pregnancy (currently at 16% in WB).

SBI Life Launches 'Smart Platina Advantage' Savings Plan

SBI Life Insurance has introduced ‘SBI Life – Smart Platina Advantage’, designed for long-term wealth creation and family security.

• Plan Type: Individual, non-linked, non-participating life insurance savings plan.
• Premium Options: Limited Premium Payment Term (LPPT) of 7 or 10 years with flexible policy terms of 15, 20, or 30 years.
• Minimum Entry Premium: Rs 50,000 annually.
• Key Feature: Guaranteed additions accrue every policy year to boost maturity value, shielded entirely from market volatility.

Additional Update: State Bank of India (SBI) signed an MoU with the Government of Tamil Nadu to offer an enhanced Corporate Salary Package (CSP) to state PSU employees, offering zero-balance accounts, fee waivers, and concessional loan interest rates.

India’s IGGEFIL Sanctions First International Green Loan to Zambia

IREDA Global Green Energy Finance IFSC Limited (IGGEFIL), operating out of GIFT City, Gujarat, has sanctioned its first ever overseas green loan.

• Loan Value: USD 22.5 million.
• Recipient: Swarna Solar Limited (SSL).
• Project Details: To build a 100 MW Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Power Project in the Serenje District, Central Province of Zambia.
• Strategic Move: Marks IREDA’s expansion as a global catalyst for competitive foreign-currency clean energy financing.

BSNL Partners with Viasat for Indian Navy SatCom Upgrade

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has joined forces with American satellite communication giant Viasat, Inc. to execute the next phase of the Indian Navy’s Satellite Communications (SatCom) upgrade.

• The Tech: The partnership integrates Viasat’s advanced high-speed Ka-band systems with BSNL’s robust L-band network.
• Outcome: Delivers reliable multi-band, multi-constellation satellite coverage for critical, real-time naval defense operations. BSNL will handle the core gateway infrastructure inside India.

Shaea Muhssin Al-Zindani Appointed as Prime Minister of Yemen

Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) has officially appointed veteran diplomat Shaea Muhssin Mohammed Al-Zindani as the nation's new Prime Minister.

• Predecessor: He takes over from Salem bin Braik, who submitted his resignation.
• Career Highlights: Al-Zindani previously served as Yemen’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates (since 2024). He has also served as Yemen's Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Italy, and Jordan.
• Yemen Fast Facts: Capital – Sanaa | Currency – Yemeni Rial (YER).

Praveen Vashista Appointed as Vigilance Commissioner in CVC

President Droupadi Murmu has appointed senior IPS officer Praveen Vashista as the new Vigilance Commissioner in the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).

• Tenure: 4 years or until reaching the age of 65, whichever comes first.
• Profile: A 1991-batch IPS officer from the Bihar cadre with over 30 years of experience across the CBI, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as Special Secretary (Internal Security), and Bihar state law enforcement.

ICICI Bank Re-appoints Sandeep Bakshi as MD & CEO

The Board of Directors of ICICI Bank has approved the re-appointment of Sandeep Bakshi as Managing Director and CEO for a further two-year term.

• New Term: Effective from October 4, 2026, to October 3, 2028.
• Executive Director Update: Ajay Kumar Gupta was also re-appointed as the Executive Director (ED) of ICICI Bank from November 27, 2026, to November 26, 2028.

Indian Army Day 2026 (78th Bhartiya Sena Diwas)

India celebrated its 78th Indian Army Day on January 15, 2026, honoring the dedication, valor, and supreme sacrifices of its soldiers.

• Historical Roots: Marks the day in 1949 when General K.M. Cariappa took over as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army, succeeding the last British Chief, Sir Francis Roy Bucher.
• 2026 Venue Highlight: The grand parade was hosted at Mahal Road in Jaipur, Rajasthan by the South Western (Sapta Shakti) Command. This was the first time the national event was hosted outside a military cantonment.
• New Force Reveal: The newly raised Bhairav Battalion made its first public appearance, showcasing a highly agile combat unit built for drone-enabled, multi-domain warfare.
• Global Guest: The Nepal Army Band participated in the march, highlighting close defense ties between India and Nepal.