Hello and welcome to exampundit.in. Here are the important Current Affairs Today 26th January 2021. These are important for the upcoming Exams. Candidates who were preparing for the examination can use these current affairs and also you can download the same as PDF.
Current Affairs Today – 26th January 2021
NEWS AT A GLANCE
CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS
International Customs Day: 26 January
- Every year on 26th January, International Customs Day (ICD) is celebrated worldwide .
- To commemorate the very first official conference of the Customs Co-operation Council which means the World Customs Organization (WCO) which was established in the year 1952 comprising 182 custom administration members and is called as the only intergovernmental organization which solely features the customs matters.
- Theme of 2021 is “Customs bolstering Recovery, Renewal and Resilience”.
- In 1994 the CCC was renamed World Customs Organization (WCO).
- The day is observed for recognizing the role of custom officials and agencies in maintaining border security across the globe by focusing on the challenges and the working conditions that are faced by the customs officials.
About WCO :
- Headquarters : Brussels, Belgium
- Founded : 26 January 1952
- Secretary General : Kunio Mikuriya
India is Celebrating 72nd Republic Day on 26 January 2021
- India is Celebrating the 72nd Republic Day on 26 January 2021, with celebrations at the majestic Rajpath in New Delhi.
- To commemorate the day the Government of India Act (1935) set by the British Raj was replaced by the Indian Constitution as the governing document of India.
- This Day marks the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect on 26 January 1950.
- On Republic Day, the President of India distributes Padma Awards to the civilians of India.
- Padma Awards are given in three categories – Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
CURRENT AFFAIRS : NATIONAL NEWS
UP becomes first state to have 2 airstrips on expressways for landing, take-off of fighter planes
- In UP, a new 3300 meter long airstrip has been constructed near Kurebhar On Purvanchal Expressway.
- Uttar Pradesh has become the first state in the country with two airstrips on expressways to facilitate emergency landing and take-off of fighter planes.
- Airstrips on expressways are designed to facilitate emergency landing and take-off of fighter planes.
- One airstrip is on Lucknow-Agra Expressway while the other is on Purvanchal Expressway.
About UP :
- Founded : 24 January 1950
- Capital : Lucknow
- Governor : Anandiben Patel
- Chief Minister : You Adityanath
CURRENT AFFAIRS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Mongolia PM Khurelsukh Ukhnaa Quits, blames president over Covid protests
- Mongolia’s Prime Minister Khurelsukh Ukhnaa submitted his resignation to parliament after protests in the capital Ulaanbaatar over the government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, the state news agency Montsame reported.
- The 52-year-old served as the Prime Minister of Mongolia from 4 October 2017 to 21 January 2021.
- Prime Minister Khurelsukh Ukhnaa submitted his resignation and a proposal to dissolve his government Thursday after hundreds gathered outside the parliament building to demonstrate against the policies.
- Parliament, which is controlled by Khurelsukh’s Mongolian People’s Party, voted overwhelmingly Thursday to accept his resignation.
About Mongolia :
- Capital : Ulaanbaatar
- President : Khaltmaagiin Battulga
- Currency : Mongolian Togrog
SpaceX breaks India’s record by launching 143 satellites on a single rocket
- On 24 Jan 2021, SpaceX created a unique world record of launching 143 satellites on a single vehicle.
- The firm broke the record previously held by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which launched 104 satellites in 2017.
- In this launch, SpaceX broke the record set by ISRO in February 2017 for deploying 104 satellites onboard PSLV in a single mission.
- The US-based space company launched 143 satellites through its Falcon 9 rocket.
- The launch vehicle for the SpaceX record-breaking flight was the Falcon 9 and the mission was designated as Transporter-1.
- With these satellites, SpaceX aims to provide near-global broadband internet coverage all over the world by 2021.
- The 143 satellites included 133 commercial and government satellites and 10 Starlink satellites of SpaceX
China beat US as largest recipient of FDI, received $163 billion in 2020
- China climbed to the 1 ranking globally attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) of $163 billion in 2020.
- The report was released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
- China’s $163 billion in inflows last year, compared to $134 billion attracted by the United States.
- In 2019, the United States had received $251 billion in inflows and China received $140 billion.
- China’s gross domestic product grew 2.3% in 2020, official data showed last week, making China the only major economy in the world to avoid a contraction last year.
- The world’s second-largest economy has surprised many with the speed of its recovery from the coronavirus jolt, especially as policymakers have also had to navigate tense U.S.-China relations on trade and other fronts.
- Overall, global FDI had collapsed in 2020, falling by 42% to an estimated $859 billion, from $1.5 trillion in 2019.
About China :
- Capital : Beijing
- President : Xi Jinping
- Currency : Renminbi
About the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development :
- Headquarters : Geneva, Switzerland
- Head : Mukhisa Kituyi
- Founded : 30 December 1964
CURRENT AFFAIRS : STATE NEWS
In UP Yogi Adityanath launches Udyam Sarathi app for youth to explore self-employment
- For the 71st foundation day of Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched ‘Udyam Sarathi’ app to help youth to explore self-employment opportunities.
About the app :
- This application will provide all information related to self-employment and the job industry at one click.
- The app, prepared under the ODOP scheme and considered to be a master-key for exploring self-employment opportunities to the youth.
- Through the Udyam Sarathi app, youth would easily be able to get a varied range of business opportunities in different departments and sectors of the state and the Central government.
- Under the vision of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwas’, this App is poised to benefit the women and farmers looking for avenues of self-employment.
- It has been launched under the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme.
- The Uttar Pradesh Day celebration will run from 24 January to 26 January, 2021.
- The theme of Uttar Pradesh Day 2021 is ‘Respect for self-reliant Uttar Pradesh, women young farmers, development of all’.
- Uttar Pradesh was recognised as a state of India on January 24, 1950.
About UP :
- Capital : Lucknow
- Governor : Anandiben Patel
- CM : Yogi Adityanath
20-year-old Shrishti Goswami is Uttarakhand CM for a day
- To mark the National Girl Child Day, Haridwar teenager Srishti Goswami will take charge as the chief minister of Uttarakhand for one day.
- She will take part in the child assembly session in
- Goswami, a student of BSc Agriculture, lives in Daulatpur village of the district.
- For the first time in the history of Uttarakhand, a girl will become the state’s chief minister.
- It has received a nod from the incumbent chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat.
- The one-day chief minister will administer from Gairsain, the summer capital of the state, and will review various schemes run by the state government that include Atal Ayushman Scheme, Smart City project, Homestay Scheme by the tourism department, and other development projects.
About Uttarakhand :
- Chief Minister : Trivendra Singh Rawat
- Governor : Baby Rani Maurya
CURRENT AFFAIRS : DEFENCE NEWS
BSF launches Operation ‘Sard Hawa’ at Rajasthan border
- Border Security Force (BSF) launched Operation Sard Hawa on the western international border of Rajasthan.
- It aims to increase security on the borders in Jaisalmer.
- This operation will continue till January 27 with an aim that there is no intrusion.
- It was launched on 21 January 2021, and will continue till 27 January 2021, keeping in view Republic Day of India.
About BSF :
- Director General : Rakesh Asthana
- Headquarters : New Delhi
- Founded : 1 December 1965
- Founder : Khusro Faramurz Rustamji
About Rajasthan :
- Capital : Jaipur
- Chief Minister : Ashok Gehlot
- Governor : Kalraj Mishra
Indian Navy conducts exercise AMPHEX – 21 with Army and Air Force
- A large-scale tri-service joint amphibious exercise AMPHEX – 21 was conducted in the Andaman & Nicobar group of islands from 21 – 25 Jan 2021.
- The exercise involved participation of Naval ships, amphibious troops of the Army and different types of aircraft from the Air force.
- The exercise was aimed at validating India’s capabilities to safeguard the territorial integrity of it’s island territories.
- It also sought to enhance operational synergy and joint warfighting capabilities amongst the three Services.
- The exercise involved multi-faceted maritime operations by synergised employment of amphibious assault ships, surveillance platforms, execution of maritime air strikes and complex manoeuvres at sea.
- Airborne insertion of Marine Commandos of Navy and Special Forces of the Army, naval gunfire support, amphibious landing of forces and follow-on operations also formed part of the exercise.
- Ex KAVACH for defence of Andaman & Nicobar Islands formed a part of AMPHEX – 21.
About Indian Navy :
- Founded : 26 January 1950
- Vice Chief of the Naval Staff : Vice Admiral G. Ashok Kumar
- Chief of the Naval Staff : Admiral Karambir Singh
- Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff : M.S.Pawar
- Commander in Chief : Ram Nath Kovind
CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS
Portugal President Rebelo de Sousa wins landslide reelection
- Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa won a landslide reelection.
- Results showed the incumbent president winning around 61% percent of the vote.
- The lead is enough for Rebelo de Sousa to secure another 5-year term and avoid a runoff election.
- Rebelo de Sousa, a 72-year-old former television personality and law professor.
- Sousa has served as the President of the country since 9 March 2016, and would start his second term on March 9, 2021.
About Portugal :
- President : Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa
- Capital : Lisbon
- Currency : Euro
CURRENT AFFAIRS : SCHEMES
Government extends Ayushman Bharat health scheme to Central Armed Police Forces
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah has launched the Ayushman CAPF health scheme in Guwahati for about 28 lakh Central Armed Police Forces and their families in all the states where Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana is operational.
- Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, MoS Home Nityananda Rai, Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla were also present on this occasion.
- Centre is committed for the welfare of the security forces and their family members and the government decided to launch Ayushman Bharat CAPF for them.
CURRENT AFFAIRS : AWARDS
Padma Awards 2021 announced
- The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced the Padma Awards 2021 – one of the highest civilian Awards of the country – on the eve of 72nd Republic Day.
- These awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions which are held at Rashtrapati Bhawan usually around March/ April every year.
- This year the President has approved the conferment of 119 Padma Awards.
- The list comprises 7 Padma Vibhushan, 10 Padma Bhushan and 102 Padma Shri Awards.
- 29 of the awardees are women and the list also includes 10 persons from the category of Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI, 16 Posthumous awardees and one transgender awardee.
- Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe and singer SP Balasubramaniam were among the Padma Vibhushan recipients.
Padma Vibhushan (7)
| Name | Field | State/Country |
| Shri Shinzo Abe | Public Affairs | Japan |
| Shri S P Balasubramaniam
(Posthumous) |
Art | Tamil Nadu |
| Dr. Belle Monappa Hegde | Medicine | Karnataka |
| Shri Narinder Singh Kapany
(Posthumous) |
Science and Engineering | United States of America |
| Maulana Wahiduddin Khan | Others- Spiritualism | Delhi |
| Shri B. B. Lal | Others- Archaeology | Delhi |
| Shri Sudarshan Sahoo | Art | Odisha |
Padma Bhushan (10)
| Ms. Krishnan Nair Shantakumari Chithra | Art | Kerala |
| Shri Tarun Gogoi
(Posthumous) |
Public Affairs | Assam |
| Shri Chandrashekhar Kambara | Literature and Education | Karnataka |
| Ms. Sumitra Mahajan | Public Affairs | Madhya Pradesh |
| Shri Nripendra Misra | Civil Service | Uttar Pradesh |
| Shri Ram Vilas Paswan
(Posthumous) |
Public Affairs | Bihar |
| Shri Keshubhai Patel
(Posthumous) |
Public Affairs | Gujarat |
| Shri Kalbe Sadiq
(Posthumous) |
Others-Spiritualism | Uttar Pradesh |
| Shri Rajnikant Devidas Shroff | Trade and Industry | Maharashtra |
| Shri Tarlochan Singh | Public Affairs | Haryana |
CURRENT AFFAIRS : OBITUARIES
Historian Narendra Luther, chronicler of Hyderabad history, dies at 89
- Civil servant, historian, author, poet and chronicler Narendra Luther passed away. He was 89.
- A 1955 batch IAS officer who served in various positions, Luther later wrote several books about the history and culture of Hyderabad.
- In 1991, he was Chief Secretary of undivided Andhra Pradesh.
- Luther wrote several books about the history and culture of Hyderabad. Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the Founder of Hyderabad is one of the books he is well-known for. For those looking to learn more about the history of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, Luther’s well-researched books are a goldmine of information.
Daily CA on Jan 24 & 25 :
- Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Jayanti or Subhas Chandra Bose’s birthday is celebrated on 23rd January every year to remember and honour Netaji’s vigour as one the greatest freedom fighters of India.
- The National Girl Child Day is celebrated in India every year on January 24.
- To encourage more young voters to take part in the political process, the Government of India has decided to celebrate January 25 every year as “National Voters’ Day”.
- Every year, January 25 is observed as National Tourism Day in the country.
- Uttar Pradesh is celebrating its foundation day on Jan 24.
- On January 24, 2018, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming this day as International Day of Education in celebration of the role of education for peace and development.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit West Bengal to address the inaugural function of the ‘Parakram Diwas’ celebrations at Victoria Memorial in Kolkata.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar awardees through video conferencing.
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah has launched the Ayushman CAPF health scheme in Guwahati for about 28 lakh Central Armed Police Forces and their families in all the states where Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana is operational.
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that due to the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a new era of development and peace has prevailed in Bodoland Territorial Region.
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah is visiting Shillong to chair the 69th Plenary Meeting of the North Eastern Council (NEC).
- For the first time ever, a 122 member strong contingent of the Bangladesh Armed Forces will participate in the Republic Day parade.
- 19th meeting of the Joint Steering Committee on India Bangladesh cooperation in the energy sector was held in Dhaka.
- The 19th Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) During the 9-day long festival which started on 16 January, 226 films from 73 countries were shown.
- Lloyd J. Austin, a West Point graduate who rose to the Army’s elite ranks and marched through racial barriers in a 41-year career, won Senate confirmation to become the nation’s first Black secretary of defense.
- China overtook Germany to become the country with the world’s largest current account surplus in the year 2020, as per a survey by the Munich-based Ifo institute.
- Ladakh administration organises Opening Ceremony of Archery Competition
- Himachal Pradesh is celebrating its golden jubilee statehood day(Jan 25th) with full zeal across the state.
- A new scheme has been initiated in Sirohi district, Rajasthan to make people aware about the importance of nourishment of pregnant women and children.
- In Kargil of Ladakh Union territory, the Union Tourism Minister Mr Prahlad Singh Patel has inaugurated a branch of Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering (IISM).
- Madhya Pradesh has become the first state to get additional funds for capital projects for successfully carrying out reforms in various citizen-centric areas.
- In Madhya Pradesh, WIPRO group is all set to act as knowledge partner of the State Government.
- In Gujarat, the State Government has announced to set up new industrial estates under the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation-GIDC.
- In Tamil Nadu, Union Minister for fisheries Giriraj Singh disbursed subsidy amounts to three boat building yards for construction of deep sea fishing boats scheme worth
- Maharashtra government has appointed A L Jarhad IAS as secretary to the chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.
- Rakesh Rathi, The Inspector General of Police of Magadh range, present Lakhisarai SP Sushil Kumar and Jamui ASP (operation) Sudhansu Kumar are the IPS officers, who would be awarded with the Internal Security Service Medals.
- Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and Indian Institute of Technology, IIT Roorkee signed an MoU in New Delhi
- Larry King, the longtime CNN host who became an icon through his interviews with countless newsmakers and his sartorial sensibilities, has died. He was 87
Daily CA on Jan 26 :
- Every year on 26th January, International Customs Day (ICD) is celebrated worldwide
- India is Celebrating the 72nd Republic Day on 26 January 2021, at the Rajpath in New Delhi.
- In UP, a new 3300 meter long airstrip has been constructed near Kurebhar On Purvanchal Expressway
- Mongolia’s Prime Minister Khurelsukh Ukhnaa submitted his resignation to parliament
- On 24 Jan 2021, SpaceX created a unique world record of launching 143 satellites on a single vehicle.
- China climbed to the 1 ranking globally attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) of $163 billion in 2020.
- For the 71st foundation day of Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched ‘Udyam Sarathi’ app
- To mark the National Girl Child Day, Haridwar teenager Srishti Goswami will take charge as the chief minister of Uttarakhand for one day.
- Border Security Force (BSF) launched Operation Sard Hawa on the western international border of Rajasthan.
- AMPHEX – 21 was conducted in the Andaman & Nicobar group of islands from 21 – 25 Jan 2021.
- Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa won a landslide reelection.
- Amit Shah has launched the Ayushman CAPF health scheme in Guwahati for about 28 lakh Central Armed Police Forces and their families in all the states where Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana is operational.
- Civil servant, historian, author, poet and chronicler Narendra Luther passed away. He was 89.
