Daily Current Affairs and GK | 10 January 2026

Topic: Infrastructure and Energy

1. Port infrastructure and digital governance projects worth 235-crore rupees have been launched by centre in Tamil Nadu.

• The projects are intended to strengthen the state’s maritime capacity.
• The projects are also aimed at advancing India’s maritime-led growth strategy.
• The projects were launched by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal.
• He launched the projects while addressing the “Viksit Bharat, Viksit Ports” programme in Chennai.
• Out of the total funds, 129.36 crore rupees are allocated for initiatives at the Chennai Port Authority.
• 105.64 crore rupees have been kept for projects at Kamarajar Port Limited.
• At Chennai Port, the union minister laid foundation stones for three projects. These include:
  • Repair and strengthening of the coastal revetment behind the Coastal Berth over an 850-metre stretch using climate-resilient designs
  • Construction of a new firefighting pump house at the Oil Dock Area to meet safety norms of Oil Industry Safety Directorate
  • Modernisation of the Chennai Port Hospital.
• At Kamarajar Port, he laid the foundation stone for a new boundary wall.
• He also launched the e-port clearance portal as part of a nationwide trade facilitation initiative under the One Nation-One Port Process.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

2. The government aims to end child marriage in India by 2030 as part of the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign.

• The campaign aims to lower the prevalence of child marriage by 10% by 2026.
• It also makes India child marriage-free by 2030.
• The initiative was launched in November 2024 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
• It focuses on eradicating child marriages across the country.
• Balod district in Chhattisgarh has become India's first child marriage-free district.
• For two continuous years, no case of child marriage has been reported from its 436 Gram Panchayats and 9 urban local bodies.
• In September 2025, district administration of Chhattisgarh's Surajpur district declared 75 village panchayats as Child Marriage-Free Panchayats.
• As per the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–21), 23% of women aged 20–24 were married before they were 18 years old.
• According to Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006, child marriage is any marriage where the girl is below 18 years of age or the boy is below 21 years.

Topic: Report and Indices

3. Uttarakhand Police has secured the first position in the ICJS 2.0 National Ranking.

• Two major achievements of the Uttarakhand Police were highlighted by Inspector General of Police Sunil Kumar Meena.
• First, Uttarakhand Police has secured the first rank at the national level in the ICJS (Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System) 2.0 ranking.
• Secondly, there is the exemplary performance of the Uttarakhand State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) during the Prayagraj Mahakumbh-2025.
• These achievements are based on the monthly CCTNS/ICJS Progress Dashboard Report released by the National Crime Records Bureau.
• Uttarakhand secured the top position with a score of 93.46, followed closely by Haryana and Assam in the national ranking.
• Leadership in digital policing and modernisation of the criminal justice system was once again demonstrated by the Uttarakhand Police through this ranking.
• The ICJS 2.0 platform has been designed to integrate police, courts, prosecution, prisons, forensics and fingerprint databases on a single digital framework by 2026.
• Significant progress was achieved by Uttarakhand through early integration of most ICJS modules ahead of the national timeline.
• During Prayagraj Mahakumbh-2025, one company of Uttarakhand SDRF was deployed at the request of the Uttar Pradesh Government for safety and crowd management.
• In recognition of exemplary service by the 112-member SDRF team, medals and commendation certificates were awarded by the Uttar Pradesh Government.

Topic: National News

4. India has become the first country in the world to commercially produce bio-bitumen for use in road construction.

• The achievement was announced by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari during the CSIR Technology Transfer Ceremony in New Delhi.
• Bitumen is a black, viscous mixture of hydrocarbons produced by the fractionation of crude oil, and it serves as a crucial binder in road construction.
• The commercial production milestone was achieved through technological innovation by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
• Pollution caused by crop residue burning is expected to be reduced through the adoption of bio-bitumen technology.
• The initiative has been described as a major step towards achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
• Clean and green highway development has been strengthened through this advancement.
• This initiative will also help in the Waste to Wealth mission and support the country's vision of a self-reliant India.

Topic: Personality in News

5. Renowned ecologist Madhav Gadgil has passed away at the age of 82.

• Renowned ecologist Madhav Gadgil passed away at his residence in Pune following a brief illness.
• Madhav Gadgil was internationally recognised for his pioneering work on the ecology and conservation of the Western Ghats.
• In 2024, he was honoured with the United Nations Champions of the Earth Award, the highest environmental recognition of the UN.
• He was also the recipient of the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award, Padma Shri (1981) and Padma Bhushan award (2006).
• His landmark report recommended strict restrictions on development in ecologically sensitive areas of the Western Ghats.
• Measures such as bans on quarrying, new roads and construction on steep slopes were proposed in the report.
• He consistently warned that unregulated development and mining activities were increasing disaster risks in fragile ecosystems.
• Madhav Gadgil was known for advocating people-centric conservation and respect for traditional knowledge systems.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

6. An inter-state wildlife exchange program between Madhya Pradesh and Assam has been approved to enhance biodiversity.

• An inter-state wildlife exchange agreement between Madhya Pradesh and Assam has been finalised to strengthen biodiversity conservation.
• The agreement was concluded following a meeting between Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in Guwahati.
• Under the pact, Assam will translocate 50 wild water buffaloes to Madhya Pradesh over the next three years.
• A pair of one-horned rhinoceroses and three king cobras will also be transferred to Madhya Pradesh.
• The animals will initially be housed at Van Vihar National Park, Bhopal, for acclimatisation and monitoring.
• Wild water buffaloes will be reintroduced into their historical habitat at Kanha Tiger Reserve.
• In exchange, Madhya Pradesh will provide Assam with a pair of tigers and six mugger crocodiles.
• The wild water buffalo, an endangered species, had become locally extinct in Madhya Pradesh over a century ago.
• A major study by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in Dehradun has identified Kanha Tiger Reserve as the most suitable location for animal reintroduction due to its abundant grasslands, water sources, minimal human interference, and a healthy population of herbivores.

Topic: Indian Economy

7. Based on the advanced estimates released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, India’s real GDP growth is projected at 7.4% for FY 2025–26.

• This is higher from the 6.5% growth rate in FY 2024-25. As per the estimates, the main driver of growth will be the services sector.
• As per projections, financial services, real estate, professional services and public administration will grow by 9.9% at constant prices in FY 2025–26.
• Trade, hotels, transport, communication and services related to broadcasting will expand by 7.5%.
• Growth in the secondary sector will be steady. Manufacturing and construction will grow at 7%.
• It is estimated that the agriculture sector will record a growth rate of 3.1%.
• Real Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) will grow by 7 per cent during FY 2025–26.
• Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) is a key indicator of investment activity.
• It is estimated to grow by 7.8% at constant prices during FY 2025–26.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

8. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw gave the 70th Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar 2025 in New Delhi.

• He honoured 100 railway officials for their outstanding service and presented 26 shields to the best-performing railway zones.
• The awards recognise exemplary service and outstanding contributions to Indian Railways.
• Mr Vaishnaw said the average number of accidents has now been reduced to about 12.
• The average number of accidents was around 170 during governments a decade ago.
• Two sportspersons were conferred the Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar-2025.
• The Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar is one of the highest honours in Indian Railways.
• It recognises dedication, innovation, and excellence in service across the organisation.
• It covers contributions in innovation, operational efficiency, safety, security, revenue augmentation, timely completion of projects, excellence in sports, and other distinguished areas of service.

Topic: Sports

9. Tamil Nadu tops medal tally on day 4 of Khelo India Beach Games 2026.

• Tamil Nadu topped the medal tally by winning two gold, two silver, and three bronze medals with outstanding performances in Pencak Silat and beach volleyball.
• Pencak silat is a traditional martial art. Tamil Nadu won gold medals in women's beach volleyball and men's Regu Pencak Silat, and also secured top positions in other events.
• Goa won the gold medal in men's beach volleyball, while Tamil Nadu failed to win any medals.
• The host Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu finished second place with a total of six medals.
• Manipur and Chandigarh won five medals each.
• The women's team from Haryana and the men's team from Delhi won gold medals in Sepak Takraw, defeating Bihar.
• In women's beach football, defending champions Odisha and Gujarat have reached the final.
• Khelo India Beach Games are being held at Ghogla Beach in Diu, Union Territory of Daman and Diu.
• More than 1,100 athletes are participating in these Games across eight sports, and 32 gold medals will be awarded.

Topic: Science and Technology

10. DRDO successfully completed the long-duration ground test of the scramjet engine.

• Long-duration ground test of an actively cooled, full-scale scramjet engine is a major advance in hypersonic weapons development. 
• The test was held at the Scramjet Connect Pipe Test (SCPT) facility of the Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) in Hyderabad.
• The test achieved a runtime of more than 12 minutes.
• A sub-scale long-duration test was carried out on April 25, 2025.
• DRDL designed and developed both the combustor and the test facility.
• The test puts India among a small group of nations with advanced hypersonic capabilities.
• Hypersonic cruise missiles are designed to exceed Mach 5 (above 6,100 kilometres per hour) speed.
• Hypersonic cruise missiles air-breathing engines. These engines rely on supersonic combustion to maintain extended flight durations.