Daily Current Affairs and GK | 18 and 19 January 2026

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

1. A Joint Declaration of Intent on Telecommunications Cooperation have been signed by India and Germany.

• India and Germany have agreed to improve cooperation through regular exhange of information and best practices.
• Both sides also agreed to enhance ccoperation through promotion of collaboration in emerging and future technologies.
• They also agreed to improve cooperation through joint efforts in areas like policy and regulatory frameworks, manufacturing, and facilitation of ease of doing business in the telecommunications and ICT sectors.
• The Declaration was signed at the time of the official visit of the Federal Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, to India from the 12th to the 13th January.
• This cooperation supports the shared objective of inclusive and sustainable digital transformation.
• This also shows commitment of both countries to deepen bilateral cooperation in telecommunications and Information and Communication Technologies.
• India Germany Relations:

• India and Germany have strategic partnership since May 2000.
• In September 2006, bilateral Defence Cooperation Agreement was signed between India and Germany. It provides the framework for bilateral defence ties.
• Germany was India's 12th largest trading partner in 2023-24. It was India’s 7th largest trading partner in 2020-21.

Topic: National News

2. The Republic Day parade 2026 will be celebrated for the first time with a battle array display and the theme of 150 years of Vande Mataram.

• The Republic Day celebrations 2026 at Kartavya Path will be centred on the 150th anniversary of the national song Vande Mataram, as announced by the Defence Ministry.
• The Republic Day Parade will be organised on 26 January and will be attended by the President of the European Council António Costa and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen as Chief Guests.
• A phased battle array display by the Indian Army will be showcased for the first time during the parade, highlighting India’s military preparedness.
• The overarching theme “150 Years of Vande Mataram” will be reflected across tableaux, visuals, music, decorations and cultural performances.
• A series of paintings created in 1923 by artist Tejendra Kumar Mitra, illustrating the verses of Vande Mataram, will be displayed along Kartavya Path.
• Pan-India band performances on the Vande Mataram theme will be organised from 19 to 26 January by the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and other CAPFs across India.
• The Indian Army will showcase the phased battle array format for the first time, which will include a mounted column of the 61 Cavalry and seven marching contingents.
• The mechanised column will feature platforms such as T-90 and Arjun tanks, BMP-II infantry combat vehicles, ATAGS and Dhanush artillery systems, and BrahMos, Akash and MRSAM missile systems.
• A total of 30 tableaux from States, Union Territories and ministries will roll down Kartavya Path, showcasing themes of freedom, self-reliance, culture and national development.
• The tableaux will broadly align with the themes “स्वतंत्रता का मंत्र – वंदे मातरम” and “समृद्धि का मंत्र – आत्मनिर्भर भारत”.
• Nearly 2,500 artists will perform during the cultural programme built around the twin themes of Vande Mataram and Atmanirbhar Bharat.
• The celebrations will be followed by Bharat Parv at the Red Fort from 26 to 31 January, showcasing regional cuisine, handicrafts and cultural performances.

Topic: National News

3. PM Vishwakarma Haat 2026 is being organized at Dilli Haat to promote traditional crafts.

• PM Vishwakarma Haat 2026 is being organised by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises at Dilli Haat, INA, in New Delhi from 18 to 31 January.
• On 18 January, the exhibition will be inaugurated by Union Minister for MSME Jitan Ram Manjhi in the presence of Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje.
• The event has been conceived as a dedicated platform to celebrate India’s traditional crafts and artisanship under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme.
• More than 117 artisans from all States and Union Territories will participate, ensuring a pan-India representation of diverse crafts and skills.
• The exhibition aims to enable artisans to directly exhibit and market their products to buyers, stakeholders and the general public.
• A wide range of handcrafted products, live craft demonstrations and cultural experiences will be showcased at the Haat.
• The theme “Vishwakarma Ka Abhiyaan, Viksit Bharat Ka Nirman” will be reflected across the exhibition.
• The event seeks to enhance market access, improve visibility and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for beneficiaries of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme.
• Representatives from foreign missions have also been invited to attend the exhibition.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Sports

4. Aaryan Varshney became India’s 92nd Chess Grandmaster on 15 January.

• Aaryan Varshney has been crowned as India’s 92nd chess Grandmaster after achieving the prestigious title in Armenia.
• The Grandmaster title was secured by winning the Andranik Margaryan Memorial tournament with a round to spare.
• The final and decisive GM norm was achieved after a draw against FM Tyhran Ambartsumian in the eighth round.
• At the age of 21, Aaryan Varshney has joined India’s elite list of chess Grandmasters.
• He became the eighth Grandmaster from Delhi, adding to the capital’s strong chess legacy.
• A Grandmaster norm reflects a high-level tournament performance.
• It must meet the strict standards set by FIDE (World Chess Federation).
• To become a Grandmaster, a player needs three GM norms.
• They must also achieve a FIDE rating of at least 2500.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

5. The Tyler Prize awarded to Toby Kiers for revealing hidden fungal networks.

• The Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement has been awarded to American scientist Toby Kiers for her pioneering work on mycorrhizal fungal networks.
• The Tyler Prize is often referred to as the “Nobel for the environment” for recognising outstanding environmental achievements.
• Vast underground fungal webs have been shown to act as nutrient-trading systems between plants and roots, regulating the Earth’s climate.
• These mycorrhizal networks draw down around 13.12 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, helping to reduce global emissions.
• The importance of these networks was brought into focus through a global Underground Atlas launched by Toby Kiers and her colleagues.
• The research revealed that mycorrhizal fungi are one of Earth’s vital circulatory systems rather than merely plant companions.
• The findings provide critical insights that can guide conservation efforts to protect underground biodiversity.
• Toby Kiers is a University Research Chair at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and a leading evolutionary biologist.
• Her work highlights the role of soil ecosystems in long-term climate regulation and carbon storage.

Topic: State News/Andhra Pradesh

6. Andhra Pradesh to host India’s first green ammonia complex at Kakinada.

• The foundation stone of AM Green’s Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia Complex will be laid at Kakinada, marking a major clean-energy milestone for Andhra Pradesh.
• The ceremony will be presided over by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on 18 January.
• In January 2025, the project has been approved by the Government of Andhra Pradesh and has moved rapidly from approval to execution within one year.
• An investment of nearly ₹83,000 crore has been committed to establish one of India’s largest clean-energy ventures.
• India’s first and the world’s largest green ammonia complex will be developed with a planned capacity of 1.5 million tonnes per annum.
• The commissioning will take place in several stages, starting with 0.5 MTPA by 2027, increasing to 1.0 MTPA in 2028, and reaching the full capacity of 1.5 MTPA by 2030.
• The facility will be developed through the brownfield conversion of the Nagarjuna Fertilizers and Chemicals ammonia-urea complex.
• The project is expected to generate around 8,000 jobs during the construction phase and long-term employment across multiple sectors.
• Green ammonia from Kakinada will be used for clean shipping fuel, power generation and as a pathway to green hydrogen.
• The plant’s strategic location near Kakinada Port will support India’s clean-energy exports to global markets.
• The project aligns with the Integrated Clean Energy Policy 2024 and positions Andhra Pradesh as a leader in India’s green-energy transition.

Topic: State News/ West Bengal

7. Development projects worth more than ₹830 crore were inaugurated by PM Modi at Singur in Hooghly district, West Bengal.

• The Prime Minister also flagged off three new Amrit Bharat Express trains.
• These trains will connect Kolkata with Anand Vihar Terminal in Delhi, Banaras and Tambaram in Tamil Nadu.
• The foundation stone for the Extended Port Gate System at Balagarh was also laid by PM Modi.
• The project includes an inland water transport terminal and a road overbridge.
• The facility will be developed over nearly 900 acres of land.
• It is planned as a modern cargo handling terminal with a capacity of 2.7 million tonnes per year.
• A state-of-the-art electric catamaran in Kolkata has also been launched by PM Modi.
• The vessel aims to promote eco-friendly river transport and tourism along the Hooghly River.

Topic: Defence

8. The Indian Coast Guard and the Japan Coast Guard carried out a joint Hazardous and Noxious Substances response drill in Mumbai.

• The exercise reaffirmed their strong maritime partnership.
• It also reaffirmed their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
• The drill was held onboard the Indian Coast Guard pollution response vessel ICGS Samudra Prahari.
• Japan Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Yoshio Seguchi visited the Indian Coast Guard Regional Headquarters (West) for the engagement.
• Admiral Seguchi held a courtesy meeting with Inspector General Bhisham Sharma, Commander, Coast Guard Region (West).
• During the meeting, both sides stressed the need for closer cooperation and emphasised improving operational interoperability.
• A specialised joint training exercise was the highlight of the visit.
• The exercise involved the Indian Coast Guard Pollution Response Strike Team and the Japan Coast Guard National Strike Team.
• Before the sea drill, detailed planning sessions were held in Mumbai.
• A joint demonstration of HNS response techniques was later carried out and was reviewed onboard ICGS Samudra Prahari.
• Apart from operational training, the Japanese delegation visited Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

9. The 86th All India Presiding Officers Conference started on 19 January 2026 in Lucknow.

• The venue for the conference is Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha.
• Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla addressed the inaugural session.
• Presiding officers from across the country are taking part in the conference.
• The participants will discuss legislative procedures and deliberate on parliamentary traditions.
• The conduct of legislative Houses will be examined.
• The conference will be held over three days.
• Delegates will focus on the use of technology in legislative functioning.
• Speaker of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly Satish Mahana delivered the welcome address.
• Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh will address the gathering.
• Members of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council will be present.
• The conference will conclude on 21 January 2026. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will deliver the valedictory address.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

10. The second nationwide survey of riverine and estuarine dolphins has been launched.

• The survey started from Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh. It is being carried out under Project Dolphin.
• As per the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the survey will take place in two phases.
• The first phase will cover the main stretch of the Ganga from Bijnor to Ganga Sagar. It will also include the Indus River.
• The second phase will focus on Brahmaputra, the tributaries of the Ganga, the Sundarbans, and Odisha.
• The Ministry said the survey will assess the population status of the Indus River Dolphin and Irrawaddy Dolphins.
• The survey will also assess habitat conditions, threats, and associated conservation-priority fauna.
• With this survey, population estimates for the species will be updated.
• The survey will also support improved conservation planning under Project Dolphin.
• Project Dolphin was started in 2020 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• The previous nationwide survey of 2021–23 found around 6,327 riverine dolphins in India.
• This included Ganges River Dolphins in the Ganga, Yamuna, Chambal, Gandak, Ghaghara, Kosi, Mahananda and Brahmaputra systems, and a small population of Indus River Dolphins in the Beas.
• Uttar Pradesh and Bihar accounted for the largest numbers.