Daily Current Affairs and GK | 21 January 2026

Topic: International News

1. India and the UAE agreed to further deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

• Both countries set a target to raise bilateral trade to USD 200 billion by 2032.
• The agreement was reached during talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in New Delhi.
• Sheikh Mohamed visited India at the invitation of PM Modi. This was his fifth visit to India in the last decade.
• The two leaders reviewed cooperation across political, economic and strategic areas.
• The leaders noted strong growth in bilateral trade, which expanded rapidly after the CEPA was signed in 2022 and reached USD 100 billion in FY 2024–25.
• The leaders welcomed progress under the Bilateral Investment Treaty signed in 2024.
• Possible UAE participation in the Dholera Special Investment Region, Gujarat was discussed.
• PM Modi invited UAE sovereign wealth funds to invest in India.
• He specifically mentioned the second NIIF Infrastructure Fund, scheduled for launch in 2026.
• Energy cooperation remained a central pillar of the partnership.
• A 10-year LNG supply agreement was signed between HPCL and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) Gas.
• It covers 0.5 million tonnes of LNG per year and supplies will begin in 2028.
• The leaders discussed establishing Digital Embassies.
• These would operate under mutually recognised sovereignty arrangements.
• India and the UAE reaffirmed strong defence and security cooperation and welcomed the signing of a Letter of Intent, which moves both sides toward a Strategic Defence Partnership.
• Cultural cooperation featured prominently in the talks.
• PM Modi welcomed the UAE’s decision to provide artefacts, which will be displayed at the National Maritime Heritage Complex in Lothal.
• Both leaders agreed to establish a House of India in Abu Dhabi.
• The UAE expressed support for India’s BRICS Chairmanship in 2026.
• India expressed support for the UAE’s co-hosting of the 2026 UN Water Conference.

Topic: Miscellaneous

2. Nitin Nabin elected as National President of Bharatiya Janata Party.

• Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) working president Nitin Nabin has been elected as the National President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), marking a significant organisational development for the party.
• On 20 January, his election was officially announced by the party’s National Returning Officer, Dr. K. Laxman, during the Sangathan Parv event held at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi.
• The certificate of election was formally handed over to Nitin Nabin in the presence of senior party leadership.
• He became the youngest National President in BJP’s history and the first leader from Bihar to hold this position.
• Nitin Nabin currently represents the Bankipur Assembly constituency in Patna district and serves as the Road Construction Minister in the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government.
• On December 14, Mr. Nabin was declared the BJP's national working president after a search of nearly 18 months, signaling that he was the high command's choice for the national president's post.
• He has now become the 12th president of the BJP, a party that was formed in 1980 – the same year he was born.