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.

Topic: Summits/Commences/Meeting

3. A round table conference with Ambassadors on Fisheries Sector organised in New Delhi.

• On 21 January, a round table conference with Ambassadors and High Commissioners from 83 partner countries organised by the Department of Fisheries in New Delhi.
• The conference convened under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying to strengthen international engagement in the fisheries sector.
• The event chaired by Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Rajiv Ranjan Singh.
• Participation witnessed from partner countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, Oceania, Latin America and the Caribbean.
• The conference is aimed at strengthening bilateral trade, promoting seafood exports and expanding international market linkages.
• The platform used to enable structured dialogue on seafood trade, market access and regulatory cooperation.
• Deliberations are focusing on sustainable, traceable and value-added seafood trade practices.
• Opportunities for investment, joint ventures and technology transfer identified during the discussions.
• Capacity building initiatives in the fisheries sector also highlighted as part of the engagement.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

4. C-DOT awarded SKOCH Award 2025 for cell broadcast solution.

• The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) has been conferred the SKOCH Award-2025 for its Cell Broadcast Solution.
• The award was presented at the 104th SKOCH Summit held on the theme “Resourcing Viksit Bharat”.
• The recognition has been accorded for C-DOT’s contribution to disaster and emergency communication systems.
• The Cell Broadcast Solution has been developed as an integrated platform for disaster alert dissemination.
• The system brings agencies such as the India Meteorological Department and the National Disaster Management Authority onto a single integrated unified platform.
• The solution enables real-time alert generation for weather-related and disaster-management emergencies.
• The SKOCH Award is given to individuals, projects, and institutions for outstanding work in improving governance and development, recognising excellence in sectors including finance, tech, health, and education.  
• C-DOT is a research and development centre under the aegis of the Department of Telecommunications for telecommunication technologies.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

5. Investment MoUs worth ₹14.5 Lakh crore signed by Maharashtra at WEF summit.

• Investment MOUs worth ₹14.5 lakh crore were signed by the Maharashtra government on the opening day of the World Economic Forum summit on 19 January.
• The record-breaking investment commitments were secured at Davos, marking one of the largest single-day hauls for the state.
• A total of 19 MoUs were signed, nearly matching the state’s total investment collection from the entire Davos summit in 2025.
• The agreements are projected to generate more than 15 lakh employment opportunities across sectors.
• The investments align with Maharashtra’s ‘Viksit Maharashtra 2047’ vision and its goal of becoming a $5 trillion economy.
• MoUs worth around ₹11 lakh crore were signed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority in infrastructure and urban development with global firms, including Brookfield and Sumitomo.
• Investment commitments worth ₹3.13 lakh crore were coordinated by the Industry, Investment and Services Department.
• Strategic agreements were entered into with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and international universities to develop Mumbai as a future-ready global city.
• The main MoUs include investments of ₹3.2 lakh crore from the SBG Group, ₹1.1 lakh crore from ArcelorMittal, ₹1 lakh crore from the Lodha Group, ₹12,000 crore from Skoda Auto Volkswagen, and ₹20,000 crore from Surajgarh Ispat.
• Officials said that 75% of the MoUs signed in January 2025 have already reached the implementation stage, further strengthening international investors' confidence in the state's infrastructure readiness.

Topic: Sports

6. Vidarbha won the Vijay Hazare Trophy title for the first time.

• Vidarbha’s maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy (2025-26) title was secured with a 38-run victory over Saurashtra at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
• A commanding target of 318 runs was set after a century by Atharva Taide.
• Saurashtra was restricted to 279 runs despite a strong middle-order effort.
• Atharva Taide scored 128 runs, registering his first century of the tournament in the final.
• The first edition of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, also known as the Ranji One-Day Trophy, was held in 2002-03.
• Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have been the most successful teams, having won the title five times each.
• Last year, Karnataka won the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25.

Topic: Books and Authors

7. A book titled Chalice of Ambrosia: Ram Janmabhoomi-Challenge and Response launched by Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan in New Delhi on 20 January 2026.

• Surendra Kumar Pachauri, a former Secretary to the Government of India is the author of the book.
• The Vice President praised the author and said that Shri Pachauri has successfully brought out the essence of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement without sensationalism or distortion.
• Vice President recalled the Dhwaja-rohan ceremony at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir on 25 November 2025.
• The Vice President stated that the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya represents a landmark phase in India’s civilisational history.
• He said the event symbolised the convergence of faith, law and democracy with dignity.
• He noted that the Supreme Court’s 2019 verdict addressed the hopes of millions of people.

Topic: Important Days

8. Statehood day of Manipur, Tripura, and Meghalaya:  21st January

• Statehood day of Manipur, Tripura, and Meghalaya is observed on 21st January.
• Manipur, Tripura, and Meghalaya were granted statehood in 1972.
• The three states attained statehood under the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act of 1971.
• North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act of 1971 became effective on January 21, 1972.
• Manipur and Tripura were princely states, which were included in India in October 1949. Then the states were given the status of union territories.
• In 1970, Meghalaya became an autonomous state within Assam.
• In 1972, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Manipur were given full statehood.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

9. More than one Lakh artisans received benefits from One Station One Product scheme of Indian Railways.

• The scheme has become a key initiative to promote local craftmanship and to generate sustainable livelihoods. 
• As per the Ministry of Railways, the One Station One Product scheme now covers more than 2,000 railway stations.
• It benefits over 1.32 lakh artisans, weavers, and small producers.
• It provides them with direct market access to millions of railway passengers every day.
• The Ministry of Railways said that the Railways has changed stations into centres of local enterprise.
• The scheme has strengthened inclusive economic growth while enhancing the passenger experience by linking local heritage with the national railway network.
• Under the scheme, a large number of region-specific products are being sold under the scheme.
• These products include handmade pottery and bamboo crafts from the Northeast, along with spices, handloom items, handicrafts, and traditional sweets from different parts of the country. 
• One Station One Product scheme was launched in 2022. It stands as a true example of “Vocal for Local”.

Topic: Miscellaneous

10. Central Motor Vehicles Rules have been amended to improve toll payment compliance.

• The amendments are notified under the Central Motor Vehicles (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026.
• These amendments make major changes to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.
• The objective of amendments is to strengthen user fee collection at National Highway toll plazas and to improve the efficiency of Electronic Toll Collection systems.
• The amendments are also aimed at discouraging user fee evasion on National Highways.
• The amended rules introduce a new definition of 'unpaid user fee'.
• Unpaid user fee applies when a vehicle’s passage is recorded electronically but payment is not received in accordance with the National Highways Act, 1956.
• The amendments link unpaid toll fees with vehicle-related services.
• A No Objection Certificate for transfer of ownership or transfer of a vehicle from one State to another will not be issued if unpaid user fee is not cleared.
• Renewal or issue of a Certificate of Fitness will not be allowed if dues are pending.
• Commercial vehicles must clear unpaid user fees to obtain a National Permit.
• Form 28 has been revised under the new rules. Form 28 now requires applicants to disclose whether any demand for an unpaid user fee at a toll plaza is pending against the vehicle.
• The amended rules also enable the electronic issuance of relevant portions of ‘Form 28’ through the online portal.
• The amendments will support toll collection under the Multi-Lane Free Flow system.
• The Multi-Lane Free Flow system will allow barrier-free tolling on National Highways.