Daily Current Affairs and GK | 24 January 2026

Topic: Important Days

National Girl Child Day: 24 January

• National Girl Child Day is celeb]]rated annually on 24 January.
• This day promotes awareness of girls’ rights, empowerment, and equal opportunities in India.
• This day is dedicated to highlighting the rights, education, health, nutrition, and overall welfare of girls.
• National Girl Child Day was started by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2008.
• As of January 2026, a total of 2,153 child marriages have been prevented.
• 60,262 Child Marriage Prohibition Officers have been appointed across the country.
• For 2024-2025, the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of girls at the secondary level has reached 80.2%, as per Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) report.
• 97.5 per cent of schools nationwide are equipped with girls’ toilet facilities.
• Sex Ratio at Birth has risen from around 918 in 2014-15 to 930 in 2023-24  at the national level.

Topic: Space and IT

2. Gujarat has taken a major step in the private space sector with a new satellite manufacturing plant at Khoraj in Sanand.

• The foundation stone for India’s first integrated private satellite manufacturing facility was laid at Khoraj in Sanand, Gujarat.
• The project belongs to Azista Space. It involves an Electro-Optical Payload Factory.
• The facility is named the “Palmnaro” plant. The plant will focus on indigenous satellite manufacturing.
• The initiative strengthens private participation in space technology.
• Gujarat’s Science and Technology Minister Arjun Modhwadia attended the ceremony.
• The minister said Gujarat is carrying forward the legacy of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai.
• He noted that the state is emerging as a new hub for space technology.
• Once completed, the plant will strengthen the aerospace manufacturing ecosystem.

Topic: State News/Kerala

3. Rail and development projects flagged off in Thiruvananthapuram to establish Kerala as an innovation hub.

• On January 23, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for and inaugurated development projects in Thiruvananthapuram.
• These projects aim to strengthen infrastructure, rail connectivity, healthcare, science, and urban livelihoods in Kerala.
• Enhanced rail links and new initiatives were highlighted as part of renewed efforts to accelerate Kerala’s development momentum.
• Thiruvananthapuram was projected as a future startup and innovation hub through focused infrastructure and technology-driven initiatives.
• A nationwide welfare initiative was launched with the introduction of the PM SVANidhi Credit Card to support street vendors, hawkers and footpath workers.
• Large-scale investments in urban infrastructure over the past 11 years were highlighted by PM, with more than four crore houses constructed under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
• Kerala alone has benefited with nearly 1.25 lakh housing beneficiaries under the urban housing mission.
• Financial relief measures such as PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, Ayushman Bharat health coverage up to ₹5 lakh and maternity welfare schemes were highlighted by PM Modi.
• Tax exemption on income up to ₹12 lakh was cited as a major relief for salaried and middle-class families, including those in Kerala.
• Under PM SVANidhi, over 10,000 Credit Cards have been distributed in Kerala, including more than 600 beneficiaries in Thiruvananthapuram.
• In addition, the PM flagged off four new train services, including three Amrit Bharat Express trains and a passenger train between Thrissur and Guruvayur, which will strengthen connectivity between Kerala and neighboring states.
• He also laid the foundation stone for the CSIR-NIIST Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship Hub and a state-of-the-art Radiosurgery Center at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

4. Wage and Pension Revisions approved for PSGICs, NABARD and RBI Employees.

• Wage revision for employees of Public Sector General Insurance Companies and NABARD was approved by the Central Government to improve employee welfare.
• Pension and family pension revision for retirees of the Reserve Bank of India and NABARD was also sanctioned to strengthen social security.
• Wage revision for PSGICs was made effective from August 1, 2022.
• The total hike in the wage bill will be 12.41%, which includes a 14% increase in the existing basic pay and dearness allowance.
• Around 43,247 PSGIC employees are expected to benefit, including enhancement of NPS contribution from 10% to 14% for employees who joined after April 1, 2010.
• Family pension for PSGICs was revised uniformly at 30%, benefiting 14,615 family pensioners.
• The total financial outgo for PSGICs is estimated at ₹8,170.30 crore, covering arrears, NPS contributions and pension payments.
• NABARD pay revision was approved from November 1, 2022, with an average hike of about 20% for Group A, B and C employees.
• Pension revision for eligible NABARD retirees was approved to bring parity with ex-RBI NABARD retirees.
• RBI pension and family pension were enhanced by 10% on basic pension plus dearness relief, effective from November 1, 2022.
• Overall, the decision will benefit more than 46,000 employees and pensioners, reinforcing financial security in the banking and insurance sectors.

Topic: National News

5. ‘Prakash Ganga’ Tableau will be showcased by the Ministry of Power at Republic Day 2026.

• A tableau titled “Prakash Ganga: Powering an Aatmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat” will be presented by the Ministry of Power at the Republic Day Parade on January 26.
• India’s journey from universal electricity access to global clean energy leadership will be showcased through the tableau.
• The theme “Prakash Ganga” symbolises the seamless flow of electricity through the interconnected national power grid.
• A robotic smart meter model alongside wind turbines will depict digitalisation and automation in power management.
• The “Smart Power, Smarter Home” concept will highlight rooftop solar installations and citizen participation as energy prosumers.
• A high transmission structure will represent last-mile connectivity across urban and rural regions.
• Electric vehicle charging infrastructure and electric mobility will be showcased as part of clean transport solutions.
• Renewable energy sources such as hydro, wind and geothermal power will reflect India’s expanding clean energy footprint.
• The “Switching on India” element will depict advanced grid control and monitoring systems ensuring uninterrupted power supply.
• The tableau aims to reinforce the government’s commitment to affordable, reliable and sustainable electricity for national development.

Topic: National Appointments

6. Ganesh Lakshminarayanan named CEO-Designate of Tata Communications.

• Former Airtel Business executive Ganesh Lakshminarayanan was named CEO-designate of Tata Communications by the company’s board.
• His appointment as Managing Director and CEO will be made after regulatory approvals, succeeding AS Lakshminarayanan in April 2026.
• More than 30 years of experience across multinational corporations, start-ups and Indian enterprises will be brought into the role.
• Prior to joining Tata Communications, Ganesh served as Managing Director and Group Vice President for ServiceNow India and SAARC.
• Market expansion and growth initiatives were led by him during his tenure at ServiceNow.
• Earlier, he served as CEO of Airtel Business and led Airtel’s Enterprise Business unit.
• Under his leadership, the enterprise business achieved 50% growth over three years.

Topic: National News

7. President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated Granth Kutir at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 23 January 2026.

• It is a collection of around 50 manuscripts and 2,300 books in 11 Indian classical languages.
• It covers subjects like epics, philosophy, linguistics, history, governance, science, and devotional literature and the Constitution of India in 11 Indian classical languages.
• This Kutir has been developed to increase awareness among citizens about the rich cultural and literary heritage of India.
• It is part of effort by Rashtrapati Bhavan for the preservation and promotion of India’s classical languages. 
• President said these languages have contributed significantly to the development of modern Indian languages.
• She encouraged young people to learn at least one classical language.
• Granth Kutir is an act of trying to support the vision of Gyan Bharatam Mission.
• Gyan Bharatam Mission is a national initiative to preserve, digitise, and disseminate India’s vast manuscript heritage.
• Granth Kutir has been developed in collaboration with the central government, state governments, and universities from across the country.
• Additionally, Granth Kutir has been developed in collaboration with research institutions, cultural organisations, and individual donors from across the country.

Topic: State News/Andhra Pradesh

8. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu launched the PM SVANidhi Credit Card.

• The launch took place as part of the nationwide PM SVANidhi programme and he also distributed 206 crore rupees in loans to street vendors.
• The event was organised across the state of Andhra Pradesh.
• Similar programmes were held in all Urban Local Bodies across the country.
• Street vendors received loan assistance during the programme.
• Cheques were handed over to beneficiaries and credit cards were issued to eligible street vendors.
• PM SVANidhi is a national programme for street vendors to strengthen the livelihoods of vendors.
• It promotes access to formal financial services and supports economic empowerment of street vendors.
• PM SVANidhi was launched on 1st June 2020.

Topic: Art and Culture

9. The National School of Drama will organise the 25th Bharat Rang Mahotsav in 2026.

• 25th Bharat Rang Mahotsav will be held from January 27 to February 20.
• Bharat Rang Mahotsav is the world’s largest international theatre festival.
• The 2026 edition will be the biggest in its history and hosted across 40 locations in India.
• The festival will feature productions from all seven continents and at least one play from each continent will be presented.
• A total of 277 Indian productions and twelve international productions will be part of the programme.
• Performances will be in 228 languages and dialects, including Indian and foreign languages.
• NSD Vice Chairman Prof. Bharat Gupt said the festival reflects the democratisation of theatre.
• Several lesser-known and tribal languages, including Maithili, Bhojpuri, Tulu and Sanskrit will be featured.
• Languages like Tai Khamti and Nyishi will also be included.
• Ladakh will host the festival for the first time. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep and Daman and Diu have been added as centres.
• NSD Director Chittaranjan Tripathy described the festival as a Mahakumbh of theatre.
• Productions by transgender communities, sex workers and senior citizens will be included.
• A special seminar will pay tribute to Ebrahim Alkazi at the NSD campus in Delhi.
• Selected plays will be awarded and published and seventeen books will be launched under the Shruti initiative.

Topic: International Appointments

10. Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party has reappointed To Lam as its top leader.

• The party’s central committee voted unanimously and he will serve another term of five years.
• All 180 committee members supported his re-election.
• The voting took place after the party congress which is held every five years.
• Vietnam follows a one-party political system and To Lam leads the ruling Communist Party.
• The party adopted a new economic resolution, which targets at least 10 percent growth each year.
• Nineteen members were appointed to the Politburo, which is the party’s top decision-making body.
• To Lam ranked first on the Politburo list and Parliament head Tran Thanh Man ranked second. Senior party leader Tran Cam Tu followed.
• Defence Minister Phan Van Giang, who is widely considered very influential, appeared lower on the list.
• Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and President Luong Cuong were not included in the list.
• Vietnam is a Southeast Asian country. Hanoi is its capital. The dong is its currency.