Daily Current Affairs and GK | 31 January 2026

Topic: Awards and Prizes

1. Steel Authority of India Limited has been awarded the Great Place to Work certification.

• The certification has been awarded for third consecutive year and for the period from February 2026 to February 2027.
• The certification has been awarded following a comprehensive assessment by the Great Place to Work Institute of India.
• The Great Place to Work Institute is a global authority on workplace culture.
• It honors organizations that deliver exceptional employee experiences.
• SAIL demonstrated a significant rise in its TRUST INDEX score.
• TRUST INDEX score is an indicator of the percentage of employees giving positive feedback during the assessment.
• Great Place To Work Certification requires minimum 70% positive employee feedback via the Trust Index Survey and a Culture Audit.
• Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) is one of India’s largest public sector steelmakers.

Topic: Indian Economy

2. Economic Survey 2025-26 states that rural employment has been a key part of India’s social protection system for nearly two decades.

• According to Economic Survey 2025-26, participation of women increased steadily from 48 per cent in FY14 to 58.1 per cent in FY25.
• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) has provided wage employment since its launch in 2005.
• It stabilised rural incomes and created basic infrastructure by providing up to 100 days of guaranteed unskilled work to rural households.
• Rural employment needs have changed over time. The change is brought by increasing incomes, enhanced connectivity, widespread digital adoption, and diversified livelihoods.
• This emphasises both the programme’s achievements and the need to reassess its design and aims.
• Administrative and technological reforms have strengthened the scheme.
• The Aadhaar-Based Payment System is widely used. Electronic wage payments are nearly universal.
• However, structural challenges remain as monitoring shows work is sometimes not completed and expenditure does not always match physical progress.
• Other issues are the use of machinery in labour-intensive works, bypass of digital attendance systems and misappropriation of funds over time.
• These show the limits of the current system.
• Against this backdrop, Viksit Bharat- Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 has been enacted. It is also referred to as VB G-RAM G Act, 2025.
• As per the Survey, VB G-RAM G Act, 2025 marks a major shift in India’s rural employment policy.

Topic: Defence

3. Maritime Cooperation and Interoperability discussed between India and Japan.

• On 29 January, maritime cooperation and interoperability were discussed between the Indian Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force during the 11th edition of the bilateral Staff Talks held in New Delhi.
• The talks were aimed at promoting a collaborative approach towards a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, while strengthening shared strategic objectives in the maritime domain.
• The Staff Talks were co-chaired by Rear Admiral Srinivas Maddula from the Indian Navy and Rear Admiral Toshiyuki Hirata from the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force.
• It was stated by the Indian Navy that the discussions focused on enhancing operational cooperation, improving interoperability and building convergence on the shared vision of MAHASAGAR and OCEAN.
• Both sides agreed to further strengthen bilateral naval ties through cooperation in operations, equipment and personnel exchanges.
• The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force highlighted that deeper naval engagement would contribute to peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific region.
• The Staff Talks were concluded successfully on January 29 in New Delhi, reaffirming the growing maritime partnership between the two navies.

Topic: Art and Culture

4. An expansive edition of SARAS MELA hosted by JKRLM in Jammu.

• An expansive edition of the SARAS MELA has been hosted by the Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihood Mission (JKRLM) at Kala Kendra in Jammu, beginning 31 January, and continuing until 9 February.
• The national-level event has been organised as a ten-day fair aimed at showcasing rural creativity, culture and entrepreneurship from across the country.
• The mela has been designed to bring rural women entrepreneurs from Jammu and Kashmir and other states onto a common platform.
• The event has been intended to strengthen women’s empowerment by enabling Self-Help Group members to display and sell their products directly to consumers.
• Rural women have been provided an opportunity to connect with urban buyers, gain exposure to modern branding practices and understand consumer preferences.
• Traditional handicrafts, handlooms, indigenous food products and locally made items has been highlighted as part of the exhibition.
• The mela served as a space for cultural exchange, with artisans presenting region-specific crafts that reflected India’s diverse heritage.
• Each stall has been described as representing not only a product but also the identity, skills and traditions of the women behind it.
• The event aimed to promote self-reliance and entrepreneurship by transforming rural skills into sustainable livelihood opportunities.
• Visitors were offered an immersive experience through interaction with artisans, creating awareness about rural craftsmanship and community-based enterprises.

Topic: National News

5. India’s First LNG–Diesel Dual-Fuel DEMU Train launched by Indian Railways.

• India’s first-ever LNG–Diesel dual-fuel DEMU train was operationalised by Indian Railways at Sabarmati in Ahmedabad as part of sustainable rail initiatives.
• The launch marked a major step towards eco-friendly rail operations by reducing dependence on conventional diesel fuel.
• The driving power cars of the 1,400 HP DEMU train were converted to a dual-fuel system using Liquefied Natural Gas.
• Approximately 40% of diesel consumption was replaced with LNG under the new fuel configuration.
• The converted power cars successfully completed field trials covering more than 2,000 kilometres without operational issues.
• Significant environmental benefits were highlighted, including a reduction in carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions.
• Improvement in air quality along railway routes was identified as a key outcome of the dual-fuel system.

Topic: Important Days

6. Indian Coast Guard Day 2026: 1 February

• Every year, Indian Coast Guard Day is celebrated on 1 February.
• This day is observed to mark the anniversary of the founding of the Indian Coast Guard on 1 February 1977 under the Coast Guard Act, 1978.
• This year, Indian Coast Guard Day is celebrating its 49th anniversary.
• Roles and Responsibilities of the Coast Guard:

• Providing protection and assistance to fishermen in distress while at sea.
• Preservation and protection of maritime environment including prevention and control of marine pollution.
• Assisting the Customs and other authorities in anti-smuggling operations.
• Enforcement of Maritime Zones of India Act.
• Precautionary measures for the safety of life and property at sea and collection of scientific data.

Topic: State News/Assam

7. Development projects worth 1,715 crore inaugurated Union Minister Amit Shah in Dibrugarh district, Assam.

• He also attended the Takam Mising Porin Kebang Youth Festival as the chief guest. The festival was held in Dhemaji district.
• He attended the festival after the inauguration and foundation laying program at Dibrugarh district earlier in the day.
• He addressed the 10th Mising Youth Festival. He appreciated the Mising Community for their culture.
• As per the Home Minister, a special recruitment drive will be started soon for the youths of Mising Community.
• He launched flood and erosion control initiatives at Dibrugarh.
• Mising language has been introduced by Assam Government at 200 primary schools as a medium of instruction. 
• He laid the foundation stone of the second complex of the Assam Assembly, and the Institute of Wildlife Health and Research in Dibrugarh.
• He also launched the Project for Restoration and Rejuvenation of Wetlands of Assam under the National Disaster Mitigation Fund.

Topic: Art and Culture

8. 31^st January is Prakash Purab of seventh Sikh guru Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji.

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah extended greetings to people on the occasion.
• He said the teachings of Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji, who strengthened the traditions of langar and sangat, are a source of compassion and sensitivity.
• Guru Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji is known for his compassionate, peaceful nature and as a proponent of environmental conservation.
• He was born on January 16, 1630, in Kiratpur Sahib. He became Guru on March 3, 1644.
• He led the Sikhs for 17 years (1644–1661). He is recognized as a "prophet of nature."
• He is honored through the celebration of World Sikh Environment Day on March 14.

Topic: State News/Gujarat

9. Mukhyamantri Gramotthan Yojana launched by Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel from Bhadran village in Anand district of Gujarat.

• The programme is being implemented across the entire state and focuses on strengthening development in rural areas.
• Its aim is to provide villages with facilities similar to those found in cities and to reduce the development gap between rural and urban regions.
• In the first phase, 114 villages have been selected. They serve as Taluka headquarters and receive upgraded road infrastructure.
• Underground drainage systems will be developed in these villages.
• Solar-powered street lights will be installed and Digital e-Gram services will be strengthened.
• The foundation stone for a total of 2,666 Gram Panchayat Ghar-cum-Talati Awas buildings was laid by CM.
• The total project cost for these buildings is ₹663 crore.
• The Chief Minister announced that the Gramotthan Abhiyan will be expanded further to cover villages with populations above 10,000.

Topic: International News

10. First USD-backed stablecoin of United Arab Emirates has been approved by Central Bank of the UAE.

• This is a key step in the regulation of digital assets and payment tokens in the UAE.
• The approved stablecoin is called USDU. It has been cleared under the Payment Token Services Regulation of the central bank.
• USDU is issued and administered by Universal Digital.
• Universal Digital is a crypto firm regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of the Abu Dhabi Global Market.
• The company is the first foreign payment token issuer registered with the UAE Central Bank.
• The approval places the UAE among leading financial centres adopting regulated digital payment frameworks.
• Universal Digital described the launch as a major milestone for regulated digital infrastructure.
• Stablecoins are a category of cryptocurrency designed to hold a steady value. Stablecoins operate on blockchain-based systems.
• They are typically linked to reserve assets such as fiat currencies.
• The US dollar is the most common reference currency for stablecoins.
• Stablecoins are less volatile than traditional cryptocurrencies and are suitable for payments and settlements.