Daily Current Affairs and GK | 8 January 2026

Topic: Infrastructure and Energy

1. A three-year pipeline of Public Private Partnership projects worth Rs 17 lakh crore rupees has been created by Centre.

• A three-year Public Private Partnership (PPP) project pipeline has been created by the Department of Economic Affairs in view of the implementation of the announcement made in the Union Budget 2025-26.
• The project pipeline includes 852 projects, which are spread across Central Infrastructure Ministries, States, and Union Territories.
• The combined total project cost is over 17 lakh crore rupees.
• The pipeline provides early visibility for upcoming PPP projects.
• It helps investors plan their investments.
• It also enables developers and other stakeholders to undertake more informed planning and investment decisions.

Topic: National News

2. Indian Railways has become the world’s largest electrified rail system.

• Almost the entire 70,000 route-kilometre broad-gauge network is now powered by electricity.
• By November 2025, more than 99% of the network was electrified.
• The pace of electrification has increased by a large amount over time.
• Between 2004 and 2014, it was about 1.5 kilometres per day.
• In the last six years, it increased to more than 15 kilometres per day.
• Indian Railways has expanded its use of renewable energy.
• Solar power capacity increased to nearly 900 megawatts by November 2025.
• In 2014, solar power capacity was under 4 megawatts.
• This indicates a significant growth in renewable energy adoption.

Topic: National News

3. Two Guinness World Records set by NHAI during Bengaluru–Vijayawada Expressway Construction.

• Two Guinness World Records have been set by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) during the construction of the Bengaluru–Kadapa–Vijayawada Expressway in Andhra Pradesh.
• The achievement was announced by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who described it as a proud moment for the state and the country.
• The records were achieved through M/s Rajpath Infracon Pvt. Ltd. on the Bengaluru–Kadapa–Vijayawada Economic Corridor (NH-544G).
• The first record was set when around 29 lane-kilometres of Bituminous Concrete were laid continuously within 24 hours, making it the longest distance achieved in a single day.
• The second record was achieved with the laying of over 10,000 metric tonnes of Bituminous Concrete continuously within 24 hours, marking the highest quantity laid in a single day.
• The 343-kilometer-long Bengaluru-Kadapa-Vijayawada Economic Corridor will strengthen inter-state connectivity between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
• It will also support trade, tourism, and regional economic development through faster, safer, and uninterrupted mobility.
• Two additional Guinness World Records are planned to be attempted by January 11, 2026, on Packages 2 and 3 of this landmark corridor in Andhra Pradesh.

Topic: National News

4. National Workshop on Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayats is being organised by MoPR in Pune.

• A two-day national workshop on best practices of Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayats is being organised by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj in Pune.
• The workshop is being held at YASHADA, Pune, on January 8 and 9, in collaboration with the Maharashtra government’s Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department.
• The event is aimed at strengthening gender equality and women’s empowerment at the grassroots level through capacity building of Gram Panchayats.
• The workshop inaugurated by Additional Secretary Sushil Kumar Lohani.
• Around 240 participants from 13 States and Union Territories is taking part in the programme.
• Participants include elected representatives, secretaries of Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayats, Block Development Officers and State Nodal Officers.
• Five thematic areas will be covered, including governance participation, health and nutrition, education and skills, economic opportunities, and safety and security.
• The programme is part of the Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayats initiative launched on March 5, 2025, to ensure one women- and girl-friendly Gram Panchayat in every district.
• Under SDG Localization Theme 9, 744 Gram Panchayats across 32 States and Union Territories have been identified, with progress tracked through a dashboard of 35 indicators across six sub-themes.

Topic: National Appointments

5. Ramesh Kumar Juneja has assumed the position of Chairman of the Council for Leather Exports (CLE).

• The assumption of charge took place during the 184th meeting of the Committee of Administration of CLE held in Chennai on 6 January 2026.
• The Council for Leather Exports is an Export Promotion Council sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Mr. Juneja has been associated with CLE for over 15 years and has served as Regional Chairman of the Eastern Region since 2014.
• He served as Vice-Chairman of CLE from April 2024 prior to assuming the chairmanship.
• His leadership contributions have helped the leather industry achieve record exports in leather goods and safety wear.
• Mr. Juneja is the founder of JC Group and has over four decades of experience in the leather industry.
• He currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce, facilitating India-Italy collaboration across multiple sectors.

Topic: State News/Haryana

6. India’s first hydrogen-powered train is set to be launched in the state of Haryana.

• The project is being implemented by Northern Railway and will operate on the Jind–Sonipat route.
• Preparations for the launch are in the final stages, as confirmed by the Haryana government.
• A stable and uninterrupted 11 kV power supply has been ensured for the hydrogen plant established at Jind.
• The hydrogen plant installed for this project has a storage capacity of 3,000 kilograms and is now in its final commissioning phase.
• The project was reviewed by Haryana Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, who directed regular monitoring of power supply systems.
• Strengthening of alternative arrangements and rapid response mechanisms has been emphasised to avoid operational disruptions.
• The project has been taken up by Indian Railways on a pilot basis, as informed by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in the Lok Sabha.
• The train’s operation is being conducted as per specifications framed by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO).
• Hydrogen for the train is being produced through the electrolysis process, marking a key step in India’s green hydrogen and clean mobility initiative.

Topic: Personality in News

7. Veteran BJP leader and former Union Minister of State Kabindra Purkayastha die at the age of 94.

• He was born on 15 December 1931 at Kamarkhal in the then Sylhet district. The area is part of present-day Bangladesh.
• He joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in 1951.
• His public life was deeply rooted in the functioning of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
• He contributed significantly to expansion of the RSS network in Northeast India.
• He was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1991 and represented the Silchar Lok Sabha constituency.
• He was re-elected to Parliament in 1998 and served as Minister of State for Telecommunications during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure.

Topic: National News

8. India has become world's first country to commercially produce bio-bitumen.

• The achievement was announced by Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari at the CSIR Technology Transfer Ceremony in New Delhi.
• Bio-bitumen is used in road construction. It serves as an alternative to conventional bitumen, which is derived from crude oil.
• Mr Gadkari congratulated CSIR on this historic milestone and said that the initiative will assist in lowering pollution from crop residue burning.
• Mr Gadkari described the initiative as a step toward Viksit Bharat 2047.
• Science and Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh also spoke at the event.
• He said the development is a sign of a new phase of clean and green highways in India.
• He also said that the initiative supports the Waste to Wealth mission and will help convert agricultural waste into useful resources.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

9. A three-day international conference on Democracy and Election Management will be hosted by the Election Commission of India (ECI). 

• The conference will be hosted in New Delhi from the 21st of this month.
• India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) will be organising the international conference under the aegis of ECI.
• The theme of the conference is democracy for an inclusive, peaceful, resilient and sustainable world.
• The conference will provide a platform for international cooperation amongst Election Management Bodies.
• IIIDEM Director General Rakesh Kumar Verma launched the official logo of the conference.
• The logo has globe at the centre with India prominently positioned at the centre.
• The globe represents the global nature of the conference.
• During the three-day conference, Chief Election Commissioner along with Election Commissioners will have 40 bilateral meetings.
• The bilateral meetings will be held with the heads of participating Election Management Bodies and other international delegates.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

10. The Ministry of Communications signed two MoUs in New Delhi.

• The MoUs were signed with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and the Ministry of Rural Development.
• The MoUs aim to benefit farmers and rural citizens, with a focus on countering misinformation and improving banking services.
• Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said the MoU with the Agriculture Ministry addresses the issue of fake pesticides and will strengthen pesticide quality control.
• It will provide benefit to about 15 crore farmers across the country.
• As part of the MoU, pesticide samples will carry QR codes and will be digitally tracked.
• The samples will be preserved through temperature monitoring.
• Samples will now reach labs within two to three days. Earlier, the process took 10 to 15 days.
• Mr Scindia said the MoU with the Ministry of Rural Development focuses on empowering rural communities.
• It will benefit around 12 crore women in self-help groups by linking them with India Post Payments Bank.