Comprehensive Current Affairs and GK brief for January 13, 2026
Here is your comprehensive Current Affairs and GK brief for January 13, 2026, specifically curated for UPSC, SSC,IBPS, Banking, and Railway exam preparation.
National & Polity
Launch of Speed Post 24 & 48: Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia launched two new premium services by India Post—Speed Post 24 (next-day delivery) and Speed Post 48 (48-hour delivery). The service aims to modernize the postal network to match private logistics standards.
Jal Jeevan Mission Outlay Cut: Reports indicate the Centre is planning a significant 60% cut in the outlay for the flagship rural tap water scheme (Jal Jeevan Mission) in the revised estimates, shifting from ₹67,000 crore to ₹17,000 crore.
India’s BRICS Presidency 2026: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar officially unveiled the logo and website for India's BRICS Presidency 2026. This marks 20 years since the grouping's inception, with a focus on "Resilience, Innovation, and Sustainability."
First Woman Chief Justice of Meghalaya HC: Justice Revati Mohite Dere (formerly of the Bombay HC) was sworn in as the first female Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court.
Indusfood 2026: Union Minister Chirag Paswan inaugurated the 9th edition of Indusfood, Asia's premier Food and Beverage sourcing and trade show, at the India Expo Centre, Greater Noida.
International & Defence
Setback for ISRO: The PSLV-C62 mission (the first of 2026) suffered a failure after a 3rd-stage malfunction. The rocket was carrying the EOS-N1 (Anvesha) earth observation satellite and 15 other payloads, including satellites from Brazil and Nepal.
India-Germany Strategic Ties: During Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit, India and Germany signed 19 pacts, including a crucial roadmap for Defence Industrial Cooperation focusing on "co-production and co-development" of military hardware.
US Ambassador Takes Charge: Sergio Gor officially assumed charge as the US Ambassador to India, signaling a push for trade talks and inviting India to join the Pax Silica (supply chain) initiative.
MPATGM Successful Flight Test: DRDO successfully flight-tested the third-generation Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) at the KK Ranges in Maharashtra. The indigenous missile is now cleared for induction into the Indian Army.
Trump’s Iran Tariff Threat: US President Donald Trump announced that any country doing business with Iran would face a 25% tariff on all business conducted with the United States.
Economy & Energy
Non-Fossil Fuel Milestone: India’s non-fossil fuel installed capacity reached a record 266.78 GW by the end of 2025 (MNRE data). Solar power accounts for the largest share at 131.81 GW.
Coal Power Decline: For the first time in 50 years, coal-fired electricity generation in India saw a year-on-year decline in 2025, driven by the massive surge in renewable energy.
Retail Inflation: India's headline retail inflation rose to 1.33% in December 2025, staying within the RBI’s target range but marking an increase from the previous month.
Sports, Science & Culture
Virat Kohli Record: Virat Kohli became the fastest player to reach 28,000 runs in international cricket across all formats, surpassing legends like Kumar Sangakkara.
Passing of an Olympian: 1980 Moscow Olympics Gold Medalist hockey player Davinder Singh Garcha passed away at age 73. He was a recipient of the Major Dhyan Chand Award (2021).
Oscars 2026 Eligibility: Four Indian films, including Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 and Mahavatar Narsimha, have entered the eligibility list for the 2026 Academy Awards.
Nipah Virus Alert: Health officials in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district are monitoring two suspected cases of Nipah virus at AIIMS-Kalyani.
Important Days (January 13)
| Day | Context / Significance |
| Lohri | The popular winter harvest festival celebrated mainly in Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. |
| National Youth Day (Revision) | January 12; birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. |
Static GK & Exam Snippets
Article 217: Under which the President of India appoints High Court judges.
MPATGM: A "Fire and Forget" missile using an imaging infrared homing seeker; developed by DRDO.
BRICS: Originally BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China); South Africa joined in 2010. 2026 marks the 20th anniversary.
Swami Vivekananda: Founded the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897.
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