Gk and Current Affairs daily updates January 31,2026
Here is the comprehensive Current Affairs and GK brief for January 31, 2026, to assist you in UPSC, SSC,IBPS, Banking, and Railway exam preparation.
National & Polity
Maharashtra’s First Woman Deputy CM: Sunetra Pawar (NCP) was sworn in as the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra today. She succeeds her late husband, Ajit Pawar, who tragically passed away in a plane crash on January 28.
Supreme Court on Menstrual Health: In a landmark ruling (Dr. Jaya Thakur v. Union of India), the Supreme Court declared the Right to Menstrual Hygiene an integral part of the Right to Life (Article 21) and the Right to Education (Article 21A).
Buddhist Diamond Triangle in UNESCO List: Odisha's famous "Buddhist Diamond Triangle"—comprising the ancient sites of Ratnagiri, Udayagiri, and Lalitgiri—has been officially included in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.
Republic Day Awards: Maharashtra's Ganeshotsav tableau ("A Symbol of Aatmanirbharta") was officially declared the Best Tableau among States/UTs at the 77th Republic Day Parade. The Indian Navy won the best marching contingent among the services.
Sikkim Police Honoured: The Sikkim Police was conferred the President’s Police Colour (Nishaan), making it the 15th state in India and the 3rd in the Northeast to receive this prestigious honor.
International & Defence
First LNG–Diesel DEMU Train: Indian Railways operationalized India’s first-ever LNG–Diesel dual-fuel DEMU train at Sabarmati, Ahmedabad. This tech replaces ~40% of diesel consumption with eco-friendly Liquified Natural Gas.
India-Japan Maritime Cooperation: High-level talks concluded today in New Delhi, focusing on maritime interoperability and joint research in AI-based naval surveillance.
North Korea Missile Test: Tensions rose in East Asia as North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan, as confirmed by maritime observers in Tokyo.
Shiveluch Volcano Eruption: The Shiveluch volcano on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula erupted today, sending ash plumes nearly 8,000 meters high and triggering a code red for aviation.
Pechora Missile Upgrade: Bengaluru-based Alpha Design Technologies completed a full digital upgrade of the IAF's Pechora missile system, replacing legacy valve-based electronics with indigenous digital chips.
Economy & Banking
NPS Swasthya Pension Scheme: The PFRDA launched the NPS Swasthya Pension Scheme under its Regulatory Sandbox. This new feature allows subscribers to use a portion of their pension savings specifically for medical expenses.
Coking Coal Strategy: The Government notified Coking Coal as a "Critical and Strategic Mineral" under the MMDR Act, 1957, to reduce import dependence and boost domestic steel production.
Forex Reserves: India’s foreign exchange reserves strengthened to $709.41 billion, providing a significant buffer despite global market volatility.
Great Place to Work: Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) was officially awarded the "Great Place to Work" certification for its excellence in workplace culture and employee trust.
Science, Tech & Sports
Australian Open 2026 (Women’s Final): Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan) defeated world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka (6-4, 4-6, 6-4) to clinch her first Australian Open title and second Grand Slam overall.
India vs New Zealand (5th T20I): India swept the T20 series 4-1 with a 46-run victory in Thiruvananthapuram.
Ishan Kishan smashed a career-defining 103 off 43 balls.
Suryakumar Yadav was named Player of the Series.
AI-Army Partnership: The Indian Army signed an MoU with IISc Bengaluru to develop a fully indigenous, secure AI system for digital information challenges.
Important Days (January 31)
| Day | Context / Significance |
| Prakash Purab | Birth anniversary of the 7th Sikh Guru, Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji. |
| International Zebra Day | Global awareness day for the conservation of zebra species. |
| Nauru Independence Day | Marking the sovereignty of the island nation (1968). |
| Indian Coast Guard Day (Eve) | Observed on Feb 1; the ICG is the 4th largest coast guard in the world. |
Static GK & Exam Snippets
Thiruvalluvar Day: Celebrated on Jan 16 (Tamil Nadu); author of the Tirukkural.
Diamond Triangle (Odisha): Significant for documenting the 1,500-year evolution of Buddhism from Theravada to Vajrayana.
MMDR Act, 1957: The primary law governing the mining sector in India; recently amended to include "Critical and Strategic Minerals."
Article 21: The Supreme Court has repeatedly expanded its scope to include the right to privacy, clean environment, and now menstrual hygiene.
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