Jan 13, 2026 Current Affairs

National Youth Day

♦ National Youth Day is observed every year on January 12 to mark the birth anniversary of a great philosopher and youth icon Swami Vivekananda. His ideas on character, courage, and nation-building continue to inspire generations of young Indians. With over 65 per cent of its population below the age of 35, India’s youthful demographic dividend carries immense potential. Recognising this, the Government of India has built a comprehensive youth empowerment ecosystem, spanning civic participation, skill development, entrepreneurship, health, fitness, and national service. ♦ Swami Vivekananda, the great philosopher, thinker and the greatest patron of the youth in India, was born on January 12, 1863, on the Pausha Krishna Saptami Tithi in Kolkata (then Calcutta). Every year since 1985, the Central government observes January 12, the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, as the National Youth Day.

Jan 13, 2026 Current Affairs

Royal Astronomical Society's (RAS) prestigious Gold Medal

♦ US-based Indian-origin astronomer Professor Shrinivas Kulkarni has clinched the Royal Astronomical Society's (RAS) prestigious Gold Medal in London for pioneering discoveries in time-domain astronomy. The award recognises his "field-defining" contributions to multi-wavelength transient astrophysics, marking him among luminaries like Stephen Hawking, Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Albert Einstein, and Edwin Hubble. ♦ This highest honour from the 200-year-old organisation points to Kulkarni's transformative impact on observing fleeting cosmic events. As George Ellery Hale Professor at Caltech since 1985, Kulkarni unearthed brown dwarfs, remote gamma-ray bursts, and the first millisecond pulsar. ♦ In 1997, he proved gamma-ray bursts originate extragalactically, reshaping astrophysics. His leadership birthed the Palomar Transient Factory (PTF) and Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF), revolutionising optical time-domain surveys by capturing thousands of exploding stars, blinking novae, and other transients across the Northern sky every two nights from Palomar Observatory. ♦ The 2024 Shaw Prize winner, who earned his Master's from IIT Delhi in 1978 and PhD from Berkeley in 1983, now drives Nasa's UVEX ultraviolet sky survey (launch 2030) and Z-Shooter spectrometer for Keck Observatory (first light 2029). ♦ RAS Gold Medals, awarded annually since 1824 across astronomy and geophysics, celebrate diverse talents from research to outreach.

Jan 13, 2026 Current Affairs

India is the world’s second-largest fish producer

♦ The government has said that the fish production in the country has increased to around 198 lakh tonnes in 2024-25 from 95 lakh tonnes of fish production in 2013-14. This marks a significant growth of over 106 percent during the period. ♦ According to the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, the fisheries and aquaculture sector plays a critical role in the country’s economy, providing livelihoods to approximately three crore fishers and fish farmers. India is the world’s second-largest fish producer, contributing eight per cent to global output. ♦ It said, Rs.32,723 crore have been approved since 2014-15 across various schemes, including Blue Revolution, Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana. The Ministry said India’s seafood exports touched an all-time high in value during 2024-25 to Rs.62,408 crore.

Jan 13, 2026 Current Affairs

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

♦ The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued the Foreign Exchange Management (Guarantees) Regulations, 2026, providing a comprehensive framework for guarantees involving persons resident outside India. The RBI has directed all Authorised Dealer Category-I banks to follow the new regulations while facilitating such guarantees and to ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines issued by the Department of Regulation. ♦ Further, guarantee-related provisions in several existing Master Directions, including those on External Commercial Borrowings, Trade Credits, Export and Import of Goods and Services, and Reporting under FEMA, 1999, have been amended. ♦ Authorised dealer banks have been advised to bring the contents of the circular to the notice of their customers. RBI said the directions have been issued under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999.

Jan 13, 2026 Current Affairs

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

♦ The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to enhance collaboration in multidisciplinary research, innovation, and capacity building across the entire dairy sector. The Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ministry informed that the MoU aims to synergise ICAR’s scientific and research expertise with NDDB’s extensive field-level experience and address emerging challenges at the grassroots level. ♦ The Ministry highlighted that the collaboration places strong emphasis on knowledge sharing, technology development and validation, human resource development, and the conduct of joint training programmes for researchers, professionals, and farmers.

Jan 13, 2026 Current Affairs

Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM)

♦ The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully flight-tested the Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) with top-attack capability against a moving target, marking a key step towards its induction into the Indian Army. The third-generation “fire and forget” missile was tested at the KK Ranges in Ahilya Nagar, Maharashtra. The trial was conducted by DRDO’s Defence Research and Development Laboratory, Hyderabad. ♦ The indigenously developed MPATGM is equipped with advanced technologies, including an Imaging Infrared (IIR) homing seeker, an all-electric control actuation system, a fire control system, a tandem warhead, a propulsion system and a high-performance sighting system. ♦ These technologies have been developed by several DRDO laboratories across the country, including Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad; Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, Chandigarh; High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune; and Instruments Research and Development Establishment, Dehradun. ♦ The MPATGM can be launched either from a tripod or from a military vehicle-mounted launcher, making it suitable for a wide range of battlefield conditions.

Jan 13, 2026 Current Affairs

India’s electric vehicle (EV) market continued its rapid expansion in 2025

♦ India’s electric vehicle (EV) market continued its rapid expansion in 2025, with total EV sales touching 2.3 million units and accounting for 8 percent of all new vehicle registrations, according to data from the government’s Vahan Portal. A report by the India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) said electric two-wheelers remained the biggest driver of growth, with sales of 1.28 million units, making up 57 percent of total EV sales. Electric three-wheelers, including L3 and L5 categories, followed with 0.8 million units, or 35 percent of the market. ♦ Electric four-wheeler sales stood at around 1.75 lakh units during the year, with increasing demand seen in small and light commercial electric goods carriers, indicating rising adoption in the logistics and delivery segments. ♦ India’s overall automobile market recorded 28.2 million vehicle registrations in 2025, of which two-wheelers accounted for 72 percent. Passenger four-wheeler sales crossed 4.4 million units, while tractors and agricultural vehicles exceeded 1.06 million units. ♦ On a state-wise basis, Uttar Pradesh emerged as the largest EV market with over 4 lakh units, representing 18 percent of national EV sales. Maharashtra followed with 2.66 lakh units, or 12 percent, and Karnataka with 2 lakh units, accounting for 9 percent of the total. ♦ India’s EV ecosystem raised over $1.4 billion in 2025, about 27 per cent higher than in 2024.

Jan 13, 2026 Current Affairs

Narendra Modi

♦ Prime Minister Narendra Modi held delegation-level talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre in Gandhinagar on 12 January 2026, focusing on strengthening cooperation across a wide range of sectors. The meeting took place as part of Chancellor Merz’s first official visit to India, which coincides with the completion of 75 years of India–Germany diplomatic relations and 25 years of the India-Germany Strategic Partnership. ♦ During the talks, the two leaders reviewed progress under the Strategic Partnership and discussed ways to further intensify cooperation in trade and investment, technology, education, skilling and mobility. ♦ India and Germany signed 19 key MoUs and made eight key announcements, including a Joint Declaration of Intent to strengthen bilateral defence industrial cooperation and the establishment of a Chief Executive Officers’ Forum to bolster trade and investment. ♦ They also explored collaboration in defence and security, science, innovation and research, green and sustainable development, and people-to-people ties. Regional and global issues of mutual interest were also discussed. ♦ Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also jointly inaugurated the International Kite Festival at the Sabarmati Riverfront, sharing festive moments that blended cultural celebration with diplomatic engagement.

Jan 13, 2026 Current Affairs

జాతీయ యువజన దినోత్సవం

దేశ భవిష్యత్తును తీర్చిదిద్దే శక్తి యువతకే ఉంది. దేశ ప్రగతిలో వీరి పాత్ర ఎనలేనిది. కుల, లింగ, ఆర్థిక అసమానతలు లేని సమాజాన్ని నిర్మించడంలో; ప్రజలకు మంచి పాలన అందించడంలో; ఆర్థిక వృద్ధి సాధనలో యువతరం భాగస్వామ్యం కీలకం. జాతీయ శ్రేయస్సులో యువత పోషించే పాత్రను గుర్తించే లక్ష్యంతో ఏటా జనవరి 12న ‘జాతీయ యువజన దినోత్సవం’గా (National Youth Day) నిర్వహిస్తారు. స్వామి వివేకానంద జయంతి కూడా ఈరోజే! సమాజ హితం పట్ల యువకుల్లో స్ఫూర్తి నింపేలా ఆయన అనేక కార్యక్రమాలు చేపట్టారు. మెరుగైన సమాజ నిర్మాణంలో యువతను భాగస్వాములను చేయాల్సిన ఆవశ్యకతను తెలియజేయడంతోపాటు వారు ఎదుర్కొంటున్న సమస్యలపై ప్రత్యేక దృష్టి సారించడం ఈ రోజు ముఖ్య ఉద్దేశం. చారిత్రక నేపథ్యం యువతలో ఉత్తేజాని నింపి, వారు సన్మార్గంవైపు పయనించేలా చేయడంలో వివేకానంద బోధనలు ఎంతగానో తోడ్పడ్డాయి. తరాలు మారినా ఆయన సందేశాలు స్ఫూర్తిని కలిగిస్తూనే ఉన్నాయి. నిస్వార్థంగా దేశసేవకు అంకితం అవ్వండి అని ఆయన ఇచ్చిన పిలుపు ఇప్పటికీ ఎంతో మందికి ఆదర్శంగా నిలిచింది. యువతలో వివేకానం ఆలోచనలు, తత్వాలను ప్రోత్సహించే లక్ష్యంతో ఆయన జన్మదినమైన జనవరి 12న ఏటా ‘జాతీయ యువజన దినోత్సవం’గా జరుపుకోవాలని భారత ప్రభుత్వం 1984లో ప్రకటించింది. 1985 నుంచి ప్రతి సంవత్సరం దీన్ని నిర్వహిస్తున్నారు. అంతర్జాతీయ యువజన దినోత్సవాన్ని ఏటా ఆగస్టు 12న జరుపుతారు.

Jan 13, 2026 Current Affairs

ఆర్‌ఏఎస్‌ స్వర్ణ పతకం

భారత సంతతికి చెందిన అమెరికన్‌ ఖగోళ శాస్త్రవేత్త శ్రీనివాస్‌ కులకర్ణికి బ్రిటిష్‌ రాయల్‌ ఆస్ట్రనామికల్‌ సొసైటీ (ఆర్‌ఏఎస్‌) స్వర్ణ పతకాన్ని ప్రదానం చేసింది. ఆర్‌ఏఎస్‌ 1824 నుంచి ఏటా బహూకరిస్తున్న స్వర్ణ పతకాలను పొందినవారిలో ఆల్బర్ట్‌ ఐన్‌స్టీన్, ఎడ్విన్‌ హబుల్, స్టీఫెన్‌ హాకింగ్‌ లాంటి జగద్విఖ్యాత శాస్త్రవేత్తలు ఉన్నారు. కులకర్ణి మహారాష్ట్రలో జన్మించారు. ఐఐటీ-దిల్లీలో చదువుకున్నారు. అమెరికాలోని కాలిఫోర్నియా-బెర్కిలీ విశ్వవిద్యాలయంలో పీహెచ్‌డీ చేశారు. 40 ఏళ్ల నుంచి కాల్టెక్‌ విశ్వవిద్యాలయంలో ఆచార్యుడిగా, పరిశోధకుడిగా ఉన్నారు. విశ్వ రహస్యాలను ఛేదించడానికి తోడ్పడే 10 పరికరాలను కూడా రూపొందించారు.

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