Jan 2, 2026 Current Affairs

Sheikh Khalifa Medical City

♦ Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Khalifa Medical City has become the first hospital globally to administer ITVISMA, a one-time gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy, marking a milestone in precision medicine. The treatment was delivered under the supervision of the Department of Health, Abu Dhabi, following the UAE’s regulatory approval on November 25, making the country the second in the world after the United States to authorise the therapy. ♦ Developed by Novartis, ITVISMA targets the genetic root of spinal muscular atrophy by replacing the defective SMN1 gene, enabling the production of the survival motor neuron protein.

Jan 2, 2026 Current Affairs

Parvati-Arga Bird Sanctuary

♦ The Government has declared the Parvati-Arga Bird Sanctuary of Uttar Pradesh as an Eco sensitive zone. The move is aimed at providing an added layer of ecological protection to the wetland ecosystem by regulating developmental and human activities in areas surrounding the sanctuary. ♦ The sanctuary, spread across 1,084 hectares, is an important habitat that welcomes migratory birds from Central Asia and Tibet. ♦ Wetlands like Parvati–Arga are important for biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, ground water recharging and flood mitigation. ♦ Parvati–Arga Bird Sanctuary is located in Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh, represents a typical Indo-Gangetic floodplain ecosystem. It is a permanent freshwater wetland system comprising two oxbow lakes, Parvati Lake and Arga Lake. These lakes are formed from abandoned river channels and are characteristic features of floodplain landscapes, and they support rich biological diversity as well.

Jan 2, 2026 Current Affairs

Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket

♦ The maiden flight test of the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR-120) was successfully conducted on 29 December 2025 at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha. The maiden trial of the 120-km-range rocket was carried out on the same day the project received clearance for induction into the Indian Army by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), which met earlier in the afternoon. ♦ During the test, the rocket was fired to its maximum range of 120 km and successfully executed all planned in-flight manoeuvres. The LRGR impacted the designated target with textbook precision. ♦ All deployed range instrumentation tracked the rocket throughout its flight trajectory. The LRGR has been designed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment in collaboration with the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, with support from the Defence Research and Development Laboratory and the Research Centre Imarat.

Jan 2, 2026 Current Affairs

INSV Kaundinya

♦ Traditionally-built stitched ship INSV Kaundinya, embarked on her maiden overseas voyage, from Gujarat to Oman on 29 December 2025. This is a recreation of a fifth-century vessel, and inspired by a painting from the ancient Ajanta Caves. ♦ Named after the legendary mariner Kaundinya, who is believed to have sailed from India to Southeast Asia in ancient times, the ship embodies India’s historic role as a maritime nation. ♦ Its design and construction had posed “unique technical challenges”. ♦ The Indian Navy had formally inducted and named the vessel as Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Kaundinya at a ceremonial event held at the Karwar naval base on May 21, in the presence of Union Minister of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. ♦ The project of building a stitched ship with an ancient technique was initiated through a tripartite agreement signed in July 2023 between the Ministry of Culture, the Indian Navy, and Hodi Innovations, with funding from the Ministry of Culture.

Jan 2, 2026 Current Affairs

Russia launched a Soyuz-2.1b rocket

♦ Russia launched a Soyuz-2.1b rocket from the Vostochny spaceport with 52 satellites on 28 December 2025. The payload includes two Aist-2T satellites and 50 smaller spacecraft. The Aist-2T satellites are designed to photograph the Earth’s surface and produce stereoscopic images to build digital terrain models. They will also support monitoring of fires, floods, and volcanic activity. ♦ In a separate launch, Russia sent three Iranian communications satellites into orbit, Iranian state television reported. A Russian rocket placed the satellites — Paya, Kowsar, and Zafar-2 — into a 500-kilometre orbit from Vostochny. Paya weighs 150 kilograms and is the heaviest satellite Iran has placed in orbit. Kowsar weighs 35 kilograms. The report did not provide the weight of Zafar-2.

Jan 2, 2026 Current Affairs

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW)

♦ The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) notified the operational guidelines for two major shipbuilding initiatives—the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme (SBFAS) and the Shipbuilding Development Scheme (SbDS)—aimed at strengthening India’s domestic shipbuilding capacity and improving global competitiveness. The approved guidelines lay down a transparent and accountable framework for implementation. Operational guidelines have been issued for two schemes with a combined outlay of Rs.44,700 crore to strengthen the domestic shipbuilding industry until 2036. ♦ Under SBFAS, which has a total corpus of Rs.24,736 crore, the government will provide financial assistance ranging from 15% to 25% per vessel, depending on the vessel category. ♦ The Shipbuilding Development Scheme (SbDS), with a budgetary outlay of Rs.19,989 crore, focuses on long-term capacity and capability creation. The scheme provides for the development of greenfield shipbuilding clusters, expansion and modernisation of existing brownfield shipyards, and the establishment of an India Ship Technology Centre under the Indian Maritime University to support research, design, innovation and skills development.

Jan 2, 2026 Current Affairs

Droupadi Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu created history by undertaking a dive and operational sortie aboard the indigenous Kalvari-class submarine INS Vaghsheer on the Western Seaboard on 28 December 2025. With this, she became only the second President of India to sail in a submarine, after former President APJ Abdul Kalam. The President embarked on INS Vaghsheer at Karwar Naval Harbour in Karnataka.

Jan 2, 2026 Current Affairs

Smriti Mandhana

♦ Smriti Mandhana became the second Indian woman and the fourth player globally to score 10,000 runs in international cricket. The landmark achievement came during the fourth T20I against Sri Lanka at the Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram on 28 December 2025. ♦ Smriti Mandhana reached the 10,000 run mark in the seventh over of India’s innings in the fourth T20I of the five-match series against Sri Lanka. With this feat, she joined an elite group of women cricketers - Mithali Raj, Suzie Bates, Charlotte Edwards. ♦ In Test cricket, Mandhana has notched up 629 runs in seven matches and 12 innings at an average of 57.18, with two centuries and three fifties. With 5,322 runs in 117 ODIs and innings at an average of 48.38, with 14 centuries and 34 fifties, Mandhana is the sixth-highest run-getter in the ODI format. In T20Is, Mandhana has slammed 4,102 runs in 157 matches and 151 innings at an average of 29.94, SR of 124.22, a ton and 32 fifties. She is the second-highest run-getter in this format.

Jan 2, 2026 Current Affairs

Arjun Erigaisi and Koneru Humpy

♦ Indian Grandmasters Arjun Erigaisi and Koneru Humpy won bronze medals at the 2025 FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship held in Doha on 28 December 2025. Arjun Erigaisi produced a historic performance in the open section, scoring 9.5 points to clinch his maiden bronze medal – just one point behind world champion Magnus Carlsen. With this achievement, Arjun became only the second Indian male player, after five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand, to finish on the podium at a World Rapid Championship. ♦ In the women’s section, Koneru Humpy secured the bronze medal after a closely contested tournament. Three players – Humpy Koneru, Zhu Jiner of China, and Aleksandra Goryachkina of Russia – were tied for the lead heading into the final round. ♦ In Round 11, both Zhu and Goryachkina drew their games. Humpy, who had a winning endgame against compatriot B. Savitha, misplayed in time trouble, allowing the game to end in a draw. As a result, all three players finished with 8.5 points from 11 rounds. ♦ Notably, Humpy has previously won gold medals at the World Rapid Championship in 2019 and 2024.

Jan 2, 2026 Current Affairs

The International Day of Epidemic Preparedness

♦ The International Day of Epidemic Preparedness is observed on December 27 to highlight urgent need to invest in systems that can prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Epidemic means the occurrence in a community or region of cases of illness, specific health-related behaviour, or other health-related events is more than normal expectancy. ♦ In its 75th session and 36th plenary meeting on December 7, 2020, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed a resolution which declared December 27 as the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness. The decision is part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

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