1 53rd World Book Fair 2026 begins in New Delhi
The 53rd New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 has begun in the national capital . Over 1,000 publishers from over 35 countries are participating in the nine-day fair . The event was inaugurated by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan . This year, the theme of the book fair is Indian Military History: Valor and Knowledge @75 . The theme pavilion is the main attraction. Over 500 books on military history are on display at this pavilion, and over 100 theme-based events are being organized. The book fair will continue until January 18th. The New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF), the world’s largest B2C book fair, is organized by the National Book Trust of India (NBT), under the Ministry of Education. The fair is being held from January 10th to 18th, 2026, at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, and for the first time, entry is free. The India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) is co-organizing the New Delhi World Book Fair 2026. More than 1000 publishers from over 35 countries will come together in this nine-day book fair.
2 PRAGATI praised in Oxford case studies, speeding up stalled projects
A case study released in December 2024 by Oxford University ‘s Saïd Business School described India ‘s PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) platform as an effective and transformative administrative mechanism. The platform has been successful in accelerating long-delayed infrastructure projects and improving coordination within the government machinery. The study, titled ” From Gridlock to Growth: How Leadership Enables India’s PRAGATI Ecosystem to Power Progress, ” was supported by the Gates Foundation . It places PRAGATI at the heart of India’s digital governance and infrastructure delivery system, playing a crucial role in project implementation. The case study specifically mentions the Dahisar-Surat section of National Highway 8 (now NH-48) . This 239-kilometer stretch of highway between Surat, Gujarat, and Dahisar, Maharashtra, was initiated in February 2008 with the aim of widening a four-lane road to six lanes and creating service roads for underserved communities. The project was scheduled to be completed by August 2011, but it remained in limbo for years. According to an Oxford case study, the situation changed in 2017 when the project was brought up for direct review under the PRAGATI platform. PRAGATI rekindled dialogue between various stakeholders and opened the way for state-center dispute resolution.
Senior Taliban member Mufti Noor Ahmed Noor has arrived in the Indian capital, New Delhi. According to information shared by officials, Noor will assume the position of Charge d’Affaires (CDA) at the Afghan Embassy . Previously, Noor Ahmed served as Director General of the First Political Department in the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Relations between India and Afghanistan have improved significantly in recent months. In October 2025, Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi visited India for seven days, following which relations between the two countries have seen a steady increase in warmth.
4. Centre for Advanced Ship Technology announced in Visakhapatnam
Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stone for several projects of the Visakhapatnam Port Authority and outlined the Central Government’s vision to strengthen India’s maritime sector. Addressing the gathering, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal emphasized the need to develop world-class infrastructure for shipbuilding and repair . Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ” Maritime India Vision 2030″ and “Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 ” initiatives, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sonowal stated that India aims to be among the top 10 shipbuilding nations by 2030 and among the top five by 2047. Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sonowal announced that an Advanced Ship Technology Center will be established in Visakhapatnam at a cost of ₹305 crore . The centre will focus on research and development, ship design and specialised education. Sonowal, the Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said a proposal to set up a port-cum-shipbuilding and ship repair cluster at Duggirajpatnam in Andhra Pradesh is under consideration.
5 Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya unveiled the FIFA World Cup 2026 trophy along with former Brazilian footballer Gilberto da Silva.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya , along with former Brazilian footballer Gilberto de Silva, unveiled the FIFA World Cup 2026 Trophy in New Delhi . This marked the beginning of the prestigious trophy’s three-day journey across India. During this time, football fans across the country will have the opportunity to see the trophy up close. The FIFA World Cup Trophy will remain in Delhi for two days and will then be taken to Guwahati for one day. The FIFA World Cup 2026 is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico . The World Cup begins on June 11. For the first time, 48 teams will participate in the competition, divided into 12 groups of four teams each.
In Hockey , SG Pipers won the Women’s Hockey India League 2025-26 title after defeating Shrachi Bengal Tigers 3-2 in a shoot-out . The match was decided by a shoot-out after the match ended 1-1 in regulation time. Preeti Dubey scored for SG Pipers and Lalremsiami scored for Shrachi Bengal Tigers in regulation time. Hockey India League has announced prize money of Rs 1.5 crore for SG Pipers , Rs 1 crore for second-placed Shrachi Bengal Tigers and Rs 50 lakh for third-placed Ranchi Royals .
7 World Hindi Day
World Hindi Day was started to promote the Hindi language abroad . Its aim is to encourage the use of Hindi in international forums, including diplomacy, education, and cultural exchange. The first World Hindi Conference was held in Nagpur on January 10, 2006. Since then , January 10 has been celebrated as World Hindi Day every year . The Ministry of External Affairs and Indian missions abroad also celebrate this day annually.