1 Indian badminton star Saina Nehwal retires from international career
India’s star shuttler Saina Nehwal has confirmed her retirement from competitive badminton , revealing on January 19, 2026, that she was unable to meet the physical demands of the elite sport due to a chronic knee problem . A knee injury sustained at the Rio 2016 Olympics significantly impacted her career. Although she made a remarkable comeback by winning a bronze medal at the World Championships in 2017 and a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2018 , recurring problems persisted. In 2024, she revealed that she has arthritis and worn out cartilage in her knees . Born in Hisar, Haryana, the shuttler gained international recognition after becoming the Junior World Champion in 2008 and becoming the first Indian woman to reach the quarter-finals in singles badminton at the Olympics (Beijing 2008).
2 The government has released a list of 33 questions that will be asked to citizens during the first phase of the census.
The government has released a list of 33 questions to be asked of citizens during the first phase of the census , which begins on April 1st . The first phase will involve the compilation of a household list, which will be conducted over a 30-day period by each state and union territory. This phase will continue until September 30th. During the survey, census officials will ask for information about household ownership status, household use, floor and roof material type, number of rooms, and the gender of the head of the household. Officials will then gather information about the household’s use, condition, and number of members. Citizens will also be asked about the basic amenities available in their homes. This includes the main source of drinking water, the main source of lighting, the availability and type of toilet, wastewater disposal, availability of bathing facilities and kitchens, LPG and PNG connections, and the main fuel used for cooking.
3 Foundation stone laid for country’s first integrated private satellite plant in Gujarat
The foundation stone for the country’s first integrated private satellite plant was laid in Khoraj , Sanand district , Gujarat . This marks a significant milestone in India’s space technology sector. Gujarat’s Science and Technology Minister, Arjun Modhwadia , was present at the foundation stone laying ceremony for Azista Space ‘s electro-optical payload plant. Mr. Modhwadia stated that Gujarat is successfully carrying forward Dr. Vikram Sarabhai ‘s legacy by developing a new national hub for space technology . He added that the establishment of this plant will take the pledge of a self-reliant India to new heights. This high-tech plant is expected to provide a significant boost to India’s aerospace manufacturing ecosystem and create highly skilled technical jobs in the region.
4 25th Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2026: The biggest ever event to be held across 40 locations in India and seven continents
The National School of Drama (NSD) will organize the 25th edition of the world’s largest international theatre festival, the Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM), from January 27 to February 20, 2026. This edition will be the most comprehensive, inclusive, and grandest ever. In this landmark edition, the Bharat Rang Mahotsav will be held at 40 venues across the country . Theatre performances will also be included from at least one country from each of the seven continents, further strengthening the festival’s global reach and cultural impact. A total of 277 Indian productions (including 136 selected plays and invited productions) and 12 international productions will be showcased during the festival. These performances will be presented in 228 Indian and foreign languages and dialects, making the Bharat Rang Mahotsav the largest theatre festival in the world in terms of linguistic diversity.
5 Ministry of Culture to organise ‘Parakram Diwas – 2026’ to commemorate 129th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose
The Ministry of Culture, Government of India , is organizing ‘Parakram Diwas-2026’ at Sri Vijayapuram , Andaman and Nicobar Islands , from January 23-25, 2026 , along with 13 other iconic locations across the country associated with the life and legacy of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, one of India’s most revered freedom fighters . The event is being organized to commemorate the 129th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose , and to honor his unparalleled contribution to India’s freedom struggle and his enduring legacy of courage, sacrifice, and patriotism. The main function will be held on January 23, 2026, at the Netaji Stadium in Sri Vijayapuram, where the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Admiral D.K. Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd.), will grace the occasion as the Chief Guest.
6 ECINET digital platforms launched at IICDEM-2026
The Election Commission of India (ECI) launched ECINET, its unified digital platform for all election-related information and services, at the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026. The three-day conference (January 21-23, 2026) is being held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi . ECINET was conceptualized by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India, Shri Gyanesh Kumar , along with Election Commissioners (ECs) Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi, and its development was announced in May 2025. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar said that ECINET has been developed in full compliance with the law and is available in 22 scheduled languages and English. ECINET is the world’s largest electoral services platform, integrating all election services of India’s largest democracy into a single seamless experience. It encompasses over 40 apps and portals of the Election Commission of India. The platform has been developed in full compliance with the Constitution of India, the Representation of the People Acts, 1950 and 1951, the Registration of Voters Rules, 1960 and the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961. ECINET connects citizens, candidates, political parties and election officials and brings together key services like voter registration, electoral roll search, tracking your application, knowing your candidate, connecting with election officials, booking a call with BLOs, e-EPIC download, voting trends, grievance redressal, etc. on a single secure platform.
7 Bhashini Division of Digital India and Survey of India sign MoU for digitization of topographical data
The Digital India Bhashini Division (DIBD) of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Survey of India on January 20, 2026 , to collaborate on the digitization, transliteration, and standardization of geographic place names using artificial intelligence- based speech and language technology . This collaboration will help build an accurate, multilingual, and standardized place names data repository in line with the National Geospatial Policy, 2022. As the national nodal agency for the standardization and maintenance of geographic names, the Survey of India conducts extensive ground surveys to obtain place names in local spoken languages for inclusion in the national mapping system. Under the collaboration, audio recordings of place names will be converted into structured digital text using Bhashini’s speech-to-text and language processing capabilities, helping to create a comprehensive and validated toponymic database covering over 1.6 million locations.
8 An ‘Innovation City’ will be built near Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday announced the construction of an ‘ Innovation City ‘ near Navi Mumbai . Through this, the government aims to promote innovation to accelerate the pace of the economy. While speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF), he said that the Maharashtra government has announced the construction of an Innovation City near Navi Mumbai in front of 450 investors from different parts of the world. A large number of investors have shown interest in this. He also said that the Tata Group is planning to invest around Rs 1 lakh crore ($11 billion) in this Innovation City.
9 Sibi George attends 9th SPECA Economic Forum
Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs , Sibi George , arrived in Turkmenistan on January 21st for the 5th round of India-Turkmenistan Foreign Office Consultations and the SPECA (United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia) Economic Forum , held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan , where Sibi led his delegation. Representing India as the guest country at the SPECA Economic Forum, chaired by Turkmenistan’s Finance Minister Mametguly Astanagulov, Secretary (West) presented India’s vision for enhancing trade, economic, investment, and connectivity linkages between India and Central Asian countries. Sibi George’s visit is in line with India’s ‘Extended Neighborhood’ policy to strengthen relations with Turkmenistan and other Central Asian countries, with which India has long-standing ties of friendship and cooperation.
10 Oscars nominations announced for the 98th edition of the awards ceremony
Nominations for the 98th edition of the Oscars have been announced. Ryan Coogler ‘s “Sinners ” has set a new Oscar record with 16 nominations , securing the most nominations. Previously, this record was held by “All About Eve” (1950) , “Titanic” (1997) , and “La La Land” (2016 ). “One Battle After Another” is in second place with 13 nominations, while “Marty Supreme,” “Frankenstein,” and “Sentimental Values” are tied for third with nine nominations each. “Hamnet” has received eight nominations. Emma Stone has received a Best Actress nomination for “Bugonia.” The Best Actor category includes several big names, including Leonardo DiCaprio for “One Battle After Another,” Ethan Hawke for “Blue Moon,” and Michael B. Jordan for “Sinners.”
11 10,000 km of road projects approved under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana
The government has approved road projects spanning over 10,000 kilometers for Jammu and Kashmir, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Sikkim under the fourth phase of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana . The Ministry of Rural Development stated that the construction of these roads will provide connectivity and access to essential services to 3,270 previously isolated areas. The scheme aims to provide 62,500 kilometers of all-weather roads to unconnected areas. The ministry stated that these roads, stretching from remote mountains to rural communities, not only improve infrastructure but are also vital conduits for progress. These roads will open doors of opportunity and promote inclusive growth.