1 Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar among five others killed in plane crash
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and prominent Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar died in a tragic plane crash on Wednesday. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that all five passengers on board, including Ajit Pawar, died in the accident . Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was traveling from Mumbai to Baramati to attend a public meeting amid the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections when his plane crashed while landing near Baramati. Ajit Anantrao Pawar was born on July 22, 1959, in Deolali Pravara (Ahmednagar), Maharashtra . He was considered an influential figure in Indian politics and one of the most experienced leaders in Maharashtra. Pawar served as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra six times and, during his long political career, headed important departments such as Finance, Irrigation, Planning, and Administration. He was elected MLA from Baramati eight times and was known for his regional development and administrative expertise. In 2023, he broke away from the Sharad Pawar -led NCP to form his own political party and became Deputy Chief Minister in the BJP-led government. In 2024, the Election Commission recognized his faction as the “real” NCP and assigned it the party name and ” clock ” symbol.
2 Inauguration of the 9th National Conference of the Bureau of Police Research and Development
On January 28th , Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, inaugurated the 9th National Conference of the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) in Andhra Pradesh . The two-day conference, being held in Visakhapatnam, aims to improve prisons and improve the lives of prisoners . Prison heads from all states and union territories, at the Director General (DG) and Inspector General (IG) levels, are participating in the conference. Approximately 75 senior delegates from states and union territories, and 55 officers from the Andhra Pradesh Prison Department, are participating. Annual funding of ₹20 crore will also be provided to state governments to assist economically disadvantaged prisoners. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) for the year 2023, there are approximately 5.30 lakh prisoners in Indian prisons.
3 Google launches AI-based photo editing feature in India
Google has launched a new artificial intelligence (AI)-based photo editing feature in India . With this new feature, users can now easily edit their photos in Google Photos by simply speaking or typing. Google explained in a blog post that users in India can now edit their photos simply by describing the changes they want. With the help of the advanced Gemini AI, Google Photos will instantly turn users’ ideas into reality. To use this feature, users simply open a photo and tap the “Help me edit” option. They can then indicate via voice or text what changes they want to make to the photo. In the Personalized Edits feature, Gemini AI understands instructions given by a person’s name, such as “remove glasses” or “add a smile,” and makes changes to the photo. The Nano Banana feature allows users to transform photos into new styles. Simply describing the style can transform a photo into a completely new look in just a few seconds.
4 NITI Aayog launches the second phase of Sampoorna Abhiyaan
NITI Aayog launched the second phase of the Sampoorna Abhiyaan . This three-month campaign aims to ensure significant progress in aspirational districts and aspirational blocks across the country . NITI Aayog CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam launched the campaign in New Delhi . The campaign will run until April 14. Building on the successes of the 2024 campaign, the campaign focuses on ensuring coverage of five key performance indicators in 112 aspirational districts and six indicators in 513 aspirational blocks. These indicators cover priority areas such as health and nutrition, sanitation, education, maternal and child health, tuberculosis case detection, and animal vaccination .
5 ₹1,250 crore support to girl child education in Gujarat under Namo Laxmi Yojana
Girl education in Gujarat has received a major boost as the state government has announced massive financial assistance for adolescent girls . The aim is to ensure that no girl student’s education is interrupted due to financial difficulties after primary education. The Gujarat government has announced financial assistance of ₹1,250 crore under the Namo Laxmi Yojana for the academic year 2025-26 , benefiting over 1.2 million girl students studying in grades 9 to 12. The Namo Laxmi Yojana is a state-sponsored scheme aimed at supporting girls’ secondary and higher secondary education. Launched under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, this scheme ensures that girls are not forced to drop out of school after primary education due to financial reasons. Under this scheme, each eligible girl student from grades 9 to 12 is provided with a total assistance of ₹50,000 over four years. For classes 9 and 10, ₹20,000 is provided, which includes monthly assistance and a lump sum upon passing the Class 10 board exams. For classes 11 and 12, ₹30,000 is provided, which includes monthly installments and a final payment upon completing Class 12.
6 Scientists discovered a rare mushroom in the oak forests of Uttarakhand.
Scientists have discovered a previously unknown species of mushroom in the Himalayan forests of Uttarakhand . Found under oak trees in high altitudes, this new species adds a new chapter to India’s fungal diversity and is the first official record of the genus Hemileccinum in the country . Researchers have identified a new species of mushroom with pitted spores, named Hemileccinum indicum , found in the oak forests of Uttarakhand. The discovery was made during field studies conducted during 2022–23 and marks the first recorded occurrence of the genus Hemileccinum in India. The mushroom was found in the Dhakuri area of Bageshwar district , Uttarakhand , at an altitude of over 2,600 meters. It was discovered during monsoon macrofungal forays aimed at documenting large fungi.
7 Kerala officially declared Bacillus subtilis as its state microorganism
Kerala has, in a unique science-based move, incorporated a microorganism into its state identity for the first time . This initiative highlights the role of microorganisms in daily life, from human health to agriculture and environmental sustainability. This decision, a first in India, reflects Kerala’s commitment to knowledge and research. Kerala has officially declared Bacillus subtilis as its State Microbe, becoming the first state in India to do so. Bacillus subtilis is a beneficial probiotic bacterium found naturally in soil, fermented foods, and the human gut. It is believed to promote gut health, enhance immunity, improve soil fertility, and control plant diseases. Due to its high tolerance and spore-forming ability, it is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry, food processing, and sustainable agriculture.
8 Sikkim Police awarded President’s Police Colours for Distinguished Service
The Sikkim Police has been awarded the President’s Police Colours for its outstanding service, professional efficiency, and devotion to duty . This award is considered one of the highest and most prestigious decorations given to police forces in India, recognizing long-term outstanding performance and dedication to public service. The Sikkim Police was awarded the President’s Police Colours, making Sikkim the 15th state in India and the third in the North-East to receive this prestigious honour since independence.
9 India makes historic debut as Partner Country at Gulfood 2026 in Dubai
India is participating as a Partner Country for the first time at Gulfood 2026 in Dubai . This achievement marks the first time in the exhibition’s 31-year history. This move reflects India’s growing presence in the global food and beverage market and deepening economic ties with the Gulf region. India’s participation is led by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), which functions under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Gulfood 2026 is being held for the first time at two locations:
- Dubai World Trade Centre
- Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai
10 Nat Sciver Brunt created history, becoming the first player to score a century in the WPL
Nat Sciver -Brunt made history in the WPL 2026 , scoring the first century in the Women’s Premier League . She achieved this feat while playing for the Mumbai Indians against the Royal Challengers Bangalore in Vadodara. In Match 16 of the WPL 2026, Nat Sciver-Brunt scored an unbeaten 100 off 57 balls. The match was played at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. She came on to bat when the Mumbai Indians had lost their first wicket for just 16 runs. This innings marked the first time a batsman had scored a three-digit score (a century) in the WPL. A major highlight of this innings was her 131-run partnership for the second wicket with Hayley Matthews. Hayley Matthews scored 56 off 39 balls.
11 National Geographic Day 2026
National Geographic Day 2026 celebrates humanity’s spirit of curiosity and discovery, which inspires us to understand and protect Earth. The day is celebrated globally and highlights the importance of geography, science, exploration, culture, wildlife, and environmental conservation. In 2026, National Geographic Day falls on Tuesday, January 27 , marking the anniversary of the founding of the National Geographic Society, established in Washington, D.C., on January 27, 1888. The organization’s mission has been to advance and disseminate geographic knowledge, and over time, it has emerged as a global leader in exploration, science, education, conservation, and storytelling.
12 India and Russia to conduct joint naval exercise in February
Russia and India will conduct the INDRA joint naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean in February 2026. This information was given by Russia’s TASS agency on January 28. According to TASS, the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet ‘ Frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov ‘ will participate in the MILAN-2026 exercise, after which it will make an informal visit to Visakhapatnam Port from February 18 to 25. This year, the International Naval Fleet Review MILAN is being organised in India from February 15 to 25. Under this, the Russian Navy fleet will also visit India. Navies of more than 55 countries will participate in MILAN, which will include America, Russia, Japan and Australia.