1 PM Modi’s Assam visit: Foundation stone of Kaziranga Elevated Corridor laid, two Amrit Bharat trains flagged off
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Project ( 4-laning of the Kaliabor-Numaligarh section of NH-715 ) at Kaliabor in Nagaon district, Assam, costing over ₹6,950 crore . This 86-kilometer-long corridor is an environmentally friendly project under the National Highways Act. A 35-kilometer section of the elevated wildlife corridor will pass through Kaziranga National Park. The project aims to improve regional connectivity while ensuring the conservation of the park’s rich biodiversity. The project will pass through Nagaon, Karbi Anglong, and Golaghat districts and will improve connectivity to Upper Assam, including Dibrugarh and Tinsukia. The elevated wildlife corridor will ensure uninterrupted wildlife movement and reduce human-wildlife conflict. Prime Minister Modi also flagged off two new Amrit Bharat Express trains from Kaliabor in Nagaon district of Assam. These trains are the Kamakhya-Rohtak Amrit Bharat Express and the Dibrugarh-Lucknow Gomti Nagar Amrit Bharat Express.
The Prime Minister inaugurated , laid the foundation stone, and flagged off various development projects worth over ₹830 crore in Singur, Hooghly district . The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for an expanded port gateway system at Balagarh , which includes an inland water transport (IWT) terminal and an overbridge. Spread over an area of approximately 900 acres, Balagarh is being developed as a modern cargo handling terminal with an estimated capacity of approximately 2.7 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). The project includes the construction of two dedicated cargo handling jetties, one for containerized cargo and one for dry bulk cargo. The Balagarh project aims to significantly improve cargo handling efficiency by removing heavy freight traffic from congested routes in urban areas. This will enhance road safety, reduce vehicular congestion and pollution, and improve the quality of life of residents in Kolkata. The Prime Minister flagged off three Amrit Bharat Express trains : the Kolkata (Howrah)-Anand Vihar Terminal Amrit Bharat Express and the Kolkata (Sealdah)-Banaras Amrit Bharat Express; Kolkata (Santragachi) – Tambaram Amrut Bharat Express.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences , Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, launched India’s first open-sea marine fish farming project in the Andaman Sea . The project is being implemented through a collaboration between the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, its technical arm, the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Administration . This pilot initiative focuses on open-sea farming of marine finfish and seaweeds under natural marine conditions , combining scientific innovation with livelihood generation. During the field visit, two key livelihood-boosting initiatives were launched. Under Marine Vegetation, Dr. Jitendra Singh distributed seaweed seeds to local fishing communities to promote their cultivation in deep waters of the open sea. Finfish seeds were donated for cage-based culture in marine habitats , supported by open-sea cages developed by NIOT that are designed to function in natural marine environments.
4 Indian-origin Ajay Banga joins ‘Board of Peace’ for Gaza reconstruction
On January 17 , the United States nominated Indian-origin Ajay Banga to the Gaza Reconstruction Board of Peace to help end the Gaza conflict . Banga was elected President of the World Bank on May 3, 2023. He was nominated for this position by the Joe Biden administration in February 2023. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will also be a part of the Board of Peace group , which was formed to provide assistance and support for ending the conflict.
5 UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visits India
At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will be on an official visit to India. The visit is expected to provide an opportunity for the two leaders to advance the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.
6 Ugandan President Museveni retains power for a seventh term with 71.65 percent of the vote.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has retained power for a seventh term by securing 71.65 percent of the vote in the recent presidential election . According to official results, Museveni defeated opposition leader Bobi Wine, who received 24.72 percent of the vote. However, Bobi Wine has alleged that the elections were not conducted in a free and fair manner.
7 17th trilateral exercise ‘Dosti’ between India, Sri Lanka and Maldives begins
The 17th trilateral exercise, “Dosti,” conducted by the Indian Coast Guard , Sri Lanka Coast Guard , and Maldives National Defence Force, commenced in Male, Maldives . The exercise is underway in the harbor phase, which includes cooperative exercises. Following this, Indian Coast Guard ships and aircraft will participate in the sea phase.
8 INS Sagardhwani departs for Sagar Maitri V
India’s oceanographic research vessel, INS Sagardhwani , belonging to the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) , departed from Southern Naval Command, Kochi on 17 January 2026 for the fifth edition of the Sagar Maitri (SM-5) initiative . The vessel was flagged off by Shri Radha Mohan Singh, Hon’ble Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence. Sagar Maitri is a flagship collaborative initiative of the Indian Navy and DRDO , in line with the Government of India’s vision of ” MahaSagar for Mutual and Inclusive Advancement of Science and Technology for Security and Development in the Regions (MAHASAGAR) . The initiative aims to promote closer cooperation in socio-economic aspects and greater scientific interaction, especially in ocean research, among the Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) countries. The Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), Kochi, is conducting oceanographic missions under the Sagar Maitri program with the aim of strengthening scientific cooperation and capacity building among the IOR countries. Under this program, DRDO has initiated a scientific component called ‘MAITRI’ (Marine and Allied Interdisciplinary Training and Research Initiative) to establish long-term collaboration with the IOR countries in the field of ocean research and development. Under the Sagar Maitri program, INS Sagar Dhwani will retrace the historic path of INS Krishna , which participated in the International Indian Ocean Expedition during 1962-65 . The initiative aims to foster sustained scientific collaboration with eight IOR countries, namely, Oman, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Myanmar. The mission initiates collaborative oceanographic studies with the Maldives, enabling joint research and professional exchanges between scientists from the IOR countries.
9 NASA’s powerful moon rocket reaches launch pad
NASA has delivered its powerful new Moon rocket to the launch pad. Preparations for the first manned Moon fly-around mission in more than 50 years have accelerated. The 322-foot-tall Space Launch System (SLS) rocket was transported from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to the launch pad. Four astronauts will orbit the Moon and return to Earth after a journey of approximately 10 days . The mission is expected to launch as early as February. The crew includes three NASA astronauts: Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch , and a Canadian astronaut: Jeremy Hansen . This mission had been delayed for several years due to technical problems. Although this flight will not involve astronauts landing on the Moon, it is a significant step toward a future lunar landing under the Artemis program. NASA will conduct a fueling test in early February, after which an official launch date will be determined. There is only a limited window available for a February launch, after which the mission may have to be postponed until March. If successful, it will be the first time since 1972 that humans will travel to the Moon.
10 India and Japan conduct joint exercise on marine pollution control
The Indian Coast Guard and the Japan Coast Guard conducted a joint exercise related to marine pollution control in Mumbai . This reinforced the strong maritime partnership between India and Japan and their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. As part of the exercise, Admiral Yoshio Seguchi, Commandant of the Japanese Coast Guard, visited the Indian Coast Guard Regional Headquarters-West with a high-level delegation. Both sides conducted joint training exercises on board the Indian Coast Guard pollution control vessel, ICGS Samudra Prahari. The Japanese delegation also visited Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited to assess Indian shipbuilding capabilities.
Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski will meet External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar in New Delhi . Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a social media post that Mr. Sikorski’s meeting is aimed at strengthening the strategic partnership between India and Poland. Mr. Sikorski is on a three-day visit to India. PM Narendra Modi last visited Poland on an official visit in August 2024. This was the first visit by an Indian PM in 45 years. The Indian Embassy in Warsaw, Poland, was established in 1957.
12 Centre agrees to shift border security fence in Punjab closer to the international border
The central government has agreed to relocate the border security fence in Punjab closer to the international border . This move will pave the way for cultivation of thousands of acres of agricultural land located outside the fence, providing significant relief to farmers in Punjab’s border areas. Punjab shares a 532-kilometer border with Pakistan . Currently, farmers cultivating thousands of acres of land along the border are required to cross the fence for limited periods under the strict supervision of the Border Security Force for security reasons. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, while disclosing this development, said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah has stated that relocating the fence towards the border is being considered, which would restore Punjab’s land within the border without compromising national security.
13 Karnataka rectifies Jamma Bane land records to fix decades-old issues in Kodagu
The Karnataka government has taken a significant step toward modernizing land administration in the Kodagu region . Through a recent amendment to the Land Revenue Act, the government aims to address decades-old archival problems related to Jamma Bane lands . This reform is expected to particularly benefit tribal and indigenous communities, ensuring clear ownership records, legal recognition, and easier access to banking and financial services. The Karnataka government has amended the Land Revenue Act to improve the records of Jamma Bane lands in Kodagu district. This amendment received the Governor’s assent on January 7, 2026, and has now been officially notified. The Karnataka Land Revenue (Second Amendment) Act, 2025, was notified following Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s assent. It aims to bring Kodagu’s unique land records system in line with the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964.
Rivers have shaped human civilization for thousands of years, but some hold stories far older than human history itself. Scientists believe that the Finke River, flowing through Australia ‘s arid interior, is the oldest river system still in existence on Earth . According to geological evidence, this river has flowed along roughly the same path for hundreds of millions of years. Recent geological studies have reaffirmed that Australia’s Finke River is likely the world’s oldest continuously existing river system, with origins estimated to date back 300–400 million years—far older than most of Earth’s known rivers. The Finke River, which the indigenous Arrernte people call Larapinta, began flowing long before dinosaurs walked the Earth. It is approximately 640 kilometers long and flows through parts of the Northern Territory and South Australia. Its path cuts through some of the Earth’s oldest rock formations, making it a natural record of Earth’s geological evolution and climate history.
15 Karan Fries Breed: ICAR-NDRI’s Climate-Friendly Solution to India’s Dairy Needs
India’s dairy sector could be about to undergo a major transformation with the emergence of a lesser-known but highly effective cow breed called the Karan Fries . Developed through decades of scientific breeding research, this hybrid breed combines high milk production potential with improved adaptation to Indian climatic conditions. For farmers, livestock farmers, and policymakers, the Karan Fries offers a promising solution to sustainably increase milk production in the country. The Karan Fries breed was recently granted official registration by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). This recognition underscores its importance as a high-milk-producing and climate-resilient dairy breed for India. The Karan Fries is a synthetic dairy cow breed developed by the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI). This breed was created by crossing the Holstein Friesian (a high-milk-producing exotic breed) and the Tharparkar (a heat-tolerant and disease-resistant indigenous zebu breed). Its objective was to combine the productivity of foreign breeds and the tolerance of Indian breeds to produce animals suitable for Indian conditions.