1 President Draupadi Murmu launched the ‘Skill the Nation’ challenge.
President Draupadi Murmu launched the ” Skill the Nation ” challenge at a special event at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre on Thursday . The campaign aims to encourage greater participation of youth in future-ready skill programs . On the occasion, the President also virtually inaugurated the Indira Gandhi National Open University ‘s regional centre in Rayarangapur , Odisha . This centre will strengthen skill-based education and training in northern Odisha, thereby increasing employment opportunities. The event was organised by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship . It was part of the SOAR (Skilling for AI Readiness) initiative under the Skill India Mission. under the Skill India Mission , which focuses on preparing India’s workforce for a future driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI) . The President also presented AI-related certificates to several people at the event, including students and Members of Parliament.
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has new logo and mascot . The new logo reflects the importance of data in national development. The Ashoka Chakra in the logo symbolizes truth, transparency, and good governance. The rupee symbol in the center underlines the crucial role of data in economic planning, policymaking, and national development. The use of numbers and symbols represents modern data systems and statistical science. The upward-sloping growth line represents progress and illustrates how reliable data supports sustainable economic development. The saffron, white, green, and dark blue colors represent India’s national values—growth, truth, stability, sustainability, and knowledge—which strengthen the trust and credibility of official statistics. The Ministry also introduced its new mascot, “Sankyaki .” The Ministry stated that this new mascot is a citizen-centric character designed to make statistics simple, understandable, and attractive to people across the country.
3 Bulgaria adopted the euro as its official currency on the first day of the new year.
Bulgaria adopted the euro as its official currency on the first day of the new year , becoming the 21st member of the euro zone . To ensure a smooth transition, Bulgaria’s currency, the lev, will circulate alongside the euro until January, and the euro will become the country’s sole legal tender from February 1. Joined the European Union in 2007 . To ensure a smooth transition, Bulgaria’s currency, the lev, will circulate alongside the euro until January, and the euro will become the country’s sole legal tender from February 1. Joining the euro zone has been a priority for the Bulgarian government since joining The euro zone was established in 11 countries after the euro was officially introduced on January 1, 1999. Currently, the zone has 27 members, of which six – Sweden, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, and Denmark – have not yet adopted the euro.
4 Nagesh Kapoor becomes Vice Chief of Air Staff
Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor has assumed the post of Vice Chief of Air Staff of the Indian Air Force . Kapoor was appointed this year . Kapoor was awarded the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal for his leadership during Operation Sindoor earlier this year . Commissioned into the IAF’s flying branch in December 1986, Nagesh Kapoor has extensive experience flying fighter and trainer aircraft. Air Marshal Kapoor took over from Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari.
5 Air Marshal Tejinder Singh assumed charge as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Air Command of the Indian Air Force
Air Marshal Tejinder Singh took over as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the South Western Air Command of the Indian Air Force on 01 January 2026. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Air Marshal Tejinder Singh was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF on 13 Jun 1987. He is a Category ‘A’ qualified Flying Instructor with over 4500 hours of flying experience. He is also an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College and the National Defence College.
Air Marshal Seethepalli Srinivas on 1 January 2026 charge as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Indian Air Force Training Command Air Marshal Srinivas, an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, was commissioned into the fighter aircraft branch of the Indian Air Force on 13 June 1987. He is a Category A qualified Flying Instructor and has over 4200 hours of flying experience on aircraft including MiG-21, Iskra, Kiran, PC-7 Mk II, HPT-32 and Microlight. He is also qualified as a Second Pilot on Chetak/Cheetah helicopters and a Graded Operations Officer on the Pechora missile system.
7 Indian Railways’ New Year gift to the nation: First Vande Bharat sleeper train between Guwahati and Howrah
Minister of Railways, Information and Broadcasting, Electronics and Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnav, while extending warm New Year greetings at a meeting held at Rail Bhavan in New Delhi , announced that the first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train will commence operations between Guwahati in Assam and Howrah in West Bengal . He informed that the entire testing, inspection, and certification of the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train has been successfully completed. In January, the Honorable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, will flag off the first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train on this route. The Vande Bharat Sleeper Train will benefit the Kamrup Municipal Corporation and Bongai Village in Assam and the districts of Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Malda, Murshidabad, East Burdwan, Hooghly, and Howrah in West Bengal. The train will have 16 coaches, including 11 three-tier AC coaches, 4 two-tier AC coaches, and 1 first-class AC coach. Its total capacity will be approximately 823 passengers.
8 National Sports Governance Act implemented
The National Sports Governance Act, which governs sports governance in India , has partially come into effect. This will initiate the process of establishing the National Sports Board (NSB) and the National Sports Tribunal (NST) . This law was notified on August 18 last year. The Act aims to promote transparency, accountability, ethical conduct, and good governance in sports administration for the welfare of athletes.
9 years of Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, a scheme related to the health of pregnant and lactating mothers
The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, a flagship government scheme for pregnant and lactating mothers, has completed nine years . The scheme was launched on January 1, 2017, with the aim of providing financial assistance to pregnant and lactating mothers to improve their health and nutrition.
Hyundai Motor India Limited has appointed Mr. Tarun Garg as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer . He is the first Indian to hold this position in the company’s nearly 29-year history . Hyundai said the appointment reflects the group’s confidence in Indian leadership and the country’s growing strategic importance in the global automotive sector. Mr. Garg has over three decades of experience in the automobile industry. Mr. Garg will replace Unsoo Kim, who has been given a strategic role at Hyundai Motor Company in South Korea.
11 Gaan Nagai festival of Kabui community begins in Manipur
The Gaan Nagai festival of the Kabui community began in Manipur . This five-day festival is one of Manipur’s major festivals, celebrated every year after the harvest. State-Level Gaan Nagai Festival 2026 was held in Konthoujam Mamang Kabui village in Imphal West district . The festival also marks the end of the year when farmers store their grains in granaries. At the beginning of the festival, a new fire was lit by rubbing dry wood and bamboo pieces and carried to every home to symbolize the beginning of the New Year.
12 The International Federation of Journalists (ICJ) said that 128 journalists and media workers would be killed worldwide in 2025.
The International Federation of Journalists has said that a total of 128 journalists and media workers were killed worldwide last year , making 2025 one of the deadliest years for journalism . According to the report released by the Federation of Journalists, the Middle East and the Arab world were the most dangerous regions , with 74 deaths , mainly due to conflict reporting , accounting for nearly 58 percent of the global total . Fifty-six journalists were killed in Palestine alone , most of them related to the Gaza War. Other affected countries included 13 in Yemen, eight in Ukraine, six in Sudan, four each in India and Peru, and three each in Pakistan, Mexico, and the Philippines.
India and Pakistan exchanged lists of nuclear installations and facilities under the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack on Nuclear Installations and Facilities . The list was shared through diplomatic channels simultaneously in New Delhi and Islamabad. The Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that as per the agreement, both countries provide information to each other on nuclear installations and facilities on January 1 every year. The agreement was signed on December 31, 1988 , and came into effect on January 27, 1991. This is the 35th consecutive exchange of such lists between the two countries. India and Pakistan shared lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in each other’s custody
through diplomatic channels . The Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that India shared lists of 391 civilian prisoners and 33 fishermen in its custody who are Pakistani or suspected to be Pakistani. At the same time, Pakistan has shared lists of 58 civilian prisoners and 199 fishermen in its custody, who are Indians or suspected to be Indians.