1 The first phase of the winter session of the Khelo India Games begins in Leh, Ladakh.
The first phase of the Khelo India Games winter season begins in Leh, Ladakh, on January 20th . Over 1,000 male and female athletes, including coaches and technical support staff, will participate in this edition. The inclusion of an Olympic event like figure skating is a major attraction this year. This year, 472 athletes will participate in ice skating and hockey. Speaking about the Khelo India Games, Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya said, “The Khelo India Winter Games will provide athletes with an opportunity to compete this winter season.”
2 US President Donald Trump invites Prime Minister Narendra Modi to join the Peace Board for lasting peace in Gaza
US President Donald Trump has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to join a ” Peace Board .” This board will work toward bringing lasting peace to Gaza . Donald Trump sent a letter to Prime Minister Modi in this regard, which was shared on social media by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor. The letter to the Prime Minister states that on September 29, 2025, a comprehensive plan was announced to end the Gaza conflict. This 20-point roadmap was immediately accepted by key leaders from several countries, including the Arab world, Israel, and Europe. The letter states that, furthering this plan, the United Nations Security Council overwhelmingly passed Resolution 2803 on November 17, welcoming and supporting this vision.
3 INS Sudarshini to embark on 10-month long maritime expedition ‘Lokayan-26’, participate in ‘Escalate a Set’ and ‘Sail 250’
Indian Naval Ship INS Sudarshini will embark on a 10-month maritime expedition, “Lokayan-26.” The Ministry of Defence stated that the ship will cover over 22,000 nautical miles and visit 18 foreign ports in 13 countries . It will participate in “Escale à Saite” in France and “Sail 250” in New York, USA . Over 200 trainees from the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard will receive intensive sailing training, gaining experience in long-distance ocean navigation and traditional maritime skills. The naval ship will also participate in training interactions and maritime partnership programs with the navies of visiting countries. This will strengthen maritime cooperation and promote mutual and holistic advancement for ocean-wise, regional security, and development.
4 The prestigious Padmapani Award of the 4th Ajanta-Ellora International Film Festival will be given to music composer Ilaiyaraaja.
The prestigious Padmapani Award of the Ajanta-Ellora International Film Festival will be given this year to legendary music composer Ilaiyaraaja for his unique contribution to Indian cinema . The award consists of a Padmapani memento, a citation and a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh. The 11th Ajanta-Ellora International Film Festival will be held from January 28 to February 1 at Mahatma Gandhi Mission, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar . The Ajanta-Ellora International Film Festival is being organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Department of Culture, Government of Maharashtra. It is jointly presented by the National Film Development Corporation and the Maharashtra Film, Stage and Cultural Development Corporation.
5 C-DOT awarded Skoch Award-2025 for Cell Broadcast Solution
The Centre for Development of Telematics, C-DOT, has been awarded the Skoch Award 2025 for its Cell Broadcast Solution . The Ministry of Communications stated that the award was presented at the 104th Skoch Summit . The theme of the summit was Resource Developed India . C-DOT’s Cell Broadcast Solution is a disaster and emergency platform . It brings together disaster warning agencies , including the Meteorological Department for weather and the National Disaster Management Authority for disaster management, on a unified platform. The Skoch Award recognizes individuals, projects, and institutions for outstanding work in improving governance and development. C-DOT is a research and development center for telecommunications technology under the Department of Telecommunications.
6 GeM and World Trade Centre Mumbai sign MoU
Government e-marketplace GeM and World Trade Centre Mumbai signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The agreement aims to increase participation and ensure wider access for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in public procurement . This partnership will promote inclusive access for startups, women entrepreneurs, and small enterprises , while also expanding GeM’s global presence. It will focus on capacity building, supplier linkages, and information sharing in areas such as artificial intelligence, sustainability, and green procurement. Satya Narayan Meena, Additional Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of GeM, said that this collaboration is an important step towards making GeM a globally standardized digital procurement platform. He added that with over 10 million registered users on the GeM portal, ensuring wider reach and market access is crucial.
7 ‘Brand India’ resonates in Nairobi, with Indian defence companies showcasing their strength
Under the ” Brand India ” initiative, Indian defense companies are showcasing weapons and defense equipment in Kenya . Twenty Indian defense companies, both public and private, are participating in this significant defense sector event. Led by the Defense Production Secretary of the Ministry of Defense, these companies have arrived in Kenya. A wide range of Indian defense products and services are being showcased. Under the “Brand India” initiative, a four-member Indian delegation, led by Defense Production Secretary Sanjeev Kumar, began its official visit to Kenya on Monday, January 19th. The delegation will remain in Kenya until January 21st. India’s High Commissioner to Kenya , Dr. Adarsh Swaika, also attended the event. According to the Ministry of Defense, Indian domestic defense production , which was a mere ₹46,425 crore in 2014 , has now reached a record ₹1.5 lakh crore . Significantly, more than ₹33,000 crore of this contribution came from the private sector.
8 Over 100 Indian CEOs and government delegations to attend World Economic Forum starting in Davos
The 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum will begin in Davos, Switzerland . More than 3,000 global leaders will attend. More than 100 Indian CEOs and government delegations will participate in the five-day conference. Senior Union Ministers including Ashwini Vaishnav, Pralhad Joshi , and K. Rammohan Naidu are expected to attend. The Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, and Jharkhand will showcase business opportunities in their respective states to investors. Pavilions from various state governments, including Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, and Telangana, will also be present.
9 Artemis II, the first manned lunar flyby mission, arrives at Cape Canaveral; launch on February 6
NASA ‘s massive rocket has arrived at the launch pad in Cape Canaveral, Florida , for the Artemis II mission. The Artemis mission is NASA’s ambitious program to return humans to the Moon. This mission is scheduled to launch on February 6th , with subsequent launch opportunities in February, March, and April. Artemis II is the first manned lunar flyby mission . It is designed to test NASA ‘s Orion spacecraft and SLS rocket . The crew, including NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, will embark on a 10-day journey around the Moon. This will be the first manned lunar flyby since the Apollo 17 lunar landing in December 1972. Artemis 3 is also scheduled for launch next year.
10 SBI report predicts India to be an upper-middle income country by 2030
According to a report by the State Bank of India, per capita income in India will reach $4,000 by 2030 , making it an upper-middle-income country . According to the report, India will be placed alongside China and Indonesia in the World Bank’s current classification. After independence, it took India 60 years to become a $1 trillion economy. However, by 2014, the Indian economy reached $2 trillion in just seven years, and in the next seven years, it reached $3 trillion by 2021. In 2025, India’s economy crossed the $4 trillion mark in just four years. The report states that India will achieve the target of a $5 trillion economy within the next two years. The report also states that after 62 years of independence, per capita income was $1,000 in 2009, which doubled to $2,000 in 2019. It is expected to surpass $3,000 by 2026.
11 IMF raises India’s 2025 economic growth forecast by 0.7 points to 7.3 percent
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised India’s economic growth forecast for 2025 by 0.7 basis points to 7.3% . In its World Economic Outlook Update, the IMF said that this growth reflects the strong momentum in the fourth quarter of this fiscal year. The IMF has projected India’s economic growth at 6.4% for the fiscal year 2026-27. The IMF said that despite the expected slowdown, India remains a key driver of growth among emerging markets and developing economies. Inflation in India is expected to return close to the target level after a significant decline in 2025 due to softening food prices. This will provide additional support to domestic demand.
12 Vidarbha became the new champion of Vijay Hazare Trophy, won the title for the first time.
Vidarbha has become the new champion of the Vijay Hazare Trophy . This is Vidarbha’s first win of the tournament. Vidarbha defeated Saurashtra by 38 runs in the final played at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on Sunday . Saurashtra needed 318 runs to win but was all out for 279 in 48.5 overs. Saurashtra missed the chance to win the title for the third time. The team has previously won the title in 2007-2008 and 2022-23.
13 Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Odisha’s freedom fighter Parbati Giri on her birth anniversary.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Odisha’s freedom fighter Parbati Giri on her birth anniversary. In a social media post, Mr. Modi said she played a commendable role in the movement to end colonial rule. Known as the ” Mother Teresa of Western Odisha ,” Parbati Giri was born on January 19, 1926, in Samlaipadaar village in Odisha’s Bargarh district . At that time, Odisha was experiencing a wave of nationalist sentiment, and Samlaipadaar village was a hub of political activity. Although Parbati wanted to pursue higher education, she left school at the age of 11 and began working with the local Congress party. In 1938, she left home and began working for the freedom struggle. She learned the art of weaving and handicrafts and the importance of social work. She adopted Gandhism as a way of life, and this was reflected throughout her work. In 1940, when the Satyagraha movement began, she began organizing meetings and motivating people in villages to participate in Gandhiji’s Khadi movement. Subsequently, when the Quit India Movement began, Parvati Giri, then very young, joined other leaders in the movement. When a famine struck Odisha in 1951, she took charge of relief work and helped those severely affected. She also worked tirelessly to improve prison conditions and eradicate leprosy.
14 NDRF Raising Day
The NDRF ‘s foundation day is celebrated every year on January 19. The NDRF is celebrating its 21st foundation day on Monday. The NDRF was established in India in 2006 under the Disaster Management Act 2006. It has a total of 16 battalions . Each battalion has approximately 1,200 personnel, who are deployed in different parts of the country. Currently, the NDRF is commanded by IPS officer Piyush Anand , who is posted as Director General. Headquarters : New Delhi Motto : Disaster Service Always Everywhere