1 Vice President Delcy Rodriguez will be Venezuela’s acting president.
A national emergency has been declared in Venezuela amid reports of US attacks . Following seven explosions and the sound of low-flying aircraft in the capital, Caracas , the Venezuelan government has accused the US of attacking civilian and military installations in several states. Venezuela’s Supreme Court has ordered Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to assume the role of acting president of the country . This decision follows the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro , who was taken into custody by US forces. US Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the Venezuelan president and his wife, First Lady Cilia Flores, have been charged in the Southern District of New York. They face charges of conspiracy to commit narcotics-related terrorism, importing cocaine, and possessing weapons of mass destruction for use against the US. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has advised Indian citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to the South American country of Venezuela in light of recent developments and the rapidly evolving situation there. This advisory has been issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.
2,000-year-old Buddhist stupas discovered in Zehanpora, Baramulla
A 2,000-year-old Buddhist stupa and urban-type settlement have been discovered in mounds in Zehanpora , Baramulla , Jammu and Kashmir . Nestled in a valley along the Jhelum River, amid apple orchards and paddy fields, several mounds had long aroused curiosity among the locals of Zehanpora village. Over the past few years, archaeologists from Srinagar and Delhi visited this village in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir. They conducted surveys and made inferences about the seemingly ordinary mounds. The discovery in Zehanpora village revealed stupas, monastic buildings, and other structures dating back to the Kushan period. When archaeologists began systematically studying the mounds, which lie along an ancient Silk Route leading to Kandahar and beyond, using drone surveys, aerial photography, and mapping, it became clear that they were part of an ancient structure. The discovery began with a strange clue. Blurred, decades-old photographs of three stupas kept in a French museum caught the researchers’ attention. Those photographs led to new surveys in Zehanpora, which eventually revealed an important Buddhist complex that sheds new light on the ancient civilization of the region.
3 The central government appointed new Chief Justices for the Kerala, Patna and Meghalaya High Courts.
The Central Government has approved key judicial appointments and transfers involving three High Courts in India . Based on the recommendations of the Supreme Court Collegium, notifications have been issued for the appointment of new Chief Justices for the Kerala, Patna, and Meghalaya High Courts , ensuring leadership continuity and smooth functioning in the higher judiciary. Justice Soumen Sen , currently the Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court, has been transferred and appointed Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court. He will assume office on January 9, 2026, upon the retirement of the current Chief Justice, Justice Nitin Madhukar Jamdar. Justice Sangam Kumar Sahu , currently a Judge of the Odisha High Court, has been appointed Chief Justice of the Patna High Court . Following the transfer of Justice Soumen Sen , Justice Revati Prashant Mohite Dere , a Judge of the Bombay High Court, has been appointed Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court .
4 Assam became the first state to constitute the Eighth Pay Commission.
Assam has taken the lead in government pay reforms by becoming the first state in the country to constitute its 8th State Pay Commission. This proactive decision has been taken before the term of the 7th Pay Commission ends on January 1, 2026. The move has attracted the attention of state employees, pensioners and other states, as pay commissions play a vital role in determining the salaries, allowances and pensions of government employees. The early formation of the commission reflects the Assam government’s intention to expedite the pay revision process.
5 Mamady Doumbouya, leader of the military coup in Guinea, wins the presidential election.
The political situation in the West African country of Guinea has taken a decisive turn. Mamady Doumbouya, the military leader who has led the country since a 2021 military coup, has won the presidential election and returned to power. The results, which were boycotted by major opposition parties, have sparked renewed debate about democratic transition and civilian rule.
The government has announced a significant change in the taxation of tobacco and pan masala products . A new tax regime will come into effect from February 1st , under which the existing Compensation Cess will be replaced by an additional excise duty and a new cess. The move is aimed at increasing revenue by levying higher taxes on so-called sin goods and strengthening public health policy. The central government has officially issued a notification stating that from February 1st, additional excise duty will be imposed on tobacco products and a Health and National Security Cess will be imposed on pan masala. These new taxes will replace the existing compensation cess.
7 Sanjay Takle creates history in Dakar Rally 2026
Sanjay Takle achieved a historic milestone in Indian motorsport with a stellar performance in the Dakar Rally 2026. He secured first place in Group H3 and 35th place in the car category with a high average speed in the rally’s opening stage . In the prologue, which determines the starting order and does not count towards the overall standings, Takle dominated the Dakar Classic Group H3, becoming the first Indian to stand on the Dakar podium in the car category on the opening day. Driving car number 722, Sanjay Takle guided his Toyota HDJ 100 through the 22 km special stage and 74 km liaison (96 km total), finishing ahead of experienced international competitors. José Sol and Sergio Cerezo (Spain) took second place in the H3 class in a Mitsubishi Montero, followed by Raúl Ortiz (Spain) in third place driving a Toyota RAV4. Rally driver Sanjay Takle, the only Indian to have competed in the four-wheeler category at the Dakar Rally, made his debut in 2025 and finished 18th overall and 10th in his class – the Dakar Classic category. The 57-year-old Sanjay Takle races for Team Airpace Racers alongside French navigator Maxime Roud and will receive technical and logistical support from France’s Compagnie Saharienne. In the motorcycle section , India’s leading rally-raid rider Harith Noah began his 7th Dakar Rally campaign at the 48th Dakar Rally 2026 in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia.
Rani Velu Nachiyar was a courageous and visionary ruler of Tamil Nadu who fought against British expansion long before the 1857 rebellion . Born in 1730, Rani Velu Nachiyar became a symbol of resistance, valor, and female leadership. On her birth anniversary, January 3, she is remembered for her reconquest of the Sivagangai kingdom and her fearless struggle against colonial rule. Rani Velu Nachiyar was the first queen to fight against British colonial power in India.
9 Savitribai Phule’s 194th birth anniversary
Savitribai Phule was a courageous social reformer. She changed the course of Indian history by fighting for women’s education at a time when girls were denied the right to study. Born on January 3, 1831, in Maharashtra , Savitribai Phule challenged caste discrimination and gender inequality at a time when educating women was considered socially unacceptable. With the support of her husband, Jyotirao Phule , she became India’s first female teacher and laid a strong foundation for women’s education and social reform in the country.
10 International Mind-Body Wellness Day 2026
International Mind-Body Wellness Day is observed every year on January 3. Its purpose is to raise awareness of the deep connection between mental health and physical health and to promote preventive health care.