Daily News Analysis for UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railways, State PSCs & Defence Exams
Today's current affairs for 04 January 2026 bring crucial updates on India's evolving policy landscape, international developments, economic indicators, and technological advancements. As competitive exam aspirants prepare for UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railways, and State PSC examinations, staying updated with verified national and international news becomes essential for success in both preliminary and main examinations.
Section 1: India – National Current Affairs
1. Delhi Cabinet Approves Jan Vishwas Amendment Bill 2026
- What: Delhi Cabinet approved the Delhi Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026
- Purpose: To decriminalize minor and procedural offenses, replacing criminal proceedings with civil penalties
- Significance: Aligns with Central Jan Vishwas Act; promotes "Minimum Government, Maximum Governance" approach; reduces judicial burden
- Exam Relevance: Important for questions on governance reforms, ease of doing business, and legislative updates
2. National Technology Readiness Assessment Framework (NTRAF) Unveiled
- What: Government of India unveiled NTRAF to measure technology project maturity
- Developed By: Office of Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
- Key Feature: Uses 9 Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) - TRL 1-3 (proof of concept), TRL 4-6 (prototype), TRL 7-9 (deployment)
- Objective: Addresses "Valley of Death" funding gap between prototype and market readiness
- Exam Relevance: Questions on innovation ecosystem, R&D funding mechanisms, technology commercialization
3. Land Acquisition Identified as Major Infrastructure Bottleneck
- What: PRAGATI review identified land acquisition as biggest bottleneck in infrastructure projects
- Statistics: 35% of project delays due to land acquisition; 73% total delays from land, environmental clearances, and right-of-way issues
- Governing Act: Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (LARR) Act, 2013
- Compensation: 4x market value in rural areas, 2x in urban areas
- Exam Relevance: Questions on infrastructure development challenges, land laws, project management
4. Republic Day Parade 2026 Ticket Sales Begin January 5
- What: Ministry of Defence announced ticket sales for 77th Republic Day Parade
- Events Covered: Republic Day Parade (January 26), Beating Retreat Full Dress Rehearsal (January 28), Beating Retreat (January 29)
- Ticket Prices: Rs 20 and Rs 100 for Parade; Rs 20 for Rehearsal; Rs 100 for Beating Retreat
- Availability: Online via Aamantran portal and offline at 6 locations in Delhi
- Exam Relevance: Questions on national celebrations, cultural events, government initiatives
5. India's Foreign Exchange Reserves Stand at USD 686.2 Billion
- When: As of November 2025
- Significance: Provides import cover of over 11 months; indicates strong external sector stability
- Additional Data: Current Account Deficit (CAD) moderated from 2.2% of GDP in Q2 FY25 to 1.3% in Q2 FY26
- Exam Relevance: Questions on balance of payments, economic indicators, forex management
6. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Surge in H1 FY26
- Statistics: Gross FDI grew 19.4% to USD 51.8 billion (April-September 2025) from USD 43.4 billion; Net FDI surged 127.6% to USD 7.7 billion from USD 3.4 billion
- Significance: Indicates strong investor confidence in Indian economy
- Exam Relevance: Questions on FDI policy, economic growth indicators, investment trends
7. RBI Announces Merger of Four Gujarat Cooperative Banks
- Effective Date: January 1, 2026
- Regulatory Authority: Reserve Bank of India under Banking Regulation Act, 1949
- Impact: Depositors' money, loan agreements, and FD interest rates remain unchanged
- Exam Relevance: Questions on banking sector consolidation, cooperative banking, RBI regulations
8. RBI Announces USD 22.30 Billion Liquidity Infusion
- What: RBI to conduct Open Market Operations (OMOs) and USD/INR Buy/Sell Swap auction of USD 10 billion
- When: USD swap auction scheduled for January 13, 2026 with three-year tenor
- Current Liquidity: System liquidity deficit around Rs 54,851.83 crore (USD 6.11 billion)
- Reason: Temporary deficit caused by advance tax and GST payments
- Exam Relevance: Questions on monetary policy tools, liquidity management, RBI functions
9. Bank Credit to Industry Accelerates to 9.6%
- Period: November 2025 (accelerated from 8.3% in November 2024)
- Sectors: Growth in MSMEs, infrastructure, and textiles
- Overall Non-Food Credit: Expanded by 11.4% year-on-year
- Significance: Indicates rising economic activity and industrial expansion
- Exam Relevance: Questions on credit growth, sectoral performance, economic indicators
10. Home Minister Amit Shah's Tamil Nadu Visit
- When: January 4, 2026
- Purpose: BJP rally in Tamil Nadu with enhanced security arrangements
- Political Context: Part of BJP's southern expansion strategy
- Exam Relevance: Questions on political developments, federalism, state election
Section 2: International Current Affairs
1. US Military Operation in Venezuela - Maduro Captured
- What: US special forces (Delta Force) captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in military operation
- When: Early morning January 3, 2026
- Location: Captured at Fuerte Tiuna military complex, Caracas; currently detained in Brooklyn, New York
- US Position: President Trump stated US will "run" Venezuela until "safe, proper, and judicious transition"
- Casualties: 32 Cubans killed; several US service members injured
- Charges: Maduro charged with drug trafficking crimes
- Acting President: Delcy Rodríguez sworn in as acting president
- Exam Relevance: Questions on international relations, US foreign policy, Latin America, international law, sovereignty
2. Global Reaction to Venezuela Operation
- China: "Strongly condemns" operation; called it "clear violation of international law"; demanded immediate release
- Brazil: President Lula called it "serious affront" to sovereignty; "crosses unacceptable line"
- Cuba: Called it "criminal US attack"; demanded urgent international reaction
- Russia: "Strongly condemns" the operation; called for adherence to international law
- Colombia: Called for urgent de-escalation (shares border with Venezuela)
- European Union: Kallas stated "principles of international law and UN Charter must be respected"
- France: Barrot acknowledged Maduro's departure as "good news" but criticized method as violation of international law
- Exam Relevance: Questions on UN Charter, international law, diplomatic relations, global politics
3. India-Pakistan Diplomatic Engagement in Dhaka
- What: Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq shook hands at event
- When: December 31, 2025
- Location: Former Bangladesh PM Khaleda Zia's funeral ceremony in Dhaka
- Context: First such public engagement after May 2025 four-day aerial conflict between India-Pakistan
- Significance: Possible thaw in bilateral relations; contrast to Indian cricket team's refusal to shake hands with Pakistan players in September 2025
- Exam Relevance: Questions on India-Pakistan relations, bilateral diplomacy, South Asian geopolitics
4. Myanmar Independence Day
- Date: January 4, 2026
- Significance: Myanmar celebrates independence from Britain since 1948
- Historical Context: Country changed name from Union of Burma to Myanmar
- Exam Relevance: Questions on neighboring countries, historical events, ASEAN
5. Democratic Republic of Congo - Day of Martyrs of Independence
- Date: January 4, 2026
- Significance: National holiday commemorating peaceful march where hundreds died
- Exam Relevance: Questions on African history, independence movements, international days
6. Angola - Colonial Repression Martyrs' Day
- Date: January 4, 2026
- Significance: Important holiday in Angola's national liberation struggle against Portuguese colonial occupation
- Exam Relevance: Questions on African independence, colonialism, international observances
7. World Hypnotism Day
- Date: January 4, 2026
- Purpose: Created by professional hypnotists to combat misconceptions about hypnosis and hypnotherapy
- Exam Relevance: Questions on international observances, healthcare awareness
8. World Braille Day
- Date: January 4, 2026
- Significance: Commemorates birth anniversary of Louis Braille, inventor of Braille script for blind and visually impaired
- UN Observance: Established to promote accessibility and human rights
- Exam Relevance: Questions on disability rights, international days, social welfare
Section 3: Economy & Banking
1. RBI Banking Rule Changes - Dormant Account Closure
- Effective Date: January 1, 2026
- What: RBI may close dormant (no transactions for 2+ years), inactive (12+ months), and zero-balance accounts
- Purpose: Enhance banking security, improve transparency, reduce fraud
- Action Required: Customers must make periodic transactions and maintain updated KYC
- Exam Relevance: Questions on banking regulations, customer protection, RBI guidelines
2. RBI Revises Concentration Risk Regulations for NBFCs
- Date: January 1, 2026
- What: Revised concentration risk management framework defining high quality infrastructure loans
- Implementation: By date of capital adequacy amendments or April 1, 2026, whichever is earlier
- Significance: Defines extent of NBFC exposure to single borrower/group without violating regulatory limits
- Exam Relevance: Questions on NBFC regulations, infrastructure financing, risk management
3. RBI Financial Stability Report 2025
- Released: December 31, 2025
- Key Findings: Indian financial system "robust and resilient"; bad loans at multi-decade low; strong bank balance sheets
- Concerns: Surge in unsecured retail lending (53.1% of retail loan slippages); unsecured loans GNPA at 1.8% vs 1.1% overall retail
- Fintech Growth: 36.1% growth between September 2024-2025; 70% of fintech loans are unsecured; over 50% to borrowers under 35
- Governor's Statement: RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das emphasized vigilance despite positive outlook
- Exam Relevance: Questions on financial stability, banking sector health, fintech regulation, NPA management
4. Government Debunks Rs 500 Note Discontinuation Rumor
- What: PIB fact-check unit clarified Rs 500 notes will NOT be discontinued
- Clarification: No announcement made by RBI; Rs 500 notes remain legal tender
- Exam Relevance: Questions on currency management, fake news awareness, government communication
5. RBI's Record Bond Market Intervention
- Amount: Rs 11.7 lakh crore injected into banking system in 2025
- Purpose: Support government bonds and manage yields amid supply concerns
- Interest Rate Cuts: 125 basis points cuts in 2025 (steepest since 2019)
- Rupee Performance: Depreciated 5% against USD (worst decline in three years)
- 10-Year Yield Forecast: CSB Bank forecasts pivot around 6.30%
- Exam Relevance: Questions on monetary policy, bond markets, debt management, exchange rate
6. India's Foreign Exchange Reserves Update
- Amount: USD 686.2 billion as of November 2025
- Import Cover: Over 11 months
- CAD: Moderated to 1.3% of GDP in Q2 FY26 from 2.2% in Q2 FY25
- Remittances: Rose 10.7% year-on-year in Q2 FY26
- Exam Relevance: Questions on external sector, balance of payments, economic stability
7. Air India-airBaltic Codeshare Agreement
- Date: December 30, 2025
- Parties: Air India (India's national carrier) and airBaltic (Latvia's national airline)
- Purpose: Enhance connectivity between India and Baltic region through European hubs
- Type: Unilateral codeshare agreement
- Exam Relevance: Questions on aviation sector, bilateral cooperation, connectivity initiatives
Section 4: Science, Technology & Environment
1. ISRO's First Launch of 2026 - PSLV-C62/EOS-N1
- Scheduled Date: January 10, 2026 (tentative)
- Launch Site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota (First Launch Pad)
- Vehicle: 64th flight of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)
- Primary Payload: EOS-N1 Earth Observation Satellite (strategic purposes, built by DRDO)
- Additional Payloads: 25-kg Kestrel Initial Demonstrator (KID) by Spanish startup; 17 commercial co-passenger satellites (~200 kg) from startups and research organizations
- Exam Relevance: Questions on ISRO missions, space technology, satellite applications, strategic assets
2. ISRO's 2026 Mission Lineup
- Key Missions Planned:
- PSLV-N1 (February 2026): First commercially built PSLV carrying EOS-10 and India-Mauritius Joint Satellite
- HLVM3 G1/OM-1: First uncrewed Gaganyaan mission testing end-to-end human spaceflight systems
- GSLV F17/EOS-05: Strategic Earth Observation Satellite
- PSLV C63/TDS-01: Technology Demonstration Satellite with high-thrust electric propulsion
- SSLV L1/NSIL: Dedicated commercial mission
- Exam Relevance: Questions on space missions, satellite technology, human spaceflight program
3. ISRO RESPOND Basket 2025
- What: Catalog of 125 research priority problem statements by ISRO and Department of Space
- Submission Deadline: January 31, 2026 via I-GRASP portal
- Focus Areas: Launch vehicles, satellite technology, propulsion systems, space science, remote sensing, advanced materials, AI, quantum technologies
- Objective: Bridge academic research with ISRO's mission requirements
- Exam Relevance: Questions on research
