21 January 2026 Current Affairs

Manufacturing, Exports & Industrial Policy

Electronics Exports Cross $47 Billion

• Smartphone exports contributed ~66% under the PLI scheme .

• Indicates success of Make in India + Global Value Chain integration .

• Exam angle: Industrial policy outcomes, export diversification, electronics as sunrise sector .

​​​​​​​ Asia Manufacturing Index (AMI) 2026 – India Rank 6/11

• Reflects steady manufacturing growth , but gaps in logistics, technology depth, and cost competitiveness .

• Relevant for manufacturing competitiveness, China+1 strategy, industrial reforms .

Agriculture, Water Resources & Rural Economy

Bembla River Irrigation Project (₹4,775 crore, Maharashtra)

• Enhances drought resilience in Yavatmal (Vidarbha region).

• Exam relevance: Irrigation-led agricultural productivity, regional imbalance correction .

Open-Sea Marine Fish Farming (Andaman Sea)

• Shift from coastal aquaculture → open-ocean farming .

• Strategic for Blue Economy, sustainable fisheries, protein security .

Environment, Mining & Resource Security

India’s First Tailings Policy

• Enables recovery of critical & strategic minerals from mining waste.

• Reduces environmental damage + supports circular economy .

• High relevance for resource security, critical minerals, green mining .

Banking, Insurance & Financial Sector

SBI – Tamil Nadu MoU (Corporate Salary Package)

• Improves financial services for State PSUs .

• Example of bank–state partnership for financial inclusion & employee welfare .

IREDA IFSC Subsidiary – First International Green Loan

• Strengthens India’s role in global green finance .

• Important for IFSCs, climate finance, renewable energy funding .

SBI Life – Smart Platina Advantage

• Non-linked, guaranteed savings product.

• Reflects demand for low-risk, long-term financial instruments amid market volatility.

ICICI Bank – Reappointment of Sandeep Bakshi

• Ensures leadership continuity & governance stability .

• Relevant for corporate governance in private banking .

Governance, Institutions & Administration

Appointment of Vigilance Commissioner (CVC)

• Appointment under Section 4(1), CVC Act, 2003 .

• Reinforces institutional oversight & anti-corruption framework .

• Static + current affairs linkage for Polity .

CCPA Action on Illegal Walkie-Talkies

• Suo motu action under Consumer Protection Act, 2019 .

• Highlights consumer safety + telecom regulation enforcement .

• Relevant for digital commerce regulation & consumer rights .

Defence, Maritime Security & Strategic Cooperation

Exercise DOSTI-17 (India–Sri Lanka–Maldives)

• Enhances maritime domain awareness in Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

• Key for neighbourhood security & SAGAR doctrine .

India–Japan Coast Guard HNS Drill

• Focus on Hazardous & Noxious Substances response .

• Exam angle: maritime environmental security + Indo-Pacific cooperation .

BSNL–Viasat Partnership

• Supports Indian Navy SATCOM upgrade .

• Highlights civil PSU–defence technology collaboration .

Sports, Youth & Soft Power

Vidarbha – Vijay Hazare Trophy

• First-ever title → domestic cricket depth & talent decentralisation .

Vijender Singh – Asian Boxing Council

• Strengthens India’s sports governance presence in Asia .

Aaryan Varshney – 92nd Indian Grandmaster

• Reflects India’s chess ecosystem strength & youth excellence .

Health, Science & Technology

World Bank Funding – WB Health System Reform Program

• USD 286 million for equitable healthcare access .

• Covers 90 million+ population .

• Relevant for health governance, SDGs, multilateral funding .

NCBS–TIFR: ‘Disobind’ Deep-Learning Tool

• Predicts binding behaviour of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) .

• Important for biotechnology, AI in life sciences, drug discovery .

Dairy, Food Processing & Industry