27 january 2026 Current Affairs

Democracy, Governance & Parliamentary Institutions

India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM)

• Positions India as a global knowledge hub on electoral practices , democratic resilience and election technology.

• Reinforces soft power through democratic expertise .

• Exam relevance : Election Commission of India (ECI), electoral reforms, global democracy discourse.

86th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference (AIPOC 2026)

• Inaugurated at UP Vidhan Sabha, Lucknow .

• Platform for strengthening legislative functioning, parliamentary ethics and federal dialogue .

• GS-II relevance : Legislature, parliamentary democracy, cooperative federalism.

Economy, Manufacturing & MSMEs

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

• Indicates moderate manufacturing progress .

• Highlights gaps in logistics efficiency, technology depth and competitiveness .

• Exam angle : Manufacturing reforms, China+1 strategy, Make in India outcomes.

GeM–WTC Mumbai MoU

• Enhances MSME participation in public procurement .

• Expands market access beyond government to global trade platforms .

• GS-III relevance : MSMEs, procurement reforms, DPI-enabled governance.

Finance, Pensions & Capital Markets

SAARG Committee (PFRDA)

• Reviews investment framework of NPS .

• Focus on asset allocation, risk governance and assured returns .

• Exam relevance : Pension reforms, demographic ageing, long-term savings.

PhonePe IPO Approval (SEBI)

• Marks maturity of India’s fintech ecosystem .

• Reflects regulatory confidence in digital payments companies .

• Likely exam area : Capital markets, fintech regulation, SEBI’s role.

LIC Stake in ICICI Bank below 5%

• Indicates portfolio rebalancing and market-driven disinvestment.

• Banking exam relevance : Institutional investors, ownership norms.

Technology, AI & Digital Innovation

Juspay – India’s First Unicorn of 2026