CURRENT AFFAIRS 04 & 05 January, 2026

CURRENT AFFAIRS 04 & 05 January, 2026

1. US ATTACK ON VENEZUELA –

• Recently, the United States carried out Operation Absolute Resolve, capturing and removing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela.
• The move marked a shift from diplomatic pressure to direct military intervention, with the US announcing temporary control over Venezuela and plans to sell its oil, reshaping regional geopolitics.
• “Don-roe Doctrine” in Action: The 2026 intervention marked the operationalisation of Trump’s rebranded Monroe Doctrine, asserting US dominance in the Western Hemisphere through direct action rather than diplomacy.
• Narco-State Justification: The US Justice Department portrayed President Nicolás Maduro as the head of a narco-state, citing criminal indictments linking him to the Tren de Aragua network and alleged conspiracies to traffic cocaine and fentanyl into the United States.
• The US argues that under Maduro, organised drug trafficking became embedded within state structures, with illicit revenues sustaining regime survival and influencing state policy—a phenomenon commonly described as narco-terrorism.

2. INDIAN ARMY DECLARES 2026 YEAR OF NETWORKING AND DATA CENTRICITY –

• The Indian Army has declared 2026 as the ‘Year of Networking & Data Centricity’, signalling a major push towards digitally integrated warfare and faster decision-making. The initiative is part of a broader decade-long transformation aimed at making the force more resilient, agile, and future-ready amid evolving security challenges and rapid technological change.

Vision Outlined by the Army Chief

• Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi, in his New Year message, said the force is undergoing a “decade of transformation” anchored on jointness, self-reliance, and innovation. He emphasised that the effective use of indigenous technologies, new operational ideas, and continuous reforms is strengthening India’s military power. Networking and data-centricity, he noted, are providing fresh momentum to this transformation process.

3. INDORE DECLARES BHAGIRATHPURA WATERBORNE OUTBREAK AN EPIDEMIC –

• Indore’s health administration has declared the waterborne disease outbreak in Bhagirathpura locality an epidemic after a sharp rise in cases and fatalities. The outbreak has claimed 10 lives so far, prompting authorities to escalate containment measures and call in specialised teams from central and state agencies. The declaration marks a critical shift in response strategy, with intensified surveillance, treatment, and infrastructure checks underway.

Epidemic Declaration and Health Rationale

• Chief Medical and Health Officer “Madhav Hasani” stated that the situation now meets the formal definition of an epidemic, with reported cases exceeding normal levels for the area. Specialised national teams have been tasked with analysing epidemiological data to determine whether the contamination originated from a single source or multiple points. The focus remains on identifying the precise cause to prevent further spread.

4. INDIA EMERGES AS WORLD’S LARGEST RICE PRODUCER –

• India has achieved a major agricultural milestone by overtaking China to become the world’s largest rice producer. The announcement underscores the country’s expanding foodgrain capacity and its growing role in global food supply chains. The development comes alongside a significant push towards seed innovation and crop diversification, aimed at strengthening farm productivity and food security.

India Surpasses China in Rice Output

• Union Agriculture Minister “Shivraj Singh Chouhan” announced that India’s rice production has reached 150.18 million tonnes, surpassing China’s output of 145.28 million tonnes. He described the achievement as unprecedented, noting that India has transitioned from a food-deficient nation to a leading global food producer. The minister highlighted that Indian rice is now being supplied extensively to overseas markets, reinforcing the country’s position in global agricultural trade.

5. KARNATAKA RECORDS HIGHEST-EVER ORGAN DONATIONS IN 2025 –

• Karnataka has set a new benchmark in organ donation, registering its highest-ever annual tally in 2025. The state recorded 198 organ donors during the year, reflecting growing public awareness and institutional coordination in the area of organ and tissue transplantation.

Record Performance and National Ranking

• The milestone was achieved by Jeevasarthakathe, Karnataka’s State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO). With 198 donors in 2025, Karnataka ranked third nationally in state-wise organ donations, behind Tamil Nadu and Telangana. The figure surpasses the state’s previous record of 178 donors in 2023 and marks a steady rise from 162 donors in 2024.

Donor Profile and Organs Retrieved

• Of the 198 donors, 150 were male and 48 females. A total of 306 kidneys were retrieved, making them the most donated organs, followed by 288 corneas and 167 livers. Other significant donations included 76 heart valves, 50 hearts, 29 lungs, 33 skin grafts, two bone donations, and one small bowel. The diversity and volume of organs retrieved underscore improved coordination between hospitals and transplant teams.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.   The maiden flight test of the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR) was successfully conducted at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha. What is the maximum range of the LRGRtested on 29 December 2025 ?

1. a) 80 kilometres
2. b) 100 kilometres
3. c) 150 kilometres
4. d) 120 kilometres

Q2.   Which category of banks was the main driver of overall employment growth in the Indian banking sector in FY25, according to RBI data ?

1. a) Public Sector Banks
2. b) Private Sector Banks
3. c) Foreign Banks
4. d) Small Finance Banks

Q3.   The Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics of Bhagwan Buddha was inaugurated in which city ?

1. a) New Delhi
2. b) Chennai
3. c) Hyderabad
4. d) Jaipur

Q4.   According to the Economic Survey 2023–24, which of the following is the correct descending order of the top three rice-producing states in India ?

1. a) West Bengal > Uttar Pradesh > Telangana
2. b) Telangana > Uttar Pradesh > West Bengal
3. c) Uttar Pradesh > West Bengal > Punjab
4. d) Telangana > West Bengal > Andhra Pradesh

Explanation-

• Data from the Economic Survey (Statistical Appendix) for 2023–24 shows a shift in traditional rankings. Telangana emerged as the largest producer with 16.63 MT (approx. 12.17% share), followed by Uttar Pradesh with 15.72 MT (11.50%), and West Bengal—traditionally the top producer—moved to the third spot with 15.12 MT (11.06%).
• This shift highlights the impact of expanded irrigation (like the Kaleshwaram project) and procurement policies in the Deccan region. West Bengal remains a major producer but has been surpassed in the latest data cycle.

Q5.   Consider the following statements regarding ramjet-powered artillery shells:

1. They utilize atmospheric oxygen for combustion instead of carrying an internal oxidizer.
2. They are capable of maintaining supersonic speeds throughout their flight trajectory from the point of launch.

          Which of the above statements are correct ?

1. a) 1 only
2. b) 2 only
3. c) Both 1 and 2
4. d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is correct. Ramjet-powered artillery shells are air-breathing propulsion systems. Unlike conventional rocket-assisted projectiles, they do not carry an onboard oxidizer. Instead, they rely on atmospheric oxygen drawn into the inlet during high-speed flight, where it mixes with fuel and combusts to generate thrust. This design significantly reduces the mass penalty associated with oxidizers and allows more space for fuel or payload, improving range efficiency. This principle is identical to that used in ramjet missiles and experimental hypersonic vehicles.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. Ramjets cannot generate static thrust and therefore cannot operate from rest or subsonic speeds. A ramjet-powered artillery shell must first be accelerated to high supersonic speeds by a conventional gun launch and ballistic trajectory before the ramjet can ignite and sustain propulsion. Even after ignition, the shell does not maintain supersonic speeds throughout the entire flight; it typically follows a mixed ballistic–powered profile with thrust sustaining velocity only during a mid-course phase. Aerodynamic drag, gravity, and terminal descent ensure that continuous supersonic speed from launch to impact is not maintained.

Answer Key