Daily Current Affairs (08 – Jan – 26)

Daily Current Affairs  (08 – Jan – 26)

1. Recently, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) celebrated its 79th Foundation Day on 6th January 2026 –

• BIS is India’s National Standards Body under the Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, responsible for ensuring product safety, reliability and global competitiveness. 
• It was initially set up as the Indian Standards Institution (ISI) that came into being on 6th January 1947.
• Legal Foundation: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act, 2016, provides statutory backing for standardisation, certification and hallmarking.
• Vision: To transform “Made in India” into “Trusted by India and Trusted by the World” through a digitally enabled and globally harmonised quality ecosystem.
• Reforms: It provides Annual Minimum Marking Fee concessions (80%–Micro, 50%–Small, 20%–Medium), relaxes in-house laboratory requirements for large industries.
• The Silver HUID Hallmarking Scheme strengthens consumer protection and transparency making HUID-based marking mandatory while silver hallmarking remains voluntary.

Key Initiatives: 

• BIS Standardisation Portal: End-to-end digital platform integrating standards formulation, review and expert collaboration.
• SHINE Scheme (Standards Help Inform & Nurture Empowered Women): Women-centric quality awareness and empowerment initiative through SHGs and NGOs.
• BIS–SAKSHAM (Scheme for Acknowledging Knowledge, Skills and High-impact Merit): Annual excellence recognition framework.
• Standards National Action Plan (SNAP) 2022–27: A national roadmap that steers standardisation for emerging technologies, sustainability and climate action, positioning standards as enablers of India’s economic growth and quality culture.
• Achievements: 94% of Indian standards have been harmonised with the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards.

2. Indian Railways has electrified 99.2% of its Broad Gauge (1.676 metre distance between the inner faces of the two parallel rail lines) network, covering 69,427 Route Kilometres (RKMs)out of 70,001 RKMs as of November 2025, aligning infrastructure growth with sustainability –

• Historical Significance:Railway electrification in India began in 1925 with the first electric train running between Bombay Victoria Terminus and Kurla Harbour, laying the foundation for energy-efficient rail mobility.
• Acceleration in the Last Decade: Electrification pace surged from 1.42 km/day (2004–2014) to over 15 km/day (2019–2025). The share of electrified railway tracks increased from 24% in 2000 to over 96% by 2024, reaching 99.2% by November 2025.
• Near-Universal State Coverage: Railways’ networks in 25 States/UTs are 100% electrified, with only 5 States (Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Assam, and Goa) having residual non-electrified sections totalling 574 RKMs (0.8%).
• Economic and Environmental Gains: Electric traction is about 70% more economical than diesel and significantly reduces carbon emissions, air pollution, and fossil fuel dependence.
• Global Railway Electrification (as of June 2025): Switzerland leads with 100% railway electrification, followed by China (82%), Spain (67%), Japan (64%), France (60%), Russia (52%), and the United Kingdom (39%).
• Integration of Renewable Energy: As of November 2025, Indian Railways has commissioned 898 MW of solar capacity, up from 3.68 MW in 2014, representing a nearly 244-fold increase. Solar installations now cover 2,626 railway stations across India.

3. DRDO Celebrates 68th Foundation Day 2026: Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Cyber, Space & AI Leadership –

• On January 1, 2026, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), functioning under the Ministry of Defence (MoD), celebrated its 68th Foundation Day at DRDO Headquarters in New Delhi.
• The celebration marked nearly seven decades of extraordinary contributions to India’s defence and security infrastructure. Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Minister of State Sanjay Seth, and Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Chairman of DRDO and Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D, graced the occasion with their presence, underscoring the national significance of DRDO’s achievements and future trajectory in advancing Aatmanirbhar Bharat—India’s self-reliant defence ecosystem.

Key Facts for Competitive Exams

• Event: 68th Foundation Day of DRDO
• Date: January 1, 2026
• Location: DRDO Headquarters, New Delhi
• Established: January 1, 1958 (68 years of operation)
• Chairman: Samir V. Kamat
• Current Network: 52 laboratories (from initial 10)
• Key Focus Areas: Cyber, Space, and Artificial Intelligence
• 22 AoN Approvals: Worth approximately Rs.1.30 lakh crore
• 11 Defence Contracts: Worth Rs.26,000 crore
• Technology Transfers (LAToT): 245 in 2025 (Total: 2,201)
• Centres of Excellence (CoE): 15 operational; 66 new projects worth Rs.228 crore

4. IAF Commemorates 25th Anniversary of Tejas Light Combat Aircraft’s First Flight –

• On January 4, 2026, the Indian Air Force (IAF) proudly commemorated the 25th anniversary of the maiden flight of the indigenously developed Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). This milestone marks a defining moment in India’s journey towards self-reliance in defence aviation under the broader vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
• The Tejas programme stands as a testament to India’s growing technological capability in designing, developing, and manufacturing modern combat aircraft.

Genesis of the Tejas LCA Programme

• The Tejas LCA programme was launched in 1983 by the Government of India with a clear strategic objective—to replace the ageing and obsolete fighter aircraft fleet of the Indian Air Force with a modern, lightweight, multi-role combat aircraft designed and built in India.
• This ambitious initiative laid the foundation for India’s indigenous aerospace ecosystem, involving multiple research institutions, public sector undertakings, and private industry partners.

5. Indian Army Creates Modern Warfare Force ‘Bhairav’ with Over 1 Lakh Drone Operatives –

• In January 2026, the Indian Army announced a major leap in India’s military modernisation with the creation of a new modern warfare force named ‘Bhairav’. This elite force is designed to integrate drone technology into combat operations, significantly enhancing India’s battlefield capabilities in an era of technology-driven warfare.
• The newly raised force will comprise over 1 lakh trained drone operatives, making it one of the largest dedicated drone warfare units globally.

What is the ‘Bhairav’ Force?

• The Bhairav force represents a new-generation combat unit tailored for the challenges of modern, high-intensity warfare. Every soldier in these battalions is trained in advanced drone operations, enabling real-time surveillance, precision strikes, and battlefield intelligence gathering.

Core Capabilities 

• Offensive drone strikes on enemy positions
• Real-time reconnaissance and surveillance
• High-speed operations in hostile environments
• Technology-driven battlefield dominance
• This transformation reflects lessons learned from recent global conflicts, where drones have emerged as decisive force multipliers.

MCQ Quiz

Q1. The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) functions under the aegis of which ministry ?

1. a) Ministry of Commerce and Industry
2. b) Ministry of Textiles
3. c) Ministry of Finance
4. d) Ministry of Home Affairs

Q2. Melghat Tiger Reserve is located in which state ?

1. a) Maharashtra
2. b) Madhya Pradesh
3. c) Rajasthan
4. d) Gujarat

Q3. Wangchhu Hydro Electricity Project is located in which country ?

1. a) Sri Lanka
2. b) Myanmar
3. c) Nepal
4. d) Bhutan

Q4. With reference to Bulgaria’s adoption of the euro, consider the following statements:

1. Bulgaria became the 21st member of the European Union to adopt the euro on January 1, 2026.
2. From February 1, 2026, both the lev and the euro will circulate as legal tender in Bulgaria.
3. Adoption of the euro implies automatic membership of the European Central Bank (ECB) system.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) 1 and 3 only
3. c) 2 and 3 only
4. d) 1, 2, and 3

Explanation-

• Statement 1: Correct. Bulgaria officially joined the eurozone on January 1, 2026, becoming the 21st eurozone member.
• Statement 2: Incorrect. Dual circulation of lev and euro is allowed only during January 2026. From February 1, 2026, euro becomes the sole legal tender.
• Statement 3: Correct. Euro adoption means integration into the Eurosystem, which includes the ECB and national central banks of eurozone members.

Q5. With reference to the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB), consider the following statements:

1. SRB is defined as the number of female births per 1,000 male births.
2. The natural biological norm of SRB is approximately 105 males per 100 females.
3. A declining SRB usually indicates post-birth discrimination.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) 2 only
3. c) 2 and 3 only
4. d) 1, 2, and 3

Explanation-

• Statement 1: Incorrect. SRB is defined as number of male births per 100 female births.
• Statement 2: Correct. The natural SRB is around 105:100 (male:female).
• Statement 3: Incorrect. Skewed SRB typically signals pre-birth sex selection, such as prenatal sex determination and selective abortion.