Current Affairs - January 9, 2026 Current Affairs

Uttarakhand achieved the top rank in the ICJS 2.0 national rankings with a high score of 93.46, reflecting its strong performance in digital policing and criminal justice system integration. The Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System enables seamless data sharing among police, courts, prisons, and other justice institutions, promoting efficiency and transparency. Uttarakhand’s success is attributed to effective integration of district-level systems with the national platform, extensive training of police personnel, and commitment to technology-driven governance. This achievement sets a benchmark for other states in modernizing law enforcement and strengthening evidence-based justice delivery.

Kerala has achieved a significant milestone in judicial digitisation with the inauguration of India’s first fully paperless district court. The Kalpetta district court in Wayanad operates entirely in digital mode, ensuring that all judicial processes are conducted electronically. This includes case institution, pre-trial proceedings, evidence recording, interim applications, and final adjudication. Inaugurated virtually by the Chief Justice of India, this initiative reflects the state’s strong emphasis on e-governance and technological integration. The move enhances efficiency, transparency, and accessibility in the justice delivery system while reducing reliance on physical paperwork.

The 15 States that entered into Memorandums of Understanding with the Ministry of Textiles under the Tex-RAMPS scheme. This initiative was highlighted during the National Textiles Ministers’ Conference and aims to strengthen textile-related data systems and promote evidence-based policymaking. A total of 15 States participated by signing MoUs, reflecting a collaborative approach between the Centre and States. This partnership supports improved quality and credibility of textile statistics and aligns with cooperative federalism while contributing to the long-term goal of developing a $350-billion textile industry.

The United States announced its withdrawal from a total of 66 international organizations through an executive order signed on January 7, 2026. This decision marked a major escalation in the country’s retreat from multilateral global cooperation, particularly targeting UN-affiliated bodies involved in climate action, labour standards, and social development. The move followed a comprehensive review of U.S. participation and funding, with the administration citing redundancy, inefficiency, and misalignment with national interests as key reasons. The withdrawals have significant implications for global governance, climate response, humanitarian assistance, and the functioning of international institutions worldwide.

Chennai served as the venue for the “Viksit Bharat, Viksit Ports” programme, during which port projects worth ₹235 crore were launched in Tamil Nadu. The initiative was led by the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and inaugurated by Sarbananda Sonowal. The funding allocation included ₹129.36 crore for the Chennai Port Authority and ₹105.64 crore for Kamarajar Port Limited. The programme also witnessed the launch of the e-port clearance portal under the One Nation–One Port Process, aimed at improving efficiency, transparency, and ease of doing business in India’s port sector.

Guwahati hosted the National Textiles Ministers’ Conference 2026, which began on January 8 as a two-day event organized by the Ministry of Textiles in collaboration with the Government of Assam. The conference brought together Textile Ministers and senior officials from all States and Union Territories to discuss the future roadmap of India’s textile sector. Held under the theme “India’s Textiles: Weaving Growth, Heritage & Innovation,” the event emphasized cooperative federalism, development of PM MITRA Parks, and the strategic goal of positioning India as a global textile manufacturing hub by 2030, while also highlighting the potential of the North-Eastern region.

The First Advance Estimates released by the National Statistics Office indicate that India’s real GDP growth rate for the financial year 2025–26 is projected at 7.4 percent. Real GDP measures economic growth after adjusting for inflation, reflecting the actual expansion in output. This estimate is significant as it guides policy decisions by the government and the Reserve Bank of India, influences investor confidence, and helps assess economic momentum. The strong growth projection reinforces India’s position as one of the fastest-growing major economies, driven largely by robust performance in the services and manufacturing sectors.

Oman and New Zealand provided formal recognition to AYUSH through India’s trade pacts finalised in December 2025. These agreements include dedicated annexures focusing on health services and traditional medicine, marking an important step in institutionalising cooperation in the AYUSH sector. The recognition helps improve market access, harmonise standards, and enhance credibility for Indian traditional medicine products abroad. This development has supported the steady growth of AYUSH exports, which increased by over 6 percent between 2023–24 and 2024–25, strengthening India’s position in the global traditional healthcare market.

National Physical Laboratory plays a crucial role in strengthening India’s quality and measurement ecosystem through the inauguration of two apex calibration facilities. These include the Solar Cell Calibration Facility, which enables highly accurate photovoltaic testing and supports solar manufacturing and exports, and the Environmental Standard Laboratory, which allows domestic calibration of air-quality monitoring instruments. As India’s premier measurement standards institution under CSIR, the laboratory ensures precision, reliability, and global comparability of measurements. Such initiatives reduce dependence on foreign calibration services, improve industrial competitiveness, and enhance environmental monitoring capabilities across the country.

Tamil Nadu has taken a pioneering step in strengthening India’s innovation ecosystem by launching the country’s first dedicated Deeptech Startup Policy for 2025–26. The policy aims to convert advanced scientific research into scalable commercial products, with a strong focus on long-gestation, science-driven technologies. Backed by a financial commitment of ₹100 crore to support 100 deeptech startups, it targets sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, biotechnology, space technologies, and clean energy. Launched at the Umagine Technology Conference in Chennai, the initiative reinforces Tamil Nadu’s ambition to emerge as a global hub for frontier technologies and high-value innovation.

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is the public sector undertaking responsible for awarding major refinery contracts to Technip Energies. These contracts are part of BPCL’s broader petrochemical expansion and refinery modernization strategy. At the Bina refinery in Madhya Pradesh, the EPCC contract covers the establishment of polypropylene and Butene-1 units, enhancing petrochemical output. At the Mumbai refinery, an EPCM contract was awarded for India’s first 3 MMTPA PRFCC unit, which will convert heavy residues into high-value products. These projects strengthen refining efficiency, value addition, and energy infrastructure development.