Current Affairs - January 12, 2026 Current Affairs

The discovery of ‘Cloud-9’ was confirmed using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, highlighting its continued importance in deep-space observations. Using its Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS), Hubble detected a massive hydrogen cloud with no visible stars, making it the first known Reionization-Limited H I Cloud (RELHIC). This object is considered a primordial failed galaxy, offering crucial insights into how dark matter influences galaxy formation even in the absence of starlight. Hubble’s precise imaging capabilities allowed scientists to study this structure located about 14 million light-years away near Messier-94.

The Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia is one of the highest civilian honours awarded by Italy to recognize exceptional contributions in promoting friendly relations and cooperation with the country. Shrinivas Dempo received this prestigious award for his long-standing efforts in strengthening ties between India and Italy through business, cultural exchange, and community support. The honour reflects Italy’s emphasis on people-to-people diplomacy and the role of non-governmental actors in international relations. By recognizing an Indian industrialist, Italy highlighted the importance of grassroots engagement in enhancing bilateral cooperation beyond formal diplomatic channels.

Kotak Mahindra Bank appointed Anup Kumar Saha as its Whole-Time Director as part of a strategic move to strengthen senior leadership amid rapid digital transformation in the banking sector. Effective from January 12, 2026, his role includes oversight of consumer banking, marketing, and data analytics—key growth drivers for modern private banks. Saha brings prior experience from Bajaj Finance, where he worked extensively in consumer finance and data-driven operations. His appointment reflects the growing emphasis on analytics-led decision-making, customer-centric services, and digital innovation in India’s evolving financial ecosystem.

Kerala has taken a significant step toward biodiversity and insect conservation by renaming the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary as the Aralam Butterfly Sanctuary. This decision recognizes the region’s exceptional diversity of butterfly species, supported by dense forests and favorable climatic conditions in the Western Ghats. Butterflies are vital pollinators and sensitive ecological indicators, making their conservation crucial for forest health. The new sanctuary status aims to protect fragile habitats, promote research, encourage eco-tourism, and involve local communities through awareness programs and sustainable livelihood initiatives, strengthening long-term ecological protection in northern Kerala.

Justice Revati Mohite Dere was sworn in as the first woman Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court, marking a historic milestone for the state’s judiciary. The oath-taking ceremony took place in Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, highlighting the constitutional importance of the event. Her appointment represents a significant step toward improving gender representation in higher judicial positions, especially in a matrilineal society where women’s leadership in constitutional roles has remained limited. The development strengthens judicial leadership in Northeast India and reflects ongoing efforts to promote inclusivity, diversity, and balanced representation within India’s judicial system.

The 9th meeting of the Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) was chaired by the Union Home Minister as part of India’s ongoing efforts to strengthen drug control and inter-agency coordination. NCORD functions as the primary platform for cooperation between central and state agencies in combating drug trafficking and abuse. The meeting took place in New Delhi, highlighting the capital’s role as the administrative and decision-making hub of the country. Such high-level meetings are typically organized there to ensure effective policy discussion, coordination, and implementation under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The TCWI 2025 ranking assessed 125 Indian cities based on parameters related to social and industrial inclusion of women. Bengaluru secured the top position with the highest Composite Inclusion Score, reflecting its strong performance in areas such as workplace inclusion, safety systems, access to skilling opportunities, and career advancement support. The city’s robust industrial ecosystem and progressive work culture have contributed to creating an enabling environment for women’s participation in the workforce. While other cities like Chennai, Pune, and Hyderabad also performed well, Bengaluru emerged as the most women-friendly city in India for 2025.

National Youth Day is observed annually across India to honour the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, one of the country’s most influential spiritual leaders and youth icons. The day is celebrated on January 12 to commemorate his enduring ideals of character building, leadership, discipline, and service to humanity. Recognizing the inspirational power of his teachings, the Government of India officially declared this date as National Youth Day in 1984. The occasion serves as a platform to motivate young citizens to actively participate in nation-building and align their aspirations with the broader goals of social and national development.

The G7 Critical Minerals Ministerial Meeting was held in Washington DC, which is the capital of the United States. The meeting brought together ministers from G7 nations to discuss strategies for securing and strengthening global supply chains of critical and strategic minerals, which are essential for clean energy, technology, and industrial growth. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw represented India at this important forum and highlighted the significance of resilient critical minerals supply chains in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat. The United States, as a major G7 member, hosted the meeting to facilitate global coordination on this issue.

Global copper demand is expected to increase significantly as copper plays a vital role in modern technologies. Rapid growth in artificial intelligence, clean energy systems such as electric vehicles and renewable power infrastructure, and defence-related manufacturing has increased reliance on copper because of its excellent electrical and thermal conductivity. These sectors require large quantities of copper for wiring, motors, batteries, and electronic components. As a result, projections indicate that by the year 2040, global copper demand could rise by nearly 50%, making it one of the most strategically important industrial metals for future economic growth.