Daily Current Affairs – 06-01-2026
National News
Centre Releases 184 Climate-Resilient Seed Varieties
In New Delhi, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the Union Minister for Agriculture, on Saturday dedicated 184 climate-resilient and improved seed varieties of 25 crops to the nation, strengthening India’s agricultural research and seed development ecosystem. These varieties were developed under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) through All India Coordinated Research Projects, and are designed to provide higher yield, better quality, and tolerance to drought, flood, salinity and alkalinity, along with resistance to major pests and diseases. Since 1969, a total of 7,205 crop varieties have been officially notified in India, of which 3,236 varieties were approved in the last 11–12 years. The latest releases include 122 cereal varieties (notably 60 rice and 50 maize), 6 pulse varieties, 13 oilseed varieties, 11 fodder crops, 6 sugarcane varieties, 24 cotton varieties (including 22 Bt cotton), and one variety each of jute and tobacco. At the same event, National Seeds Corporation (NSC) CMD Dr. Maninder Kaur Dwivedi presented a ₹33.26 crore dividend cheque, while India’s rice production was recorded at a record 150.18 million tonnes, surpassing China.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Visit Somnath Temple on January 11
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the Somnath Temple on January 11 to mark the 1,000th anniversary of the first attack on the temple, which took place in January 1026. As part of this commemoration, year-long programmes are being organised under Somnath Swabhiman Parv. The temple was plundered by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026, and after India’s Independence, its reconstruction was undertaken under the leadership of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The rebuilt Somnath Temple was inaugurated on May 11, 1951, and 2026 will mark 75 years since its reopening. In a related diplomatic engagement, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will visit India during January 12–13, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will receive him in Ahmedabad on January 12 to review progress in bilateral relations.
National Turmeric Board Regional Office to be Established in Erode
In Erode, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, announced that a regional office of the National Turmeric Board (NTB), headquartered at Nizamabad, will be established along with an accredited turmeric testing laboratory. The NTB functions under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) will be directed to set up the laboratory in Erode. The initiative includes developing new turmeric varieties with high curcumin content, promoting nationwide marketing through e-commerce platforms, and taking action against illegal turmeric trading to ensure remunerative prices for farmers. Measures also include developing machinery for harvesting, drying, and processing, rolling out a value-addition scheme for turmeric, and establishing cold storage facilities under Central Government subsidy schemes. The Minister also reviewed turmeric varieties, including the GI-tagged Erode Virali.
India Becomes World’s Largest Rice Producer
In New Delhi, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the Union Minister for Agriculture, announced that India has surpassed China to become the world’s largest rice-producing country. The announcement was made during the release of 184 new crop varieties of 25 crops in Delhi, which included 122 grain varieties, 24 cotton, 13 oilseeds, 11 fodder crops, 6 each of pulses and sugarcane, and 1 each of jute and tobacco. As per official data, during 2024–25, India produced 150.18 million tonnes of rice, while China produced 145.28 million tonnes in the same period. At the same event, National Seeds Corporation (NSC) Chairperson and Managing Director Dr. Maninder Kaur Dwivedi presented a dividend cheque of ₹33.26 crore for the final quarter of the previous financial year.
World’s First Ramjet-Engine Artillery Shells by Indian Army
For the first time in the world, the Indian Army has used 155 mm artillery shells fitted with a Ramjet engine, a technology jointly developed by IIT Madras and the Army Technology Board. The Ramjet-enabled artillery technology was developed under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative by Prof. P.A. Ramakrishna and Prof. S. Varma from the Aerospace Engineering Department of IIT Madras. Compared to conventional shells, these Ramjet-fitted shells can strike targets 30–50% farther, enabling long-range and accurate artillery attacks. The technology allows existing 155 mm artillery shells in service with the Indian Army to be upgraded and, once fully operational, can be deployed across all artillery guns currently used by the Army.
ICG Pollution Control Vessel ‘Samudra Prahari’ Dedicated to Nation
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh dedicated the indigenously designed and built Indian Coast Guard (ICG) pollution control vessel Samudra Prahari to the nation at Panaji, Goa. The vessel, delivered in December by Goa Shipyard Limited, is the largest and most advanced pollution control ship of the ICG, built with over 60% indigenous components. The ship is 114.5 metres long, weighs 4,200 tonnes, has a maximum speed of 22 knots, and a continuous sailing range of 6,000 nautical miles. Samudra Prahari will be deployed for coastal pollution control enforcement, maritime law enforcement, search and rescue operations, and protection of India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The vessel will be stationed at Kochi under the command of Deputy Inspector General Ashok Kumar Panda and is manned by 14 officers and 115 personnel, including two women officers.
Tamil Nadu News
Tamil Nadu Tops Climate Action and Higher Education Enrolment
According to the State Indicator Framework (SIF) 2.0, released by the Tamil Nadu Government on Monday, Tamil Nadu has consolidated its position as one of India’s top-performing states on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), using 244 indicators aligned with national and global benchmarks, as prepared by the Planning and Development Department. The framework records Rank 1 nationally in Climate Action (SDG 13) and Rank 1 in Higher Education Gross Enrolment Ratio (SDG 4) with a GER of 47% for the 18–23 age group, the highest among all states, alongside a Gender Parity Index of 1.01. Key social indicators include under-five mortality at 13 per 1,000 live births, 99.98% institutional deliveries, and life expectancy of 73.2 years, placing the state among the top three nationally. On water and sanitation, 81.87% of rural households receive piped drinking water, and 100% of districts are Open Defecation Free under the Swachh Bharat Mission. The state generates over 50% of its power from renewable sources, has achieved 100% household electrification, and reduced unemployment from 7.2% to 4.8%. The framework also records Rank 1 in SDG 1 (No Poverty) with 100% MGNREGA demand met, Rank 2 in SDG 3 (Health), and strong performance in disaster resilience and coastal restoration.
E-Scooter Subsidy Scheme for Gig Workers in Tamil Nadu
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin launched an e-scooter subsidy scheme for 100 workers registered with the Tamil Nadu Internet-based ‘Gig’ Workers Welfare Board. The Board was established in 2023, and 23,687 gig workers have registered with it. To improve livelihoods, the Tamil Nadu Government announced in the State Budget a subsidy of ₹20,000 for purchasing a new e-scooter for 2,000 gig workers, with a total allocation of ₹4 crore. Under this initiative, the scheme was formally launched for the first batch of 100 registered gig workers. The programme is implemented by the Labour Welfare Department, and the launch event was attended by Minister C.V. Ganesan, Chief Secretary N. Muruganantham, Labour Welfare Secretary K. Veera Raghava Rao, and Labour Commissioner C. Ajayraman.
Tamil Nadu–UN Women MoU on Gender Equality
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between UN Women and the Government of Tamil Nadu in Chennai to strengthen women’s welfare, gender equality, and inclusive growth in the state. The MoU aims to enhance institutional capacity for gender-responsive governance, planning, and budgeting, and to promote women’s economic empowerment, with UN Women providing technical support for implementation. The agreement was signed in the presence of M.K. Stalin, along with Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam. In a related development, Tamil Nadu became the first state to enter a tripartite agreement with UNICEF, OECD – OPSI, and the Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission within a month, aimed at strengthening public sector innovation, research and evaluation, and capacity building across government departments.
Free Laptop Scheme for Students in Tamil Nadu
On January 5, 2026, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin launched a Free Laptop Scheme to distribute laptops to 10 lakh students across Tamil Nadu, with the programme inaugurated at an event held in Chennai. The scheme is implemented by the Tamil Nadu Government for college students with the objective of enhancing technology access and digital skills among students. This initiative is part of the state’s broader student welfare measures, which also include schemes such as Naan Mudhalvan, Pudhumai Penn, and Tamil Pudhalvan, aimed at strengthening education and skill development. The scheme emphasises the role of technology and artificial intelligence in future employment and seeks to ensure that students are not left behind in technological advancement, thereby contributing to human resource development and economic growth in the state.
States’ News
Siddaramaiah Becomes Karnataka’s Longest-Serving Chief Minister
In Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah has created a record by becoming the longest-serving Chief Minister of Karnataka. Former Chief Minister Devaraj Urs had earlier held the record for 2,789 days (7 years and 6 months) after winning the 1972 and 1978 elections, a milestone that stood for 35 years, while Nijalingappa followed with 7 years and 175 days in office. Siddaramaiah equalled Devaraj Urs’s tenure on January 6 and surpassed the record on January 7, thereby attaining the distinction of governing Karnataka for the highest number of days as Chief Minister.
International News
Venezuelan President Maduro Produced in New York Court
Nicolás Maduro, the President of Venezuela, and his wife Cilia Flores were produced before a federal court in Manhattan, New York, following their arrest by US special forces in Venezuela. The United States Department of Justice stated that charges including narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and arms smuggling were filed against them. The accused were earlier detained and transferred to New York, where they were lodged in a Brooklyn jail, and the arrest was carried out based on drug trafficking charges filed in 2020. Meanwhile, Juan Guaidó, who has assumed charge as interim President of Venezuela, reacted to the development, and the issue is expected to be discussed at the United Nations.
Sports News
Khelo India Beach Games 2026 Begin in Diu
2nd edition of the Khelo India Beach Games commenced in Diu, with the inauguration held at Ghoghla Beach. The event was officially inaugurated by Manoj Sinha, the Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. On the first day of competitions, Haryana defeated Andaman and Nicobar Islands in women’s beach kabaddi, while Maharashtra registered victories against Punjab and Karnataka in the same category. In men’s Mallakhamb, wins were recorded by Maharashtra against Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh against Dadra & Nagar Haveli, and Rajasthan against Uttarakhand. In women’s beach kabaddi, Odisha defeated Maharashtra, and Himachal Pradesh defeated Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
Bangladesh Bans IPL Broadcast
Bangladesh Government banned the broadcast of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the country. The decision followed the release of Bangladeshi cricketer Mushfiqur Rahman from the IPL after he had been **bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for the 2026 season. The release was carried out by the franchise following directions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Subsequently, Bangladesh stated that it would not send its national team to India for the T20 World Cup and also requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to schedule its World Cup matches in Sri Lanka. The broadcast ban was announced by the Information and Broadcasting Minister of Bangladesh’s interim government, Mohammad Yunus, after obtaining official approval.
Personalities, Awards and Events
Former Billiards World Champion Manoj Kothari Passes Away
Manoj Kothari (67), a former Billiards World Champion, passed away due to a heart attack in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. Hailing from Kolkata, West Bengal, he won the World Billiards Championship in 1990 and later served as the current Head Coach of the Indian Billiards Team. He was honoured by the Government of India with the Dhyan Chand Award in 2005 and was also a recipient of the Arjuna Award. He is survived by his wife Neeta Kothari and son Sourav Kothari, who has also won a World Championship in Billiards.