Daily Current Affairs – 10-01-2026
Important Days
World Hindi Day – January 10
World Hindi Day is observed every year on January 10 to promote the Hindi language at the global level and encourage its use in international forums. The observance commemorates the First World Hindi Conference, which was held in 1975 at Nagpur, Maharashtra, marking an important milestone in taking Hindi to the international stage. World Hindi Day is distinct from National Hindi Day, which is observed in India on September 14, while World Hindi Day focuses specifically on international outreach. The celebrations are coordinated by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, primarily through Indian embassies and cultural centres abroad. On this day, activities such as seminars, conferences, cultural programmes, literary events, and Hindi workshops are organised worldwide. Hindi, written in the Devanagari script, is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world and plays a role in strengthening India’s cultural diplomacy and people-to-people relations with other countries.
Tamil Nadu News
Tamil Nadu Partners with German Firm for Quantum Computing Access
The Government of Tamil Nadu has launched a state-supported quantum computing initiative to provide students and startups with direct access to real quantum computing hardware, positioning the state within India’s emerging quantum ecosystem. At the UmagineTN 2026 summit, the government-backed iTNT Hub signed a Letter of Intent with Germany-based deep-tech firm XeedQ GmbH to launch one of India’s first government-led quantum computing programmes. In the first phase, learners and startups across Tamil Nadu will receive remote access to a 4-qubit quantum computer developed by XeedQ, enabling work on real quantum hardware instead of simulators. In the second phase, Tamil Nadu may become the first Indian state to physically host a quantum computer within its public innovation ecosystem. The programme will be led by iTNT Hub, supported by the Tamil Nadu Government, with XeedQ providing quantum hardware, remote access infrastructure, and technical expertise, and will be housed at the Anna University campus.
100 New Reserve Forests Declared in Tamil Nadu (2021–2025)
The Government of Tamil Nadu has declared 100 new Reserve Forests across the state during the period 2021 to 2025, according to data released by the Forest Department. The initiative aligns with the state’s objective of increasing forest cover to 33% of its geographical area, with the current forest cover standing at 24.47%. The newly notified reserve forests aim to protect wildlife habitats, water bodies, and ecological corridors, resulting in an expansion of forest protection by approximately 135 square kilometres. These reserves cover 13,494.95 hectares across 10 districts—Dindigul, Dharmapuri, Madurai, Kallakurichi, Theni, Sivaganga, Namakkal, Nilgiris, Salem, and Tenkasi—with High Camps in Theni district being the largest newly notified forest range at 2,836.33 hectares. A commemorative publication documenting the declaration was released in Chennai by R. S. Rajakannappan, Minister for Forests, in the presence of senior forest officials including Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary (Environment, Climate Change and Forests), Srinivas R. Reddy, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, and Roger Clement, Chief Wildlife Warden.
Tamil Nadu Launches ‘Namma Arasu’ WhatsApp Services
The Tamil Nadu Government has launched a WhatsApp-based public service platform named ‘Namma Arasu’, enabling citizens to access 51 services from 16 departments, including the Local Administration Department, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, and Electricity Department, by saving the number 78452 52525. The initiative was formalised at the Information Technology Summit held at Nandambakkam, Chennai, where Tamil Nadu e-Sevai officials signed an agreement with Meta (WhatsApp) in the presence of Palanivel Thiagarajan, Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services. In the first phase, services such as local body services, devotee-related services of HR&CE, and electricity bill payment are provided through this WhatsApp chatbot, which has been developed by the Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency (TNeGA). The platform supports queries in Tamil and English, and additional department services will be integrated gradually.
Double Decker Bus Service in Chennai to be Launched
The Double Decker Bus Service in Chennai will be inaugurated on January 12 by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. The double-decker bus service, which was operated in Tamil Nadu from 1970, was discontinued in 2007, and is being reintroduced after a gap of 18 years by the Tamil Nadu Government in collaboration with the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC). In the first phase, a plan has been announced to procure 20 buses from Ashok Leyland, and related work is underway. To promote tourism and increase tourist inflow, the Tamil Nadu Tourism Department has decided to operate the service across major tourist locations in Chennai. As part of this initiative, Ashok Leyland has manufactured an air-conditioned electric double-decker bus with financial support from US-based Tamils, which has been procured by the Tourism Department. A trial run of the bus was conducted in the Park Town area, and the service is planned to operate from Adyar to Island Grounds.
Economy News
RBI Cuts U.S. Treasury Investments After Four Years
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reduced its holdings of U.S. Treasury securities by 21%, marking the first annual decline in four years, according to data from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. RBI’s U.S. Treasury investments declined from USD 241.4 billion as on October 31, 2024 to USD 190.7 billion as on October 31, 2025, indicating a strategic shift towards foreign exchange reserve diversification and non-dollar assets amid rising global economic and geopolitical risks. During this period, despite 10-year U.S. bond yields trading between 4% and 4.8%, the reduction reflected a reassessment of reserve allocation, with India’s foreign exchange reserves at around USD 700 billion in October. As part of diversification, RBI has increased its gold reserves, with total gold holdings reaching 880.8 tonnes by September 2025, and gold’s share in forex reserves rising to 13.9%, compared to 9% a year earlier. In 2024, RBI purchased a record 64 tonnes of gold, while in 2025, it directly bought 4 tonnes and repatriated 64 tonnes of gold from overseas vaults. During the same period, China also reduced its U.S. Treasury holdings by 9.3% to USD 688.7 billion.
National News
Four Indian Films Qualify for the 98th Academy Awards
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has released the **eligibility list for the 98th Academy Awards, in which four Indian films have qualified to compete in the Best Picture category. The qualified Indian films are the Tamil film Tourist Family, the Kannada film Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1, the Hindi film Tanvi the Great, and Maha Avatar Narasimhan. In total, 317 films worldwide are eligible across 24 Oscar categories, with 201 films qualifying for Best Picture. Additionally, the Indo-British co-production Fighter Pilot, starring Radhika Apte, has also been included in the eligibility list. India’s official entry for Best International Feature Film, Hope Found, directed by Jeeth Tas, has already featured in the preliminary top 15 list. As per eligibility norms, films must be screened in major US cities for at least 7 days before December 31, 2025, with final nominations to be announced on January 22 and the 98th Academy Awards ceremony scheduled for March 15.
NSG’s National IED Blast Analysis Database Launched
The National Security Guard (NSG) has developed the National IED Blast Analysis Database (NIBPDMS), which was launched on January 9 by Amit Shah, Union Home Minister of India, through video conference from New Delhi. The database has been created with the support of Rashtriya Raksha University, IIT Delhi, National Investigation Agency, and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre. The platform uses artificial intelligence to enable accurate analysis of IED and explosion-related incidents and is designed as a secure national digital database. It provides central and state investigation agencies, anti-terrorism bodies, and central armed police forces with immediate access to IED blast data and functions on a ‘one nation, one databank’ model to strengthen internal security and legal action related to blast incidents.
China Emerges as a Key Destination for Indian Exports
Data released by the Union Ministry of Commerce shows that China is emerging as an important destination for Indian exports. According to official figures, India’s exports to China stood at USD 10.28 billion during April–November of FY 2022–23, declined in FY 2024–25, and then increased by 33% to USD 12.22 billion during April–November of the current financial year, marking the highest growth in the last four years. The increase has been driven by higher exports of oilseeds, marine products, telecommunication equipment, and spices, indicating a structural shift in India–China bilateral trade as reflected in central government data.
Budget Session of Parliament (Jan 28 – Apr 2)
The Parliament Budget Session will be held from January 28 to April 2, as announced by Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju, with approval from President Droupadi Murmu. The session will be conducted in two phases, with the first phase from January 28 to February 13 and the second phase from March 9 to April 2. Being the first session of the year, it will begin with the President’s address to a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament. There will be no parliamentary sitting on January 29 due to the Beating Retreat ceremony, while the Economic Survey is likely to be tabled on January 30. The Union Budget is expected to be presented on February 1, a practice followed since 2017, though the official date was not confirmed. A one-month recess will be provided during the session to allow Departmental Standing Committees to examine the Demands for Grants of various Central Ministries and Departments, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to begin budget consultations ahead of the Union Budget.
International News
Internet Services Shut Down Amid Protests in Iran
The Iran Government has shut down internet services nationwide on January 9 to control intensifying protests against the economic crisis, as per officials of the Iranian Ministry of Communications. Following the shutdown, social media platforms and news websites became largely inaccessible across the country. Protests were reported in more than 40 cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, and Tabriz, where police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse demonstrators. According to human rights organizations, the protests have resulted in 20 deaths and over 800 arrests so far. The unrest began due to the depreciation of the Iranian rial and rise in food prices and later escalated into a political movement against the government, including demands related to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Visit India on Jan. 12
Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany, will undertake a two-day official visit to India starting on January 12, according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). During the visit, he will hold bilateral talks with Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, at Gandhinagar, Gujarat, marking his first official visit to India. The programme includes visits to Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, participation in the International Kite Festival on the Sabarmati riverfront, and bilateral discussions at the Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Centre. As India–Germany strategic partnership completes 25 years, the talks will review bilateral relations and focus on cooperation in trade, investment, defence, technology, education, skill development, transport, science, innovation, research, green development, and people-to-people ties, along with discussions on regional and international issues. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a three-day visit to Gujarat from January 10 in connection with these engagements.