Daily Current Affairs – 14-01-2026
Reports and Indices
World Bank Raises India’s FY26 Growth Forecast
The World Bank has revised **India’s GDP growth estimate for FY26 to 7.2%, up from 6.3% earlier, citing strong domestic demand driven by private consumption, supported by earlier tax reforms and rising real household incomes in rural areas. As per the Government of India’s first advance estimate, GDP growth in FY26 is projected at 7.4%. In its Global Economic Prospects Report, the World Bank noted that despite a 50% tariff imposed by the United States, India’s services exports remained resilient and merchandise exports increased in November, aided by demand from key trading partners and efforts to diversify export markets. Growth is expected to moderate to 6.5% in FY27 if U.S. import tariffs persist, yet India is projected to remain the fastest-growing major economy, with the impact of higher tariffs—affecting about 12% of India’s merchandise exports to the US —offset by robust domestic demand and resilient exports.
Bloomberg Defers Inclusion of India in Global Bond Index
Bloomberg Index Services Ltd. (BISL) has extended its review of including Indian government bonds in the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Index, stating that operational readiness and market infrastructure require further assessment. BISL indicated that while initial feedback from market participants has been encouraging, operational and post-trade infrastructure issues still need evaluation, and consultations with investors, regulators, custodians, and government authorities will continue. BISL said the next update will be provided by mid-2026, when clarity on inclusion will be given. Following the announcement, India’s 10-year benchmark bond yield rose by 6 basis points to 6.64%. The Bloomberg Global Aggregate Index is closely tracked by global investors, and inclusion could lead to significant foreign inflows. Bloomberg had already included India in its Emerging Market Local Currency Bond Index in January 2025. Earlier, JP Morgan included Indian government bonds in its GBI-EM Global Index in June 2024, and FTSE Russell added them to its Emerging Market Index in September 2025.
National News
India Launches BRICS 2026 Vision
India formally launched its BRICS Chairship for 2026, releasing the BRICS India 2026 Logo, Theme and Website, with S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India, emphasising the need to reform global governance institutions amid global uncertainties. BRICS, which represents 49.5% of the global population, nearly 40% of global GDP, and about 26% of global trade, was formed as BRIC and expanded to BRICS in 2011 with the inclusion of South Africa. A major expansion occurred in 2024 with Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and United Arab Emirates becoming full members, followed by Indonesia in January 2025, while Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan were inducted as partner countries. India highlighted its focus on climate action, clean energy, sustainable development, and strengthening the New Development Bank, and called for reforms in institutions such as the United Nations, World Trade Organization, International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank, with India’s BRICS leadership guided by the “humanity first” and people-centric philosophy associated with Narendra Modi.
Blinkit Withdraws 10-Minute Delivery Claim
Blinkit announced the withdrawal of its 10-minute delivery claim, following directions from the Union Ministry of Commerce to stop advertising and promising ultra-fast deliveries.
The directive followed a meeting held last week by Manish Pandey, Union Minister for Commerce, with representatives of grocery and food delivery companies to address issues arising from such delivery promises.
The decision comes after a nationwide strike by delivery workers on December 31, protesting the 10-minute delivery target.
It was indicated that other quick-commerce platforms such as Swiggy Instamart and Zepto are expected to follow similar measures.
India Ranks Third in Russian Crude Oil Imports
According to data released on January 13, 2026, by a European agency, India has moved to the third position among countries importing Russian crude oil, based on December 2025 data, whereas it earlier held the second position. A report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) stated that this decline was due to reduced imports by the Reliance Group and central government-owned oil refineries. In the rankings, China remained the largest importer with €6 million worth of crude oil, accounting for 48% of Russia’s total crude exports, followed by Turkey with €2.6 million, while India imported €2.3 million, including €1.8 million crude oil, €424 million coal, and €82 million petroleum products. The reduction was linked to lower purchases by Reliance’s Jamnagar refinery, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL), ONGC-Mittal Energy, and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd., following U.S. sanctions on Russian companies Rosneft and Lukoil during the Ukraine war, though India, the world’s third-largest crude oil importer, continues imports from other non-sanctioned Russian companies.
Tamil Nadu News
Chief Minister Inaugurates ₹80.62-Crore Aavin Projects
M. K. Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, inaugurated eight completed Aavin projects worth ₹80.62 crore on Tuesday. The projects include a cattle feed manufacturing plant, a silage (fermented fodder) bale production unit, a fortified milk products manufacturing plant, and five microbiological laboratories. A 300 metric tonne per day cattle feed plant was established at Pudukudi in Thanjavur district at a cost of ₹50 crore, funded under the NABARD Rural Infrastructure Development Fund. A 25 metric tonne per day silage bale unit was set up at Sathyamangalam in Erode district under the Special Area Development Programme at a cost of ₹6.72 crore. At the Tiruchirappalli District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union, an ice cream unit (6,000 litres/day) and a fortified milk products unit (10,000 litres/day) were established at a cost of ₹21.57 crore. To ensure milk quality, microbiological laboratories were constructed at cooperative unions in Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore, Karur, Dharmapuri, and Coimbatore at a cost of ₹2.33 crore. Aavin currently procures 37 lakh litres of milk daily from 3.56 lakh producers and sells 31 lakh litres per day.
IIT Madras and Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology Sign MoU
The Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology (TNSCST) and Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Chennai to promote collaborative research, academic exchange, and capacity-building initiatives. The MoU was signed by V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, and S. Vincent, Member Secretary of TNSCST, which functions as an autonomous apex body under the Tamil Nadu Higher Education Department. The agreement establishes a structured framework for cooperation, including joint seminars, workshops, consultations, academic publications, exchange of scholars and experts, and sharing of research resources, along with the implementation of structured research internship programmes to provide students with field-based and hands-on research experience in areas of mutual interest.
Tamil Nadu Circular Economy Policy 2026 and Warehousing Policy 2026 Released
M. K. Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, released the Tamil Nadu Circular Economy Investment Policy, 2026 and the Tamil Nadu Warehousing Policy, 2026 at the Secretariat in Chennai on Tuesday. The Circular Economy Policy 2026 provides incentives for recycling facilities and technology enablers/platform entities, in addition to benefits under the MSME Policy 2021 and the Facilitating MSMEs of Tamil Nadu Sponsorship Policy, with eligibility for companies meeting prescribed criteria after July 1, 2024. Eligible units will receive a capital subsidy of 10% of Eligible Fixed Assets (EFA), disbursed over five years, subject to a minimum investment of ₹20 crore, creation of 25 net new jobs, and a maximum cap of ₹3 crore, along with employment incentives through reimbursement of employer EPF contributions, skilling incentives, and payroll subsidy. The Tamil Nadu Warehousing Policy, 2026 offers incentives for warehouse developers, operators, and market participants, applicable for five years from the date of promulgation, with eligibility restricted to units located in Tamil Nadu and having a registered office within the State. Under the policy, greenfield warehouses commencing operations during the policy period and brownfield expansions undertaken during the policy period are eligible for incentives, while green initiatives in new warehouses are supported with a 25% subsidy, subject to a maximum limit of ₹2 crore.
Tamil Nadu Nearing Malaria Elimination
Tamil Nadu is nearing malaria eradication, with 33 out of 38 districts reporting zero indigenous malaria cases during the past three years, according to data from the Directorate of Public Health (DPH) and Preventive Medicine.
Among the remaining five districts, Chennai continues to report cases, accounting for about 37%–45% of the State’s malaria burden, though cases there declined from 173 in 2023 to 121 in 2025. Statewide malaria cases have fallen sharply from 5,587 in 2015 to 321 in 2025, with no malaria outbreaks reported in the last three years and the Annual Parasite Incidence reduced to below 1%.
In line with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) target to eliminate malaria from India by 2030, Tamil Nadu continues to implement sustained disease surveillance and control measures.
Appointment of Transgenders in Tamil Nadu Home Guard
M. K. Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, issued appointment orders to 50 transgenders for induction into the Tamil Nadu Home Guard at the Secretariat, Chennai. This initiative was announced in the 2025–2026 Budget Speech by the Finance Minister of Tamil Nadu to ensure equal employment opportunities for transgenders. As a first-phase pioneering initiative, the selected candidates were provided training and posted across the state, with 5 in Chennai, 15 in Tambaram, 10 in Avadi, 7 in Madurai, 7 in Coimbatore, and 6 in Tiruchirappalli. The appointed personnel will perform duties such as traffic management and crowd control during festival seasons in coordination with the police department.
Agreement for Dedicated Artificial Intelligence Centre in Chennai
The Tamil Nadu Government signed a memorandum of understanding with Sarvam AI to establish a dedicated Artificial Intelligence (AI) centre in Chennai with an investment of ₹10,000 crore, in the presence of M. K. Stalin. The project is expected to generate 1,000 high-tech jobs and will ensure that Tamil Nadu’s data remains within the state. The AI centre is planned near IIT Madras, where land has been identified for a data centre. This initiative marks the first instance in India of a state establishing a dedicated AI centre, includes the development of AI technology in Tamil, and will integrate government department data with data protection, with applications across sectors such as agriculture and healthcare. The announcement involved T. R. B. Rajaa, Kamakoti (Director, IIT Madras), and Pratyush Kumar (Co-founder, Sarvam AI).
Sports News
Australia Captain Alyssa Healy to Retire After India Series
Alyssa Healy, captain of the Australian women’s cricket team, announced on Tuesday that she will retire from international cricket in March after the home series against India, bringing an end to her career. The 35-year-old wicketkeeper-batter made her international debut in 2010 and has played nearly 300 matches across all formats, scoring over 7,000 runs and effecting 275 dismissals. She became full-time Australia captain in 2023, succeeding Meg Lanning, and led the team to a historic 16–0 series whitewash against England. Healy has been part of eight World Cup-winning campaigns for Australia. The February–March India tour includes three T20Is, two ODIs, and one Test at Perth, in which Healy will feature only in the ODIs and the Test.
Harmanpreet Kaur Reaches 1,000 Runs in WPL
Harmanpreet Kaur, captain of Mumbai Indians, became the second player to score 1,000 runs in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), after Nat Sciver-Brunt. The 36-year-old achieved the milestone during a match against Gujarat Giants, scoring an unbeaten 71 runs. In the overall WPL run tally, Nat Sciver-Brunt leads with 1,101 runs, followed by Harmanpreet Kaur with 1,016 runs.
Tamil Nadu Wins Four Gold Medals at National Open Water Swimming Championship
At the National Open Water Swimming Competition held in Mangaluru, Tamil Nadu won 4 gold medals.
The event was organised by the Swimming Federation of India and also served as a selection trial for the World Open Water Swimming Championship.
In the 5 km Group 3 Women’s category, Jenya Vijayakumar won gold with a time of 1:23:41, while in the 5 km Group 3 Men’s category, Sudalavan D secured gold with 1:16:50. Monish Naidu won gold in the 3 km Group 4 Men’s category with 27:10, and Nihara clinched gold in the 1 km Group 5 Women’s category with 12:15, accounting for Tamil Nadu’s fourth gold medal.
Personalities, Awards and Events
Tamil Nadu Government Announces Anna and Other State Awards
Anna Award (2025) – Duraimurugan – For contributions to Tamil language, culture, and public life.
Periyar Award (2025) – A. Arulmozhi – For social justice–oriented legal and social service contributions.
Ambedkar Award (2025) – Chinnadurai – For contributions to social equality and public service.
Kamarajar Award (2025) – M. S. Duraisamy – For work promoting national integration and social harmony.
Bharathiyar Award (2025) – Nellai Jayaraj – For contributions to Tamil poetry and literary thought.
Bharathidasan Award (2025) – Poondi Kalaivanan – For creative contributions to modern Tamil literature.
Thiru. Vi. Ka. Award (2025) – V. Ilampooranan – For service to Tamil language and public life.
K. A. P. Viswanatham Award (2025) – Duraimurugan – For sustained contribution to Tamil scholarship and administration.
Kalaignar Award (2025) – Viduthalai Virumbi – For contributions to Tamil literature and public discourse.
Thiruvalluvar Award (2026) – M. P. Sathiyavel Muruganar – For lifelong contribution to Tamil studies and scholarship.
Ilakkiya Maamani Award – Traditional Tamil (2025) – T. Ramalingam – For work in classical Tamil tradition.
Ilakkiya Maamani Award – Research Tamil (2025) – M. P. Sathiyavel Muruganar – For academic research in Tamil studies.
Ilakkiya Maamani Award – Creative Tamil (2025) – R. Senthilkumar – For creative literary contributions in Tamil.
Each award carries a cash prize of ₹5 lakh, a one-sovereign gold medal, and a citation, and all awards will be presented by M. K. Stalin on Thiruvalluvar Day (January 16).
International News
US Imposes Additional 25% Tariff on Countries Trading with Iran
Donald Trump, President of the United States, announced the imposition of an additional 25% tariff on all countries trading with Iran, with the order coming into immediate effect, as declared from Washington.
Central government sources stated that the decision would not have a major impact on India, as India–Iran trade stood at $1.6 billion (₹14,450 crore) in the previous financial year, accounting for only 0.15% of India’s total trade, and Iran does not figure among India’s top 50 trading partners.
India’s limited trade with Iran is mainly confined to food and medical supplies, and due to earlier U.S. economic sanctions in 2019, India had already stopped importing crude oil from Iran.