Daily Current Affairs – 17-01-2026
National News
Praveen Vashista Appointed Vigilance Commissioner
Praveen Vashista, former Special Secretary (Internal Security) in the Ministry of Home Affairs, was appointed as Vigilance Commissioner in the Central Vigilance Commission on January 16, 2026, following his voluntary retirement. He is a 1991-batch IPS officer of the Bihar cadre and was administered oath on the same day. As per the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003, the Commission consists of one Central Vigilance Commissioner and two Vigilance Commissioners, with a tenure of four years or up to the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. Praveen Vashista had assumed charge as Special Secretary (Internal Security) in December 2024, and his retirement was originally due in July 2026. His appointment was made under Section 4(1) of the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003, through a warrant issued by the President of India dated December 12, 2025.
Elevated Wildlife Corridor Project at Kaziranga National Park
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone on January 16 for a 34.5-kilometre elevated corridor at Kaziranga National Park in Assam, aimed at reducing animal deaths caused by heavy traffic. The project, costing ₹6,950 crore, will form part of an existing highway connecting Eastern Assam and Guwahati, enabling safer animal movement, especially during floods. Kaziranga National Park, located across Nagaon and Golaghat districts on the Brahmaputra floodplains, is home to the world’s largest population of the one-horned rhinoceros, along with 37 mammal species and nearly 500 bird species. The southern boundary of the park is formed by National Highway 715 (earlier NH-37), which connects Tezpur with towns in Eastern Assam and separates the park from the Karbi Anglong Hills. In October 2025, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved widening a 86.675-km stretch of this highway from two lanes to four lanes, including construction of the 34.5-km elevated corridor to allow animal movement underneath. The project also includes upgrading 30.22 km of existing roads and constructing 21 km of greenfield bypasses around Jakhalabandha and Bokakhat, improving connectivity between Guwahati, Kaziranga National Park, and Numaligarh.
Republic Day 2026 Parade to Feature Phased Battle Array Formation
The 77th Republic Day celebrations (2026) will be held at Kartavya Path, New Delhi, with the parade showcasing a phased battle array formation depicting how the Indian Armed Forces operate in real combat conditions. Under this format, military assets will move in operational sequence, beginning with reconnaissance elements, followed by logistics units and combat platforms, with soldiers in full battle gear, and the aerial component also displayed in battle array formation. The parade will feature indigenous defence systems including the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, Akash air defence system, Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile, Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System, Dhanush artillery gun, Shaktiban, and a static display of select drones. The flypast will include Rafale, Su-30, MiG-29, P-8I, Apache, Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Mi-17, C-130, and C-295 aircraft. A total of 18 marching contingents, 13 military bands, animal contingents, and the debut of the Bhairav light commando battalion will be part of the parade. The Chief Guests for the event will be Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Antonio Costa, President of the European Council.
IIT Madras Develops Integrated Road Safety Digital Platform
Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) has developed an Integrated Road Safety Dashboard, a digital platform aimed at improving road safety governance across India. Designed as a scalable and replicable digital public infrastructure, the platform integrates data from multiple departments including transport, police, road-owning agencies, health and urban development, and converts them into real-time analytics and actionable insights. The dashboard was developed by the Rehabilitation Bioengineering Group (RBG) Labs, IIT-M, and enables identification of accident hotspots, assessment of risks, assignment of department-wise responsibility, tracking of interventions and continuous outcome monitoring. The system is built on the national accident database eDAR (earlier iRAD) and includes an Officials’ Portal with executive summaries, location intelligence and monitoring tools, along with a Citizen Portal for reporting accidents, hazards and grievances. The platform has moved from concept to implementation, with the Government of Odisha adopting it during Road Safety Month 2026.
Centre Initiates Evacuation Measures for Indians in Iran
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has initiated arrangements to facilitate the safe return of Indians wishing to leave Iran, according to official sources in New Delhi on January 16. In view of the prevailing situation, the Indian Embassy in Iran has issued an advisory urging Indians to leave the country. The MEA is exploring the possibility of bringing back Indian nationals through civilian and military transport aircraft. The government stated that there are approximately 9,000 Indians currently in Iran, most of whom are students, and the Embassy remains in continuous contact with them. The situation in Iran is being closely monitored by the Government of India, and necessary steps are being taken to ensure the safety and well-being of Indian citizens.
Guidelines on Religious Structures in Wildlife Sanctuaries
An expert body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, namely the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SCNBWL), has issued guidelines regulating the diversion of land inside wildlife parks and sanctuaries for religious structures. These guidelines were framed following a proposal related to the Balaram Ambaji Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat in early 2024, where diversion of 0.35 hectares of forest land was considered. In July 2024, the SCNBWL initially cleared the proposal submitted by the Pramukhshri Mukundpuriji Maharaj Seva Trust, Palanpur, but the approval was revoked in October 2024 after it was found that land rights were not recorded in official forest settlement documents. As per the new guidelines, which were placed before the SCNBWL in its December 2025 meeting, any construction or expansion on forest land after 1980 is to be treated as encroachment, while only exceptional cases supported by reasoned and documented State government orders may be referred to the Ministry for case-by-case consideration. The guidelines are currently under deliberation by State governments.
SPREE Scheme Expands Social Security Coverage
The Union Labour Ministry announced that the Scheme to Promote Registration of Employers/Employees (SPREE), along with reforms in the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), has expanded the social security net to more than one crore workers. The SPREE scheme, operational from July 1, 2025 to January 31, 2026, provides a one-time opportunity for employers and employees who were left out of the ESI scheme to register without retrospective coverage or penal action. As of January 11, 2026, around 1.17 lakh new employers and 1.03 crore new employees have registered under ESIC through this scheme. Following reforms in EPFO, members are now permitted to withdraw up to 75% of their provident fund balance, with the remaining 25% retained for retirement corpus, and after simplification of procedures, 47.48% of total claims and 72.09% of advance claims are being settled through auto mode.
Supreme Court Stays Mukul Roy’s Disqualification
The Supreme Court of India stayed an order of the Calcutta High Court that had disqualified politician Mukul Roy from the West Bengal Legislative Assembly for allegedly defecting to the Trinamool Congress. The High Court order was based on a video clipping of a press conference purportedly showing him with leaders of the ruling party in the State. The Supreme Court, while hearing a petition filed by Subhranshu Roy on behalf of Mukul Roy, observed that the requirements under Section 65B of the Indian Evidence Act, which governs the authentication of electronic evidence, were not complied with. The court also noted that the disqualification petition had earlier been rejected by the Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, citing reasons including the submission of only social media screenshots as evidence. The interim stay was issued by a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.
EPF Withdrawal Facility Through UPI
The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is set to introduce a facility enabling EPF subscribers to withdraw and transfer their provident fund amount to their linked bank accounts through UPI by April. Under this system, subscribers will be allowed to retain a specified amount in their PF account and transfer the eligible remaining balance via UPI. The initiative is being developed by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, and the transfer will be completed using the UPI PIN to the subscriber’s bank account. The EPFO is currently addressing software-related issues, and once implemented, the facility is expected to benefit around 8 crore EPF subscribers across India.
IIT Madras Digital Platform for Integrated Road Safety
IIT Madras has developed a new digital platform to strengthen integrated road safety across India. The platform has been created to improve road safety management at the national level and will function as a centralized dashboard integrating data from multiple departments. This digital system enables real-time data analysis and assists in identifying accident-prone and hazardous locations. The platform was developed by RBG Labs and is designed to support data-driven decision-making for road safety administration across Indian States and Union Territories.
Launch of Amrit Bharat Train Services Between Tamil Nadu and West Bengal
Two Amrit Bharat train services between Tamil Nadu and West Bengal were inaugurated as part of the Railway Board’s approval to operate 9 new trains on high passenger-density routes. Among them, 3 Amrit Bharat trains connect Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. The inauguration ceremony was held in West Bengal, where the Tiruchirappalli – New Jalpaiguri Amrit Bharat train was inaugurated from New Jalpaiguri, and the Nagercoil – New Jalpaiguri Amrit Bharat train was inaugurated from Rangapani on January 17. The Tambaram – Santragachi Amrit Bharat train service is scheduled to be inaugurated from Santragachi on January 18. In addition, the Alipurduar – Bengaluru SMVT Amrit Bharat train from West Bengal is also being launched. These Amrit Bharat trains have features comparable to Vande Bharat Express, with a passenger capacity of 1,834, and are equipped with LHB coaches, CCTV cameras, passenger information system, and a modern driver cabin.
Tamil Nadu News
Tamil Nadu Trails Gujarat and Rajasthan in Solar Capacity Addition
Data from the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) show that between April and December 2025, Gujarat added 7,032 MW of solar capacity and Rajasthan commissioned 8,371 MW of solar power projects, while Tamil Nadu added only 1,511 MW of renewable energy capacity during the same period. Despite the slower pace of new capacity addition, Tamil Nadu continued to lead South India in total installed renewable energy capacity with 27,113 MW as of December 2025, ahead of Karnataka’s 25,983 MW. At the national level, Gujarat ranked first with 42,583 MW, followed closely by Rajasthan with 42,531 MW of installed renewable energy capacity. To strengthen power transmission, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) is implementing the Green Energy Corridor (GEC) projects, with GEC-I and GEC-II under implementation and GEC-III approved, which are intended to support evacuation of additional renewable energy capacity.
Ban on Aldonil Kid Cold Syrup Due to Toxic Substance
Tamil Nadu Drug Control Administration issued a public alert banning the use, prescription, and sale of the children’s cold syrup ‘Aldonil Kid’ after it was found to contain the toxic chemical diethylene glycol. The medicine, manufactured by Pisano Biotech, was marketed under the name Aldonil Kid, which was earlier sold as Alpato Kid. Normally, propylene glycol is used as a solvent in liquid medicines, but testing revealed the presence of diethylene glycol, a substance known to cause seizures and death when consumed. Following this, the Drug Control Administration directed wholesalers and drug distributors not to sell the medicine in pharmacies and to report any existing sales with proper billing details. A high-level inquiry has been initiated, and complaints related to medicines can be reported through the helpline number 9445865400. It was also noted that the governments of Telangana and Puducherry have already imposed a ban on Aldonil Kid.
Martyr Immanuvel Sekaranar Memorial Inaugurated at Paramakudi
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin inaugurated the memorial hall of freedom fighter V. Immanuvel Sekaranar at Paramakudi in Ramanathapuram district on January 17. V. Immanuvel Sekaranar, born in 1924 at Sellur village, Ramanathapuram district, participated in the Indian freedom struggle and was imprisoned for three months for opposing British rule. He took part in the Quit India Movement in 1942, later joined the Indian Army in 1945, and in 1950 founded the organisation ‘Odukkappattorin Viduthalai Iyakkam’ for the upliftment of oppressed people. In 1954, he led movements against the dual-tumbler system and untouchability, and he passed away on 11 September 1957. The memorial hall, constructed by the Information and Public Relations Department at a cost of ₹3 crore, includes a statue of the martyr and has been established to commemorate his social contributions.
International News
India–Japan Joint Working Group on Critical Minerals
India and Japan agreed to establish a joint working group on critical minerals to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the sector. The decision was taken during the 18th India–Japan High-Level Strategic Dialogue held in Delhi, which was attended by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi. Along with critical minerals cooperation, a framework for mutual dialogue on artificial intelligence technology was also introduced. The meeting included discussions on bilateral relations and issues of regional and international importance, with a focus on strengthening the India–Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership and addressing concerns related to economic security in the prevailing geopolitical environment.
28th CSPOC Conference Held in New Delhi
The 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) was held in New Delhi, where Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla participated in the proceedings. The conference focused on key institutional themes including transparency and accountability of democratic institutions, parliamentary propriety, and the role of presiding officers. Discussions were also conducted on the responsible use of artificial intelligence in parliaments, the impact of social media, citizen engagement beyond elections, and the health and well-being of Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff. During the valedictory session, the chairmanship of the next CSPOC was handed over to Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the UK House of Commons, and it was announced that the United Kingdom will host the next CSPOC conference in 2028. The CSPOC was established to ensure continuous dialogue among democratic legislatures of Commonwealth countries.
EU Leaders as Chief Guests for 77th Republic Day
The 77th Republic Day celebrations of India will be held on January 26 at Kartavya Path, New Delhi, with Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, attending as chief guests, as announced by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. The Republic Day Parade, lasting 90 minutes, will be themed on 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’, which will also form the basis of the Beating the Retreat ceremony. As part of administrative changes, parade enclosures will be named after rivers of India, while Beating the Retreat enclosures will be named after musical instruments. The parade will include 18 marching contingents and 13 bands, with participation from the Indian Army, including new military displays such as Bhairav Battalion, Shaktibaan regiments, Drone Shakti, and a universal rocket launcher, along with the first-ever participation of a European naval contingent. The flypast will feature aircraft and helicopters including Rafale, Su-30, P-8I, C-130, C-295, MiG-29, Apache, LCH, ALH, and Mi-17, while tableaux from six States and departments will highlight the ‘Vande Mataram’ theme.
10 Years of Start-up India Scheme
On the completion of 10 years of the Start-up India Scheme, an event involving start-up companies and entrepreneurs was held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The Start-up India Scheme was launched on January 16, 2016, with the objective of promoting entrepreneurship, supporting new technology, and creating a favourable environment for investment mobilisation. As per the information highlighted during the event, 45% of recognised start-up companies in India have at least one woman director, and India ranks 2nd globally in funding support for start-ups. To strengthen innovation, the Government of India has allocated ₹1 lakh crore for research, development, and innovation projects. The scheme aims to transform India from a job-seeking nation into a job-creating nation and encourage participation from Tier-2, Tier-3 cities and rural areas.
Nobel Peace Prize Controversy Involving María Corina Machado
A controversy arose after Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado presented the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to her to former US President Donald Trump during her visit to Washington. The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize was announced in October 2025 in favour of María Corina Machado, who had served as an opposition leader during the rule of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. As she was unable to attend the award ceremony, the prize was received on her behalf by her daughter Ana Corina at the ceremony held in Oslo, Norway, in December 2025. Following this, Machado met Donald Trump in Washington and handed over the Nobel Prize to him, leading to widespread discussion. Subsequently, the Nobel Committee clarified that once a Nobel Prize is announced, it cannot be transferred, shared, gifted, or reassigned, and the individual officially declared by the committee remains the sole rightful recipient of the Nobel Prize.
Sports News
Aaryan Varshney Becomes India’s 92nd Grandmaster
Aaryan Varshney, a 21-year-old chess player from Delhi, became India’s 92nd Grandmaster after securing his third and final Grandmaster norm by winning the Andranik Margaryan Memorial Tournament held in Armenia, achieving the title with one round remaining. With this achievement, he became the latest Indian to attain the Grandmaster title. Earlier, A.R. Ilamparthi and V.S. Raahul had become India’s 90th and 91st Grandmasters in late 2025.
Nikil Wins U-17 Table Tennis Title
At the World Youth Contender Table Tennis Championship held in Manama, Bahrain, India’s Nikil won the U-17 men’s singles title by defeating Russia’s Leon Vlasov in the final match with a score of 14–12, 11–8, 11–6, securing the gold medal. Nikil, who hails from Tamil Nadu, is the state-level number one player and is ranked 5th at the national level in the U-17 category, and he is currently undergoing training at the Mylapore Sports Foundation.
States’ News
Telangana Speaker Rejects Disqualification Petitions
The Telangana Legislative Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar dismissed disqualification petitions filed by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) against two MLAs — Chevella MLA Kale Yadaiah and Banswada MLA Pocharam Srinivas Reddy — who were accused of shifting allegiance to the Congress. These petitions were filed under the anti-defection law following the 2023 Telangana Assembly election. With the latest decision, disqualification pleas against seven out of 10 BRS MLAs have been rejected so far, while petitions against Kadiyam Srihari, Danam Nagendar, and M. Sanjay Kumar remain pending before the Speaker. Earlier, notices had been issued to all 10 MLAs named in the petitions. In this matter, the Supreme Court of India issued a contempt notice on November 17, 2025, to the Speaker for not deciding the disqualification cases expeditiously.
Personalities, Awards and Events
Tamil Development Department Awards on Thiruvalluvar Day
On the occasion of Thiruvalluvar Day, held in Chennai, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin presented Tamil Development Department awards to 13 distinguished individuals.
The event marked the observance of Thai month 2nd day, which was declared as Thiruvalluvar Day by former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. For the year 2026, the Thiruvalluvar Award was conferred on M.P. Sathiyavel Muruganar, while for 2025, the Thanthai Periyar Award was given to Advocate Arulmozhi, the Annal Ambedkar Award to VCK General Secretary Sinthanai Selvan, the Perarignar Anna Award to Minister Duraimurugan, the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Award to S.M. Ismail, the Mahakavi Bharathiyar Award to poet Nellai Jayantha, the Pavendar Bharathidasan Award to poet Yugabharathi, the Tamizhthendral Thiru.Vi.Ka Award to former Chief Secretary V. Irai Anbu, the Muthamizh Kavalar K.A.P. Viswanatham Award to former MP S. Chellappan, and the Muthamizharignar Kalaignar Award to writer Viduthalai Virumbi. In addition, the Ilakkiya Maamani Award, instituted by the Tamil Development Department, was awarded for 2025 in three categories — Classical Tamil to Th. Ramalingam, Research Tamil to CPI senior leader C. Mahendran, and Creative Tamil to R. Narendrakumar. All awardees received a cash prize of ₹5 lakh, a one-sovereign gold medal, and a citation.