Authored by: K Shiva
Iran Protests Escalation: The Iranian government has issued a stern warning to anti-government protesters, stating that a "strict crackdown" will follow if the unrest continues. The protests, which began over economic issues, have spread across several cities.
India-U.S. Trade Pact Denial: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that remarks by U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick - claiming a trade deal stalled because PM Modi failed to call Donald Trump - are "not accurate." MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that both leaders spoke eight times in 2025 and India remains committed to a mutually beneficial trade deal.
NHL Winter Classic History: The concept of the "Winter Classic," an annual outdoor ice hockey game played around New Year's Day, was first pitched in 2004 and officially born in 2008, becoming a major television hit in the United States.
Himachal Bus Tragedy: At least 14 people were killed and several others injured when a bus lost control and fell into a deep gorge in Himachal Pradesh. Local authorities have launched a massive rescue operation.
Mamata Banerjee’s Protest in Kolkata: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee hit the streets to protest against ED raids on the I-PAC office and its founder’s home. She accused the central government of using agencies to "steal her party's strategy" and called them "political tools of the BJP."
Ground Zero — Voter Roll Deletions: Reports from West Bengal indicate high numbers of voter name deletions during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), raising concerns about disenfranchisement and the high administrative costs of the exercise.
C-Mitra Launch: The Hyderabad City Police launched "C-Mitra," a virtual help desk designed to assist cybercrime victims. The platform allows citizens to register First Information Reports (FIRs) online without physically visiting a police station.
BioAsia 2026: The 23rd edition of Asia’s premier life sciences forum, BioAsia, is set to be held in Hyderabad from February 17, 2026. The theme for this year is "TechBio unleashed: AI, automation and the biology revolution."
Inter-State Water Diplomacy: Telangana CM Revanth Reddy appealed for political consensus on water issues, stating that Telangana is "focusing on solutions, not disputes." Meanwhile, A.P. CM N. Chandrababu Naidu stated he is not ready for disputes over Godavari water, preferring judicious usage through river interlinking projects like Polavaram.
Employee Insurance in Telangana: Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka announced a massive ₹1.02 crore accident insurance cover for every government employee in Telangana.
Pollution Action: The Telangana Pollution Control Board (TGPCB) confirmed that pollution in Nalla Cheruvu lake (Sangareddy) was caused by Hetero Drugs. The board has warned the company of penal action following a spike in Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) levels.
Tourism Destinations: Telangana has identified Somasila, Nagarjunasagar, and Baswapur to be developed as international wedding destinations, leveraging their scenic natural landscapes.
Sankranti Rush in Hyderabad: City roads and terminals witnessed heavy traffic jams as people headed home for the festival. To manage the rush, South Central Railway (SCR) lifted parking curbs at the Bhoiguda entrance of Secunderabad station and announced 16 extra halts.
Jagtial Manja Incident: A 4-year-old boy in Metpally town suffered a severe neck injury after getting entangled in glass-coated manja thread while playing.
Sabarimala Investigation: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrested Sabarimala chief priest Rajeevaru in connection with a gold misappropriation case.
TTD Darshan Count: TTD reported that approximately 7.83 lakh devotees visited the Tirumala temple for 'Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan' between December 30 and January 8.
WPL 2026 Thriller: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured a dramatic victory against Mumbai Indians in the Women's Premier League. Nadine de Klerk played a pivotal role in swinging the match in RCB's favor.
Australian Open Trivia: Historical data shows that players like Naomi Osaka and Aryna Sabalenka have been dominant in the recent editions of the Australian Open, with both having won the title twice (Osaka in 2019, 2021; Sabalenka in 2023, 2024).
Inorbit Nightout: A major weekend event (Jan 9-11) is being held in Hyderabad, featuring flat 50% discounts and midnight shopping, attracting large crowds before the Sankranti holidays.
On which date is World Hindi Day (Vishwa Hindi Diwas) observed annually? Answer: 10 January (It is celebrated to promote the Hindi language worldwide; the first World Hindi Conference was held on this day in 1975.)
Which Indian city has been ranked as the "Best Indian City for Women" in the latest 2025-26 rankings? Answer: Bengaluru (The city topped the list based on safety, employment opportunities, and social indicators.)
Which organization recently launched the official Aadhaar mascot named 'Udai'? Answer: UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India (The mascot was unveiled to make Aadhaar services more people-friendly and accessible.)
Which state has become the first in India to launch a dedicated "Deeptech Startup Policy"? Answer: Tamil Nadu (The policy aims to support 100 high-risk, research-driven startups over the next five years.)
The Kamala Hydroelectric Project (1,720 MW), which was recently approved, is located in which state? Answer: Arunachal Pradesh (The project is planned on the Kamala River, a major tributary of the Subansiri River.)
Akasa Air recently became the 5th Indian airline to join which international aviation body? Answer: IATA (International Air Transport Association) (It joins Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, and SpiceJet as a member.)
The 'Weimar Triangle' is a regional political grouping of which three countries that India recently engaged with? Answer: France, Germany, and Poland (India recently held its first-ever ministerial engagement with this European group.)
Which district is set to become India’s first "Bio-Happy District"? Answer: Keyi Panyor (Arunachal Pradesh) (The initiative focuses on sustainable development and the well-being of the local ecology.)
The "PANKHUDI" digital portal, recently launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, is dedicated to what? Answer: CSR and Partnership facilitation (It aims to streamline Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives for women and children.)
In which city will the Election Commission of India host the "India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM)-2026"? Answer: New Delhi (The conference will focus on inclusive and resilient election management practices.)
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD): A measure of the oxygen needed to chemically oxidize organic pollutants in water. High COD indicates poor water health.
Ancient Discovery: 2,000-year-old Kushan-era coins were recently found in the Taxila region.
The Mpemba Mystery: Scientists recently proved that hot water can actually freeze faster than cold water.
Digital Village: India's first "Digital Nomad Village" is now operational in the mountains of Sikkim.
Rail Milestone: Indian Railways is now 99.2% electrified, the largest such network in the world.
Bio-Happy: Keyi Panyor (Arunachal) is India's first district where projects are tested for "Happiness Impact."
SVKM School Admissions: SVKM School, Jadcherla (affiliated with CBSE) has opened admissions for the 2026-27 academic year for Pre-Primary to Grade XI, focusing on IIT-JEE and NEET foundations.
AYUSH Hospital in Karimnagar: The Central government sanctioned ₹15 crore for a new 50-bed Integrated AYUSH Hospital in Karimnagar, offering services in Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy.
Significance: This day marks the anniversary of the first World Hindi Conference held in 1975 in Nagpur. It was inaugurated by then-PM Indira Gandhi, with Mauritius PM Seewoosagur Ramgoolam as the Chief Guest.
Objective: To promote Hindi as an international language. In 2006, then-PM Dr. Manmohan Singh officially declared January 10 as World Hindi Day.
Global Spread: Hindi is spoken in India, Mauritius, Nepal, Guyana, Trinidad, and other countries.
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