Iran Unrest Escalates: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian labeled protesters as "rioters," warning that they would not be allowed to disrupt society as the death toll in the current unrest reportedly surpassed 500.
U.S. Strikes in Syria: The U.S. launched missile strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria following the deaths of two U.S. soldiers in December.
Myanmar General Elections: Myanmar held the second phase of its junta-controlled general election, despite warnings from democracy watchdogs that it will prolong military rule.
Nobel Institute on Venezuela: The Nobel Institute clarified that the Nobel Peace Prize cannot be revoked or shared, responding to a suggestion from Venezuelan leader Maria Corina Machado to share her prize with Donald Trump.
Smartphone Security Measures: The Centre is considering mandatory source code disclosure for smartphone makers to analyze vulnerabilities and malware, a move being opposed by tech giants like Apple and Samsung.
Viksit Bharat (VB-GRAM G) Act 2025: The government is highlighting the "Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission" aimed at rural employment and water security through reservoir construction.
PM at Somnath: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, attending the "Somnath Swabhiman Parv," warned that forces opposed to India's identity are still active and called for national vigilance.
Aadhaar-Linked Rail Booking: IRCTC has extended the booking slot for Aadhaar-authenticated users, allowing them to book general reserved tickets until midnight on the opening day of the reservation period.
PSLV-C62 Countdown: ISRO has begun the final checks for the launch of PSLV-D L-C62 from Sriharikota, carrying the DRDO-designed 'Anvesha' earth observation satellite.
Private Space Start-ups: Multiple Hyderabad-based start-ups like Dhruv Space and EON Space Labs are contributing key payloads to the upcoming PSLV mission.
X (formerly Twitter) Compliance: The social media platform X has accepted its mistake regarding Grok AI-generated obscene content and assured the government it will comply with Indian laws.
Himalayan Snow Anomaly: For the first time in nearly four decades, high-altitude peaks like Tungnath in the Garhwal Himalayas remained snow-free through January, threatening alpine ecosystems.
Andhra Pradesh Groundwater: The Central Ground Water Board reported widespread contamination in AP, with 26.87% of samples showing residual sodium carbonate beyond permissible limits.
Telangana Thalassemia Goal: Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha announced a vision to make Telangana the first thalassemia-free state in India by 2035.
SLBC Tunnel Project: The Telangana government has decided to resume long-pending Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel works using advanced tunnelling methodologies.
Jana Sena in Civic Polls: The Jana Sena Party, led by Pawan Kalyan, has announced its intention to contest upcoming urban local body elections in Telangana, including the GHMC.
Cyber Fraud Bust in Khammam: Police in Khammam busted a major inter-state cyber fraud network involving transactions worth ₹547 crore, arresting 18 individuals.
Investment Fraud in Hyderabad: The wife of a former IPS officer was allegedly swindled of ₹2.58 crore in a sophisticated online investment scam.
Banned Manja Crackdown: Hyderabad police seized 345 bobbins of banned Chinese manja valued at ₹16.9 lakh and are counseling families against its use for Sankranti.
High Court Bench in Kurnool: Andhra Pradesh Minister T.G. Bharath affirmed the government's commitment to establishing a High Court Bench in Kurnool.
Kohli's Milestone: Virat Kohli became the second-highest run-getter in international matches, surpassing Kumar Sangakkara’s tally of 28,016 runs, during his match-winning 93 against New Zealand.
Senior National Volleyball: Kerala's women’s team retained their title, while the Indian Railways men’s team secured the championship in Varanasi.
WPL 2026: Mumbai Indians defeated Delhi Capitals by 50 runs, powered by unbeaten half-centuries from Harmanpreet Kaur and Nat Sciver-Brunt.
Formula E Podium: Mahindra Racing secured its first podium of the season in Mexico City, with Edoardo Mortara finishing second.
Ticket Price Controversy: Former Telangana Cinematography Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav criticized the government for allowing ticket price hikes for the movie Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu without proper cabinet knowledge.
Political Film Trends: Actor Vijay’s film Jana Nayagan is being noted for its strategic launch ahead of assembly elections, with his character initials mirroring his political party, TVK.
ISPL Season 3: The Indian Street Premier League kicked off in Surat, featuring a mix of cinema stars and cricket legends to celebrate street talent.
On which date is National Youth Day (Rashtriya Yuva Diwas) observed annually in India? Answer: 12 January (It is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. In 2026, the theme is "Ignite the Self, Impact the World.")
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in which Indian city on 12 January 2026 for his first official bilateral visit? Answer: Ahmedabad (He was received by PM Modi and scheduled to visit Sabarmati Ashram and the International Kite Festival.)
Which state government recently renamed its first butterfly sanctuary as the "Aralam Butterfly Sanctuary"? Answer: Kerala (The Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary was officially renamed to reflect its status as the state's first butterfly sanctuary.)
Who recently assumed charge as the Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court on 10 January 2026? Answer: Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta (He succeeded the outgoing Chief Justice and was previously a judge at the Allahabad High Court.)
The Indian Army recently conducted a joint Military-Civil Fusion exercise named what in Maharashtra? Answer: Exercise “Sanjha Shakti” (The exercise was held at the Dighi Hills Range to enhance coordination between military and civil authorities.)
Which Union Minister announced the launch of "Speed Post 24" and "Speed Post 48" premium postal services? Answer: Jyotiraditya Scindia (These services are aimed at ensuring time-bound delivery within 24 and 48 hours respectively.)
India and which European country recently completed 25 years of their Strategic Partnership? Answer: Germany (The milestone was a key highlight of the bilateral talks held during the Chancellor's visit in January 2026.)
Which city hosted the fifth edition of the Tri-Services Veterans Day parade on Marine Drive? Answer: Mumbai (The event was held to honor the service and sacrifice of military veterans.)
Which Indian state will host the "Regional AI Impact Conference 2026" in collaboration with IndiaAI? Answer: Uttar Pradesh (The conference aims to explore the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence in governance and industry.)
What is the name of the autonomous body launched to engage Indian youth in nation-building, as highlighted on National Youth Day? Answer: MY Bharat (Mera Yuva Bharat) (It serves as a single-window platform for youth to access leadership and volunteering opportunities.)
Vande Bharat Sleeper: The new sleeper trains have varying fares, starting from ₹960 for 3AC up to ₹13,300 for 1AC over long distances.
World Hindi Day: Celebrated on January 10, emphasizing the role of the language in connecting global communities.
Uranium Hotspots: Specific villages in Annamayya, Kurnool, Sri Sathya Sai, and Tirupati districts have been identified as having elevated uranium levels.
Vivekananda's Quote: The famous phrase "Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached" was actually a call to action inspired by the Katha Upanishad.
Aviation First: Akasa Air is the youngest Indian airline to join the IATA, achieving the feat in record time since its launch.
Green Milestone: India’s Bio-bitumen production (from agricultural waste) is expected to reduce carbon emissions by over 30% in road construction projects.
Supercomputer Speed: The new Param Shakti at IIT Madras can perform over 3 quadrillion calculations per second.
Context Window in AI: In Large Language Models, the "context window" acts as the AI's short-term memory, determining how much information it can process at once.
Chinese Manja Legalities: Using or selling Chinese manja is a violation of the Environment (Protection) Act, carrying a penalty of up to five years in prison or a ₹1 lakh fine.
NHAI Recruitment: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is inviting applications for Deputy Manager (Technical) posts for Civil Engineering graduates.
NEET UG 2026 Syllabus: The NTA has released the official syllabus for NEET UG 2026, which largely follows the rationalized NCERT curriculum.
PhD Admissions: Sri Ramachandra Institute is inviting applications for various PhD programs for its April 2026 session.
Theme 2026: "Ignite the Self, Impact the World."
Significance: Celebrated annually on January 12 to honor the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda (his 163rd in 2026).
Background: Declared by the Indian Government in 1984; first celebrated in 1985 to inspire youth with the ideologies of Swamiji.
Current Initiatives:
PARTH Yojana: A program focused on preparing youth for recruitment in security services.
SheSTEM 2024: An initiative empowering women and youth in innovation.
Youth Icons: Ayushmann Khurrana and Neeraj Chopra were recently honored by FICCI as Youth Icons of India.
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