Daily Current Affairs Brief: January 14, 2026

Authored by: K Shiva

1. International News

Iran Protest Toll: Official reports from Iran acknowledge that over 2,000 people, including protesters and security personnel, have been killed in the nationwide unrest. U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Iranians to continue protesting, stating "help is on its way".

U.S. Tariffs on Iran Trade: President Trump announced a 25% tariff on any country doing business with Iran. India’s trade with Iran is relatively low at approximately $1.6 billion (0.15% of total trade), so the impact is expected to be minimal, though tea and basmati rice exports may be affected.

Syria Conflict: The Syrian army has declared a "closed military zone" east of Aleppo following clashes with Kurdish-led forces.

2. National Current Affairs

10-Minute Delivery Ban: Following an intervention by Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, major quick commerce platforms like Blinkit, Swiggy, Zepto, and Zomato have agreed to drop their "10-minute delivery" branding to protect the health and safety of gig workers.

Jaishankar-Rubio Talks: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed trade, critical minerals, nuclear cooperation, and defense. The U.S. congratulated India on the SHANTI (Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India) Bill.

SC on Public Servants: The Supreme Court delivered a split verdict on the constitutionality of Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which requires prior sanction to prosecute public servants.

Voter Roll Deletions: The Supreme Court questioned the Election Commission regarding the deletion of nearly 6.5 crore names from draft electoral rolls in several states during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

3. Science & Technology

ISRO PSLV-C62 Failure: The recent PSLV-C62 mission failed, resulting in the loss of 16 satellites, including several from Hyderabad-based startups like Dhruva Space.

Kite-Flying Innovation: A group of engineers in Gujarat has developed robotic kites operated by remote control that can perform aerial maneuvers and feature LED lights for night flying.

4. State Current Affairs (Telangana & Andhra Pradesh)

AP Excise Policy Change: The Andhra Pradesh government has withdrawn the Additional Retail Excise Tax (ARET) on bars to bring pricing parity with retail shops.

Medaram Jatara Preparations: Telangana is preparing for the Sammakka-Saralamma Medaram Maha Jatara (Jan 28-31), expecting a record footfall of 3 crore devotees.

Skill Development Case Closed: A Vijayawada court approved the closure of the APSSDC case against CM N. Chandrababu Naidu, accepting the CID's report that the allegations were a "mistake of fact".

SIT for IAS Harassment: Telangana Police formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the circulation of defamatory and obscene content targeting a woman IAS officer.

5. District & Local News

Kakinada Fire Accident: A short circuit at Sarlanka village in Kakinada district destroyed 38 houses belonging to the Konda Reddi tribe.

Synthetic Manja Ban: The Telangana Forest Department inspected over 200 shops in Hyderabad to curb the illegal sale of nylon/Chinese manja ahead of Sankranti.

Kolleru Lake Visitors: The Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary recorded over 96,000 birds of 116 different species in the first week of January.

6. Sports and Games

India vs NZ 2nd ODI: The second match of the ODI series takes place today in Rajkot. India leads the series 1-0.

Vijay Hazare Trophy: Vidarbha and Punjab have advanced to the semifinals after defeating Delhi and Madhya Pradesh, respectively.

India Open Badminton: Lakshya Sen started his campaign with a win, defeating Ayush Shetty (21-12, 21-15).

7. Cinema & Entertainment

Space Gen: Chandrayaan: A new OTT series titled Space Gen: Chandrayaan, starring Nakuul Mehta and Shriya Saran, is set to premiere on January 23.

8. General Knowledge Points (GK Zone)

1. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently unveiled the official logo and website for which global grouping that India will chair in 2026? Answer: BRICS (India will lead the BRICS bloc in 2026 as it celebrates its 20th anniversary.)

2. Which harvest festival is being widely celebrated across India today, 14 January 2026, known as Pongal in Tamil Nadu and Maghi in Punjab? Answer: Makar Sankranti (It is a major solar festival marking the sun's transition into the Makara Rashi/Capricorn.)

3. Which state has announced a new law to cut the salaries of government employees who neglect their elderly parents? Answer: Telangana (Chief Minister Revanth Reddy announced this strict social measure to ensure the welfare of senior citizens.)

4. India recently completed how many years of being officially "Polio-Free," a milestone celebrated on 13-14 January 2026? Answer: 15 Years (India has maintained its polio-free status since the last case was reported in 2011.)

5. Which tech giant has partnered with Google to use 'Gemini' AI models to revamp its Siri voice assistant? Answer: Apple (The partnership aims to strengthen AI capabilities against competitors like OpenAI.)

6. Which state is set to launch India's first "Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Registry" to track and manage patient data? Answer: Odisha (This initiative will help the state plan better healthcare infrastructure and early intervention for kidney patients.)

7. The "Bhadrakali Inscription," which was recently in the news, provides historical records for which famous Indian temple? Answer: Somnath Temple, Gujarat (The 12th-century inscription confirms the temple's reconstruction history across different eras.)

8. Which Indian organization recently conducted successful trials of the indigenous Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM)? Answer: DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) (The trials were conducted in collaboration with the Indian Army to verify day-and-night operational accuracy.)

9. Who has been appointed as the new head coach of the Indonesia National Men's Soccer Team in January 2026? Answer: John Herdman (The former Canada and New Zealand coach has taken over to lead the team through upcoming qualifiers.)

10. Which international body is organizing a global webinar today on "Social Health and Digital Play" to study the impact of video games? Answer: World Health Organization (WHO) (The webinar explores how digital environments impact mental and social well-being.)

9. Do You Know?

• Cold Wave Record: Today, Delhi recorded its coldest January morning in three years, with temperatures dropping to 3°C.

• Goldilocks Moment: Economists are describing India’s current state as a "Goldilocks Moment"—where growth is high (8.2% GDP) but inflation remains low.

• Drone Power: The Indian Navy has started inducting the Drishti-10 Starliner, a high-end drone that can fly for 36 hours straight for maritime surveillance.

• Bactrian Camels: For the first time, double-humped Bactrian Camels will be part of the Army's animal contingent in the 2026 Republic Day parade.

10. Job & Educational Topics

ECIL Recruitment: ECIL Hyderabad is recruiting Technicians and Supervisors on a contract basis.

Army Recruitment: A major Army recruitment rally for 'Agniveers' will be held in Secunderabad starting February 2.

11. Day Special: Bhogi (January 14)

Significance: Bhogi is the first day of the four-day Makar Sankranti festival. It marks the discarding of the old to welcome the new.

Rituals: A ceremonial bonfire (Bhogi Mantalu) is lit at dawn using old clothes and discarded items to symbolize a fresh start. In many households, children are showered with Bhogi Pallu (jujube fruits, flower petals, and coins) to protect them from "evil eye" and bless them with wisdom.

Sankranti Greetings: CM N. Chandrababu Naidu participated in celebrations at Naravaripalle, extending greetings for prosperity and positive change to all Telugu people