Daily Current Affairs Brief: January 18, 2026

Authored by: K Shiva

1. International News (Special Segment: Republic Day Chief Guests)

• European Union Leaders to Visit: At the invitation of PM Narendra Modi, António Luís Santos da Costa (President of the European Council) and Ursula von der Leyen (President of the European Commission) will be the Chief Guests for the 77th Republic Day celebrations.

• India-EU Summit: The leaders will be on a State Visit from January 25 to 27 and will co-chair the 16th India-EU Summit on January 27.

• Strategic Partnership: This visit is expected to finalize the much-anticipated Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with 20 out of 24 chapters already closed.

2. National Current Affairs (Republic Day 2026 Highlights)

• Core Theme: The parade will center on "150 Years of Vande Mataram". Visuals will include a series of 1923 paintings by artist Tejendra Kumar Mitra illustrating the song's verses.

• No More VVIP Labels: In a shift towards inclusivity, labels like "VVIP" will be removed. All enclosures at Kartavya Path have been named after Indian Rivers (e.g., Ganga, Godavari, Krishna, Jhelum).

• Unique Tableaux Count: A total of 30 tableaux will participate—17 from States/UTs and 13 from various Ministries/Departments.

• Special Guests: Around 10,000 special guests from diverse backgrounds, including farmers, artisans, SHG members, and startup founders, have been invited to sit in prominent enclosures.

3. Science & Technology (Military Might)

• Phased Battle Array Format: For the first time, the Indian Army will showcase weapons and systems in a sequence reflecting actual combat usage rather than a stereotypical display.

• Flypast Alignment: The aerial flypast will not be limited to the end of the parade; it will be integrated into the phased battle array to show the Air Force's role in the order of battle.

• Indigenous Assets: Key platforms on display include T-90 tanks, MBT Arjun, Nag Missile System (NAMIS-II), BrahMos, and Akash.

4. State Current Affairs (Tableaux Highlights)

• Andhra Pradesh/Telangana Context: While the broad list includes 17 states, specific highlights include:

  • Tamil Nadu: "Mantra of Prosperity: Self-Reliant India – EV Manufacturing Hub".

  • Odisha: "Soil to Silicon: Rooted in Tradition, Rising with Innovation".

  • Maharashtra: "Ganeshotsav: A Symbol of Atmanirbharta".

• Uttar Pradesh: The tableau will showcase the "Culture of Bundelkhand".

5. District & Local News

• Magh Mela, Prayagraj: Authorities expect a turnout of 15–20 crore visitors by the end of the festival season. Tight security involving the Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) and CCTV monitoring is in place at the Sangam.

• Jallikattu, Alanganallur: The traditional bull-taming sport in Madurai saw high energy. CM M.K. Stalin announced government jobs for the best tamers on a priority basis.

6. Sports and Games

• Youngest WC Record: 14-year-old Suryavanshi became the youngest player to score a half-century in a Men's U19 World Cup match as India defeated Bangladesh.

• Hockey India League: Hyderabad Toofans dominated Shrachi Bengal Tigers with a 6-0 victory in the Bhubaneswar leg.

• India-NZ T20 Series: Shreyas Iyer has replaced the injured Tilak Varma for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand.

7. Cinema & Entertainment

• Cultural Creative Team: The Republic Day cultural programme features a star-studded team: M.M. Keeravani (Music Director), Subhash Sehgal (Lyricist), and Anupam Kher (Narrator).

• Battle of Galwan: Actor Salman Khan is reportedly preparing for a high-intensity project titled Battle of Galwan, slated for an April release.

8. General Knowledge Points (GK Zone)

1. On which date does the 150-year celebration theme of 'Vande Mataram' officially begin for the 2026 Republic Day festivities? Answer: 18-19 January 2026 (The Ministry of Defence announced that pan-India band performances on this theme will start on Jan 19 to honor Rishi Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.)

2. Which Indian teenage batting prodigy starred in India's victory against Bangladesh in the U19 World Cup on 18 January 2026? Answer: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (The 14-year-old scored a vital 72 off 67 balls to help India maintain an unbeaten start in Group B.)

3. Which major international literary event at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, concludes today, 18 January 2026? Answer: New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF) 2026 (The 9-day fair themed “Indian Military History: Valour & Wisdom @ 75” saw participation from major global publishers.)

4. Who became the first Australian player to advance to the second round of the Australian Open 2026 on its opening day? Answer: Talia Gibson (The 21-year-old wildcard stunned world No. 62 Anna Blinkova in straight sets.)

5. Which veteran tennis star made history on 18 January 2026 as the oldest woman (age 45) to compete in the Australian Open main draw? Answer: Venus Williams (She took the court at Melbourne Park, marking her 30th year as a professional player.)

6. India recently signed a trade agreement with which country covering agriculture and sustainability-linked trade as part of its Budget 2026 strategy? Answer: New Zealand (This is part of India's "diversification over dependence" strategy to de-risk its trade portfolio.)

7. Which city is hosting the "Viksit Bharat Yuva Samvad 2026" on 18 January? Answer: Bengaluru (The event focuses on engaging youth in the national vision for a developed India by 2047.)

8. Which spacecraft is projected to become the first human-made object to reach a distance of "one light-day" from Earth in 2026? Answer: Voyager 1 (It continues its journey into interstellar space, further than any other man-made object.)

9. Which Indian state has launched the country's first "Green Ammonia Project" as of January 2026? Answer: Andhra Pradesh (The project aims to produce sustainable fuel for the fertilizer and shipping industries.)

10. Who was awarded the final wildcard for the Australian Open 2026 for "one final push" before retirement? Answer: Stan Wawrinka (The 2014 champion, now 40, announced that 2026 will be his final season on the ATP tour.)

9. Do You Know?

• Winnie the Pooh Day: Today (Jan 18) is National Winnie the Pooh Day, celebrated on the birthday of author A.A. Milne.

• Thesaurus Day: It is also National Thesaurus Day, honoring Peter Mark Roget (born Jan 18, 1779), the man who created the first modern thesaurus.

• A Light-Day Away: A "light-day" is the distance light travels in a vacuum in one day, which is approximately 26 billion kilometers.

• Ecological Sunday: In Rome today, a "Sunday ban" on internal combustion engine vehicles is in effect to promote the circular economy and local agriculture.

• Gen Z Stare: A social media term for the expressionless look tech-savvy youth give when asked verbal questions.

• Possible vs. Probable: "Possible" means there is a chance; "Probable" means it is likely to happen based on evidence.

10. Job & Educational Topics

• IIT-JEE/NEET Admissions: Leading institutes like ALLEN Vijayawada have opened admissions for the 2026-27 session with scholarship tests (ASAT).

• UPSC Note: The Republic Day theme and the new "Battle Array" format are high-priority topics for current affairs in upcoming civil services exams.

11. Day Special: Anniversary Focus - Vande Mataram at 150

• Theme for RDP 2026: "150 Years of Vande Mataram".

• Significance: The national song, written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, became a rallying cry for the Indian independence movement.

• Celebration: Pan-India band performances by the Army, Navy, and IAF will take place at 235 locations, including the birthplace of Chatterjee in West Bengal.

• Closing Ceremony: The parade will conclude with a massive banner of "वंदेमातरम्" released into the air with thousands of balloons.

• Chief Guest Precedent: This is only the second time India has invited leaders of a grouping (EU) as Chief Guests, after the ASEAN leaders in 2018.

• First Mounted Column: The Indian Army will be represented by the 61 Cavalry, the world's only active horse-mounted cavalry regiment.