Authored by: K Shiva
U.S. Oil Tariffs on India & China: U.S. President Donald Trump has "greenlit" legislation that would empower him to impose up to 500% tariffs on countries that continue to buy oil or uranium from Russia. This bill, which has broad bipartisan support in the Senate, aims to incentivize countries like India, China, and Brazil to stop providing financial support to Russia.
Venezuela Oil Control: The U.S. Department of Energy announced plans to control Venezuela's oil sales "indefinitely" following the capture of President Nicolas Maduro.
U.S. Climate Treaty Withdrawal: President Trump has officially withdrawn the United States from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), a move that has been strongly condemned by the European Union.
Bangladesh Visa Suspension: Bangladesh's interim government has suspended visa services in India, including its mission in New Delhi, citing security concerns.
Census 2027 Schedule: The first phase of Census 2027, involving house-listing operations, is officially set to begin on April 1, 2026, and will conclude by September 30, 2026.
India's Economic Growth: The United Nations (UN DESA) has projected India's growth at 7.2% for the 2025-26 fiscal year, slightly lower than the government's estimate of 7.4%.
Curbs on Chinese Firms: The Finance Ministry is likely to scrap five-year-old restrictions on Chinese firms bidding for Indian government contracts to ease project delays and shortages.
New Road Accident Victim Scheme: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to launch a nationwide cashless treatment scheme for road accident victims, providing coverage of up to ₹1.5 lakh.
Dhruva Space PA-1 Mission: Hyderabad-based startup Dhruva Space is preparing for the 'Polar Access' (PA-1) mission via ISRO’s PSLV-C62 on January 12. This mission will launch 10 space missions, including Nepal’s first satellite mission.
Quantum Institute in A.P.: SRM University-A.P. has announced plans to launch a Quantum Institute to focus on quantum science and technology in collaboration with the state government.
iDeaNA Incubator: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh will inaugurate the iDeaNA BRIC-CDFD Technology Incubator in Hyderabad to nurture deep-tech startups in life sciences.
Logistics Infra Corporation: The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet has approved the establishment of the AP Logistics Infrastructure Corporation to develop key infrastructure projects across the state.
MGNREGA Agitation: Telangana CM Revanth Reddy announced a state-wide agitation against proposed Central changes to the MGNREGA scheme, with massive public meetings planned starting February 3.
Amaravati Avakaya Festival: The three-day festival was inaugurated in Vijayawada. EU Ambassador Herve Delphin praised A.P.'s economic dynamism.
Special Representative for North America: The A.P. government has appointed Komati Jayaram as the state's special representative in North America for a two-year term.
Air Taxi Success in Guntur: An air taxi designed by Guntur-based Magnumwings has successfully cleared its structural frame testing.
Roosterfight Arenas: Despite a ban, makeshift arenas for roosterfights (Kodi Pandelu) are being set up across Krishna and Godavari districts for the Sankranti festival.
Mori-5 Well Blowout: The ONGC gas well blowout in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district remains uncontrolled for the fourth day, though fire intensity fluctuates.
WPL 2026 Opener: The Women's Premier League 2026 begins today (January 9) with a clash between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Navi Mumbai.
The Ashes: Australia won the fifth Test, clinching the series 4-1 against England.
Hockey India League: Vedanta Kalinga Lancers defeated Shrachi Bengal Tigers 2-1 in a closely contested match in Chennai.
Telugu Cinema Outlook: The industry looks toward 2026 for a regain in momentum with highly anticipated films like The Raja Saab and Spirit starring Prabhas.
Hyderabad Literary Festival (HLF) 2026: The 16th edition of HLF is scheduled for January 24-26, featuring Nobel laureates Abhijit Banerjee and Kailash Satyarthi.
On which date is 'Pravasi Bharatiya Divas' (Non-Resident Indian Day) observed annually in India? Answer: 9 January (It marks the day Mahatma Gandhi returned from South Africa to India in 1915.)
Who was recently appointed as the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) in January 2026? Answer: A.K. Balasubrahmanian (The distinguished scientist succeeded Dr. D.K. Shukla for a three-year tenure.)
Which major cricket tournament is scheduled to kick off today, 9 January 2026, across two venues in India? Answer: Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 (The tournament will be hosted at Vadodara and Navi Mumbai.)
Who was sworn in as the 47th Chief Justice of the Patna High Court in January 2026? Answer: Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo (He was previously a Judge of the Odisha High Court and succeeded Justice Sudhir Singh.)
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) recently launched a four-day Sports Sciences Workshop for combat sports in which city? Answer: New Delhi (The workshop focuses on disciplines like Boxing, Wrestling, and Judo to improve coaching methods.)
Which medicinal plant from Rajasthan recently received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag? Answer: Nagauri Ashwagandha (Grown in the Nagaur district, it is recognized for its unique regional identity and medicinal quality.)
In which state is the 'Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary' located, where the 2026 Tiger Estimation (AITE-26) has recently begun? Answer: Tamil Nadu (The sanctuary is located in the Erode district and is a vital corridor for tiger movement.)
According to the National Statistical Office (NSO), what is India’s estimated Real GDP growth rate for FY 2025-26? Answer: 7.4% (The growth is estimated at Rs 201.90 lakh crore at constant prices.)
Which bank appointed Hardeep Singh Ahluwalia as its interim MD & CEO effective from 1 January 2026? Answer: Canara Bank (He took charge following the retirement of K. Satyanarayana Raju.)
Where has the Indian Navy initiated the establishment of a new naval base (detachment) in January 2026 to strengthen maritime surveillance? Answer: Haldia, West Bengal (The base aims to enhance rapid response capabilities in the Bay of Bengal region.)
Antarctic Base: India is planning to build its new Antarctic station, Maitri II.
Antimicrobial Resistance: A study revealed that 6 lakh out of 7.3 lakh hospitalizations in India were linked to fluoroquinolone-resistant bacteria.
Honey never spoils: Archaeologists have found pots of honey in ancient Egyptian tombs that are over 3,000 years old and still edible.
Electrical Speed: Electricity travels at nearly the speed of light, which is about 300,000 kilometers per second.
India's First Satellite: India's first satellite, Aryabhata, was launched in 1975 and named after the famous Indian astronomer.
The Brain's Power: Your brain generates enough electricity to power a small LED light bulb.
Shortest War: The shortest war in history lasted only 38 to 45 minutes (between Britain and Zanzibar in 1896).
IIT Hyderabad Placement: IITH achieved a 62.42% placement rate in Phase 1 for B.Tech students.
Post-Graduate Admissions: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar School of Economics University, Bengaluru, has opened applications for several M.Sc. and M.A. programs for the 2026-27 session.
SVKM School Admissions: SVKM School in Jadcherla has opened admissions for the 2026-27 academic year for Pre-Primary to Grade XI.
Significance: Celebrated to recognize the contribution of the overseas Indian community to India's development.
History: Commemorates Mahatma Gandhi's return to India from South Africa on January 9, 1915.
Established: The event was launched by former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2003.
Current Event: Amit Shah launched the Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag to promote Indian languages in governance.
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