📘 Daily Current Affairs – 17 January 2026

1️⃣ Introduction | Why in News?

Current Affairs play a decisive role in UPSC, SSC, Banking, Insurance, Railways, Defence, PSU, and State PSC exams. Questions are increasingly analytical, linking static GK with current events.
The 17 January 2026 Current Affairs focus on financial reforms, economic forecasts, national initiatives, international diplomacy, science & technology, awards, and rankings—making it highly relevant for prelims and mains.

👉 Regular revision through Daily Current Affairs helps aspirants stay ahead while saving preparation time.

2️⃣ Explanation / Main Content (Exam-Oriented)

🔹 Banking, Finance & Business

Composite Salary Account Package for Central Government Employees

• Launched by Department of Financial Services (DFS) under the Ministry of Finance
• Designed for Group A, B & C Central Government employees
• Aligns with Viksit Bharat 2047 and Insurance for All by 2047

Key Benefits

• Banking: Zero-balance account, free NEFT/RTGS/UPI, concessional loans
• Insurance:
  • Personal Accident: ₹1.5 crore
  • Air Accident: ₹2 crore
  • Term Life: ₹20 lakh
• Cards: Premium debit/credit cards, lounge access, rewards

📌 Exam Angle: DFS initiatives, social security reforms, insurance coverage limits

World Bank Projects India’s Growth

According to World Bank – Global Economic Prospects (Jan 2026):

Drivers

• Strong domestic demand
• Rising rural incomes
• Services sector growth

📌 Static Link: International financial institutions, GDP, inflation targeting (RBI – 4%)

Paripoorna Mediclaim Ayush Bima for CGHS Beneficiaries

• Optional health insurance for CGHS beneficiaries
• Sum insured: ₹10 lakh / ₹20 lakh
• Covers AYUSH + modern treatments
• No GST, discounted premiums

📌 Exam Focus: Health insurance schemes, CGHS, Ayush coverage

Karnataka Bank & Khajane-2 e-Receipts

• Karnataka Bank integrated net banking with Khajane-2 IFMS
• Enables digital tax & fee payments for Karnataka Government

📌 Prelims Fact: Khajane-2 = Karnataka’s Integrated Financial Management System

PFRDA Forms Expert Panel on NPS Payouts

• Constituted by Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA)
• Chairperson: M. S. Sahoo
• Objective: Assured pension payouts under NPS

📌 Static GK: PFRDA Act, 2013 | NPS vs APY

🔹 National & State Affairs

9th International Spice Conference 2026

• Venue: Kochi, Kerala
• Dates: 23–26 February 2026
• Theme: “Spice 360 – Getting Future Ready”

📌 Exam Tip: Kerala = historical spice trade hub

Rajasthan’s First Fully Organic Village Body

• Bamanwas Kankar Panchayat
• 100% organic farming practices
• Supported by PKVY & NPOF

📌 Static Link: Organic farming, Sikkim (1st organic state)

Kerala Leads in EV Adoption (2025)

• Highest personal four-wheeler EV adoption
• Growth driven by household charging infrastructure

📌 Exam Focus: EV Policy, climate goals, state initiatives

Delhi High Court on PM CARES & RTI

• PM CARES Fund enjoys privacy protection under RTI Act, 2005
• Based on Section 8(1)(j)

📌 Mains Link: Transparency vs Right to Privacy

🔹 International Affairs

India’s BRICS Chairship 2026

• Unveiled by S. Jaishankar
• Theme: Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation & Sustainability
• Logo inspired by Lotus & Namaste

📌 Static GK: BRICS members & expansion

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz Visits India

• Signed 19 MoUs
• Focus: Green hydrogen, semiconductors, skilling
• Germany announced visa-free transit for Indians

India–Israel Cooperation in Fisheries

• Joint Declaration on Blue Economy
• Focus on RAS, aquaponics, mariculture, tech-driven fisheries

EU Leaders to Attend India’s 77th Republic Day

• Chief Guests: António Costa & Ursula von der Leyen
• Co-chair 16th India-EU Summit

🔹 Awards & Honours

• Pawan Kalyan – First Indian inducted into Samurai Kenjutsu
• Karnataka Bank – IBA Banking Technology Award 2026
• Toby Kiers – Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement

📌 Exam Link: International awards & cultural diplomacy

🔹 Appointments

🔹 Science & Technology

• Tamil Nadu–Sarvam AI MoU: Sovereign AI Park (₹10,000 crore)
• UNSW (Australia) to open Bengaluru campus by Aug 2026
• Wikipedia partners with Big Tech to monetise AI data usage

📌 Static Link: IndiaAI Mission, Sovereign LLMs

🔹 Ranking & Index

Export Preparedness Index 2024 – Top States

📌 Conducted by: NITI Aayog

3️⃣ Why JobsMe for Current Affairs?

JobsMe Current Affairs Today simplifies preparation for UPSC, SSC, Banking, Insurance, Railways & Defence exams with:

• Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDFs
• Free quizzes & revision notes
• Static GK integration

🔗 Explore:

• Daily Current Affairs Free Quizzes
• Weekly Current Affairs
• Monthly Current Affairs
• Static GK for Competitive Exams
• Latest Government Jobs

📌 One-Liner Revision Points

• DFS launched Composite Salary Account Package for Central Govt employees
• World Bank projects India’s FY26 GDP growth at 7.2%
• Paripoorna Mediclaim Ayush Bima launched for CGHS beneficiaries
• Kochi to host 9th International Spice Conference 2026
• Rajasthan gets its first fully organic village body
• Kerala tops personal EV four-wheeler adoption
• India to chair BRICS in 2026
• Tamil Nadu signs MoU with Sarvam AI for Sovereign AI Park

❓ Exam-Oriented FAQs

Q1. Who released Global Economic Prospects January 2026?
➡️ World Bank

Q2. Which state topped Export Preparedness Index 2024?
➡️ Maharashtra

Q3. Theme of BRICS India Chairship 2026?
➡️ Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation & Sustainability

Q4. What is Khajane-2?
➡️ Karnataka’s Integrated Financial Management System

Q5. Who chairs PFRDA’s NPS payout committee?
➡️ M. S. Sahoo

✅ Stay consistent with Daily Current Affairs revision to gain a strong edge in UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railways & Defence exams with JobsMe.