Daily Current Affairs – 20 January 2026 for UPSC, SSC, Banking & Other Government Exams
Daily Current Affairs for 20 January 2026 covers important national, international, banking, economy, defence, appointments, and important days. This exam-oriented compilation is highly useful for UPSC, SSC, Banking, IBPS, RBI, Railways, Defence & State PSC aspirants.
📘 Introduction – Why in News?
Current Affairs 20 January 2026 includes major updates such as PM-led infrastructure initiatives, employment data, agriculture progress, global defence exercises, banking launches, international loans, key appointments, and Indian Army Day celebrations. Staying updated with such news is essential as current affairs carry high weightage in almost all government exams.
JobsMe simplifies preparation for UPSC, SSC, Banking, Insurance, Railways and other competitive exams by providing Daily, Weekly & Monthly Current Affairs PDFs, quizzes, and static GK resources.
👉 Also read:
- Daily Current Affairs – https://jobsme.in/category/daily-current-affairs
- Daily Current Affairs Free Quizzes – https://jobsme.in/quizzes/daily-current-affairs
📰 NATIONAL AFFAIRS
1️⃣ PM Narendra Modi Visits West Bengal & Assam (Jan 17–18, 2026)
Background:
The Prime Minister undertook a two-day visit focusing on infrastructure, rail connectivity, green transport, and cultural outreach.
Key Highlights
- Flagged off India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train (Howrah–Guwahati)
- Rail & road projects worth ₹3,250 crore in West Bengal
- Launched hybrid electric aluminium catamaran (₹12 crore)
- Bhoomi Pujan of Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Project (₹6,950 crore)
- Attended Bagurumba Dwhou 2026 (Bodo cultural event)
Exam Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| States Visited | West Bengal, Assam |
| Key Rail Launch | Vande Bharat Sleeper |
| Major Project | Kaziranga Elevated Corridor |
| Focus Areas | Infrastructure, green transport |
Significance:
Boosts regional connectivity, sustainable transport, and Northeast development.
2️⃣ MoSPI: Unemployment Rate Stable at 4.8% (Dec 2025)
Why in News?
The PLFS Monthly Bulletin – December 2025 was released by MoSPI.
| Indicator | Dec 2025 |
|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8% |
| LFPR | 56.1% |
| WPR | 53.4% |
| Urban UR | 6.7% |
| Rural UR | 3.9% |
Importance for Exams:
Frequently asked in UPSC, SSC, RBI Grade B, Banking.
3️⃣ Rabi Sowing Rises to 64.42 Million Hectares
Released by: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
| Crop | Area (Mn ha) |
|---|---|
| Wheat | 33.42 |
| Pulses | 13.64 |
| Oilseeds | 9.68 |
| Coarse Cereals | 5.52 |
Significance:
Indicates strong agricultural output and food security.
4️⃣ Deployment of 200 Automatic Weather Stations
- Announced by Dr. Jitendra Singh
- Under Mission Mausam – Phase II
- 50 AWS each in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai & Pune
Impact:
Improves urban weather forecasting & disaster preparedness.
5️⃣ India’s First Open-Sea Marine Fish Farming Project
Launched in: Andaman Sea
Objective: Boost Blue Economy and coastal livelihoods.
6️⃣ Second Nationwide Dolphin Survey Launched
Launched by: Bhupender Yadav
Under: Project Dolphin
Implementing Agency: Wildlife Institute of India
7️⃣ MSME Technology Centres Approved in Himachal Pradesh
| Location | District |
|---|---|
| Pandoga | Una |
| Parwanoo | Solan |
Cost: ₹10 crore each
Focus: Manufacturing, AI, robotics & skill development.
🌍 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
8️⃣ India–Sri Lanka–Maldives Coast Guard Exercise DOSTI-17
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | Maldives |
| Dates | 17–19 Jan 2026 |
| Objective | Maritime security & SAR |
Supports India’s SAGAR Vision.
💰 BANKING & FINANCE
9️⃣ World Bank Approves USD 286 Mn for WB Healthcare
- Loan via IBRD
- Tenure: 16.5 years
- Focus: NCDs, maternal & adolescent health
🔟 SBI Life Launches ‘Smart Platina Advantage’
- Guaranteed savings + life cover
- Premium from ₹50,000/year
- Policy term: 15–30 years
1️⃣1️⃣ ICICI Bank Reappoints Sandeep Bakshi as MD & CEO
| Tenure | Oct 2026 – Oct 2028 |
|---|
1️⃣2️⃣ IGGEFIL Sanctions USD 22.5 Mn Green Loan to Zambia
- 100 MW solar project
- Supports global renewable financing
🏭 ECONOMY & BUSINESS
1️⃣3️⃣ BSNL & Viasat Partner for Indian Navy SatCom
Focus: Multi-band satellite communication for defence operations.
👤 APPOINTMENTS
1️⃣4️⃣ Shaea Muhssin Mohammed Al-Zindani Appointed Yemen PM
1️⃣5️⃣ Praveen Vashista Appointed Vigilance Commissioner (CVC)
🎖 IMPORTANT DAY
1️⃣6️⃣ Indian Army Day 2026 – January 15
- 78th Army Day
- Parade held in Jaipur
- First appearance of Bhairav Battalion
📌 One-Liner Points for Quick Revision
- India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper runs between Howrah–Guwahati
- Unemployment rate in Dec 2025 stood at 4.8%
- Rabi sowing crossed 64.42 Mn ha in 2025-26
- 200 AWS to be deployed under Mission Mausam Phase II
- First open-sea fish farming launched in Andaman Sea
- Second Dolphin Survey launched from Bijnor, UP
- World Bank approved USD 286 Mn for WB healthcare
- SBI Life launched Smart Platina Advantage
- ICICI Bank MD & CEO Sandeep Bakshi reappointed till 2028
- IGGEFIL sanctioned first overseas green loan to Zambia
- DOSTI-17 held in Maldives
- Army Day 2026 parade held in Jaipur
❓ Exam-Oriented FAQs
Q1. What is India’s unemployment rate as per PLFS Dec 2025?
👉 4.8%
Q2. Which states did PM Modi visit in Jan 2026?
👉 West Bengal and Assam
Q3. What is Mission Mausam Phase II related to?
👉 Weather forecasting infrastructure
Q4. Who approved USD 286 Mn for WB healthcare?
👉 World Bank (IBRD)
Q5. When is Indian Army Day celebrated?
👉 15 January every year
📚 Prepare Smarter with JobsMe
- Weekly Current Affairs – https://jobsme.in/category/weekly-current-affairs
- Monthly Current Affairs – https://jobsme.in/category/monthly-current-affairs
- Static GK – https://jobsme.in/category/static-gk
- Latest Govt Jobs – https://jobsme.in/jobs
Staying updated with JobsMe’s Daily, Weekly & Monthly Current Affairs gives you a clear edge in UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railways, Defence & State PSC exams.
