Daily Current Affairs (21 January 2026) for Government Exams – UPSC, SSC, Banking, Defence & More
Daily Current Affairs for 21 January 2026 covers important national, international, economic, banking, defence, appointments, environment, and sports updates. This exam-oriented compilation helps aspirants preparing for UPSC, SSC, Banking, Insurance, Railways, Defence, and State PSC exams with quick facts, tables, and revision notes.
📘 Detailed Current Affairs – 21 January 2026
1️⃣ Introduction – Why in News?
Current Affairs for 21 January 2026 highlight key developments in governance, international relations, defence manufacturing, banking reforms, economic outlook, environment, and appointments. Staying updated with such daily events is crucial as current affairs carry high weightage in government exams.
JobsMe’s Daily, Weekly and Monthly Current Affairs PDFs, quizzes, and study notes simplify preparation by saving time and improving retention for competitive exams.
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2️⃣ NATIONAL AFFAIRS
🇮🇳 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC)
- Hosted by the Government of India (GoI) at Samvidhan Sadan, New Delhi
- Chaired by Om Birla
- Inaugurated by Narendra Modi
- India hosted CSPOC for the 4th time (earlier: 1970–71, 1986, 2010)
Key Highlights
- Participation from 42 Commonwealth countries
- Chairmanship handed over to Lindsay Hoyle
- Next CSPOC: London, UK (2028)
🌍 Responsible Nations Index (RNI) 2026
- Launched by Ram Nath Kovind
- India ranked 16th globally
- Top 3 Countries: Singapore, Switzerland, Denmark
| Rank | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | 0.619 |
| 2 | Switzerland | 0.586 |
| 3 | Denmark | 0.583 |
| 16 | India | 0.551 |
🇯🇵 Japan FM Toshimitsu Motegi’s Visit to India
- Dates: 15–17 January 2026
- Reviewed Delhi Metro Project
- Participated in 18th India–Japan Strategic Dialogue
Outcomes
- Launch of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Dialogue
- Formation of Joint Working Group (JWG) on Critical Minerals
🏭 Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) 2026
- Inaugurated by Narendra Modi
- Held in Rajkot, Gujarat
Major Investments
- Reliance Industries: ₹7 lakh crore
- Adani Group: ₹1.5 lakh crore (Renewable Energy Park)
- 5,492 MoUs worth ₹5.78 lakh crore signed
3️⃣ DEFENCE & STRATEGIC AFFAIRS
🛡️ Ammunition Manufacturing Facility, Nagpur
- Inaugurated by Rajnath Singh
- Location: Solar Defence & Aerospace Ltd, Nagpur
- Purpose: Manufacture 30 mm ammunition for Indian Army & Navy
🌊 INS Sagardhwani – Sagar Maitri V Mission
- Implemented by DRDO–NPOL
- Objective: Ocean research & Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA)
- Countries: Oman, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Myanmar
4️⃣ BANKING & FINANCE
🏦 RBI Recognises FEDAI as SRO
- Recognised by Reserve Bank of India
- FEDAI becomes Self-Regulatory Organisation (SRO) for Forex dealers
🇯🇵 RBI Approves SMBC Subsidiary in India
- Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) gets in-principle approval
- Regulated under Banking Regulation Act, 1949
📲 Canara Bank – UPI Integration
- Partnered with NPCI BHIM Services Ltd (NBSL)
- First bank to adopt plugin-based UPI solution
5️⃣ ECONOMY & BUSINESS
📈 IMF Raises India Growth Forecast
- Released World Economic Outlook
- FY26 Growth: 7.3%
| Indicator | Projection |
|---|---|
| India FY26 | 7.3% |
| Global Growth 2026 | 3.2% |
| Global Inflation 2026 | 3.8% |
✈️ Air India – Singapore Airlines Agreement
- Objective: Strengthen India–Singapore air connectivity
- Integrated bookings & expanded codeshare routes
6️⃣ APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
| Organisation | Appointee | Position |
|---|---|---|
| NIA | Rakesh Aggarwal | Director General |
| BSF | Praveen Kumar | Director General |
| ITBP | Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor | Director General |
🌍 Uganda Presidential Election
- Yoweri Museveni re-elected for 7th term
- Vote Share: 71.65%
🥊 Sports Appointment
- Vijender Singh appointed member of Asian Boxing Council (ABCO)
7️⃣ ENVIRONMENT
🦐 New Crustacean Discovered
- Species: Indiaphonte bijoyi
- Location: Lakshadweep
- Published in Zootaxa Journal
8️⃣ BOOKS & AUTHORS
- Hindi edition of “Palanivelu GUTS”
- Released by Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan
- Author: Dr. C. Palanivelu
9️⃣ IMPORTANT DAYS
🚨 NDRF Raising Day – 19 January 2026
- Marks 21 years of National Disaster Response Force
- Established under Disaster Management Act, 2005
📌 One-Liner Revision Points
- CSPOC 2026 held in New Delhi.
- India ranked 16th in Responsible Nations Index 2026.
- IMF revised India’s FY26 growth to 7.3%.
- RBI recognised FEDAI as SRO.
- SMBC approved to open WOS in India.
- Canara Bank integrates plugin-based UPI.
- Rajnath Singh inaugurated ammunition facility in Nagpur.
- INS Sagardhwani flagged off for Sagar Maitri-V.
- Yoweri Museveni wins 7th term as Uganda President.
- Vijender Singh joins Asian Boxing Council.
❓ Exam-Oriented FAQs
Q1. What is CSPOC?
Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth.
Q2. Who released the Responsible Nations Index 2026?
Former President Ram Nath Kovind.
Q3. India’s GDP growth forecast for FY26 by IMF?
7.3%.
Q4. Which bank first adopted plugin-based UPI?
Canara Bank.
Q5. What is Sagar Maitri?
An ocean research and cooperation initiative in the Indian Ocean Region.
🔗 Useful Preparation Links
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