EduTips Daily CA Bullet Points (16 January 2026)

1) 🇮🇳 National

• National Startup Day Celebrated: Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in a special programme marking the 10th Anniversary (Decade) of the Startup India initiative at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
• India to Host EU Leaders: Top European Union leaders have been invited as Chief Guests for India's 77th Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2026.
• BLR Habba Kicks Off: The 10-day 'Bengaluru Habba' festival commenced in Karnataka to showcase the city's culture and celebrate the 'Brand Bengaluru' initiative.
• Solar-Powered ATM Van: Tripura Gramin Bank has become the first regional rural bank in India to introduce a solar-powered ATM van.
• MPATGM Successful Trials: DRDO and the Indian Army successfully conducted trials of the indigenous Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM), a 3rd-generation "fire-and-forget" missile.

2) 🌍 International

• Yemen Leadership Change: Yemen's internationally recognized government appointed Shaya Zindani as the new Prime Minister following the resignation of Salem bin Breik.
• US Visa Suspension: The United States announced an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, effective from January 21, 2026.
• Iran Airspace Closure: Major Indian carriers like Air India and IndiGo rerouted flights following the temporary closure of Iranian airspace due to nationwide unrest.
• Henley Passport Index: The Indian passport has climbed five places to rank 80th in the latest global mobility rankings.

3) 💰 Economy

• World Bank Economic Outlook: The World Bank released its Global Economic Outlook 2026, projecting growth trends and challenges for the upcoming fiscal year.
• Budget 2026 Expectations: Ahead of the Union Budget, discussions focus on increasing the Standard Deduction to ₹1 lakh and raising the home loan interest deduction cap under Section 24(b) to ₹4 lakh.
• IT Sector Margin Pressure: Major Indian IT firms reported margin pressures in quarterly results, attributed to the implementation of new Labour Codes.

4) 🗓️ Date’s Importance

• National Startup Day: Observed annually on January 16 to recognize and promote the spirit of entrepreneurship in India. It was officially declared by PM Modi in 2021.

5) 👱‍♂️👩‍🦳 Person of the Day

• D. B. Venkatesh Varma: Appointed as the Chairperson of the UN Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters for the 2026–27 term.

6) 🏅 Sports

• MS Dhoni: The former Indian captain has been appointed as the Goodwill Ambassador for the Pune Grand Tour 2026, a major professional cycling event.
• India Open Badminton: The tournament is currently underway in New Delhi, featuring top international players like Prannoy HS and Loh Kean Yew.
• NOEDP Framework: The government approved the National Olympic Education and Development Programme (NOEDP) to strengthen Olympic education and athlete development in India.

7) 🏆 Awards

• Academy Awards (Oscars): The voting process for the nominations of the 98th Academy Awards officially concludes today, January 16, 2026.
• Trimmer Travel Fund Award: Deadlines announced for this award which supports undergraduate scholars in arts and humanities.

8) ⭐️ Other Important Significance

• Responsible Nations Index: Announcement made regarding the launch of this new global index on January 19 to assess country performances across key ethical dimensions.
• Quantum Physics Breakthrough: Scientists revealed new insights into the "Hidden Quantum World" using ultracold atoms, reaching temperatures near absolute zero.

9) 📚 Word of the Day

• Nonpareil (Adj/Noun):
  • Meaning: Having no match or equal; unrivaled.
  • Usage: The Indian startup ecosystem is becoming a nonpareil hub for global innovation.