1) 🇮🇳National

• Economic Survey 2025-26: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to table the Economic Survey 2025-26 in Parliament today. The document will provide a comprehensive overview of India’s economic performance and growth outlook ahead of the Union Budget.
• President’s Address: President Droupadi Murmu addressed a joint sitting of Parliament, emphasizing that issues of national interest and security should transcend political differences to achieve the vision of 'Viksit Bharat'.
• National Cadet Corps (NCC) Rally: PM Narendra Modi addressed the annual NCC PM Rally at Delhi Cantonment, marking the culmination of the month-long Republic Day camp.
• Wings India 2026: PM Modi inaugurated the Wings India 2026 aviation summit in Hyderabad via video message, inviting global investors to partner in India’s journey to becoming a global aviation hub.
• Tragic Loss: Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar passed away following a tragic aircraft crash near Baramati airport; the state government has announced three days of official mourning.

2) 🌍International

• India-EU FTA: Reports indicate that the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement is nearing conclusion, expected to significantly boost Indian textile exports by eliminating import duties.
• Tariffs on EVs: South Africa is considering imposing 50% tariffs on electric vehicles imported from China and India to protect its domestic automotive manufacturing industry.
• UN Water Report: A new UN report titled "Global Water Bankruptcy" warns of severe water insecurity affecting three-quarters of the global population.

3) 💰Economy

• Budget Session 2026: The Budget Session of Parliament has officially commenced. Following the Economic Survey today, the Union Budget 2026-27 will be presented on February 1.
• Regulatory Information Sharing: The RBI and the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) signed an MoU for information sharing regarding central counterparties.
• Corporate Layoffs: Tech giant Amazon announced plans to cut 16,000 corporate roles globally as part of its largest restructuring since 2023.

4) 🗓️Date’s importance

• India's First Newspaper (1781): On this day, James Augustus Hickey started 'Hickey's Bengal Gazette', the first printed newspaper in India.
• Establishment of Diplomatic Ties (1992): India and Israel decided to establish full diplomatic relations on this day in 1992.
• Subhash Chandra Bose (1939): Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was elected President of the Indian National Congress on January 29, 1939.

5) 👱‍♂️👩‍🦳Person of the day

• Ajit Pawar (1959–2026): A dominant figure in Maharashtra politics for over three decades, he served as Deputy CM multiple times and was a key architect of various developmental projects in the state.
• Suryakumar Yadav: The Indian T20I captain jumped five spots to reach 7th in the latest ICC Men’s T20I rankings following his consistent performances.

6) 🏅Sports

• India vs NZ T20I: India is set to face New Zealand in the 4th T20I at Visakhapatnam today. India currently leads the 5-match series 3-0.
• Champions League: The group phase of the UEFA Champions League reaches a climax today with several top clubs scrambling for the top eight spots.
• IISc B.Tech Admissions: In a major update for aspirants, IISc Bengaluru announced that B.Tech admissions will now be based on JEE Advanced 2026 ranks.

7) 🏆Awards

• Ashoka Chakra: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla was officially honoured with the Ashoka Chakra for his historic visit to the International Space Station (ISS).
• Kirti Chakra: Awarded to Major Arshdeep Singh and Naib Subedar Doleshwar Subba for their gallantry in counter-insurgency operations.
• Australia Day Honours: Michelle Wheeler was named 'Citizen of the Year' in Narrabri Shire for her extensive community service.

8) ⭐️Other important significance

• Beating Retreat Preparations: Final rehearsals are underway for the Beating Retreat Ceremony on January 29, which formally marks the end of Republic Day celebrations.
• Operation Sindoor: The government highlighted the success of 'Operation Sindoor' in curbing cross-border terrorism during the President's address to Parliament.

📚Word of the day

• Sapient (Adjective)
  • Meaning: Possessing or showing great wisdom or sound judgement; wise or sagacious.
  • Usage: "The President's address called for a sapient approach to national security that puts the country above partisan politics."