1) 🇮🇳National

• Martyrs' Day (Shaheed Diwas): The nation pays homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his 78th death anniversary. President Droupadi Murmu and PM Narendra Modi led the tributes at Rajghat, Delhi. A two-minute silence was observed nationwide at 11:00 AM in memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the country.

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• Economic Survey Debate: Parliament is set to debate the Economic Survey 2025-26 today. The survey, tabled yesterday, projected a distinct "Amrit Kaal" growth trajectory, emphasising fiscal consolidation before the upcoming Union Budget on February 1.
• IIT Delhi Outreach: In a first-of-its-kind move, IIT Delhi announced an "Open House" for JEE 2026 aspirants in Kota (scheduled for Jan 31) to directly engage with students and address mental health concerns.
• New Security Policy: The Centre has reportedly approved the felling of trees for strategic road projects in the Gangotri and Yamunotri stretch to bolster border infrastructure, while simultaneously setting up monitoring for 2,800 glacial lakes.

2) 🌍International

• India-EU FTA: Negotiations for the India-EU Free Trade Agreement have reportedly concluded, with an official announcement expected shortly. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal highlighted that the deal will significantly boost India’s service and manufacturing sectors.
• WHO on NTDs: On World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day, the World Health Organization praised India's progress in eliminating Kala-azar and Lymphatic Filariasis, urging continued vigilance.
• Trump's 'Board of Peace': US President Donald Trump released the charter for a new "Board of Peace" to oversee ceasefire plans in the Middle East, with claims of resolving major regional conflicts.

3) 💰Economy

• Fitch Ratings Outlook: Global rating agency Fitch released a report stating that the financial performance of Indian corporates is expected to improve significantly in FY27, citing stable credit metrics and robust domestic demand.
• Rupee Update: The Indian Rupee faced volatility, hovering near record lows (₹91.70) against the US Dollar due to continued foreign fund outflows and pre-budget caution.
• Steel Scrap Duty: Indian negotiators have sought specific exemptions for steel scrap imports from the EU to mitigate the impact of the new "Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism" (CBAM) duties.

4) 🗓️Date’s importance

• Martyrs' Day: Observed on January 30 to mark the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948 by Nathuram Godse.
• World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day: Observed globally to raise awareness about NTDs like Dengue, Leprosy, and Rabies that affect the world's poorest populations.

5) 👱‍♂️👩‍🦳Person of the day

• Mahatma Gandhi: The "Father of the Nation," remembered today for his principles of Truth (Satya) and Non-violence (Ahimsa).
• Aryna Sabalenka: The tennis star stormed into her fourth consecutive Australian Open final, setting up a high-voltage clash against Elena Rybakina.

6) 🏅Sports

• Australian Open 2026 (Men's): The Men's Singles Semi-finals are taking place today at Rod Laver Arena, with Carlos Alcaraz set to face Alexander Zverev for a spot in the final.
• T20 World Cup Shake-up: In a massive development, the ICC has announced that Scotland will replace Bangladesh in the upcoming T20 World Cup due to the latter's refusal to play matches in India citing security/political reasons.
• WPL Record: Mumbai Indians' Nat Sciver-Brunt created history by scoring the first-ever century in the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026, leading her team to a win over RCB.

7) 🏆Awards

• Padma Awards (Reactions): Tributes continue to pour in for the late Avtar Singh Bhasin (Diplomat & Author), who passed away recently, and for the posthumous Padma Vibhushan awardees.
• Oscar Nominations 2026: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has officially released the nominations for the 98th Academy Awards, with Indian documentaries gaining special attention in the preliminary lists.

8) ⭐️Other important significance

• Cryptera 2K26: The national-level technical symposium 'Cryptera 2K26' kicked off today at the Coimbatore Institute of Technology (CIT), focusing on cybersecurity and next-gen computing.
• Pune Design Festival: The Pune Design Festival 2026 began today, exploring the theme of "India's Design Purpose" in a changing global order.

📚Word of the day

• Apostle (Noun)
  • Meaning: A vigorous and pioneering advocate or supporter of a particular policy, idea, or cause.
  • Usage: "Mahatma Gandhi was the great apostle of non-violence and peace in the 20th century."