1) 🇮🇳National

• 77th Republic Day: India celebrates its 77th Republic Day today with the theme "150 Years of Vande Mataram." President Droupadi Murmu will unfurl the national flag at Kartavya Path, followed by a grand parade showcasing India's military might and cultural diversity.

• Chief Guests: The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, António Costa, are the Chief Guests for this year's parade.

• Padma Awards 2026: The government announced 131 Padma Awards on the eve of Republic Day, including 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri awards.

• Gallantry Awards: President Murmu has approved 412 Gallantry awards and other Defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel and others.

• Vande Bharat Sleeper: The parade will highlight recent advancements in rail infrastructure, including the newly introduced Vande Bharat Sleeper trains.

2) 🌍International

• International Customs Day: Observed globally on January 26, the 2026 theme is "Customs: Protecting Society through Vigilance and Commitment."

• India-EU Summit: Following the Republic Day celebrations, the 16th India-EU Summit is scheduled for January 27 in New Delhi to deepen strategic partnerships.

• WEF Global Risks: The World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report 2026, discussed recently at Davos, identified "Geoeconomic Confrontation" as the top global risk for the year.

3) 💰Economy

• Gold Import Duty: Market speculation is high regarding a potential hike in customs duty on gold and silver in the upcoming Union Budget, leading to a surge in domestic premiums.

• Padma Bhushan for Trade: Prominent banker Uday Kotak has been awarded the Padma Bhushan for his distinguished service in the field of Trade and Industry.

4) 🗓️Date’s importance

• Republic Day: Marks the historic date in 1950 when the Constitution of India came into effect, turning the nation into a newly formed republic.

• International Customs Day: Honors the role of custom officials and agencies in maintaining border security and facilitating trade.

5) 👱‍♂️👩‍🦳Person of the day

• Dharmendra Deol: The legendary Bollywood actor (1935–2025) has been posthumously awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honor.

• Learner Tien: The 20-year-old American tennis player created a massive upset at the Australian Open 2026 by defeating 3-time finalist Daniil Medvedev to reach the Quarterfinals.

6) 🏅Sports

• Padma Shri in Sports: Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma, women's team captain Harmanpreet Kaur, and hockey goalkeeper Savita Punia have been conferred with the Padma Shri.

• Australian Open 2026: Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating Tommy Paul. The tournament has seen major upsets with top seeds exiting early.

• Tennis Legend: Vijay Amritraj has been honored with the Padma Bhushan for his lifetime contribution to sports.

7) 🏆Awards

• Padma Vibhushan Awardees: The list includes Dharmendra (Posthumous), V.S. Achuthanandan (Posthumous), N. Rajam (Art), K.T. Thomas (Public Affairs), and P. Narayanan (Literature).

• Police Medals: A total of 1,132 personnel have been awarded Gallantry and Service Medals on the occasion of Republic Day 2026.

8) ⭐️Other important significance

• Beating Retreat 2026: The upcoming ceremony on January 29 will feature enclosures named after Indian musical instruments like 'Sitar' and 'Tabla' to promote Indian culture.

• State Tableaux: This year's parade features 30 tableaux focusing on themes like "Nari Shakti" (Women Power) and "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India).

📚Word of the day

• Sovereignty (Noun)

• Meaning: Supreme power or authority; the quality or state of being independent and self-governing.

• Usage: "Republic Day is a celebration of India's sovereignty and the power of its written Constitution." Ask me to edit or delete your scheduled action at any time.