Source: AffairsCloud (10 January 2026)
SECTION 1: NATIONAL AFFAIRS & GOVERNANCE
Defence & Internal Security ★★★
National IED Data Management System (NIDMS) Inaugurated
- Event: Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the National Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Data Management System (NIDMS).
- Location: National Security Guard (NSG) garrison in Manesar, Gurugram (Haryana).
- Objective: To strengthen India’s counter-terrorism and counter-IED capabilities by enabling post-blast investigations and evidence-based prosecution.
- Key Features:
- A digital platform serving as a centralized database.
- Collects and manages data on IED blasts and incidents.
- Data Span: Stores data on all IED/bomb blasts in India since 1999. [Source 1297]
- Examination Relevance: Crucial for Internal Security (GS Paper III) and CAPF exams focusing on modernisation of police forces.
- Rapid Revision Insight: NIDMS is a digital database by NSG containing IED blast data from 1999 onwards.
Science & Technology (Telecom) ★★
TEC Signs MoU with IIT Kanpur for 6G & AI Research
- Development: The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), the technical arm of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), signed an MoU with IIT Kanpur.
- Purpose: To conduct joint research and standardization in next-generation telecom technologies.
- Key Areas of Cooperation:
- 6G Architecture: Contributions to global pre-standardization.
- AI & ML: Application in telecom network automation and optimization.
- Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs): Integration of satellite and High-Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS) with terrestrial networks.
- Regulatory Update (TRAI): The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has approved RANext Technologies as a Digital Connectivity Rating Agency (DCRA) to rate digital connectivity infrastructure in buildings.
- Static GK Integration:
- TEC Establishment: 1991.
- TEC HQ: New Delhi.
- Sr. DDG of TEC: Syed Tausif Abbas. [Source 682]
Government Schemes & Social Welfare ★★
Launch of ‘PANKHUDI’ Portal for Women and Child Development
- Launched By: Union Minister Annapurna Devi, Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD).
- Platform Name: PANKHUDI.
- Objective: An integrated digital portal to facilitate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and partnerships for women and child development.
- Focus Areas: Nutrition, health, Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), and women’s safety.
- Key Concept: Promotes ‘Jan Bhagidari’ (People’s Participation).
- Linked Missions: Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0, Mission Vatsalya, and Mission Shakti. [Source 684]
Infrastructure & Development ★★
Development Projects in Tamil Nadu Ports
- Event: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal (MoPSW) launched port infrastructure projects worth Rs 235 crores.
- Locations: Chennai Port Authority and Kamarajar Port Limited (Ennore), Tamil Nadu.
- Theme: Part of the “Viksit Bharat, Viksit Ports” programme to enhance digital governance and port infrastructure. [Source 681]
SECTION 2: ECONOMY & BANKING
Economy & GDP Forecasts ★★★
GDP Growth Projections: UN-DESA vs. SBI Research
- Report 1: UN-DESA ‘World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2026’
- Projection for 2026 (Calendar Year): 6.6% (Down from earlier 7.4%).
- Projection for FY 2025-26: 7.4%.
- Global Growth: Expected to moderate to 2.7% in 2026.
- Status: India remains the world’s fastest-growing major economy.
- Static GK: UN-DESA HQ is in New York (Est. 1948).
- Report 2: SBI Research ‘Ecowrap’
- FY26 GDP Projection: 7.5% (with an upward bias).
- Comparison: This is slightly higher than the NSO’s First Advance Estimate of 7.4%.
- Exam Relevance: Comparative analysis of GDP forecasts is a frequent topic in Banking Mains and RBI Grade B. [Source 686, 687, 688]
Banking & Finance ★★
Axis Finance Launches ‘Vyapar Business Loan’
- Entity: Axis Finance Limited (AFL), a subsidiary of Axis Bank.
- Product: ‘Axis Finance Vyapar Business Loan’.
- Target Audience: Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) in semi-urban and rural markets.
- Key Feature: Collateral-free credit solution.
- Loan Limit: Up to Rs 10 lakh. [Source 685]
SECTION 3: STATE NEWS & APPOINTMENTS
State News (Tamil Nadu) ★★
Tamil Nadu Launches India’s First Deep-Tech Startup Policy
- Event: CM M.K. Stalin unveiled the Tamil Nadu Deep-Tech Startup Policy 2025–26 (TNDTSP).
- Venue: 4th edition of Umagine TN, Chennai.
- Significance: India’s first dedicated deep-tech startup policy.
- Financial Outlay: Earmarked Rs 100 crore to support 100 startups over five years.
- Objective: To bridge the lab-to-market gap for research-driven ventures. [Source 690]
Appointments & Resignations ★★
Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta Appointed CJ of Uttarakhand High Court
- Appointment: Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta appointed as the Chief Justice (CJ) of Uttarakhand High Court.
- Predecessor: Justice Guhanathan (G.) Narendra.
- Constitutional Provision: Appointed by the President under Article 217(1) of the Constitution.
- Background: Previously a senior judge at Allahabad HC and Executive Chairman of UP State Legal Services Authority. [Source 691]
Reports & Indices ★
IREDA Secures ‘Excellent’ Rating
- Organization: Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA).
- Achievement: Secured an “Excellent” rating (Score: 96.42/100) for its performance in the MoU signed with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) for FY 2024-25. [Source 689]
QUICK REVISION CAPSULE
- NIDMS: Inaugurated by Amit Shah at NSG Manesar; stores IED data since 1999.
- PANKHUDI Portal: Launched by MoWCD for CSR in women/child development.
- India’s FY26 GDP: 7.4% (UN-DESA), 7.5% (SBI Research).
- Global Growth 2026: Projected at 2.7% by UN-DESA.
- First Deep-Tech Policy: Launched by Tamil Nadu with ₹100 cr corpus.
- Uttarakhand CJ: Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta appointed.
- DCRA: TRAI approved RANext Technologies as Digital Connectivity Rating Agency.
- Vyapar Business Loan: Axis Finance product for MSMEs (Collateral-free up to ₹10L).
- IREDA Rating: ‘Excellent’ for FY25 MoU performance.
RAPID FIRE EXAMINATION MCQs
- Q1. Which state government launched India’s first dedicated Deep-Tech Startup Policy in 2026?
(A) Tamil Nadu (B) Karnataka (C) Telangana (D) Maharashtra - Q2. What is the projected GDP growth rate for India for FY 2025-26 as per the SBI Ecowrap report?
(A) 7.5% (B) 7.4% (C) 6.6% (D) 7.2% - Q3. The ‘PANKHUDI’ portal, recently launched by Union Minister Annapurna Devi, is associated with which objective?
(A) CSR and partnerships for Women & Child Development (B) Mental Health Support (C) Rural Entrepreneurship (D) MSME Credit - Q4. Where was the National IED Data Management System (NIDMS) inaugurated by Amit Shah?
(A) Manesar, Haryana (B) Pune, Maharashtra (C) Hyderabad, Telangana (D) New Delhi - Q5. Who has been appointed as the new Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court in January 2026?
(A) Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta (B) Justice G. Narendra (C) Justice Surya Kant (D) Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi
