TODAY NEWS HIGHLIGHT
➤ Indian Railways confers 70th Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Awards to 100 awardees
➤ Indian sprinter Jinson Johnson announces retirement
➤ A.K. Balasubramanian appointed AERB chairman for 2026
➤ National Textile Ministers' Conference 2026 in Guwahati
➤ RBI cancels licenses of 35 NBFCs
➤ Former Union Minister Kabindra Purkayastha passes away at the age of 94
➤ Uttarakhand Police ranks first in the country in ICJS 2.0 ranking
➤ National Youth Day
DETAILED CURRENT AFFAIRS
1. Indian Railways presented the 70th Distinguished Railway Service Awards to 100 awardees
The 70th Distinguished Rail Service Awards – 2025 is the highest service honor bestowed by Indian Railways, recognizing 100 officers and employees for their exceptional services. This grand ceremony will be held on January 9, 2026, at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi. The award is given to personnel who have made significant contributions in the fields of innovation, courage, administrative efficiency, and public service.
2. Indian runner Jinson Johnson announces retirement
India's renowned middle-distance runner, Jinson Johnson, has announced his retirement from competitive athletics at the age of 34. The athlete from Kerala represented India at the national and international levels for over a decade. He achieved historic milestones in the 800m and 1500m races, bringing global recognition to Indian athletics.
3. A.K. Balasubramanian Appointed Chairman of AERB for 2026
The Cabinet Appointments Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has appointed senior nuclear scientist A.K. Balasubramanian as the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) in January 2026. He will lead India's top nuclear safety regulator for a three-year term. He succeeds Dr. D.K. Shukla, whose term ended on December 31, 2025.
4. National Textile Ministers' Conference 2026 in Guwahati
The National Conference of Textile Ministers 2026 commenced on January 8, 2026, in Guwahati, Assam, organized by the Union Ministry of Textiles in collaboration with the Government of Assam. Textile ministers and senior officials from all states and Union Territories of the country are participating in this two-day conference.
5. RBI Cancels Licenses of 35 NBFCs
In January 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancelled the certificates of registration of 35 non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) for failing to comply with regulatory standards. This action was effective between December 9 and December 31, 2025. In addition, 16 other NBFCs voluntarily surrendered their registration, bringing the total number of cancelled registrations to 51.
6. Former Union Minister Kabindra Purkayastha Passes Away at 94
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Union Minister Kabindra Purkayastha passed away on January 7, 2026, at the age of 94. He was an influential and respected leader of the BJP from the Barak Valley region of Assam. He was admitted to Silchar Medical College and Hospital due to age-related health issues, where he breathed his last.
7. Uttarakhand Police Ranks First in the Country in ICJS 2.0 Ranking
The National Crime Records Bureau, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has released the rankings for the second edition of the Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) 2.0, in which the Uttarakhand Police secured first place in the country with a score of 93.46. Haryana Police ranked second and Assam Police third in this ranking.
8. National Youth Day
National Youth Day is celebrated every year on January 12th and is associated with the birth anniversary of the great philosopher and spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda. The Government of India declared January 12th as National Youth Day in 1984, and its first celebration was held in 1985.
QUIZ
1. The 70th Distinguished Railway Service Award – 2025 is presented by which organization?
A - NITI Aayog
B - Indian Railways
C - Rail Vikas Nigam
D - Ministry of Home Affairs
The 70th Distinguished Railway Service Award – 2025 is the highest service honor of Indian Railways, under which 100 officers and employees will be felicitated for their innovation, courage, and outstanding administrative contributions. The ceremony will be held on January 9, 2026, at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi.
2. Whose national record did Jinson Johnson break in the 800-meter race?
A - Milkha Singh
B - P. T. Usha
C - Sriram Singh
D - Anil Kumar
India's renowned middle-distance runner, Jinson Johnson, has announced his retirement from competitive athletics at the age of 34. The athlete from Kerala represented India internationally in the 800-meter and 1500-meter races, achieving several historic milestones. His performance at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games was the most memorable, where he won a gold medal in the 1500 meters and a silver medal in the 800 meters.
3. A.K. Balasubramanian has been appointed as the chairman of which institution?
A - Atomic Energy Commission
B - Atomic Energy Regulatory Board
C - Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited
D - Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
In January 2026, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, appointed senior nuclear scientist A.K. Balasubramanian as the chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board. He will lead India's top nuclear safety regulator for a period of three years.
4. Where was the National Conference of Textile Ministers 2026 held?
A - New Delhi
B - Jaipur
C - Guwahati
D - Kolkata
The National Conference of Textile Ministers 2026 commenced on January 8, 2026, in Guwahati, Assam, jointly organized by the Union Ministry of Textiles and the Government of Assam. The conference aims to chart a long-term strategy for India's textile sector and strengthen center-state policy coordination. The conference's theme focuses on balancing economic growth, heritage preservation, and innovation.
5. How many NBFCs had their registration certificates canceled by the RBI in January 2026?
A - 25
B - 35
C - 45
D - 51
In January 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) canceled the registration certificates of 35 non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) due to violations of regulatory standards, while 16 other NBFCs voluntarily surrendered their registrations. Thus, a total of 51 NBFCs had their registrations revoked. This move reflects the RBI's strict regulatory policy aimed at maintaining discipline, transparency, and stability in the financial system.
6. In which ministry did Kabindra Purkayastha serve as Minister of State?
A - Ministry of Home Affairs
B - Ministry of Railways
C - Ministry of Communications
D - Ministry of Education
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Union Minister Kabindra Purkayastha passed away on January 7, 2026, at the age of 94. This leader from Assam's Barak Valley represented the Silchar Lok Sabha constituency three times and served as the Minister of State for Communications in the Vajpayee government.
7. Which police force secured the first position in the ICJS 2.0 ranking?
A - Haryana Police
B - Assam Police
C - Uttar Pradesh Police
D - Uttarakhand Police
The Uttarakhand Police secured the first position in the ICJS 2.0 ranking with 93.46 points, as released by the National Crime Records Bureau under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Haryana and Assam secured the second and third positions respectively. ICJS 2.0 is an advanced digital platform that integrates criminal justice agencies such as the police, courts, prosecution, and prisons.
8. National Youth Day is associated with the birth anniversary of which great personality?
A - Mahatma Gandhi
B - Subhas Chandra Bose
C - Swami Vivekananda
D - Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar
National Youth Day is celebrated annually on January 12th, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. The Government of India declared this day as National Youth Day in 1984, and the first celebration took place in 1985. Its objective is to inspire young people with the ideals of Swami Vivekananda and to cultivate self-confidence, morality, discipline, and a spirit of nation-building.
ONE LINER
Who was appointed as the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) in January 2026? – A.K. Balasubramanian
In which city was the National Conference of Textile Ministers 2026 held? – Guwahati, Assam
How many officers and employees were awarded the 70th Distinguished Railway Service Award – 2025? – 100
Which Indian middle-distance runner announced his retirement from athletics at the age of 34? – Jinson Johnson
How many NBFCs had their licenses revoked by the RBI in January 2026 due to regulatory violations? – 35
Which police force secured the first position in the country with 93.46 points in the ICJS 2.0 ranking? – Uttarakhand Police
What was the theme of the National Conference of Textile Ministers 2026? – India’s Textiles: Weaving Growth, Heritage & Innovation
Which two medals did Jinson Johnson win at the 2018 Asian Games? – 1500 meters gold and 800 meters silver
Where and when was the 70th Distinguished Railway Service Award – 2025 ceremony held? – Yashobhoomi, New Delhi on January 9, 2026
Which former Union Minister passed away on January 7, 2026, at the age of 94? – Kabindra Purkayastha