TODAY NEWS HIGHLIGHT
➤ Oscars 2026: Five Indian films qualify for Best Picture at the 98th Academy Awards
➤ Skydo receives PA-CB license from RBI
➤ Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta appointed Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court
➤ Sanitation worker releases book on President Draupadi Murmu at Andhra University
➤ Bengaluru named best city for women in 2025
➤ Gujarat CM launches ‘Asha Van’ mobile unit for early detection of cancer
➤ Scientists develop a new technique to measure cold atoms without interference
➤ Lohri festival
DETAILED CURRENT AFFAIRS
1. Oscars 2026: Five Indian Films Qualify for Best Picture at the 98th Academy Awards
The eligibility of five Indian films for the prestigious Best Picture category at the 98th Academy Awards, or Oscars 2026, reflects India's growing recognition in global cinema. This achievement establishes the linguistic diversity, creative strength, and technical prowess of the Indian film industry on the international stage.
2. Skydo Receives PA-CB License from RBI
In a significant regulatory milestone for India's fintech ecosystem, Bengaluru-based fintech platform Skydo has received final approval from the Reserve Bank of India to operate as a Payment Aggregator-Cross Border (PA-CB). This approval makes international payments more secure, faster, and compliance-friendly for Indian exporters, especially MSMEs, startups, and freelancers.
3. Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta Appointed Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court
In a significant administrative decision within the Indian judiciary, Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta has been appointed as the new Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court. This appointment has been notified by the central government based on the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium. He is currently serving as a judge in the Allahabad High Court.
4. Sanitation Worker Releases Book on President Droupadi Murmu at Andhra University
An inspiring social event unfolded at Andhra University in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, when a book on the life of President Draupadi Murmu was released by a sanitation worker, Lakshmamma. This event was not merely a literary function but emerged as a powerful symbol of equality, dignity of labor, and inclusive values in Indian society.
5. Bengaluru Ranked Best City for Women in 2025
According to the Top Cities for Women in India (TCWI) report 2025 released by Avtar Group, Bengaluru and Chennai have emerged as the most women-friendly and safest cities in the country. This study analyzed aspects related to safety, opportunities, and career growth based on the experiences of women in 125 Indian cities.
6. Gujarat Chief Minister Launches ‘Asha Van’ Mobile Unit for Early Cancer Detection
The Gujarat government has launched mobile cancer screening units called ‘Asha Van’ to strengthen preventive healthcare services. The units were inaugurated by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in Gandhinagar. The main objective of this initiative is to ensure early detection of cancer in rural, tribal, and remote areas where access to advanced healthcare facilities is limited.
7. Scientists Develop a New Technique to Measure Cold Atoms Without Disruption
Scientists at the Raman Research Institute in Bengaluru have developed a new and revolutionary technique to measure cold atoms without disturbing them, called Raman Driven Spin Noise Spectroscopy (RDSNS). This achievement addresses a major challenge in quantum science, where the quantum state of an atomic system is affected during measurement.
8. Lohri Festival
Lohri is a major folk and agricultural festival of North India, celebrated with great enthusiasm mainly in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and parts of Delhi. This festival is celebrated annually on January 13th and is considered a symbol of the end of winter and the growth phase of the Rabi crops. Lohri is directly related to the northward movement of the sun and is celebrated exactly one day before Makar Sankranti.
QUIZ
1. How many feature films are eligible for the Best Picture category at the 2026 Oscars?
A - 150
B - 180
C - 201
D - 317
The eligibility of five Indian films for the Best Picture category at the 2026 Oscars reflects the growing global recognition of Indian cinema. This achievement establishes India's linguistic diversity, creative potential, and technical quality on an international stage.
2. From which regulatory body did Skydo receive its PA-CB license?
A - Ministry of Finance
B - SEBI
C - Reserve Bank of India
D - Ministry of Commerce
Bengaluru-based fintech platform Skydo has received final approval from the Reserve Bank of India as a Payment Aggregator–Cross Border (PA-CB), making international payments more secure, faster, and compliant for Indian exporters, MSMEs, startups, and freelancers.
3. Who has been appointed as the new Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court?
A - Justice Guhanathan Narendra
B - Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta
C - Justice Sanjeev Khanna
D - Justice D.Y. Chandrachud
Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta has been appointed as the new Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court on the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium. He will assume office after the retirement of the current Chief Justice, Justice Guhanathan Narendra, on January 9, 2026. He is currently a judge of the Allahabad High Court and has been in judicial service since 2013.
4. By whom was the book based on the life of Draupadi Murmu released?
A - University Vice-Chancellor
B - Author Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad
C - Sanitation worker Lakshmamma
D - Governor
A book based on the life of President Draupadi Murmu was released by Lakshmamma, a sanitation worker at Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, sending a powerful message of equality, dignity of labor, and social inclusion.
5. According to the TCWI Report 2025, which is the most women-friendly city in India?
A - Chennai
B - Pune
C - Bengaluru
D - Mumbai
According to the Avtar Group's Top Cities for Women in India (TCWI) Report 2025, Bengaluru and Chennai have emerged as the most women-friendly and safest cities in India.
6. The mobile cancer screening unit called ‘Asha Van’ has been launched by which state government?
A - Maharashtra
B - Rajasthan
C - Gujarat
D - Madhya Pradesh
The Gujarat government has launched a mobile cancer screening unit called ‘Asha Van’ to ensure timely detection of cancer in rural and remote areas.
7. Which institution has developed a new technique for measuring cold atoms without disturbing them?
A - IISc Bengaluru
B - ISRO
C - Raman Research Institute
D - BARC
Scientists at the Bengaluru-based Raman Research Institute have developed a new technique, Raman Driven Spin Noise Spectroscopy, for measuring cold atoms without affecting them. This technique solves the problem associated with quantum measurement, where the quantum state of the atoms would change during the measurement process.
8. On which date is the Lohri festival mainly celebrated?
A - January 12
B - January 13
C - January 14
D - January 15
Lohri is a major folk and agricultural festival of North India, celebrated on January 13, especially in Punjab, Haryana, and surrounding regions. This festival symbolizes the end of winter, the northward movement of the sun, and the good growth of Rabi crops.
ONE LINER
On which date is the Lohri festival primarily celebrated? – January 13
What is the name of the mobile cancer screening unit launched by the Gujarat government? – Asha Van
Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta has been appointed as the Chief Justice of which High Court? – Uttarakhand High Court
A book based on the life of which President was released by a sanitation worker at Andhra University? – President Droupadi Murmu
Which institution has developed a new technique for measuring cold atoms without disruption? – Raman Research Institute, Bengaluru
Which fintech company has been granted a Payment Aggregator–Cross Border (PA-CB) license by the RBI? – Skydo
What characteristic of Indian cinema has clearly emerged among the films eligible for the Oscars 2026? – Linguistic and creative diversity
What types of payments does the PA-CB license primarily regulate? – Cross-border digital payments
According to the TCWI Report 2025, which is the most favorable city for women in India? – Bengaluru
How many Indian films have qualified for the Best Picture category at the Oscars 2026? – Five films