TODAY NEWS HIGHLIGHT
➤ Virat Kohli becomes the second highest run-scorer in international cricket
➤ NHAI sets four Guinness World Records
➤ Various agreements signed between India and Germany during the visit of German Chancellor to India
➤ Uttar Pradesh Regional AI Impact Conference 2026 to be held in Lucknow
➤ Italy honours Goa industrialist Srinivas Dempo with prestigious civilian award
➤ Meghalaya gets its first woman Chief Justice
➤ PS3 stage of ISRO's PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 mission malfunctions after successful lift-off
➤ Makar Sankranti
1. Virat Kohli Becomes Second Highest Run-Scorer in International Cricket
Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli achieved another historic milestone in the One Day International match against New Zealand. With a magnificent innings of 93 runs, he became the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket. With this achievement, Kohli surpassed the record of 28,016 runs held by Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara.
2. NHAI Sets Four Guinness World Records
India's road infrastructure sector has achieved a significant global milestone as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) set four Guinness World Records during the construction of the NH-544G economic corridor in Andhra Pradesh. This achievement internationally validates India's advanced engineering capabilities, modern construction techniques, and rapid project execution.
3. Various Agreements Between India and Germany During the German Chancellor's Visit to India
High-level bilateral talks were held between India and Germany in Gandhinagar on January 12, 2026, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz. This meeting gave new impetus to the India-Germany strategic partnership and finalized several important agreements and declarations.
4. Uttar Pradesh Regional AI Impact Conference 2026 to be held in Lucknow
The Uttar Pradesh Regional AI Impact Conference 2026 will be held in Lucknow from January 12-13, 2026, under the joint auspices of IndiaAI, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and the Government of Uttar Pradesh. This conference is considered a significant initiative towards promoting responsible, inclusive, and citizen-centric artificial intelligence in India.
5. Italy Honors Goa Industrialist Srinivas Dempo with Distinguished Civilian Award
Italy has conferred the Cavaliere dell'Ordine della Stella d'Italia, one of the highest civilian honors, on Goa's prominent industrialist Srinivas Dempo. This honor recognizes his significant role in strengthening long-standing trade, culture, and community cooperation between India and Italy. Dempo has consistently supported Italian citizens living in India and actively contributed to promoting business contacts between the two countries.
6. Meghalaya Gets Its First Woman Chief Justice
In a historic moment for the judicial system of Northeast India, Justice Revati Mohite Dere has been sworn in as the first woman Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court. This appointment marks a new chapter in Meghalaya's judicial history. The swearing-in ceremony was held in the Durbar Hall of Lok Bhavan in Shillong, where she was administered the oath of office and secrecy.
7. Anomaly in ISRO's PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 Mission After Successful Lift-off of the PS3 Stage
On January 12, 2026, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the EOS-N1 satellite via the PSLV-C62 rocket from Sriharikota, a significant mission for India's space program. The launch followed a 22.5-hour countdown and was the 105th launch from Sriharikota and the 64th mission for the PSLV.
8. Makar Sankranti
Makar Sankranti is a major traditional festival of India, considered highly significant from both astronomical and cultural perspectives. This festival is usually celebrated on January 14th or 15th every year and marks the beginning of the Uttarayana period, when the sun enters the Capricorn constellation. This day is considered to signify a positive change in the sun's movement, which is considered auspicious in Indian tradition.
QUIZ WITH EXPLANATIONS
1. Which player did Virat Kohli surpass to claim the second spot?
A - Ricky Ponting
B - Mahela Jayawardene
C - Kumar Sangakkara
D - Brian Lara
In an ODI match against New Zealand, Virat Kohli played a brilliant innings of 93 runs, setting a new record for becoming the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket. During this innings, he surpassed Kumar Sangakkara's record of 28,016 runs, taking his total international runs to 28,068. India successfully chased down the target of 301 runs, winning the match by 4 wickets and taking a 1-0 lead in the series.
2. In which state is the NH-544G economic corridor being constructed?
A - Karnataka
B - Tamil Nadu
C - Andhra Pradesh
D - Telangana
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has achieved a historic milestone in India's road infrastructure sector by setting four Guinness World Records during the construction of the NH-544G economic corridor in Andhra Pradesh. These records showcase India's advanced engineering capabilities, modern construction techniques, and rapid project execution on a global scale.
3. What new facility was announced for Indian citizens?
A - Permanent Residency
B - Work Visa
C - Visa-free Transit
D - Scholarship Scheme
During the high-level bilateral talks between India and Germany held in Gandhinagar on January 12, 2026, an agreement was reached to strengthen cooperation in migration, skill development, security, clean energy, and cultural exchange. The meeting announced the safe international mobility of skilled workers through the Global Skills Partnership, a visa-free transit facility through Germany for Indian citizens, and the establishment of an India-Germany Centre of Excellence for green technology.
4. Where is the Uttar Pradesh Regional AI Impact Conference 2026 being held?
A - New Delhi
B - Lucknow
C - Kanpur
D - Varanasi
The Uttar Pradesh Regional AI Impact Conference 2026, held in Lucknow on January 12-13, 2026, is a key initiative to promote responsible and citizen-centric artificial intelligence in India.
5. Which country has bestowed a civilian honor upon Srinivas Dempo?
A - France
B - Germany
C - Italy
D - Spain
Goa-based industrialist Srinivas Dempo has been awarded Italy's prestigious civilian honor, the Cavaliere dell'Ordine della Stella d'Italia (Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy), for his contributions to strengthening India-Italy relations at the trade, cultural, and community levels.
6. Justice Revati Mohite Dere has been sworn in as the Chief Justice of which High Court?
A - Assam High Court
B - Bombay High Court
C - Meghalaya High Court
D - Tripura High Court
Justice Revati Mohite Dere has made history in the judicial system of Northeast India by being sworn in as the first woman Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court.
7. Which satellite was launched via PSLV-C62?
A - EOS-04
B - EOS-N1
C - RISAT-2B
D - Cartosat-3
On January 12, 2026, ISRO launched the EOS-N1 Earth observation satellite from Sriharikota using the PSLV-C62 rocket. This mission was technically significant, although it has not yet been declared fully successful due to an anomaly that occurred in the final moments of the third stage. EOS-N1 is intended for use in civilian and strategic applications such as surveillance, disaster management, and national security.
8. Makar Sankranti is related to which astronomical event?
A - Sun's entry into Cancer
B - Sun's entry into Capricorn
C - Lunar eclipse
D - Equinox
Makar Sankranti is a major festival in India, marking the Sun's entry into Capricorn and the beginning of Uttarayana (the northward movement of the Sun). This festival is associated with agriculture, culture, and astronomical events, and conveys messages of bathing, charity, worship, and social harmony.
ONE LINER
Who was the German Federal Chancellor who visited India in January 2026? - Friedrich Merz
Which legendary player did Virat Kohli surpass to achieve this record? - Kumar Sangakkara
Which festival marks the beginning of Uttarayan with the sun's entry into Capricorn? - Makar Sankranti
Which Indian batsman became the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket during the match against New Zealand? - Virat Kohli
Which Indian industrialist was awarded the ‘Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia’ honor by Italy? - Srinivas Dempo
Which organization created four Guinness World Records during the construction of the NH-544G economic corridor? - National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
What new facility for Indian citizens was announced during the India-Germany talks? - Visa-free transit facility
Under which national mission was the Uttar Pradesh Regional AI Impact Conference 2026 organized? - IndiaAI Mission
Which two states does the NH-544G economic corridor connect? - Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh
In which city was the Uttar Pradesh Regional AI Impact Conference 2026 held? - Lucknow