TODAY NEWS HIGHLIGHT
➤ Budget 2026: What became cheaper and what became costlier
➤ Who is Elena Rybakina, the Australian Open 2026 women's singles champion?
➤ Has a Spanish scientist really found a cure for pancreatic cancer?
➤ Who are the winners of Tamil Nadu State Film Awards 2016–2022
➤ How Indian Railways achieved its biggest Kavach 4.0 safety milestone in a single day
➤ How the Chief Minister's Gramotthan Yojana will transform Gujarat's villages
➤ Why did the sky of Ladakh turn blood red?
➤ Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Day
1. Budget 2026: What Became Cheaper and What Became More Expensive
The Budget 2026–27, presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, is the 15th budget of the Narendra Modi-led government and the second full budget of the NDA's third term. With this budget, Nirmala Sitharaman became the first woman Finance Minister in the country to present the budget for the ninth consecutive time, a significant achievement in Indian political history.
2. Who is Elena Rybakina, the Australian Open 2026 Women's Singles Champion?
The Australian Open is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments in the world, held on hard courts at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, and is considered highly prestigious in the international tennis calendar. In the 2026 Australian Open women's singles final, Elena Rybakina defeated world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling three-set match, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, to claim the title.
3. Has a Spanish scientist really found a cure for pancreatic cancer?
A team of researchers in Spain has achieved remarkable success in completely eliminating the most aggressive form of pancreatic cancer in studies conducted on mice in the laboratory. This research, led by senior cancer scientist Mariano Barbacid, is being hailed as one of the most promising advances in pancreatic cancer research in decades.
4. Who are the winners of the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards 2016–2022?
After a gap of several years, the Tamil Nadu government has announced the State Film Awards for the years 2016 to 2022, which is considered a significant step towards promoting cultural administration and regional cinema. This period has been particularly notable for Tamil cinema's focus on social consciousness, realism, and artistic depth.
5. How Indian Railways Achieved the Biggest Milestone for Kavach 4.0 Safety in a Single Day
Indian Railways has achieved a historic milestone in the field of rail safety by successfully commissioning Kavach version 4.0 on 472.3 route kilometers in a single day, setting the largest single-day commissioning record to date. This achievement is considered a significant step towards enhancing passenger safety, reducing accident risks, and strengthening technology-based rail operations.
6. How the Chief Minister's Gramotthan Yojana will Transform Villages in Gujarat
The Gujarat government has launched the Chief Minister's Gramotthan Yojana (Village Development Scheme) with the objective of strengthening rural governance. The scheme was launched under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. The main objective of this scheme is to revitalize infrastructure in villages and make administrative and developmental services accessible at the local level, so that villagers do not have to depend on cities for their needs.
7. Why Did the Sky Over Ladakh Turn Blood Red?
In mid-January 2026, an unusual blood-red glow appeared in the night sky over the Hanle region of Ladakh, attracting the attention of scientists and the general public. Hanle is known for its exceptionally clear and dark skies, making the sight even more striking. It was dubbed the "Northern Lights" in India on social media, but scientists clarified that it was not a traditional aurora borealis.
8. Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Day
Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Day aims to raise awareness in society about rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic and debilitating disease. The day emphasizes timely diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and improving the quality of life for patients. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks its own joints, leading to inflammation, pain, stiffness, and over time, permanent damage.
QUIZ – WITH EXPLANATION (EXACT)
1. The 2026–27 budget is the 15th budget of which government?
A - UPA Government
B - NDA Government
C - United Front Government
D - National Front Government
The 2026–27 budget, presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, is the 15th budget of the Narendra Modi-led government and the second full budget of the NDA's third term. This budget emphasizes strengthening the pharmaceutical sector with an investment of ₹10,000 crore under the 'Biopharma Shakti' scheme, making cancer and diabetes medicines cheaper, reducing the prices of smartphones, EV batteries, and electronic products under Make in India, and making sports equipment more affordable.
2. On what type of court is the Australian Open played?
A - Clay Court
B - Grass Court
C - Hard Court
D - Synthetic Court
The Australian Open is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments in the world, held on hard courts at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. In the Australian Open 2026 women's singles final, Elena Rybakina defeated world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to win the title.
3. Which scientist led the pancreatic cancer study?
A - Paul Nurse
B - Mariano Barbacid
C - James Watson
D - Francis Crick
Spanish scientists have successfully eradicated the most aggressive form of pancreatic cancer in experiments conducted on mice. The study, led by senior cancer scientist Mariano Barbacid, used a triple-drug therapy to simultaneously block multiple life-sustaining pathways in cancer cells.
4. When will the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards ceremony be held?
A - January 26, 2026
B - August 15, 2026
C - February 13, 2026
D - October 2, 2026
After a gap of several years, the Tamil Nadu government has announced the State Film Awards for the years 2016 to 2022, a significant step towards encouraging regional cinema and cultural administration. Tamil films during this period prominently featured themes such as social consciousness, realism, women's empowerment, social justice, and constitutional values.
5. Kavach Version 4.0 is related to which sector?
A - Road Transport
B - Air Transport
C - Rail Safety
D - Maritime Transport
Indian Railways has created a historic record in the field of rail safety by commissioning Kavach Version 4.0 on 472.3 route kilometers in a single day. This indigenous Automatic Train Protection system helps enhance passenger safety, prevent incidents like signal violations and overspeeding, and reduce the risk of accidents.
6. The Chief Minister Gramotthan Yojana is related to which state?
A - Rajasthan
B - Madhya Pradesh
C - Gujarat
D - Maharashtra
The Gujarat government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, has launched the Chief Minister Gramotthan Yojana, aimed at strengthening infrastructure in villages and making administrative services accessible at the local level. Under this scheme, Gram Panchayats are being empowered as centers of governance and development, reducing the dependence of villagers on cities.
7. In which region of India was a blood-red aurora observed in January 2026?
A - Leh
B - Dras
C - Hanle
D - Kargil
The blood-red aurora observed over the Hanle region of Ladakh in January 2026 was a rare astronomical event, initially mistaken for the Northern Lights, but later identified by scientists as the effect of an extremely powerful solar storm. This event was caused by an X-class solar flare and coronal mass ejection from the Sun, which severely impacted Earth's magnetic field.
8. What type of disease is rheumatoid arthritis?
A - Infectious disease
B - Autoimmune disease
C - Genetic disease
D - Viral disease
Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Day aims to raise awareness about rheumatoid arthritis, a serious and chronic disease. It is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks the joints, causing pain, swelling, and permanent damage over time. Timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment can significantly reduce the risk of disability.
ONE LINER (EXACT)
In which prestigious journal was this research related to pancreatic cancer published? – Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)
On what type of court is the Australian Open played? – Hard court
Which player won the Australian Open 2026 women's singles title? – Elena Rybakina
When and where will the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for 2016–2022 be held? – February 13, 2026, Kalaivanar Arangam, Chennai
What type of disease is rheumatoid arthritis? – Autoimmune and non-communicable disease
Which government's 15th budget is the 2026–27 budget? – The NDA government led by Narendra Modi
Kavach 4.0 is an indigenous technology related to which sector? – Indian Railways' train safety (Automatic Train Protection)
What was the main reason for the red glow seen in the Hanle region of Ladakh in January 2026? – Powerful solar storm (X-class solar flare and CME)
How much amount has been allocated for the ‘Biopharma Shakti’ scheme announced in the 2026–27 budget? – ₹10,000 crore (for five years)
Scientists from which country conducted the research on triple-drug therapy for pancreatic cancer? – Spain