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Current Affairs 04th January 2026
1. Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor appointed IAF Vice Chief
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He received the SarvottamYudh Seva Medal in 2025 for leading the IAF’s strategic strikes on Pakistani air bases as head of the South Western Air Command during Operation Sindoor.
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A veteran fighter pilot commissioned in 1986, he has logged over 3,400 flying hours on aircraft including the MiG-21 and MiG-29. He is a Qualified Flying Instructor and Fighter Combat Leader with nearly 40 years of service.
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He succeeds Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, who retired (superannuated) after more than four decades of service.
Footnotes: IAF's Commander-in-Chief: President Droupadi Murmu, HQ: New Delhi, Founded: 1932
2. Bulgaria Adopts Euro as its Currency
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The Bulgarian lev is being phased out at a fixed conversion rate of 1.95583 leva to 1 euro. During a one-month "dual circulation" period in January 2026, both currencies remain legal tender for cash transactions, though change is primarily given in euros to remove the old currency from circulation.
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By joining the Eurozone, Bulgaria gains access to ECB liquidity, a seat on its Governing Council, and aims to reduce business costs, improve price transparency, and strengthen financial resilience.
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To avoid price hikes during the currency switch, Bulgaria requires dual price displays (lev and euro) until August 8, 2026, while authorities monitor fair conversion.
Footnotes: Bulgaria's President: Rumen Radev, Capital: Sofia, Officiallanguage: Bulgarian
3. J.P.Nadda Launches Integrated e-Bill System
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The system digitizes ₹2 lakh crore in annual fertilizer subsidies, replacing manual paper processes with a fully digital workflow and removing the need for physical bills.
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Integrating iFMS with PFMS creates a secure digital audit trail, ensures FIFO bill processing, and speeds up payments to fertilizer companies.
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The system gives officials real-time spending oversight and lets companies track claims online, reducing fraud, manual follow-ups, and improving financial governance.
4. Ameerah Arshad Wins Women’s 10m Air Rifle
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Arshad won the title in a dramatic finish, edging out Railways' Rajshree Anilkumar Sancheti by the narrowest possible margin of 0.1 point. She finished with a total score of 251.9, while Sancheti settled for silver with 251.8.
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In addition to her senior gold, she also secured the silver medal in the Youth Women’s 10m Air Rifle final on the same day, finishing just behind Karnataka’s Tilottama Sen.
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Arshad played a pivotal role in leading the Haryana team (alongside teammates Ramita and Shruti) to a gold medal in the senior team category with an aggregate score of 1892.7.
5. Venus Williams to become oldest female player
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At 45 years old, Williams will become the oldest woman to ever compete in the Australian Open singles main draw. She will surpass the previous record held by Japan’s Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she played in the 2015 tournament.
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This marks Venus's 22nd appearance at Melbourne Park and her first since 2021. It comes exactly 28 years after her tournament debut in 1998, where she famously defeated her sister Serena in the second round.
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To prepare for the Grand Slam (starting January 18), Williams has also accepted wildcards for the Auckland Classic and the Hobart International, marking her first competitive appearances outside the United States since 2023.
6. C Kalaichelvan appointed as DIG in CBI
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C. Kalaichelvan is a 2012-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre. Prior to this promotion, he was already serving within the agency as a Superintendent of Police (SP).
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His appointment as DIG is effective from the date he assumes charge and will continue for a tenure up to December 31, 2028, or until further orders from the government.
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His promotion was part of a larger administrative move where seven IPS officers from the 2012 batch were elevated to the rank of DIG within the CBI to strengthen the agency's senior investigative leadership.
Footnotes: CBI's Director: Shri Praveen Sood, HQ: New Delhi, Formed: 1963
7. Olympic Champion Andre De Grasse Named International Event Ambassador
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De Grasse is one of Canada's most decorated athletes, having won seven Olympic medals, including a gold in the 200m at Tokyo 2020 and a relay gold at Paris 2024. His presence is intended to elevate the global stature of the Mumbai Marathon, which is a World Athletics Gold Label Race.
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De Grasse was chosen for his journey from being discovered in basketball shoes to Olympic gold, symbolizing marathon spirit, and will inspire participants with discipline and mental strength.
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Beyond racing, he will promote his foundation’s work, engaging the running community and supporting sports-based youth empowerment and education initiatives.
8. World Braille Day: 04th January
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The date marks Louis Braille’s 1809 birth, who at 15 transformed a military "night writing" code into the six-dot system, revolutionizing literacy for the visually impaired.
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Recognized by the UN since 2019, the day stresses that Braille is vital for human rights, and in 2026, groups highlight that despite digital tools, Braille is essential for literacy and professional independence.
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The 2026 observance focuses on closing the "accessibility gap" by making digital devices Braille-compatible and adding standardized Braille to public infrastructure like ATMs, elevators, and medicines.
KEY POINTS:-
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DRDO Foundation Day: 03rd January | Theme – Indigenous technologies for a safer, stronger India.
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1957 – First electric watch introduced by Hamilton Watch Company.
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1959 – Alaska became the 49th U.S. state.
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1977 – Apple Inc. was incorporated by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.
2004 – NASA’s Mars Rover “Spirit” landed on Mars.
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