4.5/5
Current Affairs 06th January 2026
Awards & Honours 2025
-
Miss World 2025: Opal SuchataChuangsri
-
59th Jnanpith Award 2025: Vinod Kumar Shukla
-
Abel Prize 2025: Masaki Kashiwara
-
Pritzker Architecture Prize 2025: Liu Jiakun
-
World Food Prize 2025: Mariangela Hungria
-
International Booker Prize 2025: Banu Mushtaq
-
Ramsar Award 2025: Jayashri Venkatesan
1. DRDO Develops Water Purification System ‘SWaDeS’
-
Features a lightweight manual variant and a high-capacity engine variant (can be deployed in 2–3 minutes for 20–25 soldiers).
-
The engine variant can desalinate seawater with Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) as high as 35,000 mg/L, reducing it to safe drinking levels of less than 500 mg/L.
-
Specifically designed for Tri-command services, it is highly effective for naval missions, coastal bases, and high-altitude saline bodies like Pangong Tso Lake in Ladakh.
Footnotes: DRDO's Chairman: Samir V. Kamat, HQ: New Delhi, Formed: 1958
2. Zohran Mamdani sworn in as 112th Mayor of New York
-
He is the 112th Mayor of New York City and holds the distinction of being the city's first Muslim mayor, the first mayor of South Asian (Indian) descent, and the first to be born in Africa (Kampala, Uganda).
-
At 34 years old, Mamdani is the youngest person to lead New York City in over a century (since 1917). He was sworn in using a Quran from the New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center in a ceremony held at the historic, decommissioned Old City Hall subway station.
-
A member of the Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), he previously served in the New York State Assembly (36th District). He is the son of celebrated filmmaker Mira Nair and renowned academic Mahmood Mamdani.
3. India Introduces New e-Business Visa for Chinese
-
This is a new sub-category called the e-Production Investment Business Visa. It was introduced on January 1, 2026, specifically to facilitate the entry of Chinese subject matter specialists, engineers, and technical professionals needed for industrial projects.
-
Unlike a standard business visa, the e-B-4 is designed for high-end technical tasks that were previously stuck in "Employment Visa" red tape. This includes installation and commissioning of equipment, quality checks, maintenance, plant design, and IT/ERP ramp-ups.
-
The application process is fully digitized. Indian companies must first register on the National Single Window System (NSWS) to generate a digital sponsorship letter. The Chinese professional then uses this unique ID to apply on the Indian e-Visa portal. It allows a stay of up to 6 months with a processing time of approximately 45–50 days.
4. India Commissions ICGS Samudra Pratap
-
It is the first vessel of its kind to be entirely designed and built in India (by Goa Shipyard Limited). With over 60% indigenous content, it represents a major milestone for the Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.
-
Displacing 4,170 tonnes and measuring 114.5 meters, it is currently the largest ship in the Indian Coast Guard fleet. It is equipped with advanced technology including Dynamic Positioning (DP-1), specialized oil-spill recovery systems (booms, skimmers, and side-sweeping arms), and an onboard pollution control laboratory.
-
The ship will be based at Kochi (under Coast Guard District Headquarters No. 4) to monitor the western seaboard. Notably, it is the first frontline ICG ship to have two women officers posted onboard as part of its permanent crew, highlighting a shift toward a more inclusive and gender-neutral operational environment.
5. Atiqa Mir Wins Historic Karting Title
-
At just 11 years old, Atiqa Mir became the first Indian to secure a top-five finish globally on debut in the Junior S125 category (ages 12–14) during the IAME UAE Karting Championship at the Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi. She moved up from the Mini category early, competing against older, more experienced drivers in faster, heavier karts.
-
She holds the distinction of being the first Indian and first Asian female to be selected for the Formula 1 Academy’s "Discover Your Drive" program. This global initiative is backed by Formula 1 to identify and develop young female talent to bridge the gap into professional single-seater racing.
-
Before her 2026 debut, she became the first female in the world to win a race in the Rotax Max Challenge International Trophy at the legendary Le Mans circuit in France (2024). Hailing from Srinagar, Kashmir, she is the daughter of Asif Nazir Mir, who was India’s first national karting champion.
6. Travis Head reaches 500 Ashes runs
-
Travis Head became the first player in the 143-year history of the Ashes to score over 500 runs in a single series while maintaining a strike rate above 75 (finishing with a strike rate of approximately 88). This "Trav-ball" approach surpassed the previous aggressive benchmark set by David Warner (SR 74.39) in 2013–14.
-
After being promoted to open the innings for the first time in his Test career during the series opener in Perth, Head scored three centuries (Perth, Adelaide, and Sydney). He joined an elite group of only four players to score three or more Ashes hundreds in a single series in the 21st century: Alastair Cook, Michael Vaughan, Matthew Hayden, and Steve Smith.
-
Head finished the 5-match series as the highest run-getter, crossing the 600-run mark during the final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). He is the first Australian since Steve Smith (2019) to breach the 500-run barrier in an Ashes series, significantly outperforming rivals like Joe Root.
7. Ministry Of Tribal Affairs Signs MoU With ONGC
-
The MoU, signed via the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC), focuses on modernizing 144 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) across 11 States and UTs. These schools are the government's flagship "Centres of Excellence" designed to provide quality middle and high-level education to ST students in remote areas.
-
ONGC has sanctioned ₹28 crore under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. This funding is specifically earmarked for strengthening digital learning infrastructure (smart classrooms), capacity building for teachers, and career counseling/entrepreneurship training for over 35,000 tribal students.
-
A critical component of this MoU is the focus on girl students. The project includes the installation of sanitary pad vending machines and incinerators across the selected schools to improve health, hygiene, and overall retention rates of female students in the EMRS system.
Footnotes: ONGC's Chairman: Arun Kumar Singh, HQ: New Delhi, Formed: 195
8. Former Billiards Champion Manoj Kothari passed away
-
Manoj Kothari rose to global prominence after winning the IBSF World Billiards Championship in 1990 in Bengaluru and later the World Doubles title in 1997, with his 1990 win helping popularize cue sports in India.
-
He was honored with the Dhyan Chand Award in 2005, received the Arjuna Award, and was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the BSFI in 2025 for his contributions to Indian sports.
-
Beyond his own achievements, Kothari served as Chief National Coach for over a decade and mentored his son Sourav Kothari, who became a World Billiards Champion in 2018 and 2025, making them a rare world-title-winning father–son duo.
Points To Remember
World Day of War Orphans: January 6th
-
Origin: Started by the French organization SOS Enfants enDétresse.
-
2026 Focus: Emphasis on mental health rehabilitation for children in active conflict zones.
1 like |
0 comment
