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Current Affairs 16th January 2026
Major Commissions of India Estd.
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Election Commission of India: 1950
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UPSC: 1950
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Planning Commission: 1950
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UGC: 1953
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Central Vigilance Commission: 1964
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National Human Rights Commission: 1993
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NITI Aayog: 2015
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National Commission for SC: 1990
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National Commission for ST: 2003
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National Commission for BC: 1993
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National Commission for Women: 1992
1. PFRDA Constitutes High-Level Committee
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Objective and Mandate: The committee is tasked with formulating a framework for assured payouts under the National Pension System (NPS). The goal is to enhance retirement income security by moving beyond traditional annuities and creating regulations for "market-based guarantees" that are legally enforceable.
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Leadership and Composition: The panel is chaired by Dr. M. S. Sahoo, the former Chairperson of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI). It includes a diverse group of experts from the fields of finance, law, actuarial science, insurance, and academia.
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Operational Scope: Beyond payout regulations, the committee will define critical operational standards such as lock-in periods, withdrawal limits, fee structures, and tax implications. This initiative aligns with the "Viksit Bharat 2047" vision to ensure financial independence for all citizens in their retirement years.
Footnotes: Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority's Chairman: Sivasubramanian Ramann, HQ: New Delhi, Estd: 2003
2. Mizoram declared as ‘Ginger Capital of India’
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Production Excellence & Scale: The state produced over 60,000 tonnes of ginger in the 2024–25 season, and in 2025 alone, the state government procured 3.38 crore kg. This recognition is a result of Mizoram’s emergence as a top producer of high-quality, organic ginger that is increasingly sought after in domestic and global markets.
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Flagship ‘Bana Kaih’ Scheme: Under this "Handholding Scheme," the state government provides a Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹50 per kg for ginger. This policy ensures financial security for farmers and incentivizes the move toward systematic, large-scale cultivation.
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Infrastructure &Processing: To support this status, a new Ginger Processing Unit was inaugurated at the Sairang Horticulture Centre on January 13, 2026. The facility utilizes advanced solar and electric drying technologies (like the indigenous Rapchung and Tapchhak methods) to add value and prepare the produce for export.
Footnotes: Mizoram's Governor: V. K. Singh, CM: Lalduhoma
3. Galgotias University Inaugurates IIT Mandi Catalyst Satellite Centre
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Incubation and Innovation Hub: The center is designed as a strategic hub to support early-stage and deep-tech startups. It aims to bridge the gap between academic research and market-ready solutions by providing student entrepreneurs with structured mentorship, investor access, and national-level exposure.
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Key Leadership & Inauguration: The facility was inaugurated by Prof. Laxmidhar Behera, Director of IIT Mandi (Chief Guest), and Prof. Goutam Sutradhar, Director of NIT Jamshedpur (Guest of Honour). The center leverages the established incubation framework of IIT Mandi Catalyst to enhance the startup ecosystem in the Delhi-NCR region.
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Strategic MoUs: Alongside the inauguration, Galgotias University signed two major Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with NIT Jamshedpur and Jharkhand University of Technology, Ranchi. These agreements facilitate joint research, faculty/student exchange programs, and shared access to advanced laboratories.
Footnotes: Galgotias University Chairman: Suneel Galgotia, HQ: Greater Noida,Estd: 2011
4. Karnataka Bank Bags IBA Award
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Top Honor in Fintech Adoption: The bank emerged as the Winner in the 'Best Fintech & DPI (Digital Public Infrastructure) Adoption' category. This award recognizes the bank's successful integration of national digital platforms like UPI, Aadhaar, and DigiLocker to enhance customer service delivery.
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Talent and Strategy Recognition: Karnataka Bank was adjudged Runner-up in the 'Best Tech Talent' category, highlighting its commitment to nurturing skilled IT professionals. It also received Special Mentions in three other critical areas: Best Technology Bank, Best Digital Financial Inclusion, and Best Digital Sales.
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Leadership Vision: Managing Director & CEO Raghavendra S. Bhat attributed the success to the synergy between the bank's IT and business teams. He emphasized that these awards validate the bank's "customer-first" digital transformation strategy and its focus on market-aligned, tech-driven solutions.
Footnotes: Karnataka's Governor: Thawar Chand Gehlot, CM: Siddaramaiah, Capital: Bengaluru
5. Mitchell Starc Named Player of the Month for December 2025
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Dominance in the Ashes: Starc was recognized for his instrumental role in Australia’s 4-1 Ashes series victory against England. During the month of December alone, he claimed 16 wickets across three Test matches (Brisbane, Adelaide, and Melbourne), ending the full series as the leading wicket-taker with 31 scalps.
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All-Round Contribution: His impact wasn't limited to bowling; he proved to be a vital lower-order batter, scoring 139 runs in December. This included two crucial half-centuries in Brisbane and Adelaide that helped Australia secure an unassailable 3-0 lead and retain the Ashes.
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Historical Milestone: This is the first time Mitchell Starc has received this award. He is also the first Australian to win the Men’s Player of the Month since Pat Cummins achieved the feat exactly two years prior, in December 2023.
6. Madhya Pradesh Signs MoU with Digital India BHASHINI
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Multilingual Governance: The MoU formalizes the integration of BHASHINI’s language technologies and AI-powered translation APIs into the state’s digital platforms. This will allow citizens to access public services in multiple Indian languages, effectively breaking linguistic barriers to governance.
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Voice-First Solutions: A major focus of the collaboration is the deployment of voice-first AI solutions. This is specifically designed to improve "last-mile" service delivery, making digital government tools more accessible to elderly citizens and those with lower literacy levels who prefer speaking in their native dialect.
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State AI Policy Vision: During the event, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav announced that Madhya Pradesh will soon introduce a State AI Policy in mission mode. The partnership with BHASHINI is a foundational step in this roadmap, aiming to make Madhya Pradesh a leader in "AI for People, Planet, and Progress."
Footnotes: MP's Governor: Mangubhai C. Patel, CM:Mohan Yadav, Capital: Bhopal
7. Centre appoints Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor as ITBP Chief
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Profile and Tenure: Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor is a 1990-batch IPS officer of the Haryana cadre. He has been appointed to the post until October 31, 2026, which is the date of his superannuation (retirement), or until further orders.
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Succession and Restructuring: He succeeds Praveen Kumar, who has been moved to head the Border Security Force (BSF). This shift is part of a broader leadership reorganization within India’s Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to ensure operational continuity across sensitive borders.
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Strategic Role: As the chief of the ITBP, Kapoor will lead the primary force responsible for guarding India's 3,488 km long frontier with China, characterized by high-altitude, inhospitable terrain and evolving security challenges along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Footnotes: ITBP's Previous DG: Praveen Kumar,HQ: New Delhi, Formed: 1962
8. MS Dhoni appointed Goodwill Ambassador for Pune Grand Tour 2026
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Pioneering Cycling Event: The Pune Grand Tour is India’s first-ever international multi-stage professional road cycling race. It is a UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) 2.2 category event, marking India's formal entry into the global professional cycling calendar.
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Race Details and Scale: Scheduled from January 19 to 23, 2026, the five-day race covers a grueling 437-km route across the Deccan Plateau and the Sahyadri Range. It features 171 riders from 29 teams representing 35 countries, including top-ranked teams from Spain, China, and Malaysia.
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Dhoni’s Strategic Role: As Goodwill Ambassador, Dhoni—known for his focus on fitness and endurance—aims to amplify the event's visibility and inspire young athletes to take up cycling. The initiative also seeks to re-establish Pune’s legacy as the "Cycle Capital of India" and promote sports tourism in the region.
KEY POINTS
National Startup Day on 16 January 2026
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Origin:Launched by PM Narendra Modi in 2022 under Startup India.
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Significance:Showcases startups’ contribution to growth, self-reliance, and technology.
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