4.5/5
Current Affairs 18th January 2026
Important World Tribes
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Eskimo– Canada, Greenland, Alaska
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Bushman- Kalahari Desert
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Pygmy- Congo Basin
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Masai- Kenya & Tanzania
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Bedouin- Arabian Desert
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Sami - Scandinavia
1. Aaryan Varshney becomes India's 92nd Grandmaster
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Decisive Victory in Armenia: Aaryan clinched his third and final Grandmaster norm by winning the Andranik Margaryan Memorial tournament in Armenia with a round to spare. He dominated the field, finishing with 6.5/8 points—a full two points ahead of his closest competitors.
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Self-Taught Achievement: Unlike most modern GMs who rely on elite academies and foreign coaches, Aaryan was trained entirely at home by his father, Gaurav Varshney (a physics teacher). He famously reached this level without a professional coach or even reading traditional chess books, relying instead on software analysis and self-study.
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Rapid Rise for Delhi Chess: He is the 8th Grandmaster from Delhi, joining the ranks of players like Parimarjan Negi and Abhijeet Gupta. His rise was remarkably swift; he earned his International Master (IM) title in 2024 and secured all three GM norms within just six months across Greece, Bangladesh, and Armenia.
2. Shaya Mohsen appointed as PM of Yemen
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Succession from Foreign Minister: Before this appointment, al-Zindani served as Yemen's Foreign Minister. He was chosen by the PLC to succeed Salem Bin Buraik, who resigned from the post and has since been moved to an advisory role for financial and economic affairs.
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Mandate for Reform: Al-Zindani has been tasked with forming a new cabinet aimed at strengthening state institutions and advancing political reforms. This move is seen as an effort to stabilize the internationally recognized government amidst Yemen's ongoing economic and humanitarian crises.
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Political Context: His appointment occurred during a period of significant reshuffling within the PLC, following the dismissal of members affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council (STC). It signals a move by the Saudi-backed council to consolidate authority after recent internal power struggles and armed clashes in southern provinces like Hadramout.
Footnotes: Yemen's Previous PM: Shaea al-Zindani, Capital: Sanaa, Currency: Yemeni Rial
3. India’s Forex Reserves Rise to $687.19 Billion
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Recovery from Sharp Decline: This rise of $392 million marks a stabilization after a massive drop of $9.81 billion in the previous week. This recovery helps India maintain its position as one of the top global holders of foreign reserves.
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Gold as the Primary Driver: The increase was almost entirely fueled by a surge in the value of gold reserves, which rose by $1.57 billion to reach a total of $112.83 billion. This offset a decline in Foreign Currency Assets (FCA), which fell by $1.12 billion during the same period.
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Strong Import Cover: Despite weekly fluctuations, the RBI noted that the current reserve levels are sufficient to cover more than 11 months of merchandise imports, providing a solid cushion against global economic volatility and ensuring the stability of the Indian Rupee.
4. Paripoorna Mediclaim Ayush Bima launched
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Exclusive & Optional Coverage: Designed to supplement existing CGHS benefits, this is an optional indemnity-based health insurance plan available to serving and retired central government employees. It offers two sum-insured options: ₹10 lakh or ₹20 lakh, covering up to six family members under a single policy.
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Focus on AYUSH & Modern Treatments: A standout feature is the 100% coverage for in-patient AYUSH treatments (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy). It also covers modern medical treatments up to 25% of the sum insured, which can be extended to 100% through an optional rider.
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Affordability & Cashless Access: To ensure affordability, the policy is exempt from GST and offers premium discounts of up to 42% via co-payment models (70:30 or 50:50). It provides cashless facilities across a wide network of hospitals, managed by the state-run New India Assurance Company.
5. ITBP win LG Cup Ice Hockey Championship
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Double Title Win: ITBP achieved a clean sweep by winning both the Men’s and Women’s championships. The men's team defeated the Ladakh Scouts (Indian Army) with a 2–1 score in a thrilling final, while the women's team secured a dominant 7–3 victory against the Ladakh Women’s Ice Hockey Foundation (LWIHF).
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Extra-Time Thriller: The men's final was exceptionally competitive, remaining deadlocked until the final minutes. ITBP clinched the title by scoring a decisive goal during five minutes of extra time, avenging their narrow losses to the Army in previous seasons.
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Platform for Winter Sports: The event, attended by Ladakh’s Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta, served as a precursor to the 6thKhelo India Winter Games (starting January 20 in Leh). The championship highlighted Ladakh's growing infrastructure, including the newly constructed ₹51 crore indoor ice hockey rink designed for year-round training.
Footnotes: ITBP's DG: Shatrujeet Singh, HQ: New Delhi, Estd:1962
6. GAIL built 694-km gas pipeline
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Engineering Breakthrough in Narrow Corridor: In a first for India, 96% of the 694-km pipeline was built within a restricted 3-metre-wide utility strip along Maharashtra’s Samruddhi Mahamarg expressway. Typically, such high-capacity pipelines require 20–30 metres of workspace, but GAIL successfully installed the 24-inch pipe within the width of an average footpath.
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Overcoming the Western Ghats: The project navigated extreme terrain, particularly near Fugale hill in the Western Ghats, where engineers faced elevation shifts of over 200 metres. They utilized a rare hybrid construction technique—combining horizontal directional drilling (HDD) with a thruster system—to pull pipeline segments through rocky slopes and dense forest.
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Blueprint for PM GatiShakti: The pipeline is being hailed as a model for the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, proving that transport and energy infrastructure can be integrated to minimize land acquisition and social friction.
Footnotes: GAIL's Chairman & MD: Sandeep Kumar Gupta, HQ: New Delhi, Estd:1984
7. Meenaxi Rawat appointed as CVO of MRPL
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Additional Charge Assignment: Ms. Rawat, a 1993-batch Indian Economic Service (IES) officer, has been given the additional charge of Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) at MRPL. This appointment is for a period of six months (effective retrospectively from December 12, 2025) or until a regular incumbent is appointed.
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Dual Responsibility in Oil Sector: She is currently serving as the CVO of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) in Mumbai. Notably, she was also recently assigned additional charge as CVO of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL), making her a central figure in overseeing transparency and integrity across major state-run oil refiners.
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High-Ranking Status: Her appointment comes shortly after her promotion to the rank and pay of Additional Secretary to the Government of India. In her role at MRPL, she will be responsible for investigating vigilance cases and implementing preventive measures under the oversight of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).
Footnotes: MRPL's Chairman: Arun Kumar Singh, HQ: Mangalore, Estd:1988
8. Biologist Toby Kiers Wins Tyler Prize
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Pioneering Fungal Research: Dr. Kiers, a professor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, was recognized for her groundbreaking work on mycorrhizal fungi. Her research revealed that these underground networks act as a "biological marketplace," where fungi and plants "trade" nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen for carbon-rich sugars.
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Massive Climate Impact: Her studies demonstrated that these hidden fungal networks play a critical role in climate regulation, sequestering approximately 13 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. This amount is equivalent to roughly one-third of the world’s total fossil fuel emissions, positioning fungi as essential allies in the fight against global warming.
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Global Conservation Advocacy: Alongside her award, Kiers leveraged the platform to launch the "Underground Advocates" program through her NGO, the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN).
KEY POINTS
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Constitution enforced: 26 Jan 1950
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Fundamental Rights: Part III (Articles 12–35)
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Fundamental Duties: Part IVA (Article 51A)
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Emergency provisions: Part XVIII
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