4.5/5
Current Affairs 22nd January 2026
F1 Grand Prix Winners 2025
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Australian Grand Prix – Lando Norris
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Chinese Grand Prix – Oscar Piastri
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Japanese Grand Prix – Max Verstappen
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Monaco Grand Prix – Lando Norris
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British Grand Prix – Lando Norris
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Italian Grand Prix – Max Verstappen
1. HDFC Bank appoints Kaizad Bharucha as Director
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Role and Tenure: He has been re-appointed as the Deputy Managing Director (DMD) and Whole-time Director for a fresh term of three years, effective from April 19, 2026.
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Experience: A career banker with over 39 years of experience, Bharucha has been with HDFC Bank since its inception in 1995 and has served on the Board since 2014.
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Responsibilities: He oversees critical business verticals including Wholesale Banking, Corporate Banking, and Risk Management, and played a pivotal role in the merger of HDFC Ltd. with HDFC Bank.
Footnotes: HDFC Bank's Chairman: Atanu Chakraborty, HQ: Mumbai, Estd: 1994
2. Qingdao Ranks 1st Worldwide in Numbeo Safety Index 2026
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Global Leadership: Qingdao secured the 1st rank worldwide with an exceptional safety score of 89.2, surpassing perennial leaders like Abu Dhabi and Doha to become the safest city in the 2026 index.
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Safety Perception: The ranking is based on crowdsourced data reflecting high public confidence in areas such as walking alone at night, low rates of property and violent crime, and overall urban security.
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Regional Context: Qingdao’s top spot highlights the strong performance of East Asian and Middle Eastern cities in the index, with cities like Taipei (6th) and Hong Kong (9th) also featuring in the global top ten.
3. India’s Infosys Ranks 3rd in Brand Finance Global 500 2026
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Global Standing: Infosys retained its position as the world's 3rd most valuable IT services brand, with its brand value reaching $16.4 billion. It sits just behind Accenture (1st) and Tata Consultancy Services (2nd).
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Rapid Growth: The company was recognized as the fastest-growing IT services brand globally over the last six years, boasting a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 15%.
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Brand Strength: Infosys jumped 16 places in the overall "Global 500" cross-category ranking to reach #80. It achieved an elite AAA brand strength rating with a score of 86.8/100, driven by its leadership in generative AI through its Topaz suite.
Footnotes: Infosys's Chairman: Nandan Nilekani, HQ: Bengaluru, Estd: 1981
4. Amit Kumar Mishra appointed as Ambassador to Georgia
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Background and Batch: Amit Kumar Mishra is a seasoned diplomat from the 2004 batch of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and was serving at the MEA Headquarters in New Delhi prior to this appointment.
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Diverse Experience: He brings over 22 years of experience, having previously served in key roles such as Consul General of India in Perth (Australia), São Paulo (Brazil), and Herat (Afghanistan), as well as serving in missions in Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
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Strategic Objective: His appointment is expected to bolster India’s bilateral relations with Georgia, with a particular focus on enhancing cooperation in education, trade, and people-to-people ties.
Footnotes: Georgia's PM:Irakli Kobakhidze, Capital: Tbilisi
5. Padma Awardee Saina Nehwal anounced Retirement
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Reason for Retirement: Saina cited chronic knee injuries and severe cartilage degeneration (arthritis) as the primary reasons. She revealed that her body could no longer handle the 8–9 hours of daily high-intensity training required for elite competition.
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A Trailblazing Career: She retires as a true pioneer, having been the first Indian badminton player to win an Olympic medal (Bronze at London 2012) and the first Indian woman to reach World No. 1 (in 2015).
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Honors and Legacy: A recipient of the Padma Bhushan (2016) and Padma Shri (2010), Saina finishes her career with 24 international titles. She stated that she chose to leave "on her own terms" after being largely out of action since her last match at the 2023 Singapore Open.
6. SAMPANN Pension Portal Integrated with UMANG
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Expanded Accessibility: The integration allows over 4 lakh pensioners from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to access essential services through a single unified app, eliminating the need to visit government offices or multiple websites.
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Key Digital Services: Pensioners can now use the UMANG app to instantly retrieve their Pension Payment Order (PPO) number and check their Life Certificate (LC) validity status using their bank account or registered mobile number.
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Comprehensive Digital Ecosystem: This move, alongside recent DigiLocker integration, enables paperless access to documents like Gratuity Sanction Orders and Form-16, supporting the "SAMPANN Jiwan, Nishchint Jiwan" (Prosperous Life, Carefree Life) mission.
7. Awanish Kumar Bharati Wins ICPA Treasury Excellence Award
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Recognition of Expertise: The award recognizes Bharati’s exceptional leadership and strategic vision in Treasury Management, particularly his role in strengthening the financial framework of REC Limited (a Maharatna CPSE).
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High-Profile Presentation: The honor was bestowed at Vigyan Bhawan by prominent figures, including Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi (Former MoS for External Affairs) and Dr. Harsh Vardhan (Former Union Minister), in the presence of top banking and policy leaders.
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Impact on REC Limited: Under his guidance, REC's treasury operations achieved best-in-class standards in liquidity management and risk mitigation, supporting the company's critical role in financing India’s power and infrastructure sectors.
8. Singapore Hindi Society Founder Shriniwas Rai passed away
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Champion of Language: Rai was a key founding member of the Hindi Society (Singapore) in 1988. He was instrumental in the successful campaign to have Hindi recognized as a non-Tamil Indian Language (NTIL), allowing it to be taught as a second language in Singapore's national schools.
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Political & Civic Leadership: He served as a Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) from 1997 to 1999 and played a vital role in the early years of the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA). He also chaired the Board of Trustees of the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial in Singapore.
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Distinguished Career & Honors: A lawyer for over 50 years, Rai was known for his "Gandhian" values of simplicity and service. In 2024, he was honored with the Hindi Ratna, the highest award from the Hindi Society, for his lifelong devotion to the language and culture.
WHAT HAPPENED TODAY?
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1905 – Bloody Sunday massacre took place in Russia, triggering the Russian Revolution of 1905.
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1924 – Ramsay MacDonald became the first Labour Prime Minister of Britain.
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1963 – Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer signed the Élysée Treaty, strengthening France–Germany relations.
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