Daily Top Current Affairs of the day for 26th January 2026
1. Veer Gatha 5.0 awards celebrate student patriotism. The Veer Gatha 5.0 Awards Ceremony was held in New Delhi to honour students who showcased stories of India’s gallantry heroes. Ministers Sanjay Seth and Jayant Chaudhary felicitated winners. Under the Defence–Education Ministry initiative, 100 national winners from 91 schools across 18 countries were selected, promoting patriotism and awareness of military sacrifice.
2. NHA hosts Federated Intelligence Hackathon at IIT Kanpur
The National Health Authority organised a Federated Intelligence Hackathon at IIT Kanpur to advance Digital Public Goods for Health AI. Conducted as a pre-event to the India AI Impact Summit 2026, the six-day programme brought policymakers, researchers and technologists together to build scalable and responsible artificial intelligence solutions for healthcare delivery.
3. Padma Awards 2026 honour 131 achievers
The Padma Awards 2026, announced on Republic Day eve, recognised 131 individuals for contributions in arts, public service, education, literature and social work. The list highlights nationally renowned personalities and grassroots changemakers, with special focus on unsung heroes from marginalised communities, reflecting inclusive recognition of excellence.
4. Silambam exponent K. Pajanivel receives Padma Shri
Traditional martial arts expert K. Pajanivel of Puducherry was conferred the Padma Shri for preserving and promoting Silambam, an ancient Tamil martial art. He has popularised the discipline nationally and internationally, ensuring cultural heritage continuity through training, demonstrations and global outreach programmes.
5. Jeevan Raksha Padak Awards approved for 30 persons
President Droupadi Murmu approved the Jeevan Raksha Padak Series Awards 2025 for 30 individuals for meritorious acts of saving lives. The list includes 6 Sarvottam, 6 Uttam, and 18 Jeevan Raksha Padak recipients, with six posthumous awards, recognising extraordinary courage in humanitarian service.
6. European Commission and European Council Presidents arrive as Republic Day chief guests. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, received a ceremonial welcome in New Delhi. Visiting at Prime Minister Modi’s invitation, they served as Chief Guests at the 77th Republic Day Parade, reinforcing India–EU strategic partnership and diplomatic cooperation.
7. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi awarded Vishisht Seva Medal
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who gained global recognition during Operation Sindoor (2025) against Pakistan-based terrorists, was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in the Republic Day honours list. Her recognition highlights exemplary leadership and operational excellence in India’s counter-terrorism missions.
8. Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla conferred Ashoka Chakra
Indian Air Force Group Captain and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla received the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry award. He was honoured for conspicuous bravery during Axiom Mission-4 to the International Space Station, marking a historic achievement in India’s human spaceflight journey.
9. Enforcement Directorate chargesheets online gaming platform WinZO
The Enforcement Directorate filed a chargesheet against real-money gaming app WinZO, alleging ₹734 crore losses to players through manipulation using bots and AI-driven algorithms. The case highlights rising regulatory scrutiny over online gaming platforms and financial integrity in India’s digital economy.
10. First Abu Dhabi Bank and DP World to set up operations in GIFT City
Two UAE giants announced expansion into India’s GIFT City, Gujarat. First Abu Dhabi Bank will open a branch to boost trade and investment flows, while DP World will provide leasing services for its global shipping fleet, strengthening India’s international financial and maritime ecosystem.
11. Police issues traffic advisory for Republic Day Parade
The Delhi Police issued a detailed traffic advisory to ensure smooth conduct of the 77th Republic Day Parade at Kartavya Path. The advisory includes route diversions, restricted zones and public transport guidance, ensuring security and crowd management during national celebrations.
12. Emraan Hashmi’s ‘Taskaree’ tops global Netflix charts
The web series “Taskaree: The Smuggler Web”, starring Emraan Hashmi, became the world’s number one non-English Netflix series, making it the first Indian show to achieve this milestone. Actor Arun Govil later commented on industry inclusivity, dismissing notions of communal bias in Bollywood stardom.
13. US immigration shooting sparks protests
In the United States, immigration agents shot Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a US citizen nurse in Minneapolis, triggering protests against President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. The incident marks the second such case this month, drawing condemnation from local leaders and civil rights groups.
14. Kerala Literature Festival hosts Romila Thapar
At the 9th Kerala Literature Festival, historian Romila Thapar criticised removal of entire dynasties like the Mughals from textbooks, calling it “nonsense.” Her remarks reignited debates on historical representation and academic integrity in India’s education discourse.
✅ Exam-Ready Highlights
• Veer Gatha 5.0 → 100 winners → Defence & Education initiative
• NHA Hackathon → Health AI → IIT Kanpur
• Padma Awards 2026 → 131 awardees
• Padma Shri → K. Pajanivel → Silambam
• Jeevan Raksha Padak → 30 awardees
• EU leaders → Chief Guests at Republic Day
• Ashoka Chakra → Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla
• Vishisht Seva Medal → Colonel Sofiya Qureshi
• ED chargesheets → WinZO gaming app
• UAE firms → FAB & DP World → GIFT City