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Daily Current Affairs 20th January 2026 Daily GK Update
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National News
NHAI Extends ‘Clean Toilet Picture Challenge’ Initiative Till June 30
- The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has extended its citizen-centric ‘Clean Toilet Picture Challenge’ initiative till 30 June, to improve cleanliness and user experience at toilet facilities along National Highways.
- Under the extended campaign, clean toilet photos submitted by highway users will be evaluated daily, and eligible FASTag recharge rewards will be processed in a time-bound manner, with credits made within five days of validation to the linked Vehicle Registration Number (VRN).
- The initiative is open to all National Highway commuters, who can participate by uploading clear, geo-tagged and time-stamped photographs via the Rajmargyatra mobile application.
India to Host Bharat Electricity Summit 2026 in New Delhi
- India will host the Bharat Electricity Summit 2026, a global conference-cum-exhibition for the power and electricity sector, from March 19 to 22, 2026, at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi.
- The four-day summit will be held under the theme “Electrifying Growth. Empowering Sustainability. Connecting Globally”, highlighting India’s leadership in the global energy transition and fostering international cooperation in the electricity sector.
- The summit will feature 50+ conference sessions, 500+ exhibitors, 25,000+ visitors, and 1,000+ delegates with 300 speakers, including a Buyer–Seller Meet to promote global partnerships across the power and clean energy value chain.
University of New South Wales to Open Bengaluru Campus in August 2026
- University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia, to open its Bengaluru campus at Manyata Tech Park in August 2026, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in the presence of Ministers M.B. Patil and M.C. Sudhakar.
- The campus will initially offer undergraduate programmes in commerce, media, computer science, and data science, along with a postgraduate programme in cyber security.
International News
Ashwini Vaishnaw to Participate in G7 Critical Minerals Ministerial Meeting in Washington DC
- Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will participate in the G7 Critical Minerals Ministerial Meeting in Washington DC, USA, aimed at strengthening global supply chains of strategic and critical minerals
- Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted that secure supply chains for critical minerals are vital for achieving the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’, especially in high-technology and manufacturing sectors.
Banking & Financial News
Piramal Finance Secures $350 Million Multilateral Funding from IFC and ADB
- Piramal Finance Limited has secured $350 million in multilateral funding from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) – $200 million and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) – $150 million, marking its first borrowing from development finance institutions (DFIs).
- The funding is raised under the company’s Sustainable Finance Framework, carries a five-year tenor, and will be disbursed in tranches between January and March 2026.
- The capital will support affordable housing finance, MSME lending, and credit to women borrowers and entrepreneurs, particularly in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, with total multilateral funding likely to reach $500 million by FY end.
Appointments
President Droupadi Murmu Appoints Praveen Vashista as Vigilance Commissioner
- President Droupadi Murmu appointed Praveen Vashista as Vigilance Commissioner in the Central Vigilance Commission, as informed by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
- Praveen Vashista took oath before the Central Vigilance Commissioner, formally assuming charge as Vigilance Commissioner.
- He has over 30 years of experience in law enforcement and internal security and is a 1991-batch IPS officer (Bihar cadre), who served on central deputation in the Ministry of Home Affairs as Joint Secretary, Additional Secretary, and Special Secretary (Internal Security).
- The Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003, provides for the appointment of a Central Vigilance Commissioner and two Vigilance Commissioners. The tenure of the Vigilance Commissioner is of four years or till the incumbent attains the age of 65 years.
MS Dhoni Appointed Goodwill Ambassador for Pune Grand Tour 2026
- MS Dhoni has been appointed Goodwill Ambassador for the Pune Grand Tour 2026, a five-day international road cycling event to be held in Pune from January 19 to 23, 2026.
- The Pune Grand Tour 2026 will be India’s first UCI-recognised multi-stage (Category 2.2) Continental Road Cycling Race for men, covering a 437-km route across the Deccan Plateau and Sahyadri Range.
- The event will feature 171 riders from 29 professional teams representing 35 countries, with top international teams like Spain’s Burgos Burpellet BH, China’s Li Ning Star, and Malaysia’s Terengganu Cycling Team participating.
Yemen Appoints Shaya Mohsen Zindani as New Prime Minister
- Salem bin Breik resigned from the post of Prime Minister of Yemen, leading to a leadership change in the internationally recognised government.
- Shaya Mohsen Zindani, the sitting Foreign Minister, has been appointed as Yemen’s new Prime Minister.
Newly Appointed Prime Ministers & Presidents
- Prime Minister of the Czech Republic – Andrej Babis
- President of Ireland – Catherine Connolly
- First Female PM of Japan – Sanae Takaichi (from Liberal Democratic Party)
- Interim PM of Nepal – Sushila Karki (first woman Chief Justice of nation from 2016–2017)
Sports
Mitchell Starc and Laura Wolvaardt Named ICC Players of the Month for December 2025
- Mitchell Starc has been named ICC Men’s Player of the Month for December 2025, following his outstanding performance in Australia’s Ashes series victory at home, marking the first time he has won this award.
- South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt was named ICC Women’s Player of the Month after key contributions in series victories over Ireland in T20I and ODI formats, earning her second Player of the Month award after previously winning in October 2025.
ICC Men’s Player of the Month
- August 2025 – Mohammed Siraj (India)
- September 2025 – Abhishek Sharma (India)
- October 2025 – Senuran Muthusam (South Africa)
- November 2025 – Simon Harmer (South Africa)
ICC Women’s Player of the Month
- August 2025 – Orla Prendergast (Ireland)
- September 2025 – Smriti Mandhana (India)
- October 2025 – Laura Wolvaardt (South AFrica)
- November 2025 – Shafali Verma (India)
FIFA World Cup 2026 Trophy Unveiled in India by Mansukh Mandaviya and Gilberto D’Silva
- Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and former Brazilian footballer Gilberto D’Silva unveiled the FIFA World Cup 2026 trophy during its visit to India.
- The trophy stayed in Delhi for two days before traveling to Guwahati for one day, allowing fans in India to witness it up close.
- The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico and will feature 48 teams for the first time
Awards
Karnataka Bank Wins ‘Best Fintech & DPI Adoption’ at IBA Banking Technology Awards
- Karnataka Bank won the ‘Best Fintech & DPI Adoption’ award at the Indian Banks’ Association Banking Technology Awards, highlighting its progress in digital transformation and fintech integration.
- The award recognises banks that effectively leverage fintech solutions and India’s digital public infrastructure (DPI) to improve service delivery, scalability, security, and customer impact.
- Karnataka Bank also received runner-up for ‘Best Tech Talent’ and Special Mentions in ‘Best Technology Bank’, ‘Best Digital Financial Inclusion’, and ‘Best Digital Sales’, reflecting a comprehensive approach to digital banking.
Recent Awards
- Asia Best Employer Brand Award 2026 – Bombay Stock Exchange
- UN Secretary-General’s Award 2025 – Indian Army Officer Major Swathi Shantha Kumar (for her initiative Equal Partners, Lasting Peace)
- Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia’ Honour – Goa-Based Industrialist Shrinivas Dempo
- New South Wales’ Scientist of the Year – Indian-Origin Mathematician Nalini Joshi (First Mathematician to Receive the Honour)
- 2026 IEEE Medal of Honor – NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang (for Pioneering Accelerated Computing)
- Nritya Kalanidhi Award at 19th Music Academy Dance Festival – Bharatanatyam Exponent Urmila Satyanarayanan
Tunisian Filmmaker Zoubeir Jlassi Wins $1 Million AI Film Award for ‘Lily’ at Dubai Summit
- Tunisian filmmaker Zoubeir Jlassi won the world’s largest AI Film Award for his film Lily, receiving a $1 million prize from Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at the 1 Billion Followers Summit in Dubai.
- The award saw 3,500 film submissions and involved a jury of 40 experts reviewing over 400 hours of content, with shortlisted films undergoing AI verification via Google Gemini to ensure at least 70% generative AI usage.
- The film Lily tells the story of a lonely archivist confronting guilt and seeking redemption after a hit-and-run, highlighting the award’s goal of encouraging AI-driven storytelling that promotes humanitarian values and culturally meaningful content.
- It was the fourth edition of the summit. It was organised in partnership with Google Gemini.
American Scientist Toby Kiers Wins Tyler Prize for Revealing Hidden Fungal Networks
- American evolutionary biologist Toby Kiers has won the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement, often referred to as the “Nobel for the environment,” for her pioneering research on underground fungal networks.
- She led efforts to map the global distribution of mycorrhizal fungi through a worldwide Underground Atlas, bringing attention to hidden below-ground biodiversity.
- Her research provides crucial insights to guide conservation strategies, as these fungal networks play a key role in carbon storage and ecosystem health.
Important Days
Indian Army Celebrates 78th Army Day with Parade in Jaipur
- Indian Army celebrated its 78th Army Day on 15 January 2026 in Jaipur, Rajasthan, marking the fourth time the Army Day parade was held outside Delhi.
- For the first time, the parade was hosted outside an army cantonment, in the heart of Jaipur city, and organized by the South Western Command.
- Bhairav Battalion contingents participated for the first time, and the Nepal Army Band also took part in the celebrations.
16 January – National Startup Day
- National Startup Day is observed every year on 16 January to recognise and promote India’s growing startup ecosystem.
- The day highlights the role of startups and entrepreneurs in driving innovation, employment generation, and economic growth.
- It aligns with the objectives of the Startup India initiative, launched to support startups through policy reforms, funding, and ease of doing business.
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