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Daily Current Affairs 3rd and 4th January 2026 Daily GK Update
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National News
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana Completes Nine Years
- Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), a flagship maternity benefit scheme for pregnant women and lactating mothers, has completed nine years, having been launched on 1 January 2017.
- The centrally sponsored scheme aims to provide financial support to improve health and nutrition, especially for women from socially and economically disadvantaged sections.
- Under PMMVY, beneficiaries receive ₹5,000 for the first child and ₹6,000 for the second girl child, in instalments linked to pregnancy registration and childbirth.
- The first instalment of ₹3,000 is provided on pregnancy registration, while the second instalment of ₹2,000 is given after childbirth, along with additional incentives under the Janani Suraksha Yojana.
- As per the Ministry of Women and Child Development, over 4.5 crore women have been enrolled, with more than ₹19,000 crore disbursed, supporting nutrition, medical check-ups, and overall maternal health.
Goa to Get Third District Named ‘Kushavati’, Quepem to Be Headquarters
- Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced that the state’s proposed third district will be named ‘Kushavati’, after a river flowing through the region, and it will be developed as an aspirational district.
- The new district will comprise four talukas—Dharbandora, Quepem, Sanguem and Canacona (currently in South Goa), with Quepem town as its headquarters; interim administration will be managed by South Goa district authorities.
- Kushavati district will be eligible for ₹15 crore additional central funding under the aspirational district programme, with special infrastructure focus due to its 27% tribal population.
About Goa
- Formation – 30 May 1987
- Capital – Panaji
- Chief Minister – Pramod Sawant
- Governor – Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju
India’s First Vande Bharat Sleeper Train to Run Between Guwahati and Howrah
- India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train will run between Guwahati (Assam) and Howrah (West Bengal), connecting the Northeast with eastern India.
- The sleeper train has been designed by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) and manufactured by BEML Ltd, Bengaluru, marking a key collaboration in railway production.
- Under the ICF–BEML collaboration, 10 rakes will be built by March 2026 (the first two rakes are already ready), after which ICF will manufacture 50 more Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains.
PM Modi Chairs 50th PRAGATI Meeting, Reviews ₹40,000+ Crore Projects and Pushes Outcome-Oriented Governance
- PM Narendra Modi chaired the 50th PRAGATI meeting in New Delhi, reviewing five major infrastructure projects across Road, Railways, Power, Water Resources and Coal sectors, spanning five states with a cost of ₹40,000+ crore.
- The PRAGATI ecosystem has accelerated projects worth over ₹85 lakh crore in the last decade, resolving about 94% issues (2,958 out of 3,162) across 377 projects reviewed since 2014, significantly reducing delays and cost overruns.
President Droupadi Murmu Launches ‘Skill The Nation’ AI Challenge to Prepare India’s Workforce for an AI-Driven Future
- President Droupadi Murmu has launched the ‘Skill The Nation’ AI Challenge under the Skilling for AI Readiness (Soar) initiative of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and virtually inaugurated the IGNOU Regional Centre and Skill Centre at Rairangpur, Odisha.
- Artificial Intelligence is transforming economies, education and workplaces, and for a young country like India, it represents a major opportunity for inclusive social and economic change, not just a technological shift.
- India’s AI approach must be people-centric and inclusive, aiming to bridge social, economic and technological divides, particularly benefiting marginalised communities, while using AI to solve real-world problems.
MoSPI Unveils New Logo and Mascot ‘सांख्यिकी’ to Promote Data-Driven Governance and Public Trust
- The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) unveiled a new logo and mascot to modernise its institutional identity and enhance public outreach, reinforcing the role of official statistics in policy formulation and nation-building.
- The new logo is based on the theme “Data for Development”, featuring the Ashoka Chakra symbolising truth and transparency, the Rupee symbol highlighting the role of data in economic planning, and numerical elements with an upward growth bar indicating progress through reliable statistics.
- The logo’s colour palette—saffron, white, green and deep blue— reflects India’s national colours and signifies growth, sustainability, stability and knowledge, aligning with data-driven governance and transparency.
- MoSPI also launched its new mascot “सांख्यिकी”, a citizen-centric character designed to simplify complex statistical concepts, promote participation in NSO surveys, and build public trust in official statistics through consistent and relatable engagement.
Sagarmala Finance Corporation Begins Lending Operations, Sanctions ₹4,300 Crore to Boost India’s Maritime Sector
- Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL), India’s first maritime-focused NBFC, has formally commenced lending operations by sanctioning loans worth around ₹4,300 crore, marking a major step towards strengthening India’s maritime finance ecosystem.
- The loan approvals were cleared at SMFCL’s 51st Board meeting (30 December 2025), in line with its board-approved strategy and AGM roadmap, which set a borrowing limit of ₹25,000 crore and a lending target of ₹8,000 crore, with the sanctioned amount to be disbursed within the current financial year.
- Of the sanctioned loans, ₹4,000 crore has been allocated to a greenfield port project, reflecting the Centre’s push for port-led development, while Dredging Corporation of India (₹150 crore) and Goa Shipyard (₹110 crore) received funding to support dredging operations and indigenous shipbuilding.
- Inaugurated on June 26, 2025, by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, SMFCL has been designated as the nodal agency for the ₹25,000-crore Maritime Development Fund and aims to provide sector-specific financial solutions across ports, MSMEs, startups and shipbuilding, aligned with Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 and India’s blue economy goals.
18-Year-Old Kaamya Karthikeyan Becomes Youngest Indian to Ski to the South Pole
- Kaamya Karthikeyan, 18, became the youngest Indian and second-youngest woman in the world to ski to the South Pole, completing a 115 km expedition in Antarctica under extreme conditions, including -30°C temperatures, gale-force winds, and whiteouts.
- Daughter of Indian Navy officer S Karthikeyan and educator Lavanya Karthikeyan, Kaamya’s early exposure to discipline and outdoor pursuits shaped her into one of India’s most accomplished young adventurers.
- Before turning 18, Kaamya had completed the Seven Summits Challenge (Mount Everest, Aconcagua, Denali, Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, Vinson, Kosciuszko), becoming the youngest Indian and second-youngest woman to summit Everest from Nepal and achieving several other mountaineering milestones.
Banking & Financial News
UPI Transactions Surge 29% in December, Digital Payments Maintain Strong Growth Momentum
- UPI transactions rose 29% year-on-year in December, reaching 63 billion transactions, while the transaction value increased 20% to around ₹28 lakh crore, as per NPCI data.
- On a month-on-month basis, UPI showed steady growth, with the average daily transaction value rising to ₹90,217 crore in December from ₹87,721 crore in November 2025.
- The average daily UPI transaction count increased to 698 million in December, compared to 682 million in the previous month, reflecting higher digital payment adoption.
- IMPS transactions also recorded growth, with the transaction value reaching ₹6.62 lakh crore (up 10% YoY) and volume increasing to 380 million, alongside a rise in average daily transaction value.
Gross GST Collections Rise 6.1% in December
- Gross GST collections in December 2025 rose 6.1% year-on-year to about ₹75 lakh crore, with CGST and SGST recording growth, while IGST declined compared to the same month last year.
- From April to December 2025–26, gross GST collections increased by 8.6% to around ₹16.5 lakh crore, with all major components—CGST, SGST, and IGST—showing growth, reflecting stronger economic activity and improved compliance.
- GST revenues have shown a steady upward trend over the years, rising from ₹11.37 lakh crore in 2020–21 to ₹20.18 lakh crore in 2023–24, with 2024–25 marking the highest-ever gross collection of ₹22.08 lakh crore.
GST Collection of Previous Months
- August 2025 – 1.86 lakh crore
- September 2025 – 1.89 lakh crore
- October 2025 – 1.96 lakh crore
- November 2025 – 1.70 lakh crore
- December 2025 – 1.75 lakh crore
Ashika Group Gets SEBI Nod to Launch Ashika Mutual Fund
- Ashika Group has received in-principle approval from SEBI to act as sponsor and establish Ashika Mutual Fund, allowing it to set up an Asset Management Company (AMC) and prepare for the launch of mutual fund schemes, subject to final regulatory clearances.
- The approval marks a key milestone in Ashika Group’s vision to build a future-ready asset management ecosystem, focused on disciplined investing, strong governance and long-term wealth creation.
- Ashika’s entry into the mutual fund space is backed by its diverse experience in capital markets and financial services, including retail and institutional broking, investment banking, research advisory, alternative assets, private equity and global family office services.
- The proposed fund house plans to offer a well-curated range of investment schemes catering to varied investor needs, supported by robust research, prudent risk management and a governance-first approach, with a focus on sustainable long-term investor value.
Appointments
Tarun Garg Appointed as MD & CEO of Hyundai Motor India, Becomes First Indian to Lead HMIL
- Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) appointed Tarun Garg as Managing Director & CEO, making him the first Indian national to head the company in its 29-year history.
- With over three decades of automotive experience, Tarun Garg aims to lead HMIL’s next phase of growth, focusing on sustainability, technological leadership, customer delight, and alignment with Hyundai’s vision of “Progress for Humanity.”
About Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL)
- It is the Indian subsidiary of the South Korean automobile manufacturer Hyundai Motor Company.
- Founded- 6 May 1996
- Headquarters- Gurugram, Haryana
Guinea Coup Leader Mamady Doumbouya Wins Presidential Election
- Mamady Doumbouya, the leader of Guinea’s 2021 military coup, has won the presidential election.
- Doumbouya had taken power after overthrowing President Alpha Condé and later promised a transition towards civilian rule in Guinea.
- His election victory marks a formal consolidation of power, raising regional and international focus on democratic governance and political stability in West Africa.
About Guinea
- Capital- Conakry
- Currency- Franc
- Prime Minister- Bah Oury
Sports
Deepti Sharma Becomes Highest Wicket-Taker in Women’s T20Is
- Deepti Sharma became the highest wicket-taker in women’s T20Is, overtaking Australia’s Megan Schutt by claiming her 152nd wicket during the final T20I against Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram.
- She created history by becoming the first Indian cricketer (men or women) to take 150 T20I wickets and the first player globally to score 1,000 runs and take 150 wickets in T20Is.
- India defeated Sri Lanka by 15 runs to complete a 5–0 series whitewash, with Harmanpreet Kaur’s half-century and Deepti Sharma’s economical spell contributing to the win.
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