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Daily Current Affairs 8th January 2026 Daily GK Update
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National News
Karnataka Records First Sighting of Ultra-Rare ‘Sandalwood Leopard’ in Vijayanagara
- Karnataka recorded its first-ever sighting of the ultra-rare “Sandalwood Leopard” in Vijayanagara district, marking only the second confirmed instance in India.
- The female leopard shows a pale reddish-pink coat with light-brown rosettes, unlike the usual tawny colour, and was captured on camera traps, later seen with a normally coloured cub.
- The discovery was documented by wildlife biologist Sanjay Gubbi and the Holematthi Nature Foundation, with researchers noting that genetic confirmation will require non-invasive DNA analysis.
About Karnataka
- Capital – Bengaluru
- Chief Minister –Siddaramaiah
- Deputy Chief Minister – DK Shivakumar
- Governor – Thawar Chand Gehlot
ONGC Partners with NSTFDC to Boost Infrastructure and Education in Eklavya Model Residential Schools
- ONGC Ltd. signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NSTFDC to support infrastructure development and welfare initiatives for Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS), aimed at tribal youth empowerment.
- The initiative focuses on career mentorship, digital education, teacher capacity building, and holistic development of tribal students enrolled in EMRS.
- Under the project, ONGC has sanctioned ₹28 crores for digital learning infrastructure, health and hygiene interventions (like sanitary pad vending machines and incinerators), career counseling, and entrepreneurship training across 144 EMRS in 11 states and UTs.
- The project is expected to benefit over 35,000 tribal students, enhancing equal access to quality education, technology, and career opportunities.
MeitY, IndiaAI and IIT Guwahati Host Human Capital Working Group Meeting on AI
- MeitY, IndiaAI Mission, Government of Assam and IIT Guwahati are jointly hosting a two-day Human Capital Working Group Meeting at the IIT Guwahati campus.
- The meeting brought together policymakers, academic leaders and industry experts to discuss education reforms, workforce transition and human-centric AI adoption.
- Chaired by Prof. T. G. Sitharam, the meeting serves as a precursor to the India AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled in New Delhi (15–20 February 2026).
SAMPANN Integrated Pension System Enhanced with DigiLocker Access for DoT Pensioners
- SAMPANN (System for Accounting and Management of Pension) is an integrated online pension management system for Department of Telecommunications (DoT) pensioners, enabling end-to-end processing, sanctioning and direct bank transfer of pensions.
- The platform provides online grievance redressal, digital profile management and transaction records, improving transparency, efficiency and service delivery for telecom retirees.
- To promote digital governance and paperless services, key pension documents such as Pension Payment Orders, Gratuity Orders, Commutation Orders and Form 16 are now available via DigiLocker, allowing secure anytime access and long-term digital preservation.
Delhi Government Signs MoU with RBI to Streamline Borrowings and Cash Management
- Delhi government signs MoU with RBI, allowing it to act as banker, debt manager, and financial agent for the state.
- The MoU enables market borrowings through State Development Loans, automatic surplus cash investment, professional cash management, and access to low-cost liquidity.
- CM Rekha Gupta calls the agreement a transformational milestone and a long-overdue financial reform.
International News
Israel Becomes First Country to Recognise Somaliland as an Independent State
- Israel became the first country to formally recognise Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state, a move likely to impact regional dynamics and challenge Somalia’s opposition to secession.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced immediate cooperation with Somaliland in agriculture, health, technology and the economy, and signed a joint declaration of mutual recognition with President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi.
About Israel
- Capital – Jerusalem
- Currency – Sheqel
- President – Isaac Herzog
- Prime Minister – Benjamin Netanyahu
EU Leaders Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa to Be Chief Guests at India’s Republic Day 2026
- European Union leaders Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa will be the chief guests at India’s Republic Day 2026 celebrations on January 26, 2026, marking a significant diplomatic moment for the event.
- Ursula von der Leyen serves as President of the European Commission and António Costa as President of the European Council, representing the top leadership of the EU.
- This invitation underscores strengthening India–EU diplomatic and economic ties, highlighting India’s strategic engagement with the European Union as a unified partner.
About European Union (EU)
- Founded: 1 November 1993
- Founders: Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg
- Headquarters – Brussels, Belgium
- Members Country – 27
- President of European Council – Antonion Costa
- President of Commission – Ursula von der Leyen
- President of European Parliament – Roebrt Metsola
Banking & Financial News
ICICI Bank Enters Capital Gains Account Scheme, Offering Tax-Saving Option from 2026
- ICICI Bank has entered the Capital Gains Account Scheme (CGAS) after the Government of India approval, allowing resident individuals and HUFs to park uninvested long-term capital gains from January 1, 2026.
- The CGAS account enables taxpayers to earn interest for up to three years while preserving capital gains tax exemptions and planning reinvestment.
- ICICI Bank becomes one of the few authorised banks to offer CGAS, easing reinvestment timeline challenges faced by taxpayers, especially in property transactions.
- The move expands access to CGAS in urban and semi-urban areas, positioning the scheme as both a tax-compliance tool and short-term capital management solution.
About Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India (ICICI) Bank
- Founded – 1994
- Headquarters – Mumbai
- MD & CEO – Sandeep Bakhshi
- Tagline – Hum Hai Na Khayal Apka
HDFC AMC Launches ₹2,500-Crore Structured Credit Fund to Tap Private Credit Market
- HDFC AMC enters the private credit market with its new Structured Credit Fund-I, targeting mid-market companies with alternative debt financing.
- IFC, part of the World Bank Group, will invest up to ₹220 crore as an anchor investor; the fund has already secured ₹1,290 crore in its first close, aiming for a total corpus of ₹1,500 crore with a green-shoe option of ₹1,000 crore.
- The fund will invest in mid-market companies across sectors, aiming for mid-teen returns over 4–6 years, enhancing access to finance, supporting job creation, and promoting market innovation.
UPI Sets Record with 21.6 Billion Transactions in December 2025
- UPI recorded a record 63 billion transactions in December 2025, marking its highest monthly volume ever, with a total value of ₹27.97 lakh crore.
- Daily averages reached nearly 698 million transactions, up from 682 million in November, showing strong adoption in everyday payments.
- Year-on-year, transaction volumes grew 29% and transaction values increased 20%, with average ticket size around ₹1,293, highlighting UPI’s shift toward micro-payments.
- For the full year 2025, UPI processed 228.3 billion transactions worth nearly ₹300 lakh crore, capturing 84.8% of retail digital payment volumes in H1 2025.
Appointments
Reliance Signs Amitabh Bachchan as Brand Ambassador for Campa Sure Packaged Water
- Reliance Consumer Products Limited (RCPL) has signed Amitabh Bachchan as the brand ambassador for its packaged drinking water brand Campa Sure.
- This marks the third major brand endorsement by RCPL in recent months, following Ram Charan’s association with Campa and a strategic partnership with Ajith Kumar’s motorsport team.
- The move comes amid heightened competition in the packaged water segment, especially after the GST on mineral water was reduced to 5% from 18%, prompting price cuts across the industry.
Recent Brand Ambassador
- Andre De Grasse – Tata Mumbai Marathon 2026
- Cristiano Ronaldo – AI company Perplexity
- Harmanpreet Kaur – PNB (First Female Brand Ambassador)
- Indian cricket Abhishek Sharma – United Arab Emirates (NewsVoir) DP World
- Rohit Sharma -ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
- Shafali Verma – Haryana Women’s Commission
Sports
2nd Khelo India Beach Games Kicks Off at Ghoghla Beach, Diu with 2,100+ Athletes
- The 2nd Khelo India Beach Games will be held at Ghoghla Beach, Diu, from 5 to 10 January, organised by the UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
- Over 2,100 athletes will compete in eight beach sports, with six medal events including Beach Soccer, Beach Volleyball, Beach Kabaddi, Pencak Silat and Open Water Swimming. Mallakhamb and Tug of War are the non-medal events.
- Conducted under the technical supervision of the Sports Authority of India, the event aligns with PM Narendra Modi’s vision of promoting a strong sports culture and healthy youth.
- Mascot: Pearls – the Dolphin
Pro Wrestling League Season 5 Auction Sees 63 Wrestlers Sold for Over ₹11 Crore
- A total of 63 wrestlers were bought in the Pro Wrestling League Season 5 auction, with six franchises spending over ₹11 crore to build their squads.
- Yui Susaki, two-time Olympic medallist and four-time world champion, received the highest bid of ₹60 lakh from Haryana Thunders.
- Among men, Robert Baran was the most expensive, purchased by Maharashtra Kesari for ₹55 lakh, while Indian wrestlers Sujeet Kalkal and Antim Panghal attracted bids of ₹52 lakh each.
- The tournament resumes after six years, scheduled from 15 January to 1 February at the Noida Indoor Stadium, featuring nine weight categories across men’s and women’s divisions.
Book and Author
Dharmendra Pradhan Releases Urdu Compilation of PM Modi’s Independence Day Speeches
- Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan released the Urdu book “Khutbat-e-Modi: Lal Qila Ki Faseel Se” in New Delhi.
- The book compiles Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day speeches (2014–2025) delivered from the Red Fort, presented in Urdu.
- Published by the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL) under the Ministry of Education, the compilation highlights New India’s transformation and the government’s focus on linguistic inclusivity.
Recent Books
- The Great Sanctions Hack – Urjit Patel (Published by Rupa Publications India)
- Salman Khan: The Sultan of Bollywood – Mohar Basu (publish by HarperCollins India)
- A Sixth of Humanity – Devesh Kapur and Arvind Subramanian
- Chunotiya Mujhe Pasand Hai (Challenges I Like) – Vinay Joshi, Ashok Desai, Dr. Pankaj Jani
- Different But No Less – Anupam Kher
- Operation Sindoor: The Untold Story of India’s Deep Strikes Inside Pakistan – Retd. Lt. Gen KJS Dhillion (launched by Upendra Dwivedi)
Obituary
Former Union Minister and Congress Leader Suresh Kalmadi Passes Away at 81
- Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Suresh Kalmadi passed away in Pune at the age of 81.
- He served as Union Minister of State for Railways (1995–1996) and presented the Railway Budget during P.V. Narasimha Rao’s tenure.
- Kalmadi was also the president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) from 1996 to 2012 and represented Pune multiple times in the Lok Sabha.
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