Current Affairs 26 January 2026
UPI Set to Launch in Japan, Expanding India’s Digital Payments Reach
- UPI was launched in India in 2016 as a government-led digital payments initiative.
- NPCI is the umbrella organisation managing UPI.
- UPI is operational in multiple countries across Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
- The IMF has called UPI the world’s largest real-time payment system.
Akshita Dhankar Unfurls Tricolour With President on Republic Day
- Republic Day is celebrated annually on January 26.
- The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
- NCC plays a key role in grooming youth for defence services.
- IAF officers are commissioned through AFCAT and selection boards.
92-Year-Old Kollakkayil Devaki Amma, the Green Activist Awarded Padma Shri
- Padma Awards are announced annually on the eve of Republic Day.
- Padma Shri is the fourth-highest civilian award in India.
- The awards recognise contributions in fields including environment, social work, and public affairs.
- Community-based conservation is a key theme among recent Padma awardees.
Shibu Soren Posthumously Conferred Padma Bhushan
- Padma Bhushan is India’s third-highest civilian award.
- Shibu Soren was a key leader of the Jharkhand statehood movement.
- He served as Jharkhand chief minister three times.
- ‘Dishom Guru’ means leader of the land among tribal communities.
Assam’s Largest Multi-Sports Stadium Inauguration in Dibrugarh
- Dibrugarh is an important administrative and commercial centre of upper Assam.
- Multi-sports stadiums support both competitive sports and talent identification.
- Sports infrastructure development is part of India’s broader youth and fitness policy goals.
- Union ministers often combine inaugurations with foundation-laying for major public projects.
IAF Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Awarded Ashoka Chakra
- Ashoka Chakra is India’s highest peacetime gallantry award.
- Ax-4 is a private astronaut mission operated by Axiom Space.
- The ISS operates in Low Earth Orbit at around 400 km altitude.
- Rakesh Sharma was the first Indian in space in 1984.