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Current Affairs 28 January 2026

5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri Awards.

  • Awardees include 19 women, 6 persons from Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI category, and 16 Posthumous awardees. There are 2 Duo cases (counted as one).
  • About Padma Awards
  • It is one of the highest civilian awards of the country, are conferred in three categories, namely,
  • Padma Vibhushan for exceptional and distinguished service;
  • Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of a high order; and
  • Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field.
  • The other civilian award is the Bharat Ratna (highest civilian award).
  • History: Instituted as Padma Vibhushan in 1954 with three classes, it was renamed in 1955 as Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri.
  • Conferred annually except interruptions during the years 1978, 1979, and 1993 to 1997.
  • Activities/ Disciplines: All fields such as Art, Social Work, Public Affairs, Science, etc. involving public service.
  • Not eligible: Government servants including those working with PSUs, except doctors and scientists.
  • Status: The award does not amount to a title under Article 18(1) and cannot be used as a suffix or prefix. (Balaji Raghavan vs. Union of India, 1996)
  • Article 18(1) prohibits the State from conferring any titles except military and academic distinction.
  • Cap: Number of awards is capped at 120 per year (excluding Posthumous and Foreigners/NRI).
  • Normally not conferred posthumously. However, in highly deserving cases, it is awarded.

Gallantry Awards

  • Established:
  • Wartime Awards: Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, and Vir Chakra were instituted on January 26, 1950.
  • Peacetime Awards: Ashoka Chakra Class-I, Class-II, and Class-III were instituted on January 4, 1952.
  • These peacetime awards were renamed Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra, respectively in 1967.
  • Conferred by: President, who is the supreme commander of the Armed Forces.
  • Objective:  Recognitions given for acts of bravery, valour or self-sacrifice both during wartime and peacetime.
  • Selection Process: Ministry of Defence invites recommendations twice in a year from the Armed Forces and Union Ministry of Home Affairs for gallantry awards.
  • Frequency:  announced twice a year, on the occasion of Republic Day and Independence Day.

Myanmar (Capital: Naypyidaw)

  • Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) won elections in Myanmar.
  • Political Features: 
  • It is located in Southeastern Asia.
  • Land boundaries: Bangladesh (West), China (North and Northeast), India (West), Laos (East), Thailand (South east).
  • Maritime boundaries: Andaman Sea (South), Bay of Bengal (South West).
  • Geographical features:
  • Mountain ranges: Bago Yoma, Rakhine Yoma, Tenasserim Hills, and Shan Hills.
  • Highest Point: Hkakabo Razi.
  • Major Rivers: Mekong, Salween, Irrawaddy, Chindwin.
  • Natural resources: Petroleum, timber, tin, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, marble, limestone, natural gas, hydropower etc.

Bactrian Camel (Camelus bactrianus) 

  • Named after Bactria, an ancient Central Asian region, it is large, even-toed ungulate adapted to cold deserts.
  • Habitat: Native to the steppes and arid regions of Central Asia (Gobi and Taklamakan deserts). 
  • About 300-400 exist in India as well, all in the Nubra Valley region of Ladakh.
  • Physical Features: Characterized by two humps on its back which store fat.
  • Climate Adaptation: Exhibits thick winter fur and tolerance to extreme temperatures ranging from −30°C to 40°C.
  • Conservation Status: Critically Endangered by the IUCN.

LR-AShM

  • It is India’s first Long Range Hypersonic Glide Missile designed to meet the coastal battery requirements of the Indian Navy.
  • Range of approximately 1,500 km; can engage static and moving targets.
  • First-of-its-kind with indigenous avionics systems and high accuracy sensors. 
  • Speed: Follows a quasi-ballistic trajectory, achieving peak speeds of Mach 10 and maintaining an average of Mach 5 via skipping manoeuvres.
  • Propulsion: Powered by a two-stage solid propulsion system; performs an unpowered glide with required manoeuvres after the second stage burns out.
  • Stealth: Flies at low altitudes and high speed to evade radar detection.

WHO (HQ: Geneva, Switzerland)

  • Established: in 1948 as a specialized agency of the United Nations.
  • Mandate: Directs global health responses, sets international norms, and declares Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEIC).
  • Governance: 
  • Membership: Comprises 194 Member States (open to all UN members).
  • World Health Assembly (supreme decision-making body), 
  • Executive Board (policy implementation), and 
  • Secretariat (technical/administrative work, led by the Director-General, supported by regional offices).
  • India is a founding member.

Lonar Lake

  • Location: lake of lagoon in Buldhana district of Maharashtra.
  • Uniqueness: It is the only known hyper velocity impact crater in basaltic rock anywhere on Earth, has saline and alkaline water.
  • Formation: formed by the impact of a meteorite about 52,000 years ago.
  • Conservation: Ramsar Site (2020), notified National Geo-heritage Monument.

ExoMiner++

  • Overview: It is NASA’s deep learning software designed to find exoplanets.
  • Data Sources: Analyzes data from both the Kepler and Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) missions.
  • Mechanism: Scans “light curves” for signature brightness dips (transits) caused by a planet passing in front of its star.
  • Key Advantage: Unlike standard “black-box” models, it is explainable AI, thus, providing astronomers with probability scores and specific reasoning to ensure scientific trust.

Historical Significance of Republic Day? 

  • The Purna Swaraj Resolution: In December 1929, the Indian National Congress passed the historic ‘Purna Swaraj’ (Complete Independence) resolution at its Lahore Session (presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru). 
  • It was decided that 26th January 1930, would be observed as Purna Swaraj Day across India. On this day, Indians pledged to reject British dominion status and fight for complete self-rule. 
  • From 1930 to 1947, 26th January was celebrated as “Independence Day” or “Poorna Swaraj Day.” 
  • Transition from Independence to Republic: The Constituent Assembly first met in December 1946 at the Constitution Hall (now Central Hall of Parliament), formally initiating India’s constitution-making process.  
  • On 15th August 1947, India achieved independence from colonial rule but continued as a British Dominion with King George VI as the head of state until the Constitution came into force.  
  • The constitutional transition was completed on 26th November 1949, when the Constituent Assembly formally adopted the Constitution, a date explicitly recorded in the Preamble. 
  • On 26th January 1950, the Constitution of India came into force, deliberately chosen to honour the Purna Swaraj Declaration of 1930.  
  • With this, the Government of India Act, 1935 was replaced. 
  • India formally became a Sovereign Democratic Republic. 
  • The President of India replaced the British Monarch as the Head of State, symbolizing the true essence of a Republic. 
  • Later, the 42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976) added the words Socialist and Secular to the Preamble. 

Key Highlights of the 77th Republic Day? 

  • Padma Awards 2026: 131 Padma Awards, including 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, 113 Padma Shri. 
  • Armed Forces Gallantry Awards: 70 Armed Forces personnel awarded gallantry medals, including Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra, Sena, Nao Sena, and Vayu Sena Medals 
  • Military Decorations: The President conferred  301 defence decorations, including Param Vishisht Seva Medals, Uttam Yudh Seva Medals, Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, Yudh Seva Medals, Bar to Sena Medal, Sena Medals (Devotion to Duty), Nao Sena Medals, Vayu Sena Medals, Bar to Vishisht Seva Medals, and Vishisht Seva Medals.  
  • Param Vishisht Seva Medals: Recognize distinguished service of exceptional order.  
  • Uttam Yudh Seva Medals: Awarded for distinguished service during war or conflict.  
  • Ati Vishisht Seva Medals: Recognize distinguished service of exceptional order.  
  • Yudh Seva Medals: Awarded for distinguished service during war or hostilities.  
  • Bar to Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty): Awarded to recipients of Sena Medal for further acts of devotion.  
  • Vishisht Seva Medal: High-order service, with a Bar for subsequent awards. 
  • PTM and TM Medal: The President conferred the President’s Tatrakshak Medal (PTM) and Tatrakshak Medal (TM) for Indian Coast Guard personnel.  
  • These awards recognise their acts of conspicuous gallantry, exceptional devotion to duty, and distinguished/meritorious service.  
  • Services Personnel: A total of 982 personnel from Police, Fire Services, Home Guard & Civil Defence (HG&CD), and Correctional Services have been awarded Gallantry and Service Medals. 
  • Police Gallantry Medals: Announced twice a year, these medals acknowledge bravery and exemplary conduct by police personnel.   
  • The President’s Medal for Gallantry is awarded for exceptional courage in saving lives or preventing crime, while the Police Medal for Gallantry recognizes acts of bravery during duty.  
  • President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM): Awarded for special distinguished service records.  
  • Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM): Given for valuable service characterized by dedication and devotion to duty. 
  • Jeevan Raksha Padak Awards: Given to a person for meritorious act of human nature in saving the life of a person 
  • The awards are given in three categories: Sarvottam, Uttam, and Jeevan Raksha Padak.  Persons of all walks of life are eligible for these awards.  The award can also be conferred posthumously. 
  • Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak: For conspicuous courage in saving a life under very dangerous circumstances.  
  • Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak: For courage and prompt action in saving a life under great danger.  
  • Jeevan Raksha Padak: For courage and prompt action in saving a life under conditions involving grave bodily injury. 

National Girl Child Day 

  • About: Initiated in 2008 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), the day serves as a platform to raise awareness about gender discrimination, promote equal opportunities, and foster an environment where girls can thrive as empowered citizens. 
  • The day highlights girls’ rights, education, health, and nutrition, addressing issues like gender bias, female foeticide, and child marriage.