UPSC Current Affairs Pointers: A Comprehensive Overview for January 19-25, 2026
Staying updated with current affairs is crucial for aspirants preparing for the UPSC, State PCS, and other government exams. This week, from January 19 to January 25, 2026, witnessed significant developments across various domains, including awards, international reports, environmental issues, and diplomatic events. Here is a detailed breakdown of the must-know facts to enhance your preparation for both Prelims and Mains.
Padma Awards 2026: Honouring Excellence
The Padma Awards for 2026 were announced on the eve of Republic Day, recognizing outstanding contributions in fields such as art, social work, public affairs, and science. This year, five individuals will receive the Padma Vibhushan for exceptional service, 13 will be awarded the Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of high order, and 113 will be honoured with the Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field.
Notable recipients include:
- Dharmendra Singh Deol (posthumously) and N Rajam in the art category.
- Alka Yagnik and Mammootty, who are among the Padma Bhushan awardees.
- Vijay Amritraj, recognized for his contributions to sports.
These awards highlight India's rich cultural and social tapestry, making them a key topic for exam preparation.
Global Water Bankruptcy Report: A Wake-Up Call
The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) released the Global Water Bankruptcy Report, declaring that the world has entered an era of global water bankruptcy. This report underscores a structural imbalance between water demand and available resources, urging immediate action to protect water-related natural capital.
Key findings from the report:
- Nearly 75% of the global population resides in water-insecure or critically water-insecure countries.
- Approximately 70% of the world's major aquifers show long-term declining trends.
- Over 3 billion people and more than half of global food production are in areas with declining or unstable water storage.
- More than 170 million hectares of irrigated cropland face high or very high water stress.
This report is vital for understanding environmental challenges and their socio-economic impacts.
Delhi Declaration 2026: Strengthening Democracy
The Election Commission of India hosted the inaugural India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026 in New Delhi. The conference, themed democracy for an inclusive, peaceful, resilient, and sustainable world, saw participation from 45 countries and concluded with the adoption of the Delhi Declaration 2026.
The five pillars of the Delhi Declaration are:
- Purity of Electoral Rolls
- Conduct of Elections
- Research and Publications
- Use of Technology
- Training and Capacity Building
Additionally, CEC Gyanesh Kumar launched ECINet, a platform integrating over 40 apps for voters and election officials, showcasing India's commitment to technological advancement in governance.
Responsible Nations Index (RNI): A New Global Framework
India launched the Responsible Nations Index (RNI) under the World Intellectual Foundation (WIF). This index assesses nations based on ethical governance, social well-being, environmental stewardship, and global responsibility, moving beyond traditional economic indicators.
Top rankings in the RNI include:
- Singapore (Score: 0.61945)
- Switzerland (Score: 0.58692)
- Denmark (Score: 0.58372)
- India ranked 16th with a score of 0.551513.
The RNI provides a holistic view of national performance, relevant for questions on global indices and governance.
Other Significant Developments
Global Risks Report 2026: The World Economic Forum identified geoeconomic confrontation as the most significant global risk, with cyber insecurity being the major risk for India, followed by inequality and economic downturn.
World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026: Held in Davos, Switzerland, with the theme A Spirit of Dialogue, focusing on addressing shared global challenges.
International Cooperation: Key events included PM Modi's meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, aiming to double bilateral trade to $200 billion and collaborate on supercomputing and data centers. Spain joined the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), marking a strategic expansion in the region.
Defence and Environment: The first 'Made in India' C295 aircraft is set to roll out before September, enhancing defence collaboration with Spain. Environmental highlights include a dolphin population survey under Project Dolphin and a major solar storm causing auroral displays, with implications for space weather and technology.
Places in News: Rafah crossing in Gaza and Firozabad, known as the Glass City of India, were in focus due to geopolitical and cultural developments, respectively.
Persons in News: NASA astronaut Sunita Williams retired, and allegations of corruption surfaced regarding the statue of tribal icon Tatya Mama Bhil in Madhya Pradesh.
Test Your Knowledge: MCQs for Revision
To reinforce your learning, try these MCQs based on past UPSC questions:
- The Global Competitiveness Report is published by the:
- (a) International Monetary Fund
- (b) United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
- (c) World Economic Forum
- (d) World Bank
- Consider the following pairs:
- 1. Blue-finned Mahseer: Cauvery River
- 2. Irrawaddy Dolphin: Chambal River
- 3. Rusty-spotted Cat: Eastern Ghats
- Effects of a major solar storm on Earth include:
- 1. GPS failure
- 2. Tsunamis at equatorial regions
- 3. Power grid damage
- 4. Intense auroras
- 5. Forest fires
- 6. Satellite orbit disturbance
- 7. Shortwave radio communication interruption over polar regions
Answer Key: 1. (c), 2. (c), 3. (c).
This comprehensive overview of current affairs for January 19-25, 2026, is designed to aid your exam preparation. Regularly revisiting such pointers can significantly boost your knowledge and recall abilities for competitive exams.
