Today’s Top News – 08 January 2026

TODAYS TOP NEWS
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1. 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

New Bill to replace the Insecticides Act, 1968 and the Insecticides Rules, 1971. This Bill aims to ensure supply of quality pesticides for farmers and to decriminalise petty offences, thereby promoting Ease of Living as well as Ease of Doing Business.

2. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is poised for its inaugural launch of 2026 with the PSLV C-62 mission, scheduled for Monday, 12 January, at 10:17 am from the first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

3. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has indeed embarked on a preliminary study assessing the feasibility of establishing in-orbit Artificial Intelligence data centres, as confirmed by the Department of Space in response to a query in the Rajya Sabha.This initiative reflects a strategic push towards edge computing in space.

4. ISRO’s adoption of an industry-centric model for the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), informally referred to as “Soorya”, represents a structural shift in India’s space ecosystem. Instead of relying primarily on government-owned facilities, the program is being conceived from the outset with deep private sector participation, similar in philosophy to the AMCA fighter aircraft program.

5. The Ministry of Communications has signed two MoUs with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the Ministry of Rural Development in New Delhi. These MoUs aimed at benefiting rural citizens and farmers by combating misinformation and providing banking services.

6. Parliament’s passage of the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy in India (SHANTI) Bill marks the most consequential overhaul of India’s nuclear power framework since Independence.

The SHANTI Bill dismantles the monopoly of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) over nuclear plant operations. For the first time, private Indian companies can apply for licences to build, own and operate nuclear power plants, either independently or through joint ventures.

7. Haryana is set to launch India’s first hydrogen-powered train on the Jind–Sonipat route. The pilot project by Indian Railways uses green hydrogen, aims to cut emissions, and marks a major step towards clean and sustainable rail transport in India.

8. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Somnath in Gujarat on Sunday and attend ‘Somnath Swabhiman Parv’ as year-long activities have been planned at Somnath. The year 2026 marks one thousand years since the first attack on Somnath took place.

9. The Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that India has become the first country in the world to commercially produce bio-bitumen in the road construction. Bitumen is a black viscous mixture of hydrocarbons produced by fractionation of crude oil, and it serves as a crucial binder in road construction.

10. Telangana Legislative Council Chairman Gutha Sukhender Reddy has accepted the resignation tendered by Telangana Jagruthi President and MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha to her membership.

11. The Centre has issued the notification for the first phase of the Census of India 2027. House listing operations will be conducted between 1st April and 30 September this year across all States and Union Territories, during a 30-day period specified by each State/UT.

12. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has enabled online ticket booking for over 170 centrally protected monuments and museums on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). The Ministry of Culture in a statement said that by integrating ASI’s ticketing system onto an open digital network, citizens and tourists can book tickets through different applications.

13. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange colour warning for dense to very dense fog in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

14. The General Insurance Council has appointed S Prakash as CEO, Health Insurance Ecosystem and Strategic Partnerships, effective January 7, 2026. The move aims to improve transparency, standardisation, and trust across India’s health insurance value chain.

15. Senior IPS officer Sadanand Date has taken charge as the Director General of Police of Maharashtra.

16. Indian Railways has become one of the most extensively electrified rail systems in the world. Nearly all of India’s 70-thousand route-kilometre broad-gauge network is now powered by electricity. Till November last year, over 99 percent of its entire network was already electrified.
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LEGAL REPORT
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1. The Supreme Court of India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bhutan to exchange young legal professionals. The announcement was made by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, who welcomed two law clerks from Bhutan to work in the Supreme Court, reflecting closer judicial cooperation between the two neighbors.

2. New Chief Justice of Kerala High Court : Justice Soumen Sen, currently serving as Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court, has been transferred and appointed as the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court. He will assume charge after the retirement of incumbent Chief Justice Nitin Madhukar Jamdar on 9 January 2026.

3. The National Medical Commission (NMC) has withdrawn recognition of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) in Jammu, citing serious lapses in minimum standards, days after a controversy erupted over the religious profile of its first MBBS batch.

4.. The Government of India has removed the mandatory three-year existence condition for deep-tech startups to avail recognition under the Industrial Research and Development Promotion Program of DSIR. Earlier, startups were required to complete three years of existence to be recognized under the DSIR framework.

The announcement was made at the 41st Foundation Day (On 4th January) of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in New Delhi.

5. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) seized over 1 lakh 33 thousand kilograms of narcotic drugs worth around 1 thousand 980 crore rupees in the year 2025. The NCB said it arrested 994 drug traffickers, including 25 foreign nationals, in 447 cases during the year. Meanwhile, 265 drug offenders were convicted in 131 cases in 2025.

6. In Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district, 26 Naxalites surrendered, including 13 who were carrying a collective bounty of 65 lakh rupees.

7. The Supreme Court has asked the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to identify all major sources of pollution in two weeks and suggest long-term sectoral action plans to tackle each of them in a phased manner.

——- MISHAPS————

Vedanta Group Chairman Anil Agarwal on Wednesday announced the tragic demise of his son, Agnivesh Agarwal, who passed away at the age of 49 following a cardiac arrest in the United States.
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DEFENCE News
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1. The IAF is evaluating the turbo-jet powered SPICE-250 Extended Range munition featuring 300-kilometer range with 3-meter Circular Error Probable (CEP) for deep precision strikes, with discussions underway for a potential 300-unit order. Developed by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, the weapon combines GPS/INS guidance with AI-powered electro-optical scene-matching technology, enabling Su-30 MKI and Rafale aircraft to strike high-value targets while remaining beyond the 145-kilometer range of Pakistan’s PL-15E air-to-air missiles.

2. Ships of the Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron #1TS – #INSTir, #INSShardul, #INSSujata and #ICGSSarathi will be undertaking a Long Range Training Deployment to South East Asia.

This is aimed at providing comprehensive operational and cross-cultural exposure to officer trainees, while reinforcing sustained maritime engagement in consonance with India’s Act East Policy.

3. A permanent naval facility is being established at Haldia, West Bengal, approximately 130 kilometers from the Bay of Bengal’s Sandheads area, to support Fast Interceptor Crafts and New Water Jet Fast Attack Craft.

4. Indian Navy Set To Commission 19 Warships In 2026, The Largest Force Accretion in a single year.

5. Extended Range BrahMos Naval Test (500 km): India issued a Notice to Airmen for a naval missile test in the Bay of Bengal with an impact zone indicating approximately 500-kilometer range, suggesting trials of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile’s extended-range variant. The 800-kilometer ranged variant is currently under trials with most development completed, including modified ramjet motor technology, with full development expected by late 2027.

6. The Indian Army’s 510 Advance Base Workshop signed a contract with Tata Advanced Systems and Larsen & Toubro for overhaul and upgrade of first-generation Pinaka Multiple Launch Rocket Systems and Battery Command Posts. The upgrade enables older launchers to fire new-generation guided Pinaka rockets with ranges up to 120 kilometers and 300 kilometers, extending their service life while significantly improving accuracy and battlefield effectiveness.

7. On 4 January 2026, the Indian Air Force (IAF) proudly commemorated the 25th anniversary of the maiden flight of the indigenously developed Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). This milestone marks a defining moment in India’s journey towards self-reliance in defence aviation under the broader vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

8. IAF’s Surya Kiran aerobatic team to dazzle Hyderabad at Wings India 2026
The Indian Air Force’s Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team in their signature red and white Hawk Mk aircraft will light up the city’s skies with breathtaking aerial manoeuvres and precision flying during Wings India 2026 at Begumpet on January 28 and 29.

9. India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has secured approval to develop the BM-04, a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) poised to bolster the nation’s strategic capabilities.

FINANCE
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INDIAN RUPEE VALUE

💷 GBP ₹122(Approx)
€ Euro : ₹ 106 Approx)
 USD ₹ 91(Approx)
🇨🇦 Canada :CAD ₹66
🇦🇺 Australia : ₹ 61
🇦🇪 UAE Dirham : ₹ 25
🇨🇳 China Yuan ¥ : ₹ 13
🇲🇻 Maldives Rufiya : ₹ 5.88
🇧🇹 Bhutan ngultrum : ₹ 1.00
🇳🇵 Nepal Rupee : ₹ 0.63
🇧🇩 B’desh Taka* : ₹ 0.70
🇵🇰 Pak Rupee : ₹ 0.32
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka Rupee : ₹ 0.29
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BSE SENSEX
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NIFTY
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Rates in Financial Capital Mumbai

GOLD : ₹ 13,800/ 01gm (24 krt)

SILVER : ₹ 240,000/KG

1. The Centre has created a three-year PPP project pipeline worth over ₹17 lakh crore, covering 852 projects across ministries, states, and UTs. Announced in Union Budget 2025–26, the move aims to boost infrastructure investment, provide investor visibility, and accelerate public-private collaboration.

2. The Government of India approved the Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) rates for the Rabi 2025–26 season, ensuring continued access to affordable and balanced fertilizers for Indian farmers. The approved rates will remain effective from 1 October 2025 to 31 March 2026 and apply to Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilizers, including Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) and multiple NPKS grades.

3. RBI has cancelled the certificates of registration of 35 Non-Banking Financial Companies for non-compliance with regulatory requirements.

The central bank said that these companies are no longer permitted to carry out the business of non-banking financial institutions.

4. The real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been estimated to grow by 7.4 per cent in 2025-26 against the growth rate of 6.5 per cent during the last fiscal year. As per the first advance estimates of GDP for the current financial year, the real GDP is estimated to attain a level of over 201 lakh crore rupees in the current financial year, against the provisional estimates of GDP for 2024-25 of over 187 lakh crore rupees.
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ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
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1. Akshaye Khanna’s Dhurandhar Song Fa9la Singer Flipperachi Teases Return In 2:
Sometimes, it’s not just a scene or a dialogue that stays with audiences, but a song that quietly takes over. That’s exactly what happened with Fa9la, the track that played during Akshaye Khanna’s introduction in Dhurandhar. Weeks after the film’s release, the song continues to trend, and now its creator has dropped a hint that fans are paying close attention to.

2. The chances of actor Vijay’s much anticipated movie Jana Nayagan getting released on January 9, 2026 appear bleak as the Madras High Court on Wednesday (January 7, 2026) reserved orders on a writ petition filed by the production house KVN Productions LLP against non-issuance of censor certificate by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

3. Feroz Khan, the actor who portrayed ‘Arjun’ in the Doordarshan series Mahabharat, on Wednesday performed darshan at the Ram temple in Ayodhya and praised the “transformation of Ayodhya following the construction of the grand shrine”.

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