NATIONAL NEWS

Adampur Airport Renamed Sri Guru Ravidas Maharaj Ji Airport

Prime Minister Narendra Modi renamed Adampur Airport in Jalandhar as Sri Guru Ravidas Maharaj Ji Airport and also inaugurated a new civil terminal at Halwara Airport in Ludhiana.

The renaming honours Guru Ravidas, a revered Bhakti movement saint and social reformer, and carries strong social and cultural significance, especially in Punjab.

The decision fulfilled a long-pending demand from various political parties and social groups.

A resolution for renaming Adampur Airport was passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in 2020, and the demand was reiterated by the current state government.

The move combines cultural recognition with infrastructure development, strengthening regional air connectivity in Punjab.

Adampur Airport was revamped at a cost of ₹125 crore under the UDAN 5.0 scheme and serves the Doaba region of Punjab.

The civil terminal at Adampur is spread over 40 acres and operates using the Adampur Air Force Station airstrip.

Airport operations at Adampur resumed on 31 March 2025 after a four-year suspension due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Currently, Adampur Airport operates limited flights by Star Air and IndiGo, connecting cities such as Mumbai, Nanded and Bengaluru.

Connectivity challenges remain due to a narrow 4.3-kilometre rural approach road, with land acquisition delays cited as the main reason for non-expansion.

Earlier air routes to Delhi, Jaipur and Mumbai were discontinued due to low passenger demand, highlighting sustainability challenges under regional connectivity schemes.

At Halwara Airport in Ludhiana, a new civil terminal was virtually inaugurated by the Prime Minister.

The Halwara civil terminal has been built at a cost of ₹54 crore by expanding the Halwara Air Force base.

Gujarat Becomes India’s Largest Renewable Energy Contributor

Gujarat emerged as the largest contributor to India’s renewable energy capacity, accounting for 16.50% of the national total as of 31 December 2025.

Gujarat ranks 1st in India in total installed renewable energy capacity with 42.583 GW.

The state contributes 16.50% of India’s total renewable energy capacity, reflecting strong policy support and infrastructure readiness.

Gujarat ranks 1st in wind power capacity and 2nd in solar power capacity.

Total installed solar capacity stands at 25,529.40 MW (December 2025), including ground-mounted, rooftop, hybrid, and off-grid systems such as PM-KUSUM.

Major solar parks include Charanka, Radhanesda, and Dholera.

Khavda Renewable Energy Park (Kutch) is planned for 37.35 GW, with 11.33 GW already operational, making it the world’s largest renewable energy park.

Installed wind power capacity is 14,820.94 MW as of December 2025.

Kutch district contributes the highest share, followed by Jamnagar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Amreli, and Rajkot.

Gujarat has commissioned 2,398.77 MW of wind–solar hybrid projects, supported by modern evacuation infrastructure and government-allotted land.

The state has crossed 11 lakh rooftop solar installations, generating 6,412.80 MW, the highest in India.

Since 2016, Gujarat has contributed over 25% of India’s total rooftop solar capacity.

Under PM-KUSUM, 12,700 off-grid solar water pumps have been installed to support farmers and sustainable irrigation.

Gujarat’s renewable growth is backed by strong policies ranging from the Wind Power Policy 1993 to the Gujarat Integrated Renewable Energy Policy 2025.

Policies focus on ease of grid connectivity, removal of capacity limits, promotion of hybrid systems and battery storage.

Digital platforms like Akshay Urja Setu ensure faster approvals, transparency, private investment, renewable manufacturing, and green job creation.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

UN Environment Programme Releases "State of Finance for Nature 2026" Report

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) released The State of Finance for Nature 2026 report, highlighting a stark imbalance in global environmental financing.

The report finds that for every USD 1 invested in protecting nature, the world spends nearly USD 30 on activities that damage it, with USD 7.3 trillion flowing into nature-negative finance in 2023.

Of the total nature-negative finance, USD 4.9 trillion came from private sources, mainly in energy, utilities, industrials, and basic materials, while USD 2.4 trillion came from environmentally harmful public subsidies to fossil fuels, agriculture, and infrastructure.

In contrast, Nature-based Solutions (NbS) received only USD 220 billion, with nearly 90% from public sources and only 10% from private investment.

UNEP estimates that NbS investments must increase 2.5 times to reach USD 571 billion annually by 2030, which is about 0.5% of global GDP.

Nature-negative finance refers to global financial flows to activities harming nature, such as fossil fuel extraction, unsustainable agriculture, and deforestation, accounting for 7% of global GDP in 2023.

Environmentally Harmful Subsidies (EHS), totaling USD 2.4 trillion, distort market prices, making environmental destruction cheaper than conservation.

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) involve actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore ecosystems, addressing societal challenges like climate change, food security, and disaster risk, while providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits.

International frameworks driving NbS finance include the Rio Conventions:

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

These set targets for climate stability, biodiversity conservation, and land restoration by 2030.

For India, scaling Nature-based Solutions through reforms like the Nature Transition X-Curve, green taxonomy, subsidy rationalisation, and private capital mobilisation is critical to protect biodiversity while sustaining long-term economic growth.

 

BANKING

SBI Enhances Trade Finance and Global Banking Services with GTFC Launch in Kolkata

State Bank of India (SBI), India’s largest Public Sector Bank (PSB), launched a Global Trade Finance Centre (GTFC) in Kolkata, West Bengal, to strengthen trade finance and global banking operations.

In July 2025, SBI inaugurated two specialised GTFCs located in Kolkata (West Bengal) and Hyderabad (Telangana) on the occasion of its 70th anniversary.

The GTFC follows a centralized system to streamline inland trade and efficiently process import and export transactions.

The centre supports SBI branches across eastern and northern India, enabling faster turnaround time, strong compliance oversight, and an enhanced customer experience for domestic and cross-border trade.

The GTFC is technology-driven, leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Blockchain, marking a shift from traditional paper-based systems.

The total staff strength of the GTFC is 277, comprising 161 SBI employees, 105 outsourced staff, and 11 temporary personnel.

Local hiring accounts for 61% of the workforce, with 169 employees from West Bengal, supporting regional employment generation.

Since 2024, the GTFC has contributed ₹1.40 crore as Goods and Services Tax (GST) to the West Bengal economy.

Union Budget 2026-27 Proposes Self-Help Entrepreneur Marts

The Union Budget 2026-27 announced the establishment of Self-Help Entrepreneur (SHE) Marts as community-owned retail outlets to strengthen women-led enterprises and deepen the self-help group (SHG) ecosystem across states.

The SHE Marts initiative aims to provide a structured market platform for products made by women entrepreneurs, with Jharkhand emerging as a key beneficiary due to its strong SHG base.

The programme builds on the Lakhpati Didi Programme and aims to help women transition from credit-based livelihoods to ownership of enterprises.

SHE Marts will be set up within cluster-level federations of SHGs and supported through enhanced and innovative financing instruments to enable women to access organised retail and stable demand.

The community-owned retail model allows women-led SHGs to collectively market and sell their products, reducing dependence on intermediaries and improving income realisation.

Jharkhand has mobilised around 39 lakh rural SHG members through the Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society, and SHE Marts complement ongoing efforts to transform women from borrowers into business owners.

The initiative aligns with the Budget’s broader emphasis on inclusive growth and women-led development, focusing on ownership, market access, and scale to create sustainable income opportunities.

SHE Marts aim to help women reach larger markets, build brands, and strengthen local institutions such as self-help groups.

The Lakhpati Didi Programme, run by the Ministry of Rural Development, supports rural women in starting small businesses and earning a steady income of at least Rs 1 lakh per year.

Under the programme, women are trained in skills like plumbing, making LED bulbs, and using and repairing drones to become financially independent.

As per the Economic Survey 2026, raising women’s workforce participation to around 55% by 2050 could be key to sustaining strong annual GDP growth in India.

Union Budget 2026-27 Allocates ₹73,990.94 Crore to DoT

The Union Budget 2026-27 allocated ₹73,990.94 crore to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), focusing on telecom infrastructure revival and strengthening state-owned BSNL.

The allocation for FY27 is 8.65% lower than the FY26 Budget Estimate of ₹81,005.24 crore but 38.56% higher than the FY26 Revised Estimate of ₹53,398.17 crore.

The increase over the revised FY26 figure is largely due to higher capital infusion into Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) for network expansion and financial recovery.

The total net allocation for the DoT in FY27 is ₹80,927.94 crore, including an additional ₹6,937 crore from the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).

Funds from USOF will be used for compensation to telecom service providers, the BharatNet rural broadband programme, and research and development in the telecom sector.

Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia stated that the government is working to strengthen BSNL’s financial and operational position, with average revenue per user (ARPU) rising from ₹90 to ₹99, targeting ₹100.

The capital infusion along with internal cash flows will fund spectrum costs, network rollout, towers, and other infrastructure needs of BSNL.

The incremental allocation also supports the BharatNet programme, including expanding fibre connectivity, upgrading infrastructure, and meeting BSNL’s internal capital expenditure requirements.

The Budget strategy reflects a focus on consolidating public sector telecom capabilities while continuing investments in rural connectivity and long-term digital infrastructure.

 

RANKS, INDICES & REPORTS

Global Soft Power Index 2026

Global Soft Power Index 2026 ranks countries based on their ability to influence and attract others through culture, values, governance, and ideas, rather than military force or economic pressure.

Soft Power refers to a nation’s ability to shape preferences of other countries through culture, diplomacy, values, innovation, and global reputation.

Strong soft power helps attract tourists, investors, skilled talent, and strengthens international partnerships.

It is often described as the power of perception, where a country’s global image directly impacts its influence and growth.

The Global Soft Power Index measures soft power using Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and nation brand attributes.

India ranks 32nd globally with a score of 48.0.

India dropped 2 positions and declined by 1.8 points compared to the previous year.

Despite strong cultural influence and international outreach, improvement is needed in governance, media perception, and sustainable development.

The United States remains at the top, but its score declined, highlighting fragile global trust.

China narrowed the gap with the US, reflecting rising global influence.

Japan overtook the UK to rank third, showing strong nation branding.

 

DEFENCE

Indian Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police Conduct Joint “Agni Pariksha” Exercise

The Indian Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) conducted a joint training exercise named “Agni Pariksha” at Sigar in East Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh from January 19 to 24,2026 to enhance inter-force combat synergy and operational integration.

The primary objective of Agni Pariksha was to familiarise non-artillery personnel with artillery procedures, coordination mechanisms, and the execution of firing missions.

The exercise aimed to break traditional role-based silos by exposing infantry and ITBP personnel to realistic artillery employment in dynamic combat scenarios.

Spearhead gunners from the Spear Corps conducted training alongside infantry regiments and ITBP units, marking the first-of-its-kind collaborative firepower training initiative.

Non-artillery personnel were systematically trained to independently conduct multiple artillery firing drills under the close supervision of experienced gunners.

The exercise significantly enhanced mutual trust, coordination, and operational responsiveness among the participating forces.

By improving understanding of firepower integration, the training helped in rapid decision-making and effective battlefield coordination in high-intensity and border-related contingencies.

This was the first phase of a broader initiative, considered a pioneering step towards developing integrated combat capabilities required for future battlefields.

The exercise reflects the Indian Army’s evolving doctrine of joint operations and closer coordination with central armed police forces in complex operational environments.

 

SPORTS

Devika Sihag Wins Maiden BWF Super 300 Title at Thailand Masters 2026

Indian badminton player Devika Sihag won her first BWF Super 300 title at the Thailand Masters 2026, marking the biggest breakthrough of her career.

The 20-year-old shuttler from Haryana defeated Goh Jin Wei of Malaysia in the women’s singles final.

The final ended after Goh Jin Wei retired due to a hamstring injury.

At the time of retirement, Devika Sihag was leading convincingly 21–8, 6–3, showing complete dominance.

Devika’s performance in the final highlighted her aggressive stroke play, sharp net control and strong mental composure.

Despite the premature end, her overall tournament performance clearly justified the title win.

This was Devika Sihag’s maiden title at the BWF Super 300 level, making it her most significant career achievement so far.

BWF Super 300 tournaments are part of the BWF World Tour and offer important ranking points and international exposure.

The title win is expected to boost her world ranking, confidence and visibility on the international circuit.

The victory will help Devika compete more regularly in higher-level tournaments such as Super 500 and Super 750 events.

Goh Jin Wei, ranked World No. 68, is a two-time former World Junior Champion and was considered a strong contender in the final.