20th January 2026

1. Ministry of Agriculture notes a 2.8% rise in rabi sowing, covering 64.42 million hectares
2. MSME Ministry approves the establishment of MSME Technology Centres at Pandoga and Parwanoo in Himachal Pradesh
3. India, Sri Lanka, and Maldives conduct the 17th trilateral Coast Guard exercise DOSTI in Maldives
4. World Bank approves USD 286 million funding for strengthening healthcare systems in West Bengal
5. SBI Life introduces the Smart Platina Advantage guaranteed savings plan
6. India launches its first open-sea marine fish farming project in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
7. Union MoS Dr Jitendra Singh announces deployment of 200 automatic weather stations across four cities
8. High Seas Treaty comes into force, introducing new global rules for ocean protection
9. India launches its first sleeper version of the Vande Bharat train
10. Maharashtra Cabinet approves the ₹4,775 crore Bembla River irrigation project

National News

1. India launches first open-sea marine fish farming project in Andaman Sea

• What
  • India launched its first open-sea Marine Fish Farming project in the Andaman Sea to unlock ocean-based economic potential and advance the Blue Economy through science-led livelihood generation.
• Tell me more
  • Implementing Agency – Ministry of Earth Sciences with the National Institute of Ocean Technology and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration
  • The project was launched at North Bay, Sri Vijaya Puram, during a field visit to the open waters of the Andaman Sea.
  • The pilot focuses on open-sea finfish and seaweed cultivation under natural conditions, supported by seed distribution to fishing communities, cage-based farming using NIOT-developed cages, and future scalability through public–private participation models.

2. IMD to expand urban weather observation network with 200 AWS

• What
  • The India Meteorological Department will install 200 Automatic Weather Stations across Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Pune in 2026 to enable hyper-local forecasting, strengthen disaster preparedness, and support urban safety.
• Tell me more
  • 50 Automatic Weather Stations will be deployed in each of the four metropolitan cities.
  • The dense network will generate high-resolution real-time data to predict extreme weather events, while forecast accuracy improved by 40–50%, cyclone track accuracy by 35–40%, and forecast errors declined from about 7.5% to nearly 2.5%.
  • Weather radar coverage expanded to about 87% of India’s geographical area.
  • New facilities including a Model Observatory and 3D-printed Automatic Weather Station were inaugurated at the India Meteorological Department campus in New Delhi.

3. 164 Vande Bharat trains operational till December 2025

• What
  • Indian Railways has operationalised 164 Vande Bharat trains nationwide by December 2025 and plans to achieve the following targets:
    • By January 2026: Launch of Vande Bharat Sleeper for long-distance overnight travel on the Howrah–Guwahati route.
    • By 2030: Fleet expansion target of 800 Vande Bharat trainsets.
    • By 2047: Long-term vision to scale the fleet to 4,500 Vande Bharat trainsets.
• Tell me more
  • Vande Bharat Express is an indigenously designed semi-high-speed trainset with modern safety, comfort, and energy-efficient features.
  • Manufacturing is carried out at the Integral Coach Factory with about 90% localisation.

Source: PIB

State News

1. MSME Technology Centres approved in Himachal Pradesh

• What
  • The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Ministry approved MSME Technology Centres at Pandoga in Una district and Parwanoo in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh, each costing about ₹10 crore, as part of 13 new Technology Centres Extension Centres nationwide.
• Tell me more
  • The centres aim to encourage industrial investment, support industrial development, provide skill training to youth, improve self-employment opportunities, and support employment generation through industrial and skill development activities.

Source: NOA

2. World Bank approves health system reform financing for West Bengal

• What
  • The World Bank approved $286 million financing to improve quality of life and life expectancy for over 90 million people in West Bengal through wider and more equitable access to quality healthcare.
• Tell me more
  • The program targets improved healthcare delivery for people above 30 years using digital tracking for Non-Communicable Diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.
  • The program supports patient-centric care, improved health outcome measurement, resilience of healthcare facilities to extreme weather events, and strengthening of gender-based violence services through targeted interventions.
  • Five districts, Purulia, Birbhum, Murshidabad, Maldah, and Uttar Dinajpur, will receive focused support for maternal and adolescent health.
  • The loan from the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development has a maturity of 16.5 years with a three-year grace period.

3. Maharashtra cabinet clears Bembla river project and overseas employment agency

• What
  • The Maharashtra cabinet approved ₹4,775 crore for completing the Bembla River project in Yavatmal to expand irrigation and approved MAHIMA to facilitate overseas employment opportunities for trained state youth.
• Tell me more
  • The project is located on the Bembla river near Khadak Sawanga in Babhulgaon taluka.
  • It falls under the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation and the Wardha sub-basin of the Godavari basin.
  • Irrigation will be created through canals, lift irrigation, micro-irrigation, and closed pipelines, while MAHIMA will coordinate and implement systems to connect skilled youth with global employment opportunities.

Source: NOA TOI

International News

1. High Seas Treaty to enter into force in January 2026

• What
  • The High Seas Treaty, formally called the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction, will enter into force on 17 January 2026, enabling global governance of high seas biodiversity.
• Tell me more
  • The treaty enables marine protected areas in the high seas, regulates marine genetic resource use, mandates environmental impact assessments, and supports developing countries through capacity-building and marine technology transfer.
  • The treaty applies to ocean areas not controlled by any country, which together cover about 50% of the Earth’s surface and 95% of the world’s oceans.
  • The first Conference of the Parties will be held within one year of entry into force.
  • The EU Global Ocean Programme provides €40 million for treaty implementation support.
  • The BBNJ Secretariat is hosted by the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea.
  • As of 14 January 2026, the BBNJ Agreement has 82 ratifications and 145 signatories, with the required 60 ratifications for implementation reached on 19 September 2025.

Source: EU HST

Banking and Economy

1. SBI Life launches Smart Platina Advantage savings insurance product

• What
  • SBI Life Insurance launched SBI Life – Smart Platina Advantage, an individual non-linked, non-participating savings life insurance product offering long-term guaranteed benefits with life cover, limited premium payment, maturity flexibility, and tax benefits.
• Tell me more
  • Premiums are paid for a limited period while life cover continues for the entire policy term.
  • Maturity proceeds can be received in instalments to ensure post-maturity liquidity.
  • Tax benefits are available as per provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

Source: BS

Defence News

1. Trilateral maritime exercise DOSTI-17 begins in Maldives

• The 17th edition of the trilateral maritime exercise DOSTI commenced in Malé, Maldives, involving the coast guards of India, Sri Lanka, and Maldives to strengthen maritime cooperation and security.
• Maldives is an island nation located in the Indian Ocean region.

Source: WION

Agriculture and Rural Development

1. Rabi crop sowing records higher acreage in 2025–26

• What
  • Rabi crop sowing covered 64.42 million hectares in 2025–26 as on 9 January, rising by over 1.76 million hectares, standing 2.8% higher than last year and above the seasonal average.
• Tell me more
  • Higher acreage across wheat, rice, pulses, oilseeds, Shri Anna, and coarse cereals was supported by improved soil moisture from an above-normal monsoon, aiding reservoir levels, groundwater recharge, and sowing progress.
  • Rainfall during January–March 2026 is expected to remain below normal at less than 88% of the Long Period Average.
  • The Long Period Average rainfall for the January–March season is 69.7 millimetres based on 1971–2020 data.

Source: NOA Mint

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