Daily Current Affairs January 20

Dear Champions, as you all know that a lot of competitive exams have been notified consequently. Candidates have to prepare themselves according to the level of competition and expectation of the Recruitment board. Regarding that one of the most important topic is Daily Current Affairs January 20. Current Affairs in the form of contemporary events of national & international play a crucial role in almost every competitive exams like Banking, Insurance, SSC, UPSC, TNPSC, Railway etc.

Current affairs are the most dynamic yet scoring among all sections and need to be prepared from the right source. Here, we cafunsta team, providing Daily GK Updates, Current Affairs Questions, and Monthly current affairs pdf.

TO PURCHASE OUR BANKING AWARENESS (Latest Edition) – CLICK HERE

January 20 | Daily Current Affairs 2025

Important Days – Daily Current Affairs January 20

1. Penguin Awareness Day is observed every year on which date to promote conservation of penguin species and their habitats?
A) January 10
B) January 15
C) January 20
D) February 2
E) March 22
Answer: C) January 20

Event and Location:

• Event: Observation of Penguin Awareness Day 2026
• Location: Global
• Date: January 20, 2026

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: Penguin Awareness Day is observed annually to draw attention to penguins, their habitats, and the environmental threats affecting their survival.
• Objectives: The day aims to promote global awareness, encourage conservation of marine ecosystems, and highlight the impact of climate change, pollution, and human activities on penguin populations.

Important Terms Explained:

• Penguin Awareness Day: An annual global observance held on January 20 to educate people about penguin species, their ecological importance, and the need for conservation.
• Climate Change: Long-term changes in temperature and weather patterns that are causing melting polar ice, habitat loss, and food scarcity for penguins.
• Marine Ecosystem: An interconnected system of ocean life, including fish, krill, seabirds, and penguins, which depends on balanced environmental conditions for survival.

Tabular Summary:

---

Sports – Daily Current Affairs January 20

2. Which team won its maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy title in the 2025–26 season by defeating Saurashtra?
A) Haryana
B) Karnataka
C) Vidarbha
D) Tamil Nadu
E) Saurashtra
Answer: C) Vidarbha

Event and Location:

• Event: Vidarbha wins its first-ever Vijay Hazare Trophy
• Location: BCCI Centre of Excellence, Bengaluru
• Date: January 2026 (Final held in 2025–26 season)

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates:
  • Vidarbha defeated two-time champions Saurashtra by 38 runs to win the 2025–26 Vijay Hazare Trophy, marking their maiden title in the domestic one-day tournament.
• Objectives:
  • To highlight the emergence of Vidarbha as a serious contender in List A domestic cricket, and recognize individual excellence in a high-pressure final.

Important Terms Explained:

• Vijay Hazare Trophy:
  • India’s premier domestic 50-over (List A) tournament named after legendary cricketer Vijay Hazare. Organized by the BCCI, it serves as a key platform for aspiring international cricketers.
• List A Cricket:
  • A form of limited-overs cricket played at the domestic level. Matches are typically 50 overs per side, considered one level below ODIs.
• Atharva Taide:
  • An Indian domestic cricketer who scored 128 runs in the 2026 final, leading Vidarbha’s batting performance.
• Yash Thakur:
  • Vidarbha’s pace bowler who took 4 wickets in the final and played a crucial role in defending the total.

Tabular Summary:

---

Obituary – Daily Current Affairs January 20

3. Valentino Garavani, who recently passed away at age 93, was globally known for which of the following contributions?
A) Launching Milan Fashion Week
B) Founding the Versace label
C) Creating the colour ‘Valentino Red’
D) Designing uniforms for the Italian army
E) Inventing denim fashion
Answer: C) Creating the colour ‘Valentino Red’

Event and Location:

• Event: Passing of legendary Italian designer Valentino Garavani
• Location: Italy (global fashion relevance)
• Date: January 2026

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: Valentino Garavani, founder of the Valentino fashion house, passed away at the age of 93, concluding a legendary six-decade career in global haute couture.
• Objectives: To honour his unparalleled legacy in luxury fashion, his creation of the iconic Valentino Red, and his role in elevating Italian couture on the world stage.

Important Terms Explained:

• Valentino Red: A signature deep red shade introduced by Valentino, symbolizing elegance, power, and timeless femininity; it became a hallmark of his fashion identity.
• Haute Couture: High-end, custom-fitted fashion design, traditionally produced in Paris, that emphasizes craftsmanship, exclusivity, and artisanal techniques.
• Valentino Fashion House: A luxury Italian fashion label founded by Valentino Garavani in 1960 in Rome, known for classic gowns, refinement, and romantic aesthetics.

Tabular Summary:

---

Ranking – Daily Current Affairs January 20

4. What is India’s rank in the Responsible Nations Index 2026 released by the World Intellectual Foundation?
A) 12th
B) 16th
C) 20th
D) 24th
E) 10th
Answer: B) 16th

Event and Location:

• Event: India ranks 16th in the Responsible Nations Index 2026
• Location: Global (Index launched by an international institution)
• Date: January 20, 2026

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: The Responsible Nations Index (RNI) ranks countries based on their internal governance, environmental responsibility, and global cooperation.
• Objectives: The aim is to assess and encourage responsible national behavior beyond mere economic or military power, promoting ethical governance and sustainability.

Tabular Summary:  Responsible Nations Index 2026 – Top 20 and Bottom 10 Rankings

Top 20 Countries

Tabular Summary: Bottom 10 Countries

Important Terms Explained:

• Responsible Nations Index (RNI): A global evaluative framework that ranks 154 countries based on ethical governance, environmental responsibility, and contribution to global cooperation, emphasizing responsibility over economic size.
• World Intellectual Foundation: The organization that developed and launched the RNI to reshape global assessments of national success through responsible behavior and inclusive governance.
• Internal, Environmental, and External Responsibility: The three pillars of the index evaluating how a nation treats its citizens, manages natural resources, and contributes to global peace and cooperation.

Tabular Summary:

---

5. In 2025, how much did China’s population decline despite new birth incentives, according to official data?
A) 1 million
B) 2 million
C) 3 million
D) 4 million
E) 5 million
Answer: C) 3 million

Event and Location:

• Event: China’s population declines for the fourth consecutive year despite incentives
• Location: China
• Date: January 2026 (data for year 2025)

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: China recorded a population drop of 3 million in 2025, with births falling to a record low of 7.92 million despite state-led birth incentives and supportive family policies.
• Objectives: To stabilize population decline and address long-term demographic pressures by encouraging childbearing through financial support, policy reforms, and tax benefits.

Important Terms Explained:

• Fertility Rate: The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime. A rate of 2.1 is considered replacement level. China’s estimated fertility rate in 2025 is around 1, far below sustainability.
• Population Replacement Level: The level of fertility at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next, without migration; generally pegged at 2.1 children per woman.
• One-Child Policy: China’s former population control policy implemented in 1980 and phased out in 2015, replaced with the two-child and then three-child policies to reverse demographic decline.
• Value Added Tax (VAT): A consumption tax levied on goods and services at each stage of production or distribution. In China, contraceptives were removed from tax exemption and now face a 13% VAT.

Tabular Summary:

---

6. What is India’s rank in the Asia Manufacturing Index 2026 released by Dezan Shira & Associates?
A) 3rd
B) 4th
C) 5th
D) 6th
E) 7th
Answer: D) 6th

Event and Location:

• Event: India ranks 6th in the Asia Manufacturing Index 2026
• Location: Asia (Regional Ranking)
• Date: January 2026

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: The Asia Manufacturing Index 2026, published by Dezan Shira & Associates, ranks India 6th out of 11 Asian countries, based on manufacturing competitiveness across eight pillars.
• Objectives: To assess and compare manufacturing readiness, policy effectiveness, and economic infrastructure of Asian economies, offering insights to improve India’s manufacturing reforms and global positioning.

Important Terms Explained:

• Asia Manufacturing Index (AMI): An annual ranking of 11 key Asian economies evaluating manufacturing competitiveness across eight pillars such as economy, tax policy, trade, innovation, and infrastructure. Released by Dezan Shira & Associates.
• Dezan Shira & Associates: A pan-Asian advisory firm headquartered in Hong Kong, specializing in market intelligence, business advisory, tax, and legal consulting services across Asia.
• Innovation Depth: Refers to a country’s ability to support manufacturing through R&D investment, technological advancement, and product design capacity.
• Ease of Doing Business & Logistics Efficiency: Critical enablers for a manufacturing-friendly environment involving regulatory simplification, reduced compliance burden, and reliable transport infrastructure.

Tabular Summary:

---

Business and Economy – Daily Current Affairs January 20

7. What is the revised GDP growth forecast for India in FY 2025–26 as per the International Monetary Fund (IMF)?
A) 6.4%
B) 6.6%
C) 6.9%
D) 7.3%
E) 7.5%
Answer: D) 7.3%

Event and Location:

• Event: IMF revises India’s GDP growth forecast upward for FY 2025–26
• Location: India
• Date: January 20, 2026

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has increased India’s GDP growth forecast for FY 2025–26 by 0.7 percentage points to 7.3%.
• Objectives: The revision aims to reflect India’s strong economic momentum, stable domestic demand, easing inflation trends, and resilience amid global uncertainties.

Important Terms Explained:

• International Monetary Fund (IMF): A global financial institution established in 1944 to promote international monetary cooperation, ensure financial stability, foster economic growth, and provide temporary financial assistance to countries in economic crisis.
• World Economic Outlook (WEO): A key IMF publication that provides analysis and projections of the global economy, released twice a year with interim updates.
• Special Drawing Rights (SDRs): An international reserve asset created by the IMF to supplement its member countries’ official reserves, valued based on a basket of major currencies and not a currency itself.

Tabular Summary:

---

8. According to an SBI analysis, what is India’s projected per capita income by 2030 to enter the upper-middle-income group?
A) $2,500
B) $3,000
C) $4,000
D) $5,000
E) $6,000
Answer: C) $4,000

Event and Location:

• Event: India projected to become an upper-middle-income country by 2030
• Location: India (based on SBI economic analysis)
• Date: January 2026 (report published)

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: The State Bank of India (SBI) released an analysis projecting India’s transition to upper-middle-income status by 2030 with a per capita GNI of $4,000.
• Objectives: To highlight India’s economic transformation, driven by strong GDP growth, rising per capita income, and structural reforms, and to prepare policy for a future high-income nation status by 2047.

Important Terms Explained:

• Upper-Middle-Income Economy: As per World Bank classification, countries with per capita GNI between roughly $4,000 and $12,700 (subject to annual updates). It indicates better living standards and enhanced economic strength.
• Per Capita GNI (Gross National Income): Total income earned by a country’s residents (including abroad income) divided by the population; it is used by the World Bank to classify country income groups.
• CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate): The rate at which a value grows annually over a period, assuming it is compounded. India’s GNI per capita has grown at over 8% CAGR between 2001 and 2024.
• SBI (State Bank of India): India’s largest public sector bank and a major financial institution that conducts economic research and publishes analytical reports on macroeconomic indicators.

Tabular Summary:

---

9. According to the IMF, what is the projected global GDP growth rate for 2026?
A) 3.0%
B) 3.1%
C) 3.2%
D) 3.3%
E) 3.5%
Answer: D) 3.3%

Event and Location:

• Event: IMF projects steady global growth in 2026 due to AI investment and easing trade tensions
• Location: Global (World Economic Outlook update by IMF)
• Date: January 2026

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected a global GDP growth rate of 3.3% in 2026, citing improved conditions driven by artificial intelligence investments, declining tariffs, and global supply chain adaptation.
• Objectives: To assess global macroeconomic performance and offer projections to inform policy decisions, manage risks, and highlight potential economic drivers and downside threats in the global economy.

Important Terms Explained:

• World Economic Outlook (WEO): A flagship report published by the IMF twice a year (April & October), with updates in January and July, providing economic forecasts, inflation trends, and country-level data for 190+ nations.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) Boom: Refers to the surge in global investments in AI infrastructure like data centers, chips, and cloud systems, which is enhancing productivity and asset values, supporting medium-term global growth.
• Tariff Rate: A tax imposed on imports. The US’s effective tariff rate is expected to fall to 18.5% in 2026 from earlier projections of 25%, easing global trade pressures.
• Market Correction: A rapid decline in asset prices following a period of overvaluation. The IMF warns that AI-driven market exuberance could lead to corrections if projected gains don’t materialize.

Tabular Summary:

---

 

Books and Authors – Daily Current Affairs January 20

10. Who released the Hindi edition of the autobiography ‘Palanivelu GUTS’ in January 2026?
A) Droupadi Murmu
B) Narendra Modi
C) Jagdeep Dhankhar
D) C. P. Radhakrishnan
E) Mansukh Mandaviya
Answer: D) C. P. Radhakrishnan

Event and Location:

• Event: Release of the Hindi edition of Palanivelu GUTS, the autobiography of Dr. C. Palanivelu
• Location: New Delhi, India
• Date: January 2026

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan released the Hindi edition of Palanivelu GUTS, celebrating the life of Dr. C. Palanivelu and his contributions to modern surgery.
• Objectives: Promote ethical innovation, medical excellence, and social responsibility, while making the inspiring life story of Dr. Palanivelu accessible to a wider Hindi-speaking audience.

Important Terms Explained:

• Palanivelu GUTS: An autobiography of renowned Indian laparoscopic surgeon Dr. C. Palanivelu, highlighting his journey of innovation, resilience, and service in modern medicine.
• Laparoscopic Surgery: Also called minimally invasive surgery, it uses small incisions and cameras for internal procedures, reducing patient recovery time and risk.
• Robotic Surgery: A high-precision, tech-assisted surgical method allowing enhanced control and flexibility; Dr. Palanivelu was a pioneer in introducing it in India.
• Guru Reverence Tradition: A core Indian value emphasizing deep respect and gratitude towards teachers and mentors, often expressed through lifelong acknowledgment and service.

Tabular Summary:

---

Appointments – Daily Current Affairs January 20

11. Who has been appointed as the new CEO of Raymond Lifestyle, effective January 19, 2026?
A) Sanjay Behl
B) Satyaki Ghosh
C) Shantanu Khosla
D) Arun Misra
E) Rakesh Kapoor
Answer: B) Satyaki Ghosh

Event and Location:

• Event: Appointment of new CEO for Raymond Lifestyle
• Location: India (Raymond Headquarters – Mumbai)
• Date: January 19, 2026

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates:
  • Raymond Lifestyle appointed Satyaki Ghosh as its new Chief Executive Officer, following a decision by the Board of Directors.
• Objectives:
  • To strengthen leadership in its lifestyle and retail operations, aiming to boost business growth, consumer focus, and market competitiveness through experienced executive management.

Important Terms Explained:

• CEO (Chief Executive Officer):
  • The top executive in a company responsible for overall management, business strategy, and operational leadership. The CEO reports to the board and is key to implementing organizational vision and goals.
• Raymond Lifestyle:
  • A division of Raymond Limited, focusing on premium apparel, ready-to-wear garments, and fashion retail. It includes brands like Park Avenue, ColorPlus, and Raymond Ready to Wear.
• Aditya Birla Group:
  • A large Indian multinational conglomerate with interests in sectors like metals, cement, fashion, and telecom. Satyaki Ghosh was previously part of this group.

Tabular Summary:

---

Awards – Daily Current Affairs January 20

12. Which indigenous solution earned C-DOT the SKOCH Award 2025 at the 104th SKOCH Summit?
A) Quantum Secure Communication System
B) Bharat 6G Testbed
C) Cell Broadcast Solution
D) AI-Powered Surveillance Grid
E) National Cyber Defence Platform
Answer: C) Cell Broadcast Solution

Event and Location:

• Event: C-DOT wins SKOCH Award 2025 for Cell Broadcast Solution
• Location: India (104th SKOCH Summit)
• Date: January 2026

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) was awarded the SKOCH Award 2025 for developing a fully indigenous Cell Broadcast Solution, a disaster alert platform.
• Objectives: To provide geo-targeted, real-time, and multilingual emergency alerts to citizens across India, enhancing disaster risk reduction, public safety, and resilience using digital infrastructure.

Important Terms Explained:

• Cell Broadcast Solution (CBS): A mobile-based platform that delivers emergency alerts to all devices in a specific area instantly, even during network congestion. It supports multi-hazard alerts in 21 Indian languages.
• SKOCH Award: A prestigious Indian award that recognizes impactful governance, technological innovation, and inclusive development by public and private institutions.
• Early Warnings for All (EW4All): A global UN initiative aiming to ensure every person on Earth is protected by early warning systems against hazards by 2027.
• Common Alerting Protocol (CAP): A global ITU standard for alerting systems to ensure consistency in delivering warnings across technologies and platforms.

Tabular Summary:

---

13. Who has been selected for the Padmapani Award at the 11th Ajanta–Ellora International Film Festival 2026?
A) A. R. Rahman
B) Shankar Mahadevan
C) Ilaiyaraaja
D) Lata Mangeshkar
E) Zakir Hussain
Answer: C) Ilaiyaraaja

Event and Location:

• Event: Ilaiyaraaja selected for Padmapani Award at Ajanta–Ellora International Film Festival 2026
• Location: Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra
• Date: Award to be presented between January 28 – February 1, 2026

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: The Padmapani Award is being conferred upon Ilaiyaraaja at the 11th edition of the Ajanta–Ellora International Film Festival for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.
• Objectives: To honor exceptional individuals in the field of cinema and arts whose work has had a profound cultural and artistic impact at both national and international levels.

Important Terms Explained:

• Padmapani Award: A prestigious award given at the Ajanta–Ellora International Film Festival recognizing lifetime achievements and exceptional contribution to the field of cinema and arts. It includes a memento, citation, and ₹2 lakh cash prize.
• Ilaiyaraaja: One of India’s most legendary and influential music composers, with a career spanning over four decades and more than 1,000 films. Known for fusing Indian classical music with Western orchestration.
• Ajanta–Ellora International Film Festival: An annual cultural film festival organized in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, promoting meaningful Indian and international cinema with support from state and central government cultural bodies.

Tabular Summary:

---

14. Which company has been awarded the Indian Navy contract for constructing 200-tonne Bottom Opening Non-Propelled Barges?
A) Cochin Shipyard Ltd
B) Garden Reach Shipbuilders
C) Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders
D) Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd
E) Hindustan Shipyard Ltd
Answer: D) Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd

Event and Location:

• Event: Indian Navy signs contract for three Bottom Opening Non-Propelled Barges
• Location: Thane, Maharashtra (Shipyard location)
• Date: January 16, 2026

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: The Indian Navy signed a contract with Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd for the construction of three 200-tonne Bottom Opening Non-Propelled Barges, built under Indian Register of Shipping standards.
• Objectives: To strengthen indigenous naval logistics infrastructure, support MSME shipyards, and promote Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat by developing specialised maritime vessels domestically.

Important Terms Explained:

• Bottom Opening Non-Propelled Barges: Naval auxiliary vessels designed for logistical operations, these barges release cargo or material (such as dredged sediment) through bottom hatches and are towed rather than self-propelled.
• Make in India: A Government of India initiative launched in 2014 to boost domestic manufacturing by encouraging companies to produce goods within India.
• Aatmanirbhar Bharat: A self-reliant India campaign launched in 2020 that emphasizes reducing dependency on imports by enhancing domestic production capabilities across all sectors.
• Maritime India Vision 2030: A strategic blueprint by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to modernize India’s ports, boost shipbuilding, and position India as a global maritime hub.

Tabular Summary:

---

 

International Affairs – Daily Current Affairs January 20

15. Which of the following was not a focus area during UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed’s 2026 visit to India?
A) Space cooperation
B) Civil nuclear energy
C) Blockchain cryptocurrency regulation
D) Strategic defence partnership
E) Cultural initiatives
Answer: C) Blockchain cryptocurrency regulation

Event and Location:

• Event: UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed’s state visit to India
• Location: India
• Date: January 2026

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: The visit led to the signing of several MoUs, Letters of Intent, and strategic announcements in areas like investment, defence, space, energy, nuclear cooperation, AI, trade, and cultural exchanges.
• Objectives: Strengthen the India–UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, double bilateral trade, promote innovation, deepen defence cooperation, boost food and energy security, and enhance people-to-people and cultural ties.

Important Terms Explained:

• Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR): A major planned industrial city in Gujarat, India, being developed as a smart city and logistics hub with international investment, including from the UAE.
• IN-SPACe: Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center, an autonomous agency under the Department of Space to promote private sector participation in space activities in India.
• SHANTI Act 2025: A framework for nuclear cooperation including Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), large nuclear reactors, safety protocols, and joint operations between India and partner nations.
• GIFT City: Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, India’s first operational smart city and international financial services centre aimed at attracting foreign investments and institutions.

Tabular Summary:

---

16. What is the new bilateral trade target set by India and the UAE to be achieved by 2032?
A) $150 billion
B) $175 billion
C) $100 billion
D) $200 billion
E) $225 billion
Answer: D) $200 billion

Event and Location:

• Event: India and UAE agree to double bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032
• Location: New Delhi, India
• Date: January 20, 2026

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: High-level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan resulted in setting a $200 billion trade target by 2032 and signing multiple agreements in strategic sectors.
• Objectives: Deepen the India–UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership by enhancing cooperation across defence, space, energy, infrastructure, finance, culture, and civil nuclear collaboration, while promoting sustainable and diversified economic growth.

Important Terms Explained:

• GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City): India’s first international financial services centre (IFSC) developed as a global hub for financial innovation and offshore banking.
• House of India (Abu Dhabi): A proposed cultural and heritage complex in UAE that will showcase Indian art, archaeology, and traditions to strengthen bilateral people-to-people and cultural ties.
• Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR): A smart city and industrial region in Gujarat, supported by the UAE in areas such as an international airport, smart urban township, and logistics infrastructure.
• Strategic Defence Partnership Framework: An initiative to institutionalize long-term cooperation in defence, cyber security, innovation, joint training, and counter-terrorism.

Tabular Summary:

---

National Affairs – Daily Current Affairs January 20

17. What is the main objective of India’s first Tailings Policy announced in 2026?
A) Promote coal-based energy
B) Increase gold exports
C) Recover critical minerals from mine waste
D) Ban open-pit mining
E) Reduce forest clearance for new mines
Answer: C) Recover critical minerals from mine waste

Event and Location:

• Event: India announces its first Tailings Policy to recover critical minerals
• Location: India (policy issued by Ministry of Mines)
• Date: January 2026

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: The Ministry of Mines released India’s first Tailings Policy aimed at guiding the recovery of critical and strategic minerals from tailings, overburden, mine dumps, and slags.
• Objectives: To boost the domestic availability of critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements (REEs), reduce import dependence, and support India’s transition to clean energy and self-reliant mineral security under Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Important Terms Explained:

• Tailings: Residual material left after valuable minerals are extracted from ore, usually stored in slurry form in tailing ponds or dumps. Previously considered waste, they are now seen as a valuable secondary mineral source.
• Critical Minerals: Minerals essential for high-tech, clean energy, and national security (e.g. lithium, cobalt, REEs). They have few substitutes and face supply risks.
• Companion Minerals: Elements that naturally occur with primary mined minerals. For example, cobalt in copper tailings or germanium in zinc ores.
• Secondary Sources: Non-primary sources like tailings, red mud, slags, and mine dumps from which minerals can be economically recovered.

Tabular Summary:

---

18. Where was India’s first open-sea marine fish farming project launched in 2026?
A) Gulf of Mannar
B) Arabian Sea
C) Andaman Sea
D) Bay of Bengal
E) Indian Ocean Ridge
Answer: C) Andaman Sea

Event and Location:

• Event: Launch of India’s first open-sea marine fish farming pilot project
• Location: Andaman Sea (North Bay, Andaman and Nicobar Islands)
• Date: January 2026

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: Union Minister Jitendra Singh launched India’s first open-ocean marine farming pilot project in the Andaman Sea, focusing on finfish cage farming and seaweed cultivation using scientific marine technology.
• Objectives: Promote Blue Economy growth, enable livelihood generation for coastal communities, and ensure sustainable use of India’s marine resources through ocean-based innovation.

Important Terms Explained:

• Open-Sea Marine Fish Farming: The practice of cultivating marine species like finfish and seaweed directly in the open sea using structures like cages and deep-water frames, away from traditional near-shore zones.
• Blue Economy: A development model focused on the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and ocean health. It includes sectors like fisheries, aquaculture, marine biotech, tourism, and offshore energy.
• National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT): A premier Indian institution under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, involved in ocean engineering, marine technology, and sustainable marine resource development.

Tabular Summary:

---

---

Over All Review

DOWNLOAD TODAY’S CURRENT AFFAIRS PDF – CLICK HERE

You Must Also Read Daily Current Affairs January 19