January 28, 2026 - Current Affairs

Novak Djokovic Secures 400th Grand Slam Win to Extend Record

January 28, 2026

Novak Djokovic became the second player to have played 400 career tennis singles match otherwise at a major championship and is the first to do so during a major championship. The 38-year-old Serb had his 38th game set win over Botic van de Zandschulp, which saw him go to the fourth round and increase his record over time in Grand Slams as well as match wins. Another record that Djokovic matched was that of Roger Federer, whom he is regarded as the best in the history of tennis matches, as he sought his 25th major form of Grand Slam tennis championship.

Early Life of Novak Djokovic and Rise in Tennis

Novak Djokovic was born on May 22, 1987, in Belgrade, Serbia (former Yugoslavia).
He started playing tennis when he was four years old, and his parents gave him a mini-racket and a foam ball.
Djokovic spent his early years in Novi Sad at the tennis camp and was coached by Jelena Gencic, who is the one who developed his early career.
He was raised during the Yugoslav Wars, and therefore, he had become very strong and wilful.
At the age of 14, he became the best junior in Europe and became a professional in 2003.
He was in the ATP top 100 at the age of 18 and managed to enter major semifinals quite soon.
It was in the year 2008 that he achieved his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.

Significance of the 400th Win

Novak Djokovic was the first tennis player to reach the 400-match-win record in the Grand Slam tournaments in history, which shows his unquestionable consistency and ability to last longer at the majors.
His third-round win at the 2026 Australian Open has seen him reach the milestone.
It was also a win that earned him a place with Roger Federer in the list of highlight match wins of 102 match wins at the Australian Open, and portrays him as a winner at Melbourne Park.
The 400 th Grand Slam title adds to Djokovic's already legendary reputation as one of the most prolific tennis players of all time and shows his ability to perform at the elite level over the span of more than twenty years.

Important PYQs on Grand Slam

Exam / Paper	Year	Question	Answer
CGPSC Prelims	2021	Arrange the following tennis tournaments in order of starting year: French Open, Wimbledon, US Open, and Australian Open.	Wimbledon, US Open, French Open, Australian Open.
UPSC CAPF AC	2015	Which one of the following Grand Slam Tennis tournaments had the highest prize money in 2014?	Wimbledon.
SSC CGL Tier-I	2023	Which Grand Slam tournament was played between 17 and 30 January 2022?	Australian Open.
SSC MTS	2019	Which of the following is NOT a Grand Slam in tennis?	Indian Open (not a Grand Slam).
UPSC Prelims / GK	Various	Which Grand Slam title is also known as Roland Garros?	French Open.

Conclusion (Novak Djokovic Secures 400th Grand Slam Win)

The 400th Grand Slam won by Novak Djokovic places him in the hall of fame of tennis. This historic achievement reflects on his stability, endurance and supremacy in all of the key tournaments, indicating career longevity that is beyond remarkable. Djokovic is still motivating the world in tennis and is striving to reach even more records and Grand Slam titles.

Padma Awards 2026 Announced: Complete List of Padma Vibhushan, Bhushan & Shri Awardees

January 28, 2026

Padma Awards: It is one of the highest civilian awards of the country and has three classes, that is, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. The awards are conferred in different disciplines/fields of activity, viz., art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature, education, sports, civil service, etc. Padma Vibhushan is given on exceptional and distinguished service; Padma Bhushan on distinguished service of high order; and Padma Shri on distinguished service in any field. The awards are declared during the Republic Day annually.

Awards are given by the President of India at formal events that are conducted at Rashtrapati Bhawan around March / April annually. The President has sanctioned the award of 131 Padma Awards, including 2 duo cases (in a duo case, the award is considered one), as per the following list: These include 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri Awards; 19 of the awardees are women, and the list also has 6 individuals under the category of Foreigners/NRI/PIO and 16 posthumous awardees.

Padma Vibhushan (5)

Padma Vibhushan is the second-highest Indian civilian award, which is awarded to individuals who have contributed outstanding and distinguished service in arts, literature, science, social work, and the achievement of governmental matters. Padma Vibhushan was the honourable recognition of the distinguished contribution towards the nation in the Padma Awards 2026, with the title given to 5 eminent personalities.

Awardees Table

SN	Name	Field	State / Country
1	Shri Dharmendra Singh Deol (Posthumous)	Art	Maharashtra
2	Shri K T Thomas	Public Affairs	Kerala
3	Ms. N Rajam	Art	Uttar Pradesh
4	Shri P Narayanan	Literature and Education	Kerala
5	Shri V S Achuthanandhan (Posthumous)	Public Affairs	Kerala

Padma Bhushan (13)

Padma Bhushan is the 3rd highest Indian civilian award, which is given to exceptional service at a high-level in various sectors, including art, literature, science, sports, medicine, and the services of the nation. A total of 13 exceptional personalities were presented with the Padma Bhushan in the Padma Awards 2026 in recognition of their contribution in exceptional ways.

Awardees Table

SN	Name	Field	State / Country
1	Ms. Alka Yagnik	Art	Maharashtra
2	Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari	Public Affairs	Uttarakhand
3	Shri Kallipatti Ramasamy Palaniswamy	Medicine	Tamil Nadu
4	Shri Mammootty	Art	Kerala
5	Dr. Nori Dattatreyudu	Medicine	United States of America
6	Shri Piyush Pandey (Posthumous)	Art	Maharashtra
7	Shri S K M Maeilanandhan	Social Work	Tamil Nadu
8	Shri Shatavadhani R Ganesh	Art	Karnataka
9	Shri Shibu Soren (Posthumous)	Public Affairs	Jharkhand
10	Shri Uday Kotak	Trade and Industry	Maharashtra
11	Shri V K Malhotra (Posthumous)	Public Affairs	Delhi
12	Shri Vellappally Natesan	Public Affairs	Kerala
13	Shri Vijay Amritraj	Sports	United States of America

Padma Shri (113)

Padma Shri (113) is the fourth-highest civilian award of India, which is given in recognition of notable service in art, literature, education, science, sports, medicine, social work, and in the socio-economic sector. Under the Padma Awards 2026, 113 persons were recognised as Padma Shri, with them having made influential contributions to society and the nation.

SN	Name	Field	State / Country
1	Shri A E Muthunayagam	Science and Engineering	Kerala
2	Shri Anil Kumar Rastogi	Art	Uttar Pradesh
3	Shri Anke Gowda M.	Social Work	Karnataka
4	Ms. Armida Fernandez	Medicine	Maharashtra
5	Shri Arvind Vaidya	Art	Gujarat
6	Shri Ashok Khade	Trade and Industry	Maharashtra
7	Shri Ashok Kumar Singh	Science and Engineering	Uttar Pradesh
8	Shri Asok Kumar Haldar	Literature and Education	West Bengal
9	Shri Baldev Singh	Sports	Punjab
10	Shri Bhagwandas Raikwar	Sports	Madhya Pradesh
11	Shri Bharat Singh Bharti	Art	Bihar
12	Shri Bhiklya Ladakya Dhinda	Art	Maharashtra
13	Shri Bishwa Bandhu (Posthumous)	Art	Bihar
14	Shri Brij Lal Bhat	Social Work	Jammu and Kashmir
15	Shri Buddha Rashmi Mani	Others – Archaeology	Uttar Pradesh
16	Dr. Budhri Tati	Social Work	Chhattisgarh
17	Shri Chandramouli Gaddamanugu	Science and Engineering	Telangana
18	Shri Charan Hembram	Literature and Education	Odisha
19	Shri Chiranji Lal Yadav	Art	Uttar Pradesh
20	Ms. Deepika Reddy	Art	Telangana
21	Shri Dharmiklal Chunilal Pandya	Art	Gujarat
22	Shri Gadde Babu Rajendra Prasad	Art	Andhra Pradesh
23	Shri Gafruddin Mewati Jogi	Art	Rajasthan
24	Shri Gambir Singh Yonzone	Literature and Education	West Bengal
25	Shri Garimella Balakrishna Prasad (Posthumous)	Art	—
26	Ms. Gayatri Balasubramanian & Ms. Ranjani Balasubramanian (Duo)	Art	Tamil Nadu
27	Shri Gopal Ji Trivedi	Science and Engineering	Bihar
28	Shri Guduru Venkat Rao	Medicine	Telangana
29	Shri H V Hande	Medicine	Tamil Nadu
30	Shri Hally War	Social Work	Meghalaya
31	Shri Hari Madhab Mukhopadhyay (Posthumous)	Art	West Bengal
32	Shri Haricharan Saikia	Art	Assam
33	Ms. Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar	Sports	Punjab
34	Shri Inderjit Singh Sidhu	Social Work	Chandigarh
35	Shri Janardan Bapurao Bothe	Social Work	Maharashtra
36	Shri Jogesh Deuri	Others – Agriculture	Assam
37	Shri Juzer Vasi	Science and Engineering	Maharashtra
38	Shri Jyotish Debnath	Art	West Bengal
39	Shri K Pajanivel	Sports	Puducherry
40	Shri K Ramasamy	Science and Engineering	Tamil Nadu
41	Shri K Vijay Kumar	Civil Service	Tamil Nadu
42	Shri Kabindra Purkayastha (Posthumous)	Public Affairs	Assam
43	Shri Kailash Chandra Pant	Literature and Education	Madhya Pradesh
44	Ms. Kalamandalam Vimala Menon	Art	Kerala
45	Shri Kewal Krishan Thakral	Medicine	Uttar Pradesh
46	Shri Khem Raj Sundriyal	Art	Haryana
47	Ms. Kollakal Devaki Amma G	Social Work	Kerala
48	Shri Krishnamurty Balasubramanian	Science and Engineering	Telangana
49	Shri Kumar Bose	Art	West Bengal
50	Shri Kumarasamy Thangaraj	Science and Engineering	Telangana
51	Prof. (Dr.) Lars-Christian Koch	Art	Germany
52	Ms. Liudmila Viktorovna Khokhlova	Literature and Education	Russia
53	Shri Madhavan Ranganathan	Art	Maharashtra
54	Shri Maganti Murali Mohan	Art	Andhra Pradesh
55	Shri Mahendra Kumar Mishra	Literature and Education	Odisha
56	Shri Mahendra Nath Roy	Literature and Education	West Bengal
57	Shri Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar	Literature and Education	Delhi
58	Ms. Mangala Kapoor	Literature and Education	Uttar Pradesh
59	Shri Mir Hajibhai Kasambhai	Art	Gujarat
60	Shri Mohan Nagar	Social Work	Madhya Pradesh
61	Shri Narayan Vyas	Others – Archaeology	Madhya Pradesh
62	Shri Naresh Chandra Dev Varma	Literature and Education	Tripura
63	Shri Nilesh Vinodchandra Mandlewala	Social Work	Gujarat
64	Shri Nuruddin Ahmed	Art	Assam
65	Shri Othuvaar Thiruthani Swaminathan	Art	Tamil Nadu
66	Dr. Padma Gurmet	Medicine	Ladakh
67	Shri Palkonda Vijay Anand Reddy	Medicine	Telangana
68	Ms. Pokhila Lekthepi	Art	Assam
69	Dr. Prabhakar Basavprabhu Kore	Literature and Education	Karnataka
70	Shri Prateek Sharma	Medicine	United States of America
71	Shri Praveen Kumar	Sports	Uttar Pradesh
72	Shri Prem Lal Gautam	Science and Engineering	Himachal Pradesh
73	Shri Prosenjit Chatterjee	Art	West Bengal
74	Dr. Punniamurthy Natesan	Medicine	Tamil Nadu
75	Shri R Krishnan (Posthumous)	Art	Tamil Nadu
76	Shri R V S Mani	Civil Service	Delhi
77	Shri Rabilal Tudu	Literature and Education	West Bengal
78	Shri Raghupat Singh (Posthumous)	Others – Agriculture	Uttar Pradesh
79	Shri Raghuveer Tukaram Khedkar	Art	Maharashtra
80	Shri Rajastapathi Kaliappa Goundar	Art	Tamil Nadu
81	Shri Rajendra Prasad	Medicine	Uttar Pradesh
82	Shri Rama Reddy Mamidi (Posthumous)	Others – Animal Husbandry	Telangana
83	Shri Ramamurthy Sreedher	Others – Radio Broadcasting	Delhi
84	Shri Ramchandra Godbole & Ms. Suneeta Godbole (Duo)	Medicine	Chhattisgarh
85	Shri Ratilal Borisagar	Literature and Education	Gujarat
86	Shri Rohit Sharma	Sports	Maharashtra
87	Ms. S G Susheelamma	Social Work	Karnataka
88	Shri Sangyusang S Pongener	Art	Nagaland
89	Sant Niranjan Dass	Others – Spiritualism	Punjab
90	Shri Sarat Kumar Patra	Art	Odisha
91	Shri Saroj Mandal	Medicine	West Bengal
92	Shri Satish Shah (Posthumous)	Art	Maharashtra
93	Shri Satyanarayan Nuwal	Trade and Industry	Maharashtra
94	Ms. Savita Punia	Sports	Haryana
95	Prof. Shafi Shauq	Literature and Education	Jammu and Kashmir
96	Shri Shashi Shekhar Vempati	Literature and Education	Karnataka
97	Shri Shrirang Devaba Lad	Others – Agriculture	Maharashtra
98	Ms. Shubha Venkatesha Iyengar	Science and Engineering	Karnataka
99	Shri Shyam Sundar	Medicine	Uttar Pradesh
100	Shri Simanchal Patro	Art	Odisha
101	Ms. Sivasankari	Literature and Education	Tamil Nadu
102	Dr. Suresh Hanagavadi	Medicine	Karnataka
103	Swami Brahmdev Ji Maharaj	Social Work	Rajasthan
104	Shri T T Jagannathan (Posthumous)	Trade and Industry	Karnataka
105	Shri Taga Ram Bheel	Art	Rajasthan
106	Shri Tarun Bhattacharya	Art	West Bengal
107	Shri Techi Gubin	Social Work	Arunachal Pradesh
108	Shri Thiruvaarur Bakthavathsalam	Art	Tamil Nadu
109	Ms. Tripti Mukherjee	Art	West Bengal
110	Shri Veezhinathan Kamakoti	Science and Engineering	Tamil Nadu
111	Shri Vempaty Kutumba Sastry	Literature and Education	Andhra Pradesh
112	Shri Vladimer Mestvirishvili (Posthumous)	Sports	Georgia
113	Shri Yumnam Jatra Singh (Posthumous)	Art	Manipur

Conclusion (Padma Awards 2026)

The Padma Awards 2026 are the spirit of excellence in India, a prize of excellence attributed to the most distinguished personalities in the field of art, literature, science, sports, medicine, private service, and social work. Their high-calibre civilian awards are used to encourage generations to come and serve society with positive intent and integrity, as well as innovation, as a form of recognising lifetime dedication and influence nationally as well as internationally.

National Awards for Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS)

January 28, 2026

The National Awards of Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS) on the 28th of January 2026 in New Delhi, under the coordination of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The event will recognise students and schools that have demonstrated outstanding participation in deliberated simulated Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat sittings throughout the country. More than 28000 students through 619 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and 200 Eklavya Model Residential Schools attended the MYGS programme, demonstrating the practice of democracy. The awards include live mock Gram Sabha events and the recognition of the best performers as highlights.

About National Awards for Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS)

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj coordinated with other ministries (the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs) to organise the National Awards of Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS).
It also identifies and awards students and schools who have performed well in the Model Youth Gram Sabha programme throughout the country.
The MYGS programme encourages real-life knowledge on local governance and democratic participation through exposure of school students to the gram sabha and the gram panchayat, facing situations that are simulated.
On 28 January 2026, a ceremony was organised at New Delhi to give the 2025-26 cycle winners their awards.
More than 28,000 students in 619 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and 200 Eklavya Model Residential Schools all over the country participated in the initiative.
During this event, live demonstrations of mock Gram Sabha sessions by the best-performing schools are featured.
The winners are recognised due to their leadership, civil participation, and knowledge of the grassroots mechanisms of governance, as they are stipulated in the 73rd amendment of the withdrawal.
The awards are expected to influence the students to engage in the democratic processes and learn about the village level of government.
MYGS also contributes to enhancing the relationship between education and youth empowerment and the local government.
Schools are considered in regard to organisation, student participation, and creativity, as well as the accuracy in terms of representing Gram Sabha processes.

PYQs on Gram Sabha

Exam	Year	Question Asked	Answer
SSC CPO	2023	Which of the following is incorrect about the salient features of the 73rd Amendment Act? 1) Gives constitutional status to Panchayati Raj 2) Contains 29 functional items for Panchayats 3) Added the Eleventh Schedule 4) Corresponds to Part III of the Constitution	Option 4 – It corresponds to Part IX, not Part III.
SSC CGL Tier-I	2022	The 73rd Amendment deals with which of the following? 1) GST 2) Urban local government bodies 3) Panchayati Raj System 4) Anti-defection	Option 3 – Panchayati Raj System.
SSC CHSL	2014/15	The 73rd Constitutional Amendment is related to: A) Panchayati Raj B) Monetary regulation C) Finance Commission D) Urban land reforms	A) Panchayati Raj – It gives constitutional status to Panchayati Raj institutions.
GPSC Prelims	2023	In relation to the 73rd Constitutional Amendment: a) Provides a four-tier system b) Assures a five-year term c) Devolution of powers vested with the Union Government d) Gram Sabha is the foundation of the system Which are correct?	b & d only – Five-year term and Gram Sabha as the foundational unit.
SSC MTS / SSC GD (GK)	Recent	Which Amendment Act introduced the provision of Panchayati Raj in India? A) 42nd B) 73rd C) 74th D) 76th	73rd Amendment Act – Introduced the constitutional framework of Panchayati Raj.
Railway GK	Recent	The list of subjects which may be entrusted to Panchayats is given in the: A) Eleventh Schedule B) Twelfth Schedule C) Seventh Schedule D) State List	Eleventh Schedule – Covers subjects entrusted to Panchayats.

Conclusion (National Awards for Model Youth Gram Sabha)

The National Awards Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS) is an award that is used to motivate the youth to take an active part in the local government. Such awards help in creating transparency, accountability and community involvement at the village level. They encourage young leaders to play a key role in the development of the rural areas and enhance democracy in India.

Uttarakhand Government Implements the UCC (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026

January 28, 2026

The Uniform Civil Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, has been introduced, and also through the Governor Lieutenant General (Retd) approval, the Uttarakhand Government has introduced the ordinance with immediate effect. Governor Gurmit Singh under Article 213 of the Constitution. The amendment ordinance modifies the current Uniform Civil Code to bring about more understandable procedures and administrative changes, as well as new compliance provisions. In an attempt to enhance transparency and ease civil law proceedings, the ordinance seeks to change some of the timelines, fines, and enforcement provisions to have the UCC in the state properly implemented as part of the overall legal reform agenda in Uttarakhand.

What is the UCC (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026?

The UCC (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, is another amended form of the Uniform Commercial Code in Uttarakhand to enhance the enforcement of the law.
The governor approved it and implemented it to make procedures, administrative rules, and compliance requirements under the UCC clear.
The amendment renders the registration schedules, fines, and execution measures more accurate and practical.
It amends the current provisions to clarify ambiguities and provide more security to the rights of the citizens.
The reforms will help make the UCC more efficient and transparent, as well as easier to understand by individuals and officials.

Previous Year Questions (PYQs) on Uniform Civil Code (UCC)

Exam Name	Year	Question Asked	Answer
UPSC CSE Prelims	2021	The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is provided under which part of the Indian Constitution? A) Fundamental Rights B) Directive Principles of State Policy C) Fundamental Duties D) Preamble	B) Directive Principles of State Policy (Article 44)
UPSC CSE Mains (GS Paper-I)	2019	“Examine the impact of the Uniform Civil Code on gender equality and minority rights in India.” Discuss the challenges in its implementation.	UCC aims to ensure equality, especially for women, in matters of marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption. Challenges include religious diversity, cultural sensitivities, minority concerns, and lack of political consensus.
UPSC CSE Mains (GS Paper-I)	2015	Discuss the possible factors that inhibit India from enacting a Uniform Civil Code as envisaged under the Directive Principles of State Policy.	Inhibiting factors include India’s religious and cultural diversity, resistance from communities, federal structure, political sensitivity, and concerns over interference in personal laws.

Conclusion (UCC (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026)

The UCC (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, enhances the framework for implementing the Uniform Civil Code to address gaps in procedure and difficulties in enforcement. It is focused on making it clear, legally certain, and more smoothly executed, balancing the constitutional value, the efficiency of the administration, and the rights of citizens.

NSO Prepares for First-Ever National Income Surveys

January 28, 2026

The National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) is planning to release India's first-ever National Household Income Survey (NHIS) in February 2026. This survey will produce the first pan-Indian household income and living conditions statistics and associated socio-economic variables to fill long-term gaps in official statistical data. It will facilitate evidence-based policymaking and offer credible information about income trends among regions and groups. The NHIS is a significant leap in empowering the statistical system of India and enlightening economic planning in the future.

Significance of NSO National Income Surveys 2026

The National Household Income Survey (NHIS) 2026 will become the first pan-Indian survey of household income dedicated solely to the measurement of household income, as a long-running gap in the Indian statistical system.
It deals with the fact that a general national distribution of household incomes survey does not exist despite the decades of household data collection by the National Sample Survey (NSS) since 1950.
NHIS will yield comprehensive and valid estimates of overall household income, which will facilitate the correct analysis of patterns of income in the regions, in occupations and among social groups.
Data collected by the survey will be utilised in policy-making and promote evidence-based policymaking, which will assist the government in reviewing and adjusting welfare programmes and fiscal interventions to the real-life income situation.
The outcomes will be in the form of improved measurement of poverty and inequality, the enabling of more accurate targeting of the social support, and the empowerment of socio-economic planning.
The data of NHIS will be employed to narrow down consumer price indices and develop better preparation of National Accounts Statistics, which enhances the quality and credibility of economic indicators.
Through harmonising the statistical system of India with the international standards, the survey contributes to the international comparability of income data.
The economic research, policy formulation and planning at the national, state and district levels are informed by the survey.
NHIS will enable easier tracking of the trend of income growth and will contribute towards the realisation of the effectiveness of the government schemes.
It also boosts accountability and transparency, ensuring that official income statistics are stronger and more open.

Important Previous Year Questions of National Income

Exam	Question Asked	Answer
SSC MTS	In national income accounting, what is Gross Domestic Product (GDP)? Options: value of export / value within borders / government income / total savings	Value of all goods and services produced within a country’s borders during a specific period.
SSC CGL Tier-I	Which of the following is a correct statement? 1) National income is GNP at factor cost 2) National Income is NDP at market price 3) National Income is GDP at market price 4) National Income is NNP at factor cost	Option 4 — National Income is NNP at factor cost.
UPSC CSE Prelims	The national income of a country for a given period is equal to: 1) Total value of goods/services by nationals 2) Sum of total expenditure 3) Sum of personal incomes 4) Money value of final goods & services produced	Money value of final goods and services produced.
UPSSSC / SSC	The National Income Committee in India was formed in which year? A) 1947 B) 1949 C) 1951 D) 1954	1949 — Formed post-independence.
SSC	Who was the chairman of the first National Income Committee formed in 1949?	P.C. Mahalanobis.
UPSSSC	Who made the first estimate of India’s national income?	Dadabhai Naoroji (1867-68).
UPSSSC / SSC	Who made the first scientific estimate of national income in India?	Dr V. K. R. V. Rao (1931-32).
SSC	The list of subjects which may be entrusted to local bodies is given in which schedule? A) Eleventh Schedule B) Twelfth Schedule C) Seventh Schedule D) State List	Eleventh Schedule.

Conclusion (NSO National Income Surveys 2026)

The NSO National Income Surveys 2026 can be considered an important step towards the empowerment of the Indian economic data ecosystem. These surveys can give an exact, prompt, and thorough understanding of the income, production, and expenses of the country. They can aid the evidence-based decisions about policies, ameliorate planning, and increase transparency and are beneficial to researchers, policy makers and even citizens.

Akshita Dhankar Hoists Tricolour with President on Republic Day 2026

January 28, 2026

In Republic Day 2026, the headline was dominated by the Indian Air Force Flight Lieutenant Akshita Dhankar unfurling the national Tricolour to open the 77 th Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path in New Delhi in the company of President Droupadi Murmu. This is a rare ceremonial award of honour, which shows her commitment, discipline, and control as an IAF officer. Dhankar does have a serious dedication to service, as seen in her life path as a woman of a Haryana village through NCC training to commissioning. The fact that she is part of the team also represents the increasing role of women in the military and a significant national pride at the flagship Indian Republic Day parade.

Who is Akshita Dhankar?

Akshita Dhankar is an Indian Air Force officer who unfurled the national Tricolour together with President Droupadi Murmu during the parade on the Independence Day of the 77 th Republic of India.
She was born in Kasni village, Haryana, which is a military tradition area.
Through this, she exhibited the leadership trait at an early age, as Dhankar enrolled at Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, University of Delhi, having joined the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and later becoming Cadet Sergeant Major.
She passed the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) and became a Flying Officer in June 2023.
She rose to the rank of flight lieutenant through merit and works in the IAF Administration branch.

Last Years of PYQs Asked of the Air Force

Exam / Paper	Question	Answer
AFCAT (GK)	Who was the first Indian Air Chief to command the Indian Air Force?	Subroto Mukerjee
AFCAT (GK)	Consider: (I) IAF established on 8 Oct 1932, (II) First Indian Chief took charge on 1 Apr 1954. Which is correct?	Both I & II are true
Air Force / Agniveer	In which year was the Indian Air Force established?	1932
SSC CGL Tier-I	Flying Officer of the Indian Air Force who became the first Indian woman to fly solo in a MiG-21?	Avani Chaturvedi
SSC / Bank / Railway GK	On which day is Indian Air Force Day celebrated every year?	8 October
SSC / Bank / Railway GK	Which was the first operational squadron of the Indian Air Force?	No. 1 Squadron
SSC / Bank / Railway GK	What prefix was conferred on the Indian Air Force in recognition of World War II service?	Royal
SSC / Bank / Railway GK	Which officer was the first five-star rank holder of the Indian Air Force?	Arjan Singh
SSC / Bank / Railway GK	Where is the Indian Air Force Academy located?	Hyderabad

Conclusion (Akshita Dhankar Hoists Tricolour with President)

The hoisting of the Tricolour by Flight Lieutenant Akshita Dhankar with President Droupadi Murmu on Republic Day 2026 is a historic and inspirational one. Her accomplishment not only puts women in the limelight of the Indian Armed Forces but also illustrates discipline and leadership, and it is a beacon of national pride, coming out to the generations to come and giving them the hope they need in serving the country.

Neolithic Relics Found at Lakkundi Excavation in Karnataka

January 28, 2026

Neolithic relics at Lakkundi village in the Gadag district of Karnataka, through recent archaeological excavations, point to the early antiqueness of the site. These finds were found around the Kote Veerabhadeshwara Temple, highlighting the layer-cake cultural history of Lakkundi on top of its notorious medieval culture. The uncovered Neolithic artefacts are not only helpful to reinforce the argument about the prehistoric importance of the region, but they can also be used to expand the general understanding of the early settlements in southern India. The continuing research is still trying to find something that can be added to the knowledge on the ancient life in the subcontinent.

Lakkundi Excavation Unearths Neolithic Artifacts: Historical Importance

The Lakkundi archaeological excavation covered in the Gadag district, Karnataka, has revealed Neolithic period remains of broken clay pots, stone tools, cowrie shells and carved stone pedestals, which point to the existence of human habitation in the prehistoric period.
Such findings were found as a result of excavation under the tutelage of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at the Kote Veerabhadraswamy Temple complex, where systematic excavation was carried out to a depth of approximately five feet.
The Neolithic artefacts indicate that the history of Lakkundi must rely on the already established medieval structures, but it should have been due to the existence of previously established people in the area.
This provides an important period to the long history of Lakkundi, as the period between the prehistoric and later status as a leading place of occupation by the Chalukya, Rashtrakuta and Hoysala dynasties, as evidenced by inscriptions and temples.
The discoveries enhance the argument of Karnataka to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List since a lot more than the medieval structures are revealed to the world through the findings, which represent a further intricate layer of the human presence and operation.
Artefacts discovered are under investigation and conservation that will lead to a larger insight into incipient life, the habitation and culture development in southern India.
The findings make Lakkundi a key location in an anthropocentrally continuous human habitation that can be of great use in the work of historians, archaeologists, and even scholars explaining the prehistoric and medieval transitions in India.
The excavation has helped to raise the profile of the rich archaeological heritage of Karnataka and has led to more research and to the preservation of other sites, such as Lakkundi.

Best Previous Year Questions for the Neolithic Age

Exam	Year	Question	Answer
UPSC CSE Mains – History	2010	To what extent are archaeological materials useful in understanding the progress of Neolithic man in India?	They help reconstruct the Neolithic economy, agriculture, tools, settlement and culture.
UPSC CSE Mains – History	2016	Delineate and account for the regional characteristics of the Neolithic period in India.	Regional traits include Burzahom pit dwellings, Koldihwa rice farming and southern pastoral-agricultural evidence.
UPSC CSE Mains – History	2023	“The Neolithic Age represents a revolution due to significant changes that took place during this period.” Examine.	A shift to agriculture and domestication, polished tools and settled villages mark a civilisational revolution.
SSC CGL	Various	What significant changes marked the Neolithic Age?	Introduction of pottery, agriculture and domestication of cattle.
SSC CGL	Various	What types of tools were used in the Neolithic Age?	Polished stone tools such as celts and bone tools.
SSC / Bank / Railway GK	Various	In the Neolithic Age, human communities were mainly engaged in ______?	Agriculture.
SSC / Bank / Railway GK	Various	Which is a Neolithic site?	Burzahom or Mehrgarh.

Conclusion (Neolithic Relics Found at Lakkundi)

The Neolithic relics were found at Lakkundi, Karnataka, which is a testament to the prehistoric importance of this area, showing evidence of early human habitation, tools, and pottery. These facts help fill the void between the prehistoric and the medieval periods and develop our perception of ancient life, settlement systems, and cultural development. Lakkundi has now become one of the main archaeological sites.