29th January 2026 Daily Current Affairs

Contents

1 29th January 2026 Daily Current Affairs

📰 National Affairs (India)

1. Beating Retreat Ceremony 2026 concluded Republic Day celebrations
The Beating Retreat ceremony took place at Vijay Chowk, New Delhi, marking the formal end of India’s Republic Day events. The President and Prime Minister attended while armed forces showcased band performances and traditional drills.

2. Bank holiday in Maharashtra after deputy CM’s death
Banks in Maharashtra remained closed on 29 January due to a three-day official mourning period following the fatal plane crash that killed Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

3. India’s first national income surveys launched
The National Statistics Office (NSO) initiated India’s first-ever National Household Income Survey (NHIS) as part of updated statistical efforts.

4. Top Daily Current Affairs topics (UPSC focus)
Important topics of the day include new Solid Waste Management rules 2026, WaSH Warriors programme, PANCHAM Chatbot and Aadhaar updates.

5. Key Supreme Court & legal updates
Latest legal current affairs include significant Supreme Court and High Court judgments — relevant for judiciary and competitive exams.

🌍 International Affairs

6. Global diplomatic and policy news

Bangladesh–Pakistan direct flights resumed on Dhaka–Karachi route for the first time in over a decade.

France approved a bill to ban children under 15 from social media platforms due to online safety concerns.

China and Bangladesh agreed to build a UAV production facility to boost defence manufacturing.

US political leaders reiterated foreign policy positions in campaign events.

📊 Economy & Markets

7. Indian stock markets rebound on Economic Survey optimism
Sensex and Nifty indices ended higher with strong gains after the Economic Survey 2026 projected GDP growth of 6.8%–7.2% for FY 2026-27, although markets were volatile midday. Major gainers included Tata Steel and L&T.

8. Commodities update — Gold prices surge
Gold prices in India rose sharply (around 5% increase) with 24K and 22K gold seeing notable price gains due to a weaker US dollar and global economic factors.

🔬 Science, Tech & Environment

9. ISRO satellite launch preparation
ISRO is preparing to launch the INSAT-3DS meteorological satellite from Sriharikota, which will improve weather forecasting capabilities.

10. IIT Madras breakthrough in quantum computing
Researchers developed improved quantum error correction methods, advancing practical quantum computing developments.

11. Air Quality improves across many Indian cities
Nearly half of monitored cities saw better Air Quality Index in January 2026 compared to the same month last year.

⚖️ Legal & Policy

12. UGC regulations stayed by Supreme Court
The Supreme Court put a hold on certain University Grants Commission (UGC) rules, drawing political responses and affecting higher education policy.

🏆 Sports & Events

13. 2026 PDC World Masters darts tournament begins
The World Masters darts event kicked off on 29 January 2026 in Milton Keynes, England, featuring top international players.