20 January 2026 Current Affairs

Blocking of Illegal Betting & Gambling Websites

• 242 illegal betting/gambling links blocked (Jan 2026)

• Reflects strengthened cyber governance , digital law enforcement, and protection against financial fraud & money laundering.

• Relevant for IT Act, online gaming regulation, cyber security questions.

Supreme Court on Unreserved Category Seats

• SC ruled General (unreserved) seats are open to all candidates purely on merit , irrespective of caste/category.

• Reinforces constitutional principle of equality (Article 14 & 16) and merit-based recruitment.

• High relevance for Polity & Constitutional interpretation .

Infrastructure, Transport & Connectivity

Kaziranga Elevated Corridor (Assam)

• ?6,957 crore project laid by PM Modi.

• Balances infrastructure development with wildlife conservation (eco-sensitive zones).

• Important for environment–development trade-off , sustainable infrastructure.

India’s First Sleeper Vande Bharat

• Flagged off from Malda (West Bengal) .

• Marks next phase of railway modernisation , long-distance semi-high-speed travel.

Culture, Literature & Heritage

NAMO Book Fest (New Delhi)

• First-ever national literary initiative of its kind.

• Supports reading culture, publishing ecosystem, intellectual engagement .

Spituk Gustor Festival (Ladakh)

• First monastic festival of the year at Spituk Monastery .

• Reflects Himalayan Buddhist traditions & intangible cultural heritage .

Land, Tribal Affairs & Rural Governance

Jamma Bane Land Reform – Karnataka

• Amendment to land revenue law for forest-linked land documentation issues in Kodagu.

• Important for agrarian history, colonial land tenures, forest rights .

PESA Rules Notified by Jharkhand

• Implemented 25 years after PESA Act, 1996 .

• Strengthens tribal self-governance in Fifth Schedule areas .

• Highly relevant for Tribal administration, decentralisation & constitutional safeguards .