23 January 2026 Current Affairs

1️⃣ Governance, Social Policy & Urban Management

Punjab’s First Dog Sanctuary (Ludhiana)

• Reflects humane urban animal management and public health governance.

• Links with urban local bodies, animal welfare laws, and zoonotic risk reduction .

• Potential case study for municipal governance & smart cities .

Atal Pension Yojana extended till FY 2030–31

• Reinforces social security architecture for informal sector workers.

• Relevant for welfare schemes, demographic ageing & pension sustainability .

2️⃣ Artificial Intelligence, Digital Public Infrastructure & Global South Leadership

India AI Impact Summit 2026 (16–20 Feb, New Delhi)

• First global AI summit in the Global South .

• Positions India as a leader in ethical, inclusive & development-centric AI governance .

• Strong linkage with IndiaAI Mission, digital sovereignty & tech diplomacy .

SAMPANN integrated with UMANG

• Enhances last-mile digital service delivery for pensioners.

• Example of DPI convergence (single-window governance).

• Relevant for e-governance & digital inclusion .

3️⃣ International Relations & Sub-National Diplomacy

Telangana–UAE Cooperation (Bharat Future City)

• Illustrates state-level foreign engagement (paradiplomacy) .

• Focus on smart cities, investment inflows & urban innovation .

India–Namibia Foreign Office Consultations (5th Round)

• Emphasis on defence, critical minerals, health, agriculture & DPI .

• Key for South–South Cooperation and critical mineral security (lithium, uranium, rare earths).

4️⃣ Space, Science & Strategic Technology

New Spaceport at Hope Island (Andhra Pradesh)

• Supports private & commercial launch missions under Space City initiative.

• Important for space sector liberalisation, NewSpace ecosystem & strategic autonomy .

Centre of Excellence for Power Sector Regulation (IIT Delhi)

• Strengthens evidence-based regulation in electricity markets.

• Relevant for power sector reforms, energy governance & tariff rationalisation .