News of The Day : 17th January 2026

News of The Day – 17th Jan 2026

The Hindu, Indian Express, Live Mint, Business Standard, Economic Times, PIB and AIR, etc

(with Syllabus Relevance)

• SC dismisses plea by Allahabad HC Judge Justice Yashwant Varma challenging Lok Sabha Speaker’s constitution of 3-member inquiry committee
• About Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 (for alleged corruption post-cash discovery at residence).
  • Speaker’s authority 
• Clears path for impeachment probe to continue.

(GS-2: Polity and Governance)

• Post-Maharashtra civic polls opposition alleges bogus voting/abuse via indelible ink issues.
• About the Ink used for the Voting process.
• Highlights electoral integrity debates, ECI protocols, and role in preventing fraud.

(GS-2: IR)

• Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado presents her 2025 Nobel Peace Prize medal to US President Trump during White House meeting as “recognition” for his actions on Venezuela’s freedom.
• About the Nobel Peace Prize.

• About 28th CSPOC (hosted by India)
  • Role of India’s DPI (Aadhaar, UPI, CoWIN etc.) as global public good for strengthening democratic institutions.

(GS-2: IR)

• About the 77th Republic Day.
  • Theme: 150 years of Vande Mataram.
• Historic first: Both top EU leaders (António Costa & Ursula von der Leyen) as joint chief guests for Jan 26, 2026 parade 
  • Coincides with India-EU Summit & FTA progress.

(GS-3: Economy)

• Report “Achieving Efficiencies in MSME Sector through Convergence of Schemes” (prepared with ASCI) analyzes 18 central schemes
• Key recommendation 
  • Process convergence via centralized AI-powered digital portal
  • Merging overlapping clusters/skill/innovation programs, inter-ministerial collaboration, while protecting targeted schemes (e.g., SC/ST Hub)
• Aims to reduce duplication, improve outreach, last-mile delivery for 28.7 crore+ jobs & 45-46% exports.

• Sustaining India’s post-2025 growth through deeper sectoral competitiveness, strengthening domestic engines (consumption, investment), continued reforms, fiscal discipline, and capex push.
• Key expectations from the Budget (Feb 1, 2026).
• About the Budget and its Constitutional provision related to it.

• SEBI chief highlights India’s capital market surge: FY26 saw Rs 1.7 lakh crore raised via 311 IPOs (unique investors tripled to 13.7 crore since FY20). India tops globally in IPO volume; focus on smarter regulations, easing fundraising, deepening debt/private markets.

• About National Board for Wildlife (NBWL)
  • Apex body preparing guidelines to regulate/zone religious structures in protected areas/sanctuaries.
• About Protected Regions of India.
  • Restriction in protected regions

(GS-3: Science & Tech)

• Explores feasibility of orbital data centers (space-based)
• Aims to address AI’s massive energy needs (cooling, power) via solar energy in space, reduced latency potential
• Tech challenges, costs, international regulations.

• SpaceX Dragon capsule successfully returns 4 astronauts from ISS
  • First medical evacuation from orbit (due to health issues).
• Highlights advancements in crewed missions, emergency protocols, and private-public space collaboration.
• About the ISS and its significance.