News of The Day: 2nd January 2026

News of The Day – 2nd January 2026

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

(with Syllabus Relevance)

What to Know?

• Who was conferred the Sangita Kalanidhi award and on what occasion was it presented?
• What contributions of R.K. Shriramkumar to Carnatic music were highlighted during the award ceremony?
• About Sangita Kalanidhi Award
• What is the significance of the Sangita Kalanidhi award in India’s cultural ecosystem?
• Differentiate between Carnatic and Hindustani music traditions

• What changes has the government notified regarding taxation of tobacco and pan masala products effective February 1, 2026?
• How do the new additional excise duty and Health & National Security Cess differ from the earlier GST compensation cess on sin goods?
• Why has the government introduced separate excise duties and cesses on tobacco and pan masala in addition to GST?
• How are ‘sin goods’ treated under India’s indirect tax framework, and what is the rationale behind higher taxation on such products?

• About Indore water contamination tragedy
  • Raises questions on effectiveness of Jal Jeevan Mission and urban water governance.
  • NFHS data: ~96% households use “improved” drinking water sources, but quality assurance remains weak.
• Need for stricter enforcement of water safety standards, monitoring, and infrastructure repair.
• Unsafe drinking water adds to India’s high water-borne disease burden.

• Why did gig delivery workers strike on New Year’s Eve and what are their key demands, including the call for a ban on 10-minute deliveries?
• What structural problems in the gig economy are highlighted by the delivery workers’ protests against platform companies?
• How do algorithmic management practices affect income security, working conditions and safety of gig workers?
• What are the key provisions of the Code on Social Security, 2020 relating to gig and platform workers, and what implementation challenges remain?
• Additional Information:
  • About gig worker

• What is the Market Access Support (MAS) Intervention under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM)?
• Under which sub-scheme is the MAS Intervention implemented?
• Which categories of exporters are the primary beneficiaries of MAS?
• What types of market access activities are supported under MAS?
• How does the MAS Intervention promote MSME participation in exports?

• What are stingless bees? Why are they significant?
• What kind of threats do stingless bees face in the Amazon?

• What is the Sudarshan Chakra initiative and what role has been assigned to DRDO in its implementation?
• What does the Sudarshan Chakra initiative aim to achieve over the next decade in terms of aerial protection?
• How is DRDO strengthening India’s defence ecosystem through collaboration with private industry, start-ups, MSMEs and academia?
• Why is an integrated air defence system vital for India’s defence preparedness in the context of evolving aerial threats?
• How does indigenisation of defence technology contribute to strategic autonomy and national security?

• About Desert Cyclone
• Location, participating countries
• Significance of the Exercise