2 January 2026 Current Affairs (With PDF)

Stay updated with 2 January 2026 Current Affairs on this page! We bring you the most relevant and important news updates from around the world and India, specially curated for competitive exams and different entrance exams. Today's Current Affairs cover all significant national and international headlines, legal updates, economic news, and environmental highlights to boost your preparation. With our crisp, to-the-point coverage, you can confidently tackle current affairs questions in your exams.

UAE–Saudi Rift in Yemen

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced the withdrawal of its troops from Saudi Arabia following Saudi airstrikes on Yemen’s Mukalla port, highlighting growing divergences within the anti-Houthi coalition and complicating prospects for a unified peace process in Yemen.

What Triggered the Tensions? – Mukalla Port Incident

1. Airstrike at Mukalla:

• Saudi Arabia carried out airstrikes on Mukalla port in southern Yemen.
• The strike followed the arrival of a consignment from Fujairah (UAE), which Riyadh alleged contained arms meant for southern separatist groups.

2. UAE’s Response:

• Abu Dhabi rejected the allegation, clarifying that the shipment consisted of vehicles meant exclusively for UAE forces.
• It termed the claims of arms transfer to separatists as unfounded.

Power Alignments in Southern Yemen

1. Southern Transitional Council (STC):

Backed by the UAE.

• Advocates autonomy or independence for southern Yemen since 2017.
• Has recently expanded influence in regions such as Hadramout and Mahra.

2. Pro-Government Military Bloc:

Opposes the STC’s separatist agenda.

• Closely aligned with the Hadramout Tribal Alliance.
• Receives political and strategic backing from Saudi Arabia.

Reasons Cited for UAE Troop Withdrawal

• Security Concerns: Escalating airstrikes raised risks to UAE personnel stationed in the region.
• Limited Mandate in Yemen: UAE reiterated that its military presence is confined to counter-terrorism operations, not broader political or factional conflicts.
• Political Messaging: The move signals Abu Dhabi’s stance that Yemen’s future political structure should be determined internally by Yemenis themselves.

Implications for Yemen’s Peace Process

• Divergence between Saudi Arabia and the UAE weakens coordination among anti-Houthi forces.
• Intra-coalition rivalries reduce the likelihood of presenting a cohesive front in political negotiations.
• Fragmentation on the ground risks prolonging instability in southern Yemen.

Yemen: Key Geographical and Strategic Facts (Prelims Ready)

• Location: South-western Arabian Peninsula; borders Saudi Arabia and Oman; flanked by the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
• Strategic Importance: Proximity to the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial global maritime chokepoint.
• Capital: Sana’a (constitutional capital), currently under Houthi control.
• Conflict Background: Civil war began in 2014 after Houthi rebels captured Sana’a; Saudi-led intervention started in 2015.
• Major Ports: Aden, Hodeidah, Mukalla and Mocha – vital for trade and humanitarian supplies.
• Hydrology: No perennial rivers; agriculture depends on seasonal wadis such as Wadi Hadramawt and Wadi Zabid.

United States–Venezuela Tensions over Oil Sanctions and Maritime Interdictions

Relations between the United States and Venezuela have sharply deteriorated after Washington seized Venezuelan oil tankers and enforced a naval restriction on oil shipments, signalling a tougher approach to curbing Caracas’s energy exports and strategic influence.

Why Is the U.S. Targeting Venezuela?

1. Strategic and Economic Considerations

• Energy Security Imperatives: Venezuela possesses the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves, estimated at over 300 billion barrels.
• Gaining leverage over these reserves could help the U.S. diversify energy sources and reduce dependence on West Asian oil.
• Limits of Conventional Sanctions: Years of economic sanctions have failed to dislodge the Maduro government.
• This has pushed Washington towards more aggressive instruments, such as maritime interdictions, aimed at choking Venezuela’s oil-based revenues.

2. Geopolitical and Strategic Rivalries

• Countering Extra-Regional Powers: Venezuela has strengthened partnerships with China, Russia, Iran, and Cuba through energy cooperation, defence ties, and financial arrangements.
• The U.S. views these alignments as a challenge to its strategic dominance in the Western Hemisphere.
• Renewed Strategic Focus on the Caribbean: The region is increasingly treated as a critical zone of influence, reminiscent of Cold War-era strategic calculations.

3. Regime Change Calculus

• Support from Opposition Groups: Sections of Venezuela’s domestic opposition have endorsed stronger external pressure, indirectly reinforcing Washington’s interventionist stance.
• Official Narrative: The U.S. justifies its actions under the banner of counter-narcotics operations and national security enforcement, lending a legal and political framework to its maritime actions.

Implications of Maritime Sanctions

• Disruption of Venezuela’s primary export lifeline intensifies economic stress.
• Heightened risks of confrontation in international waters.
• Potential spillover effects on global oil markets and regional stability.

Venezuela: Key Facts (Prelims-Oriented)

1. Location:

• Northern edge of South America.

2. Boundaries:

• North: Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean
• East: Guyana
• South: Brazil
• West and Southwest: Colombia

3. Major Physiographic Regions:

• Andes Mountains, Llanos (vast tropical grasslands), Guiana Highlands, Caribbean coastal plains

4. Natural Features:

• Angel Falls, the world’s highest waterfall.

5. Important Water Bodies:

• Orinoco River: Major drainage into the Atlantic Ocean
• Rio Negro: Part of the Amazon basin
• Lake Maracaibo: Largest lake in South America
• Lake Guri: Significant reservoir for hydropower

India’s Clean Energy Milestones in 2025

In 2025, India recorded unprecedented growth in clean energy capacity, crossing key global and national benchmarks. However, experts underline that deeper structural reforms are essential to ensure long-term energy security and achieve genuine Aatmanirbharta in the power sector.

Snapshot of India’s Clean Energy Landscape

1. Global Standing:

• Renewable Capacity Rank: India stands fourth globally in total installed renewable energy capacity.
• Installed Capacity: Approximately 254 GW, reflecting a year-on-year growth of over 23%.

2. Capacity Addition Momentum:

• Record Expansion: About 44.5 GW of clean energy capacity was added by November 2025.
• Comparison with 2024: Nearly double the additions recorded in the previous year, signalling accelerated deployment.

3. Shift Towards Non-Fossil Energy:

• Installed Power Mix: Non-fossil fuel sources now contribute over half (51.5%) of total installed power capacity.
• Global Commitment: India met its COP26 non-fossil capacity target nearly five years ahead of schedule.

Technology-Wise Performance

1. Solar Energy:

• Installed Solar Capacity: Reached nearly 133 GW by November 2025.
• Growth Rate: About 41% annual growth, making solar the fastest-expanding renewable segment.

2. Wind Energy:

• Installed Wind Capacity: Close to 54 GW by November 2025.
• Annual Increase: Registered a growth rate of 12–13%, supported by repowering and hybrid projects.

Investment Trends

• Foreign Direct Investment: Clean energy attracted nearly USD 3.4 billion in FDI during the first nine months of FY 2025.
• Sectoral Share: Renewables accounted for over four-fifths of total power-sector inflows, indicating strong investor confidence.

Structural Strengths Supporting India’s Clean Energy Push

1. Natural Resource Endowment:

• Solar Potential: Around 300 sunny days annually, with estimated technical potential exceeding 750 GW.
• Wind and Offshore Prospects: A long coastline of about 11098 km offers substantial offshore wind opportunities.

2. Cost Competitiveness:

• Low Tariffs: Transparent auctions and scale economies have pushed solar and wind tariffs to among the lowest worldwide.
• Market Confidence: Predictable pricing has encouraged both domestic and global investors.

3. Green Hydrogen Opportunity:

• Existing Demand: Replacing current consumption of grey hydrogen (about 5 million tonnes annually) can instantly create a robust domestic market for green hydrogen.
• Industrial Decarbonisation: Offers pathways for emissions reduction in fertilisers, refining, and steel.

4. Strategic Manufacturing Edge:

• China-Plus-One Potential: With policy support and vertical integration, India can position itself as an alternative global manufacturing hub for renewable technologies.

Defence Procurement Contracts Strengthen India’s Military Modernisation

The Ministry of Defence has finalised defence procurement contracts worth ₹4,666 crore for the acquisition of Close Quarter Battle (CQB) Carbines for the Army and Navy and Heavyweight Torpedoes for the Indian Navy. The move is aimed at enhancing combat readiness and accelerating force modernisation.

Close Quarter Battle (CQB) Carbines

1. Weapon Role:

• Designed for close-range combat situations, particularly in urban areas and confined operational environments.

2. Scale of Procurement:

• More than 4.25 lakh carbines to be inducted, replacing outdated small arms currently in service with the Army and Navy.

3. Indigenous Manufacturing:

• Produced domestically by Bharat Forge Limited and PLR Systems Private Limited, reinforcing the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative in defence production.

4. Operational Advantages:

• Compact configuration: Short barrel and lightweight structure improve mobility and ease of handling.
• Enhanced lethality: Higher rate of fire increases effectiveness during close-contact engagements and counter-terror operations.

Heavyweight Torpedoes

1. Weapon Category:

• Advanced heavyweight torpedoes intended for submarine-launched underwater warfare.

2. Naval Integration:

• To be deployed on Kalvari-class submarines inducted under Project-75 of the Indian Navy.

3. Supplier and Support:

• Procured from WASS Submarine Systems S.R.L., Italy, along with related operational and support equipment.

4. Combat Capability:

• Equipped with modern guidance, propulsion, and targeting systems to significantly enhance submarine strike and deterrence capabilities.

Project-75 (Kalvari-Class Submarines)

1. Programme Objective:

• To strengthen India’s undersea warfare capabilities through the induction of six diesel-electric attack submarines.

2. Design Lineage:

• Based on the Scorpène-class submarine design developed by France’s Naval Group.

3. Domestic Construction:

• Manufactured in India by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, under technology transfer arrangements.

4. Future Expansion:

• Complemented by Project-75I, which focuses on submarines equipped with Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) for enhanced endurance and stealth.

Piprahwa Relics

The Union Ministry of Culture is organising the cultural exposition “Lotus Light: Relics of the Awakened One” in New Delhi to showcase the Piprahwa Relics, among the most significant archaeological finds linked to Gautama Buddha.

About the Piprahwa Relics

1. Discovery (1898):

• Unearthed at the Piprahwa Stupa in present-day Uttar Pradesh by British engineer William Claxton Peppé.
• The site is widely identified with ancient Kapilavastu, the homeland of the Sakya clan, to which Buddha belonged.

2. Nature of the Relics:

• Bone fragments believed to be corporeal relics of Buddha.
• Crystal and steatite caskets, along with gold ornaments and precious gemstones.
• A Brahmi inscription attributes the relics to the Sakyas, dating them to around the 3rd century BCE (Mauryan–post-Mauryan period).

3. Historical Significance:

• Considered among the earliest relic depositions associated directly with the Buddha.
• Corroborates literary traditions of relic distribution after Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana.

Colonial-Era Handling of the Relics

• Under the Indian Treasure Trove Act, 1878, the British Crown claimed ownership of the finds.
• Buddha’s bone relics were gifted to King Rama V of Siam (Thailand).
• A large portion of the gem relics was transferred to the Indian Museum, Kolkata.

Later Archaeological Discoveries

ASI Excavations (1971–1977):

• Revealed 22 additional bone relics housed in steatite caskets at the same site.
• These relics are currently preserved at the National Museum, New Delhi.

Recent Development (2025)

• Relics retained by the Peppé family appeared in a Hong Kong auction in 2025.
• Following diplomatic and cultural efforts, these artefacts were repatriated to India, marking a major step in cultural restitution and heritage protection.

Significance for India

• Reinforces India’s position as the land of Buddha and a global centre of Buddhist heritage.
• Highlights issues of colonial appropriation, repatriation of cultural property, and ethical stewardship of sacred artefacts.
• Strengthens India’s cultural diplomacy with Buddhist-majority countries through shared civilisational heritage.

Madhya Pradesh Recorded Its Highest Tiger Deaths in 2025

In 2025, Madhya Pradesh (MP) recorded 55 tiger deaths, the highest annual toll since the launch of Project Tiger in 1973. The state alone accounted for over 30% of India’s total tiger fatalities, raising serious concerns about habitat pressure, human–wildlife conflict, and conservation governance.

Key Data at a Glance

1. Madhya Pradesh (2025):

• Total tiger deaths: 55
• Unnatural deaths: ~11
• Natural causes: Majority (old age, disease, territorial fights)
• Electrocution cases: 8 deaths linked to illegal electric fencing by villagers

2. India (2025):

• Total tiger deaths: 162 (≈ 30% increase over 2024)
• Top states: Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand
• Cause-wise breakup:
  - Natural causes: ~70%
  - Unnatural causes: ~30%
• Location: ~42% of deaths occurred outside notified Tiger Reserves
• Electrocution: ~10% of total tiger mortality nationwide

Why Is Tiger Mortality Rising?

1. Habitat Saturation & Spillover:

• MP has the largest tiger population in India.
• Core areas are reaching ecological carrying capacity, pushing tigers into buffer zones and human-dominated landscapes.

2. Human–Wildlife Conflict:

• Crop raiding and livestock predation prompt villagers to use illegal electric fencing, leading to fatal electrocutions.
• Forest–agriculture interface is expanding due to fragmentation.

3. Weak Landscape-Level Protection:

• Nearly half of tiger deaths occur outside Tiger Reserves, where protection and monitoring are weaker.
• Corridors lack legal protection and community-based management.

4. Governance & Enforcement Gaps:

• Delayed removal of illegal fences and poor regulation of power lines.
• Limited compensation and conflict-mitigation mechanisms for local communities.

Legal & Institutional Framework

1. NTCA Investigation Rule (Prelims Important)

• Every tiger death is treated as suspected poaching by default.
• Final cause is confirmed only after necropsy and forensic analysis.

2. Project Tiger (1973)

• Centrally Sponsored Scheme for in-situ tiger conservation.
• Focus on core-buffer strategy, habitat improvement, and anti-poaching.

Environmental & Ethical Concerns

• High tiger deaths undermine India’s global leadership in big-cat conservation.
• Illegal fencing reflects a failure of coexistence frameworks, not merely criminal intent.
• Conservation success (higher tiger numbers) without landscape planning can paradoxically increase mortality.

India Becomes the World’s 4th-Largest Economy

India has surpassed Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy in nominal GDP terms, according to recent estimates. This marks a major milestone in India’s long-term economic trajectory.

Key Highlights

1. Economic Size & Ranking:

• Nominal GDP: $4.18 trillion
• Global Rank: 4th, behind the United States, China, and Germany
• PPP Basis: 3rd largest economy with GDP of $17.71 trillion

2. Growth Performance:

• Fastest-growing major economy globally
• Real GDP Growth: 8.2% in Q2 of FY2025
• Growth Drivers:
  - Strong domestic demand
  - Stable private consumption
  - Services-led growth model (IT, finance, digital services, tourism)

Macroeconomic Snapshot (2025)

1. Per Capita Nominal GDP:

• $2,820 (Rank: 136th globally)

2. Sectoral Contribution to GDP:

• Services: 55%
• Industry: 27.6%
• Agriculture: 17.7%

3. Unemployment Rate:

• 4.7% (Nov 2025) – lowest in current data series

4. Forex Reserves:

• $688 billion (4th highest globally)

5. External Debt:

• $747 billion
• Debt-to-GDP Ratio: 18.9% (comfortable by emerging market standards)

Future Outlook

• Projected to overtake Germany by 2027, becoming the 3rd-largest economy
• GDP Projection for 2030: ~$7.3 trillion
• Long-Term Vision – Viksit Bharat 2047:
  - Target: High-income (developed) status
  - Required GNI per capita: >$14,005

Railways Completes Electrification in the Western Ghats

Indian Railways has completed electrification of a highly challenging 55-km section in the Western Ghats, thereby fully electrifying the Bengaluru–Mangaluru rail route. This is a major engineering and sustainability milestone, improving connectivity between inland Karnataka and the New Mangalore Port.

Key Highlights

1. Railways & Electrification:

• Network Coverage: ~99% of India’s broad-gauge railway network is now electrified.
• Strategic Corridor: The Bengaluru–Mangaluru route links industrial and hinterland regions with a key west-coast port, enhancing freight efficiency and export logistics.
• Engineering Challenge: Electrification in the Western Ghats involved steep gradients, dense forests, heavy rainfall, tunnels, and sharp curves.

2. Global Comparison:

• 100% Electrification: Switzerland (only major country)
• India: ~99% (ahead of China, Japan, and Russia)
• Demonstrates India’s leadership in rail decarbonisation and infrastructure scale.

Significance

1. Economic & Logistical:

• Faster, cheaper freight movement to New Mangalore Port
• Reduced dependence on diesel traction → lower operating costs
• Supports port-led development and regional industrial growth

2. Environmental & Energy:

• Cuts carbon emissions, noise, and local air pollution
• Enables greater use of renewable energy in traction power
• Aligns with India’s Net Zero 2070 and sustainable transport goals

3. Strategic & Operational:

• Improves line capacity, reliability, and hauling capability
• Strengthens energy security by reducing diesel imports

Western Ghats: Quick Facts

• Length: ~1,600 km, along India’s western coast
• States Covered: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu
• Status: UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Global Significance: One of 36 global biodiversity hotspots
• Ecology: High endemism, fragile ecosystems, heavy monsoon rainfall

Nimesulide Ban

India has banned oral immediate-release nimesulide formulations above 100 mg in the public interest, citing serious safety and ecological risks. The restriction does not amount to a total ban, but limits high-dose exposure that poses disproportionate harm.

What is Nimesulide?

• Class: Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID)
• Uses: Pain relief and fever reduction in adults
• Status: Widely marketed in India for decades, including in fixed-dose combinations (FDCs)

Why Was the Ban Imposed?

1. Hepatotoxicity (Public Health Risk):

• High-dose nimesulide is associated with acute liver injury.
• Documented cases include acute liver failure, hospitalisation, and fatal outcomes.
• Risk is dose-dependent, making >100 mg immediate-release formulations particularly unsafe.

2. Availability of Safer Alternatives:

• Other NSAIDs (e.g., paracetamol at appropriate doses, ibuprofen, diclofenac) offer comparable efficacy with better safety profiles.

3. Ecological Impact (Vulture Crisis):

• Nimesulide residues in livestock carcasses have been linked to vulture mortality, similar to the earlier diclofenac episode.
• Continues to pose a threat to vulture populations, which are critical scavengers and public-health protectors.

Regulatory & Legal Basis

1. Statutory Power:

• Ban issued under Section 26A of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940, enabling prohibition or restriction of drugs in public interest.

2. Expert Review:

• Decision based on recommendations of the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) and expert committees.

3. Scope:

• Only oral immediate-release formulations above 100 mg are banned.
• Lower doses and other formulations are not prohibited.

India’s First 3D Flex Aqueous Angiography for Glaucoma

An Army Hospital in New Delhi has successfully conducted India’s first 3D flex aqueous angiography combined with iStent implantation, marking a significant milestone in precision glaucoma care.

What is 3D Flex Aqueous Angiography?

• Real-time visualisation: Enables live mapping of the eye’s aqueous humour drainage pathways during surgery.
• Targeted diagnosis: Precisely identifies sites of outflow resistance or blockage, a key problem in glaucoma.
• Advanced imaging setup: Performed using a 3D operating microscope integrated with the Spectralis imaging system, ensuring high-resolution, intraoperative guidance.

Integration with iStent (MIGS)

• iStent device: A microscopic implant used in Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS).
• Function: Creates a bypass to improve aqueous outflow, thereby reducing intraocular pressure (IOP).
• Clinical advantage: Enhances safety, reduces tissue trauma, and supports faster recovery compared to conventional surgeries.

Why This Breakthrough Matters

• Precision-led treatment: Surgeons can tailor interventions to patient-specific drainage anatomy.
• Better outcomes: Improves the likelihood of effective IOP control with fewer complications.
• Technology-led care: Demonstrates India’s growing capability in cutting-edge ophthalmic surgery.

About Glaucoma

• Nature of disease: A group of eye disorders causing progressive optic nerve damage, often linked to elevated IOP.
• Risk factors: Ageing, genetic predisposition, diabetes, prolonged steroid use, and eye trauma.
• Symptoms: Typically asymptomatic in early stages; gradual peripheral vision loss appears late, making early detection critical.
• Management: Focuses on lowering IOP via medications, lasers, or surgery; MIGS offers safer, effective newer options.

All Set with 2 January Current Affairs? Let’s Quiz!

Ready to put your knowledge to the test? Take our daily quiz now and reinforce what you learned!

2 January 2026 Current Affair Quiz
 

Why is 2 January 2026 Current Affairs Important for You?

• Essential for Exams: The Current Affairs of 2 January 2026 cover topics that are often asked in competitive exams.
• Boosts Your Knowledge: Helps you stay informed about the latest events and updates.
• Improves Accuracy: Daily practice with Current Affairs of 2 January 2026 improves your speed and accuracy in exams.
• Quick Revision: Acts as a daily revision tool for upcoming exams.
• Saves Time: You don’t need to search multiple sources; everything is here in one place!
• Helps in Interviews: Being updated with Current Affairs of 2 January 2026 gives you confidence for personal interviews and group discussions.

How to Use 2 January 2026 Current Affairs for Exam Preparation? 

• Read Properly: Go through the 2 January 2026 Current Affairs to stay updated.
• Make Notes: Summarize key points and important updates in your own words.
• Link with Syllabus: Identify topics relevant to your exam and connect them with your syllabus.
• Practice Daily Quizzes: Test your knowledge by taking daily quizzes based on 2 January 2026 Current Affairs.
• Revise Often: Review the updates multiple times to boost your recall and confidence.
• Discuss with Peers: Join discussions and share insights to deepen your understanding.

Get Daily Updates and Stay Ahead!

Law Prep Tutorial is committed to giving you the best daily current affairs updates to help you excel in various exams. Our platform is trusted by thousands of toppers for timely, accurate, and concise updates that matter most for your exams. Explore our dedicated sections below: