8 January 2026 Current Affairs (With PDF)

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.

Gross Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) of Banks Fall to Multi-Decade Low

Why in News

As per the RBI’s Report on Trend and Progress of Banking in India 2024–25, the asset quality of Indian banks has significantly improved, with NPAs reaching multi-decade lows by late 2025.

Key Findings

• Gross NPA (GNPA) Ratio: Declined to 2.1% by late 2025 (multi-decade low)
• Net NPA (NNPA) Ratio: Reduced to 0.5% at end-March 2025
• Historical Context: GNPA ratio peaked at 11.18% in 2018, reflecting the twin balance sheet crisis period.

What are Non-Performing Assets (NPAs)?

• NPA: A loan or advance where interest or principal remains overdue for more than 90 days.
• Gross NPA (GNPA): Total value of all NPAs on a bank’s books.
• Net NPA (NNPA): GNPA minus provisions made by banks to cover expected losses.
• Reflects the actual burden on bank balance sheets.

Causes / Key Drivers of NPAs

• Economic slowdowns and business cycle stress
• Wilful defaults and fraudulent borrowers
• Poor credit appraisal and monitoring
• Sectoral stress (infrastructure, power, steel, etc.)

Challenges Posed by High NPAs

• Higher provisioning requirements → lower profitability
• Reduced lending capacity and credit growth
• Weakening of bank balance sheets
• Increased risk aversion, affecting MSMEs and retail credit

Key Initiatives Behind the Decline in NPAs

1. Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016:

• Established a time-bound, creditor-in-control resolution framework
• Improved recovery rates and credit discipline
• Reduced evergreening of stressed assets

2. SARFAESI Act, 2002:

• Enables secured creditors to Seize collateral & Auction assets without court intervention
• Strengthened enforcement of security interests

3. Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs):

• Banks sold stressed assets to ARCs
• Helped clean up balance sheets and improve capital adequacy

4. Other Supporting Measures:

• Indradhanush Plan: Capital infusion and governance reforms in PSBs
• Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs): Faster adjudication of loan recovery cases
• Improved risk management and tighter supervision by RBI

Arctic Report Card (ARC) 2025

Why in News

The Arctic Report Card (ARC) 2025, released by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), highlights that the Arctic is warming at a much faster rate than the global average, with severe environmental and geopolitical consequences.

Key Environmental Findings

1. Arctic Surface Air Temperature:

• Highest on record during Oct 2024 – Sept 2025 since observations began in 1900.
• Last 10 years = 10 warmest years recorded in the Arctic → clear evidence of Arctic amplification.

2. Atlantification:

• Refers to the influx of warmer, saltier Atlantic waters and biota into the central Arctic Ocean.
• Impacts: Weakens ocean stratification, Enhances upward heat transfer, Accelerates sea ice melt, Threatens long-term ocean circulation systems (e.g., thermohaline circulation)

3. “Rusting of Rivers”:

• Observed in Arctic Alaska, where rivers have turned orange in over 200 watersheds.
• Cause: Thawing permafrost releases iron and heavy metals into surface waters.
• Impact: Harms fish populations & Contaminates drinking water for indigenous communities

4. Greening of the Arctic:

• First detected in the late 1990s.
• Indicates increased tundra vegetation productivity and density.
• Consequences:
  - Alters wildlife habitats and biodiversity
  - Affects permafrost stability
  - Impacts traditional livelihoods of Arctic indigenous people
  - Can further accelerate warming by reducing surface albedo

Key Geopolitical Implications of Arctic Melting

1. Emergence of New Shipping Routes:

• Northern Sea Route (NSR) along Russia’s Arctic coast (Kara Sea → Bering Strait) becoming increasingly navigable.
• Significance: Shorter Asia–Europe trade routes & Reduced dependence on chokepoints like Suez Canal

2. Arctic Council:

• Established in 1996 as a high-level intergovernmental forum.
• Members (8): Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, USA.
• Role: Promotes cooperation on sustainable development, Environmental protection, Safeguarding indigenous communities

3. Importance for India:

• India is an observer in the Arctic Council.
• Key Assets: Himadri Research Station (Svalbard, Norway) & India’s Arctic Policy
• Opportunities: Climate research, Cryosphere studies, Strategic engagement in emerging Arctic governance

50th Meeting of PRAGATI Conducted

Why in News

The Prime Minister chaired the 50th meeting of PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation), marking a significant milestone in India’s technology-driven governance reforms.

About PRAGATI

• Launched: 2015
• Nature: A multi-purpose, multi-modal governance platform integrating project monitoring, programme implementation, and grievance redressal.
• Objective: To embed accountability, transparency, and time-bound decision-making across all tiers of government.

Key Features of PRAGATI

1. Technology-Enabled Governance:

• Acts as a single digital interface for monitoring critical infrastructure projects and welfare schemes.
• Enables real-time data sharing, issue escalation, and resolution.

2. Team India & Cooperative Federalism:

• Chaired by the Prime Minister, with direct interaction among Union Government Secretaries & Chief Secretaries of States/UTs.
• Encourages inter-ministerial and Centre–State coordination, breaking departmental silos.

3. Integration of Core Governance Platforms:

• PRAGATI hosts and integrates major national platforms such as: PM Gati Shakti (infrastructure planning & logistics), PARIVESH (environmental clearances), PM Reference Portal (tracking PMO directives)

4. Global Recognition:

• An independent study by Oxford University’s Saïd Business School described PRAGATI as:
  - A global benchmark in public administration
  - A “single source of truth” for real-time project monitoring

Transformative Role of PRAGATI

1. Strengthening Cooperative Federalism:

• Enabled Centre and States to function as a single governance team.
• Since inception, ~500 Union Secretaries and State Chief Secretaries have participated.

2. High Resolution Efficiency:

• ~94% of identified project issues resolved, leading to Reduction in time overruns, Control of cost escalations, Improved inter-agency coordination

3. Unlocking Long-Pending Infrastructure Projects:

• Jammu–Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (Approved: 1994 & Commissioned: 2025)
• Navi Mumbai International Airport
• Bogibeel Rail-cum-Road Bridge over the Brahmaputra

‘A Comprehensive Framework to Promote Affordable Housing’ – NITI Aayog Report

Why in News

NITI Aayog released the report “A Comprehensive Framework to Promote Affordable Housing” on 7 January 2026, outlining definitions, policy gaps, and reform-oriented recommendations to scale affordable housing in urban India.

Working Definition of Affordable Housing (Proposed by NITI Aayog)

Comparison with PMAY–Urban 2.0 (2024)

• PMAY–U 2.0 Definition: Same carpet area norms
  - Uniform value cap of ₹45 lakh, irrespective of metro or non-metro status
• Key Difference:
  - NITI Aayog proposes a higher value threshold for metros, reflecting higher land and construction costs.

Key Recommendations of the Report

1. Zoning Reforms for Affordable Housing:

• Affordable Housing Zones (AHZs) to be earmarked in City Master Plans & Town Planning Schemes
• Minimum 10% of residential land to be reserved for affordable housing.
• Global Examples: Vienna (social housing integration) & South Korea (planned land reservation for affordability)

2. Transit-Oriented Development (TOD):

• Cities should reserve land around metro & mass transit corridors for Mixed-use development & Affordable housing integrated with workplaces and services
• Benefits: Reduced commuting costs, Lower carbon footprint, Higher land-use efficiency

3. Mandatory Reservation for EWS/LIG Housing:

• 10–15% of built-up area to be reserved for EWS/LIG housing in Housing projects & Commercial real estate projects
• Applicability Threshold: >10,000 sq. m. built-up area OR >5,000 sq. m. plot area

4. Rental Housing Legal & Policy Reforms:

• States encouraged to adopt dedicated rental housing stock policies.
• Emphasis on PPP-based Affordable Rental Housing (ARH) models.
• Alignment with PMAY–U 2.0 ARH vertical, targeting migrants, urban poor, and informal workers.

Residue Upgradation Facility (RUF) and Hydrocracking Technology

Why in News

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) has commissioned an advanced Residue Upgradation Facility (RUF) in Andhra Pradesh, marking a major milestone in indigenous refinery engineering and technology adoption.

Residue Upgradation Facility (RUF): Key Highlights

1. Capacity:

• Designed to process 3.55 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) of heavy refinery residues.

2. Core Technology:

• Employs advanced residue hydrocracking, enabling conversion of low-value heavy fractions into high-value petroleum products.

3. Significance:

• Enhances refinery complexity and efficiency
• Reduces dependence on imported fuels
• Supports India’s goal of energy security and self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat)
• Demonstrates capability in home-grown engineering and process integration

Hydrocracking Technology

1. What is Hydrocracking?

• A catalytic refining process used to upgrade heavy petroleum fractions into lighter, more valuable products.

2. Process Characteristics:

• Operates under high pressure and high temperature in the presence of hydrogen and specialized catalysts.
• Breaks down high molecular weight hydrocarbons into simpler, lighter molecules.

3. Output Products:

• Middle distillates: Diesel, aviation turbine fuel
• Light products: Naphtha, LPG

Importance of Hydrocracking in Modern Refineries

• Enables efficient utilisation of heavy and residual crude oil
• Produces cleaner fuels with lower sulphur content
• Improves overall refinery yield and profitability
• Aligns with stringent environmental and emission norms

Mpemba Effect

Why in News

Indian scientists have developed the first supercomputer-based simulation that successfully captures and explains the Mpemba Effect, providing a major breakthrough in understanding this long-standing physical paradox.

About the Mpemba Effect

• The Mpemba Effect refers to the counterintuitive phenomenon where a hotter substance freezes faster than a colder one under specific conditions.
• First documented in ancient times and named after Erasto Mpemba, who systematically reported the effect in water during the 1960s.
• Although most commonly observed in water, the phenomenon is not restricted to water and has been identified in other materials and physical systems.

Key Characteristics

• Paradoxical Nature: Contradicts the conventional expectation that cooler substances should always freeze faster.
• Condition-Dependent: Occurs only under certain experimental conditions such as evaporation rate, convection, supercooling, and thermal gradients.
• Broad Applicability: Extends beyond classical fluids to granular materials, polymers, and quantum systems.

Scientific Significance

1. Thermal Physics:

• Offers deeper insights into non-equilibrium thermodynamics and heat transfer mechanisms.

2. Heat Engines and Refrigeration:

• Improves understanding of cooling efficiency, potentially aiding the design of more efficient refrigeration and thermal management systems.

3. Quantum Computing:

• Helps explore energy dissipation and relaxation dynamics in quantum systems, which are critical for stable quantum computation.

4. Materials Science:

• Assists in studying phase transitions, crystallization processes, and material behavior under extreme temperature gradients.

Why the Simulation Matters

• Supercomputer simulations allow scientists to model microscopic interactions that are difficult to observe experimentally.
• The breakthrough strengthens theoretical explanations and may help bridge gaps between classical and quantum interpretations of the Mpemba Effect.

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)

Why in News

On its 79th Foundation Day, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) unveiled a new digital standardisation portal and launched inclusive initiatives such as SHINE, aimed at enhancing women’s participation in the standards ecosystem.

About Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)

• National Role: BIS functions as India’s National Standards Body, responsible for setting benchmarks for quality and safety across goods and services.
• Administrative Control: Operates under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.
• Legal Basis: Constituted under the BIS Act, 2016.

Mandate and Objectives

• Standard Formulation: Develops and publishes Indian Standards (IS) to ensure Quality and reliability, Consumer safety, Efficiency and interoperability of products and services
• Quality Assurance: Supports the creation of a robust quality infrastructure aligned with global best practices.

Key Functions of BIS

1. Product Certification:

• Operates voluntary and mandatory product certification schemes to ensure conformity with Indian Standards.

2. Hallmarking:

• Regulates hallmarking of gold and silver jewellery to protect consumers from adulteration and under-purity.

3. Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS):

• Enforces mandatory registration for notified products, particularly in sectors such as electronics and IT goods.

4. Standardisation Ecosystem:

• Engages with industry, academia, consumers, and regulators for participatory and consensus-based standard setting.

Recent Initiatives

• Standardisation Portal: Aimed at improving digital access, transparency, and efficiency in standards development and implementation.
• SHINE Initiative: Focuses on promoting women’s leadership and participation in standards formulation and quality assurance processes.

Dust Experiment (DEX)

Why in News

ISRO’s first indigenously developed dust detector, the Dust Experiment (DEX), has successfully detected interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) impacting near-Earth space at an average interval of about 1,000 seconds, marking a major milestone in India’s space instrumentation capability.

About Dust Experiment (DEX)

• Nature: India’s first home-grown scientific instrument dedicated to detecting and analysing high-speed interplanetary dust.
• Primary Objective: To study the flux, frequency, and characteristics of microscopic dust particles travelling through interplanetary space.

Interplanetary Dust Particles (IDPs)

1. Definition:

• Extremely fine particles originating mainly from Comets (dust released during sublimation) & Asteroids (debris from collisions)

2. Scientific Importance:

• Carry primordial material from the early Solar System

• Influence space environment, satellite safety, and planetary atmospheres

Mission and Deployment Details

• Launch Platform: Deployed onboard POEM (PSLV Orbital Experimental Module) of PSLV-C58
• Significance of POEM: Converts the spent PSLV upper stage into an on-orbit experimental platform, enabling low-cost space science missions.

Developer and Indigenous Capability

• Developed by: Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad
• Technological Significance:
  - Demonstrates India’s ability to design precision space-grade sensors
  - Strengthens indigenous space science and planetary research infrastructure

Rangelands and Pastoralists

Why in News

The United Nations has designated 2026 as the “International Year for Rangelands and Pastoralists”, aiming to highlight the ecological, economic, and cultural significance of rangeland ecosystems and pastoral communities worldwide.

Rangelands

1. Definition:

• Vast natural landscapes dominated by grasses, shrubs, and sparse tree cover, generally unsuitable for intensive agriculture but ideal for grazing.

2. Global Extent:

• Occupy nearly 50% of the Earth’s land surface.

3. Types of Rangelands:

• Grasslands and savannas
• Shrublands and deserts
• High-altitude mountain pastures
• Wetlands used for seasonal grazing

4. Major Global Examples:

• Central Asian steppes
• African savannas
• European mountain ranges such as the Alps and Pyrenees
• Andes in South America
• Great Plains of North America

5. Ecological Importance:

• Support rich biodiversity, including endemic plant and animal species
• Act as carbon sinks, aiding climate change mitigation
• Play a crucial role in water regulation, soil conservation, and ecosystem resilience

Pastoralists

1. Who they are:

• Communities whose livelihoods primarily depend on rearing livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats, camels, or yaks.

2. Livelihood Practices:

• Often follow mobile or semi-nomadic grazing patterns adapted to seasonal availability of pasture and water.

3. Socio-economic Significance:

• Contribute substantially to food and nutritional security, especially in arid and semi-arid regions
• Support rural economies through livestock-based production systems

4. Cultural and Knowledge Systems:

• Custodians of indigenous and local knowledge related to land management, animal breeding, and climate adaptation
• Represent distinct cultural identities and traditions closely linked to nature

Broader Significance of the UN Declaration

• Brings global attention to Sustainable management of rangelands
• Recognition of pastoralists’ role in climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation
• Encourages policies that balance: Environmental protection, Livelihood security, Cultural preservation

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