Authored by: K Shiva
Venezuela Political Crisis: In a major international development, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was apprehended by U.S. forces and held in a New York prison to face criminal charges related to narco-terrorism. Following this, Venezuela's top court appointed Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez as the Acting President. U.S. President Donald Trump has issued warnings that the interim leader may face severe consequences if she does not comply with certain demands.
Global Reactions to Venezuela: India has expressed deep concern for the well-being of the Venezuelan people and called for a peaceful resolution through dialogue. Meanwhile, countries like China and Russia have condemned the U.S. action as a violation of international law.
Myanmar Prisoner Release: Marking the 78th anniversary of its independence, Myanmar's junta announced the release of over 6,100 prisoners.
Russian Oil Imports: India's imports of Russian oil reached a six-month high in November 2025, accounting for approximately 35% of the country's total oil imports.
New Seed Varieties: The Union government has unveiled 184 high-yielding and climate-resilient seed varieties for 25 different crops to help farmers increase productivity and manage climate-related stresses.
MGNREGA Controversy: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan criticized the MGNREGA scheme, labeling it synonymous with corruption, and defended the newly passed "Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill".
Wolf Supermoon: A rare "Wolf Supermoon" occurred, reaching its peak brightness on the evening of January 2, 2026. This astronomical event combines a "Wolf Moon" (the first full moon of January) with a "Supermoon" (when the moon is at its closest point to Earth).
Antarctic Microbial Study: A pioneering study published in Science revealed that certain archaea in Antarctica use a non-standard genetic code to encode rare amino acids, offering new possibilities for bioengineering.
Andhra Pradesh Aviation Milestone: A successful validation flight was completed at the new Bhogapuram International Airport in Vizianagaram district. Union Minister K. Rammohan Naidu announced that full-fledged operations are expected by June 30, 2026.
Telangana Braille Textbooks: The Telangana government has announced the introduction of Braille textbooks for Intermediate and Degree courses to support visually impaired students.
Andhra Pradesh Horticulture: The horticulture sector in A.P. has emerged as a major growth engine, contributing ₹1,52,950 crore to the GSDP in the 2024-25 period.
Asian Waterbird Census: Bird species enumeration is scheduled to take place in the Godavari estuary, Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, and surrounding areas in Kakinada and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema districts.
Olive Ridley Nesting: The discovery of Olive Ridley sea turtle carcasses on Visakhapatnam's beaches has raised concerns among conservationists as the new nesting season begins.
Public Grievance Redressal (PGRS): In Eluru, the PGRS has been expanded to mandal, divisional, and municipal levels to ensure faster resolution of citizen issues.
T20 World Cup Security Concerns: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced it will not travel to India for the upcoming Men's T20 World Cup, citing security concerns and requesting the ICC to relocate their matches.
Hockey India League (HIL): In the Men's HIL, Shrachi Bengal Tigers secured a 3-1 victory over JSW Soorma HC. In the Women's league, the Tigers also won 1-0 against Ranchi Royals.
National Car Racing: Teenagers Arjun Chheda and Sai Shiva Sankaran won the MRF Formula 2000 and Formula 1600 races, respectively, at the Madras International Circuit.
One Minute Film Festival: The Women's Safety Wing of the Telangana Police launched a "One Minute Film Festival" focused on women's safety and child protection to engage youth in social change conversations.
Which city is set to become India’s first slum-free city? Answer: C. Surat
Who inaugurated the international exhibition of the sacred Piprahwa relics? Answer: C. Narendra Modi
Who has been appointed as the Chief Coach of the Indian Women’s Hockey Team? Answer: C. Sjoerd Marijne
When was the 195th birth anniversary of Savitribai Phule observed? Answer: C. 3 January 2026
Which country has legalized cryptocurrency mining and exchange? Answer: C. Turkmenistan
Which state topped India’s investment chart in FY 2026? Answer: D. Andhra Pradesh
Where has India’s first government hospital-based AI clinic been established? Answer: C. Greater Noida
The Bhoramdev Corridor Project was launched in which state? Answer: C. Chhattisgarh
What rank has India secured in pharmacovigilance contribution to WHO? Answer: Eighth
Who is the International Event Ambassador for the 21st Tata Mumbai Marathon 2025? Answer: Andre De Grasse
Gen Z Stare: A term coined on social media to describe the expressionless stare given by tech-dependent individuals when asked simple verbal questions.
Wolf Supermoon Rarity: The combination of a seasonal nickname and an astronomical perigee event makes the "Wolf Supermoon" a significant point of interest for stargazers.
Scholarship Opportunity: The "Sensodyne IDA Shining Star Scholarship" is open for first-year BDS students, offering ₹50,000 per year for four years.
Amgen Scholars Programme: A joint initiative by Amgen India and Harvard University for undergraduate students in STEM fields.
Purpose: To raise awareness about the welfare and physical/behavioral needs of birds, especially those in captivity.
History: Launched in the U.S. in 2002.
Indian Context: Celebrated on November 12 to honor the birth anniversary of the famous ornithologist Dr. Salim Ali.
Ornithology: Allan Octavian Hume.