Daily Current Affairs- 1st January 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 1st January 2026

Cabinet Clears 6 Lane Nashik Solapur Akkalkot Greenfield Corridor

In the News: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the construction of a 6-lane greenfield access-controlled Nashik-Solapur-Akkalkot Corridor in Maharashtra on BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) Toll Mode. The 374-kilometer corridor, with a total capital cost of ₹19,142 crore, will provide connectivity to critical regional cities such as Nashik, Ahilyanagar, and Solapur, with onward connectivity to Kurnool.

Key Points:

• Cabinet Approval - December 31, 2025: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the construction of the 6-lane greenfield access-controlled Nashik-Solapur-Akkalkot Corridor on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. The project will be developed on Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Toll mode, ensuring private sector participation in financing, construction, and operation. This approval is part of a larger infrastructure push, with the Cabinet simultaneously approving widening and strengthening of NH-326 in Odisha, bringing the total investment in both projects to approximately ₹20,668 crore.
• Regional Connectivity Enhancement: The corridor will provide critical connectivity to major regional cities including Nashik, Ahilyanagar (formerly Ahmednagar), Solapur, and Akkalkot, with onward connectivity extending to Kurnool in neighboring Andhra Pradesh. This multi-city linkage addresses a significant gap in Maharashtra's highway infrastructure, connecting industrial and agricultural centers that have historically lacked efficient high-speed road connectivity. The project will enhance basic infrastructure across Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Dharashiv, and Solapur districts, contributing to overall economic development of these regions. The corridor creates a strategic east-west connectivity spine across Maharashtra, linking the state's western industrial belt with eastern agricultural regions.
• Integration with Major Expressways: The greenfield corridor is strategically designed to connect with multiple major highways and expressways, creating a comprehensive integrated transport network. The corridor will link to: (1) Delhi-Mumbai Expressway near the Vadhawan Port interchange, providing access to India's longest expressway and the upcoming deep-water Vadhawan Port, (2) Agra-Mumbai Corridor at Nashik, at the junction with NH-60 at Adegaon, enabling north-south connectivity, and (3) Samruddhi Mahamarg (Maharashtra Samruddhi Expressway) at Pangri near Nashik, connecting to Maharashtra's flagship 701-km expressway linking Mumbai and Nagpur. These strategic linkages position the corridor as a crucial connectivity hub integrating multiple transportation corridors.
• PM Gatishakti National Master Plan Integration: The project represents a significant step to facilitate integrated transport infrastructure development under the PM Gatishakti National Master Plan principle. PM Gatishakti is India's national master plan for multi-modal connectivity infrastructure, launched in October 2021, which aims to break departmental silos and bring 16 ministries together for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects.
• West Coast to East Coast Connectivity: The proposed corridor will provide through connectivity from the west coast to the east coast of India, serving as a critical east-west transportation artery. From the Chennai Port end on the east coast, 4-lane corridors are already in progress from Chennai to Hasapur (Maharashtra border) via Tiruvallur, Renigunta, Kadapa, and Kurnool, covering 700 kilometers.
• Pune-Nashik Expressway Component: The Nashik-Talegaon Dighe portion of the corridor also addresses the long-standing requirement for development of the Pune-Nashik Expressway, as identified by the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) as part of a proposed new expressway being undertaken by the State Government of Maharashtra.

Assam Constitutes 8th State Pay Commission

In the News: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that Assam will become the first state in India to constitute the 8th Pay Commission following the Centre's formation of the 8th Central Pay Commission. The state's 8th Pay Commission will be headed by former Additional Chief Secretary Subhas Chandra Das and will undertake a comprehensive revision of the pay structure of state government employees. The announcement, made during an interaction with mediapersons in Guwahati, marks a significant step towards employee welfare and progressive governance, with the Assam government last having constituted a pay commission in 2015 to review salaries, allowances, and service conditions.

Key Points:

• Historic Announcement - January 2, 2026: Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Thursday, January 2, 2026 (the first working day of the New Year), that Assam will become the first state in the country to constitute the 8th Pay Commission following the Centre's formation of the 8th Central Pay Commission. The announcement comes at a time when state government employees across India are watching closely to see how states will align their pay structures with the anticipated Central Pay Commission recommendations.
• Chairperson - Subhas Chandra Das: The Assam 8th Pay Commission will be headed by former Additional Chief Secretary Subhas Chandra Das (also referred to as Subhash Das in some sources), a highly respected bureaucrat with extensive experience in state administration. As former Additional Chief Secretary, Das served in one of the highest positions in the state's bureaucratic hierarchy, bringing deep knowledge of government operations, financial management, and administrative systems to the commission.
• Previous Pay Commission - 2015: The Assam government last constituted a pay commission in 2015, approximately 11 years ago, to review the pay structure, emoluments, and service conditions of state government employees. The gap of over a decade between pay commissions is typical in India, with both Central and state governments generally constituting pay commissions every 10 years. During this intervening period, employees typically receive periodic Dearness Allowance (DA) increases to compensate for inflation, but the basic pay structure remains unchanged.
• Alignment with Central 8th Pay Commission: The timing of Assam's announcement is strategic, coming shortly after the Centre's constitution of the 8th Central Pay Commission. The Central Government approved the formation of the 8th Pay Commission in January 2025, with its Terms of Reference (ToR) officially notified on November 3, 2025. The provisions of the Central 8th Pay Commission are scheduled to come into effect from January 1, 2026, with recommendations expected within 18 months of constitution.

Goa Announces Third District Kushavati

In the News: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced the formation of the state's third district, named Kushavati, marking a major administrative reorganization in the coastal state. The revenue department officially notified the creation of this new district on December 31, 2025, which will comprise four talukas currently part of South Goa district.

Key Points:

• District Formation and Naming: The new district has been named Kushavati after the Kushavati River that flows through the region. Chief Minister Sawant explained that the name reflects the region's ancient geographical heritage and cultural identity, as the river has historically shaped the life, livelihoods, and ecology of these talukas over centuries.
• Territorial Composition: Kushavati district will comprise four talukas—Dharbandora, Quepem, Sanguem, and Canacona—which are currently part of South Goa district. With this reorganization, Goa's administrative structure will now consist of three districts: North Goa district (headquarters in Panaji) with five talukas (Pernem, Bardez, Bicholim, Sattari, and Tiswadi), South Goa district (headquarters in Margao) with three talukas (Ponda, Salcete, and Mormugao), and the new Kushavati district.
• District Headquarters and Connectivity: Quepem town has been designated as the headquarters of Kushavati district. To address concerns about accessibility from distant talukas like Canacona and Dharbandora, the government has announced plans for special bus services and improved road connectivity, including development of a district road connecting Dharbandora to Quepem and wider roads through the Ghat area to enable Canacona residents to reach Quepem within 30 minutes.
• Aspirational District Status: Chief Minister Sawant announced that Kushavati will be designated as an Aspirational District under the central government's Aspirational Districts Programme. This status makes the district eligible for special central funding, with approximately 120 aspirational districts across India receiving additional funding of about ₹15 crore each, primarily for infrastructure development. The district has a 27 per cent tribal population.
• Institutional Development: With the creation of the new district, a separate Zilla Panchayat (ZP) will be established, and the process will include the appointment of a third ZP Adhyaksh (President). The government will seek additional special funds from the Centre to build infrastructure in Kushavati district.

Google Now Lets Users Change Primary Gmail Address

In the News: Google began rolling out a long-awaited feature that allows Gmail users to change their primary @gmail.com email address without creating a new Google Account. This update, discovered through Hindi-language support documentation on December 24-25, 2025, ends a two-decade restriction that previously locked users into their original Gmail usernames.

Key Points:

• Feature Overview: Google is gradually rolling out the ability for users to change their @gmail.com email address to a new @gmail.com address while keeping all account data, emails, photos, and Google Drive files completely intact. This eliminates the need to create an entirely new account and manually transfer data, addressing a limitation that has existed since Gmail's launch over 20 years ago.
• Alias System: When users change their primary Gmail address, the old email address automatically becomes a secondary address or "alias." Users will continue to receive emails sent to both the old and new addresses in the same inbox, and can sign into Google services (Gmail, Maps, YouTube, Drive, Google Play) using either address. The old address remains permanently owned by the user and cannot be claimed by anyone else.
• Change Limitations: Google has implemented strict restrictions to prevent abuse: users can change their @gmail.com address a maximum of three times per account (resulting in four total addresses over the account's lifetime). Once a change is made, users cannot create another new @gmail.com address for 12 months, and the new address cannot be deleted during this period.
• Reversibility: Users can switch back to their old email address as the primary address at any time if they wish to revert the change.
• Gradual Rollout: The feature is being deployed gradually on a region-by-region basis. Early documentation appeared in Hindi first, suggesting initial testing in India before global availability. The feature may not be immediately available to all users, with Google stating "this option may not be available to you right now" during the phased deployment.
• How to Access: Users who have access can change their email address by going to myaccount.google.com, selecting "Personal Information," clicking on "Google Account email," and looking for the option "Change your Google Account email address." The system will verify if the requested new username is available before confirming the change.
• User Impact: The feature particularly benefits users who created Gmail accounts as teenagers with embarrassing usernames, individuals who have changed their names (including members of the transgender community), and professionals seeking to rebrand their digital identity. However, manual updates will still be required for professional contacts, mailing lists, subscription services, and account recovery settings that use the old address.

Bulgaria joins eurozone: Why it’s swapping the lev for the euro despite Russia tensions

In the News: Bulgaria became the 21st member of the eurozone, officially adopting the euro and replacing its national currency, the lev—meaning "lion," a symbol present in Bulgaria for centuries. The historic transition occurred at midnight with celebrations in Sofia, where Bulgarian euro coins were projected onto the Central Bank building. Despite 49% of Bulgarians opposing the switch according to Eurobarometer surveys, successive governments pushed forward with the adoption, arguing it would boost the economy of the EU's poorest member, reinforce ties to the West, and protect against Russia's malign influence.

Key Points:

• Official Euro Adoption - January 1, 2026: At midnight on January 1, 2026, Bulgaria gave up the lev and officially adopted the euro as its currency, becoming the 21st member of the eurozone. Bulgarian euro coins featuring national symbols including the Madara Rider, Ivan of Rila, and other cultural motifs were projected onto the Central Bank building in Sofia during midnight celebrations. European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde warmly welcomed Bulgaria, calling the euro a "powerful symbol" of "shared values and collective strength."
• Conversion Rate and Exchange Mechanism: The EU set the conversion rate at 1 euro equals 1.95583 Bulgarian lev (BGN) under the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM II), which Bulgaria joined in 2020 as a condition for adopting the euro. This conversion rate formally codified a relationship that had existed informally for decades—the lev had already been pegged to the euro since 1999 when Germany switched to the currency, because Bulgaria had tied its currency to the German mark in 1997 to stabilize its economy and rein in soaring inflation following hyperinflation in the 1990s.
• Dual Currency Period and Exchange Process: For the month of January 2026, both the lev and euro will be in dual use for cash payments, though consumers will receive only euros in change. From February 1, 2026, only euros can be used. For six months (through July 2026), Bulgarians can exchange leva in cash for euros at any commercial bank, post office, or the Bulgarian National Bank free of charge. After July, banks can charge for exchanges. Since August 2025, all sales prices have been displayed in both currencies using the same font and color to allow consumers to monitor for price gouging.
• Deep Public Division - 49% Opposition: Despite government support, Bulgarians have long been divided over the euro switch. The latest Eurobarometer survey indicated 49% of Bulgarians opposed adopting the single currency, with Alpha Research polling in May 2025 showing 46.5% supported adoption while 46.8% opposed it—a near-perfect split. A Bulgarian Finance Ministry survey showed 51% wanted to adopt the euro while 45% were against it. Opposition was strongest among residents of smaller towns and villages, pensioners, and semi-educated working-age individuals active on social media.
• Anti-Euro Protest Campaign: A significant protest campaign emerged in 2025 to "keep the Bulgarian lev," playing on public fears of price rises and a generally negative view of the euro among much of the population. The far-right, pro-Russian Revival (Vazrazhdane) party led much of the opposition, organizing rallies in May and September 2025. In June 2025, a physical fight broke out in parliament when the measure was adopted, with Revival Party members blocking the podium and staging protests.
• Historical Context - 1997 Currency Crisis: Bulgaria's relationship with currency stability is shaped by traumatic hyperinflation in the 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet-style economy. In 1997, Bulgaria introduced a currency board and pegged its currency first to the German mark (at 1,000 old leva = 1 Deutsche Mark) to stabilize the economy and control devastating inflation. When the euro launched in 1999, the peg automatically transferred to the euro at the rate of 1.95583 leva = 1 euro (the Deutsche Mark's fixed exchange rate to the euro).
• Bulgarian Euro Coin Designs - National Symbols: Bulgaria's euro coins feature distinctively Bulgarian cultural and religious motifs that were already present on the lev currency. The Madara Rider, a rock relief created at the beginning of the 8th century during the formation of the Bulgarian state, graces the 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50-cent coins. The artwork, showing a knight triumphing over a lion, is carved into a cliff near the village of Madara in northeast Bulgaria and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979.

DRDO Successfully Tests Pralay Missile With Consecutive Salvo Launch

In the News: The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted a salvo launch of two Pralay missiles in quick succession from the same launcher off the coast of Odisha at approximately 10:30 AM. This milestone test, conducted as part of user evaluation trials, demonstrated the reliability and operational readiness of India's indigenously developed tactical ballistic missile system.

Key Points:

• Salvo Launch Achievement: DRDO successfully fired two Pralay missiles consecutively from the same mobile launcher at the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha. Both missiles followed their intended quasi-ballistic trajectories and met all flight objectives with high precision, as confirmed by tracking sensors and telemetry systems deployed near impact points.
• Missile Specifications: Pralay is an indigenously developed solid-propellant, quasi-ballistic, surface-to-surface tactical missile designed for high-precision conventional strikes. The missile has a range of 150-500 km and can carry warheads weighing 350-700 kg and 500-1,000 kg, including High Explosive Preformed Fragmentation (HEPF), Penetration-Cum-Blast (PCB), and Runway Denial Penetration Submunition (RDPS) warheads.
• Strategic Capabilities: The missile employs state-of-the-art guidance and navigation systems for high accuracy and can target radar installations, communication centers, command and control facilities, and advance airfields. Its quasi-ballistic trajectory makes interception difficult for enemy air defense systems, while its solid propellant ensures quick launch readiness and high reliability.
• Operational Features: Pralay is a road-mobile, canisterized missile system that can be launched within 10 minutes and transition from command to launch in just 60 seconds. A single 12×12 vehicle can carry two Pralay missiles, each capable of targeting different locations or striking a single target from two different trajectories to enhance kill probability.

Indian Women’s Hockey End 2025 With Asia Cup Silver

In the News: The Indian Women's Hockey Team concluded 2025 with a standout silver medal at the Women's Asia Cup held in Hangzhou, China, in September 2025, after losing the final 1-4 to hosts China. Despite the absence of penalty corner specialist Deepika and veteran goalkeeper Savita, India delivered a compelling campaign, powering through the group stages with convincing wins before advancing to the final. The team's 2025 journey was marked by contrasts—continental success with the Asia Cup silver reinforcing India's consistent threat in Asian competitions, while global challenges in the 2024-25 FIH Hockey Pro League resulted in relegation to the FIH Nations Cup after finishing last with just 10 points from 16 matches.

Key Points:

• Asia Cup Silver Medal - September 14, 2025: The Indian Women's Hockey Team clinched the silver medal at the Women's Asia Cup 2025 in Hangzhou, China, on September 14, 2025, after a 1-4 loss against the host nation in the final. India made a strong start by taking the lead in the very first minute through a penalty corner converted by veteran forward Navneet Kaur with a powerful strike. However, China increased the tempo and attacked with intent throughout the match. China's goals came from Captain Ou Zixia (21'), Li Hong (40'), Zou Meirong (51'), and Zhong Jiaqi (53').
• Starting 2025 with Confidence - 2024 Asian Champions Trophy Victory: The Indian team began 2025 with strong confidence and credibility as one of Asia's top sides, riding high after their stellar triumph at the 2024 Women's Asian Champions Trophy in Rajgir. The team sealed that championship with a narrow 1-0 victory over China in the final, demonstrating their ability to prevail in tight, pressure-filled contests. This victory established India as a formidable force in Asian hockey and raised expectations for 2025
• Australia Tour - April 2025: India started 2025 strongly with a five-match tour of Australia in late April, where the squad secured valuable international exposure against the world-class Hockeyroos. Though India finished the Perth campaign with mixed results—losing the opening two matches 2-0 and 3-2—the team showed resilience by claiming a spirited 1-0 victory in the final encounter through Navneet Kaur's 21st-minute strike
• FIH Hockey Pro League Struggles - Relegation: On the global stage, the 2024-25 FIH Hockey Pro League proved to be a difficult campaign for the Indian Women's Team. Facing top-ranked opposition including Australia, Argentina, Belgium, and China, India struggled for consistency and finished last in the standings with just 10 points from 16 matches. The team registered only two wins while losing 11 matches, including a devastating run of defeats in their final eight games that confirmed relegation to the FIH Nations Cup.
• Navneet Kaur - Standout Performer: Veteran forward Navneet Kaur emerged as one of India's most consistent performers throughout 2025. She scored crucial goals at key moments: the winning goal (21st minute) in the final match of the Australia tour (1-0 victory), the opening goal in the Asia Cup final (1st minute) through a powerful penalty corner strike, and likely contributed in multiple other matches throughout the year.