Daily Current Affairs- 9th January 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 9th January 2026

BHASHINI's Shrutlekh Multilingual Translation Tool
In the News: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has launched Shrutlekh, an advanced multilingual translation tool developed under the BHASHINI (BHASHa INterface for India) initiative. This AI-powered platform enables real-time speech-to-text transcription and translation across multiple Indian languages, promoting linguistic inclusivity and bridging communication barriers in India's diverse linguistic landscape as part of the Digital India mission.

Key Points:

• Tool Launch: Shrutlekh is a cutting-edge multilingual translation tool launched under the BHASHINI initiative by MeitY. The platform leverages artificial intelligence and natural language processing to provide accurate speech-to-text transcription and translation services across Indian languages.
• Language Coverage: The tool supports multiple Indian languages which supports 22+ Indian languages; specific published lists vary by release and demonstration context like Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Punjabi, and Assamese. This comprehensive coverage ensures accessibility for speakers of scheduled Indian languages, promoting digital inclusivity.
• Core Functionality: Shrutlekh offers real-time speech recognition, converting spoken words into written text with high accuracy. It provides instant translation between supported languages, enabling seamless cross-linguistic communication for government services, education, business, and personal use.
• BHASHINI Initiative: BHASHINI (BHASHa INterface for India) is a national language technology mission launched by MeitY to develop digital infrastructure for Indian language processing. The initiative aims to create open-source language datasets, models, and APIs to democratize language technology access.
• Open Access Platform: As part of the BHASHINI ecosystem, Shrutlekh is available as an open-source platform, allowing developers, startups, and organizations to integrate multilingual capabilities into their applications.

India Launches Raisina Science Diplomacy Initiative 2026 to Bridge Science and Global Policy

In the News: India has launched the Raisina Science Diplomacy Initiative 2026, a strategic platform designed to bridge scientific innovation with global policy-making and international cooperation. Unveiled during the Raisina Dialogue 2026, this initiative positions India as a leading voice in leveraging science and technology for addressing transnational challenges including climate change, public health, digital governance, and sustainable development through collaborative diplomatic frameworks.

Key Points:

• Initiative Launch: The Raisina Science Diplomacy Initiative 2026 was launched during the Raisina Dialogue 2026, India's flagship geopolitical conference held annually in New Delhi. The initiative establishes a structured platform for integrating scientific expertise into diplomatic engagements and international policy formulation.
• Focus Areas: Key thematic pillars include climate science and green technologies for sustainable development, pandemic preparedness and global health security, artificial intelligence and digital governance frameworks, space cooperation and satellite technology applications, biotechnology and agricultural innovation, and quantum computing and emerging technologies.
• Raisina Dialogue Connection: The Raisina Dialogue, organized by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs, is India's premier conference on geopolitics and global governance. Integrating science diplomacy into this platform elevates scientific cooperation as a critical component of international relations.
• International Collaboration Framework: The initiative establishes mechanisms for bilateral and multilateral partnerships, facilitating joint research projects, technology transfer agreements, and scientific exchange programs with countries across the Global South, developed nations, and international organizations including the United Nations and WHO.
• Policy-Science Interface: The initiative creates institutional linkages between India's scientific community (CSIR, ISRO, ICMR, DBT) and diplomatic establishments, ensuring evidence-based policy formulation. Expert panels and science advisory councils will inform India's positions on international treaties, climate negotiations, and technology governance standards.

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang Conferred 2026 IEEE Medal of Honour

In the News: Jensen Huang, CEO and co-founder of NVIDIA Corporation, was awarded the prestigious 2026 IEEE Medal of Honor, the highest recognition bestowed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). The award honors Huang's pioneering contributions to graphics processing units (GPUs) and accelerated computing, which have revolutionized artificial intelligence, scientific research, and computational technology. The medal includes a USD 2 million cash prize.

Key Points:

• Award Announcement: Jensen Huang received the 2026 IEEE Medal of Honor on January 6, 2026, becoming one of the most distinguished recipients of IEEE's highest accolade. The medal recognizes exceptional contributions to the advancement of electrical and electronics engineering, information technology, and related sciences.
• IEEE Medal of Honor Significance: Established in 1917, the IEEE Medal of Honor is the organization's most prestigious award, recognizing individuals whose exceptional contributions have profoundly impacted technological progress and society. Past recipients include pioneers like Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, and Tim Berners-Lee.
• Prize Amount: The award includes a USD 2 million cash prize, reflecting the extraordinary significance of Huang's contributions to computing technology and their transformative impact on global technological advancement and economic development.
• NVIDIA's GPU Innovation: Under Huang's leadership since co-founding NVIDIA in 1993, the company pioneered GPU technology originally designed for graphics rendering, then revolutionized the field by adapting GPUs for parallel processing tasks. This innovation became foundational for AI training, machine learning, autonomous vehicles, and scientific simulations.

Oscars 2025: Indian Films Enter Best Picture Eligibility List

In the News: Two Indian films, Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 directed by Rishab Shetty and Tanvi The Great helmed by Anupam Kher, have entered the eligibility list for the Best Picture category at the 98th Academy Awards. This marks a significant milestone for Indian cinema on the global stage, with both films among 201 feature films qualifying for consideration in Hollywood's most prestigious film awards ceremony.

Key Points:

• Films Eligible: Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 directed by Rishab Shetty and Tanvi The Great directed by Anupam Kher have qualified for Best Picture consideration at the 98th Academy Awards. The eligibility list was first reported by Variety, highlighting Indian cinema's growing international recognition.
• Total Contenders: A total of 201 feature films have qualified for consideration in the Best Picture category for the 98th Academy Awards. This competitive field includes major Hollywood productions, independent films, and international cinema, making Indian films' inclusion particularly noteworthy.
• Qualifying Theatrical Run: To qualify for Best Picture, films must complete a qualifying theatrical run in at least 10 of the top 50 US markets within 45 days of their initial 2025 release. This requirement ensures significant theatrical exposure and accessibility to Academy voters across major American cities.
• RAISE Form Requirement: All qualifying films must submit a confidential Academy Representation and Inclusion Standards Entry (RAISE) form to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). This documentation demonstrates the production's commitment to diversity and inclusion standards.
• Inclusion Standards: Films must meet at least two of the four inclusion standards defined by AMPAS, covering on-screen representation, creative leadership and project team, industry access and opportunities, and audience development. These standards promote diversity across gender, racial/ethnic groups, LGBTQ+ communities, and people with disabilities.

All-India Tiger Estimation 2026 Begins in Thanthai Periyar Sanctuary

In the News: The All-India Tiger Estimation 2026 has officially commenced at the Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, marking the beginning of a nationwide census to assess India's tiger population. This quadrennial survey, conducted by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and state forest departments, employs advanced technology and scientific methodologies to monitor tiger numbers, distribution, and habitat status across the country's protected areas and tiger corridors.

Key Points:

• Survey Launch: The All-India Tiger Estimation 2026 began at Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, initiating a comprehensive nationwide census. This marks the sixth edition of the systematic tiger enumeration exercise since the first scientific census in 2006.
• Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary: Located in the Erode district of Tamil Nadu, the sanctuary spans approximately 104.59 square kilometers and serves as an important wildlife corridor.
• Survey Methodology: The estimation employs a four-phase approach including habitat assessment through beat-level surveys, camera trap deployment in intensive monitoring areas, photographic capture-recapture analysis, and use of the M-STrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers - Intensive Protection and Ecological Status) mobile application for data collection.
• Technology Integration: Forest personnel use camera traps equipped with motion sensors to photograph tigers, identifying individuals through unique stripe patterns. The M-STrIPES app enables real-time data upload, GPS tagging, and centralized monitoring, ensuring scientific accuracy and reducing human error.
• Survey Scope: The census covers all tiger-bearing states including Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, and others. It assesses not only tiger numbers but also co-predators, prey species, habitat quality, and human-wildlife conflict zones.
• Project Tiger Framework: Launched in 1973, Project Tiger operates across 54 tiger reserves covering over 75,000 square kilometers. The periodic estimation helps evaluate the effectiveness of conservation interventions, identify emerging threats, and strengthen protection mechanisms for long-term tiger survival.

Hubble Discovers Starless Dark Matter Cloud Near Messier 94

In the News: The Hubble Space Telescope has discovered an unusual starless dark matter cloud in the vicinity of the spiral galaxy Messier 94 (M94). This groundbreaking discovery challenges conventional understanding of galaxy formation and dark matter distribution, as the cloud exists in isolation without any visible stars, making it a rare example of dark matter detected independently of luminous matter.

Key Points:

• Discovery Location: The starless dark matter cloud was detected near Messier 94 (M94), a spiral galaxy located approximately 16 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Canes Venatici. Hubble's advanced observational capabilities enabled detection of gravitational effects from this invisible matter.
• Dark Matter Composition: Dark matter constitutes approximately 85% of the universe's total matter but does not emit, absorb, or reflect light, making it invisible to traditional telescopes. It can only be detected through its gravitational influence on visible matter and light.
• Unique Characteristics: The cloud is remarkably unusual because it contains dark matter without any associated stars or visible galaxies, contradicting typical patterns where dark matter halos surround luminous galaxies. This isolated configuration provides rare insights into dark matter's independent existence.
• Detection Method: Hubble identified the cloud through gravitational lensing effects, where the dark matter's gravitational field bends and distorts light from background objects. This technique allows astronomers to map dark matter distribution even when no visible matter is present.
• Messier 94 Galaxy: M94 is a grand design spiral galaxy with a prominent ring structure, classified as a Seyfert galaxy with an active galactic nucleus. The proximity of the starless cloud to M94 raises questions about potential gravitational interactions or shared formation history.