Current Affairs 13 January 2026

National Youth Day 2026 – 12 January

National Youth Day 2026 is observed on 12 January, marking the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

Key focus areas in 2026:

• Youth engagement at scale: Platforms like MY Bharat and NSS are enabling volunteering, leadership and nation-building.
• Education-to-employment pipeline: Schemes like Skill India, PMKVY, PM-SETU, Agnipath, and Startup India strengthen skilling, jobs and entrepreneurship.
• Health & well-being: Initiatives like Fit India, RKSK, and the Kashi Declaration promote youth fitness, mental health and substance-free living.

MY Bharat facts:

• MY Bharat is an autonomous body under Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports.
• Launched by PM on 31 Oct 2023.
• MY Bharat mobile app launched 1 Oct 2025.
• MY Bharat 2.0: MoU signed 30 June 2025 with Digital India Corporation (MeitY).

Divi Pump Scheme (Puligadda)

The Divi Pump Scheme at Puligadda (Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh) is one of coastal Andhra’s earliest examples of mechanised irrigation from the British era. Built with stone-and-lime masonry, it used diesel engines (not electricity/steam) to lift Krishna river water and irrigate nearly 50,000 acres across Divi Island (Diviseema).

Bhairav Battalions to Debut in Army Day Parade 2026

The Indian Army’s newly raised Bhairav Battalions, a modern warfare force designed for high-speed offensive operations, will make their first-ever appearance in the Army Day parade on January 15, 2026, to be held in Jaipur.

Groundwater Contamination in Andhra Pradesh

The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), in its Annual Ground Water Quality Report–2025, has flagged Andhra Pradesh as one of the States facing widespread groundwater contamination beyond BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) limits.

Key concerns highlighted include high residual sodium carbonate (RSC) beyond permissible limits in 26.87% of groundwater samples, posing serious risks to soil health and agriculture. The report also detected elevated uranium concentrations (>30 ppb) in parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, with 16 villages across Annamayya, Kurnool, Sri Sathya Sai, and Tirupati districts identified as uranium hotspots.

Global Recognition for Pawan Kalyan in Martial Arts

Actor and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan has received global recognition in martial arts with his formal induction into Kenjutsu, the umbrella term for classical Japanese swordsmanship traditions. Further, he was honoured with the title “Tiger of Martial Arts” by the Golden Dragons organisation

Disclaimer: This article is prepared for competitive exam preparation using publicly available information.