Current Affairs 16 January 2026

Malayalam Language Bill, 2025

• The Kerala government tabled the Malayalam Language Bill, 2025 in the Kerala Legislative Assembly on October 6, 2025, and it was passed on October 9, 2025 after scrutiny by the Subject Committee. The Bill is now awaiting the Governor’s assent.
• The Bill seeks to formally adopt Malayalam as the official language of Kerala, mandating its use across government administration, education, judiciary, public communication, commerce, and the digital domain, subject to constitutional provisions.
• Malayalam is proposed to be made the compulsory first language in all government and aided schools up to Class 10.

World Bank Raises India’s Growth Forecast

The World Bank has raised India’s GDP growth forecast to 7.2% for FY 2025–26, an upward revision of 0.9 percentage points from its June projections, citing strong domestic demand, tax reforms, and resilient consumption. According to its flagship report “Global Economic Prospects”, India is expected to remain the fastest-growing major economy in the world, even as global uncertainties persist.

Sri Ekaratri Prasanna Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple

The Andhra Pradesh government has sanctioned ₹2.50 crore from the Common Good Fund (CGF) for the restoration of the Sri Ekaratri Prasanna Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple located at Srikakulam village in Ghantasala mandal, Krishna district. The ancient temple, dating back to the Chola period (9th–11th century CE), has suffered severe structural damage due to neglect, flooding, and moisture seepage from the nearby Krishna River.

‘Suvasini Puja’ enters Guinness Book of Records

A spiritual event organised by Sri Sakthi Peetam at Rayala Cheruvu has earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records. The organisation conducted the ‘Dasa Sahasra Suvasini Puja’ in Tirupati, bringing together 10,000 married women at a single venue. The Guinness certificate officially recognised the event as the “Largest Suvasini Puja” ever conducted at one location, acknowledging its scale, coordination, and spiritual significance.

28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC)

Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla addressed the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC), stressing that rapid technological changes, especially Artificial Intelligence (AI) and social media, are reshaping democratic institutions. While these technologies have improved efficiency, transparency and accessibility, he cautioned that their misuse has led to challenges such as misinformation, cybercrime and social polarisation.

The 28th CSPOC, hosted by the Parliament of India, brings together Speakers and Presiding Officers from Commonwealth countries to deliberate on issues such as AI in Parliament, social media’s impact on legislators, public trust in Parliaments, and the wellbeing of Members of Parliament.

GeM’s Womaniya Initiative completes 7 years

• The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) marked seven years of the Womaniya initiative, aimed at promoting women-led Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) in public procurement.
• Launched on 14 January 2019, Womaniya provides a fully digital, transparent platform for women entrepreneurs and SHGs to directly access government buyers.
• As of 14 January 2026, over 2 lakh women-led MSEs are registered on GeM.
• These enterprises have secured procurement orders worth more than ₹80,000 crore, contributing 4.7% of GeM’s total order value, exceeding the mandatory 3% procurement target.
• The initiative aligns with national priorities such as Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India, and Vocal for Local.
• A key highlight was the signing of an MoU between GeM and the Women’s Collective Forum (WCF) to further strengthen institutional support and capacity building for women entrepreneurs.

78th Indian Army Day – January 15

The Indian Army celebrated its 78th Army Day on 15 January 2026 in Jaipur, Rajasthan, marking a significant milestone as the parade was conducted outside Delhi for the fourth time and for the first time outside an Army cantonment, right in the heart of a city.

National Startup Day – January 16

• National Startup Day is observed on 16 January 2026, marking 10 years of the Startup India Initiative launched in 2016.
• As of December 2025, India has over 2 lakh DPIIT-recognised startups, making it one of the largest startup ecosystems globally.
• Nearly 50% of recognised startups originate from Tier-II and Tier-III cities, highlighting the democratisation of entrepreneurship beyond metro hubs.
• Startups have become a key pillar of economic transformation, contributing to innovation, job creation, financial inclusion, and regional development.
• Women-led entrepreneurship has gained strong momentum, with over 45% of startups having at least one woman director/partner.
• Rural and grassroots initiatives such as SVEP, ASPIRE, and PMEGP are supporting micro-enterprises, women entrepreneurs, and local employment.

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