Current Affairs 22 January 2026

Darwin’s Bark Spider Silk

Scientists have found that Darwin’s bark spiders (Caerostris darwini) produce the toughest spider silk ever recorded. Found in Madagascar, this silk has a tensile strength of about 1.6 gigapascals, making it stronger than steel and iron.

Amelia Valverde Appointed India Women’s Football Head Coach

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has appointed Amelia Valverde of Costa Rica as the head coach of the Indian senior women’s football team.

Andhra Pradesh attracts 25% of India’s FDI at WEF Davos

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced at the World Economic Forum (WEF), Davos, that Andhra Pradesh has attracted 25% of the total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) entering India. He attributed this achievement to policy stability, speed of doing business, and proactive governance.

Key highlights include:

• UAE support for collaboration between Andhra Pradesh’s food processing sector and the Dubai Food Cluster, with facilitation of investments from 40 Emirati companies.
• A USD 10 billion strategic investment partnership between the Andhra Pradesh government and RMZ Corporation.
• Proposed projects include a Global Capability Centre (GCC) Park and hyperscale data centre cluster in Visakhapatnam, and an industrial & logistics park in Rayalaseema.
• Focus areas: green energy, green ammonia, digital infrastructure, logistics, manufacturing, and natural farming.

Tripura, Manipur, and Meghalaya celebrate Statehood Day

Every year on January 21, the northeastern States of Tripura, Manipur, and Meghalaya observe their Statehood Day, marking their transition to full-fledged States of the Indian Union in 1972.

• Tripura became the 19th State of India
• Manipur became the 20th State of India
• Meghalaya became the 21st State of India

The statehood was granted under the North Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971, which came into effect on January 21, 1972. The day highlights the constitutional, political, and administrative integration of these States and their role in strengthening India’s federal structure.

Atal Pension Yojana (APY) Extended till 2030–31

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister, has approved the continuation of the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) up to FY 2030–31. The decision also includes extension of government funding support for promotional, developmental, and gap-funding activities.

Atal Pension Yojana, launched on 9 May 2015, aims to provide old-age income security to workers in the unorganised sector. Under the scheme, subscribers receive a guaranteed minimum pension of ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 per month after attaining the age of 60, depending on their contribution.

As of 19 January 2026, APY has enrolled over 8.66 crore subscribers, making it one of India’s largest social security schemes.

Lucknow becomes UP’s First ‘Zero Fresh Waste Dump’ City

Lucknow has achieved a major milestone in urban sustainability by becoming the first city in Uttar Pradesh to achieve 100% scientific processing of municipal solid waste under the Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban. This achievement followed the commissioning of the Shivari Solid Waste Management Plant, which has a processing capacity of 700 metric tonnes per day.

With three waste processing plants of 700 MT/day capacity each, the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) can now process over 2,100 metric tonnes of waste daily, completely eliminating fresh waste dumping. The city’s door-to-door waste collection efficiency stands at 96.53%, while source segregation exceeds 70%.

GI-tagged Kaladi to be upscaled under ODOP initiative

Kaladi, the GI-tagged traditional dairy product of Udhampur district, Jammu & Kashmir, be scientifically upscaled for wider food applications while preserving its original taste, texture, and nutritional value.

International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM-2026)

The Election Commission of India (ECI) inaugurated the 3-day International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM-2026) at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The conference brought together nearly 60 international delegates, representatives from 42 Election Management Bodies (EMBs), ambassadors from 27 countries, experts from 70+ national institutions, and 36 Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) from across India.

The event was led by Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi. The theme of IICDEM-2026 is “Democracy for an inclusive, peaceful, resilient and sustainable world.”

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