Current Affairs 24 January 2026

Board of Peace charter

U.S. President Donald Trump inaugurated a new multilateral initiative called the Board of Peace at the World Economic Forum (WEF), Davos, aimed at maintaining a ceasefire in Israel’s war against Hamas and shaping the future governance of Gaza. Although Trump claimed that 59 countries have signed on, representatives from only 19 countries attended the founding ceremony.

India was notably absent despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi being invited. According to official sources, India has not yet taken a decision on joining the Board.

Trump projected the Board of Peace as a body that could eventually rival or even replace some UN functions, though later clarified that it would work in conjunction with the UN. Countries that accepted the invitation include Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turkiye, Qatar, Egypt, and Jordan, among others.

Franz Edelman Award

The Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) has been selected among the top six global finalists for the 2026 Franz Edelman Award, often referred to as the “Nobel Prize of Operations Research and Analytics”. The recognition is for its flagship initiative “Anna Chakra”, an operations research (O.R.)–based decision support system aimed at strengthening India’s Public Distribution System (PDS).

Developed in collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) India and IIT Delhi, Anna Chakra optimises state-wise food grain logistics using advanced analytical models. Launched in December 2025 by Union Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi, the system has led to annual savings of ₹250 crore, a 35% reduction in emissions, and improved efficiency benefiting over 81 crore PDS beneficiaries.

Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar 2026

The Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar 2026 has been announced to recognise outstanding contributions in the field of disaster management.

• Institutional Category: The Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA)
• Individual Category: Lieutenant Colonel Seeta Ashok Shelke (Indian Army)

The award is instituted by the Government of India and is announced annually on 23 January, the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, to honour individuals and organisations for exemplary service in disaster management.

India allocates 30 GHz spectrum for Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication to reduce road accidents

The Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari, informed that the Department of Telecommunications has allocated the 30 GHz radio frequency band for developing Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication systems. The V2V technology will enable vehicles to exchange real-time information such as speed, position, braking, and potential hazards, thereby helping prevent collisions and improving road safety.

The Ministry is also collaborating with IIT Kanpur to develop AI-enabled road safety technologies, strengthening accident prevention, black-spot identification, and emergency response systems.

National Girl Child Day 2026 – 24 January

India observed National Girl Child Day on January 24, 2026, reaffirming its commitment to the rights, education, health, safety, and empowerment of girls. The day has been observed annually since 2008, following its initiation by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), to address gender discrimination and promote equal opportunities for girls.

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