Current Affairs 29 January 2026

Karnataka Constitutes Gig Workers’ Welfare Board

• The Karnataka Government has constituted the Karnataka Platform-Based Gig Workers Welfare Development Board under the 2025 Act to implement welfare measures for gig and platform workers.
• The Labour Minister will serve as the ex-officio President of the Board.
• Senior officials from the Labour Department, Information Technology Department, and Commercial Taxes Department are ex-officio members, while the CEO of the Board acts as the Member Secretary.
• The Board includes four representatives each from gig worker unions and aggregator platforms.
• Major aggregator platforms such as Zomato, Uber, Amazon, and Porter are represented, along with labour unions like AITUC and app-based transport and delivery workers’ unions.
• Mandatory registration has been introduced for both gig workers and aggregator platforms.

Early 8th Century Telugu Inscription Discovered in Andhra Pradesh

• An early 8th century CE Telugu inscription has been discovered at Pitikayagulla village in Bestavaripeta mandal, Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh.
• The inscription is engraved on a stone slab erected in front of the historic Pitikesvara temple.
• It is written in Telugu language and script of the 8th century CE, making it an important find for epigraphical and linguistic studies.
• The four-line inscription records the construction of a new embankment (nava katta).
• The work is attributed to Pranimilli Achari, believed to be a sculptor or craftsman, highlighting the role of artisans in public works during that period.
• The inscription dates to the Renadu region’s administrative period, though it does not mention the ruling king.

Syria’s Kurdish Regions

Syria’s Kurdish regions are in news due to fresh clashes between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Syrian government forces after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024. The fighting threatens the autonomous administration (Rojava/DAANES) established by Kurds since 2012, amid disagreements over integration into the Syrian state, loss of autonomy, and foreign involvement by Turkiye and the U.S.

State-level Cocoa Conclave–2026 in Andhra Pradesh

Eluru district of Andhra Pradesh will host a two-day State-level Cocoa Conclave–2026 on January 30 and 31, 2026. The conclave aims to promote the expansion, development, processing, and value addition of cocoa cultivation in the State.

The Directorate of Cashewnut and Cocoa Development (DCCD), located in Kochi, Kerala, is the primary government body under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare responsible for the development of the cocoa industry in India.

AYUSHEXCIL and Zepto sign MoU to expand digital access to AYUSH products

The Ministry of Ayush has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ayush Export Promotion Council (AYUSHEXCIL) and Zepto Limited to strengthen digital access, quality assurance, and consumer trust in AYUSH medicines and wellness products across India. Under the agreement, Zepto will host a dedicated AYUSH storefront on its digital platform, enabling consumers to access verified and quality-compliant AYUSH products.

Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026 notified

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026, replacing the earlier SWM Rules, 2016. The new rules, notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, will be implemented from April 1, 2026.

Key highlights include:

• Mandatory four-stream segregation of waste at source into:
  • Wet waste
  • Dry waste
  • Sanitary waste
  • Special care waste
• Introduction of environmental compensation based on the “Polluter Pays” principle for violations.
• Mandatory use of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) by industries, increasing substitution from 5% to 15% over six years.
• Special provisions for hilly areas and islands, including tourist user fees and decentralised waste processing.

NITI Aayog launches Sampoornata Abhiyan 2.0

NITI Aayog has launched Sampoornata Abhiyan 2.0, a three-month nationwide campaign running from 28 January to 14 April 2026, aimed at achieving saturation of key development indicators in Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Blocks.

Key points:

• The campaign builds on the success of Sampoornata Abhiyan 2024.
• It targets 112 Aspirational Districts and 513 Aspirational Blocks across India.
• Focus Areas:
  • 5 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in Aspirational Districts.
  • 6 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in Aspirational Blocks.
• Priority sectors include Health & Nutrition, Education, Sanitation, and Animal Vaccination.

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