Find the Weekly Current Affairs for the 1st week of January 2026. Stay informed with the most important news and events from around the world. Our curated updates provide a comprehensive summary of the week’s key happenings, covering politics, economics, science, technology, sports, and international affairs.
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Highlights of January 1st Week Current Affairs
- India achieved a major milestone in eye care with the successful use of 3D flex aqueous angiography combined with iStent implantation for glaucoma treatment at an Army Hospital in New Delhi.
- The procedure enables real-time, intraoperative visualisation of aqueous humour drainage pathways inside the eye.
- It helps surgeons precisely identify sites of outflow resistance, which are the primary cause of raised intraocular pressure in glaucoma.
- The technology uses a 3D operating microscope integrated with the Spectralis imaging system for high-resolution guidance during surgery.
- Integration with the iStent device allows targeted placement of a microscopic implant to improve aqueous outflow.
- The approach is part of Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS), offering reduced tissue damage and faster recovery.
- Precision-based imaging increases the likelihood of better intraocular pressure control and long-term disease management.
- The technique lowers the risk of complications compared to conventional glaucoma surgeries.
- This advancement reflects India’s growing capability in adopting and executing cutting-edge ophthalmic technologies.
- The breakthrough is significant as glaucoma is often symptomless in early stages, making accurate diagnosis and targeted intervention crucial for preventing irreversible vision loss.
- Bulgaria has officially adopted the euro as its national currency, becoming the 21st member of the Eurozone.
- The move marks deeper economic integration with the European Union’s monetary framework.
- Bulgaria is located in Southeast Europe, within the strategically important Balkan Peninsula.
- Sofia is the capital and largest city, serving as the country’s political and economic centre.
- Bulgaria is a member of the European Union, strengthening its institutional and regulatory alignment with Europe.
- It shares its northern border with Romania, enhancing Danube-based trade and connectivity.
- To the south, Bulgaria borders Greece and Turkey, linking it to both the EU and West Asia.
- Its western neighbours are Serbia and North Macedonia, reflecting strong Balkan regional ties.
- Bulgaria has an eastern maritime boundary along the Black Sea, giving it strategic access to maritime trade routes.
- Euro adoption is expected to boost investor confidence, reduce transaction costs, and enhance financial stability in the country.
- Rani Velu Nachiyar (1730–1796) was one of the earliest Indian rulers to openly challenge British colonial power, decades before the Revolt of 1857.
- She was born into the Ramnad kingdom (present-day Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu) and was trained from a young age in warfare and statecraft.
- Unlike most women of her time, she received formal military training in horse riding, archery, Silambam, and Valari.
- After the British East India Company killed her husband, Muthuvaduganatha Thevar, she reorganised resistance rather than surrendering power.
- She formed a strong strategic alliance with Hyder Ali of Mysore, securing arms, training, and military support against the British.
- In 1780, she successfully recaptured Sivaganga from British control, marking one of the earliest Indian victories over the East India Company.
- She established the Udaiyaal Battalion, considered one of the world’s first organised all-women military units.
- Her trusted commander Kuyili carried out the first recorded suicide attack in Indian history by destroying a British ammunition depot.
- Rani Velu Nachiyar combined guerrilla warfare, diplomacy, and local support to weaken British dominance in the region.
- Her legacy symbolises early anti-colonial resistance, women’s leadership in warfare, and indigenous defiance against imperial rule.
- US air and military strikes around Caracas have reignited global debate on sovereignty, international law, and the legitimacy of unilateral interventions by major powers.
- The strikes are widely interpreted as a reassertion of the Monroe Doctrine, aimed at reinforcing US strategic dominance in Latin America while countering China’s growing economic and energy footprint in Venezuela.
- Venezuela’s vast oil, gas, and gold reserves make it a critical geopolitical and resource hub, intensifying great power competition in the region.
- The action is seen as a violation of the UN Charter, particularly Article 2(4), due to the absence of UNSC authorization or a clear self-defence justification.
- India’s direct impact remains limited because of reduced engagement with Venezuela after sanctions, while India continues to uphold principles of sovereignty, non-intervention, and multilateralism.
- The government’s relaxation of DSIR norms for deep-tech startups marks a significant step toward nurturing research-intensive innovation at an early stage.
- India’s emergence as the world’s largest rice producer and exporter strengthens food diplomacy, boosts farm incomes, and consolidates its dominance in global rice trade.
- The reunification and international exhibition of the Piprahwa relics underscore India’s emphasis on cultural restitution and the global relevance of Buddha’s ethical teachings.
- Sanctioning of multiple chip design projects under the DLI Scheme reflects India’s push for semiconductor self-reliance and deeper integration into global value chains.
- Tributes to Savitribai Phule and Somnath Temple, alongside advances in science, defence indigenisation, energy efficiency, and global governance, highlight India’s blend of civilisational continuity, technological progress, and strategic ambition.
- India has introduced a new e-Production Investment Business Visa (e-B-4) specifically for Chinese businessmen.
- The visa is designed to support manufacturing-linked investments and supply chain operations in India.
- It allows entry only for activity-specific business purposes, not for general employment.
- Permitted activities include installation and commissioning of machinery and equipment.
- Visa holders can conduct quality checks and undertake essential maintenance work.
- It also enables supply-chain development, including empanelling and coordinating with Indian vendors.
- The processing time for the e-B-4 visa is approximately 45–50 days.
- The maximum duration of stay under this visa is up to six months.
- The visa is issued through the digital e-Visa framework, improving ease of doing business.
- It reflects India’s calibrated economic engagement with China while maintaining regulatory oversight and security checks.
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1 January to 7 January (Weekly Current Affairs Quiz)
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