Effective from January 1, 2026, the e-B-4 Visa is available for Chinese businessmen. It allows online applications for stays of up to six months. The visa supports activities such as equipment installation, quality inspections, and supply-chain development.

Dnyanganga Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Buldhana district of Maharashtra. It recently received a rescued three-year-old tiger cub for rewilding. The sanctuary covers around 205 square kilometres and forms part of the Melghat Tiger Reserve landscape.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation developed the Sea Water Desalination System. It was designed to meet drinking water needs of soldiers deployed in remote and saline areas. The system can be manually operated or engine-driven and is suitable for naval and high-altitude deployments such as Pangong Tso.

The laboratory was inaugurated at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research–National Physical Laboratory in New Delhi. It provides calibration and certification for air pollution monitoring instruments. This strengthens India’s environmental monitoring standards.

The library was established at Dr. Shakuntala Mishra National Rehabilitation University in Lucknow. It is exclusively dedicated to visually impaired students. The facility houses more than 4,000 Braille books across 54 academic courses.

Somnath Temple is located at Prabhas Patan on the coastline of Gujarat. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Lord Shiva. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently commemorated 1,000 years since the first attack on the temple in 1026 AD.

The Industrial Research and Development Promotion Program is implemented by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. It supports research and development in engineering, natural sciences, and social sciences. Recently, relaxations were announced to help deep-technology start-ups gain official recognition.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways proposed the Battery Pack Aadhaar Number system. It is a 21-character unique identification number for electric vehicle batteries. The initiative aims to ensure end-to-end traceability throughout the battery lifecycle.

India Energy Week 2026 is hosted under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. The event will be held in Goa from January 27 to January 30, 2026. It focuses on energy security, energy transition, and decarbonization strategies.

SARAS Mela 2026 is being held in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, from January 6 to January 18. This is the first time the national-level event is hosted in the state. It promotes economic empowerment of women artisans from Self-Help Groups.

SpaceX launched the COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation-Flight Model 3 satellite. The mission was conducted for the Italian Space Agency using a Falcon 9 rocket. It marked the first global orbital launch of the year 2026.

OPEC+ was formed in 2016 as an extension of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. The parent organization, OPEC, is headquartered in Vienna, Austria. The grouping works to regulate crude oil production levels to stabilize global energy markets.

The discoveries were made at Bhir Mound near Takshashila. The findings include coins from the Kushan dynasty dating to the second century Common Era. The coins depict Emperor Vasudeva along with a religious deity and lapis lazuli fragments.

Sanskaar Shaala was launched by the Assam government. The programme was inaugurated in Guwahati by the Governor of Assam, Lakshman Prasad Acharya. It focuses on ethical development, cultural awareness, and skill-building through interactive workshops.

Calamaria mizoramensis is a newly discovered species of non-venomous reed snake found in Mizoram. It is nocturnal and semi-fossorial, meaning it lives partly underground. The snake is small in size, with a dark brown to blackish body and a yellow underside.