As you transition from the year 2025 to the new year 2026, this year will mark the moment of receiving your first salary from your dream job as a government employee. To achieve that goal, it is essential to strengthen your knowledge of current affairs, which are directly asked in competitive exam question papers. This article on Weekly Current Affairs is purely curated for your upcoming exams, so just sit back, relax, and enjoy the updates from 29 December 2025 to 4 January 2026.
National Affairs
Buddha’s Piprahwa Relics brought back to India
Gautam Buddha’s Piprahwa relics were brought back to India at the grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa, held at the Rai Pithora Cultural Complex in New Delhi under the title “The Light and the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One.” The relics, discovered in 1898 and linked to ancient Kapilavastu, represent the earliest archaeological remains directly associated with Gautam Buddha.
- Clan of Gautam Buddha: Shakya clan
- Earlier name of Gautam Buddha: Siddhartha Gautama (Prince before renunciation; later revered as Buddha)
- Birthplace of Gautam Buddha: Lumbini (Nepal)
International Affairs
India and Bangladesh begin joint measurements under the Ganga Treaty
India and Bangladesh began joint water treaty measurements on the Padma (name of the Ganga in Bangladesh) and the Ganga rivers as the treaty enters the final year of its 30‑year term.
- Ganga Treaty signed with Bangladesh on: 12 December 1996
- Name of the Ganga in Bangladesh: Padma
- Site where Ganga enters Bangladesh: Farrakka Barrage
- Origin of the Ganga in Himalayas: Gangotri
IIT Ropar and Western Sydney University launch Smart Agriculture Centre
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar and Western Sydney University (UWS), Australia have signed an MoU to establish a joint Centre of Excellence in Smart Agriculture at Noida.
- First IIT established: IIT Kharagpur, West Bengal, in August 1951
- Capital of Australia: Canberra
US captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro
The Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured and flown to New York by the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the U.S. government would temporarily run the country and would sell Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
It was described as the most dramatic regime change in modern history, with the U.S. government accusing the Venezuelan president of involvement in a narco-terrorism conspiracy and ultimately putting Nicolás Maduro on trial.
- Venezuela Capital: Caracas
- Venezuela Currency: Bolívar
- United States Capital: Washington, D.C.
- United States Currency: U.S. Dollar
Punjab Affairs
Punjab Cabinet approves Banur as new Tehsil and Hariana as sub‑Tehsil
The Punjab Cabinet has approved the creation of a new Tehsil, Banur, in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali), and a new sub‑Tehsil named Hariana in Hoshiarpur District.
Punjab ranked 6th in mushroom production
Punjab has now become the 6th largest producer of mushrooms in the country as the state government emphasizes diversification to reduce reliance on the paddy‑wheat cycle. The results have been achieved through the efforts of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, for its research and varietal recommendations.
Sports
Surya Charishma Tamiri and Rithvik Sanjeevi won the Senior National Badminton Championships
Surya Charishma Tamiri, a 19‑year‑old from Vijayawada, defeated Tanvi Patri in the women’s singles final to win the title at the Senior National Badminton Championships with scores of 17–21, 21–12, 21–14. In the men’s singles final, Ritvik Sanjeevi clinched the title against Bharat Raghav with a 21–16, 22–20 victory.
Neeru Dhanda wins trap gold in women’s National Shooting Championship in New Delhi
Neeru Dhanda, the reigning Asian Championships gold medallist, shone once again as she clinched the women’s trap gold medal at the 68th National Shooting Championship, held at the iconic Karni Singh Range in New Delhi. Her victory not only added another feather to her cap but also reflected the growing strength of Indian shooting on the national stage.
Magnus Carlsen wins World Blitz Championship for the 9th time; Erigaisi clinches bronze
Magnus Carlsen, a chess player, has won his 9th World Blitz Championship in Doha, Qatar by defeating Uzbek player Nodirbek Abdusattorov. In the bronze match, Indian star chess player Arjun Erigaisi secured the bronze medal.
- Magnus Carlsen is from which country? –Norway
- Name of the Governing Body of Chess: FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs) – a French acronym; in English it is the International Chess Federation
- Headquarters of FIDE: Lausanne, Switzerland
Defence
Indian Navy Ship INSV Kaundinya Stitched ship on voyage to Oman
The Indian Navy has introduced the stitched sailing vessel, INSV Kaundinya, which set sail from Porbandar, Gujarat, on a voyage to Muscat, Oman. With this initiative India is reviving its ancient shipbuilding by making this masterpiece and seafaring traditions. INSV Kaundinya is inspired by traditional Indian ships and built entirely using stitched‑plank techniques.Its wooden planks are tied together with coconut coir rope, ingeniously made, and sealed with natural resins, showcasing the craftsmanship of India’s maritime heritage.
MoD plans to purchase Missiles, Radars, and Rockets worth Rs. 79,000 crore
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has approved the procurement of rockets, ammunition, missiles, radar systems, and military platforms worth Rs. 79,000 crore for the armed forces.
- Who in MoD approved the procurements? – Defence Acquisition Council (DAC)
- Who is the chairperson of the DAC? – Defence Minister
DRDO tests 120 km Range Pinaka Rocket
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted flight tests of the 120 km‑range Pinaka Long‑Range Guided Rocket (LRGR‑120).
DRDO test‑fires two Pralay missiles
DRDO successfully tested two Pralay missiles in a salvo launch using the same launcher off the Odisha coast at Chandipur. (A salvo launch means the same launcher is used to fire missiles in quick succession.) Pralay is an indigenously developed solid‑propellant quasi‑ballistic missile. The missile has been developed by the Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad, in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories.
- DRDO Head: Samir V. Kamat
- DRDO established: 1958
- DRDO Headquarters: New Delhi
Multi‑Role Civil Helicopter Dhruv NG makes its first flight
Dhruv NG (New Generation), the multi‑role civil helicopter built by state‑run company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), made its first flight in Bengaluru. This maiden flight was flagged off by Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu. The Dhruv NG, powered by the Shakti Civil engine—a first of its kind aero‑engine produced in India—marks the entry of HAL into the civil helicopter market.
- HAL Chairman & Managing Director: Dr. DK Sunil
- HAL Established Year: 1940
- HAL Headquarters: Bengaluru
New Appointments
Ajay Sinhal appointed new Director General of Police for Haryana
1992‑batch IPS officer Ajay Singhal has been appointed as the new Director General of Police (DGP) of Haryana.
- State DGP chosen by: UPSC Committee
- Chief Minister of Haryana: Naib Singh Saini
- Governor of Haryana: Ashim Kumar Ghosh
- Capital of Haryana: Chandigarh (shared with Punjab)
Obituary
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia passes away
Two‑time former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Khaleda Zia passed away in Dhaka. She was the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh, serving from 1991 to 1996 and again from 2001 to 2006.
- Capital of Bangladesh: Dhaka
- Currency of Bangladesh: Taka
- Who was the first woman head of government in the world? – Sirimavo Bandaranaike of then Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in 1960
Other weekly current affairs so you don’t get left behind in your preparations
As you step into the new year, your resolution must be to make this the year when you finally receive your first salary as a government employee in your dream post. You already know from previous years’ question papers that the weightage of current affairs in all competitive exams is highly significant, often becoming the deciding factor for securing the rank that leads to your dream job in the government.
So, what should you do to turn this dream into reality? The answer is simple: be consistent, have faith in your hard work, and leave the rest to us. At rankerschoice.com, we provide you with all the relevant and exam‑focused current affairs along with coverage of other subjects. This not only gives you an edge over the competition but also prepares you to face upcoming exams with confidence and practical solutions to real problems.
