APPOINTMENTS

New Chief Justices Appointed to Kerala, Patna and Meghalaya High Courts

• The Central Government notified fresh appointments and transfers of High Court Chief Justices on 1 January.

• These decisions were taken on the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium, chaired by Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant.

• Justice Soumen Sen has been shifted from the Meghalaya High Court to head the Kerala High Court.

• His transfer, carried out under Article 222 of the Constitution, will take effect after the retirement of Justice Nitin Madhukar Jamdar on 9 January 2026.

• Under Article 217, Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo of the Odisha High Court has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court.

• Justice Sahoo’s appointment will be effective from the day he formally assumes charge.

• After Justice Soumen Sen’s transfer, Justice Revati Prashant Mohite Dere of the Bombay High Court has been named Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court.

• The appointments followed a Collegium meeting held on 18 December 2025, while two recommendations concerning Uttarakhand and Jharkhand High Courts are still pending notification.

Indian Air Force: Key Senior Leadership Appointments (January 2026)

• Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor took charge as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff on 1 January 2026, succeeding Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari.

• Commissioned into the fighter stream in December 1986, he has held major operational and command responsibilities across the Air Force.

• He played an important role in the induction of the PC-7 Mk II aircraft, strengthening pilot training capability.

• His career includes strategic postings as Defence Attaché to Pakistan, Air Defence Commander at South Western Air Command, and Senior Air Staff Officer at Central Air Command.

• For his distinguished service, he has received the Vayu Sena Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Param Vishisht Seva Medal, and Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal.

• Air Marshal Seethepalli Shrinivas assumed charge as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command on 1 January 2026.

• Commissioned in June 1987, he is a Category ‘A’ Qualified Flying Instructor with over 4,200 flying hours, including helicopter flying on Chetak and Cheetah.

• He is trained as an Operations Officer on the Pechora missile system and has been awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Russia Deploys Nuclear-Capable Oreshnik Missile System in Belarus

• Russia has formally inducted the Oreshnik missile system into active service, as confirmed by its Ministry of Defence.

• The deployment took place in Belarus and was marked by a brief official ceremony, though detailed specifics were not disclosed.

• Oreshnik is an intermediate-range ballistic missile, strengthening Russia’s strategic strike capability.

• The missile has an operational range of 500 to 5,500 kilometres and can achieve speeds of up to Mach 10.

• In December, President Vladimir Putin announced that the missile would soon be placed on combat duty.

• The system reportedly saw its first combat use in November 2024, when it struck the Ukrainian city of Dnipro.

• Oreshnik is equipped with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), enhancing its effectiveness.

• Belarus, a landlocked Eastern European country with its capital at Minsk, shares its eastern and northeastern borders with Russia.

NATIONAL NEWS

India’s First Bullet Train: Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Project

• India’s first bullet train service is scheduled to begin on 15 August 2027, as announced by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

• The high-speed corridor will connect Mumbai and Ahmedabad, marking a major milestone in Indian rail infrastructure.

• Operations will start in phases, with the Surat–Bilimora stretch opening first, followed by Vapi–Surat.

• Subsequent sections will become operational in stages, covering Vapi–Ahmedabad, Thane–Ahmedabad, and finally Mumbai–Ahmedabad.

• The 508 km project is being implemented by the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL).

• Once completed, the corridor will have 12 stations, including Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad and Sabarmati.

• The bullet train is expected to cover the Mumbai–Ahmedabad journey in just 1 hour 58 minutes.

• The project cost is over ₹1 lakh crore, with 81% of the funding provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

STATE NEWS

Assam Constitutes India’s First 8th State Pay Commission

• Assam has become the first state in India to set up an 8th State Pay Commission for its government employees.

• The move was taken before the completion of the 7th Pay Commission, which ends on 1 January 2026.

• Former Chief Secretary Subhas Das has been appointed as the Chairperson of the new commission.

• The announcement was made by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, responding to growing expectations of employees and pensioners.

• So far, no other state has constituted an 8th Pay Commission, even though the Union Government is considering a similar step.

• The commission will examine and recommend revisions in salaries and pensions of state government employees.

• Experts point out that pay commission recommendations usually take time to implement after submission.

• Economists estimate that the revised pay structure may come into effect around FY 2027–28 or FY 2028–29, as commissions typically get about 18 months to submit their report.

Goa Approves Formation of Third District with Quepem as Headquarters

• The Goa government has cleared the creation of a third district, aimed at strengthening administrative delivery.

• This decision received Cabinet approval and was finalised after consultations with legislators from all political parties.

• The new district will be headquartered at Quepem, giving it administrative prominence.

• It will consist of four talukas: Sanguem, Dharbandora, Quepem and Canacona.

• Currently, Goa has two districts—North Goa and South Goa—covering a total of 12 talukas.

• North Goa includes Bardez, Tiswadi, Pernem, Bicholim and Sattari, while South Goa comprises Ponda, Mormugao, Salcete, Sanguem, Dharbandora, Quepem and Canacona.

• The move follows NITI Aayog’s suggestion to create smaller districts for improved last-mile governance.

• The proposal was examined by a seven-member committee led by the Chief Secretary, set up in November 2023, with the goal of ensuring easier access to government services.

Assam Launches Financial Support Scheme for Udasin Bhakats

• The Assam government introduced a financial assistance scheme for Udasin Bhakats on 2 January 2026 in Guwahati, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

• Under the scheme, celibate Vaishnavite monks attached to Satras will receive ₹1,500 per month as regular support.

• This initiative was proposed in the previous state budget and has now been formally rolled out.

• The assistance will be transferred directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts to ensure transparency.

• 620 Udasin Bhakats have been identified across multiple districts, with Majuli accounting for the largest share (474).

• Other beneficiaries belong to districts such as Jorhat, Kamrup, Lakhimpur, Barpeta, Dhubri, Goalpara, Golaghat, Nagaon, Nalbari, Sivasagar, Sonitpur and Udalguri.

• Satras are key religious and cultural institutions of the Assamese Vaishnavite tradition, while Udasin Satras follow a strict celibate way of life.

• The Chief Minister underlined the role of Satras in preserving Assam’s spiritual heritage, with Majuli, the world’s largest river island, remaining the heart of Neo-Vaishnavism.

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

e-Bill System Launched to Streamline Fertiliser Subsidy Payments

• Union Minister JP Nadda has inaugurated the e-Bill System under the Chemicals and Fertilisers Ministry.

• The platform is designed to digitally process fertiliser subsidy claims of the Government of India.

• It will handle transactions worth nearly ₹2 lakh crore, making it a high-value financial system.

• The initiative promotes transparent, efficient and technology-based governance.

• Built-in financial control features ensure strict monitoring of subsidy payments.

• Bills are cleared only after digital verification based on predefined parameters.

• Every transaction is automatically logged, supporting auditing, accountability and traceability.

• By replacing manual and paper-based processes, the system reduces fraud, fund misuse and human error.