Daily Current Affairs 27 January 2026: Best For Competitive Exams

Daily Current Affairs – 27 January 2026 | Important for UPSC, SSC, Banking & Railways

In Short: Today’s Key Events for GK

Category	Event/Update	Key Fact to Remember
National Event	77th Republic Day Celebrated	Guests: Antonio Costa & Ursula von der Leyen (EU Leaders).
Awards	Padma Awards 2026 Announced	Dharmendra (Posthumous) & V.S. Achuthanandan (Posthumous) get Padma Vibhushan.
Sports	Australian Open 2026	Jannik Sinner & Novak Djokovic reach Quarter-finals; Naomi Osaka withdraws.
Defence/Security	Major Explosive Seizure	Rajasthan Police seize 10,000 kg of ammonium nitrate in Nagaur.
Obituary	Avtar Singh Bhasin	Veteran Indian diplomat and foreign policy author passes away at 90.

Daily Current Affairs 27 January 2026: Major Headlines (Brief & Impactful)

NATIONAL (INDIA)

1. India Celebrates 77th Republic Day: Parade at Kartavya Path showcases military might and “150 Years of Vande Mataram” theme.
2. Padma Vibhushan 2026 Announced: Late actor Dharmendra and former Kerala CM V.S. Achuthanandan honoured posthumously.
3. Rohit Sharma & Harmanpreet Kaur Conferred Padma Shri: Indian cricket captains among 9 sportspersons honoured.
4. MCD Announces ‘MCD Shri’ Schools: New initiative in Delhi to upgrade civic body schools on lines of PM Shri scheme.
5. Security Alert in Rajasthan: Police recover massive haul of 10,000 kg ammonium nitrate from a farmhouse in Nagaur.

INTERNATIONAL

6. EU Leaders Grace Republic Day: European Council President Antonio Costa and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attend as Chief Guests.

7. Global Democracy Warning: Former US President Bill Clinton warns of critical threats to constitutional freedoms in the West.

8. Iran Issues Warning to US: Tehran unveils billboard warning against military strikes as tensions escalate in the Middle East.

SPORTS & ECONOMY

9. Australian Open 2026: Defending champion Jannik Sinner defeats Luciano Darderi to enter Quarter-finals; Novak Djokovic advances via walkover.

10. Fitch Ratings Forecast: Predicts improved financial performance and stable credit metrics for Indian corporates in FY27.

Also Read: UGC Kya Hai? UGC Full Form, Karya, Role & Powers (Hindi)

Deep-Dive Explanations (Top 5 Stories)

1. 77th Republic Day & EU Chief Guests

• Context: India celebrated its 77th Republic Day on January 26, 2026, with a grand parade at Kartavya Path. The theme was “150 Years of Vande Mataram”.
• Significance: This year marked a diplomatic milestone with two Chief Guests from the European Union—Antonio Costa (President of the European Council) and Ursula von der Leyen (President of the European Commission). This highlights India’s deepening strategic and trade partnership with the European bloc.

2. Padma Awards 2026 Announcement

• Context: On the eve of Republic Day, the Centre announced 131 Padma Awards. The list includes 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri awards.
• Key Assignees: The highest civilian honour, Padma Vibhushan, was awarded posthumously to veteran actor Dharmendra (Art) and former Kerala CM V.S. Achuthanandan (Public Affairs). Other notable winners include Uday Kotak (Trade) and Mammootty (Art) receiving the Padma Bhushan.

3. Sports Icons Honoured with Padma Shri

• Context: The Ministry of Home Affairs recognised nine sportspersons for their distinguished service.
• Details: Indian men’s cricket captain Rohit Sharma, women’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur, and hockey goalkeeper Savita Punia were awarded the Padma Shri. Tennis legend Vijay Amritraj was honoured with the higher Padma Bhushan, becoming the only sportsperson in that category this year.

4. Australian Open 2026: Sinner Advances, Osaka Withdraws

• Context: In the ongoing first Grand Slam of the year in Melbourne, defending champion Jannik Sinner secured a spot in the quarter-finals by defeating compatriot Luciano Darderi.
• Why it matters: The tournament has seen high-profile exits, including Naomi Osaka, who withdrew due to injury. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic received a walkover into the quarter-finals, setting the stage for a high-stakes finish to the tournament.

5. Massive Ammonium Nitrate Seizure in Rajasthan

• Context: In a major security operation, the Nagaur police in Rajasthan seized approximately 10,000 kg of ammonium nitrate from a farmhouse.
• Significance: Ammonium nitrate is a controlled substance often used in explosives. Its unregulated possession is a severe security threat. The seizure underscores heightened vigilance by internal security forces post-Republic Day.

Today’s Notable Days (January 27)

• International Holocaust Remembrance Day
  • Significance: Observed globally to honour the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and millions of other victims of Nazism. The date marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in 1945.

This Day In History (January 27)

• 1967: The Apollo 1 Tragedy
  • Event: A flash fire swept through the command module of the Apollo 1 spacecraft during a launch rehearsal test, killing astronauts Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Edward White, and Roger Chaffee. This led to major safety overhauls in NASA’s space program.

Famous Birthdays

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756): Prolific and influential Austrian composer of the Classical era.
• Lewis Carroll (1832): English author known for Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
• Daniel Vettori (1979): Former New Zealand cricket captain and legendary left-arm spinner.

Also Read: Important Days In 2026: Complete Guide For Competitive Exams

Exam-Oriented MCQs (Based on Last 24 Hours)

Question 1: Who among the following was a Chief Guest at India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations in 2026?

A) Emmanuel Macron

B) Antonio Costa

C) Joe Biden

D) Rishi Sunak

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: The 77th Republic Day saw two Chief Guests from the European Union: Antonio Costa (President of the European Council) and Ursula von der Leyen (President of the European Commission).

Question 2: Which veteran actor was posthumously awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2026?

A) Rishi Kapoor

B) Dharmendra

C) Vinod Khanna

D) Dilip Kumar

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: Veteran actor Dharmendra Singh Deol was awarded the Padma Vibhushan (Posthumous) in the field of Art for 2026.

Question 3: What was the specific theme of the 77th Republic Day parade in 2026?

A) Viksit Bharat

B) Nari Shakti

C) 150 Years of Vande Mataram

D) Indigenous Defence

Correct Answer: C

Explanation: The theme for Republic Day 2026 was “150 Years of Vande Mataram”, marking the 150th anniversary of the national song.

Question 4: Which Indian cricket captain was conferred the Padma Shri award in 2026?

A) Virat Kohli

B) Hardik Pandya

C) Rohit Sharma

D) KL Rahul

Correct Answer: C

Explanation: Rohit Sharma, along with women’s team captain Harmanpreet Kaur, was awarded the Padma Shri for his contribution to cricket.

Question 5: Who is the only sportsperson to receive the Padma Bhushan in the 2026 awards list?

A) P.T. Usha

B) Vijay Amritraj

C) Viswanathan Anand

D) Kapil Dev

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: Tennis legend Vijay Amritraj was the sole sportsperson to be conferred with the Padma Bhushan in 2026.

Question 6: Veteran politician V.S. Achuthanandan, who was awarded the Padma Vibhushan (Posthumous) in 2026, was the former Chief Minister of which state?

A) Tamil Nadu

B) Kerala

C) Karnataka

D) Andhra Pradesh

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: V.S. Achuthanandan was a veteran Communist leader and the former Chief Minister of Kerala.

Question 7: In January 2026, Rajasthan Police seized 10,000 kg of which explosive substance in Nagaur?

A) RDX

B) Ammonium Nitrate

C) Dynamite

D) Gunpowder

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: The Nagaur police seized approximately 10,000 kg of ammonium nitrate from a farmhouse in a major security crackdowns.

Question 8: Who defeated Luciano Darderi to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open 2026?

A) Carlos Alcaraz

B) Jannik Sinner

C) Daniil Medvedev

D) Alexander Zverev

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: Defending champion Jannik Sinner (Italy) defeated his compatriot Luciano Darderi in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals.

Question 9: Which prominent female tennis player withdrew from the Australian Open 2026 due to injury?

A) Iga Swiatek

B) Aryna Sabalenka

C) Naomi Osaka

D) Coco Gauff

Correct Answer: C

Explanation: Naomi Osaka withdrew from the women’s singles draw at the Australian Open 2026 due to injury.

Question 10: Avtar Singh Bhasin, who passed away recently, was associated with which field?

A) Space Science

B) Diplomacy and Foreign Policy

C) Classical Music

D) Archeology

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: Avtar Singh Bhasin (90) was a former Indian diplomat and a prolific author known for his archival work on Indian foreign policy.

Question 11: The civic body of which city announced the setting up of ‘MCD Shri’ schools?

A) Mumbai

B) Delhi

C) Bengaluru

D) Hyderabad

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: The Delhi civic body (MCD) announced it would set up ‘MCD Shri’ schools modeled after the Centre’s PM Shri and Delhi government’s CM Shri schools.

Question 12: Which ratings agency recently forecasted stable credit metrics for Indian corporates in FY27?

A) Moody’s

B) Standard & Poor’s

C) Fitch Ratings

D) CRISIL

Correct Answer: C

Explanation: Fitch Ratings released a report expecting the financial performance of Indian corporates to improve in FY27 with stable credit metrics.

Question 13: Which actor was awarded the Padma Bhushan in the 2026 list?

A) Shah Rukh Khan

B) Mammootty

C) Mohanlal

D) Rajinikanth

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: Malayalam cinema icon Mammootty was honoured with the Padma Bhushan for his contribution to Art.

Question 14: Who is the current President of the European Commission who visited India for Republic Day 2026?

A) Charles Michel

B) Ursula von der Leyen

C) Roberta Metsola

D) Christine Lagarde

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: Ursula von der Leyen is the President of the European Commission and was one of the Chief Guests.

Question 15: Which Indian hockey player received the Padma Shri in 2026?

A) P.R. Sreejesh

B) Manpreet Singh

C) Savita Punia

D) Rani Rampal

Correct Answer: C

Explanation: Indian women’s hockey team goalkeeper Savita Punia was awarded the Padma Shri.

Question 16: In the context of the Australian Open 2026, who received a walkover to enter the quarter-finals?

A) Novak Djokovic

B) Rafael Nadal

C) Ben Shelton

D) Casper Ruud

Correct Answer: A

Explanation: Novak Djokovic advanced to the quarter-finals after his opponent, Jakub Menšík, withdrew from the tournament.

Question 17: IIT Delhi announced an open house for JEE 2026 aspirants in which city?

A) Jaipur

B) Kota

C) Patna

D) Indore

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: IIT Delhi announced an outreach initiative “ExperienceIITD” for JEE aspirants to be held in Kota on January 31, 2026.

Question 18: Which former US President recently issued a warning regarding threats to democracy in the West?

A) Barack Obama

B) George W. Bush

C) Bill Clinton

D) Donald Trump

Correct Answer: C

Explanation: Former US President Bill Clinton warned that violence and polarization mark a critical moment for American and Western democracy.

Question 19: Who among the following was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in the field of Public Affairs in 2026?

A) Uday Kotak

B) K.T. Thomas

C) Vijay Amritraj

D) Alka Yagnik

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: Justice K.T. Thomas was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in the field of Public Affairs. (Note: Uday Kotak got Padma Bhushan).

Question 20: Which country unveiled a mural warning the United States against military strikes in January 2026?

A) Iraq

B) North Korea

C) Iran

D) Syria

Correct Answer: C

Explanation: Iran unveiled a new mural on a giant billboard in Tehran with a direct warning to the United States not to attempt a military strike.

Today’s Top 3 Most Important News for Competitive Exams:

• Republic Day Diplomacy: EU Leaders Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen attended as Chief Guests, signaling a “Year of India-EU Partnership.”
• Padma Awards 2026: Dharmendra and V.S. Achuthanandan (Posthumous) receive Padma Vibhushan; Rohit Sharma gets Padma Shri.
• Sports Update: Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic reach Australian Open Quarter-finals.

Conclusion

Today’s current affairs are dominated by the 77th Republic Day celebrations and the prestigious Padma Awards 2026. For aspirants, the names of the Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan awardees, along with the Republic Day Chief Guests, are high-probability questions for upcoming exams like UPSC, SSC, and Banking. In sports, the Australian Open results and the recognition of cricketers like Rohit Sharma are crucial.

Final Thought of Day

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” — Winston Churchill

Motivation for Exam

Consistency is the bridge between goals and accomplishment. The facts you learn today are the marks you earn tomorrow. Stay focused!

FAQs: Daily Current Affairs 27 January 2026

1. Who were the Chief Guests for Republic Day 2026?
   • Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen (EU Leaders).
2. Who won the Padma Vibhushan in 2026 posthumously?
   • Actor Dharmendra and former Kerala CM V.S. Achuthanandan.
3. Which cricket players won the Padma Shri in 2026?
   • Rohit Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur.
4. What was the theme of Republic Day 2026?
   • “150 Years of Vande Mataram”.
5. Who is the only sportsperson to win Padma Bhushan in 2026?
   • Tennis legend Vijay Amritraj.
6. Who reached the Australian Open 2026 Quarter-finals recently?
   • Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic.
7. What did Rajasthan Police seize in Nagaur?
   • 10,000 kg of Ammonium Nitrate.
8. Who is the President of the European Commission?
   • Ursula von der Leyen.
9. Which day is observed on January 27?
   • International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
10. Where will IIT Delhi hold an open house for JEE 2026?
    • Kota, Rajasthan.