In Current Affairs for 08 January 2026, we will see the latest national and international current affairs news. These important current affairs will be beneficial for your upcoming NDA, CDS, CDS OTA, AFCAT, TA, Agniveer Army, Agniveer Navy, Agniveer Air Force, Women Military Police, INET, MNS, ACC exams, SCO, PCSL, CAPF, and SSB interviews, and direct entries for Army, Navy, and Air Force like SSC Tech, TGC, JAG, NCC, TES, 10+2 Cadet. Download a PDF file about current events at the end of this article. Let us now see the Current Affairs.
Current Affairs 08 January 2026
Earth’s Rotation Day 2026: Science, Significance and Global Context
Earth’s Rotation Day is observed worldwide on 8 January every year to emphasize the crucial role played by Earth’s rotational movement in shaping life and natural processes on the planet. The day also commemorates the historic scientific breakthrough achieved by French physicist Léon Foucault in 1851, when he provided the first visible and public proof that Earth rotates on its axis.
175 Years of Foucault’s Pendulum Experiment
The year 2026 is particularly significant as it marks the 175th anniversary of Foucault’s groundbreaking pendulum experiment. This experiment fundamentally changed humanity’s understanding of Earth’s motion in space and laid the foundation for modern physics and astronomy.
Foucault installed his pendulum at the Panthéon in Paris, France. The apparatus was a remarkable engineering feat for its time. It consisted of a 28-kilogram brass bob, had a diameter of 38 centimeters, and was suspended using a 67-meter-long wire. As the pendulum swung, it demonstrated that the plane of oscillation slowly rotated, proving that Earth itself was spinning beneath it.
Key Scientific Facts About Earth’s Rotation
Contrary to common belief, Earth does not complete one rotation in exactly 24 hours. Instead, it takes 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds to rotate once on its axis. The additional few minutes account for the difference between a sidereal day and a solar day.
Earth rotates fastest at the Equator, where the speed reaches approximately 1,670 kilometers per hour, while rotational speed decreases significantly near the poles. Over long periods, Earth’s rotation is gradually slowing down due to tidal friction caused by the Moon, at an estimated rate of 1.7 milliseconds per century.
This rotation plays a vital role in sustaining life. It contributes to the generation of Earth’s magnetic field, which protects the planet from harmful solar radiation. Geological evidence also shows that around 400 million years ago, Earth’s day lasted only about 22 hours, indicating that days have lengthened over time.
Because of its rotation, Earth is not a perfect sphere. The centrifugal force causes a bulge at the Equator, giving Earth the shape of an oblate spheroid. Rotation is also responsible for the cycle of day and night, as Earth spins from west to east.
Another important outcome of Earth’s rotation is the Coriolis Effect, which causes winds and ocean currents to curve—towards the right in the Northern Hemisphere and towards the left in the Southern Hemisphere. Additionally, Earth exhibits a slow wobbling motion called precession, which takes about 26,000 years to complete one cycle. Combined with Earth’s 23.5-degree axial tilt, rotation and revolution together give rise to seasonal changes.
International Year for Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026
Recognizing the ecological importance of grasslands, the United Nations has declared 2026 as the International Year for Rangelands and Pastoralists. This initiative aims to bring global attention to ecosystems such as grasslands and savannahs, which have long been overlooked in climate policies.
While forests often dominate climate discussions and funding, rangelands are equally essential for carbon storage, biodiversity preservation, and climate resilience. In 2022, a group of international scientists published an open letter in the journal Science, urging the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to expand its focus beyond forests and include all biomes.
This imbalance was clearly visible during the UNFCCC COP30 climate conference in Belém, Brazil, where forest conservation dominated negotiations due to Brazil’s association with the Amazon rainforest.
Ecologist Madhav Gadgil Passes Away
Renowned Indian ecologist Madhav Gadgil passed away on 7 January 2026 at his residence in Pune, following a brief illness. He was 82 years old. Gadgil was widely respected for his extensive research and advocacy related to the Western Ghats, one of the world’s most biologically diverse regions.
His most influential contribution was the 2011 Gadgil Committee Report, which scientifically categorized the Western Ghats into high, medium, and low ecological sensitivity zones. This framework significantly influenced environmental impact assessments and sustainable land-use planning in India.
IICDEM 2026: Strengthening Global Democratic Dialogue
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to host the first India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026 from 21 to 23 January 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. This three-day event represents a major milestone in positioning India as a global leader in democratic governance and election administration.
IICDEM 2026 is expected to be the largest international conference of its kind hosted by India, bringing together electoral bodies and experts from across the world. India’s Chairship of the Council of Member States of International IDEA for 2026 provides the institutional backing for the conference. Its central theme is “Democracy for an inclusive, peaceful, resilient and sustainable world.”
US Sanctions Bill and Potential 500% Tariff Threat
A bipartisan Russia Sanctions Bill in the United States has raised concerns among countries trading with Moscow. According to Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, US President Donald Trump has approved the proposal, which could impose tariffs of up to 500% on nations purchasing Russian oil or uranium.
The proposed Graham-Blumenthal bill aims to economically pressure Russia amid ongoing negotiations to end the Ukraine conflict. Countries such as India, China, and Brazil could be affected. Reports indicate that India imported around 7.7 million tonnes of oil from Russia, placing it within the scope of the proposed legislation.
Review Questions
1. Earth’s Rotation Day is observed every year on which date?
A. January 5
B. January 6
C. January 8
D. January 10
✅ Answer: C
2. Earth’s Rotation Day commemorates which scientist’s experiment?
A. Isaac Newton
B. Galileo Galilei
C. Albert Einstein
D. Léon Foucault
✅ Answer: D
3. The year 2026 marks how many years of Foucault’s pendulum experiment?
A. 150 years
B. 160 years
C. 175 years
D. 200 years
✅ Answer: C
4. Where was Foucault’s pendulum installed in 1851?
A. Louvre Museum
B. Eiffel Tower
C. Sorbonne University
D. Panthéon, Paris
✅ Answer: D
5. How long does Earth take to complete one full rotation on its axis?
A. 24 hours exactly
B. 23 hours 50 minutes
C. 23 hours 56 minutes 4 seconds
D. 24 hours 4 minutes
✅ Answer: C
6. Earth’s rotation slows down mainly due to which factor?
A. Solar winds
B. Earth’s magnetic field
C. Tidal friction caused by the Moon
D. Volcanic activity
✅ Answer: C
7. The Coriolis Effect is a result of Earth’s:
A. Revolution
B. Tilt
C. Gravity
D. Rotation
✅ Answer: D
8. The United Nations has declared 2026 as the International Year of:
A. Forests and Wildlife
B. Climate Action
C. Rangelands and Pastoralists
D. Sustainable Agriculture
✅ Answer: C
9. Madhav Gadgil is best known for his work related to which region?
A. Eastern Himalayas
B. Indo-Gangetic Plains
C. Thar Desert
D. Western Ghats
✅ Answer: D
10. The inaugural India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026 will be held at:
A. Vigyan Bhavan
B. Rashtrapati Bhavan
C. Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
D. India Habitat Centre
✅ Answer: C
