In Current Affairs for 19 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 19 January 2026
Kokborok Day 2026: Celebrating Tripura’s Indigenous Language
Kokborok Day will be observed on 19 January 2026, marking 48 years since Kokborok received official language status in Tripura. Kokborok, also called Tripuri or Tiprakok, is the mother tongue of the Tripuri community, one of the largest indigenous groups of the state.
Belonging to the Tibeto-Burman branch of languages, Kokborok is mainly spoken in Tripura and in parts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. Over the years, it has emerged as one of the fastest-growing indigenous languages in Northeast India, with increasing use in education, literature, and digital media.
Kokborok Day commemorates 1979, when the Tripura government formally recognized the language alongside Bengali and English. Historically, Kokborok was widely used during the reign of the Tripuri kings in the ancient Kingdom of Tipra, reflecting its deep cultural and historical roots.
Finke River: The World’s Oldest Flowing River
Recent geological research has once again confirmed that Australia’s Finke River is likely the oldest continuously flowing river system on Earth, with an estimated age of 300–400 million years. Known as Larapinta to the Indigenous Arrernte people, the river existed long before dinosaurs walked the planet.
The Finke River extends for nearly 640 kilometres, passing through the Northern Territory and parts of South Australia. What makes it geologically unique is that it cuts directly through the MacDonnell Ranges, some of the oldest rock formations on Earth.
Instead of changing its course around these hard quartzite mountains, the river carved deep gorges through them. This rare feature is explained by antecedence, a process where a river predates mountain formation and maintains its original path as the land slowly rises. As a result, the Finke River serves as a valuable record of Earth’s geological and climatic history.
Davos 2026: World Economic Forum Annual Meeting
The World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2026 commenced on 19 January in Davos, Switzerland, drawing global attention. The summit is among the largest in WEF’s history, with participation from leaders of over 130 countries.
Founded in 1971 as the European Management Forum, the organization was renamed the World Economic Forum in 1987. It was established by Klaus Schwab, a German economist who introduced the idea of Stakeholder Capitalism, emphasizing responsibility toward society and the environment.
Headquartered in Cologny, Switzerland, the WEF aims to improve the state of the world by fostering public-private cooperation. The annual Davos meeting serves as a platform where governments, businesses, international organizations, and civil society discuss solutions to pressing economic, social, and environmental challenges.
Uganda Elections: Museveni Wins Seventh Presidential Term
Uganda’s Electoral Commission declared President Yoweri Museveni the winner of the presidential election, securing 71.65% of the vote. This victory extends his leadership, which began in 1986, making him one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders.
Opposition candidate Bobi Wine, whose real name is Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, received 24.72% of the votes. He rejected the outcome, alleging irregularities and calling for peaceful demonstrations.
The elections were held nationwide, including major urban centres such as Kampala, known as opposition strongholds. While authorities described the election as orderly, the results have sparked renewed debate about electoral fairness and political competition in Uganda. The country follows a presidential system, with election disputes handled by the Supreme Court.
Second Nationwide Dolphin Survey Launched Under Project Dolphin
India has launched the second range-wide Dolphin Survey under Project Dolphin, a national conservation initiative aimed at updating dolphin population data and strengthening protection measures.
Project Dolphin focuses on safeguarding both riverine and marine dolphin species, particularly the Gangetic River Dolphin, which has been India’s National Aquatic Animal since 2009. The initiative emphasizes habitat conservation, scientific research, community involvement, and mitigation of threats such as pollution and accidental entanglement in fishing nets.
The survey will be carried out in two phases.
- Phase One covers the main stretch of the Ganga River from Bijnor to Ganga Sagar, along with the Indus River system.
- Phase Two will include the Brahmaputra, major Ganga tributaries, the Sundarbans, and coastal and riverine regions of Odisha, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of dolphin habitats across the country.
Key species under focus include the Ganges River Dolphin, Indus River Dolphin, and Irrawaddy Dolphin, all of which are classified as Endangered and listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act.
Review Questions
1. Kokborok Day 2026 will be observed on which date?
A. 17 January 2026
B. 18 January 2026
C. 19 January 2026
D. 20 January 2026
Answer: C
2. Kokborok belongs to which language family?
A. Indo-European
B. Dravidian
C. Austroasiatic
D. Tibeto-Burman
Answer: D
3. Kokborok was officially recognized as a state language of Tripura in which year?
A. 1972
B. 1975
C. 1979
D. 1985
Answer: C
4. The Finke River is considered the world’s oldest flowing river mainly because it:
A. Has the longest length in Australia
B. Flows through deserts
C. Cuts directly through mountain ranges older than itself
D. Has the highest water volume
Answer: C
5. The geological phenomenon where a river is older than surrounding mountains is called:
A. Erosion
B. Meandering
C. Deposition
D. Antecedence
Answer: D
6. The World Economic Forum was originally established in 1971 as:
A. Global Economic Council
B. World Trade Forum
C. European Management Forum
D. International Business Forum
Answer: C
7. Who is the founder of the World Economic Forum?
A. Joseph Stiglitz
B. Adam Smith
C. Paul Krugman
D. Klaus Schwab
Answer: D
8. Under Project Dolphin, the Gangetic River Dolphin is recognized as India’s:
A. National Marine Animal
B. National River Species
C. National Mammal
D. National Aquatic Animal
Answer: D
9. Uganda follows which system of government?
A. Parliamentary system
B. Federal system
C. Monarchical system
D. Presidential system
Answer: D
10. Which dolphin species is known for its “spy-hopping” behavior?
A. Ganges River Dolphin
B. Indus River Dolphin
C. Bottlenose Dolphin
D. Irrawaddy Dolphin
Answer: D
