Current Affairs 06 January 2026

India becomes world’s largest rice producer, surpassing China.

• India overtook China to become the world’s largest rice producer.
• Rice production reached 150.18 million tonnes, while China produced 145.28 million tonnes.
• Achievement credited to improved irrigation, high-yielding varieties, and better farming practices.
• Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan unveiled 184 improved crop varieties for 25 field crops.

Karnataka Sets Record With 198 Organ Donations in 2025.

• Karnataka recorded its highest-ever 198 organ donations in 2025, surpassing the previous best of 178 in 2023.
• The achievement placed the State third nationally, marking a milestone for the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO).
• Tamil Nadu led with 267 donations, followed by Telangana (205); Maharashtra and Gujarat reported 153 and 152, respectively.

Delhi Govt–RBI MoU to Fund Yamuna Rejuvenation, Infrastructure.

• Delhi Government signed an MoU with the Reserve Bank of India to support Yamuna rejuvenation, water supply and infrastructure development.
• RBI will act as banker, debt manager and financial agent, enabling market borrowings via SDLs, cash management and low-cost liquidity access.
• Borrowings will be used only for capex, prioritising Yamuna cleanup, health, transport, roads and flyovers.

Design Linked Incentive Scheme Boosts India’s Chip Design.

• Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology’s Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme under the Semicon India Programme aims to build a self-reliant semiconductor design ecosystem.
• 24 DLI-supported projects target strategic areas like microprocessors, IoT SoCs, satellite communications, drones, energy metering & surveillance.
• The scheme has enabled 16 tape-outs, 6 ASIC chips & 10 patents.

Govt Relaxes DSIR Norms for Early-Stage Deeptech Startups.

• Department of Scientific and Industrial Research removed the mandatory 3-year existence rule for deeptech startups to get DSIR recognition.
• Union Minister Jitendra Singh said the reform will help early-stage innovators scale faster and complements the ₹1 lakh crore RDI Fund.
• The move boosts trust in startups, eases access to R&D support & strengthens India’s deeptech & innovation ecosystem.