Current Affairs Quiz — 01 January 2026
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
'Sweekruti', launched by a state government on 1 January 2026, is an umbrella welfare scheme for which group?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Transgender persons
New Indian Express and Kalinga TV: Odisha's Sweekruti is a rights-based umbrella scheme for the welfare and empowerment of transgender persons.
Under Odisha's Sweekruti scheme, how much monthly assistance do parents or guardians of transgender children receive until the child turns 18?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — ₹1,500
Sambad English and Kalinga TV: parents or guardians of transgender children receive ₹1,500 a month until the child attains 18 years.
From which date has NHAI discontinued the Know Your Vehicle (KYV) process for new car FASTags?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 1 February 2026
PIB (MoRTH): NHAI discontinued KYV for cars for all new FASTag issuances with effect from 1 February 2026.
Under NHAI's revised FASTag norms announced in January 2026, vehicle details must be validated against which database before activation?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — VAHAN
PIB (MoRTH): FASTag activation is permitted only after validation of vehicle details from the VAHAN database.
Who has been designated Chairperson of the NPS Trust Board by PFRDA, as announced in January 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Dinesh Kumar Khara
PIB (Finance): Dinesh Kumar Khara, former Chairman of SBI, has been appointed a trustee and designated Chairperson of the NPS Trust Board.
Consider the following statements about the PFRDA reforms announced in January 2026: 1. Scheduled Commercial Banks may independently set up pension funds to manage NPS, under an in-principle framework. 2. The revised Investment Management Fee for pension funds applies from 1 April 2026. 3. Three new trustees were appointed to the NPS Trust Board. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 1, 2 and 3
PIB (Finance): the board approved in principle a framework for banks to set up pension funds; the revised IMF applies from 1 April 2026; and three new trustees were appointed. All three are correct.
The #SkillTheNation Challenge launched by President Droupadi Murmu on 1 January 2026 is part of which initiative?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — SOAR (Skilling for AI Readiness)
PIB (President's Secretariat): the President launched the #SkilltheNation challenge under the SOAR (Skilling for AI Readiness) initiative of MSDE.
Where is the IGNOU Regional Centre and Skill Centre that President Murmu inaugurated virtually on 1 January 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Rairangpur, Odisha
PIB (President's Secretariat): the President virtually inaugurated the IGNOU Regional Centre and Skill Centre at Rairangpur, Odisha.
Consider the following statements about the SOAR initiative: 1. It is a flagship programme of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. 2. It was launched in July 2025. 3. Its courses are offered on the Skill India Digital Hub. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
PIB (MSDE): SOAR – Skilling for AI Readiness is MSDE's flagship programme launched in July 2025, and the President urged citizens to enrol in the SOAR course on the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH). All three are correct.
According to DRDO on its 68th Foundation Day, what was the approximate value of Acceptances of Necessity accorded in 2025 for DRDO-developed systems?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — ₹1.30 lakh crore
PIB (MoD): 22 AoNs worth approximately ₹1.30 lakh crore were accorded in 2025, the highest in any single year; ₹26,000 crore was the value of 11 contracts signed.
'Anant Shastra', mentioned by DRDO in January 2026 among systems accorded AoN, is the name of which system?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile System
PIB (MoD): the AoNs include the Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile System 'Anant Shastra'.
Who is the Chairman of DRDO and Secretary, Department of Defence R&D, who addressed DRDO staff on its 68th Foundation Day?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Dr Samir V. Kamat
PIB (MoD): Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V. Kamat addressed DRDO staff.
How many days of employment does the Viksit Bharat – G RAM G Act, 2025 legally guarantee, as explained by Shivraj Singh Chouhan in January 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 125 days
PIB (Rural Development): the Act provides a legal guarantee not for 100 but 125 days of employment.
At which village in Maharashtra did Shivraj Singh Chouhan address a special Gram Sabha on the VB-G RAM G Act on 1 January 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Loni Budruk
PIB (Rural Development): the special Gram Sabha was held in Loni Budruk village, Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra.
Consider the following statements about the provisions of the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025, as outlined by the Union Minister: 1. One-third of the work must go to women. 2. Administrative expenses have been raised from 6% to 9%. 3. States may notify up to 60 days during peak sowing and harvesting seasons for deploying workers on agricultural tasks. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 1, 2 and 3
PIB (Rural Development): one-third of work goes to women; administrative expenses raised from 6% to 9%; states can notify up to 60 days in peak seasons for agricultural tasks. All three are correct.
Who took charge as Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Indian Air Force, on 1 January 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor
PIB (MoD): Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor took charge as Vice Chief of the Air Staff on 1 January 2026.
Which IAF command did Air Marshal Seethepalli Shrinivas take over as AOC-in-C on 1 January 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Training Command
PIB (MoD): Air Marshal Seethepalli Shrinivas took over as AOC-in-C, Training Command; Air Marshal Tejinder Singh took over South Western Air Command.
Consider the following statements about Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, who became Vice Chief of the Air Staff in January 2026: 1. He served as Defence Attaché to Pakistan. 2. Immediately before this, he was AOC-in-C, South Western Air Command. 3. He was commissioned in the transport stream of the IAF. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB (MoD): Kapoor was Defence Attaché to Pakistan and served as AOC-in-C Training Command and thereafter South Western Air Command before becoming VCAS. He was commissioned in the fighter stream, so statement 3 is wrong.
What is the name of the new mascot unveiled by MoSPI on 1 January 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Sankhyiki
PIB (MoSPI): MoSPI introduced its new mascot 'सांख्यिकी' (Sankhyiki), and its logo carries the message 'Data for Development'.
What message does the new MoSPI logo, unveiled on 1 January 2026, carry?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Data for Development
PIB (MoSPI): inspired by India's heritage and modern statistical science, the logo carries the Ministry's message of 'Data for Development'.
The integrated digital fertilizer subsidy claim process launched in January 2026 links the Department of Fertilizers' iFMS with which system?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — PFMS of the Controller General of Accounts
PIB (Department of Fertilizers): the initiative is a partnership between iFMS of the Department of Fertilizers and PFMS of the Controller General of Accounts, Ministry of Finance.
BSNL's Voice over WiFi (VoWiFi) service, rolled out nationwide on 1 January 2026, is based on which network architecture?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem)
PIB (Communications): VoWiFi is an IMS-based service supporting seamless handovers between Wi-Fi and mobile networks, without third-party apps.
Under Assam's Nijut Babu Asoni scheme announced in January 2026, how much monthly aid will an eligible first-year postgraduate male student receive?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — ₹2,000
Times of India and Assam Tribune: PG students get ₹2,000 a month and UG students ₹1,000 a month.
Assam's Nijut Babu Asoni scheme for male students is the counterpart of which existing state scheme for girl students?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Nijut Moina
Times of India and Assam Tribune: the scheme is positioned as the counterpart of Nijut Moina, the state's monthly aid scheme for girl students.
Under the amendment announced by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs in January 2026, how often will company directors now need to file KYC?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Once every three years
PIB (MCA): the annual KYC filing requirement has been replaced with a simpler KYC intimation once in every three years.
How many Inclusive Technology Business Incubators (i-TBI) has the Department of Science & Technology set up in universities, as stated by Dr Jitendra Singh in January 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 15
PIB (DST): DST has established 15 i-TBIs across universities and higher educational institutions; DTU houses one of them.