Current Affairs Quiz — 02 January 2026
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
How many proposals were approved in the third tranche of the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) on 2 January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 22
PIB (MeitY): 22 proposals were approved in the third tranche; 24 had been approved earlier, taking the total to 46.
What is the projected investment of the 22 ECMS proposals approved in January 2026?
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Correct answer: B — ₹41,863 crore
PIB (MeitY): projected investment is ₹41,863 crore; ₹2,58,152 crore is projected production and ₹12,704 crore was the earlier tranche.
Consider the following statements about the third tranche of ECMS approvals (January 2026): 1. The approved products include anode material, a critical item for lithium-ion cells. 2. The approved units are spread across eight states. 3. The approvals cover only bare components and no sub-assemblies. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 and 2 only
PIB (MeitY): anode material is among the supply-chain items, and the units are in eight states. Three sub-assemblies (camera module, display module, optical transceiver) were also approved, so statement 3 is wrong.
Under the NIRYAT PROTSAHAN intervention launched in January 2026, what is the base interest subvention on pre- and post-shipment rupee export credit?
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Correct answer: A — 2.75%
PIB (Commerce): a base interest subvention of 2.75% is provided, with additional incentive for exports to notified under-represented or emerging markets.
With which institution is the collateral guarantee support for MSME export credit under the Export Promotion Mission being introduced?
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Correct answer: A — CGTMSE
PIB (Commerce): the collateral guarantee support is being introduced in partnership with the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE).
Consider the following statements about the Export Promotion Mission: 1. It was approved by the Union Cabinet on 12 November 2025 with an outlay of ₹25,060 crore. 2. Its two sub-schemes are NIRYAT PROTSAHAN and NIRYAT DISHA. 3. It is implemented by the Department of Commerce alone. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB (Commerce): the Mission was approved on 12 November 2025 with ₹25,060 crore and has two sub-schemes, NIRYAT PROTSAHAN and NIRYAT DISHA. It is jointly implemented by the Department of Commerce, Ministry of MSME and Ministry of Finance, so statement 3 is wrong.
In which district of Maharashtra did the bullet train project achieve its first mountain tunnel breakthrough (MT-5) in January 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Palghar
PIB (Railways): the breakthrough of the ~1.5 km MT-5 mountain tunnel was achieved in Palghar, Maharashtra.
According to the Railways Ministry (January 2026), what will be the travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad once the bullet train project is complete?
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Correct answer: B — 1 hour 58 minutes
PIB (Railways): the project will reduce Mumbai–Ahmedabad travel time to just 1 hour and 58 minutes.
Consider the following statements about the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail corridor, as given by the Railways Ministry in January 2026: 1. The corridor is about 508 km long, of which 156 km lies in Maharashtra. 2. The project has eight mountain tunnels. 3. The first underground tunnel, between Thane and BKC, was completed in September 2025. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
PIB (Railways): the 508 km corridor has 156 km in Maharashtra and 352 km in Gujarat and DNH; it has eight mountain tunnels; and the ~5 km Thane–BKC underground tunnel was completed in September 2025. All three are correct.
According to the Cabinet Secretary's briefing on 2 January 2026, which was the single biggest cause of issues raised under PRAGATI?
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Correct answer: D — Land acquisition
Indian Express and The Hindu: land acquisition accounted for 35% of issues, forest/wildlife/environment 20% and right of use/way 18%.
What does the acronym PRAGATI, the project-review mechanism chaired by the Prime Minister, stand for?
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Correct answer: A — Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation
PIB (Cabinet Secretariat): PRAGATI stands for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation, chaired by the Prime Minister.
Consider the following statements based on the Cabinet Secretary's PRAGATI briefing of 2 January 2026: 1. PRAGATI has reviewed over 3,300 projects worth more than ₹85 lakh crore. 2. Of 7,735 issues raised, 7,156 have been resolved. 3. The government announced plans to amend the land acquisition law. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1 and 2 only
Indian Express and The Hindu: over 3,300 projects worth ₹85 lakh crore reviewed; 7,156 of 7,735 issues resolved. The Cabinet Secretary said there was no plan to change the land acquisition law, so statement 3 is wrong.
Indian Pharmacopoeia 2026, released on 2 January 2026, is which edition of India's official book of drug standards?
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Correct answer: D — 10th
PIB (Health): IP 2026 is the 10th edition of India's official book of drug standards.
Which new category of monographs has been included for the first time in Indian Pharmacopoeia 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Blood component monographs for transfusion medicine
PIB (Health): IP 2026 includes, for the first time, 20 blood component monographs pertaining to transfusion medicine.
Consider the following statements about the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP): 1. IP is published by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission to fulfil the requirements of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. 2. IP is recognised in 19 countries of the Global South. 3. India ranked 8th in 2025 in contributions to the WHO pharmacovigilance database, up from 123rd in 2009–2014. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1, 2 and 3
PIB (Health): IP is published by the IPC under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940; it is recognised in 19 Global South countries; and India rose from 123rd (2009–2014) to 8th (2025). All three are correct.
In which Haryana district did CAQM flying squads carry out 105 inspections on 2 January 2026, mostly of stone crushers?
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Correct answer: C — Nuh
PIB (CAQM): the major inspection operation was conducted in Nuh, Haryana, on 02.01.2026; 86 of the units inspected were stone crushers.
Consider the following statements about the CAQM inspection drive in Nuh, Haryana on 2 January 2026: 1. Ten flying squad teams of the Commission were deployed. 2. All 105 inspections were of industrial units; no construction sites were checked. 3. The inspections took place while GRAP Stage-III actions were in force in NCR. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1 and 3 only
PIB (CAQM): 10 flying squads were deployed and GRAP Stage-III was in force. The 105 inspections included five construction and demolition sites, so statement 2 is wrong.
The Assam Book Fair visited by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on 2 January 2026 was held at which place in Guwahati?
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Correct answer: A — Khanapara
PIB (MoPSW): Sonowal visited the Assam Book Fair at Khanapara in Guwahati.
The Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) payments made by the National Biodiversity Authority to red sanders farmers are mandated under which law?
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Correct answer: D — Biological Diversity Act, 2002
PIB (MoEFCC): the monetary benefits come under the ABS mechanism mandated under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
India's cumulative Access and Benefit Sharing releases crossed which figure after the NBA's January 2026 disbursement to Andhra Pradesh red sanders farmers?
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Correct answer: B — ₹143.5 crore
PIB (MoEFCC): with this disbursement, India's cumulative ABS releases now exceed ₹143.5 crore (USD 16 million); ₹104 crore is the amount released to Andhra Pradesh.
After CAQM revoked GRAP Stage-III on 2 January 2026, which stages of GRAP remained in force across NCR?
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Correct answer: B — Stages I and II
PIB (CAQM): all actions under Stages I and II of the extant GRAP schedule (November 2025) remained invoked across NCR.
What was Delhi's average AQI at 4 PM on 2 January 2026, when CAQM revoked GRAP Stage-III?
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Correct answer: C — 236
PIB (CAQM): Delhi's daily average AQI clocked 236 at 4:00 PM, as per the CPCB bulletin.
Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust (RIIT), which received a AAA (Stable) rating from CARE Ratings in January 2026, is sponsored by:
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Correct answer: A — NHAI
PIB (MoRTH): RIIT is an NHAI-sponsored Infrastructure Investment Trust.
According to the Road Transport Ministry (January 2026), NHAI has so far monetised road assets worth about:
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Correct answer: B — ₹1.43 lakh crore
PIB (MoRTH): to date, NHAI has successfully monetised road assets of around ₹1.43 lakh crore.
What was the coal production from captive and commercial mines in December 2025, as reported by the Ministry of Coal?
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Correct answer: C — 19.48 million tonnes
PIB (Coal): production stood at 19.48 MT in December 2025; 18.02 MT was the dispatch and 54.14 MT the Q3 production.
Which segments are the focus of the PLI Scheme for Textiles, whose application deadline was extended to 31 March 2026?
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Correct answer: C — MMF apparel, MMF fabrics and technical textiles
PIB (Textiles): proposals have been submitted in priority areas including MMF apparel, MMF fabrics and technical textiles.