Current Affairs Quiz — 08 January 2026
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Who chairs the Search-cum-Selection Committee for the National Sports Board under the rules notified in January 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Cabinet Secretary
PIB (Youth Affairs and Sports): the committee is chaired by the Cabinet Secretary.
Under which law were the National Sports Board (Search-cum-Selection Committee) Rules, 2026 notified?
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Correct answer: D — National Sports Governance Act, 2025
PIB (Youth Affairs and Sports): the rules were notified under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.
Consider the following statements about the National Sports Board, as described in January 2026: 1. Its Search-cum-Selection Committee includes two recipients of national sports awards. 2. The committee recommends names for the Board's Chairperson and two Members. 3. The Board will grant recognition to National Sports Bodies. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
PIB (Youth Affairs and Sports): all three are correct.
PANKHUDI, launched in January 2026, is a portal of which ministry?
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Correct answer: A — Ministry of Women and Child Development
PIB (WCD): the Ministry of Women and Child Development launched PANKHUDI.
What is the main purpose of the PANKHUDI portal?
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Correct answer: D — CSR and partnership facilitation for women and child development
PIB (WCD): PANKHUDI is an integrated CSR and partnership facilitation portal for initiatives on women and child development.
What is the name of the Aadhaar mascot launched by UIDAI in January 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Udai
PIB (MeitY): UIDAI launched the Aadhaar mascot named Udai (उदय).
In which city did UIDAI Chairman Neelkanth Mishra unveil the Aadhaar mascot 'Udai' on 8 January 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Thiruvananthapuram
PIB (MeitY): the mascot was unveiled at a UIDAI function in Thiruvananthapuram.
Consider the following statements about the Aadhaar mascot 'Udai': 1. It was selected through national design and name competitions on the MyGov platform. 2. The competitions received 875 entries. 3. The design competition was won by a participant from Bhopal. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB (MeitY): statements 1 and 2 are correct; the design contest was won by Arun Gokul of Thrissur, Kerala — Riya Jain of Bhopal won the name contest.
How many students took part in Project Veer Gatha 5.0, as reported in January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — About 1.92 crore
PIB (Defence): approximately 1.92 crore students from around 1.90 lakh schools participated.
Consider the following statements about Project Veer Gatha: 1. It is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Education. 2. It began in 2021. 3. Students from CBSE-affiliated schools abroad took part in Veer Gatha 5.0 for the first time. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
PIB (Defence): all three are correct — over 28,000 students from 91 CBSE schools in 18 countries took part for the first time.
The ₹68 lakh released by the National Biodiversity Authority to Maharashtra in January 2026 arose from commercial use of which biological resource?
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Correct answer: A — Bacillus soil bacteria
PIB (MoEFCC): the disbursement stems from the commercial use of soil bacteria of the Bacillus genus for probiotic products.
Consider the following statements about the NBA's ABS disbursement of January 2026: 1. The money went to Biodiversity Management Committees in Wada tehsil of Palghar and to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. 2. About 15% of ABS applications involve microorganisms. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
PIB (MoEFCC): both are correct.
Which port's Northern Breakwater Head, rehabilitated after cyclone damage at a cost of ₹105 crore, was inaugurated in January 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Kamarajar Port
PIB (Ports, Shipping and Waterways): the rehabilitated Northern Breakwater Head of Kamarajar Port was inaugurated at an investment of ₹105 crore.
What was the total value of port projects rolled out by Sarbananda Sonowal in Tamil Nadu on 8 January 2026?
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Correct answer: A — ₹235 crore
PIB (Ports, Shipping and Waterways): projects worth ₹235 crore were rolled out at Chennai Port Authority and Kamarajar Port.
The 12 AI start-ups at the PM's roundtable on 8 January 2026 had qualified under which pillar of the India AI Impact Summit 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Foundation Model Pillar
PIB (PMO): the 12 start-ups had qualified under the Foundation Model Pillar of the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
How many Indian AI start-ups presented their work at the PM's roundtable on 8 January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 12
PIB (PMO): 12 Indian AI start-ups presented their ideas and work.
Under the District-Led Textiles Transformation (DLTT) plan unveiled in January 2026, how many high-potential districts are to become Global Export Champions?
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Correct answer: C — 100
PIB (Textiles): DLTT aims to transform 100 high-potential districts into Global Export Champions and elevate 100 Aspirational Districts.
Which three parameters were used to score districts under the District-Led Textiles Transformation (DLTT) plan?
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Correct answer: B — Export performance, MSME ecosystem and workforce presence
PIB (Textiles): districts were scored on export performance, MSME ecosystem and workforce presence.
In which year was the Swadesh Darshan scheme for theme-based tourist circuits launched?
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Correct answer: B — 2015
PIB (Tourism): the Ministry of Tourism launched the Swadesh Darshan Scheme in January 2015.
How many international tourist arrivals did India record in 2024, according to the Tourism Ministry's year-end review?
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Correct answer: C — 20.57 million
PIB (Tourism): International Tourist Arrivals in India during 2024 were 20.57 million.
Consider the following statements based on the Tourism Ministry's year-end review (January 2026): 1. Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD) is a sub-scheme of Swadesh Darshan 2.0. 2. The ministry will develop 1,000 tribal homestays under PM-JUGA. 3. All 76 projects sanctioned under the original Swadesh Darshan scheme have been completed. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB (Tourism): statements 1 and 2 are correct; 75 of the 76 sanctioned projects have been completed, so statement 3 is wrong.
What is the purpose of the SWAMIH Investment Fund?
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Correct answer: A — Last-mile financing for stalled housing projects
PIB (Finance): SWAMIH provides last-mile financing to stalled housing projects.
When was the SWAMIH Investment Fund launched?
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Correct answer: D — November 2019
PIB (Finance): the SWAMIH Investment Fund was launched in November 2019 after Union Cabinet approval.
Consider the following statements about the SWAMIH Fund, as of January 2026: 1. About 61,000 homes had been delivered across 110 projects as of 15 December 2025. 2. Its portfolio has more than 145 projects across 30 cities. 3. Its investment period was extended to December 2030. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB (Finance): statements 1 and 2 are correct; the fund committed its whole corpus before its investment period ended on 5 December 2025.
Where will SECL and the Sri Sathya Sai Health & Education Trust set up a ₹35.04 crore Healthcare Skill Development Centre?
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Correct answer: B — Nava Raipur
PIB (Coal): the centre will be set up at Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
Consider the following statements about the SECL healthcare skill centre announced in January 2026: 1. It is funded under SECL's Corporate Social Responsibility programme. 2. At least 20% of the annual intake will be reserved for SECL's operational districts for 25 years. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
PIB (Coal): both are correct.