Current Affairs Quiz — 12 January 2026
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
In which city did PM Narendra Modi hold talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on 12 January 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Ahmedabad
PIB (PMO): PM Modi welcomed Chancellor Merz in Ahmedabad, and the two held restricted and delegation-level talks there on 12 January 2026.
Consider the following statements about German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's visit to India in January 2026: 1. It was his first visit to Asia as Federal Chancellor. 2. 2026 marks 75 years of India–Germany diplomatic relations. 3. The visit followed the 7th India–Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations held in Berlin. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB (PMO Joint Statement): statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: the 7th IGC was held in New Delhi on 25 October 2024.
Which travel facility for Indian passport holders was announced during German Chancellor Merz's visit to India in January 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Visa-free transit through Germany
PIB (PMO List of Outcomes): the announcements included visa-free transit for Indian passport holders transiting through Germany.
Where did DRDO flight-test the MPATGM with top-attack capability against a moving target on 11 January 2026?
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Correct answer: D — KK Ranges, Ahilya Nagar, Maharashtra
PIB (Defence): the test was conducted at KK Ranges, Ahilya Nagar, Maharashtra by DRDL, Hyderabad.
Which DRDO laboratory carried out the January 2026 flight test of the MPATGM?
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Correct answer: A — Defence Research & Development Laboratory, Hyderabad
PIB (Defence): the test was carried out by DRDO's Defence Research & Development Laboratory, Hyderabad; RCI Hyderabad and DL Jodhpur were among contributing labs.
Consider the following statements about the MPATGM tested in January 2026: 1. It uses an Imaging Infrared (IIR) homing seeker. 2. Bharat Dynamics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited are its development-cum-production partners. 3. It can be launched only from a military vehicle. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB (Defence): statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: it can be launched from a tripod or a military vehicle launcher.
During which stage did the anomaly occur that caused the PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 mission to fail on 12 January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Third stage (PS3)
ISRO and NSIL: the first two stages performed nominally, but an anomaly near the end of the PS3 (third) stage meant the satellites could not be placed in orbit.
PSLV-C62, launched on 12 January 2026, was which flight of the PSLV?
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Correct answer: C — 64th
ISRO: the PSLV-C62 mission was the 64th flight of PSLV, using the PSLV-DL variant with two solid strap-on motors.
The PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 mission was the ninth dedicated commercial mission of which organisation?
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Correct answer: B — NewSpace India Limited
ISRO: PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 was the 9th dedicated commercial mission undertaken by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).
Consider the following statements about the PSLV-C62 mission (January 2026): 1. It carried the EOS-N1 satellite and 15 co-passenger satellites. 2. Telemetry was received from the KID re-entry capsule of a Spanish start-up. 3. It was the first failure of a PSLV since 2017. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
ISRO and NSIL confirm statements 1 and 2. Statement 3 is wrong: the previous PSLV mission, PSLV-C61 in May 2025, had also failed (Rediff, Times of India).
What was India's year-on-year CPI (headline) inflation for December 2025, as released by MoSPI on 12 January 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 1.33%
PIB (MoSPI): headline CPI inflation for December 2025 was 1.33% (provisional), 62 basis points higher than November 2025.
What was the all-India food inflation (CFPI) for December 2025?
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Correct answer: B — −2.71%
PIB (MoSPI): CFPI inflation for December 2025 was −2.71% (provisional); rural −3.08% and urban −2.09%.
Consider the following statements about CPI data for December 2025: 1. Headline inflation stayed below the RBI's lower tolerance limit for the fourth consecutive month. 2. Food inflation was negative for the seventh consecutive month. 3. Headline inflation fell compared with November 2025. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB (MoSPI): statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: headline inflation rose by 62 basis points over November 2025.
Consider the following statements about India's inflation target, relevant to the December 2025 CPI data: 1. The Central Government, in consultation with the RBI, determines the inflation target under Section 45ZA of the RBI Act, 1934. 2. The target is 4% CPI inflation with a lower tolerance limit of 2% and an upper tolerance limit of 6%. 3. The six-member Monetary Policy Committee is constituted under Section 45ZA. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
RBI (Monetary Policy overview): the target is set under Section 45ZA, at 4% CPI with 2% and 6% tolerance limits, retained for April 2021 to March 2026. Statement 3 is wrong: the MPC is constituted under Section 45ZB.
Under which Act were the National Sports Governance (National Sports Bodies) Rules, 2026 notified?
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Correct answer: A — National Sports Governance Act, 2025
PIB (Sports): the Rules were notified under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.
Under the National Sports Governance (National Sports Bodies) Rules, 2026, what share of the Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit in a General Body must be women?
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Correct answer: C — Fifty per cent
PIB (Sports): the Rules provide for at least four SOMs in General Bodies and specifically provide for fifty per cent women SOMs.
What is the minimum age for a sportsperson applying to be designated a Sportsperson of Outstanding Merit (SOM) under the 2026 Rules?
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Correct answer: B — 25 years
PIB (Sports): SOM applicants must be at least 25, retired from active sport, and must not have played selection-linked competition for at least one year.
What was India's fish production in FY 2024-25, as per the Fisheries Ministry release of January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 197.75 lakh tonnes
PIB (Fisheries): fish production rose to 197.75 lakh tonnes in FY 2024-25 from 95.79 lakh tonnes in FY 2013-14.
What is India's share of global fish output, according to the Fisheries Ministry release of January 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 8%
PIB (Fisheries): India is the world's second-largest fish producer, contributing 8% to global output.
National Youth Day, observed on 12 January, marks the birth anniversary of which personality?
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Correct answer: D — Swami Vivekananda
PIB (PMO): the PM said National Youth Day is celebrated every year on 12 January in memory of Swami Vivekananda, on his birth anniversary.
At the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026, PM Modi described the 'Orange Economy' as one rooted in what?
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Correct answer: A — Culture, content and creativity
PIB (PMO): the PM said India is seeing remarkable growth in the Orange Economy, rooted in culture, content and creativity.
Raja Rani Lake, where BSIP scientists found pollen evidence of a stronger past monsoon (January 2026), is in which district?
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Correct answer: C — Korba, Chhattisgarh
PIB (Science & Technology): the lake is in Korba district, Chhattisgarh, in India's Core Monsoon Zone.
The BSIP study of Raja Rani Lake (January 2026) linked a strong Indian Summer Monsoon to which global warm phase?
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Correct answer: D — Medieval Climate Anomaly
PIB (Science & Technology): the scientists traced the strong monsoon to the Medieval Climate Anomaly, roughly 1,060–1,725 CE.
With which body did ICAR sign an MoU in January 2026 to strengthen research and extension across the dairy sector?
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Correct answer: C — National Dairy Development Board
PIB (Agriculture): ICAR entered into an MoU with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).
At which Integrated Check Post was the ICEGATE–LPMS integration inaugurated by CBIC on 12 January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — ICP Agartala
PIB (Finance): the ICEGATE–LPMS integration was inaugurated at ICP Agartala, Tripura.
In ICEGATE–LPMS, launched at ICP Agartala in January 2026, what does 'LPMS' stand for?
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Correct answer: A — Land Port Management System
PIB (Finance): ICEGATE–LPMS is the Indian Customs Electronic Gateway–Land Port Management System integration.
Which city hosted the Uttar Pradesh Regional AI Impact Conference 2026 on 12 January 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Lucknow
PIB (MeitY): Lucknow hosted the Uttar Pradesh Regional AI Impact Conference 2026.
Which global working group held its fourth meeting alongside the UP Regional AI Impact Conference in Lucknow in January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — AI for Economic Growth and Social Good Working Group
PIB (MeitY): the conference was held alongside the Fourth Meeting of the AI for Economic Growth and Social Good Working Group.
During which event was APEDA's Regional Office in Raipur inaugurated in January 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 2nd India International Rice Summit
PIB (Commerce): the APEDA Regional Office was inaugurated at Raipur during the 2nd India International Rice Summit held in Chhattisgarh.
Jeeraphool Rice and Nagri Dubraj Rice, cited by APEDA as GI-tagged export products in January 2026, belong to which state?
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Correct answer: D — Chhattisgarh
PIB (Commerce): the release lists Jeeraphool Rice and Nagri Dubraj Rice among Chhattisgarh's GI-tagged products.