Current Affairs Quiz — 13 January 2026
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
What is the minimum initial and annual contribution under NPS Vatsalya, as per the guidelines issued in January 2026?
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Correct answer: A — ₹250
PIB (Finance): the minimum initial and annual contribution is ₹250, with no maximum limit.
Consider the following statements about NPS Vatsalya: 1. It is open to NRIs and OCIs below 18 years of age. 2. Partial withdrawal is allowed after three years, up to 25% of own contributions. 3. There is a maximum annual contribution limit of ₹1.5 lakh. 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. Statement 3 is wrong: there is no maximum limit on contribution.
On which date was NPS Vatsalya launched by the Union Finance Minister?
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Correct answer: C — 18 September 2024
PIB (Finance): NPS Vatsalya was announced in the Union Budget 2024-25 and launched on 18 September 2024.
Where is the BSL-4 Bio-Containment Facility of the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, whose foundation was laid in January 2026, being built?
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Correct answer: D — Gandhinagar
PIB (Home Affairs): Amit Shah laid the foundation stone of the facility in Gandhinagar.
According to Amit Shah, the Gandhinagar BSL-4 lab will be India's second such high-level laboratory after which institution?
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Correct answer: A — National Institute of Virology, Pune
PIB (Home Affairs): after the National Institute of Virology in Pune, this will be India's second high-level laboratory, and the first built by a state government.
What is the cost of the BSL-4 Bio-Containment Facility being built at GBRC, Gandhinagar?
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Correct answer: D — ₹362 crore
PIB (Home Affairs): the complex is being built at a cost of ₹362 crore over 11,000 square metres.
In which year was PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) launched?
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Correct answer: B — 2015
PIB Backgrounder: PRAGATI was launched in 2015 under PM Narendra Modi.
According to the PIB backgrounder of January 2026, projects worth more than how much have been fast-tracked through PRAGATI?
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Correct answer: C — ₹85 lakh crore
PIB Backgrounder: PRAGATI has fast-tracked projects worth more than ₹85 lakh crore.
Who chairs the PFRDA committee constituted in January 2026 to develop a framework for assured payouts under NPS?
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Correct answer: A — Dr M.S. Sahoo
PIB (Finance): the committee is chaired by Dr M.S. Sahoo, former Chairperson of the IBBI.
How many members are on the PFRDA committee on assured payouts under NPS, constituted in January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 15
PIB (Finance): it is a 15-member panel of experts.
Which framework has traditionally been used to compile India's Index of Industrial Production (IIP)?
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Correct answer: D — Fixed-base Laspeyres framework
PIB (MoSPI): the IIP has traditionally been compiled using a fixed-base Laspeyres framework.
What is the main advantage of the chain-based IIP proposed in MoSPI's Discussion Paper 2.0 (January 2026)?
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Correct answer: B — It updates weights annually to reflect the current production structure
PIB (MoSPI): the chain-based method allows weights to change annually, correctly reflecting a more recent production structure.
Who led the Task Force on a Unified Framework for Development of the Coaching Ecosystem in India, which submitted its report in January 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Pullela Gopichand
PIB (Sports): the task force was led by Indian badminton national head coach Pullela Gopichand.
Which apex body did the Gopichand-led task force recommend for coach education, accreditation and governance?
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Correct answer: D — National Coach Accreditation Board
PIB (Sports): the task force called for a National Coach Accreditation Board (NCAB) as the apex national body.
In the Tiered National Coaching Pathway proposed by the Gopichand-led task force, what is the universal entry stage?
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Correct answer: A — Level 0
PIB (Sports): the pathway has Grassroots, Intermediate, Elite and National Team Coach levels, with Level 0 as the universal entry stage.
Which country co-chairs the 16th ADMM-Plus Experts' Working Group on Counter Terrorism with India?
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Correct answer: C — Malaysia
PIB (Defence): India and Malaysia co-chair the 16th EWG on CT.
Under the current ADMM-Plus EWG on Counter Terrorism cycle, which country will hold the Field Training Exercise in 2027?
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Correct answer: D — India
PIB (Defence): Malaysia will host the Table Top Exercise in 2026 and India will hold the Field Training Exercise in 2027.
How many dialogue partners of ASEAN take part in the ADMM-Plus EWG on Counter Terrorism meeting held in New Delhi in January 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Seven
PIB (Defence): seven dialogue partners — Australia, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Japan, China, USA and Russia — participate along with 11 ASEAN members.
In January 2026, DRI seized a record 270 kg of mephedrone concealed in a consignment of what?
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Correct answer: D — Chicken feed
PIB (Finance): the mephedrone was concealed in a consignment of chicken feed used as cover cargo.
In which state did DRI intercept the truck carrying 270 kg of mephedrone in January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Rajasthan
PIB (Finance): DRI officers intercepted the truck in Rajasthan; follow-up searches were in Haryana.
How many Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminals had Indian Railways approved, as per the PIB backgrounder of January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 306
PIB Backgrounder: 306 GCTs have been approved, with a combined capacity of 192 MTPA; 118 are commissioned.
According to the PIB backgrounder on Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals (January 2026), India's logistics costs have been reduced to what share of GDP?
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Correct answer: B — 7.97%
PIB Backgrounder: logistics costs have been reduced to 7.97% of GDP.
In TRAI's Independent Drive Test across Mumbai (November 2025), which operator recorded a call setup success rate of only 28.52%?
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Correct answer: B — MTNL
PIB (Communications): MTNL had a 28.52% call setup success rate, against 99.62% (Airtel), 99.81% (RJIL) and 96.07% (VIL).
Which TRAI regional office supervised the Independent Drive Test in Mumbai whose results were released in January 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Bengaluru
PIB (Communications): the drive tests were conducted under the supervision of the TRAI Regional Office, Bengaluru.
The skilling initiative 'Inspiring Innovators – Naye Bharat Ki Nayi Pehchaan', concluded in January 2026, was developed by the I&B Ministry and the Office of the PSA in collaboration with which fund?
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Correct answer: B — Netflix Fund for Creative Equity
PIB (I&B): the initiative was developed in collaboration with the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity.
Which agency busted a clandestine MD manufacturing lab at Village Amla Agar, seizing 31.250 kg of MD powder, in January 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Central Bureau of Narcotics
PIB (Finance): officers of the Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN), Madhya Pradesh Unit, carried out the operation.