Current Affairs Quiz — 15 January 2026
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
In which city was the 78th Army Day parade held on 15 January 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Jaipur
PIB (Defence): the Indian Army celebrated its 78th Army Day at Jaipur, Rajasthan. Bengaluru, Lucknow and Pune hosted earlier editions.
Which Army command hosted the Army Day Parade for the first time in 2026?
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Correct answer: D — South Western Command
PIB (Defence): South Western Command hosted the parade for the first time.
Consider the following statements about the 78th Army Day Parade (2026): 1. It was the first time the parade was held outside an army cantonment. 2. It was the first time the parade was held outside Delhi. 3. Bhairav Battalion contingents took part for the first time. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 3 only
PIB (Defence): statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 2 is wrong: it was the fourth time the parade was held outside Delhi.
Where was the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) inaugurated in January 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Central Hall, Samvidhan Sadan, New Delhi
PIB (PMO): the PM inaugurated the 28th CSPOC in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, Parliament House Complex, New Delhi.
What is the main theme of the 28th CSPOC hosted by India in January 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Effective Delivery of Parliamentary Democracy
PIB (PMO): the PM said the main theme of the conference is 'Effective Delivery of Parliamentary Democracy'.
According to the PM, how many times has India hosted the CSPOC, counting the 2026 edition?
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Correct answer: D — Fourth time
PIB (PMO): the PM said this is the fourth occasion when the conference is being held in India.
Under the MoU signed at the Madhya Pradesh Regional AI Impact Conference 2026, how many Data and AI Labs will the IndiaAI Mission support in Madhya Pradesh?
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Correct answer: B — 30
PIB (MeitY): IndiaAI Mission will support 30 Data and AI Labs in Madhya Pradesh as part of a national initiative for 570 such labs.
Which state policy was launched at the Madhya Pradesh Regional AI Impact Conference in Bhopal in January 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Madhya Pradesh SpaceTech Policy 2026
PIB (MeitY): Chief Minister Mohan Yadav launched the Madhya Pradesh SpaceTech Policy 2026.
The regional AI Impact Conferences, including the one in Bhopal, are precursors to the India AI Impact Summit 2026. When is that summit scheduled?
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Correct answer: B — 16–20 February 2026
PIB (MeitY): the India AI Impact Summit 2026 is set for 16–20 February 2026 in New Delhi.
In which Israeli city was the Second Global Summit on 'Blue Food Security: Sea the Future 2026' held, attended by an Indian delegation in January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Eilat
PIB (Fisheries): the summit was held in Eilat, Israel.
Who led the Indian delegation that signed the India–Israel Joint Ministerial Declaration of Intent on fisheries and aquaculture in January 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Rajiv Ranjan Singh
PIB (Fisheries): the delegation was led by Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh.
According to the PLFS Monthly Bulletin for December 2025, what was the female labour force participation rate (age 15+)?
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Correct answer: C — 35.3%
PIB (MoSPI): female LFPR (15+) stood at 35.3% in December 2025, the highest of the year. 38.6% is rural female WPR.
What was India's overall unemployment rate (age 15+) in December 2025 as per the PLFS Monthly Bulletin?
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Correct answer: B — 4.8%
PIB (MoSPI): the unemployment rate was 4.8% in December 2025, compared with 4.7% in November 2025. 9.1% is urban female unemployment.
PLFS monthly estimates of LFPR, WPR and unemployment rate at the all-India level are based on which approach?
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Correct answer: A — Current Weekly Status (CWS)
PIB (MoSPI): the Monthly Bulletins present LFPR, WPR and UR following the Current Weekly Status (CWS) approach.
With which organisation did the Ministry of Coal sign CMDPAs for the Dhulia North, Mandakini B and Pirpainti Barahat blocks in January 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Damodar Valley Corporation
PIB (Coal): the agreements were executed with Damodar Valley Corporation.
What is the combined Peak Rated Capacity of the three coal blocks allotted to DVC in January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 49 MTPA
PIB (Coal): the three blocks together have a cumulative Peak Rated Capacity of 49 MTPA.
Which of the following cities is NOT among the four metros where IMD will install 50 Automatic Weather Stations each in 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Kolkata
PIB (Earth Sciences): the four cities are Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Pune. Kolkata is not among them.
Which Foundation Day did the India Meteorological Department celebrate on 15 January 2026?
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Correct answer: D — 151st
PIB (Earth Sciences): IMD celebrated its 151st Foundation Day.
Kondagai Lake, from which a 4,500-year climate record was reconstructed in a study released in January 2026, lies near which archaeological site?
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Correct answer: A — Keeladi
PIB (Science & Technology): Kondagai Lake lies close to Keeladi, near Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu.
Which institute carried out the Kondagai Lake palaeoclimate study?
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Correct answer: D — Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow
PIB (Science & Technology): researchers from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), Lucknow, an autonomous institution of DST, carried out the study.
Which of the following climatic phases was identified in the Kondagai Lake study published in the journal Holocene?
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Correct answer: C — Roman Warm Period
PIB (Science & Technology): the study documented the 4.2 ka arid event, the 3.2 ka dry phase and the Roman Warm Period.
Which body released the report 'Achieving Efficiencies in MSME Sector through Convergence of Schemes' in January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — NITI Aayog
PIB (NITI Aayog): NITI Aayog released the report on 15 January 2026.
According to NITI Aayog's MSME convergence report, how many schemes does the Ministry of MSME currently administer?
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Correct answer: C — 18
PIB (NITI Aayog): the Ministry of MSME currently administers 18 schemes.
What were India's estimated total exports (merchandise and services) for April–December 2025?
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Correct answer: A — US$634.26 billion
PIB (Commerce): total exports for April–December 2025 are estimated at US$634.26 billion, against US$607.93 billion in April–December 2024. US$330.29 billion is merchandise alone.
By how much did India's merchandise exports grow in April–December 2025 compared with April–December 2024?
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Correct answer: B — 2.44%
PIB (Commerce): merchandise exports grew 2.44% to US$330.29 billion. 4.33% is total exports and 5.51% is non-petroleum exports.
Which merchandise export category grew by 16.78% in December 2025, to US$4.17 billion?
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Correct answer: C — Electronic goods
PIB (Commerce): electronic goods exports rose 16.78% from US$3.57 billion in December 2024 to US$4.17 billion in December 2025.
How many Gram Panchayats in Sikkim are to benefit from the first instalment of XV Finance Commission untied grants for 2025-26, released in January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 199
PIB (Panchayati Raj): the funds are for 5 eligible District Panchayats and all 199 eligible Gram Panchayats.
What amount was released as the first instalment of XV Finance Commission untied grants for 2025-26 to Sikkim's rural local bodies?
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Correct answer: D — ₹643.50 lakh
PIB (Panchayati Raj): ₹643.50 lakh was released as the first instalment; ₹17.50 lakh was a separate withheld 2024-25 portion.