Current Affairs Quiz — 16 January 2026
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Under the proposed Seed Act 2026, what will every seed packet carry so that farmers can trace the seed's origin?
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Correct answer: D — A QR code
PIB (Agriculture): every seed packet will carry a QR code which, when scanned, shows complete information about its origin.
What maximum penalty has been proposed under the new Seed Act for selling substandard seeds?
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Correct answer: A — ₹30 lakh
PIB (Agriculture): a penalty of up to ₹30 lakh and stringent punishment have been proposed for selling substandard seeds.
Consider the following statements about the proposed Seed Act 2026, as explained by the Agriculture Minister: 1. Registration of seed companies will be mandatory. 2. Farmers will be barred from sharing their own seeds with other farmers. 3. A nationwide seed traceability system will be set up. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 3 only
PIB (Agriculture): statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 2 is wrong: farmers can sow their own seeds and share them with other farmers.
According to the PM's address on National Startup Day 2026, where does India rank among the world's startup ecosystems?
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Correct answer: D — Third
PIB (PMO): the PM said India is today the world's third-largest startup ecosystem.
How many startups does India have now, according to the PM at the Startup India decade programme?
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Correct answer: D — More than 2 lakh
PIB (PMO): fewer than 500 startups ten years ago have grown to more than 2 lakh today.
According to the PM, India had only four unicorns in 2014. About how many active unicorns does it have now?
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Correct answer: C — 125
PIB (PMO): India had only four unicorns in 2014; today there are nearly 125 active unicorns.
Where was the programme marking a decade of Startup India held on 16 January 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Bharat Mandapam
PIB (PMO): the programme was held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
Ponduru Khadi, which received a GI tag in January 2026, comes from which district of Andhra Pradesh?
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Correct answer: A — Srikakulam
PIB (MSME): Ponduru Khadi is produced in Ponduru village of Srikakulam district.
By what local name is Ponduru Khadi known?
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Correct answer: A — Patnulu
PIB (MSME): Ponduru Khadi is locally known as Patnulu.
In whose favour was the GI registration for Ponduru Khadi awarded?
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Correct answer: D — Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)
PIB (MSME): the registration was awarded by the GI Registry in favour of KVIC.
What was the theme of the 6th ASEAN–India Digital Ministers' (ADGMIN) Meeting held in January 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Adaptive ASEAN: From Connectivity to Connected Intelligence
PIB (Communications): the theme was 'Adaptive ASEAN: From Connectivity to Connected Intelligence'.
India co-chaired the 6th ADGMIN Meeting (January 2026) with a minister from which ASEAN country?
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Correct answer: D — Viet Nam
PIB (Communications): the meeting was co-chaired by Telecom Secretary Amit Agrawal and Nguyen Manh Hung, Minister of Science and Technology of Viet Nam.
With effect from 15 January 2026, CBIC extended which export benefits to exports made through the postal mode in electronic form?
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Correct answer: A — Duty Drawback, RoDTEP and RoSCTL
PIB (Finance): CBIC extended Duty Drawback, RoDTEP and RoSCTL benefits to postal exports in electronic form from 15 January 2026.
To let postal exporters claim Drawback, RoDTEP and RoSCTL benefits, CBIC amended which regulations in January 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Postal Export (Electronic Declaration and Processing) Regulations, 2022
PIB (Finance): CBIC approved amendments to the Postal Export (Electronic Declaration and Processing) Regulations, 2022 via Notification No. 07/2026–Customs (N.T.).
During whose visit to India in January 2026 did India and Germany sign a Joint Declaration of Intent on Telecommunications Cooperation?
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Correct answer: C — Friedrich Merz
PIB (Communications): the JDI was signed during the official visit of Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz to India on 12–13 January 2026.
The India–Germany JDI on Telecommunications Cooperation (January 2026) was concluded between India's Department of Telecommunications and which German ministry?
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Correct answer: B — Federal Ministry for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation
PIB (Communications): the JDI was concluded between DoT and Germany's Federal Ministry for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation (BMDS).
Praveen Vashista, who took oath as Vigilance Commissioner in the CVC on 16 January 2026, belongs to which service and cadre?
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Correct answer: A — IPS, Bihar cadre
PIB (DoPT): Praveen Vashista is an IPS officer of the Bihar cadre, 1991 batch.
Under which section of the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003 does the President appoint a Vigilance Commissioner?
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Correct answer: B — Section 4(1)
PIB (DoPT): the President appointed Praveen Vashista under Section 4(1) of the CVC Act, 2003. Section 5(3) relates to the oath before the Central Vigilance Commissioner.
Consider the following statements about the Central Vigilance Commission under the CVC Act, 2003: 1. It consists of a Central Vigilance Commissioner and two Vigilance Commissioners. 2. A Vigilance Commissioner holds office for four years or until the age of 65 years. 3. A Vigilance Commissioner takes oath before the Chief Justice of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB (DoPT): statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: Praveen Vashista took oath before the Central Vigilance Commissioner, authorised by the President under Section 5(3).
How many eligible Village Councils of Mizoram will benefit from the XV Finance Commission grants released in January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 808
PIB (Panchayati Raj): the ₹15.20 crore will benefit all 808 eligible Village Councils of the state.
XV Finance Commission untied grants to rural local bodies can be used for location-specific needs under the subjects listed in which Schedule of the Constitution?
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Correct answer: C — Eleventh Schedule
PIB (Panchayati Raj): untied grants are used under the twenty-nine subjects in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution, except salaries and other establishment costs.
GRAP Stage III, invoked across Delhi-NCR on 16 January 2026, corresponds to which AQI range?
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Correct answer: C — 401–450
PIB (Environment): Stage III of GRAP is 'Severe' air quality, AQI range 401–450.
In which AQI category was Delhi's AQI of 354, recorded at 4 PM on 16 January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Very Poor
PIB (Environment): an AQI of 354 falls in the 'Very Poor' category (301–400).
On which occasion will the Sukhatme National Award in Statistics 2026 be presented?
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Correct answer: A — National Statistics Day, 29 June 2026
PIB (MoSPI): the award will be presented during the Statistics Day function on 29 June 2026.
The Sukhatme National Award in Statistics is given in alternate years to eminent Indian statisticians of what minimum age?
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Correct answer: C — 45 years
PIB (MoSPI): the award is given in alternate years since 2000 to eminent Indian statisticians aged 45 years and above.
On Thiruvalluvar Day 2026, the PM urged everyone to read which work, saying it gives a glimpse of Thiruvalluvar's outstanding intellect?
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Correct answer: B — Tirukkural
PIB (PMO): the PM urged all to read the Tirukkural, which gives a glimpse of the outstanding intellect of Thiruvalluvar.