Current Affairs Quiz — 25 January 2026
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Who was awarded the Ashoka Chakra on the eve of Republic Day 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla
PIB (Defence): the lone Ashoka Chakra went to Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the IAF; the other three received the Kirti Chakra.
How many Kirti Chakras were approved on the eve of Republic Day 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Three
PIB: the 70 gallantry awards include one Ashoka Chakra, three Kirti Chakras and 13 Shaurya Chakras.
Lieutenant Commanders Dilna K and Roopa A of the Indian Navy were among the Republic Day 2026 recipients of which award?
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Correct answer: C — Shaurya Chakra
PIB (Defence): Lieutenant Commander Dilna K and Lieutenant Commander Roopa A (Navy) are listed under the Shaurya Chakra.
How many Padma Vibhushan awards were announced for 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 5
PIB (MHA): the 131 Padma Awards for 2026 comprise 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri.
Which of the following received the Padma Vibhushan 2026 posthumously?
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Correct answer: A — V S Achuthanandan
PIB: V S Achuthanandan (Public Affairs, Kerala) and Dharmendra Singh Deol received Padma Vibhushan posthumously; Shibu Soren, Piyush Pandey and V K Malhotra received Padma Bhushan posthumously.
Consider the following about the Padma Awards 2026: 1. 19 of the awardees are women. 2. 16 awards are posthumous. 3. Cricketer Rohit Sharma received the Padma Bhushan. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB: 19 awardees are women and 16 are posthumous. Rohit Sharma (Sports, Maharashtra) is in the Padma Shri list, not Padma Bhushan.
Sir Mark Tully, who died in January 2026, was widely known as the 'voice of India' of which broadcaster?
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Correct answer: C — BBC
AP, The Hindu and BBC: Mark Tully, long-time BBC correspondent and New Delhi bureau chief, was known as the BBC's 'voice of India'.
In which city was journalist Mark Tully born?
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Correct answer: A — Kolkata
AP and The Hindu: Tully was born in Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1935.
Of the 125 Medals for Gallantry announced for Republic Day 2026, the largest number were for actions in which region?
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Correct answer: C — Jammu & Kashmir
PIB (MHA): 45 gallantry medals were for Jammu & Kashmir, 35 for LWE-affected areas, 5 for the North-East and 40 for other regions.
How many personnel of Police, Fire, Home Guard & Civil Defence and Correctional Services were awarded medals on Republic Day 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 982
PIB (MHA): 982 personnel were awarded — 125 Medals for Gallantry, 101 President's Medals for Distinguished Service and 756 Medals for Meritorious Service.
The SAARG committee constituted by PFRDA in January 2026 is chaired by:
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Correct answer: A — Narayan Ramachandran
PIB (Finance): SAARG is chaired by Narayan Ramachandran, former Country Head and CEO of Morgan Stanley India.
In PFRDA's SAARG committee, what does 'SAARG' stand for?
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Correct answer: D — Strategic Asset Allocation and Risk Governance
PIB: PFRDA constituted a committee of investment experts for Strategic Asset Allocation and Risk Governance (SAARG).
The Matabari Tourism Circuit, whose foundation stone was laid in January 2026, will integrate which of the following?
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Correct answer: A — Tripura Sundari Temple, Chabimura and Dumbur Lake
PIB (DoNER): the ₹450 crore circuit will integrate the Tripura Sundari Temple, Chabimura and Dumbur Lake.
What is the Ministry of DoNER's contribution to the ₹450 crore Matabari Tourism Circuit?
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Correct answer: C — ₹276 crore
PIB (DoNER): of the ₹450 crore outlay, ₹276 crore is being contributed by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.
According to the ECI, what was the voter turnout in the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025, the highest since 1951?
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Correct answer: C — 67.3%
PIB (ECI): the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 recorded the highest turnout since 1951 at 67.3%; women's participation was 71.8%.
The ECI publication 'Chunav Ka Parv, Bihar Ka Garv' was released on which occasion?
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Correct answer: B — 16th National Voters' Day
PIB (ECI): the publication was released at the 16th National Voters' Day celebration on 25 January 2026.
Assam's 'Mukhya Mantrir Eti Koli Duti Paat' scheme, launched in January 2026, provides one-time assistance of how much to each tea garden worker?
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Correct answer: D — ₹5,000
Assam Tribune, Economic Times and TOI: the scheme gives ₹5,000 to every tea garden worker, permanent or casual.
The Eti Koli Duti Paat scheme was launched to mark which milestone, and where was it launched?
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Correct answer: B — 200 years of Assam's tea industry; Doomdooma (Tinsukia)
Assam Tribune, ET and TOI: launched at Doomdooma in Tinsukia district as part of the celebration of 200 years of Assam's tea industry.
What was the theme of the 16th National Voters' Day (2026)?
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Correct answer: D — My India, My Vote
PIB (ECI): NVD-2026 was celebrated with the theme "My India, My Vote" and the tagline "Citizen at the Heart of Indian Democracy".
Who was the Guest of Honour at the 16th National Voters' Day celebration in New Delhi?
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Correct answer: A — Arjun Ram Meghwal
PIB (ECI): Union MoS (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal was Guest of Honour; President Droupadi Murmu was Chief Guest; CEC Gyanesh Kumar led the event.
The Indian Navy's First Training Squadron made a three-day port call in January 2026 at which Indonesian port?
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Correct answer: B — Belawan
PIB (Defence): 1TS departed Belawan on 23 January 2026 after a three-day port call; the reception was co-hosted with the Consulate General of India, Medan.
Which of the following was NOT part of the First Training Squadron during its January 2026 Indonesia visit?
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Correct answer: D — INS Vikrant
PIB (Defence): the 1TS ships were INS Tir, INS Shardul, INS Sujata and ICGS Sarathi; INS Vikrant was not part of it.
Bharat Parv 2026, held at the Red Fort from 26 to 31 January, is organised by which ministry?
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Correct answer: A — Ministry of Tourism
PIB: the Ministry of Tourism organises Bharat Parv, its flagship annual event, as part of the Republic Day celebrations.
How many Republic Day tableaux are on display at Bharat Parv 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 41
PIB (Tourism): attractions include 41 Republic Day tableaux, 48 cultural performances and a food court with 60 stalls.
In the 130th Mann Ki Baat (January 2026), the PM praised the people-led revival of the Tamsa river. The river flows through which district?
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Correct answer: D — Azamgarh
PIB (PMO): the PM said the revival of the Tamsa river passing through Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, is a remarkable example of public participation.
Which slogan did the PM use in the 130th Mann Ki Baat while calling for 2026 to be about quality?
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Correct answer: B — Zero Defect, Zero Effect
PIB (PMO): 'Let us make 2026 about quality. Let us focus on Zero Defect, Zero Effect. Let us ensure, Made in India = Excellence.'