Current Affairs Quiz — 31 January 2026
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Patna Bird Sanctuary, declared a Ramsar site in January 2026, is located in which district?
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Correct answer: B — Etah, Uttar Pradesh
PIB: Patna Bird Sanctuary is in Etah district of Uttar Pradesh (not Patna in Bihar).
Chhari-Dhand, added to the Ramsar list on 31 January 2026, is in which district of Gujarat?
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Correct answer: D — Kutch
Chhari-Dhand is in Kutch district of Gujarat, as announced by the Environment Minister on 31 January 2026.
After the two additions announced on 31 January 2026, how many Ramsar sites did India have?
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Correct answer: D — 98
PIB: India's Ramsar network grew from 26 sites in 2014 to 98 sites at present.
Consider the following statements about the Ramsar Convention: 1. It was signed at Ramsar, Iran, in 1971. 2. India became a signatory to it on 1 February 1982. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
PIB: The Convention on Wetlands was signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, and India became a signatory on 1 February 1982.
In January 2026, who became the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra?
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Correct answer: C — Sunetra Pawar
Sunetra Pawar was sworn in on 31 January 2026 as the first woman Deputy CM of Maharashtra (PIB, Indian Express).
Who administered the oath of office to Sunetra Pawar as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra on 31 January 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Governor Acharya Devvrat
The oath was administered by Governor Acharya Devvrat at Lok Bhavan, Mumbai.
Which of the following portfolios was NOT allotted to Sunetra Pawar on 31 January 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Finance and Planning
She got State Excise, Sports and Youth Welfare, and Minority Development and Auqaf; Finance and Planning went to CM Devendra Fadnavis.
Consider the following statements: 1. Ajit Pawar died in an air crash at Baramati on 28 January 2026. 2. Sunetra Pawar was a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly when she was sworn in as Deputy CM. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Ajit Pawar died in an air crash at Baramati on 28 January 2026. Sunetra Pawar was a Rajya Sabha MP, not a member of either House of the state legislature.
Which country co-chaired the 2nd India-Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in New Delhi on 31 January 2026 along with India?
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Correct answer: C — United Arab Emirates
The meeting was co-chaired by India and the UAE (MEA via DD News).
Where was the first India-Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in 2016?
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Correct answer: A — Manama, Bahrain
MEA: the first India-Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held in 2016 in Bahrain; the 2026 meeting came after a gap of 10 years.
What was the outcome document of the 2nd India-Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting (January 2026) called?
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Correct answer: D — Delhi Declaration
The meeting adopted the Delhi Declaration (MEA, UAE MoFA, Indian Express); the Manama Declaration was from the first meeting in 2016.
Consider the following statements about the League of Arab States: 1. It has 22 member states. 2. India is a full member of the League. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
MEA: India is an Observer to the League of Arab States, a pan-Arab body with 22 member states.
Which country was the partner country of the 39th Surajkund International Atmanirbhar Crafts Mela (2026)?
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Correct answer: A — Egypt
PIB: The Vice-President welcomed Egypt, the partner country for this year's Mela.
Which two states were the theme states of the 39th Surajkund Crafts Mela inaugurated on 31 January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Uttar Pradesh and Meghalaya
PIB: The theme states were Uttar Pradesh and Meghalaya.
The Surajkund International Crafts Mela is held in which district?
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Correct answer: D — Faridabad
PIB: The 39th Mela was inaugurated at Faridabad, Haryana.
Who won the women's singles title at the Australian Open 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Elena Rybakina
Elena Rybakina beat Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in the final on 31 January 2026.
Elena Rybakina, the Australian Open 2026 women's champion, represents which country?
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Correct answer: C — Kazakhstan
Rybakina is from Kazakhstan; the runner-up Sabalenka is from Belarus.
With the Australian Open 2026, Elena Rybakina won her second Grand Slam title. Which was her first?
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Correct answer: A — Wimbledon 2022
AP/BBC: Rybakina's first major was Wimbledon 2022; she lost the 2023 Australian Open final to Sabalenka.
Which institute was ranked first in the Times B-School Ranking 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Indian Institute of Foreign Trade
PIB (31 Jan 2026): IIFT has been ranked first in the Times B-School Ranking 2026.
The UN Commission for Social Development (CSocD), whose 64th session India attended in 2026, is a functional commission of which UN body?
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Correct answer: B — UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
PIB: The Commission for Social Development is a functional commission of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
Bharat Parv, held every year at the Red Fort lawns during Republic Day celebrations, is organised by which ministry?
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Correct answer: D — Ministry of Tourism
PIB: Bharat Parv is organised by the Ministry of Tourism annually since 2016.
'Vande Mataram', whose 150th anniversary was the theme of Bharat Parv 2026, was first published in which journal?
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Correct answer: B — Bangadarshan
PIB: Vande Mataram was first published in the literary journal 'Bangadarshan' on 7 November 1875; it was later included in the novel 'Anandamath' (1882).
In January 2026 the Tamil Nadu CM inaugurated a new Government Law College at Kazhanivasal in which town?
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Correct answer: A — Karaikudi
The Hindu/TOI: The Government Law College is at Kazhanivasal in Karaikudi, Sivaganga district.
The auditorium of the Chettinad Agriculture College and Research Institute, opened in January 2026, was named after which Bharat Ratna awardee?
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Correct answer: C — C. Subramaniam
The new auditorium was named after Bharat Ratna C. Subramaniam, architect of India's Green Revolution (The Hindu, TOI).
In the first three phases of Himachal Pradesh's BPL identification survey (as of January 2026), which district had the highest number of families added?
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Correct answer: D — Chamba
Chamba had 13,786 families, ahead of Mandi (12,045) and Kangra (10,807), out of 59,829 in total (TOI, NewsMill).
From which date did Himachal Pradesh order the fourth phase of its BPL identification survey to begin?
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Correct answer: B — 1 February 2026
On 31 January 2026 CM Sukhu directed that the fourth phase begin from 1 February 2026.
Consider the following statements about Nagaland's birth and death registration (January 2026): 1. CM Neiphiu Rio launched the digitisation of old manual birth and death certificates in Kohima. 2. Online registration of births and deaths in Nagaland began in April 2022 on the directive of the Registrar General of India. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
DIPR Nagaland: Rio launched the digitisation on 31 January 2026 in Kohima; online registration began in April 2022 following the ORGI directive.
Under a January 2026 MoU with CCRAS, rare Ayurvedic palm-leaf manuscripts of which university's South Odisha Cultural Study Centre will be digitised?
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Correct answer: B — Berhampur University
PIB: CCRAS and Berhampur University, Odisha, agreed to digitise manuscripts preserved at the South Odisha Cultural Study Centre (SOCSC).