Current Affairs Quiz — January 2026
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
How many literary works in classical Indian languages did Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan release on 6 January 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 55
PIB (Ministry of Education): he released 55 literary works — 41 books from CIIL's Centres of Excellence plus 13 books and a Tirukkural sign language series from CICT.
Which classical Tamil work was released in an Indian Sign Language series by the Central Institute of Classical Tamil in January 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Tirukkural
PIB (Ministry of Education): CICT brought out a Tirukkural Sign Language series along with 13 books.
Consider the following statements regarding classical languages in India: 1. The Centres for Excellence for studies in Classical Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam and Odia function under the Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysuru. 2. The Sahitya Akademi is the nodal agency for the Linguistic Experts Committee that examines classical language proposals. 3. Marathi and Bengali were among the languages granted classical status on 3 October 2024. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1, 2 and 3
PIB (Cabinet, 3 October 2024): the Centres of Excellence are under CIIL, Mysuru; Sahitya Akademi is the nodal agency for the LEC; and Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali were granted classical status. All three are correct.
Which hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle did Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and Nitin Gadkari ride together in January 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Toyota Mirai
PIB (MNRE): the ministers took a joint ride in the Toyota Mirai fuel-cell electric vehicle.
Consider the following statements about the Toyota Mirai used in the ministers' ride of January 2026: 1. It generates electricity through a reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. 2. Its only by-product is water vapour. 3. Its driving range is about 650 km. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
PIB (MNRE): the Mirai produces electricity from hydrogen and oxygen, emits only water vapour and has a range of about 650 km. All three are correct.
Where did the Ministry of Coal hold its two-day Chintan Shivir on 5–6 January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Manesar, Gurugram
PIB (Ministry of Coal): the Chintan Shivir was held on 5–6 January 2026 at Manesar, Gurugram.
W Ursae Majoris (W UMa)-type stars, studied by ARIES and PRL astronomers in a study reported in January 2026, are best described as:
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Correct answer: C — Short-period contact binaries sharing a single outer atmosphere
PIB (DST): W UMa stars are short-period, dumbbell-shaped binaries in which the two stars are in contact and share a single outer atmosphere.
Consider the following statements about the W UMa contact-binary study reported by DST in January 2026: 1. It used data from ARIES's 1.3-m Devasthal Fast Optical Telescope. 2. It used data from NASA's TESS space telescope. 3. It was carried out by ARIES jointly with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 and 2 only
PIB (DST): the study used the 1.3-m DFOT and TESS data and was done by ARIES with the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, not IIA. Statement 3 is wrong.
According to Indian Railways (January 2026), how many Amrit Bharat Express services were operational after 13 such trains were introduced during 2025?
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Correct answer: C — 30
PIB (Railways): during 2025, 13 Amrit Bharat trains were introduced, taking the total operational services to 30.
Which statement correctly describes Amrit Bharat Express trains, as per Indian Railways in January 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Fully non-AC trains with sleeper and general class coaches
PIB (Railways): Amrit Bharat Express trains are fully non-AC services with sleeper and general class coaches.
The Human Capital Working Group meeting of MeitY and the IndiaAI Mission held in January 2026 was organised in collaboration with which state government and institute?
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Correct answer: A — Government of Assam and IIT Guwahati
PIB (MeitY): the meeting was organised in collaboration with the Government of Assam and IIT Guwahati.
According to the session on the National Language Translation Mission at the January 2026 Human Capital Working Group meeting, the mission prioritises how many constitutionally recognised Indian languages?
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Correct answer: D — 22
PIB (MeitY): the mission prioritises the 22 constitutionally recognised Indian languages.
MOIL, which reported record production in January 2026, mainly mines which mineral?
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Correct answer: D — Manganese ore
PIB (Ministry of Steel): MOIL achieved record manganese ore production of 4.77 lakh tonnes in Q3 FY 2025-26.
What was MOIL's manganese ore production in April–December 2025, its best-ever nine-month figure?
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Correct answer: B — 14.21 lakh tonnes
PIB (Ministry of Steel): MOIL produced 14.21 lakh tonnes in April–December 2025, about 6.8% more than the same period last year.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs' Hackathon 2.0 (January 2026) aimed to develop a national digital platform for implementing which law?
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Correct answer: A — Forest Rights Act, 2006
PIB (Tribal Affairs): Hackathon 2.0 advanced a unified national digital platform for effective implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.
Consider the following statements about the Ministry of Tribal Affairs' Hackathon 2.0 held on 5–6 January 2026: 1. It was held at the National Tribal Research Institute, New Delhi. 2. Only the winning team of Smart India Hackathon 2025 was engaged for development. 3. Experts from IIT Delhi and NIC took part. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 3 only
PIB (Tribal Affairs): the workshop was at NTRI, New Delhi, with IIT Delhi and NIC experts. MoTA engaged all five SIH 2025 finalists, not only the winner, so statement 2 is wrong.
ICGS Samudra Pratap, commissioned on 5 January 2026, was built by which shipyard?
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Correct answer: D — Goa Shipyard Limited
PIB (Ministry of Defence): Samudra Pratap is the first of two pollution control vessels built by Goa Shipyard Limited.
Where will ICGS Samudra Pratap be based after its commissioning in January 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Kochi
PIB (Ministry of Defence): the ship will be based at Kochi under the operational control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region (West).
Consider the following statements about ICGS Samudra Pratap: 1. It is India's first indigenously designed pollution control vessel. 2. It is the largest ship in the Indian Coast Guard fleet to date. 3. It has over 90% indigenous content. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB (Ministry of Defence): the ship is India's first indigenously designed PCV and the largest ICG ship, with over 60% indigenous content; 90% is the future goal mentioned by the Raksha Mantri, so statement 3 is wrong.
The Residue Upgradation Facility commissioned by HPCL at its Visakh Refinery in January 2026 uses which technology, described as the world's first unit of its kind?
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Correct answer: A — LC-Max residue hydrocracking
HPCL, Economic Times and Business Standard: the RUF employs LC-Max based residue hydrocracking and is the world's first LC-Max unit.
What is the capacity of the Residue Upgradation Facility commissioned at HPCL's Visakh Refinery in January 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 3.55 MMTPA
HPCL and Business Standard: the RUF has a capacity of 3.55 million tonnes per annum.
Which is the largest of the three Chenab Valley Power Projects Ltd hydro projects reviewed by Power Minister Manohar Lal in January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Pakal Dul
PIB (Ministry of Power): the CVPP projects are Pakal Dul (1,000 MW), Kiru (624 MW) and Kwar (540 MW).
The Pakal Dul, Kiru and Kwar hydroelectric projects reviewed in January 2026 are located in which district of Jammu and Kashmir?
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Correct answer: A — Kishtwar
PIB (Ministry of Power): the Minister reached NHPC's Dulhasti Power Station, Kishtwar, and inspected all three CVPP projects.
Consider the following statements about the hydro projects reviewed by Power Minister Manohar Lal on 4–5 January 2026: 1. Pakal Dul and Kiru are to be commissioned by December 2026. 2. Kwar is to be commissioned by March 2028. 3. Kiru has a larger capacity than Pakal Dul. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1 and 2 only
PIB (Ministry of Power): Pakal Dul and Kiru by December 2026 and Kwar by March 2028. Kiru is 624 MW and Pakal Dul 1,000 MW, so statement 3 is wrong.
India's first commercial-scale tropical RAS-based rainbow trout farm, inaugurated in January 2026, is located in which state?
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Correct answer: D — Telangana
PIB (Fisheries): the farm and RAS facility are in Kandukur Mandal, Ranga Reddy district, Telangana.
In aquaculture, what does 'RAS', used at the Telangana trout facility opened in January 2026, stand for?
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Correct answer: B — Recirculating Aquaculture System
PIB (Fisheries): the facility is a Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) based rainbow trout farm.
What share of its 2025-26 Gross Budgetary Support had Indian Railways spent by the end of December 2025?
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Correct answer: D — 80.54%
PIB (Railways): Indian Railways spent 80.54%, i.e. ₹2,03,138 crore of the total GBS of ₹2,52,200 crore.
As per Indian Railways' capex update of January 2026, what was the total Gross Budgetary Support for 2025-26?
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Correct answer: B — ₹2,52,200 crore
PIB (Railways): the total GBS for 2025-26 is ₹2,52,200 crore, of which ₹2,03,138 crore was spent by December 2025.
With which organisation did ONGC sign an MoU in January 2026 for CSR-funded development of Eklavya Model Residential Schools?
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Correct answer: A — National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation
PIB (Tribal Affairs): ONGC signed the MoU with NSTFDC, an autonomous body of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Consider the following statements about the ONGC–NSTFDC MoU of January 2026 and the EMRS scheme: 1. ONGC sanctioned ₹28 crore of CSR funds under the MoU. 2. The support covers 144 Eklavya Model Residential Schools. 3. EMRS is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by state education departments. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB (Tribal Affairs): ONGC sanctioned ₹28 crore for 144 EMRS. EMRS is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, so statement 3 is wrong.
What is the motto of the National Cadet Corps (NCC), highlighted by the Vice-President at the Republic Day Camp 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Unity and Discipline
PIB (Vice-President's Secretariat): the Vice-President highlighted the NCC motto of 'Unity and Discipline'.
According to the Vice-President at the NCC Republic Day Camp 2026, about how many NCC cadets volunteered for civil defence duties during Operation Sindoor?
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Correct answer: D — 72,000
PIB (Vice-President's Secretariat): nearly 72,000 cadets volunteered for civil defence duties during Operation Sindoor.
In its 5 January 2026 inspection drive, how many road stretches maintained by the Noida Authority did CAQM inspect?
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Correct answer: C — 142
PIB (MoEFCC): CAQM inspected 142 road stretches under the jurisdiction of the Noida Authority.
CAQM's road-dust inspections in NCR, such as the Noida drive of January 2026, are carried out under which statutory framework?
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Correct answer: B — Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)
PIB (MoEFCC): the drive was part of CAQM's monitoring and enforcement under the statutory framework of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
The 17th meeting of the Empowered Task Force (ETF), held on 5 January 2026, reviewed progress under which programme?
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Correct answer: C — Namami Gange
PIB (Jal Shakti): the ETF meeting focused on monitoring and compliance frameworks under the Namami Gange Programme.
Who chaired the 17th meeting of the Empowered Task Force on Ganga rejuvenation in January 2026?
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Correct answer: A — C. R. Paatil
PIB (Jal Shakti): the 17th ETF meeting was held under the chairmanship of Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Paatil.
What were SAIL's provisional sales in December 2025, its highest-ever December figure?
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Correct answer: B — 2.1 million tonnes
PIB (Ministry of Steel): SAIL clocked provisional sales of 2.1 MT in December 2025, about 37% above 1.5 MT in December 2024.
Which status does Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) hold among central public sector enterprises, as stated in its January 2026 sales release?
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Correct answer: C — Maharatna
PIB (Ministry of Steel): SAIL is described as a Maharatna CPSE.
SAMPANN, whose pension documents were made available on DigiLocker in January 2026, is the pension management system of which department?
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Correct answer: C — Department of Telecommunications
PIB (Ministry of Communications): SAMPANN is an integrated online pension management system for Department of Telecommunications pensioners.
In the pension context, what does the acronym SAMPANN stand for?
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Correct answer: A — System for Accounting and Management of Pension
PIB (Ministry of Communications): SAMPANN stands for System for Accounting and Management of Pension.
Which CSIR laboratory, which celebrated its 80th Foundation Day on 5 January 2026, is associated with maintaining India's atomic-clock time standard?
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Correct answer: A — CSIR-National Physical Laboratory
PIB (Science & Technology): at NPL's 80th Foundation Day the Minister recalled the atomic clock housed at NPL and its role in establishing Indian Standard Time.
Consider the following statements about the CSIR-NPL Foundation Day event of 5 January 2026: 1. A National Primary Standard Facility for Solar Cell Calibration was inaugurated. 2. Phytochemical Bharatiya Nirdeshak Dravyas developed jointly with CSIR-CIMAP were released. 3. It marked the 50th Foundation Day of CSIR-NPL. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1 and 2 only
PIB: the solar cell calibration facility was inaugurated and 14 phytochemical BNDs with CSIR-CIMAP were released, but it was NPL's 80th Foundation Day, so statement 3 is wrong.
Which city hosted the 72nd National Volleyball Tournament, inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi on 4 January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Varanasi
PIB (PMO): the PM inaugurated the 72nd National Volleyball Tournament in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, via video conferencing.
At the 72nd National Volleyball Tournament inauguration (January 2026), PM Modi said India is set to host which multi-sport event in 2030?
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Correct answer: B — Commonwealth Games
PIB (PMO): the PM said the 2030 Commonwealth Games are set to be held in India and efforts are on to host the 2036 Olympics.
What was the value of India's AYUSH and herbal product exports in 2024-25, as reported at AYUSHEXCIL's 4th anniversary in January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — USD 688.89 million
PIB (Commerce): AYUSH and herbal exports grew 6.11% from USD 649.2 million in 2023-24 to USD 688.89 million in 2024-25.
AYUSHEXCIL has been entrusted with anchoring which programme of the Ministry of Ayush?
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Correct answer: A — Ayush Quality Mark
PIB (Commerce): AYUSHEXCIL has been entrusted with anchoring the Ayush Quality Mark programme of the Ministry of Ayush.
Consider the following statements regarding AYUSH in trade, as reported in January 2026: 1. AYUSH exports grew by 6.11% in 2024-25. 2. Traditional medicine has a dedicated annex in the India–Oman CEPA. 3. The India–New Zealand FTA also recognises AYUSH with a dedicated annex. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1, 2 and 3
PIB (Commerce): exports grew 6.11%, and both the India–Oman CEPA and the India–New Zealand FTA have dedicated annexes on health services and traditional medicine. All three are correct.
The Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme for semiconductor chip design is implemented by which ministry?
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Correct answer: A — Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
PIB backgrounder: the DLI Scheme is implemented by MeitY under the Semicon India Programme.
As per PIB's January 2026 backgrounder, how many chip design projects are supported under the DLI Scheme?
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Correct answer: C — 24
PIB backgrounder: 24 DLI-supported chip design projects target strategic sectors; 16 tape-outs, 6 ASICs and 10 patents have been achieved.
Consider the following statements about the Design Linked Incentive Scheme as reported in January 2026: 1. It is part of the Semicon India Programme. 2. DLI-supported projects have achieved 16 tape-outs. 3. The scheme mainly funds the construction of semiconductor fabrication plants. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1 and 2 only
PIB backgrounder: DLI is under the Semicon India Programme and its projects have achieved 16 tape-outs. It supports fabless chip design, not fab construction, so statement 3 is wrong.
On DSIR's 42nd Foundation Day (January 2026), which condition was relaxed for deep-tech startups seeking DSIR recognition?
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Correct answer: B — Mandatory three-year existence
PIB (Science & Technology): Jitendra Singh announced relaxation of the mandatory three-year existence condition for deep-tech startups under DSIR's Industrial R&D Promotion Programme.
Which foundation day did the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) celebrate on 4 January 2026?
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Correct answer: A — 42nd
PIB (Science & Technology): the event marked the 42nd Foundation Day of DSIR.
Consider the following statements about announcements at DSIR's 42nd Foundation Day (January 2026): 1. 'Creative India 2025' was launched under DSIR's PRISM scheme. 2. Over 55 women-led self-help groups get support from DSIR schemes. 3. The relaxation of the existence norm applies to all startups regardless of sector. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1 and 2 only
PIB: Creative India 2025 was launched under PRISM and DSIR supports over 55 women-led SHGs. The relaxation is specifically for deep-tech startups, so statement 3 is wrong.
World Braille Day is observed every year on which date?
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Correct answer: D — 4 January
PIB backgrounder: World Braille Day is observed annually on 4 January.
In which year was Bharati Braille adopted as a single national Braille standard with common codes for Indian languages?
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Correct answer: C — 1951
PIB backgrounder: Braille was introduced in India in 1887, and in 1951 Bharati Braille was adopted as a single national standard.
Consider the following statements about Braille as described in PIB's World Braille Day 2026 backgrounder: 1. Braille is a tactile code, not a language. 2. It is named after its 19th-century French inventor, Louis Braille. 3. India's Braille policy ecosystem is anchored in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 and 2 only
PIB backgrounder: Braille is a code, not a language, named after Louis Braille of 19th-century France. The ecosystem is anchored in the RPwD Act, 2016, not a 1995 Act, so statement 3 is wrong.
The Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram, which received its first validation flight in January 2026, is in which district?
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Correct answer: C — Vizianagaram
New Indian Express: the Alluri Sitarama Raju (Bhogapuram) Greenfield International Airport is in Vizianagaram district; Deccan Chronicle also reports the validation landing.
Which Union Minister was aboard the first validation flight that landed at Bhogapuram airport, Andhra Pradesh, on 4 January 2026?
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Correct answer: B — K. Ram Mohan Naidu
Deccan Chronicle and New Indian Express: Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu was on the flight and addressed the gathering after landing.
Which organisation organised the national seminar 'Aeronautics 2047' in Bengaluru in January 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Aeronautical Development Agency
PIB (Ministry of Defence): the two-day seminar 'Aeronautics 2047' was organised by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA).
At the 'Aeronautics 2047' seminar in January 2026, the Chief of the Air Staff congratulated ADA for completing how many years of LCA Tejas flight?
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Correct answer: D — 25 years
PIB (Ministry of Defence): Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh congratulated ADA for completing 25 years of LCA Tejas flight.
Consider the following statements about the 'Aeronautics 2047' seminar held in January 2026: 1. It was held at the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), Bengaluru. 2. It was inaugurated by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh. 3. According to ADA, LCA Tejas has completed more than 5,600 successful flight trials. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
PIB (Ministry of Defence): the seminar was at CABS, Bengaluru, inaugurated by ACM A. P. Singh, and ADA says Tejas has completed more than 5,600 successful flight trials. All three are correct.
Which team won the International League T20 (ILT20) 2025-26 title on 4 January 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Desert Vipers
ESPNcricinfo and BBC: Desert Vipers beat MI Emirates by 46 runs in the final in Dubai to win their first ILT20 title.
Who was named Player of the Tournament in ILT20 2025-26 after finishing as top run-scorer with 397 runs?
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Correct answer: B — Sam Curran
ESPNcricinfo and BBC: Sam Curran finished as the top run-scorer with 397 runs and was Player of the Tournament as well as Player of the Match in the final.
The Mridangiya Gayan-Bayan tradition, whose state convention Sarbananda Sonowal attended in January 2026, belongs to which state's cultural life?
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Correct answer: A — Assam
PIB (MoPSW): Sonowal called the Mridangiya Gayan-Bayan tradition an inseparable part of Assam's cultural life at the convention in Dibrugarh.
The ceremonial programme of which satra was held along with the Mridangiya Gayan-Bayan convention at Rajgarh, Dibrugarh, in January 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Sri Sri Auniati Satra
PIB (MoPSW): the convention was held along with an Akhanda Bhagavat Path and a ceremonial programme of Sri Sri Auniati Satra.
The Good Samaritan Rules, which protect 'Rah-Veers' who help road accident victims, were notified in 2020 under which section of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019?
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Correct answer: A — Section 134A
PIB (MoRTH): the Good Samaritan Rules were notified in 2020 under Section 134A of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019.
In the context of road accidents, the 'Golden Hour' referred to in MoRTH's Rah-Veer explainer (January 2026) means:
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Correct answer: B — The first hour after a serious injury
PIB (MoRTH): the law defines the Golden Hour as the first hour after a serious injury, the most critical time for medical intervention.