Science & Technology Current Affairs Quiz — Last 12 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Paripoorna Mediclaim Ayush Bima, launched by the Department of Financial Services in January 2026, is available exclusively to which group?
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Correct answer: B — CGHS beneficiaries
PIB (Finance): the policy is exclusively available to CGHS beneficiaries, with up to six members per policy.
Under Paripoorna Mediclaim Ayush Bima, up to what share of the sum insured is covered for AYUSH in-patient treatment?
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Correct answer: D — 100%
PIB (Finance): AYUSH treatments are covered up to 100% of the sum insured; modern treatment is covered up to 25%.
Where is the BSL-4 Bio-Containment Facility of the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, whose foundation was laid in January 2026, being built?
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Correct answer: D — Gandhinagar
PIB (Home Affairs): Amit Shah laid the foundation stone of the facility in Gandhinagar.
According to Amit Shah, the Gandhinagar BSL-4 lab will be India's second such high-level laboratory after which institution?
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Correct answer: A — National Institute of Virology, Pune
PIB (Home Affairs): after the National Institute of Virology in Pune, this will be India's second high-level laboratory, and the first built by a state government.
What is the cost of the BSL-4 Bio-Containment Facility being built at GBRC, Gandhinagar?
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Correct answer: D — ₹362 crore
PIB (Home Affairs): the complex is being built at a cost of ₹362 crore over 11,000 square metres.
In TRAI's Independent Drive Test across Mumbai (November 2025), which operator recorded a call setup success rate of only 28.52%?
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Correct answer: B — MTNL
PIB (Communications): MTNL had a 28.52% call setup success rate, against 99.62% (Airtel), 99.81% (RJIL) and 96.07% (VIL).
Which TRAI regional office supervised the Independent Drive Test in Mumbai whose results were released in January 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Bengaluru
PIB (Communications): the drive tests were conducted under the supervision of the TRAI Regional Office, Bengaluru.
The skilling initiative 'Inspiring Innovators – Naye Bharat Ki Nayi Pehchaan', concluded in January 2026, was developed by the I&B Ministry and the Office of the PSA in collaboration with which fund?
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Correct answer: B — Netflix Fund for Creative Equity
PIB (I&B): the initiative was developed in collaboration with the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity.
During which stage did the anomaly occur that caused the PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 mission to fail on 12 January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Third stage (PS3)
ISRO and NSIL: the first two stages performed nominally, but an anomaly near the end of the PS3 (third) stage meant the satellites could not be placed in orbit.
PSLV-C62, launched on 12 January 2026, was which flight of the PSLV?
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Correct answer: C — 64th
ISRO: the PSLV-C62 mission was the 64th flight of PSLV, using the PSLV-DL variant with two solid strap-on motors.
The PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 mission was the ninth dedicated commercial mission of which organisation?
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Correct answer: B — NewSpace India Limited
ISRO: PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 was the 9th dedicated commercial mission undertaken by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).
Consider the following statements about the PSLV-C62 mission (January 2026): 1. It carried the EOS-N1 satellite and 15 co-passenger satellites. 2. Telemetry was received from the KID re-entry capsule of a Spanish start-up. 3. It was the first failure of a PSLV since 2017. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
ISRO and NSIL confirm statements 1 and 2. Statement 3 is wrong: the previous PSLV mission, PSLV-C61 in May 2025, had also failed (Rediff, Times of India).
Raja Rani Lake, where BSIP scientists found pollen evidence of a stronger past monsoon (January 2026), is in which district?
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Correct answer: C — Korba, Chhattisgarh
PIB (Science & Technology): the lake is in Korba district, Chhattisgarh, in India's Core Monsoon Zone.
The BSIP study of Raja Rani Lake (January 2026) linked a strong Indian Summer Monsoon to which global warm phase?
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Correct answer: D — Medieval Climate Anomaly
PIB (Science & Technology): the scientists traced the strong monsoon to the Medieval Climate Anomaly, roughly 1,060–1,725 CE.
Which city hosted the Uttar Pradesh Regional AI Impact Conference 2026 on 12 January 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Lucknow
PIB (MeitY): Lucknow hosted the Uttar Pradesh Regional AI Impact Conference 2026.
Which global working group held its fourth meeting alongside the UP Regional AI Impact Conference in Lucknow in January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — AI for Economic Growth and Social Good Working Group
PIB (MeitY): the conference was held alongside the Fourth Meeting of the AI for Economic Growth and Social Good Working Group.
In January 2026, MeitY said structured stakeholder consultations were under way to develop a regulatory framework for what?
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Correct answer: B — Mobile security
PIB (MeitY): stakeholder consultations are going on to develop an appropriate and robust regulatory framework for mobile security.
Where did NITI Aayog hold its national workshop 'Sustaining Innovation: Embedding R&D in State Institutions' on 8–9 January 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore
PIB (NITI Aayog): the workshop was hosted at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, with the Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology.
Which DRDO laboratory conducted the full-scale actively cooled scramjet combustor ground test on 9 January 2026?
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Correct answer: A — DRDL, Hyderabad
PIB (Defence): the test was conducted by the Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad.
For how long did DRDO's full-scale scramjet combustor run in the ground test of 9 January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Over 12 minutes
PIB (Defence): the combustor achieved a run time of over 12 minutes at the SCPT facility.
Consider the following statements about the scramjet test reported by DRDO in January 2026: 1. A scramjet is an air-breathing engine that sustains flight through supersonic combustion. 2. A hypersonic cruise missile flies at more than five times the speed of sound. 3. The full-scale test was the first long-duration test of any scramjet combustor by DRDL. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB (Defence): statements 1 and 2 are correct; statement 3 is wrong because the test built on an earlier long-duration subscale test on 25 April 2025.
The National IED Data Management System (NIDMS), inaugurated in January 2026, belongs to which force?
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Correct answer: A — National Security Guard
PIB (Home Affairs): Amit Shah inaugurated the National IED Data Management System of the NSG.
In which year was the National Security Guard (NSG) established, as stated by the Home Minister in January 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 1984
PIB (Home Affairs): the NSG was established in 1984.
Consider the following statements made by the Home Minister at the NIDMS launch in January 2026: 1. NIDMS follows the idea of 'One Nation, One Data Repository' for IED and blast data. 2. ICJS-2 is described as a data-sharing system based on 'One Data–One Entry'. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
PIB (Home Affairs): both are correct — NIDMS makes scattered data available under 'One Nation, One Data Repository', and ICJS-2 is based on 'One Data–One Entry'.
What is the name of the Aadhaar mascot launched by UIDAI in January 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Udai
PIB (MeitY): UIDAI launched the Aadhaar mascot named Udai (उदय).
In which city did UIDAI Chairman Neelkanth Mishra unveil the Aadhaar mascot 'Udai' on 8 January 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Thiruvananthapuram
PIB (MeitY): the mascot was unveiled at a UIDAI function in Thiruvananthapuram.
Consider the following statements about the Aadhaar mascot 'Udai': 1. It was selected through national design and name competitions on the MyGov platform. 2. The competitions received 875 entries. 3. The design competition was won by a participant from Bhopal. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB (MeitY): statements 1 and 2 are correct; the design contest was won by Arun Gokul of Thrissur, Kerala — Riya Jain of Bhopal won the name contest.
The 12 AI start-ups at the PM's roundtable on 8 January 2026 had qualified under which pillar of the India AI Impact Summit 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Foundation Model Pillar
PIB (PMO): the 12 start-ups had qualified under the Foundation Model Pillar of the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
How many Indian AI start-ups presented their work at the PM's roundtable on 8 January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 12
PIB (PMO): 12 Indian AI start-ups presented their ideas and work.
Where will SECL and the Sri Sathya Sai Health & Education Trust set up a ₹35.04 crore Healthcare Skill Development Centre?
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Correct answer: B — Nava Raipur
PIB (Coal): the centre will be set up at Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
Consider the following statements about the SECL healthcare skill centre announced in January 2026: 1. It is funded under SECL's Corporate Social Responsibility programme. 2. At least 20% of the annual intake will be reserved for SECL's operational districts for 25 years. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
PIB (Coal): both are correct.
Which two CSIR laboratories developed the bio-bitumen technology transferred in January 2026?
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Correct answer: A — CSIR-CRRI and CSIR-IIP
PIB (Science & Technology): the technology was developed by CSIR-Central Road Research Institute, New Delhi, and CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun.
Consider the following statements about the CSIR bio-bitumen technology (January 2026): 1. It uses pyrolysis of post-harvest rice straw to produce bio-oil. 2. India imports about 80% of its bitumen requirement. 3. Laboratory validation shows 20–30% of conventional bitumen can be replaced. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1 and 3 only
PIB (Science & Technology): statements 1 and 3 are correct; India imports nearly 50% of its bitumen, not 80%.
How many public health facilities were NQAS-certified as of 31 December 2025?
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Correct answer: A — 50,373
PIB (Health): a total of 50,373 public health facilities were certified under NQAS as of 31 December 2025.
Consider the following statements about the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS): 1. Certification began in 2015 with 10 facilities. 2. It initially focused on District Hospitals. 3. The framework was established by NITI Aayog. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB (Health): statements 1 and 2 are correct; NQAS was established by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, not NITI Aayog.
What was the theme of the National Review Meeting of Metropolitan Surveillance Units held in Nagpur in January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Proactive Surveillance, Protected Cities
PIB (Health): the meeting was held under the theme 'Proactive Surveillance, Protected Cities'.
The Metropolitan Surveillance Units review meeting in Nagpur (January 2026) covered how many cities?
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Correct answer: C — 20
PIB (Health): the meeting was held for 20 cities across the country.
In January 2026, online ticket booking for over 170 ASI-protected monuments and museums was made available on which network?
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Correct answer: B — Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)
PIB (Ministry of Culture): ASI enabled online ticket booking for over 170 monuments and museums on ONDC.
Which entity technically enabled the onboarding of ASI's monuments and museums onto the ONDC network in January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — NSDL Database Management Limited (NDML)
PIB (Ministry of Culture): the integration was technically enabled by NDML, which onboarded ASI's complete inventory onto ONDC.
Consider the following statements about online booking of ASI monument tickets through ONDC (January 2026): 1. Indian visitors get a ₹5 discount on online booking. 2. Foreign nationals get a ₹50 discount on online booking. 3. Tickets can be booked only through a single ASI-run app. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1 and 2 only
PIB: the ₹5 (Indians) and ₹50 (foreigners) discounts continue, and tickets can be booked through multiple ONDC apps such as Highway Delite, Pelocal and Abhee, so statement 3 is wrong.
The Rajasthan Regional AI Impact Conference (January 2026) launched a programme to train how many young people in AI skills?
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Correct answer: C — 10 lakh (1 million)
PIB (MeitY): a programme was launched to train one million young people in artificial intelligence skills.
The regional AI Impact Conferences such as the one held in Rajasthan in January 2026 were precursors to the India AI Impact Summit scheduled for:
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Correct answer: A — 15–20 February 2026
PIB (MeitY): the conference served as a precursor to the India AI Impact Summit to be held from 15–20 February 2026.
With reference to the Rajasthan Regional AI Impact Conference of 6 January 2026, consider the following statements: 1. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw attended the conference virtually. 2. MoUs were signed with Google, IIT Delhi and National Law University, Jodhpur, among others. 3. Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore attended as Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1 and 2 only
PIB (MeitY): Vaishnaw attended virtually and the MoUs included Google, IIT Delhi, NLU Jodhpur and the Wadhwani Foundation. The Union MoS was Jitin Prasada; Rathore attended as Rajasthan's Cabinet Minister for IT & Communication, so statement 3 is wrong.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
What was the theme of the 9th Siddha Day celebrated in January 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Siddha for Global Health
PIB (Ayush): the event was themed 'Siddha for Global Health'.
Consider the following statements about the 9th Siddha Day celebrations (January 2026): 1. They were inaugurated by Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan. 2. They were held at Kalaivanar Arangam in Chennai. 3. They were the 10th edition of Siddha Day. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB (Ayush): the Vice-President inaugurated the 9th Siddha Day at Kalaivanar Arangam, Chennai. It was the 9th edition, not the 10th, so statement 3 is wrong.
Under its January 2026 CSR agreement with the Gujarat Cancer & Research Institute, NTPC sanctioned funds mainly for which equipment?
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Correct answer: D — High-energy Linear Accelerator (LINAC)
PIB (Ministry of Power): NTPC sanctioned ₹23.16 crore for the procurement and installation of a high-energy LINAC at GCRI's Siddhpur Satellite Centre.
How much CSR funding did NTPC sanction in January 2026 for upgrading radiotherapy services at GCRI's Siddhpur Satellite Centre?
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Correct answer: D — ₹23.16 crore
PIB (Ministry of Power): NTPC sanctioned ₹23.16 crore for the upgradation of radiotherapy services at the Siddhpur Satellite Centre of GCRI, Ahmedabad.
How many proposals were approved in the third tranche of the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) on 2 January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 22
PIB (MeitY): 22 proposals were approved in the third tranche; 24 had been approved earlier, taking the total to 46.
What is the projected investment of the 22 ECMS proposals approved in January 2026?
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Correct answer: B — ₹41,863 crore
PIB (MeitY): projected investment is ₹41,863 crore; ₹2,58,152 crore is projected production and ₹12,704 crore was the earlier tranche.
Consider the following statements about the third tranche of ECMS approvals (January 2026): 1. The approved products include anode material, a critical item for lithium-ion cells. 2. The approved units are spread across eight states. 3. The approvals cover only bare components and no sub-assemblies. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 and 2 only
PIB (MeitY): anode material is among the supply-chain items, and the units are in eight states. Three sub-assemblies (camera module, display module, optical transceiver) were also approved, so statement 3 is wrong.
Indian Pharmacopoeia 2026, released on 2 January 2026, is which edition of India's official book of drug standards?
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Correct answer: D — 10th
PIB (Health): IP 2026 is the 10th edition of India's official book of drug standards.
Which new category of monographs has been included for the first time in Indian Pharmacopoeia 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Blood component monographs for transfusion medicine
PIB (Health): IP 2026 includes, for the first time, 20 blood component monographs pertaining to transfusion medicine.
Consider the following statements about the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP): 1. IP is published by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission to fulfil the requirements of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. 2. IP is recognised in 19 countries of the Global South. 3. India ranked 8th in 2025 in contributions to the WHO pharmacovigilance database, up from 123rd in 2009–2014. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1, 2 and 3
PIB (Health): IP is published by the IPC under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940; it is recognised in 19 Global South countries; and India rose from 123rd (2009–2014) to 8th (2025). All three are correct.