Education, Health & Society Current Affairs Quiz — All time
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Up to which financial year did the Cabinet approve the continuation of the Atal Pension Yojana in January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 2030-31
PIB (Cabinet): APY will continue up to FY 2030-31.
As of 19 January 2026, roughly how many subscribers had enrolled in the Atal Pension Yojana?
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Correct answer: C — 8.66 crore
PIB (Cabinet): over 8.66 crore subscribers had enrolled as of 19 January 2026.
Consider the following statements about the Atal Pension Yojana: 1. It was launched on 9 May 2015. 2. It offers a guaranteed minimum pension of ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 per month starting at age 60. 3. It is meant mainly for organised-sector employees. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 and 2 only
PIB (Cabinet): APY was launched on 9 May 2015 for workers in the unorganised sector, with a guaranteed minimum pension of ₹1,000–₹5,000 per month from age 60. Statement 3 is wrong.
How many ATMs did the Department of Posts activate at post offices across India, as announced in January 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 887
PIB (Communications): the Department of Posts revamped its ATM infrastructure with the activation of 887 ATMs across India.
The Centre of Excellence for Regulatory Affairs in the Power Sector, launched in January 2026, was set up at which institution?
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Correct answer: A — IIT Delhi
PIB (Power): Power Minister Manohar Lal inaugurated the Centre at IIT Delhi.
Which of the following jointly established the Centre of Excellence for Regulatory Affairs in the Power Sector?
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Correct answer: A — IIT Delhi, CERC and Grid India
PIB (Power): the Centre is jointly established by IIT Delhi, the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission and Grid Controller of India Ltd.
The first dedicated IndiaSkills regional competition for the North Eastern Region (IndiaSkills 2025-26) was scheduled to be held at:
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Correct answer: B — Gauhati University
PIB (MSDE): the North East Regional Competition of IndiaSkills 2025-26 was to be organised at Gauhati University from 19 to 22 January 2026.
In how many skill categories were youth to compete at the IndiaSkills 2025-26 North East Regional Competition?
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Correct answer: C — 26
PIB (MSDE): youth from all eight North Eastern states were to compete across 26 skill categories.
In January 2026, the Kerala Cabinet fixed what annual family income ceiling for applicants under the Chief Minister's Connect to Work scheme?
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Correct answer: C — ₹5 lakh
The Hindu and Mathrubhumi: the revised guidelines approved on 14 January 2026 fix the annual family income ceiling at ₹5 lakh.
Consider the following statements about Kerala's Chief Minister's Connect to Work scheme, as revised in January 2026: 1. Applicants must be aged between 18 and 30 years. 2. It provides ₹1,000 a month for 12 months. 3. It is open only to candidates preparing for the Kerala PSC examinations. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
The Hindu and Mathrubhumi: statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: youth in skill training and those preparing for UPSC, PSC, bank, railway and other recruitment exams can apply.
How many labour laws have been codified into the four Labour Codes, as noted at the Jaipur regional conference in January 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 29
PIB (Labour): the MoS highlighted the codification of 29 labour laws into four Labour Codes.
The regional conference on Labour Code implementation held in Jaipur in January 2026 was which in the Labour Ministry's planned series of five?
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Correct answer: B — Second
PIB (Labour): the Jaipur conference was the second in a series of five regional conferences.
National Youth Day, observed on 12 January, marks the birth anniversary of which personality?
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Correct answer: D — Swami Vivekananda
PIB (PMO): the PM said National Youth Day is celebrated every year on 12 January in memory of Swami Vivekananda, on his birth anniversary.
At the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026, PM Modi described the 'Orange Economy' as one rooted in what?
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Correct answer: A — Culture, content and creativity
PIB (PMO): the PM said India is seeing remarkable growth in the Orange Economy, rooted in culture, content and creativity.
Which two ISRO astronauts interacted with participants on Day 3 of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Shubhanshu Shukla and Prasanth Nair
PIB (Youth Affairs): Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and Group Captain Prasanth Nair addressed the young leaders on Day 3.
Against how many restaurants did the CCPA take suo motu cognizance in January 2026 for levying mandatory service charge?
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Correct answer: B — 27
PIB (Consumer Affairs): the CCPA took suo motu cognizance against 27 restaurants across the country.
Under which provision of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 did the CCPA treat default service charge as an unfair trade practice in January 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Section 2(47)
PIB (Consumer Affairs): the action was for unfair trade practices under Section 2(47) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
Consider the following statements about the CCPA's guidelines on service charge, as cited in January 2026: 1. The guidelines were issued on 4 July 2022. 2. They allow service charge if it is collected under a different name. 3. The Delhi High Court upheld them in a judgment dated 28 March 2025. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 3 only
PIB (Consumer Affairs): the guidelines were issued on 4 July 2022 and were upheld by the Delhi High Court on 28 March 2025; they say no service charge shall be collected by any other name, so statement 2 is wrong.
Pariksha Pe Charcha 2026 crossed how many registrations as of 8 January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 4 crore
PIB (Education): registrations crossed 4 crore as of 8 January 2026.
Consider the following statements about Pariksha Pe Charcha 2026: 1. It surpassed a previous Guinness World Record of 3.56 crore registrations. 2. Online registrations opened on the MyGov portal on 1 December 2025. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
PIB (Education): both are correct — PPC 2026 beat last year's Guinness record of 3.56 crore, and registrations opened on MyGov on 1 December 2025.
What was the title of the consultation on Samagra Shiksha 3.0 chaired by Dharmendra Pradhan on 9 January 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Reimagining Samagra Shiksha
PIB (Education): the consultation was titled 'Reimagining Samagra Shiksha'.
Which of the following correctly describes Samagra Shiksha, as stated by the Ministry of Education in January 2026?
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Correct answer: B — An integrated centrally sponsored scheme covering pre-primary to senior secondary
PIB (Education): Samagra Shiksha is an integrated, centrally sponsored scheme for school education covering the continuum from pre-primary to senior secondary.
PANKHUDI, launched in January 2026, is a portal of which ministry?
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Correct answer: A — Ministry of Women and Child Development
PIB (WCD): the Ministry of Women and Child Development launched PANKHUDI.
What is the main purpose of the PANKHUDI portal?
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Correct answer: D — CSR and partnership facilitation for women and child development
PIB (WCD): PANKHUDI is an integrated CSR and partnership facilitation portal for initiatives on women and child development.
How many students took part in Project Veer Gatha 5.0, as reported in January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — About 1.92 crore
PIB (Defence): approximately 1.92 crore students from around 1.90 lakh schools participated.
Consider the following statements about Project Veer Gatha: 1. It is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Education. 2. It began in 2021. 3. Students from CBSE-affiliated schools abroad took part in Veer Gatha 5.0 for the first time. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
PIB (Defence): all three are correct — over 28,000 students from 91 CBSE schools in 18 countries took part for the first time.
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.
Under the first phase of Odisha's Godabarish Mishra Model Primary School scheme, launched in January 2026, how many model primary schools are to be set up?
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Correct answer: B — 2,200
Times of India, OrissaPOST (PTI) and Sambad English (IANS): 2,200 model primary schools will be set up in the first phase at a cost of ₹12,000 crore; foundation stones were laid for 118 of them.
Odisha's Godabarish Mishra Model Primary School scheme was launched in January 2026 at Banpur, the birthplace of Pandit Godabarish Mishra. Banpur is in which district?
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Correct answer: D — Khurda
OrissaPOST (PTI) and Sambad English (IANS): the scheme was launched at Banpur in Khurda (Khordha) district, the birthplace of Pandit Godabarish Mishra.
Consider the following statements about Odisha's Godabarish Mishra Model Primary School scheme (January 2026): 1. The first phase has an outlay of ₹12,000 crore over four years. 2. A provision of ₹3,000 crore was made in the current year's budget. 3. The scheme aims to develop one model primary school in every block of the state. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
Times of India and Sambad English (IANS): ₹12,000 crore over four years in the first phase and ₹3,000 crore in this year's budget. The aim is one model school in every gram panchayat, not every block, so statement 3 is wrong.
The MoU signed on 7 January 2026 between the Ministry of Rural Development and the Department of Posts links India Post's network with which mission?
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Correct answer: A — DAY-NRLM
PIB (Rural Development): the MoU brings together the network of DAY-NRLM with India Post's rural post offices, IPPB and Dak Sevaks.
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.
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.
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.
Where is the birthplace of Savitribai Phule, at which a ₹143 crore memorial's foundation was laid on 3 January 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Naigaon, Satara
Times of India and PTI: Fadnavis laid the foundation of the memorial at Savitribai Phule's birthplace, Naigaon in Satara district.
Which birth anniversary of Savitribai Phule was observed on 3 January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 195th
Times of India and PTI: Saturday (3 January 2026) was the 195th birth anniversary of Savitribai Phule.
Consider the following statements about the Savitribai Phule memorial project announced on 3 January 2026: 1. It includes a women's training centre. 2. Its estimated cost is ₹143 crore. 3. It is being built at Phulewada in Pune. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
Times of India and PTI: the memorial with a women's training centre is at Naigaon, Satara, at a cost of ₹143 crore. It is not in Pune, so statement 3 is wrong.
'Sweekruti', launched by a state government on 1 January 2026, is an umbrella welfare scheme for which group?
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Correct answer: B — Transgender persons
New Indian Express and Kalinga TV: Odisha's Sweekruti is a rights-based umbrella scheme for the welfare and empowerment of transgender persons.
Under Odisha's Sweekruti scheme, how much monthly assistance do parents or guardians of transgender children receive until the child turns 18?
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Correct answer: D — ₹1,500
Sambad English and Kalinga TV: parents or guardians of transgender children receive ₹1,500 a month until the child attains 18 years.
The #SkillTheNation Challenge launched by President Droupadi Murmu on 1 January 2026 is part of which initiative?
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Correct answer: A — SOAR (Skilling for AI Readiness)
PIB (President's Secretariat): the President launched the #SkilltheNation challenge under the SOAR (Skilling for AI Readiness) initiative of MSDE.
Where is the IGNOU Regional Centre and Skill Centre that President Murmu inaugurated virtually on 1 January 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Rairangpur, Odisha
PIB (President's Secretariat): the President virtually inaugurated the IGNOU Regional Centre and Skill Centre at Rairangpur, Odisha.
Consider the following statements about the SOAR initiative: 1. It is a flagship programme of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. 2. It was launched in July 2025. 3. Its courses are offered on the Skill India Digital Hub. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
PIB (MSDE): SOAR – Skilling for AI Readiness is MSDE's flagship programme launched in July 2025, and the President urged citizens to enrol in the SOAR course on the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH). All three are correct.
How many days of employment does the Viksit Bharat – G RAM G Act, 2025 legally guarantee, as explained by Shivraj Singh Chouhan in January 2026?
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Correct answer: D — 125 days
PIB (Rural Development): the Act provides a legal guarantee not for 100 but 125 days of employment.
At which village in Maharashtra did Shivraj Singh Chouhan address a special Gram Sabha on the VB-G RAM G Act on 1 January 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Loni Budruk
PIB (Rural Development): the special Gram Sabha was held in Loni Budruk village, Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra.
Consider the following statements about the provisions of the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025, as outlined by the Union Minister: 1. One-third of the work must go to women. 2. Administrative expenses have been raised from 6% to 9%. 3. States may notify up to 60 days during peak sowing and harvesting seasons for deploying workers on agricultural tasks. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1, 2 and 3
PIB (Rural Development): one-third of work goes to women; administrative expenses raised from 6% to 9%; states can notify up to 60 days in peak seasons for agricultural tasks. All three are correct.
Under Assam's Nijut Babu Asoni scheme announced in January 2026, how much monthly aid will an eligible first-year postgraduate male student receive?
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Correct answer: A — ₹2,000
Times of India and Assam Tribune: PG students get ₹2,000 a month and UG students ₹1,000 a month.
Assam's Nijut Babu Asoni scheme for male students is the counterpart of which existing state scheme for girl students?
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Correct answer: B — Nijut Moina
Times of India and Assam Tribune: the scheme is positioned as the counterpart of Nijut Moina, the state's monthly aid scheme for girl students.
Registrations for Pariksha Pe Charcha 2026 crossed which record figure by 30 December 2025?
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Correct answer: D — 3 crore
PIB (Education): registrations crossed a historic milestone of over 3 crore from students, parents and teachers as of 30 December 2025.
Under PM-YUVA 3.0, whose results were declared on 30 December 2025, each selected young author receives a monthly scholarship of:
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Correct answer: A — ₹50,000
PIB (Education): each selected author gets a scholarship of ₹50,000 per month during six months of mentorship, plus a 10% lifetime royalty.
Consider the following statements about PM-YUVA 3.0: 1. It selected book proposals from authors below 30 years of age. 2. It is implemented by the Sahitya Akademi under the Ministry of Culture. 3. Selected authors get a lifetime royalty of 10% on their published books. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1 and 3 only
PIB (Education): authors are below 30 and receive a 10% lifetime royalty. The scheme is implemented by the National Book Trust, India under the Ministry of Education, not the Sahitya Akademi.
Under which provision did Kerala decide in December 2025 to directly notify revised minimum wages for private hospital employees?
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Correct answer: A — Section 5(1)(b) of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948
The Hindu (PTI) and Mathrubhumi: the government will invoke Section 5(1)(b) of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, which empowers it to notify revised wages directly.
According to Kerala's Labour Minister in December 2025, most private hospitals in the State still pay wages based on the notification of which year?
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Correct answer: B — 2013
The Hindu (PTI) and Mathrubhumi: Sivankutty said most private hospitals pay wages based on the 2013 notification, which is inadequate at present living costs.
The committee formed by Kerala in October 2023 to revise private hospital wages collected evidence in how many districts?
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Correct answer: D — 14
The Hindu (PTI) and Mathrubhumi: the committee constituted in October 2023 conducted evidence collection in all 14 districts.
Which organisation is funding the 320 houses for flood- and landslide-affected families in Reasi, J&K, whose foundation was laid on 27 December 2025?
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Correct answer: D — HRDS India
Daily Excelsior and The Tribune: the houses are funded entirely by the High-range Rural Development Society (HRDS India) without any burden on the government exchequer.
How many houses for flood- and landslide-affected families in Reasi district had their foundation stone laid by LG Manoj Sinha on 27 December 2025?
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Correct answer: C — 320
Daily Excelsior and The Tribune: the foundation stone was laid for 320 houses. The 1,869 figure refers to houses for which foundations were laid earlier across eight districts.
Consider the following statements about the Reasi housing project launched in December 2025: 1. The estimated cost of about ₹32 crore is borne entirely by HRDS India. 2. The houses are to be completed within six months of foundation work. 3. HRDS India will maintain the houses for 15 years. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 and 2 only
Daily Excelsior and The Tribune: HRDS India funds the ₹32 crore project and the houses are due within six months. HRDS India will maintain the houses for five years; 15 years is the free life insurance cover, so statement 3 is wrong.
What is the toll-free number of the National Consumer Helpline?
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Correct answer: B — 1915
PIB (Consumer Affairs): consumers can register grievances in 17 languages through the toll-free number 1915.
Which sector accounted for the largest share of refunds facilitated by the National Consumer Helpline between 25 April and 26 December 2025?
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Correct answer: C — E-commerce
PIB (Consumer Affairs): e-commerce recorded 39,965 grievances and ₹32 crore of the ₹45 crore refunds; travel and tourism was second with ₹3.5 crore.
Consider the following statements about the National Consumer Helpline (NCH): 1. Between 25 April and 26 December 2025, the NCH facilitated ₹45 crore in refunds on 67,265 grievances across 31 sectors. 2. The NCH operates at the pre-litigation stage under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. 3. Grievances can be registered on the NCH in only 12 languages. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1 and 2 only
PIB (Consumer Affairs): the ₹45 crore refunds covered 67,265 grievances in 31 sectors, and the NCH works at the pre-litigation stage under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. Grievances can be registered in 17 languages, so statement 3 is wrong.
Where was Odisha's 52nd State-Level Children's Science Exhibition inaugurated on 27 December 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Keonjhar
The Times of India and The New Indian Express: CM Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the exhibition at D.N. High School, Keonjhar.
Which edition of Odisha's State-Level Children's Science Exhibition (Baal Baigyanik Pradarshani) was held in Keonjhar in December 2025?
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Correct answer: D — 52nd
The Times of India and The New Indian Express: it was the 52nd state-level children's science exhibition.