WBPSC WBCS Current Affairs Quiz — Last 12 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
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.
How many trains were speeded up under Indian Railways' Timetable of Trains (TAG) 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 549
PIB (Railways): 549 trains were speeded up under TAG 2026.
Consider the following statements about TAG 2026 of Indian Railways: 1. 122 new trains were introduced. 2. The new trains include 28 Vande Bharat trains. 3. 26 Amrit Bharat trains were introduced. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
PIB (Railways): all three are correct.
Who chairs the Search-cum-Selection Committee for the National Sports Board under the rules notified in January 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Cabinet Secretary
PIB (Youth Affairs and Sports): the committee is chaired by the Cabinet Secretary.
Under which law were the National Sports Board (Search-cum-Selection Committee) Rules, 2026 notified?
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Correct answer: D — National Sports Governance Act, 2025
PIB (Youth Affairs and Sports): the rules were notified under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.
Consider the following statements about the National Sports Board, as described in January 2026: 1. Its Search-cum-Selection Committee includes two recipients of national sports awards. 2. The committee recommends names for the Board's Chairperson and two Members. 3. The Board will grant recognition to National Sports Bodies. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
PIB (Youth Affairs and Sports): all three are correct.
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.
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.
Under the District-Led Textiles Transformation (DLTT) plan unveiled in January 2026, how many high-potential districts are to become Global Export Champions?
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Correct answer: C — 100
PIB (Textiles): DLTT aims to transform 100 high-potential districts into Global Export Champions and elevate 100 Aspirational Districts.
Which three parameters were used to score districts under the District-Led Textiles Transformation (DLTT) plan?
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Correct answer: B — Export performance, MSME ecosystem and workforce presence
PIB (Textiles): districts were scored on export performance, MSME ecosystem and workforce presence.
In which year was the Swadesh Darshan scheme for theme-based tourist circuits launched?
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Correct answer: B — 2015
PIB (Tourism): the Ministry of Tourism launched the Swadesh Darshan Scheme in January 2015.
How many international tourist arrivals did India record in 2024, according to the Tourism Ministry's year-end review?
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Correct answer: C — 20.57 million
PIB (Tourism): International Tourist Arrivals in India during 2024 were 20.57 million.
Consider the following statements based on the Tourism Ministry's year-end review (January 2026): 1. Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD) is a sub-scheme of Swadesh Darshan 2.0. 2. The ministry will develop 1,000 tribal homestays under PM-JUGA. 3. All 76 projects sanctioned under the original Swadesh Darshan scheme have been completed. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB (Tourism): statements 1 and 2 are correct; 75 of the 76 sanctioned projects have been completed, so statement 3 is wrong.
What is the purpose of the SWAMIH Investment Fund?
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Correct answer: A — Last-mile financing for stalled housing projects
PIB (Finance): SWAMIH provides last-mile financing to stalled housing projects.
When was the SWAMIH Investment Fund launched?
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Correct answer: D — November 2019
PIB (Finance): the SWAMIH Investment Fund was launched in November 2019 after Union Cabinet approval.
Consider the following statements about the SWAMIH Fund, as of January 2026: 1. About 61,000 homes had been delivered across 110 projects as of 15 December 2025. 2. Its portfolio has more than 145 projects across 30 cities. 3. Its investment period was extended to December 2030. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB (Finance): statements 1 and 2 are correct; the fund committed its whole corpus before its investment period ended on 5 December 2025.
What real GDP growth rate for 2025-26 did the NSO's First Advance Estimates (January 2026) project?
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Correct answer: C — 7.4%
PIB (MoSPI): real GDP is estimated to grow by 7.4% in 2025-26 against 6.5% in 2024-25.
Which base year is used for the constant-price GDP figures in the First Advance Estimates for 2025-26?
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Correct answer: B — 2011-12
PIB (MoSPI): the estimates are given at constant (2011-12) and current prices.
What is the estimated level of real GDP (constant prices) for 2025-26 in the First Advance Estimates?
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Correct answer: D — ₹201.90 lakh crore
PIB (MoSPI): real GDP is estimated at ₹201.90 lakh crore in 2025-26, against ₹187.97 lakh crore in 2024-25.
Consider the following statements based on the First Advance Estimates of GDP for 2025-26: 1. Nominal GDP is estimated to grow at 8.0%. 2. Real GVA is estimated to grow at 7.3%. 3. Agriculture and allied sector is estimated to grow faster than manufacturing and construction. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 and 2 only
PIB (MoSPI): statements 1 and 2 are correct; agriculture is estimated at 3.1% against 7.0% for manufacturing and construction, so statement 3 is wrong.
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%.
Which of the following is NOT a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), India's partner in TEPA?
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Correct answer: D — Denmark
PIB (Commerce): EFTA comprises Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland; Denmark is not a member.
Who is the Prime Minister of Liechtenstein whom Piyush Goyal called on in January 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Brigitte Haas
PIB (Commerce): Goyal called on Prime Minister Brigitte Haas; Sabine Monauni is Deputy PM and Hereditary Prince Alois is the Hereditary Prince.
Consider the following statements about the India–EFTA TEPA, as described in January 2026: 1. It is India's first free trade agreement with a group of developed countries. 2. It carries an agreed ambition of USD 100 billion in investments into India. 3. It aims to support the creation of one million direct jobs. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
PIB (Commerce): all three are correct.
The draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025 is intended to replace which law?
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Correct answer: B — Insecticides Act, 1968
PIB (Agriculture): the draft Bill will replace the Insecticides Act, 1968 and the Insecticides Rules, 1971.
By what date could stakeholders submit suggestions on the draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025?
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Correct answer: C — 4 February 2026
PIB (Agriculture): stakeholders can submit suggestions by 4 February 2026.
Consider the following statements about the draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025: 1. It provides for compounding of offences, with penalties to be defined by state-level authorities. 2. It seeks to decriminalise petty offences. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — Both 1 and 2
PIB (Agriculture): both are correct — the Bill aims to decriminalise petty offences and allows compounding with penalties defined by state-level authorities.
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.
Which of the following countries was NOT on the port-call list of the Indian Navy's First Training Squadron deployment announced in January 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Vietnam
PIB (Defence): the squadron is scheduled to call at Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand.
Which Indian Coast Guard ship is part of the Navy's First Training Squadron on its January 2026 deployment?
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Correct answer: A — ICGS Sarathi
PIB (Defence): the squadron comprises INS Tir, Shardul, Sujata and ICGS Sarathi.
The Farakka Barrage Project, reviewed by the Water Resources Secretary in January 2026, is located on which river?
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Correct answer: C — Ganga
PIB (Jal Shakti): the review covered works including an eroded embankment on the upstream left bank of the river Ganga.
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.
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.
How many projects are included in the three-year PPP project pipeline released by the Department of Economic Affairs in January 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 852
PIB (Ministry of Finance): the pipeline comprises 852 projects with a combined cost of over ₹17 lakh crore.
Consider the following statements about the PPP project pipeline released in January 2026: 1. It was prepared by the Department of Economic Affairs in pursuance of a Union Budget 2025-26 announcement. 2. It covers only projects of central infrastructure ministries and excludes States/UTs. 3. Its combined project cost exceeds ₹17 lakh crore. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 and 3 only
PIB: the DEA made the pipeline under a Budget 2025-26 announcement, and it includes both central ministries and States/UTs, worth over ₹17 lakh crore. Statement 2 is wrong.
The fifth edition of NITI Aayog's 'Trade Watch Quarterly', released in January 2026, had a thematic focus on which sector?
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Correct answer: D — Automotive exports
PIB (NITI Aayog): the thematic section of this edition focuses on India's automotive exports.
Which period does the fifth edition of NITI Aayog's Trade Watch Quarterly (released January 2026) cover?
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Correct answer: A — April–June 2025
PIB (NITI Aayog): the edition covers Quarter I of FY 2025-26, i.e. April–June 2025.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.