Monthly Current Affairs MCQ PDF Download: January 2026 Full Coverage for SSC & Competitive Exams

Looking for a complete monthly current affairs mcq pdf download that actually covers everything from January 2026? This post brings together every major current affairs update from the month — Republic Day, appointments, schemes, sports, defence, science, awards, and more — organised category-wise so you can revise the whole month in one sitting. Every point below includes a Static GK box with extra facts to help it stick after just one read.

Read Monthly Current Affairs MCQ PDF Download for February 2026 (Link will be updated here soon)

Republic Day 2026 & National Events

India Celebrates Its 77th Republic Day

India celebrated its 77th Republic Day on 26 January 2026. Republic Day marks the day the Constitution was enforced in 1950, chosen because India had first celebrated “Purna Swaraj” (Independence Day) on 26 January 1930, following the Lahore Session of Congress presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru. The flag is unfurled by the President of India at Kartavya Path on Republic Day, unlike Independence Day, when the Prime Minister hoists it at the Red Fort.

Static GK Box:

• First Independence Day celebrated: 26 January 1930 (post Lahore Session)
• Constitution enforced: 26 January 1950
• Republic Day: flag unfurled by the President at Kartavya Path; Independence Day: flag hoisted by the PM at Red Fort

Source: PIB

Republic Day 2026: Chief Guests, Theme & Tableaux

The 2026 Republic Day theme was “150 Years of Vande Mataram,” marking 150 years since Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay composed the song in his novel “Anandmath.” Two chief guests attended this year — Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and António Costa, President of the European Council. A total of 30 tableaux rolled down Kartavya Path: 17 from states/UTs and 13 from central ministries, departments, and services.

Static GK Box:

• 2026 Theme: 150 Years of Vande Mataram
• Chief Guests: Ursula von der Leyen (European Commission) & António Costa (European Council)
• Tableaux: 30 total — 17 states/UTs + 13 ministries/departments
• National Song adopted: 24 January 1950 | National Flag adopted: 22 July 1947 | Commonwealth membership ratified: May 1949

Republic Day Parade Awards 2026

The Indian Navy was adjudged the best marching contingent among the three services. In the states/UTs tableau category, Maharashtra secured first place with its Ganesh Utsav theme, while among central ministries, the Ministry of Culture won for its “Vande Mataram: The Soul Cry of a Nation” tableau. Uttar Pradesh’s tableau featured the Kalinjar Fort, located in the state’s Banda district.

Static GK Box:

• Best marching contingent: Indian Navy
• Best states/UTs tableau: Maharashtra (Ganesh Utsav)
• Best central ministry tableau: Ministry of Culture (Vande Mataram)

Simran Bala: First Woman to Lead an All-Male CRPF Contingent

Simran Bala, a 26-year-old Assistant Commandant from Jammu & Kashmir, became the first woman officer to lead a fully male CRPF contingent at the Republic Day parade. CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) is India’s largest Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), though Assam Rifles remains the oldest.

Static GK Box:

• Simran Bala: 1st woman to lead an all-male CRPF contingent at Republic Day
• CRPF: India’s largest CAPF; Assam Rifles: India’s oldest CAPF

Bharat Parv 2026

India celebrated Bharat Parv alongside Republic Day festivities, with beneficiaries of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme, the Self-Reliant India (SRI) Fund, and artisans under the Khadi Vikas Yojana invited as special guests to witness the Republic Day parade.

86th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference Held in Lucknow

The 86th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference was held in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, inaugurated by Governor Anandiben Patel. Presiding officers are the heads of legislative houses — like the Lok Sabha Speaker, currently Om Birla. In the Rajya Sabha, the Vice President serves as the ex-officio Chairperson (Article 64), currently C.P. Radhakrishnan.

Static GK Box:

• Conference: 86th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference — Lucknow, UP
• Anandiben Patel: UP’s 2nd woman Governor (after Sarojini Naidu, India’s first-ever woman Governor)
• UP’s woman Chief Ministers: Sucheta Kripalani (India’s first, and UP’s 4th CM) and Mayawati (UP’s most frequent woman CM, 4 terms)

President Murmu Launches “Skill the Nation Challenge” Under SOAR

President Droupadi Murmu launched the “Skill the Nation Challenge” under the SOAR (Skilling for AI Readiness) initiative of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. SOAR was originally launched in July 2025, targeting school students from Classes 6 to 11 and educators. On the same occasion, she also inaugurated the IGNOU Regional Centre for Skill at Rairangpur, Odisha — her home region.

Static GK Box:

• “Skill the Nation Challenge” under SOAR — Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship
• Targets: students of Classes 6–11 and educators
• IGNOU Regional Skill Centre inaugurated at Rairangpur, Odisha

Appointments & Governance

India-Assam Chairs 18th BRICS Summit

India officially assumed the chairmanship of the 18th BRICS Summit from 1 January 2026 onwards. BRICS was formed in 2009 with four countries — Brazil, Russia, India, China — and South Africa joined in 2010. BRICS has no permanent secretariat. Under the Fortaleza Declaration (2014), the New Development Bank (BRICS Bank) was set up with a $100 billion Contingent Reserve Arrangement.

Static GK Box:

• India assumed BRICS chairmanship from 1 January 2026
• BRICS has no permanent secretariat
• Fortaleza Declaration (2014): New Development Bank set up with $100 billion Contingent Reserve Arrangement
• BRICS Plus members (beyond the original 5): Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia — 11 countries total

Justice A.M. Dere: First Woman Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court

Justice A.M. Dere took oath as the first woman Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court on 10 January 2026. Around the same time, Meghalaya’s Chief Minister remains Conrad Sangma.

Static GK Box:

• Justice A.M. Dere: 1st woman Chief Justice, Meghalaya High Court (10 Jan 2026)
• Meghalaya CM: Conrad Sangma

Praveen Vashishtha Appointed Vigilance Commissioner, CVC

Praveen Vashishtha was appointed as a Vigilance Commissioner of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), while Praveen Kumar Srivastava continues as Chief Vigilance Commissioner. The CVC comprises one Chairperson and two Vigilance Commissioners, appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, and the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. CVC is a statutory body (not constitutional) under the CVC Act, 2003, established on the recommendation of the Santhanam Committee.

Static GK Box:

• Praveen Vashishtha — Vigilance Commissioner, CVC | Praveen Kumar Srivastava — Chief Vigilance Commissioner
• CVC: statutory body under CVC Act, 2003; recommended by the Santhanam Committee
• Tenure: 4 years or till age 65, whichever is earlier

IAF Command Appointments

Air Marshal Tajinder Singh took over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Southern Air Command, while Air Marshal Sitepalli Srinivas took over as AOC-in-C of the Training Command of the Indian Air Force.

Government Schemes & Central Initiatives

First Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Announced

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that India’s first-ever Vande Bharat Sleeper train will operate between Guwahati, Assam, and Howrah, West Bengal. Separately, KAVACH — India’s indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection system — reached version 4.0, which was approved by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in July 2024.

Static GK Box:

• First Vande Bharat Sleeper Train route: Guwahati (Assam) – Howrah (West Bengal)
• KAVACH: indigenous Automatic Train Protection system; KAVACH 4.0 approved by RDSO, July 2024

MoSPI Launches New Logo and Mascot

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) launched a new logo and mascot with the tagline “Data for Development.” MoSPI’s National Statistical Office (NSO) releases GDP figures (base year 2022-23) and the Consumer Price Index (CPI, new base year 2024), while the Wholesale Price Index (WPI, base year 2022-23) is released by the Office of the Economic Adviser under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. WPI’s highest weightage goes to manufactured goods, and unlike CPI, WPI does not include services.

Static GK Box:

• MoSPI’s new tagline: “Data for Development”
• GDP & CPI released by NSO (under MoSPI); WPI released by Office of Economic Adviser (Ministry of Commerce & Industry)
• GDP/WPI base year: 2022-23 | CPI base year: 2024

PM Modi Inaugurates “Light and Lotus” Exhibition

PM Modi inaugurated the grand international exposition “Light and Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One” at the Rai Pithora Cultural Complex, New Delhi, organised by the Ministry of Culture.

UIDAI Launches Aadhaar Mascot

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) launched a mascot for Aadhaar. Section 9 of the Aadhaar Act explicitly states that Aadhaar does not confer citizenship. The landmark “Aadhaar Case,” which established the Right to Privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21, is formally known as the K.S. Puttaswamy case.

Static GK Box:

• Aadhaar Act, Section 9: Aadhaar does not confer citizenship
• “Aadhaar Case” = K.S. Puttaswamy case — established Right to Privacy under Article 21

Somnath Swabhiman Parv Marks 1000 Years Since First Temple Attack

Somnath Swabhiman Parv was organised from 8 to 11 January 2026 as a national commemoration marking 1,000 years since the first recorded attack on the Somnath Temple, Gujarat, by Mahmud of Ghazni — his 16th of 17 total invasions of India. The “Padshahnama,” a Persian-language biography of Shah Jahan authored by Ustad Ahmad Lahori (who also designed the Taj Mahal and Red Fort), is a related historical text often referenced alongside such commemorations.

Static GK Box:

• Somnath Swabhiman Parv: 8–11 January 2026 — marking 1,000 years since Mahmud of Ghazni’s first attack on Somnath Temple
• Mahmud of Ghazni invaded India 17 times; Somnath was his 16th invasion
• “Padshahnama” (Persian) — biography of Shah Jahan by Ustad Ahmad Lahori (also designed Taj Mahal & Red Fort)

28th Conference of Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers

Parliament of India hosted the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth in New Delhi, inaugurated by PM Modi.

Panduru Khadi Receives GI Tag

Panduru Khadi, from Pondu village in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. India’s first-ever GI tag was given to Darjeeling Tea in 2004.

Static GK Box:

• Panduru Khadi: GI tag — Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh
• India’s first GI tag: Darjeeling Tea (2004)

“Sampann” Pension System Integrated with UMANG

The Controller General of Communication Accounts developed the “Sampann” pension management system, which is now integrated with the UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) platform — a single unified platform to access government services.

Indian Railways Introduces Humanoid Robot “ASC Arjun”

Indian Railways introduced a humanoid robot named “ASC Arjun” at Visakhapatnam Railway Station.

PM KUSUM and Tribal Welfare Schemes

PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan), a solar-powered irrigation scheme, falls under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, PM-JANMAN (Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyay Maha Abhiyan), launched November 2023, targets socio-economic development of 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups across 18 states and 1 UT. Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan was launched in October 2024 to extend development benefits to Scheduled Tribe habitations.

Static GK Box:

• PM-KUSUM: Ministry of New & Renewable Energy — solar-powered irrigation
• PM-JANMAN: Nov 2023 — 75 PVTGs across 18 states & 1 UT
• Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan: Oct 2024

₹200 Crore Fishing Harbour Project for Andaman & Nicobar

The government approved a ₹200 crore project to develop a Smart Integrated Fishing Harbour at Mayabunder, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, fully funded by the Centre under the PM Matsya Sampada Yojana (launched 2020 for a 5-year period through 2024-25).

Static GK Box:

• Smart Integrated Fishing Harbour: Mayabunder, Andaman & Nicobar — ₹200 crore, under PM Matsya Sampada Yojana

Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Project Launched

PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the 86 km Kaziranga Elevated Corridor project, worth approximately ₹7,000 crore, at Kaliabor, Nagaon district, Assam. The project will create a safe wildlife passage. Kaziranga was declared a National Park in 1974 to protect the Indian one-horned rhinoceros and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

Static GK Box:

• Kaziranga Elevated Corridor: 86 km, ~₹7,000 crore — Kaliabor, Nagaon district, Assam
• Kaziranga: National Park since 1974; UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985; famous for the one-horned rhinoceros

India Becomes First Country to Commercially Produce Bio-Bitumen

India became the world’s first country to commercially produce bio-bitumen for road construction — an eco-friendlier alternative made from organic materials like sugarcane by-products, used as a binder in place of conventional petroleum-based bitumen.

India Becomes World’s Largest Rice Producer

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, India has become the world’s largest rice producer, surpassing China, with an output of 150.18 million tonnes. India is the world’s second-largest wheat producer (after China), tops the world in milk production, and ranks second in fish production.

Static GK Box:

• India: world’s largest rice producer (150.18 million tonnes), surpassing China
• India: 2nd largest wheat producer; 1st in milk production; 2nd in fish production

Pankhudi Portal Launched for Women and Children

Union Minister Annapurna Devi launched the “Pankhudi Portal” to enhance the ease of living for women and children. The Ministry of Women and Child Development is currently headed by Smriti Irani (in an acting capacity, per the transcript context).

“Nirantar” Initiative for Natural Resource Research

Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, who heads the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, chaired a meeting of the National Institute for Research and Application of Natural Resources, launching the “Nirantar” initiative to transform, adapt, and build resilience.

Maharashtra Tops PESA Ranking

Maharashtra ranked first in the PESA (Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas) ranking, followed by Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. PESA, enacted in 1996, extends the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution to Scheduled Areas, which exist across 10 states in India.

Static GK Box:

• PESA ranking: Maharashtra (1st) > Madhya Pradesh (2nd) > Himachal Pradesh (3rd)
• PESA Act: 1996 — extends Part IX of the Constitution to Scheduled Areas (present in 10 states)

Ministry of Panchayati Raj Launches “Sulabh Samvad” Chatbot

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj launched “Pancham” — the Panchayat Assistance and Messaging chatbot, called “Sulabh Samvad” — on 25 January 2026.

National Sports Governance Rules 2026 Notified

The Union Government notified the National Sports Governance Rules 2026 under the National Sports Governance Act 2025. The rules provide a framework for including Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOMs) in sports body governance — general bodies must include at least 4 SOMs (aged over 25, retired from active competition for at least a year), with 50% of them women, and executive committees must include a minimum of 4 women. The related National Sports Governance Bill 2025, introduced in the Lok Sabha in July, also provides for establishing a National Olympic Committee, National Paralympic Committee, and National/Regional Sports Federations for each designated sport.

Static GK Box:

• National Sports Governance Rules 2026 — under the National Sports Governance Act 2025
• General bodies: minimum 4 SOMs, 50% women among them; Executive Committee: minimum 4 women

The Repealing and Amending Bill 2025

The Repealing and Amending Bill 2025, introduced in the Lok Sabha, repealed 71 outdated Acts and amended four laws: the General Clauses Act 1897, the Code of Civil Procedure 1908, the Indian Succession Act 1925, and the Disaster Management Act 2005 (to rectify a drafting error).

Atal Pension Yojana Extended, SIDBI Gets Equity Support

The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Modi, approved the continuation of the Atal Pension Yojana (launched 2015) up to FY 2030-31; it offers a guaranteed minimum pension of ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 per month starting at age 60. The Cabinet also approved equity support of ₹5,000 crore to SIDBI (Small Industries Development Bank of India), the implementing authority of the Mudra Yojana, headquartered in Lucknow, which offers collateral-free loans under four categories: Shishu, Kishor, Tarun, and Tarun Plus.

Static GK Box:

• Atal Pension Yojana: continued up to FY 2030-31; guaranteed pension ₹1,000–5,000/month from age 60
• SIDBI: ₹5,000 crore equity support — HQ Lucknow; implements Mudra Yojana (Shishu, Kishor, Tarun, Tarun Plus loans)

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana Completes 11 Years

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana completed 11 years on 22 January 2026, having been launched under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign. An account can be opened any time from the girl child’s birth until she turns 10. Separately, the Baal Vivah Mukt Bharat initiative aims to cut child marriage by 10% by 2026 and make India entirely child marriage-free by 2030.

Static GK Box:

• Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana: 11 years completed on 22 January 2026 — account open-able from birth to age 10
• Baal Vivah Mukt Bharat: cut child marriage 10% by 2026; India child-marriage-free by 2030

Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme: 22 New Proposals Approved

The government approved 22 proposals under the third tranche of the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (notified 8 April 2025). Electronics has emerged as India’s third-largest and fastest-growing export category as of 2024-25.

9th Siddha Day and Swadesh Darshan Milestones

The Vice President inaugurated the 9th Siddha Day celebrations in Chennai. Separately, the Ministry of Tourism completed 75 projects under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme (launched 2015, for development of theme-based tourist circuits); the related PRASHAD scheme (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive) was launched in 2014-15.

State Affairs

Uttarakhand Becomes First State to Implement UCC (Post-Independence)

Uttarakhand implemented its Uniform Civil Code Ordinance 2026, amending the 2024 UCC Act, with the Governor’s approval, becoming the first Indian state to implement a Uniform Civil Code through a specific Act since Independence (Goa had a form of it from before Independence). UCC applies uniform personal laws on marriage, divorce, inheritance, and live-in relationships to all residents except Scheduled Tribes. The Uniform Civil Code of Uttarakhand Act 2024 contains 392 sections.

Static GK Box:

• Uttarakhand: 1st Indian state to implement UCC via a dedicated Act since Independence (Goa had it pre-Independence)
• UCC applies to all residents except Scheduled Tribes
• UCC Act 2024 (Uttarakhand): 392 sections

UP Statehood Day and Lucknow’s Waste Milestone

UP Statehood Day (UP Diwas) is observed on 24 January. Separately, Lucknow achieved 100% scientific processing of municipal solid waste under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), becoming UP’s first zero fresh-waste dump city. Lucknow is also home to SIDBI’s headquarters (SIDBI established 1990).

Static GK Box:

• UP Statehood Day: 24 January
• Lucknow: UP’s first zero fresh-waste dump city (100% scientific solid waste processing)

Nagaland Inaugurates Its First Drone School

Nagaland inaugurated its first Drone School and Drone Centre of Excellence at the Nagaland GIS and Remote Sensing Centre in Kohima.

Karnataka Launches “My Bharat My Vote” Campaign

Karnataka launched the “My Bharat My Vote” campaign to encourage first-time voters to participate in the electoral process.

Maharashtra’s 1,000 Electric Buses and Sickle Cell Drive

The Maharashtra Cabinet approved 1,000 electric buses for the Pune Metropolitan Region under the PM E-DRIVE scheme (launched 2024 by the Ministry of Heavy Industries, succeeding the FAME-II programme; FAME-I ran 2015-19, FAME-II ran 2019-2024). Separately, Maharashtra launched the “Arunoday” Sickle Cell Screening Drive across 21 high-prevalence districts, aiming to become a Sickle Cell Free Mission State; the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (launched 2023) aims to eradicate the disease by 2047.

Static GK Box:

• PM E-DRIVE scheme (2024, Ministry of Heavy Industries) succeeded FAME-II (2019-2024); FAME-I ran 2015-19
• Maharashtra’s “Arunoday” Sickle Cell Screening Drive: 21 high-prevalence districts
• National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission: launched 2023, target eradication by 2047

Swami Vivekananda Chetna Mahotsav in Chhattisgarh

The Swami Vivekananda Chetna Mahotsav was organised in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, on National Youth Day (12 January), which marks Swami Vivekananda’s birthday (born 1863; he passed away in 1902 at age 39). International Youth Day, in contrast, falls on 12 August.

Static GK Box:

• National Youth Day: 12 January (Swami Vivekananda’s birthday, born 1863)
• International Youth Day: 12 August

Kerala’s ERONET System for NRI Voters

Kerala’s Chief Electoral Officer, Rathan U Kelkar, announced that the ERONET system, developed by the Election Commission of India to manage electoral rolls, is now operational for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), enabling NRI voters to submit documents for hearings.

Gujarat’s AI Research Organisation and Cancer Detection Van

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel gave in-principle approval for setting up the Indian AI Research Organisation at Gandhinagar. He also inaugurated a Mobile ASHA Van in Gandhinagar for early cancer detection.

Assam: First State to Constitute Its 8th State Pay Commission

Assam became the first Indian state to constitute its 8th State Pay Service Commission even before the 7th Pay Commission had concluded, on 1 January 2026. Assam was also the first state to ratify the 101st Constitution Amendment Act (related to GST).

Static GK Box:

• Assam: 1st state to constitute its 8th State Pay Service Commission (1 Jan 2026)
• Assam was also the first state to ratify the 101st Constitution Amendment Act (GST)

National Textiles Mission Conference in Guwahati

The Ministry of Textiles, in collaboration with the Government of Assam, organised the National Textiles Mission Conference in Guwahati, with the theme “Indian Textiles: Weaving Growth, Heritage and Innovation.”

Balod: India’s First Child Marriage-Free District

Balod district in Chhattisgarh achieved a milestone by becoming India’s first Child Marriage-Free district in 2025. Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), any man committing a sexual act with his wife when she is below 18 years is guilty of rape.

Static GK Box:

• Balod, Chhattisgarh: India’s 1st Child Marriage-Free district (2025)
• Under BNS: sexual act with a wife below 18 constitutes rape

First Fully Paperless District Court Inaugurated in Kerala

CJI Surya Kant inaugurated India’s first fully paperless District Court in Kalpetta, Wayanad, Kerala. Nagaland previously became the first paperless Legislative Assembly, under the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA).

Static GK Box:

• First fully paperless District Court: Kalpetta, Wayanad, Kerala
• First paperless Legislative Assembly: Nagaland (under NeVA)

Ratapani Tiger Reserve Named After V.S. Wakankar

Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav announced that the Ratapani Tiger Reserve will be named after archaeologist V.S. Wakankar, who discovered the Bhimbetka rock caves while travelling from Itarsi to Bhopal. However, the first rock paintings in India were actually discovered earlier by Alexander Carlyle at Sohagighat, Uttar Pradesh, around 1867/1887.

Static GK Box:

• Ratapani Tiger Reserve (MP): to be named after V.S. Wakankar, discoverer of the Bhimbetka rock caves
• First-ever rock paintings in India discovered by: Alexander Carlyle, at Sohagighat, Uttar Pradesh

Kerala Renames Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary

Kerala’s government renamed the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary in Kannur district to the Aralam Butterfly Sanctuary. Separately, in wildlife-related current affairs, the dugong (sea cow) is found in the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, Tamil Nadu, and is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Static GK Box:

• Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, Kannur, Kerala: renamed Aralam Butterfly Sanctuary
• Dugong (sea cow): found in Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, TN — listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972

Jharkhand Implements PESA

Jharkhand implemented PESA (Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas Act), 25 years after the state’s formation, becoming one of the last Fifth Schedule states to do so.

Odisha and Gujarat’s New Schemes

Odisha launched the “Ama Padia Ama Basera” scheme for early childhood education in the mother tongue (a subject covered under Article 45 of the Constitution). Separately, Gujarat launched “Poshan Udaan 2026” during Makar Sankranti to promote statewide nutrition awareness.

Static GK Box:

• “Ama Padia Ama Basera”: Odisha’s early childhood education scheme in mother tongue (Article 45)
• “Poshan Udaan 2026”: Gujarat’s nutrition awareness scheme, launched during Makar Sankranti

International Affairs

German Chancellor Visits India; India-EU Conclude FTA Talks

Friedrich Merz, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, paid an official visit to India. Separately, after almost two decades of negotiations, India and the European Union announced the conclusion of talks on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), securing India preferential access to 97% of tariff lines, covering 99.5% of trade value. The EU has 27 member countries after the UK’s exit (Brexit).

Static GK Box:

• India-EU FTA: concluded after ~2 decades of talks — 97% of tariff lines, 99.5% of trade value covered
• EU: 27 member countries (post-Brexit)

Bulgaria Adopts the Euro

Bulgaria recently adopted the Euro as its official currency, joining the group of European Union countries using the common currency.

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Venezuela’s President Captured by US Forces

US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. This is significant because Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, though it is not the top producer. Venezuela’s grasslands are known as “Llanos,” its capital is Caracas, its currency is the Bolívar, and it is home to Angel Falls — the world’s tallest waterfall (Niagara Falls, on the US-Canada border, is a much shorter but higher-volume falls by comparison).

Static GK Box:

• Venezuela: world’s largest oil reserves — capital Caracas, currency Bolívar
• Venezuela’s grasslands: “Llanos” — home to Angel Falls, the world’s tallest waterfall

56th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos

The 56th World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting was held in Davos, Switzerland, under the theme “A Spirit of Dialogue.” WEF publishes the Global Gender Gap Report and the Global Energy Transition Index; India ranked 131st in the Global Gender Gap Report.

Static GK Box:

• 56th WEF Annual Meeting: Davos, Switzerland — theme “A Spirit of Dialogue”
• WEF publishes: Global Gender Gap Report, Global Energy Transition Index
• India’s Global Gender Gap rank: 131

Mamadi Doumbouya Elected President of Guinea

Mamadi Doumbouya was elected President of Guinea. In related geography current affairs, regional wind names include: Harmattan (Guinea coast/West Africa, called the “Doctor Wind”), Khamsin (Egypt), and Sirocco (a warm wind blowing from the Sahara towards the Mediterranean).

Static GK Box:

• Mamadi Doumbouya: elected President of Guinea
• Regional winds: Harmattan (West Africa) | Khamsin (Egypt) | Sirocco (Sahara to Mediterranean)

EU Enters Definitive Phase of Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism

The European Union officially entered the definitive phase of its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on 1 January 2026 — a tool designed to put a fair price on carbon emitted during the production of carbon-intensive goods entering the EU.

UN Declares 2026 the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists

The United Nations has declared 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. Rangelands refer to grasslands globally — known as savanna (Africa), steppes (Eurasia), llanos (Venezuela), campos (Brazil), veld (South Africa), and downs (Australia).

Static GK Box:

• UN’s International Year 2026: Rangelands and Pastoralists
• Grassland names by region: Savanna (Africa) | Steppes (Eurasia) | Llanos (Venezuela) | Campos (Brazil) | Veld (South Africa) | Downs (Australia)

Awards & Honours

Padma Awards 2026

The Padma Vibhushan — India’s second-highest civilian award after the Bharat Ratna — was given to 5 people in 2026: Dharmendra (posthumous), K.T. Thomas (Public Affairs, a former Supreme Court judge, from Kerala), N. Rajam (Art, a noted violinist, from Uttar Pradesh), P. Narayanan (Literature & Education, from Kerala), and V.S. Achuthanandan (Public Affairs, posthumous, from Kerala). The Padma Bhushan (third-highest) went to 13 people, including Alka Yagnik, Mammootty, Piyush Pandey, Uday Kotak, and Vijay Amritraj — widely regarded as India’s most successful tennis player, having reached the quarterfinals of all four Grand Slams and defeated a World No. 1 player. The Padma Shri (fourth-highest) was awarded to 113 people, including cricketer Rohit Sharma.

Static GK Box:

• Padma Vibhushan (2nd highest civilian award): 5 recipients — Dharmendra, K.T. Thomas, N. Rajam, P. Narayanan, V.S. Achuthanandan
• Padma Bhushan (3rd highest): 13 recipients — including Alka Yagnik, Mammootty, Uday Kotak, Vijay Amritraj
• Padma Shri (4th highest): 113 recipients — including Rohit Sharma
• Bharat Ratna (highest civilian award) holder in cricket: Sachin Tendulkar

Aroma Singh Thakur Awarded President’s Medal

Aroma Singh Thakur, Inspector General, South Central Railway, was awarded the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service.

83rd Golden Globe Awards 2026

The 83rd Golden Globe Awards 2026 were held at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. Key winners: Best Film (Drama) — “Hamnet”; Best Film (Musical/Comedy) — “One Battle After Another”; Best Male Actor (Drama) — Wagner Moura (“The Secret Agent”); Best Female Actor (Drama) — Jessie Buckley (“Hamnet”); Best Supporting Female Actor — Teyana Taylor; Best Supporting Male Actor (TV) — Owen Cooper; Best Supporting Male Actor (Motion Picture) — Stellan Skarsgård; and Best Podcast — “Good Hang with Amy Poehler.”

Static GK Box:

• 83rd Golden Globe Awards: Beverly Hilton, Los Angeles
• Best Film (Drama): “Hamnet” | Best Film (Musical/Comedy): “One Battle After Another”
• Best Male/Female Actor (Drama): Wagner Moura / Jessie Buckley

Captain Shubhanshu Shukla Honoured with the Ashoka Chakra

Captain Shubhanshu Shukla made history as the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS was built in 1998; Rakesh Sharma remains the first-ever Indian in space, aboard a Soviet mission). Shukla was honoured with the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry award (the Param Vir Chakra is the highest wartime gallantry award).

Static GK Box:

• Captain Shubhanshu Shukla: 1st Indian to visit the ISS (built 1998); Rakesh Sharma remains India’s first-ever astronaut
• Ashoka Chakra: highest peacetime gallantry award | Param Vir Chakra: highest wartime gallantry award

Other Notable Awards

President Murmu conferred the Jeevan Raksha Padak on 30 individuals. The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) received the SKOCH Award for its Cell Broadcast Solution, with the 104th SKOCH Award’s theme being “Resourcing Viksit Bharat.” Major Swati Shanta Kumar, an Indian Army officer serving with the UN Mission in South Sudan, received the UN Secretary General’s Award 2025 — UN peacekeepers are informally known as “Blue Helmets.” Dr Chandrakant Lahariya became the first Indian recipient of the Wiley Research Heroes Prize 2025. Tunisian filmmaker Zoubeir Chalasi won the world’s largest AI Film Award for his film “Real.”

Static GK Box:

• C-DOT: SKOCH Award for Cell Broadcast Solution; 104th SKOCH Award theme: “Resourcing Viksit Bharat”
• Major Swati Shanta Kumar: UN Secretary General’s Award 2025 (serving with UN Mission in South Sudan)
• UN peacekeepers: informally called “Blue Helmets”

Sports

Cricket Roundup

Vidarbha won the Vijay Hazare Trophy, defeating Saurashtra. Mumbai lifted the Vijay Merchant Trophy (Under-16 boys’ cricket), defeating Maharashtra in Rajkot, Gujarat. ICC’s Player of the Month for December was Mitchell Starc.

Static GK Box:

• Vijay Hazare Trophy: Vidarbha (winner) beat Saurashtra
• Vijay Merchant Trophy (U-16 boys): Mumbai beat Maharashtra, in Rajkot

Chess: Arjun Erigaisi’s Bronze and a New Grandmaster

GM Arjun Erigaisi won a bronze medal at the World Blitz Chess Championship 2025; the gold was won by Magnus Carlsen (Norway). Separately, Aryan Varshney became the 9th Indian to win the Chess Grandmaster title.

Static GK Box:

• World Blitz Chess Championship 2025: Bronze — Arjun Erigaisi (India); Gold — Magnus Carlsen (Norway)
• Aryan Varshney: 9th Indian to become a Chess Grandmaster

Khelo India Winter Games and Beach Games

The 6th Khelo India Winter Games’ first leg was held in Leh, Ladakh, featuring Ice Hockey and Ice Skating, with Haryana topping the leg and the Indian Army retaining the Ice Hockey gold; the second leg will be held later in Gulmarg, J&K. Separately, the Khelo India Beach Games 2026 were hosted by Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman (5–11 January 2026), with the mascot “Pearl” (Moti). Karnataka topped the medal tally (11 medals), followed by Tamil Nadu (8) and Manipur (7), and Karnataka won all golds in open water swimming.

Static GK Box:

• 6th Khelo India Winter Games (1st leg): Leh, Ladakh — Haryana topped; Indian Army retained the Ice Hockey gold
• Khelo India Beach Games 2026: Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman — mascot “Pearl”
• Beach Games medal tally: Karnataka (1st) > Tamil Nadu (2nd) > Manipur (3rd)

Winter Olympics and T20 World Cup 2026 Context

Figure skating debuted at the Winter Olympics 2026, held in Milan-Cortina, Italy, from 6 February; the 2030 Winter Olympics will be held in the French Alps. Also from 6 February, the T20 World Cup 2026 is being co-hosted jointly by India and Sri Lanka.

Static GK Box:

• Winter Olympics 2026: Milan-Cortina, Italy (from 6 Feb) — figure skating made its debut
• 2030 Winter Olympics: French Alps
• T20 World Cup 2026: co-hosted by India & Sri Lanka (from 6 Feb)

National Shooting and Boxing Championships

At the 68th National Shooting Championship, Army shooter Ajay Kumar clinched gold in the Men’s 10m Air Pistol event, while Haryana’s Amira Arshad won the Women’s 10m Rifle event in Bhopal, with Chhattisgarh’s Pranjul Srivastava taking bronze. At the National Boxing Championship in Noida, Tokyo bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain won the women’s 75kg title, while Neha Hazari won gold in the 52kg category.

Static GK Box:

• 68th National Shooting Championship (Bhopal): Men’s 10m Air Pistol gold — Ajay Kumar; Women’s 10m Rifle gold — Amira Arshad (Haryana)
• National Boxing Championship (Noida): Women’s 75kg — Lovlina Borgohain; Women’s 52kg — Neha Hazari

Badminton and Squash Updates

At the Indian Open 2026 in New Delhi, An Se-young won the women’s singles title. At the Malaysia Open 2026, the men’s singles title went to Kulawat Vitidsarn (Thailand). In squash, Anahat Singh secured a silver medal in the Women’s Under-19 final at the British Junior Open Squash Championship, losing to France’s Lauren Waltier.

Static GK Box:

• Indian Open 2026 (New Delhi): Women’s Singles — An Se-young
• Malaysia Open 2026: Men’s Singles — Kulawat Vitidsarn (Thailand)
• British Junior Open Squash Championship: Anahat Singh won silver (Women’s U-19)

Ice Hockey, Rallying and Other Sports Milestones

ITBP won the 5th LG Cup Ice Hockey Championship at Byamathang Ice Hockey Ground, Kargil, Ladakh, defeating Ladakh Scouts. Indian driver Sanjay Takale made history by topping the Prologue Stage in Group H3 at the Dakar Rally 2026. Amyra Khosla clinched gold in the Youth Girls category at the 29th National Sport Climbing Championship.

Coaching, Retirements & Obituaries in Sports

The All India Football Federation appointed Amelia Valverde as chief coach of the senior Indian women’s football team. Jordan Marenj was appointed chief coach of the Indian women’s hockey team. Former World Billiards Champion Manoj Kothari (father of Saurav Kothari) passed away. Former IPS officer and 1980 Moscow Olympics hockey gold medallist Devinder Singh Garcha passed away at 74. Former BCCI President Inderjit Singh Bindra also passed away.

Static GK Box:

• New coaches: Amelia Valverde (women’s football), Jordan Marenj (women’s hockey)
• Devinder Singh Garcha: 1980 Moscow Olympics hockey gold medallist, former IPS officer, passed away at 74

Other National Championships

PM Modi inaugurated the 72nd National Volleyball Championship in Varanasi. New Delhi hosted the 47th National Junior Boys Handball Championship. The 44th Junior National Kho-Kho Championship (Bengaluru) saw Karnataka win the boys’ title and Maharashtra the girls’ title, while the 58th Senior National Kho-Kho Championship (Kazipet, Telangana) was won by the Railway Sports Promotion Board. The 69th National School Games began in Punjab, with Maharashtra topping and Haryana finishing second. The 11th India International Youth Sailing Championship 2026 was held in Chennai. Hyderabad, Telangana, is set to host the Women’s 2026 International Hockey Federation World Cup.

Static GK Box:

• Kho-Kho Championships: Junior (Bengaluru) — Karnataka (boys), Maharashtra (girls); Senior (Kazipet, Telangana) — Railway Sports Promotion Board
• National School Games (69th): Punjab — Maharashtra topped, Haryana 2nd
• Hyderabad to host: Women’s 2026 International Hockey Federation World Cup

Defence

ICG Ship “Samudra Pratap” Commissioned

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commissioned the Indian Coast Guard ship “Samudra Pratap,” the first of two pollution control vessels built by Goa Shipyard. It is the largest ship in the ICG fleet, with over 60% indigenous content, a displacement of 4,070 tonnes, a length of 114.5 metres, and a top speed of 22 knots.

Static GK Box:

• “Samudra Pratap”: largest ship in the Indian Coast Guard fleet — 60%+ indigenous content
• Displacement: 4,070 tonnes | Length: 114.5m | Speed: 22 knots

DRDO’s Hypersonic and Anti-Tank Missile Progress

DRDL (Defence Research & Development Laboratory, under DRDO) conducted an extensive long-duration ground test of an actively cooled scramjet full-scale combustor, achieving a run of over 12 minutes, for a hypersonic cruise missile capable of exceeding five times the speed of sound. Separately, DRDO successfully flight-tested the Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) with top-attack capability against a moving target, in Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra.

Static GK Box:

• Scramjet combustor ground test: 12+ minutes run — for a hypersonic cruise missile (5x+ speed of sound)
• MPATGM flight test: top-attack capability against a moving target — tested in Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra

Military Quantum Mission Policy Framework Released

CDS General Anil Chauhan released the Military Quantum Mission Policy Framework, built around four pillars: quantum communication, quantum computing, quantum sensing, and metrology in quantum materials and devices. Separately, the Indian Army declared 2026 as the “Year of Networking and Data Centricity.”

Static GK Box:

• Military Quantum Mission Policy Framework: released by CDS General Anil Chauhan
• 4 pillars: quantum communication, quantum computing, quantum sensing, metrology in quantum materials/devices
• Indian Army’s 2026 theme: “Year of Networking and Data Centricity”

Joint Military Gulf Shield Exercise 2026

The Joint Military Gulf Shield Exercise 2026 concluded in Saudi Arabia, with participation from the air forces and air defence units of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, alongside the GCC Unified Military Command.

DRDO Develops “Swadesh” Seawater Desalination System

DRDO developed a portable, hand-operated seawater desalination system called “Swadesh,” designed to purify saline water for small groups of soldiers stationed in remote and coastal areas.

Science & Technology

Sunita Williams Retires from NASA

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams retired after 27 years of service. Her last mission, spanning 2024-25, involved an extended stay aboard the ISS after issues with the Boeing Starliner, returning via a SpaceX Crew Dragon, during which she commanded Expedition 72. She famously carried Indian samosas to space, reflecting her Gujarati-Indian father’s heritage, alongside items honouring her Slovenian mother’s heritage.

Static GK Box:

• Sunita Williams: retired after 27 years at NASA
• Last mission (2024-25): commanded Expedition 72; returned via SpaceX Crew Dragon after Boeing Starliner issues

PSLV-C62 Mission Fails

The PSLV-C62 mission failed during its third stage, following the earlier failure of PSLV-C61. The primary payload lost was “Anveshaa,” an Earth Observation Satellite (N1) with hyperspectral imaging capability intended to aid sectors from agriculture to defence and border surveillance. PSLV, ISRO’s workhorse launch vehicle, has otherwise completed 63 flights, including launching Chandrayaan-1, the Mars Orbiter Mission (2013), and Aditya-L1, and set a world record in 2017 by launching 104 satellites in a single mission.

Static GK Box:

• PSLV-C62: failed during 3rd stage — lost payload “Anveshaa” (Earth Observation Satellite N1, hyperspectral imaging)
• PSLV: 63 flights completed; launched Chandrayaan-1, Mars Orbiter Mission (2013), Aditya-L1
• 2017 world record: 104 satellites launched in a single PSLV mission

India Develops Supercomputer Simulation for the Mpemba Effect

Indian scientists developed the first supercomputer-powered simulation to study the long-standing paradox of hot water freezing faster than cold water under certain conditions (the Mpemba effect). Vijay P. Bhatkar is regarded as the Father of Supercomputing in India, having developed PARAM 8000, India’s first supercomputer; MeitY has since launched the supercomputer “Param Shakti” at IIT Madras.

Static GK Box:

• Father of Supercomputing in India: Vijay P. Bhatkar — developed PARAM 8000 (India’s first supercomputer)
• “Param Shakti” supercomputer: launched by MeitY at IIT Madras

Aditya-L1 Decodes Solar Storm Impact

ISRO’s Aditya-L1 — India’s first space-based solar observatory mission, launched via PSLV-C57 on 6 January 2024 — decoded the impact of a powerful solar storm on Earth’s magnetic shield. It is positioned in a halo orbit around the L1 Lagrange point, about 1.5 million km from Earth, where gravitational forces between the Sun and Earth balance out.

Static GK Box:

• Aditya-L1: India’s 1st space-based solar observatory — launched 6 Jan 2024 via PSLV-C57
• Positioned in a halo orbit around the L1 Lagrange point, ~1.5 million km from Earth

CSIR-NIScPR Celebrates 5th Foundation Day

CSIR’s National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (NIScPR) celebrated its 5th Foundation Day, on which occasion the “Swasthik” web portal for multilingual dissemination of India’s traditional knowledge was launched.

Books & Authors

New Book Releases in January 2026

Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan launched the book “Sing, Dance and Lead,” authored by Hindol Sengupta, and separately released “Age of Enlightenment: Mahatma Gandhi’s Vision,” authored by Dr Shankar Kumar Sanyal. “Aawazon Ke Jugnu: The Voice of Masters of India” was launched at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, edited by Shefali Chaturvedi. Goa CM Pramod Sawant launched a new edition of “History That India Ignored,” authored by veteran journalist Prem Prakash.

Static GK Box:

• “Sing, Dance and Lead” — Hindol Sengupta (launched by VP C.P. Radhakrishnan)
• “Age of Enlightenment: Mahatma Gandhi’s Vision” — Dr Shankar Kumar Sanyal
• “History That India Ignored” (new edition) — Prem Prakash (launched by Goa CM Pramod Sawant)

Reports & Rankings

NITI Aayog’s Export Preparedness Index

NITI Aayog publishes the Export Preparedness Index, first released in August 2020, structured around four pillars — export infrastructure, business ecosystem, policy & governance, and export performance — further broken into 13 sub-pillars and 17 indicators. In the large states category, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat were the leading performers, while among small states, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, and Nagaland led.

Static GK Box:

• Export Preparedness Index: NITI Aayog — first published August 2020
• Large states leaders: Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat | Small states leaders: Uttarakhand, J&K, Nagaland

Global Safety, Risk, and Passport Rankings

Abu Dhabi topped the Numbeo Global Safety Index 2026; India secured the 70th spot globally, while Bengaluru secured the highest rank among Indian cities (46th). The World Economic Forum published the 21st edition of its Global Risk Report, in which India’s growth forecast for FY 2025-26 was revised upward to 7.2% from 6.3%. On the Henley Passport Index, Singapore topped the rankings, while India ranked 18th, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 55 countries.

Static GK Box:

• Numbeo Global Safety Index 2026: Abu Dhabi (1st); India 70th globally; Bengaluru India’s highest-ranked city (46th)
• WEF Global Risk Report (21st edition): India’s FY 2025-26 growth forecast revised up to 7.2% (from 6.3%)
• Henley Passport Index: Singapore (1st); India ranked 18th (55 countries visa-free/on-arrival)

Test Yourself: 40 Key MCQs from Monthly Current Affairs MCQ PDF Download January 2026

1. India celebrated which Republic Day in 2026?a) 75th
   b) 76th
   c) 77th
   d) 78thAnswer: c) 77th
2. What was the theme of Republic Day 2026?a) Nari Shakti
   b) 150 Years of Vande Mataram
   c) Viksit Bharat
   d) Digital IndiaAnswer: b) 150 Years of Vande Mataram
3. Who were the chief guests at Republic Day 2026?a) Emmanuel Macron & Joe Biden
   b) Ursula von der Leyen & António Costa
   c) Rishi Sunak & Anthony Albanese
   d) Xi Jinping & Vladimir PutinAnswer: b) Ursula von der Leyen & António Costa
4. Which service won the best marching contingent award at Republic Day 2026?a) Indian Army
   b) Indian Navy
   c) Indian Air Force
   d) CRPFAnswer: b) Indian Navy
5. Who became the first woman to lead an all-male CRPF contingent?a) Simran Bala
   b) Aroma Singh Thakur
   c) Swati Shanta Kumar
   d) Amira ArshadAnswer: a) Simran Bala
6. The 86th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference was held in which city?a) New Delhi
   b) Bhopal
   c) Lucknow
   d) ChennaiAnswer: c) Lucknow
7. President Murmu launched “Skill the Nation Challenge” under which initiative?a) SOAR
   b) SKILL India
   c) PMKVY
   d) NEP 2020Answer: a) SOAR (Skilling for AI Readiness)
8. India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train will run between which cities?a) Delhi–Mumbai
   b) Guwahati–Howrah
   c) Chennai–Bengaluru
   d) Kolkata–PatnaAnswer: b) Guwahati–Howrah
9. India assumed the chairmanship of which BRICS Summit from 1 January 2026?a) 16th
   b) 17th
   c) 18th
   d) 19thAnswer: c) 18th
10. BRICS has a permanent secretariat located in which city?

a) Beijing
b) It has no permanent secretariat
c) Moscow
d) Pretoria

Answer: b) It has no permanent secretariat

11. Who became the first woman Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court?

a) Justice A.M. Dere
b) Justice B.V. Nagarathna
c) Justice Hima Kohli
d) Justice Indira Banerjee

Answer: a) Justice A.M. Dere

12. Which state became the first to implement the Uniform Civil Code through a dedicated Act post-Independence?

a) Goa
b) Gujarat
c) Uttarakhand
d) Himachal Pradesh

Answer: c) Uttarakhand

13. Which district became India’s first Child Marriage-Free district?

a) Balod, Chhattisgarh
b) Wayanad, Kerala
c) Kannur, Kerala
d) Kaziranga, Assam

Answer: a) Balod, Chhattisgarh

14. India’s first fully paperless District Court was inaugurated in which state?

a) Nagaland
b) Kerala
c) Karnataka
d) Tamil Nadu

Answer: b) Kerala (Kalpetta, Wayanad)

15. Panduru Khadi, which received a GI tag, belongs to which state?

a) Telangana
b) Odisha
c) Andhra Pradesh
d) Tamil Nadu

Answer: c) Andhra Pradesh

16. India’s first-ever GI tag was given to which product?

a) Basmati Rice
b) Darjeeling Tea
c) Mysore Silk
d) Alphonso Mango

Answer: b) Darjeeling Tea (2004)

17. The Kaziranga Elevated Corridor project is located in which state?

a) West Bengal
b) Assam
c) Meghalaya
d) Arunachal Pradesh

Answer: b) Assam

18. India became the world’s largest producer of which crop, surpassing China?

a) Wheat
b) Rice
c) Cotton
d) Sugarcane

Answer: b) Rice

19. Which Indian state ranked first in the PESA ranking?

a) Madhya Pradesh
b) Maharashtra
c) Himachal Pradesh
d) Chhattisgarh

Answer: b) Maharashtra

20. Which Indian state was the first to constitute its 8th State Pay Service Commission?

a) Assam
b) Uttar Pradesh
c) Bihar
d) West Bengal

Answer: a) Assam

21. The National Textiles Mission Conference 2026 was held in which city?

a) Surat
b) Guwahati
c) Coimbatore
d) Kanpur

Answer: b) Guwahati

22. The Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, recently renamed a Butterfly Sanctuary, is in which state?

a) Karnataka
b) Kerala
c) Tamil Nadu
d) Andhra Pradesh

Answer: b) Kerala

23. India-EU concluded negotiations for which agreement in January 2026?

a) Defence Pact
b) Free Trade Agreement
c) Climate Accord
d) Digital Partnership

Answer: b) Free Trade Agreement (FTA)

24. Bulgaria recently adopted which currency as official?

a) Dollar
b) Pound
c) Euro
d) Franc

Answer: c) Euro

25. The 56th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting was held in which city?

a) Geneva
b) Davos
c) Zurich
d) Bern

Answer: b) Davos

26. Mamadi Doumbouya was elected President of which country?

a) Mali
b) Guinea
c) Senegal
d) Niger

Answer: b) Guinea

27. The UN declared 2026 as the International Year of what?

a) Forests
b) Rangelands and Pastoralists
c) Oceans
d) Deserts

Answer: b) Rangelands and Pastoralists

28. How many Padma Vibhushan awards were given in 2026?

a) 3
b) 5
c) 7
d) 10

Answer: b) 5

29. Which Indian tennis player, recently awarded the Padma Bhushan, is regarded as India’s most successful tennis player?

a) Leander Paes
b) Vijay Amritraj
c) Mahesh Bhupathi
d) Somdev Devvarman

Answer: b) Vijay Amritraj

30. Who became the first Indian to visit the International Space Station?

a) Rakesh Sharma
b) Shubhanshu Shukla
c) Sunita Williams
d) Kalpana Chawla

Answer: b) Shubhanshu Shukla

31. India’s highest peacetime gallantry award is called what?

a) Param Vir Chakra
b) Ashoka Chakra
c) Kirti Chakra
d) Shaurya Chakra

Answer: b) Ashoka Chakra

32. Who won the Vijay Hazare Trophy, defeating Saurashtra?

a) Mumbai
b) Vidarbha
c) Karnataka
d) Tamil Nadu

Answer: b) Vidarbha

33. The 6th Khelo India Winter Games’ first leg was held in which region?

a) Gulmarg
b) Leh, Ladakh
c) Manali
d) Auli

Answer: b) Leh, Ladakh

34. The T20 World Cup 2026 is being co-hosted by India and which country?

a) Bangladesh
b) Sri Lanka
c) South Africa
d) Pakistan

Answer: b) Sri Lanka

35. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commissioned which pollution control vessel of the Indian Coast Guard?

a) Samudra Pratap
b) Samudra Shakti
c) Sagar Kavach
d) Sagar Rakshak

Answer: a) Samudra Pratap

36. CDS General Anil Chauhan released which policy framework in January 2026?

a) Cyber Defence Framework
b) Military Quantum Mission Policy Framework
c) Space Defence Policy
d) AI in Defence Framework

Answer: b) Military Quantum Mission Policy Framework

37. NASA astronaut Sunita Williams retired after how many years of service?

a) 20 years
b) 25 years
c) 27 years
d) 30 years

Answer: c) 27 years

38. ISRO’s PSLV-C62 mission, which failed, was carrying which primary payload?

a) Chandrayaan-4
b) Anveshaa
c) Aditya-L2
d) RISAT-3

Answer: b) Anveshaa (Earth Observation Satellite N1)

39. Aditya-L1 was launched using which ISRO launch vehicle?

a) GSLV-Mk III
b) PSLV-C57
c) SSLV-D2
d) LVM3

Answer: b) PSLV-C57

40. On the Henley Passport Index 2026, which country topped the rankings?

a) Japan
b) Singapore
c) Germany
d) UAE

Answer: b) Singapore

Quick Revision Table: All January 2026 Points Based on Monthly Current Affairs MCQ PDF Download January 2026

Monthly Current Affairs MCQ PDF Download

That completes our full sweep of January 2026 — every major update from Republic Day to the Winter Olympics build-up, organised for quick revision. If you’d like this entire monthly current affairs mcq pdf download in a clean, printable format, grab it using the link below — ideal for one final revision pass before your exam. This is exactly the kind of complete Monthly Current Affairs MCQ PDF Download you need for SSC, State PCS, and other competitive exams.

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