National News
India commemorated which edition of its Republic Day on January 26, 2026?
Answer: 77th Republic Day
What was the central historical and musical motif celebrated during India’s 2026 Republic Day celebrations?
Answer: The completion of 150 years of the national song, Vande Mataram
Which ultra-rare animal variation was officially reported with a first-of-its-kind sighting in Karnataka’s forest reserves in January 2026?
Answer: The Sandalwood Leopard
What is the name of the comprehensive national portal launched in January 2026 to digitize, unify, and streamline land records across rural India?
Answer: Granth Kutir (and the associated PANCHAM framework)
Who was the prominent European Union leader who attended and spoke extensively on India’s expanding role in global stability during the Republic Day period in January 2026?
Answer: Ursula von der Leyen
What is the name of the newly introduced official mascot launched by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) in January 2026 to simplify Aadhaar-related queries?
Answer: Udai
Which Indian city launched the nation’s first city-led comprehensive climate action initiative in January 2026?
Answer: Mumbai
Which historic landmark did the Indian Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas program celebrate on January 1, 2026?
Answer: The 25th anniversary of its historic first flight (which took place on January 1, 2004)
Who was elected as the new National President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in January 2026?
Answer: Nitin Nabin
Which state’s tableau won the top prize in the States/UTs category at the 77th Republic Day Parade for its theme “Ganeshotsav: A Symbol of Aatmanirbharta”?
Answer: Maharashtra
Which nation became the first in the world to commercially produce Bio-Bitumen as a sustainable, eco-friendly alternative to petroleum-derived bitumen for highway construction in January 2026?
Answer: India
Punjab Current Affairs
Which major agricultural hybrid fruit of Punjab saw new export incentives and cold-chain infrastructure push from the state government in January 2026?
Answer: Kinnow (a premium citrus fruit hybrid from the Mandarin family)
The Punjab government initiated a state-level policy synchronization process to integrate Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) with which central storage initiative?
Answer: The Decentralized Grain Storage Scheme
Which statutory authority in Punjab launched a specialized anti-corruption portal for real-time tracking of public sector grievances in early January 2026?
Answer: The Punjab State Vigilance Commission
Which specific crop diversification program received enhanced budgetary allocation from the Punjab government in January 2026 to reduce groundwater depletion caused by traditional paddy cultivation?
Answer: The Sustainable Basmati Cultivation and Maize Promotion Initiative
Which comprehensive healthcare scheme was launched by the Punjab government in January 2026 to provide free, cashless medical treatment up to ₹10 lakh per family?
Answer: Mukhya Mantri Sehat Yojana
In January 2026, Punjab launched the country’s first dedicated sanctuary for which domestic animal?
Answer: A dedicated dog sanctuary
Chandigarh administration declared which specific insect variation as its official ‘State Butterfly’ in January 2026?
Answer: The Striped Tiger butterfly
International Affairs
Which country became the first to formally recognize Somaliland as an independent sovereign state in January 2026?
Answer: Ethiopia
Who is the President of the European Council coordinating closely with Asian democracies on trade security as of January 2026?
Answer: Antonio Costa
Which global regional bloc officially implemented its comprehensive, legally binding Artificial Intelligence (AI) regulation framework in January 2026?
Answer: The European Union (EU)
Where is the headquarters of the European Union located, which hosted the January 2026 international economic resilience summit?
Answer: Brussels, Belgium
How many member countries officially constitute the European Union trading bloc as of January 2026?
Answer: 27 member countries
Which country officially became the 21st member of the Eurozone in January 2026 by transitioning completely from the lev to the euro?
Answer: Bulgaria
Which major North American nation formally finalized its complete withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) in January 2026 following a mandatory one-year notice period?
Answer: The United States
The United Nations (UN) has officially designated the entire year of 2026 to focus global awareness on which ecological and socio-economic theme?
Answer: International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists
Which global city was ranked as the world’s safest city for the 10th consecutive year in the early 2026 safety indices?
Answer: Abu Dhabi
Government Schemes
What is the primary objective of the newly upgraded PANCHAM initiative rolled out by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj in January 2026?
Answer: An AI-powered Panchayat assistance and messaging chatbot designed for citizen-centric rural governance
Under the PM Kisan Samriddhi Kendras framework, which local bodies are being heavily integrated to handle fertilizer distribution and soil testing simultaneously as of January 2026?
Answer: Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS)
Which central government scheme dealing with direct pension disbursements for retired employees was upgraded with biometric-free facial recognition tracking in January 2026?
Answer: The SAMPANN Scheme
The “WaveX” initiative, aimed at boosting high-speed maritime communication corridors, operates under the jurisdiction of which Union Ministry?
Answer: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
The Union Government passed the Central Excise (Amendment) Act with the primary public health objective of reducing the affordability of which consumer product?
Answer: Tobacco products
Under the updated guidelines issued by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) in January 2026, banking institutions have now been allowed to independently sponsor pension funds under which national platform?
Answer: National Pension System (NPS)
Economy & Banking
Which private sector bank officially received structural regulatory approval to operate under the Capital Gains Account Scheme in January 2026?
Answer: HDFC Bank
What was the benchmark repo rate maintained by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) during its early January 2026 monetary policy assessment?
Answer: 6.50%
Which primary regulatory body in India governs the registration and operational limits of Ways and Means Advances (WMA) provided to state governments?
Answer: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
By launching the Structured Credit Fund I in January 2026 alongside the International Finance Corporation (IFC), HDFC AMC officially expanded into which fast-growing market?
Answer: The Private Credit Market
Who serves as the Chairperson of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) overseeing corporate distress resolutions as of January 2026?
Answer: Ravi Mittal
Which artificial intelligence platform signed a landmark ₹270 crore, three-year sponsorship deal with the BCCI starting ahead of the IPL 2026 season?
Answer: Google Gemini
According to the Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment Report, what is India’s current national stage of groundwater extraction?
Answer: 60.47%
Which prominent Indian brand retained its title as India’s strongest brand for the fourth consecutive year with an AAA+ rating in the January 2026 Brand Finance rankings?
Answer: Taj Hotels
Science & Technology
What is “ExoMiner++”, which gained widespread scientific acclaim in January 2026 for processing massive astronomical datasets?
Answer: An advanced machine learning model used for detecting and validating exoplanets from NASA’s Kepler and TESS mission data
India’s first 3D Flex Aqueous Angiography procedure utilizing the state-of-the-art iStent micro-device was successfully executed at which premier medical institution in January 2026?
Answer: The Army Hospital (Research & Referral), Delhi Cantt
The iStent micro-device, which made medical headlines in January 2026, is surgically implanted to reduce intraocular eye pressure in patients suffering from which condition?
Answer: Glaucoma
Which space agency successfully monitored deep-space metrics during its ongoing solar study mission in January 2026?
Answer: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
State-funded decentralization of high-containment medical research hit a major milestone in January 2026 when the foundation stone for India’s first state-funded Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) laboratory was laid in which state?
Answer: Gujarat
BSNL rolled out its new Voice over WiFi (VoWiFi) service nationwide utilizing which primary core technological framework?
Answer: IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)
Sports
Where were the high-profile 2nd Khelo India Beach Games successfully organized in January 2026?
Answer: Daman & Diu
What was the official aquatic-themed mascot selected for the 2nd Khelo India Beach Games celebrated in January 2026?
Answer: Wave (a stylized dolphin character representing marine life)
Which indigenous coastal sport was featured as a premier non-medal exhibition event during the Khelo India Beach Games 2026?
Answer: Mallakhamb (specifically Beach Mallakhamb)
Who emerged as the highest-paid male wrestler during the high-stakes Pro Wrestling League Season 5 auction held in January 2026?
Answer: Aman Sehrawat
Australian cricketer Steve Smith crossed a major career milestone in January 2026 by becoming the second-highest run-scorer in the history of which historic bilateral test cricket series?
Answer: The Ashes
Who became the first Indian female cricketer to cross the historic milestone of 10,000 international runs in January 2026?
Answer: Smriti Mandhana
Which state team defeated Vidarbha to lift their first-ever Vijay Hazare Trophy title?
Answer: Saurashtra
The first leg of the highly anticipated Khelo India Winter Games 2026 kicked off in January 2026 in which high-altitude city?
Answer: Leh
Who became the first batsman in cricket history to smash 54 centuries in One Day International (ODI) cricket?
Answer: Virat Kohli
Awards & Honours
Who was selected for the prestigious Subhas Chandra Bose National Award for Disaster Management 2026 under the individual category for exemplary bravery and relief coordination?
Answer: Lieutenant Colonel Sita Ashok Shelke
Which veteran Indian actor was honored with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan award posthumously in the January 2026 Republic Day honors list for his historic contributions to Indian cinema?
Answer: Dharmendra
Which veteran public leader and former Chief Minister of Kerala was posthumously conferred with the Padma Vibhushan in January 2026 for lifelong public service?
Answer: V. S. Achuthanandan
How many total police, fire service, and correctional personnel were approved for gallantry and distinguished service medals by the President of India on Republic Day 2026?
Answer: 982 personnel
Which Indian astronaut—scheduled to be the first Indian to travel to the International Space Station—was conferred with the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry award, on Republic Day 2026?
Answer: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla
Which administrative body won the prestigious SKOCH Award for its exceptional implementation of the Cell Broadcast Disaster Alert System?
Answer: National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
Books & Authors
The highly discussed book titled “Kubat-e-Modi Lal Qila Ki Fasal Se”, which entered circulation in January 2026, is an analytical compilation of historic speeches delivered from which location?
Answer: The Red Fort (Lal Qila), New Delhi
The biographical chronicle detailing the revolutionary contributions of Ras Behari Bose and his coordination with the Ghadar Movement and Indian National Army (INA) was launched in January 2026 by which historical society?
Answer: The Indian History Research Council
Important Days
On which day did the entire nation observe National Voter’s Day to promote democratic participation, right before the 77th Republic Day celebrations?
Answer: January 25, 2026
January 30 is globally and nationally observed in India to pay solemn homage to freedom fighters and Mahatma Gandhi under what designation?
Answer: Martyrs’ Day (Shaheed Diwas)
World Hindi Day was celebrated globally across institutions and diplomatic missions on which date in January 2026?
Answer: January 10
National Penguin Day was widely celebrated by environmental groups and wildlife enthusiasts on which day?
Answer: January 20
Defence
Which indigenously constructed Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) was officially delivered to the Indian Navy by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) at Chennai in January 2026?
Answer: ‘Anjadip’
What unique propulsion system makes the newly delivered naval warship ‘Anjadip’ stand out as one of the largest littoral vessels of its kind in India?
Answer: A high-efficiency waterjet propulsion system
Which advanced indigenous rocket platform made its high-mobility public debut during the dynamic military hardware display at the 2026 Republic Day Parade?
Answer: SURYASTRA
What was the name of the special tactical aerial formation flown by the Indian Air Force featuring Rafale, MiG-29, and Su-30 MKI combat aircraft during the 2026 flypast?
Answer: The ‘Sindoor’ Formation
The Indian Army officially designated the year 2026 to focus its strategic and structural operational shifts under which specific title?
Answer: Year of Networking & Data Centricity
What is the name of the 17th edition of the trilateral coast guard exercise commenced in January 2026 involving India, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka?
Answer: Exercise Dosti 17
Environment & Ecology
The unique “Living Root Bridges” (Jingkieng Jri), which received fresh UNESCO ecological protection funding support in January 2026, are grown from the aerial roots of living trees by which indigenous communities?
Answer: The Khasi and Jaintia tribal communities of Meghalaya
Which specific species of tree is primarily utilized by tribal elders in Northeast India to organically weave and grow structural Living Root Bridges over rushing forest streams?
Answer: Ficus elastica (Rubber Fig tree)
Which wildlife sanctuary, newly designated as an Eco-Sensitive Zone in January 2026 to protect local biodiversity, is located in Rajasthan?
Answer: Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary
Located in Kannur, which facility was highlighted as the site hosting Kerala’s first officially managed Butterfly Sanctuary?
Answer: Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary
Appointments & Resignations
Who was officially appointed by the President of India as the new Vigilance Commissioner in the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) under the CVC Act of 2003 in January 2026?
Answer: Shri Praveen Vashista
The high-level selection committee that recommended the appointment of the new Vigilance Commissioner in January 2026 is chaired by which dignitary?
Answer: The Prime Minister of India
Who was appointed as the new Director General of the National Investigation Agency (Targeted/NIA) in the early January 2026 bureaucratic reshuffle?
Answer: Rakesh Aggarwal
Who took charge as the new Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF) in January 2026?
Answer: Praveen Kumar
Reports & Indices
Which major global financial analytical institution released its updated “Global Economic Outlook 2026” report in January 2026, mapping India’s resilient growth curve?
Answer: The International Monetary Fund (IMF)
According to the January 2026 fiscal baseline update released by Goldman Sachs, India’s projected real GDP growth rate for the upcoming financial year (FY27) is positioned near what mark?
Answer: 6.5% to 6.8%
According to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Risks Report 2026, which risk factor jumped to the number one short-term threat position globally?
Answer: Geoeconomic Confrontation (including the weaponization of trade, tariffs, and sanctions)