Daily Current Affairs Quiz: January 21, 2026

Notes:
A new species of ginger named Parakaempferia alba has been discovered in the Siang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh. It belongs to the Zingiberaceae, which is the ginger family of flowering plants. The species was found in the Miglung area of East Siang District. It grows at an altitude ranging from 150 to 400 metres above sea level. The plant thrives along shaded streambanks. It prefers humid conditions with sandy soil, which support its growth. This discovery highlights the rich plant biodiversity of the Eastern Himalayan region.

Notes:
Around 20,000 people in Palghar district protested against the Vadhavan Port project due to environmental concerns. Vadhavan Port is a proposed all-weather greenfield deep-draft major port in Palghar district, about 140 kilometres north of Mumbai, Maharashtra. The port has a natural depth of 20 metres, suitable for large container and bulk cargo ships. It is being developed by Vadhavan Port Project Limited, a Special Purpose Vehicle formed by Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority and Maharashtra Maritime Board. The total project cost is ₹76,220 crore and it is planned to be completed by 2034.

Notes:
China has revealed a major upgrade in its undersea nuclear strength with the Type 096 Tang-Class submarine. It is a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) designed and built by China for strategic nuclear deterrence. The submarine is larger and stealthier, with a submerged displacement of about 20,000 tonnes, similar to United States Ohio-class submarines. It uses advanced noise-reduction technologies to reduce detection by enemy forces.

Notes:
A drone-based survey by the Odisha Forest and Environment Department shows that the saltwater crocodile population is increasing. The saltwater crocodile is the largest and heaviest living reptile and is also known as the estuarine or Indo-Pacific crocodile. It lives in saltwater, brackish wetlands, rivers, and mangroves. The species is found along India’s east coast, Southeast Asia, northern Australia, and Micronesia. In India, it occurs in Odisha, West Bengal, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with Odisha having the highest population in natural habitat. It is classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Notes:
The Indian Navy’s Sail Training Ship INS Sudarshini will undertake Lokayan 26, a 10-month transoceanic flagship expedition. INS Sudarshini is an indigenously built Sail Training Ship (STS) of the Indian Navy. It was constructed by Goa Shipyard Limited and is based at Kochi, Kerala, under the Southern Naval Command. The ship was commissioned on 27 January 2012. Such ships train sailors to survive independently at sea, handle rough weather, and develop core seamanship skills. INS Sudarshini is a three-masted barque capable of operating under sail or engine power.