Current Affairs Quiz January 2026

Notes:
The Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre (IKDRC-ITS) at Ahmedabad Civil Medical College completed 500 kidney transplants in 2025, setting a national record for a public hospital. Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre (IKDRC-ITS) is the only government-run hospital in India to perform 500 kidney transplants in a single year, reinforcing its leadership in kidney transplantation. The institute operates under Gujarat government’s Health Department and provides advanced medical care to economically weaker patients.

Notes:
Fourteen-year-old Amieyra Khoslla won the Gold Medal in Youth Girls (Under-17) at the 29th National Sport Climbing Championship (NSCC) 2025 held in Bengaluru from 26–29 December. She competed in the bouldering discipline, showing excellent strength, technique, and calm mindset. In the qualification round on 27 December, she scored a perfect 100.0, topping all four bouldering problems. The championship was organised by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) with the General Thimayya National Academy of Adventure (GETHNAA).

Notes:
The Albert Ekka Brigade celebrated its 56th Raising Day at Agartala Military Station with solemn ceremonies. The brigade fought in the 1971 India-Pakistan war from the Tripura sector, including Operation Cactus Lily. The brigade has earned highest gallantry awards in war and peacetime, including the Param Vir Chakra. Lance Naik Albert Ekka of 14th Guards was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for bravery in the Battle of Gangasagar. The 1971 war included Operations Cactus Lily and Nut Cracker, leading to Pakistan’s surrender on 16 December 1971 and the creation of Bangladesh.

Notes:
The Tamil Nadu government has approved the first Jallikattu event of 2026 on 3 January at Thatchankurichi village, Pudukkottai district. Approval was issued by the Animal Husbandry, Dairying, Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Department under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, as amended in 2017. The event must follow the state-prescribed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for animal welfare, public safety, and crowd management. Jallikattu is a traditional bull-taming sport celebrated primarily in Tamil Nadu.

Notes:
Poland has announced a $2.2 billion multi-layered anti-drone defence system along its eastern border due to security concerns linked to Russia–Ukraine conflict. The move follows repeated suspected Russian drone incursions, which triggered North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) air policing responses. The system will combine electronic warfare tools like drone jamming with machine guns, cannons, and missile units. It is not a physical wall but a technology-based layered defence against aerial threats. Some components will activate only during extreme or wartime conditions, addressing hybrid warfare threats like sabotage and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Notes:
The Ministry of Defence signed defence contracts worth ₹4,666 crore to strengthen the Indian Army and Indian Navy. The deal includes Close Quarter Battle Carbines for both forces and Heavyweight Torpedoes for the Indian Navy. The Close Quarter Battle Carbine is a 56 × 45 millimetre compact firearm made under Indigenous Design, Development and Manufacturing. It is designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO’s) Armament Research and Development Establishment, Pune. It is manufactured by Bharat Forge Limited, a Pune-based Indian multinational company.

Notes:
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics of Bhagwan Buddha in New Delhi. The exhibition titled The Light and the Lotus displays relics repatriated after about 125 years. The Piprahwa relics were discovered in 1898 and are directly linked to Bhagwan Buddha. The Piprahwa site is associated with ancient Kapilavastu, where Buddha spent his early life. The government stopped their international auction, considering them sacred heritage, not artifacts.

Notes:
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has commissioned an upgraded Type 052D guided missile destroyer named Loudi. The induction reflects China’s rapid naval expansion to narrow the gap with United States naval strength. The warship adopts a new system and operational architecture. It has improved combat capabilities in air defence and sea attack roles. The destroyer also strengthens task force command and coordination abilities. The commissioning highlights China’s focus on modern, network-centric naval warfare.

Notes:
SAMPANN (System for Accounting and Management of Pension) is an online pension management system for Department of Telecommunications (DoT) pensioners. It provides a single platform for processing, sanctioning, and disbursing pensions directly to bank accounts. Important pension documents like Gratuity Payment Orders, Pension Certificates/ePPOs, Pension Commutation Payment Orders, and Form 16 are now available via DigiLocker. DigiLocker integration allows pensioners to securely access, store, and retrieve official documents anytime, supporting paperless governance and long-term digital preservation.

Notes:
Former world billiards champion Manoj Kothari passed away at 67 in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu due to a massive cardiac arrest. Kothari won the World Billiards Championship in 1990. He was a 16-time State Champion in his career. In 2005, he received the Dhyan Chand Award, India’s highest lifetime achievement award in sports. In 2025, he was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Billiards and Snooker Federation of India.