Current Affairs Quiz January 2026

Notes:
As per recent report by Indian government, India surpassed Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of USD 4.18 trillion. India is expected to overtake Germany to become the third-largest economy by 2030 with projected GDP of USD 7.3 trillion. India remains the world’s fastest-growing major economy despite global trade uncertainties. Real GDP grew 8.2% in Quarter 2 of 2025–26, rising steadily from previous quarters. Growth is driven mainly by strong private consumption and domestic demand. The United States (US) ranks first and China second in global economy size.

Notes:
Researchers from the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) have shown that local ecological knowledge of the Adi community can improve efforts to track the critically endangered Chinese pangolin. Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) is a small, nocturnal mammal fully covered in protective keratin scales. It inhabits subtropical, tropical, and deciduous forests and is distributed across southern China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Hainan, parts of Southeast Asia including Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as northern India, Nepal, and Bhutan. The species has been listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

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:
Russia’s Ministry of Defence announced that the nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile system has officially entered active service. A brief induction ceremony was held in Belarus, where the missiles have been deployed. Oreshnik is an intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile developed by Russia. It is named after the Russian word for “hazel tree.” It has a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometres and can reach speeds up to Mach 10, or ten times the speed of sound. The missile is mobile and solid-fuel powered, allowing rapid deployment.

Notes:
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, released the National Frequency Allocation Plan 2025 (NFAP-2025). NFAP-2025 is a key policy governing the management and allocation of radio-frequency spectrum in India. It allocates spectrum to various radio-communication services in the frequency range 8.3 kHz to 3000 GHz. The plan serves as a reference for spectrum managers, wireless operators, and telecom equipment manufacturers. National Frequency Allocation Plan 2025 (NFAP-2025) identifies the 6425–7125 MHz band for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT), boosting mid-band spectrum for 5G, 5G Advanced, and future 6G networks.

Notes:
The 44th Junior National Kho Kho Championship began at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium, Gunjur, Bengaluru. Around 1,000 young athletes from states and union territories are competing in boys’ and girls’ categories. Nearly 40 matches were played on the opening day. The tournament follows a league-cum-knockout format, with semifinals on 3 January and finals on 4 January 2026. 58th Senior National Kho Kho will be in Kazipet, Telangana (11–15 January), and 35th Sub-Junior Nationals in Kurukshetra, Haryana (31 Jan–4 Feb).

Notes:
The Indian government has asked the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to study a request from Maldives for help in managing Hanimaadhoo International Airport (HAQ). Hanimaadhoo International Airport is located on Hanimaadhoo Island, Haa Dhaalu Atoll, northern Maldives. The airport was originally developed as a domestic airport in 1986 and upgraded to international status in 2012. India supported its redevelopment and expansion with an $800 million line of credit from EXIM Bank of India.

Notes:
The Ministry of Textiles, in collaboration with the Government of Assam, will organize the National Textiles Ministers’ Conference on 8–9 January 2026 in Guwahati, Assam. The theme is “India’s Textiles: Weaving Growth, Heritage & Innovation.” The conference will bring together Union and State Ministers of Textiles, senior government officials, and policymakers to discuss a coordinated national strategy. The goal aligns with developing a USD 350 billion textile industry and achieving USD 100 billion in textile exports by 2030.

Notes:
International Mind Body Wellness Day is observed annually on January 3 to highlight the link between mental and physical health. The day encourages self-care, mindfulness, movement, and healthy lifestyle practices for overall well-being. It draws on both ancient holistic healing traditions and modern scientific research confirming mind-body interconnection.

Notes:
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced winners of four creative challenges under the Badalta Bharat Mera Anubhav campaign, organized in collaboration with the MyGov platform. The campaign invited citizens to share personal experiences and creative expressions showcasing India’s transformation over the past 11 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. It aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047. Indrajeet Subodh Mashankar won first prize in the Instagram Reel Contest category. Manthan Rohit won first prize in the YouTube Shorts Challenge category. Sushovan Manna won first prize in the Short Audio-Visual Challenge – Story of New India category. Krishna Gupta won first prize in the Blog Writing Contest category.