Current Affairs Quiz - January 2026

Notes:
Bihar government approved a revised proposal to notify Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary as a Tiger Reserve. The proposal will be sent to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for final clearance. Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary is the largest sanctuary in Bihar with rich biodiversity and dense forests. It is located in Kaimur and Rohtas districts within the Kaimur Range. The area covers parts of the Kaimur Plateau and Rohtas Plateau.

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:
The European Union has started implementing the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), affecting steel and aluminium exporters. This adds pressure on Indian metal exporters already facing a 50% duty on exports to the United States. Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) was introduced by the European Union. It is an import duty on goods produced outside Europe, based on carbon emissions during production. CBAM targets products made using carbon-intensive processes compared to EU climate standards. CBAM is in a transitional phase from 2023 to 2025 and will be fully implemented in 2026. It currently covers steel, aluminium, cement, electricity, fertilisers and selected other products.

Notes:
Amazonian stingless bees have become the first insects in the world to be granted legal rights. The decision was taken through a landmark ordinance passed by local municipalities in Peru. The law recognises their right to exist, survive, and flourish. This step highlights their critical role as pollinators in the Amazon rainforest ecosystem. It also acknowledges their importance to biodiversity, agriculture, and Indigenous communities. The move sets a global precedent for legal protection of insects and nature.

Notes:
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) completed nine years on 1 January 2026. It was launched on 1 January 2017. It provides financial support to pregnant women and lactating mothers. It is a centrally sponsored scheme under Mission Shakti’s sub-scheme ‘Samarthya’, offering benefits through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). It aims to support women from socially and economically disadvantaged sections, improve health-seeking behaviour, and ensure better maternal and child health outcomes. Beneficiaries receive ₹5,000 for the first child and ₹6,000 for the second girl child in two instalments.

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:
Seven rare galaxy frogs (Melanobatrachus indicus) in Kerala’s Western Ghats have disappeared and are presumed dead after disturbance by wildlife photographers. Photographers overturned logs, trampled vegetation, handled frogs barehanded, and used strong camera flashes. They are endemic to the southern Western Ghats mountain range in India, specifically found in small patches of wet evergreen forests in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The species is listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Notes:
Recently, Andhra Pradesh emerged as India’s top investment destination, capturing 25.3% of all proposed investments in the first nine months of FY26. It leads other states like Odisha (13.1%) and Maharashtra (12.8%), showing a shift of industrial momentum to eastern and southern corridors. Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Maharashtra together account for 51.2% of India’s total proposed capital investment. Nationwide, investment announcements reached Rs 26.6 lakh crore, up 11.5% year-on-year. Andhra Pradesh’s performance is credited to investor-friendly policies, fast-track approvals, infrastructure development, and sector-focused strategies.

Notes:
Recently, an observational study on cellulitis was published in the International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds. Cellulitis is a common skin infection caused mainly by Streptococcus and Staphylococcus bacteria. It usually affects the legs, feet, and toes but can also involve face, arms, hands, and fingers. The infection affects tissues beneath the skin. Risk factors include skin wounds or a weakened immune system, which allow bacteria to enter easily. Cellulitis is generally not contagious, except rarely through open-wound contact with an infected person.

Notes:
National Bird Day is observed every year on 5th January to promote bird conservation and ecological awareness. Birds are vital environmental indicators and support pollination, pest control, and ecosystem balance. The day was established in 2002 by the Avian Welfare Coalition. It encourages habitat protection, ethical treatment of birds, and community participation. In India, it highlights the Indian Peafowl (Peacock), protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.