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:
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:
SPREE 2025 (Scheme for Promotion of Registration of Employers and Employees) extended from 1 January 2026 to 31 January 2026. SPREE 2025 was launched by Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC). The scheme, approved during the 196th meeting of the ESI Corporation chaired by Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, aims to enhance social security coverage under the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Act. SPREE 2025 allows unregistered employers and employees to join the ESI framework without undergoing inspections, providing past contribution demands, or submitting prior records.

Notes:
Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi lost the semifinal to Uzbek player Nodirbek Abdusattorov at the World Blitz Championship in Doha. He secured the bronze medal in the tournament. Defending champion Magnus Carlsen reached the final after defeating Fabiano Caruana 3-1 in the other semifinal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Arjun Erigaisi for his bronze medal in the Blitz Championship and his recent FIDE Rapid Chess Championship bronze.

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:
General Mamady Doumbouya has been elected president of Guinea with 86.72% of the vote in provisional results. He seized power in a 2021 coup, ousting President Alpha Conde. His victory grants him a seven-year mandate and avoids a runoff. The election follows a constitutional change allowing junta members to run. Guinea is rich in bauxite and untapped iron ore, and Doumbouya has promoted resource-nationalist policies.

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:
The President of India graced a special programme under Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR) Programme. It is an initiative of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). The programme aims to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) learning into school education and training systems. It prepares students and teachers for a fast-changing digital world and AI-based careers. The government has allocated ₹500 crore to set up a Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence for Education.

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:
India has become the world’s largest rice producer, surpassing China with a total output of 150.18 million tonnes. The announcement was made by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The achievement reflects improved farming practices and effective agricultural policies. Use of high-yielding and climate-resilient seed varieties has boosted production. Alongside this milestone, 184 new varieties of 25 different crops were released. These new varieties aim to increase crop productivity and farmer incomes. The initiative strengthens India’s competitiveness in global agricultural markets.