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.

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Bulgaria recently became the 21st member of the Eurozone, moving closer to full European integration. Bulgaria is located in southeastern Europe on the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. It shares borders with Romania, Turkey, Greece, North Macedonia, and Serbia, and has a maritime boundary with the Black Sea. The capital city of Bulgaria is Sofia.

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Global Family Day, also called World Peace Day, is observed every year on January 1. It promotes peace and unity worldwide and emphasizes that all people are interconnected, regardless of nationality, borders, or ethnicity. The concept began in 1997 when the UN General Assembly declared the International Decade for the Culture of Peace and Nonviolence for Children of the World. The day was first celebrated successfully in 1999 and was officially recognized by the United Nations in 2001.

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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.

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Recently, around 60 people were injured when a loco train carrying workers hit a goods train inside the Pipalkoti tunnel of the Vishnugad–Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project. The Vishnugad–Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project (VPHEP) is a run-of-river hydropower project on the Alaknanda River, a major tributary of the Ganga River, in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. The project will generate about 1,665 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually. It is developed by THDC India Limited, a joint venture of the Government of India and the Government of Uttar Pradesh, with World Bank funding.

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Recently, Indonesian authorities raised the alert level for Mount Bur Ni Telong due to increased volcanic activity and frequent earthquakes. Mount Bur Ni Telong is an active stratovolcano located in Aceh, the westernmost province of Indonesia. It is one of the most popular climbing destinations in the Aceh region. The volcano rises to about 2,624 metres above sea level. It is situated at the southern base of the large Bur Ni Geureudong volcanic complex in northern Sumatra. The volcano has a conical shape formed by layers of lava and eruptive material.

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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:
Recently, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) developed a portable desalination device named Sea Water Desalination System (SWaDeS). It is designed to meet drinking water needs of soldiers in remote and field conditions. The system can be manually operated or engine-driven and was developed by Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur for Tri-command services. The manual version can be carried by one person and supports 10–12 personnel during emergencies. It is suitable for naval operations, coastal areas, and inland saline regions like Pangong Tso in Ladakh.

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Pakistani archaeologists unearthed rare coins and decorative stones at the Bhir Mound, a UNESCO-listed site near Takshashila, revealing insights into ancient urban settlements. The decorative stones date to the 6th century BCE, while the coins are from the 2nd century CE, belonging to the Kushan dynasty. Coins depict Emperor Vasudeva on the obverse and a female religious deity on the reverse, highlighting Kushan-era religious pluralism. Lapis lazuli fragments, a prized semi-precious stone, indicate long-distance trade, likely sourced from Badakhshan (present-day Afghanistan).

Notes:
Third Technical Hindi Symposium “Abhyuday-3” was held at IIT Indore on 6 January 2026. It was jointly organised by IIT Indore, IIT Jodhpur, and CSIR–National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR–NIScPR). The event aimed to promote the use of Technical Hindi and strengthen the outreach of science and technology to wider sections of society.