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:
Assam became the first Indian state to constitute its 8th State Pay Commission before the 7th Pay Commission ends on 1 January 2026. The decision was announced by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Former Chief Secretary Subhas Das has been appointed as the head of the new Pay Commission. The move comes even before the Union Government’s 8th Central Pay Commission has started work. The 8th Pay Commission will revise salaries, allowances, and pensions of state government employees. Early constitution shows Assam’s intent to speed up the pay revision process. State employees and pensioners may get quicker clarity on future pay and pension benefits.

Notes:
Surat is set to become India’s first slum-free city with a population of over 70 lakh. Currently, Chandigarh is India’s first slum-free city with a population of 10 lakh. In 2006, 36% of Surat’s population lived in slums; it has now reduced to 5%. The government plans phased, result-oriented efforts and proper housing to achieve full slum-free status.

Notes:
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) approved 22 proposals under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS). The projects have a projected investment of ₹41,863 crore and expected production of ₹2,58,152 crore. These projects cover 11 target segment products with cross-sectoral applications in mobile manufacturing, telecom, consumer electronics, strategic electronics, automotive, and IT hardware. The Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) was launched by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to boost domestic production of electronic components, providing incentives and fostering a robust supply chain

Notes:
Health and Family Welfare Minister J P Nadda announced that India is now 8th globally in World Health Organization (WHO) Pharmacovigilance Contributions, up from 123rd ten years ago. He released the 10th edition of Indian Pharmacopoeia 2026 in New Delhi. The new edition incorporates 121 new monographs, taking the total to 3,340 monographs. For the first time, 20 blood component monographs have been included, supporting research in blood transfusion, thalassemia, hemophilia, and anaemia. India is the first country to include blood components in its pharmacopoeia. The Indian Pharmacopoeia is recognized in 19 Global South countries.

Notes:
Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) conferred the IFFCO Sahitya Samman 2025 on eminent Hindi writer Maitreyi Pushpa for her outstanding contribution to Hindi literature, especially rural life and agrarian realities. The IFFCO Young Literary Award 2025 was presented to Ankita Jain for her book “Oh Re! Kisan.” Maitreyi Pushpa (born 30 Nov 1944, Aligarh) has a master’s in Hindi literature and is renowned for novels, short stories, plays, poetry, and women-centric writings. IFFCO Sahitya Samman, instituted in 2011, honors writers reflecting rural and agricultural life and carries a cash prize of ₹11 lakh, citation, and memento.

Notes:
Indian Railways will introduce its first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train, upgrading overnight rail travel in India. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that testing and certification are fully completed. The inaugural route will run between Guwahati (Assam) and Howrah (West Bengal). The train will have 16 fully air-conditioned coaches with AC 3-tier, AC 2-tier, and AC First Class, carrying about 823 passengers. It features ergonomic berths, new suspension, and modern safety systems for comfortable overnight journeys. The service will boost regional connectivity and offer Assamese and Bengali cuisine on board.

Notes:
Tuman village in Chawasi area of Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh, received its first motorable road after 78 years. The 2.7-kilometre road was constructed from Shakeld to Tuman by the Public Works Department (PWD). The village was earlier cut off from basic transport facilities for decades. A trial run of a Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus was successfully conducted on the new road.

Notes:
Rajasthan is hosting the Regional AI Impact Conference 2026 on 6th January in Jaipur. The event is held in collaboration with Rajasthan DigiFest and TiE Global Summit 2026, leading up to the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in February. The conference explores how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can drive governance reform, economic growth, innovation, and inclusive development. Sessions include AI for Public Service Delivery, Ethical AI, AI and Future of Employment & Skills, and Rajasthan’s AI startup ecosystem.