Current Affairs Quiz January 2026

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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.

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The Foster Parent Scheme (Palak Mata-Pita Yojana) was launched by the Gujarat government in 2009–10 to support orphaned and abandoned children. The scheme provides monthly financial assistance of ₹3,000 to relatives or caregivers of children up to 18 years of age. Its aim is to ensure children grow up in a family environment instead of institutional care. Banaskantha district has emerged as a leading district in effective implementation of the scheme. A total of 2,818 beneficiaries in Banaskantha have received support under the scheme so far. Currently, 1,727 children receive ₹51.81 lakh per month as assistance. The support helps meet education, healthcare, and daily living needs of vulnerable children.

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The Aiyanoor Ammanoor festival of the Kota tribe was celebrated at Solur Kokkal village near Udhagamandalam in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu. The Kota tribe is classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Tamil Nadu. The festival is a traditional annual or periodic event reflecting the living cultural heritage of the community. Aiyanoor Amman is worshipped as the central village and guardian deity. Women play a central role by performing ritual dances in traditional white attire with distinctive borders.

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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.

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A new study suggests ulcerative colitis may be triggered when a normally hidden protective layer of immune cells beneath the gut lining becomes thinner. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affecting the colon and rectum. It causes long-term inflammation and ulcers in the inner lining of the large intestine. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an immune-mediated condition with cycles of flare-ups and remission.

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The National Test House (NTH) will be empanelled as a recognised laboratory for the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Samples related to highway construction and allied works will be sent to NTH laboratories across India for testing and inspection. National Test House (NTH) is India’s largest multi-location, multidisciplinary central government testing laboratory. It conducts testing, calibration, and quality evaluation for industry, commerce, and trade as per national and international standards. It was established under the Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution. The empanelment will improve transparency, standardisation, and efficiency in quality assurance.

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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.

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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.

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Goa will create its third district named Kushavati, after the ancient Kushavati River flowing through southern Goa. The river reflects Goa’s ancient geography, culture, livelihood, and ecological identity from historic times like the Chalukya dynasty. The district includes Sanguem, Dharbandora, Quepem, and Canacona talukas, with headquarters at Quepem. Usgalimal petroglyphs on laterite stones along the river show early human settlement thousands of years old. The district will have a new Zilla Panchayat (District Council) to improve governance and development.

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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.