Current Affairs Quiz - January 2026

Notes:
A forest fire recently spread inside Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary along the Indo-China border at about 13,000 feet altitude in Sikkim. The sanctuary is located in eastern Sikkim and is connected to the forests of Bhutan and Neora Valley National Park in West Bengal. The Pangolakha Range below the Chola Range forms a natural boundary between Sikkim and Bhutan. It has alpine, temperate, and subtropical vegetation zones.

Notes:
The red-eared slider turtle, spread through the pet trade, is threatening freshwater bodies in Coimbatore. It is among the world’s most widely introduced freshwater turtles, found on all continents except Antarctica. This predominantly aquatic species is identified by red stripes behind each ear. It is highly adaptable, survives harsh conditions, and thrives in non-native habitats. It lives 20–50 years in the wild and is listed as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Notes:
The first International Conference on Green Artificial Intelligence (AI) was held on January 24 and 25 at the Dubai Police Academy. It was organised by the Zayed International Foundation for the Environment with the Dubai Police Academy and Curtin University Dubai. The event focused on using Artificial Intelligence for environmental sustainability and climate resilience.

Notes:
India’s first indigenous and privately manufactured C-295 aircraft will roll out from Vadodara, Gujarat. It was built by Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) in partnership with Airbus Defence and Space. It marks a shift from public-sector to private-sector defence manufacturing, advancing Make in India (Defence) initiative. Vadodara facility (opened 2024) is India’s first private-sector final assembly line (FAL) for military aircraft.

Notes:
A new flowering plant species named Strobilanthes riteshii has been formally recorded from Arunachal Pradesh. It belongs to the Acanthaceae family. The plant grows on open hill slopes, often near small waterfalls and streams within evergreen forest patches. Based on current knowledge, it is provisionally assessed as Data Deficient under the IUCN Red List, indicating that more field data is needed to understand its population status and threats.

Notes:
A gap has been observed between the intended and actual outcomes of the Advanced Chemistry Cell Production Linked Incentive (ACC-PLI) scheme. The scheme was launched in October 2021 to promote domestic manufacturing of next-generation battery cells. It aims to set up 50 Gigawatt hour (GWh) battery manufacturing capacity by 2026. It has a total financial outlay of ₹18,100 crore. The scheme also aims to generate over one million jobs and is implemented by the Ministry of Heavy Industries.

Notes:
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has constituted the Strategic Asset Allocation and Risk Governance (SAARG) Committee to modernise the investment framework of the National Pension System (NPS). It is a high-level committee of investment experts tasked with reviewing and recommending reforms for both government and non-government NPS sectors. The objective is to strengthen the long-term investment architecture of NPS through better diversification, improved risk management, and expanded investment choices for subscribers.

Notes:
India’s pygmy hog is the smallest and rarest species of wild pig in the world and is rapidly vanishing from its grasslands. It is one of the few mammals that builds its own nest with a roof for shelter. The species serves as an indicator of grassland health, reflecting the condition of its primary habitat. Pygmy hogs prefer undisturbed riverine grasslands with dense tall grasses, herbs, shrubs, and young trees. Currently, they are found only in Assam’s Manas and Orang National Parks. The species is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Notes:
PANCHAM (Panchayat Assistance and Messaging Chatbot) is an initiative of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, developed in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). It is a flagship digital tool launched to empower Panchayat Elected Representatives and Functionaries. It works as a digital companion providing guidance, simplified workflows, and easy access to governance information. It enables direct two-way digital communication between the Government of India and Panchayats.

Notes:
Veteran journalist Mark Tully passed away in Delhi at the age of 90 on January 25, 2026. He was a long-time British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) correspondent and became a household name in South Asia. Born in Kolkata in 1935, he later returned to India as BBC’s Assistant Representative in New Delhi. He covered major events like the 1965 and 1971 India–Pakistan wars, Emergency of 1975, Punjab insurgency, and Operation Blue Star. He was knighted in 2002 and awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2005, earning the reputation as the “voice of India.”