Current Affairs Quiz - January 2026

Notes:
The Government increased the Central Silk Board’s financial approval limit to ₹1 crore from ₹50 lakh by amending Rule 22 of the Central Silk Board Rules, 1955. The Central Silk Board is a statutory body established in 1948 by an Act of Parliament. It functions under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. The headquarters of the Central Silk Board is located in Bengaluru. It advises the Central Government on development of the silk industry, including import and export of raw silk. It prepares reports on the silk sector as required by the Government.

Notes:
The 2026 World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting was held in Davos, Switzerland, from January 19–23, 2026. The 56th annual meeting focused on the theme “A Spirit of Dialogue,” bringing together global leaders to address economic, geopolitical, and technology-driven risks. It was established in 1971 and promotes the stakeholder theory for inclusive and sustainable growth. The Davos meeting provides a platform for dialogue and exchange of ideas, not formal trade negotiations. It discusses key global issues like climate change, economic stability, and global security.

Notes:
Mozambican humanitarian and rights activist Graça Machel has been selected for the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2025. The award decision was made by an international jury chaired by former National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon. She was chosen for path-breaking work in education, health, nutrition, economic empowerment, and humanitarian action. The award carries a cash prize of ₹1 crore, a citation, and a trophy. She led a landmark United Nations (UN) study in the 1990s on the impact of armed conflict on children.

Notes:
South Korea has introduced the world’s first comprehensive Artificial Intelligence (AI) law called the AI Basic Act to improve safety and trust. The law came into force earlier than the European Union (EU) AI Act, which will be phased in till 2027. It mandates human oversight for high-impact AI used in areas like healthcare, transport, nuclear safety, finance, and water supply. The law aims to make South Korea a top global AI leader but startups fear regulatory burden.

Notes:
Uttar Pradesh Governor’s official residence has been renamed from Raj Bhavan to Jan Bhavan. The name change was announced by the state government and is now in effect. The decision follows guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. The new name will be used for all official and statutory purposes. The move aims to standardise the names of Governors’ residences across India. It reflects a nationwide initiative to bring uniformity in official nomenclature.

Notes:
NITI Aayog released the report “Roadmap for Green Transition of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)” aligned with Viksit Bharat 2047 and net-zero by 2070. It is a 10-year action plan for 69 million MSMEs to shift towards low-carbon growth. The roadmap focuses on energy efficiency, green electricity, and alternative fuels. It proposes a National Project Management Agency (NPMA) for implementation and finance support. MSMEs contribute about 30% to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 45.7% to exports, employing over 250 million people. They emitted around 135 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) in 2022.

Notes:
The 2nd Global Buddhist Summit is scheduled to take place in January 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. It is organised by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The theme is “Collective Wisdom, United Voice, Mutual Coexistence”. The summit aims to promote Buddhist values like compassion, wisdom, harmony, and peace.

Notes:
The Bembla Irrigation Project is located in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra in the drought-prone Vidarbha region. It is a multipurpose irrigation project under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) and Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP). The project involves a dam on the Bembla River, a tributary of the Wardha River, near Babhulgaon. It aims to create irrigation potential for about 52,543 hectares benefiting over 100 villages. By early 2026, more than 95% canal and distribution works were completed with micro-irrigation focus.

Notes:
Haven-1 is planned as the world’s first commercial space station in low-Earth orbit (LEO). It is a single-module station and a precursor to the larger multi-module Haven-2. It is being developed by American aerospace company Vast with support from NASA and private partners. It will host short-duration missions for microgravity research, in-space manufacturing, and orbital tourism.

Notes:
Operation Megaburu is a large-scale anti-Maoist counter-insurgency operation conducted in the Saranda forest region of West Singhbhum, Jharkhand. It was launched in January 2026. It targeted Maoist strongholds in the Kumdi area under Kiriburu police station limits. The operation involved Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) elite Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) units and Jharkhand Police. It aimed to neutralise top Communist Party of India (Maoist) leadership, dismantle command structures, and clear remaining Maoist pockets.