Current Affairs Quiz January 2026

Notes:
In 2025, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) achieved more than 92% conviction rate and key operational successes. The NIA arrested several terrorists and associates linked to the Pahalgam and Delhi attacks and filed charge sheets against seven accused, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and The Resistance Front (TRF). Across 55 cases, 276 arrests were made: 67 jihadi, 74 Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), 37 Northeast insurgency, 28 pro-Khalistan, 11 gangster-related, 59 others.The National Investigation Agency (NIA) was established in 2008 after the Mumbai terror attacks to combat terrorism. The agency operates under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, with its headquarters in New Delhi, led by the Director-General.

Notes:
Denmark has ended letter delivery after 401 years, becoming the first country to fully phase out traditional mail. The decision comes as digital communication and a 90% drop in mail volumes since 2000 made letter delivery uneconomical. PostNord, the state-owned postal service, delivered its final letters and will now focus on parcels and e-commerce. Around 1,500 public mailboxes were removed and auctioned for charity; citizens must now drop letters at shop kiosks for DAO, a private delivery service. While reflecting Denmark’s high digital integration, the change may disadvantage older people and those without reliable internet.

Notes:
Imoinu Eratpa festival was recently celebrated in Manipur. The festival was observed on December 31, 2025, which corresponds to the 12th day of the Meitei lunar month. It is a significant religious festival for the Meitei community, honoring Goddess Imoinu (Ema Imoinu Ahongbi), the goddess of wealth, prosperity, and the hearth.

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Poland has announced a $2.2 billion multi-layered anti-drone defence system along its eastern border due to security concerns linked to Russia–Ukraine conflict. The move follows repeated suspected Russian drone incursions, which triggered North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) air policing responses. The system will combine electronic warfare tools like drone jamming with machine guns, cannons, and missile units. It is not a physical wall but a technology-based layered defence against aerial threats. Some components will activate only during extreme or wartime conditions, addressing hybrid warfare threats like sabotage and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Notes:
The Ministry of Defence signed defence contracts worth ₹4,666 crore to strengthen the Indian Army and Indian Navy. The deal includes Close Quarter Battle Carbines for both forces and Heavyweight Torpedoes for the Indian Navy. The Close Quarter Battle Carbine is a 56 × 45 millimetre compact firearm made under Indigenous Design, Development and Manufacturing. It is designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO’s) Armament Research and Development Establishment, Pune. It is manufactured by Bharat Forge Limited, a Pune-based Indian multinational company.

Notes:
The rare Sirkeer Malkoha has been recorded for the first time in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. It is usually found in the plains of Uttarakhand, making this sighting significant. Sirkeer Malkoha, also called sirkeer cuckoo, is a unique type of cuckoo bird. It is found across the sub-Himalayan Indian subcontinent, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and parts of Pakistan and Rajasthan. It lives in scrublands, thin forests, and hilly areas. The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List classifies it as Least Concern.

Notes:
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.

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:
Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications, launched Land Stack in Chandigarh and Tamil Nadu and released the Glossary of Revenue Terms in New Delhi. These initiatives are part of the Digital India Land Record Modernisation Programme, aiming for modern, transparent, and citizen-centric land governance. Land Stack is an integrated GIS-based digital platform inspired by Singapore, the United Kingdom, and Finland. It provides single-window access to land and property information for citizens and government agencies.

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.