Current Affairs Quiz - January 2026

Notes:
A 19-year-old college girl in Tamil Nadu died after consuming borax for weight loss. Borax is also called sodium tetraborate decahydrate, a white powdery mineral. It is composed of boron, sodium, and oxygen. It is used in glass and pottery glazes, metallurgy, welding flux, fertilizer additive, soap, disinfectant, mouthwash, and water softener. It naturally occurs in evaporite deposits from seasonal lake evaporation and can be synthetically produced.

Notes:
India did not attend the ceremonial launch of the Board of Peace, even though it had received a formal invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump. The Board of Peace is a United States–led intergovernmental initiative announced by President Donald Trump during the World Economic Forum (WEF) held in Davos, Switzerland. The primary mandate of the Board is to oversee post-war reconstruction and governance of the Gaza Strip through a technocratic administrative framework rather than traditional political mechanisms. Its long-term vision includes expanding its role to address and resolve global conflicts in situations where existing international institutions are perceived to have failed.

Notes:
National Girl Child Day is observed across India on 24 January to promote awareness about the rights, education, health, safety, and overall welfare of girls. It highlights India’s commitment to gender equality and the need to address issues like gender bias, child marriage, and unequal opportunities. The day was first observed in 2008 after being initiated by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India. Its objective is to draw attention to challenges faced by girls and promote awareness about education, nutrition, health, and legal rights.

Notes:
The Punjab government launched the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana, a universal health insurance scheme providing free cashless medical treatment up to ₹10 lakh per family. The scheme covers all 65 lakh families in Punjab, benefiting nearly three crore residents. Eligibility requires possession of an Aadhaar card and voter card. It includes more than 2,500 medical procedures across government and empanelled private hospitals, covering specialties like cardiology, oncology, neurology, nephrology, orthopaedics, general medicine, and urology.

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:
Double-humped Bactrian camels from Ladakh, named Galwan and Nubra, participated in the Republic Day Parade on Kartavya Path for the first time. They represents India’s ancient Silk Route heritage, which connected India with Central Asia, Mongolia and China for over 6,000 years. In India, it is found only in Ladakh’s Nubra Valley, making the parade appearance nationally significant. Globally, it occurs in Mongolia, China, Kazakhstan, and Central Asia.

Notes:
Researchers discovered a new wildflower species named Lepidagathis konkanensis in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. It was found in Ratnagiri district during a floristic survey of lateritic plateaus, which are iron-rich and harsh habitats. The species is currently known from a very small area of less than 65 square kilometres. The name honours the Konkan region, which is isolated by the Arabian Sea and Sahyadri Mountains. Scientists recommend its status as Data Deficient under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Notes:
The results of the Republic Day Parade 2026 for Best Marching Contingents and Best Tableaux have been officially announced. Among the three Services, the Indian Navy was adjudged the Best Marching Contingent. In the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Auxiliary Forces category, the Delhi Police won the award. In the States and Union Territories category for tableaux, Maharashtra secured first place with Ganeshotsav: A Symbol of Aatmanirbharta. Jammu and Kashmir stood second for Handicrafts and Folk Dances of Jammu & Kashmir, while Kerala was third for Water Metro and 100% Digital Literacy: Aatmanirbhar Kerala for Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Notes:
The Indian Army has officially selected the US-based firm Shield AI to supply its advanced V-BAT autonomous drones under an emergency procurement deal, marking a major step in adopting AI-driven warfare systems. This procurement is significant as it enables India to integrate Hivemind AI software, allowing sovereign development and control of autonomous military capabilities. The V-BAT autonomous unmanned aerial system (UAS) is developed and manufactured by Shield AI, a US-based defense technology company. The V-BAT is classified as a Group 3 Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) designed for long-endurance and high-risk missions.

Notes:
The 39th Surajkund International Crafts Mela 2026 was inaugurated on 31 January at Surajkund in Faridabad, Haryana. The Mela Sathi App was launched to improve visitor support and experience. The event highlighted artisans as custodians of traditional knowledge and key contributors to a sustainable and inclusive economy. The central theme is “Local to Global”, promoting traditional crafts on an international platform. Uttar Pradesh and Meghalaya are the theme states, and Egypt is the partner nation.