Dear Readers, Daily Current Affairs Questions Quiz for SBI, IBPS, RBI, RRB, SSC Exam 2026 of 03rd February 2026. Daily GK quiz online for bank & competitive exam. Here we have given the Daily Current Affairs Quiz based on the previous days Daily Current Affairs updates. Candidates preparing for IBPS, SBI, RBI, RRB, SSC Exam 2026 & other competitive exams can make use of these Current Affairs Quiz.

 

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1) Consider the following statements regarding the Union Budget 2026–27:

1. The Budget was presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on 1 February 2026 in the Lok Sabha.
2. It was her ninth consecutive Budget presentation.
3. The Budget was prepared in Kartavya Bhawan and inspired by three Kartavyas focusing on economic growth, people’s capacity, and inclusive development.
4. The Budget speech lasted 2 hours and 10 minutes.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 2, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 3 and 4 only

(e) 1, 2, 3 and 4

2) Which bank launched a Global Trade Finance Centre (GTFC) in Kolkata to strengthen trade finance and global banking operations?

(a) Punjab National Bank

(b) Bank of Baroda

(c) State Bank of India

(d) ICICI Bank

(e) HDFC Bank

3) What is the primary objective of the Self-Help Entrepreneur (SHE) Marts, builds on the Lakhpati Didi Programme  announced in the Union Budget 2026–27?

(a) To provide women entrepreneurs with structured market platforms and strengthen SHG-led enterprises

(b) To promote microfinance lending to rural households

(c) To set up government-owned retail chains across urban areas

(d) To provide training for women in digital literacy only

(e) To create large industrial parks for women-led startups

4) What is the total net allocation for the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in the Union Budget 2026–27, including funds from the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)?

(a) ₹73,990.94 crore

(b) ₹81,005.24 crore

(c) ₹53,398.17 crore

(d) ₹80,927.94 crore

(e) ₹85,000 crore

5) The Union Budget 2026-27 proposed an excise-duty exemption on the biogas or compressed biogas (CBG) component in blended compressed natural gas (CNG) to promote renewable gas use and reduce India’s dependence on imported fossil fuels.Which scheme, launched in 2018, aims to promote compressed biogas (CBG) production in India?

(a) PM-KUSUM

(b) SATAT (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation)

(c) Ujjwala Yojana

(d) National Bio-Energy Mission

(e) Swachh Bharat Mission

6) Which organisation will implement the ground-based astronomy infrastructure projects announced in the Union Budget 2026–27?

(a) Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

(b) Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR)

(c) Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA)

(d) Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)

(e) National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA)

7) As of 2026, Adampur Airport in Jalandhar was renamed as which of the following by Prime Minister Narendra Modi?

(a) Sri Guru Nanak Dev Airport

(b) Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji Airport

(c) Shaheed Bhagat Singh Airport

(d) Sri Guru Ravidas Maharaj Ji Airport

(e) Baba Farid Airport

8) The Future Warfare Course 2026, commenced in New Delhi, is a tri-services programme conducted under the aegis of which organisation?

(a) Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)

(b) Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS)

(c) National Defence Academy (NDA)

(d) Indian National Defence College (NDC)

(e) Ministry of Defence (MoD)

9) Which Indian state emerged as the largest contributor to India’s renewable energy capacity as of 31 December 2025?

(a) Gujarat

(b) Tamil Nadu

(c) Maharashtra

(d) Karnataka

(e) Rajasthan

10) According to the UNEP’s State of Finance for Nature 2026 report, how much is spent globally on activities that damage nature for every USD 1 invested in protecting it?

(a) USD 5

(b) USD 10

(c) USD 20

(d) USD 30

(e) USD 50

11) Who won the Song of the Year award at the 68th Grammy Awards 2026?

(a) Lady Gaga

(b) Billie Eilish

(c) Kendrick Lamar

(d) Olivia Dean

(e) Amy Allen

12) According to the United Nations report (2025), states that around 45% of the global population lives in urban areas. How many megacities (population >10 million) does India currently have?

(a) 3

(b) 4

(c) 2

(d) 6

(e) 5

13) In the Global Soft Power Index 2026, which country ranked 1st, and what is India’s position?

(a) United States – 32nd

(b) China – 28th

(c) Japan – 32nd

(d) United Kingdom – 30th

(e) France – 35th

14) What is the primary objective of the “Agni Pariksha” joint exercise conducted by the Indian Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) in Arunachal Pradesh?

(a) To test new missile systems

(b) To familiarise non-artillery personnel with artillery procedures and coordination

(c) To conduct cyber warfare simulations

(d) To train in high-altitude rescue operations

(e) To conduct naval drills

15) Where was the Shore-Based Laboratory of CSIR–National Institute of Oceanography (CSIR–NIO) Regional Centre inaugurated, built at a cost of ₹32 crore?

(a) Chennai, Tamil Nadu

(b) Kochi, Kerala

(c) Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh

(d) Goa

(e) Mumbai, Maharashtra

16) Which airline signed a Letter of Intent Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)to
explore the future supply of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) during Wings India 2026?

(a) IndiGo

(b) Air India

(c) SpiceJet

(d) Akasa Air

(e) GoAir

17) In which country was a 1,400-year-old Zapotec tomb discovered in 2025?

(a) Peru

(b) Mexico

(c) Guatemala

(d) Brazil

(e) Colombia

18) Which Indian badminton player from Haryana won her first BWF Super 300 title at the Thailand Masters 2026?

(a) Devika Sihag

(b) P. V. Sindhu

(c) Saina Nehwal

(d) Ashwini Ponnappa

(e) An Se-young

19) Who became the youngest male player to complete a Career Grand Slam by
winning the Australian Open 2026 men’s singles title?

(a) Novak Djokovic

(b) Rafael Nadal

(c) Carlos Alcaraz

(d) Daniil Medvedev

(e) Stefanos Tsitsipas

20) As of 2026, Father Thomas V. Kunnunkal, who passed away, was awarded which civilian honour in India?

(a) Padma Shri

(b) Padma Vibhushan

(c) Padma Bhushan

(d) Bharat Ratna

(e) Arjuna Award

Answers :

1) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026–27 in the Lok Sabha on February 1, 2026, marking her record ninth consecutive Budget presentation.

The speech clocked a duration of 1 hour and 25 minutes (85 minutes)

The Budget aims to boost capital expenditure, strengthen domestic manufacturing, promote technology and infrastructure development, and maintain fiscal discipline.

This is the first Union Budget prepared in Kartavya Bhawan and is inspired by three Kartavyas (duties).

First Kartavya: Accelerate and sustain economic growth by enhancing productivity, competitiveness and resilience to global volatility.

Second Kartavya: Fulfil aspirations and build capacity of people, making them partners in India’s growth journey.

Third Kartavya: Aligned with Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, ensuring inclusive access to resources and opportunities.

Detailed Explanation:

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026–27 in the Lok Sabha on February 1, 2026, marking her record ninth consecutive Budget presentation.

The speech clocked a duration of 1 hour and 25 minutes (85 minutes)

The Budget aims to boost capital expenditure, strengthen domestic manufacturing, promote technology and infrastructure development, and maintain fiscal discipline.

This is the first Union Budget prepared in Kartavya Bhawan and is inspired by three Kartavyas (duties).

First Kartavya: Accelerate and sustain economic growth by enhancing productivity, competitiveness and resilience to global volatility.

Second Kartavya: Fulfil aspirations and build capacity of people, making them partners in India’s growth journey.

Third Kartavya: Aligned with Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, ensuring inclusive access to resources and opportunities.

Key Highlights :

Budget Estimates & Fiscal Indicators

Total Expenditure (BE 2026–27): ₹53.5 lakh crore

Non-debt Receipts (BE): ₹36.5 lakh crore

Net Tax Receipts (BE): ₹28.7 lakh crore

Fiscal Deficit (BE 2026–27): 4.3% of GDP

Fiscal Deficit (RE 2025–26): 4.4% of GDP

Debt-to-GDP Ratio (BE 2026–27): 55.6% (down from 56.1% in RE 2025–26)

Capital Expenditure (RE 2025–26): ~₹11 lakh crore

Public Capex (FY 2026–27): ₹12.2 lakh crore

Gross Market Borrowings: ₹17.2 lakh crore

Net Market Borrowings: ₹11.7 lakh crore

First Kartavya – 6 Key Growth Interventions

Biopharma SHAKTI launched with ₹10,000 crore outlay (5 years) to make India a global biopharma hub.

3 new NIPERs to be set up and 7 existing NIPERs upgraded.

1,000+ accredited clinical trial sites to be created across India.

India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 2.0 to boost equipment, materials, full-stack Indian IP and supply chains.

Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme outlay increased to ₹40,000 crore.

Dedicated Rare Earth Corridors to be developed in Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

3 Chemical Parks to be established via challenge-based, cluster plug-and-play model.

Capital Goods & Manufacturing

Hi-Tech Tool Rooms to be set up by CPSEs for precision manufacturing.

Construction & Infrastructure Equipment (CIE) Scheme introduced.

Container Manufacturing Scheme with ₹10,000 crore (5 years) announced.

Textiles & Traditional Sectors

Integrated Textile Programme launched covering National Fibre Scheme, Textile Expansion & Employment Scheme, and Mega Textile Parks.

Mahatma Gandhi Gram Swaraj Initiative to strengthen khadi, handloom and handicrafts.

MSMEs & Legacy Industries

200 legacy industrial clusters to be revived through technology and infrastructure upgrades.

₹10,000 crore SME Growth Fund to create “Champion MSMEs”.

Self-Reliant India Fund gets additional ₹2,000 crore.

Corporate Mitras to be developed via ICAI, ICSI and ICMAI, especially in Tier-II & Tier-III cities.

Infrastructure & Connectivity

Infrastructure Risk Guarantee Fund to de-risk private investment.

Dedicated Freight Corridor from Dankuni (East) to Surat (West) announced.

20 new National Waterways to be operationalised; starting with NW-5 in Odisha.

Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme to raise waterway share to 12% by 2047.

Ship repair hubs to be set up at Varanasi and Patna.

Seaplane VGF Scheme introduced to boost regional connectivity and tourism.

Energy & Urban Development

₹20,000 crore allocation (5 years) for Carbon Capture, Utilisation & Storage (CCUS).

City Economic Regions (CERs) to get ₹5,000 crore each over 5 years.

7 High-Speed Rail Corridors announced including

Mumbai-Pune

Pune-Hyderabad,

Hyderabad-Bengaluru,

Hyderabad-Chennai

Chennai-Bengaluru,

Delhi-Varanasi,

Varanasi-Siliguri.

Second Kartavya – People & Capacity

Education-to-Employment Standing Committee to focus on the Services Sector.

100,000 Allied Health Professionals to be added in 5 years.

5 Regional Medical Hubs to promote medical tourism.

3 new All India Institutes of Ayurveda to be established.

20,000+ veterinary professionals to be added; capital subsidy for vet institutions.

Orange Economy : Indian Institute of Creative Technologies, Mumbai  to be provided support in setting up Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) Content Creator Labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges.

AVGC Content Creator Labs in 15,000 schools and 500 colleges.

One girls’ hostel in every district via VGF/capital support.

Khelo India Mission launched to transform sports over the next decade.

Third Kartavya – Inclusion & Regional Focus

Integrated development of 500 reservoirs and Amrit Sarovars.

Bharat-VISTAAR, a multilingual AI agri-platform, to integrate AgriStack and ICAR data.

Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana for employment in IT, AVGC, hospitality and F&B.

NIMHANS-2 to be set up in North India; institutes in Ranchi and Tezpur upgraded.

Purvodaya & North-East focus with East Coast Industrial Corridor, 5 tourism destinations, and 4,000 e-buses.

Tax Reforms :

New Income Tax Act, 2025 to come into force from April 2026.

Interest awarded by MACT to individuals made fully tax-exempt.

TCS on overseas tour packages reduced to 2%, and LRS education/medical remittances reduced to 2%.

One-time 6-month foreign asset disclosure scheme for small taxpayers announced.

MAT made the final tax rate reduced to 14%, effective from 1 April 2026.

STT on Futures increased to 0.05%, and Options STT raised to 0.15%.

Cloud service providers using Indian data centres get a tax holiday till 2047.

Indirect Taxes & Trade

Basic Customs Duty exemptions extended for Lithium-ion batteries, solar glass, nuclear projects till 2035, and critical minerals.

17 drugs and medicines fully exempted from customs duty.

Duty-free courier export cap of ₹10 lakh removed, boosting e-commerce exports.

Customs Integrated System (CIS) to be rolled out within 2 years.

2) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

State Bank of India (SBI), India’s largest Public Sector Bank (PSB), launched a Global Trade Finance Centre (GTFC) in Kolkata, West Bengal, to strengthen trade finance and global banking operations.

In July 2025, SBI inaugurated two specialised GTFCs located in Kolkata (West Bengal) and Hyderabad (Telangana) on the occasion of its 70th anniversary.

Detailed Explanation:

State Bank of India (SBI), India’s largest Public Sector Bank (PSB), launched a Global Trade Finance Centre (GTFC) in Kolkata, West Bengal, to strengthen trade finance and global banking operations.

In July 2025, SBI inaugurated two specialised GTFCs located in Kolkata (West Bengal) and Hyderabad (Telangana) on the occasion of its 70th anniversary.

The GTFC follows a centralized system to streamline inland trade and efficiently process import and export transactions.

The centre supports SBI branches across eastern and northern India, enabling faster turnaround time, strong compliance oversight, and an enhanced customer experience for domestic and cross-border trade.

3) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

The Union Budget 2026-27 announced the establishment of Self-Help Entrepreneur (SHE) Marts as community-owned retail outlets to strengthen women-led enterprises and deepen the self-help group (SHG) ecosystem across states.

The SHE Marts initiative aims to provide a structured market platform for products made by women entrepreneurs, with Jharkhand emerging as a key beneficiary due to its strong SHG base.

Detailed Explanation:

The Union Budget 2026-27 announced the establishment of Self-Help Entrepreneur (SHE) Marts as community-owned retail outlets to strengthen women-led enterprises and deepen the self-help group (SHG) ecosystem across states.

The SHE Marts initiative aims to provide a structured market platform for products made by women entrepreneurs, with Jharkhand emerging as a key beneficiary due to its strong SHG base.

The programme builds on the Lakhpati Didi Programme and aims to help women transition from credit-based livelihoods to ownership of enterprises.

SHE Marts will be set up within cluster-level federations of SHGs and supported through enhanced and innovative financing instruments to enable women to access organised retail and stable demand.

4) Answer: D

Short Explanation:

The Union Budget 2026-27 allocated ₹73,990.94 crore to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), focusing on telecom infrastructure revival and strengthening state-owned BSNL.

The total net allocation for the DoT in FY27 is ₹80,927.94 crore, including an additional ₹6,937 crore from the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).

Detailed Explanation:

The Union Budget 2026-27 allocated ₹73,990.94 crore to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), focusing on telecom infrastructure revival and strengthening state-owned BSNL.

The allocation for FY27 is 8.65% lower than the FY26 Budget Estimate of ₹81,005.24 crore but 38.56% higher than the FY26 Revised Estimate of ₹53,398.17 crore.

The increase over the revised FY26 figure is largely due to higher capital infusion into Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) for network expansion and financial recovery.

The total net allocation for the DoT in FY27 is ₹80,927.94 crore, including an additional ₹6,937 crore from the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).

Funds from USOF will be used for compensation to telecom service providers, the BharatNet rural broadband programme, and research and development in the telecom sector.

5) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

Detailed Explanation:

The Union Budget 2026-27 proposed an excise-duty exemption on the biogas or compressed biogas (CBG) component in blended compressed natural gas (CNG) to promote renewable gas use and reduce India’s dependence on imported fossil fuels.

The measure aims to correct double taxation, as previously both pure CNG and blended CNG attracted 14% central excise duty, 5% GST, and state-level VAT, which dampened incentives for biogas blending.

Under the new provision, central excise duty will not be levied on the biogas portion of blended CNG, lowering the effective tax burden and improving cost competitiveness for city gas distribution companies (CGDs).

India remains heavily reliant on imported natural gas, with liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports meeting nearly 50% of domestic demand, prompting policy support for renewable alternatives.

The SATAT (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation) scheme, launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, targets 15 million tonnes of CBG production, though only around 190 plants have been commissioned so far.

6) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

The Union Budget 2026-27 announced a major expansion of India’s ground-based astronomy infrastructure, with plans to establish and upgrade four key facilities across Ladakh and southern India.

The initiatives aim to strengthen India’s capabilities in solar physics, deep-space observation, and public science education.

All projects will be implemented by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), headquartered in Bengaluru, including two new national-class telescopes, an upgrade of the Himalayan Chandra Telescope in Ladakh, and a new planetarium-cum-training centre.

Detailed Explanation:

The Union Budget 2026-27 announced a major expansion of India’s ground-based astronomy infrastructure, with plans to establish and upgrade four key facilities across Ladakh and southern India.

The initiatives aim to strengthen India’s capabilities in solar physics, deep-space observation, and public science education.

All projects will be implemented by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), headquartered in Bengaluru, including two new national-class telescopes, an upgrade of the Himalayan Chandra Telescope in Ladakh, and a new planetarium-cum-training centre.

The National Large Solar Telescope will be set up near Pangong Lake, Ladakh, as a two-metre class optical and near-infrared instrument to study the Sun’s magnetic fields, solar flares, and coronal mass ejections, complementing ISRO’s Aditya-L1 mission.

7) Answer: D

Short Explanation:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi renamed Adampur Airport in Jalandhar as Sri Guru Ravidas Maharaj Ji Airport and also inaugurated a new civil terminal at Halwara Airport in Ludhiana.

The renaming honours Guru Ravidas, a revered Bhakti movement saint and social reformer, and carries strong social and cultural significance, especially in Punjab.

Detailed Explanation:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi renamed Adampur Airport in Jalandhar as Sri Guru Ravidas Maharaj Ji Airport and also inaugurated a new civil terminal at Halwara Airport in Ludhiana.

The renaming honours Guru Ravidas, a revered Bhakti movement saint and social reformer, and carries strong social and cultural significance, especially in Punjab.

The decision fulfilled a long-pending demand from various political parties and social groups.

A resolution for renaming Adampur Airport was passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in 2020, and the demand was reiterated by the current state government.

8) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

The third edition of the Future Warfare Course commenced in New Delhi from February 2 to February 25, 2026.

The course is a tri-services programme conducted under the aegis of Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) in collaboration with the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS).

Detailed Explanation:

The third edition of the Future Warfare Course commenced in New Delhi from February 2 to February 25, 2026.

The course is a tri-services programme conducted under the aegis of Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) in collaboration with the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS).

It brings together officers from the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force, along with experts from the defence industry.

The programme focuses on future warfighting concepts, emerging and disruptive technologies, geopolitical challenges, and indigenous defence capabilities.

9) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

Gujarat emerged as the largest contributor to India’s renewable energy capacity, accounting for 16.50% of the national total as of 31 December 2025.

Gujarat ranks 1st in India in total installed renewable energy capacity with 42.583 GW.

Detailed Explanation:

Gujarat emerged as the largest contributor to India’s renewable energy capacity, accounting for 16.50% of the national total as of 31 December 2025.

Gujarat ranks 1st in India in total installed renewable energy capacity with 42.583 GW.

The state contributes 16.50% of India’s total renewable energy capacity, reflecting strong policy support and infrastructure readiness.

Gujarat ranks 1st in wind power capacity and 2nd in solar power capacity.

Total installed solar capacity stands at 25,529.40 MW (December 2025), including ground-mounted, rooftop, hybrid, and off-grid systems such as PM-KUSUM.

Major solar parks include Charanka, Radhanesda, and Dholera.

10) Answer: D

Short Explanation:

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) released The State of Finance for Nature 2026 report, highlighting a stark imbalance in global environmental financing.

The report finds that for every USD 1 invested in protecting nature, the world spends nearly USD 30 on activities that damage it, with USD 7.3 trillion flowing into nature-negative finance in 2023.

Detailed Explanation:

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) released The State of Finance for Nature 2026 report, highlighting a stark imbalance in global environmental financing.

The report finds that for every USD 1 invested in protecting nature, the world spends nearly USD 30 on activities that damage it, with USD 7.3 trillion flowing into nature-negative finance in 2023.

Of the total nature-negative finance, USD 4.9 trillion came from private sources, mainly in energy, utilities, industrials, and basic materials, while USD 2.4 trillion came from environmentally harmful public subsidies to fossil fuels, agriculture, and infrastructure.

11) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

The 68th Grammy Awards 2026 celebrated global excellence in music, recognising top artists across pop, rap, rock, country, R&B, electronic, classical, and global music categories.

General / Major Categories:

Song of the Year: Billie Eilish – Wildflower

Best New Artist: Olivia Dean

Producer of the Year: Cirkut

Songwriter of the Year: Amy Allen

Detailed Explanation:

The 68th Grammy Awards 2026 celebrated global excellence in music, recognising top artists across pop, rap, rock, country, R&B, electronic, classical, and global music categories.

The Grammy Awards are among the most prestigious international music honours, recognising artistic excellence, creativity, and cultural impact across genres.

The 2026 ceremony featured a mix of established global stars and emerging artists, reflecting changing listener preferences and musical diversity.

Prominent winners included Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, and Olivia Dean.

General / Major Categories:

Song of the Year: Billie Eilish – Wildflower

Best New Artist: Olivia Dean

Producer of the Year: Cirkut

Songwriter of the Year: Amy Allen

12) Answer: E

Short Explanation:

Detailed Explanation:

A United Nations report (2025) states that around 45% of the global population lives in urban areas, a sharp rise from 20% in 1950.

India has emerged as one of the biggest drivers of global urban growth, placing it at the centre of worldwide urbanisation trends.

India currently has five megacities, each with a population of more than 10 million.

New Delhi, with a population of over 30 million, is among the four largest cities in the world, alongside Jakarta, Dhaka and Tokyo.

13) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

Global Soft Power Index 2026 ranks countries based on their ability to influence and attract others through culture, values, governance, and ideas, rather than military force or economic pressure.

Top 10 Countries in Global Soft Power Index 2026:

1st – United States: 74.9

2nd – China: 73.5

3rd – Japan: 70.6

4th – United Kingdom: 69.2

5th – Germany: 67.7

6th – France: 65.8

7th – Switzerland: 63.2

8th – Canada: 63.2

9th – Italy: 61.6

10th – United Arab Emirates: 59.4

India’s Position:

India ranks 32nd globally with a score of 48.0.

India dropped 2 positions and declined by 1.8 points compared to the previous year.

Detailed Explanation:

Global Soft Power Index 2026 ranks countries based on their ability to influence and attract others through culture, values, governance, and ideas, rather than military force or economic pressure.

Soft Power refers to a nation’s ability to shape preferences of other countries through culture, diplomacy, values, innovation, and global reputation.

Strong soft power helps attract tourists, investors, skilled talent, and strengthens international partnerships.

It is often described as the power of perception, where a country’s global image directly impacts its influence and growth.

The Global Soft Power Index measures soft power using Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and nation brand attributes.

Top 10 Countries in Global Soft Power Index 2026:

1st – United States: 74.9

2nd – China: 73.5

3rd – Japan: 70.6

4th – United Kingdom: 69.2

5th – Germany: 67.7

6th – France: 65.8

7th – Switzerland: 63.2

8th – Canada: 63.2

9th – Italy: 61.6

10th – United Arab Emirates: 59.4

India’s Position:

India ranks 32nd globally with a score of 48.0.

India dropped 2 positions and declined by 1.8 points compared to the previous year.

14) Answer: B

The Indian Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) conducted a joint training exercise named “Agni Pariksha” at Sigar in East Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh from January 19 to 24,2026 to enhance inter-force combat synergy and operational integration.

The primary objective of Agni Pariksha was to familiarise non-artillery personnel with artillery procedures, coordination mechanisms, and the execution of firing missions.

15) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ministry of Science & Technology (MoS&T) and Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), inaugurated the Shore-Based Laboratory of CSIR–National Institute of Oceanography (CSIR–NIO) Regional Centre at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

Detailed Explanation:

Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ministry of Science & Technology (MoS&T) and Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), inaugurated the Shore-Based Laboratory of CSIR–National Institute of Oceanography (CSIR–NIO) Regional Centre at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

The CSIR–NIO Regional Centre has been established at Yendada Village, Rushikonda, Visakhapatnam, and was constructed by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD).

The facility was built at a cost of ₹32 crore with a built-up area of 4,550 square metres (sq m).

16) Answer: D

Short Explanation:

Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Akasa Air to explore the future supply of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) during the Wings India 2026 airshow in Hyderabad, Telangana.

Detailed Explanation:

Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Akasa Air to explore the future supply of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) during the Wings India 2026 airshow in Hyderabad, Telangana.

The LoI establishes a framework for collaboration to assess how IOCL might supply SAF to Akasa Air in the future.

IOCL and Akasa Air will evaluate potential SAF supply volumes, delivery locations, timelines, and approved sustainable feedstocks and production pathways that meet global standards.

17) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

Archaeologists in southern Mexico discovered a 1,400-year-old tomb belonging to the Zapotec civilization at San Pablo Huitzo, Oaxaca in 2025, providing insights into Indigenous funerary traditions and social organisation.

The tomb dates to around A.D. 600, during the flourishing of the Zapotecs, also known as the “Cloud People”, who inhabited the Oaxaca Valley.

Detailed Explanation:

Archaeologists in southern Mexico discovered a 1,400-year-old tomb belonging to the Zapotec civilization at San Pablo Huitzo, Oaxaca in 2025, providing insights into Indigenous funerary traditions and social organisation.

The tomb dates to around A.D. 600, during the flourishing of the Zapotecs, also known as the “Cloud People”, who inhabited the Oaxaca Valley.

The Zapotec civilisation emerged around 700 B.C. and continued until the Spanish conquest in 1521, with Zapotec-speaking communities still present in Mexico today.

At the entrance of the tomb, archaeologists found a large carved owl with wide eyes, whose beak reveals the painted face of a Zapotec lord, symbolising death, power, and honoured ancestors.

18) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

Indian badminton player Devika Sihag won her first BWF Super 300 title at the Thailand Masters 2026, marking the biggest breakthrough of her career.

The 20-year-old shuttler from Haryana defeated Goh Jin Wei of Malaysia in the women’s singles final.

Detailed Explanation:

Indian badminton player Devika Sihag won her first BWF Super 300 title at the Thailand Masters 2026, marking the biggest breakthrough of her career.

The 20-year-old shuttler from Haryana defeated Goh Jin Wei of Malaysia in the women’s singles final.

The final ended after Goh Jin Wei retired due to a hamstring injury.

At the time of retirement, Devika Sihag was leading convincingly 21–8, 6–3, showing complete dominance.

Devika’s performance in the final highlighted her aggressive stroke play, sharp net control and strong mental composure.

Despite the premature end, her overall tournament performance clearly justified the title win.

19) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz defeated Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open 2026 men’s singles final, becoming the youngest male player to complete a Career Grand Slam at the age of 22 years.

Detailed Explanation:

Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz defeated Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open 2026 men’s singles final, becoming the youngest male player to complete a Career Grand Slam at the age of 22 years.

The men’s singles final of Australian Open 2026 was held.

Novak Djokovic won the first set 6–2, using his experience and baseline control.

Carlos Alcaraz made a strong comeback and won the next three sets 6–2, 6–3, 7–5.

Alcaraz showed superior physical endurance, aggressive baseline play, and tactical maturity.

20) Answer: A

Father Thomas V. Kunnunkal, a Jesuit priest and a prominent personality in India’s post-Independence education system, passed away at the age of 99 in New Delhi, Delhi.

He was born on July 03, 1926, in Alappuzha, Kerala.

He was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s 4th highest civilian honor, in 1974 in the field of literature and education.

In 2005, he published a book titled ‘The Role of Teachers on National Regeneration’.