Dear Readers, Daily Current Affairs Questions Quiz for SBI, IBPS, RBI, RRB, SSC Exam 2026 of 30th January 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) The Reserve Bank of India’s proposed climate risk disclosure norms for domestic banks were originally planned to be implemented from which financial year?

(a) FY2024

(b) FY2025

(c) FY2026

(d) FY2027

(e) FY2028

2) The Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026, notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, require waste to be segregated at the source into how many streams?

(a) Two

(b) Three

(c) Four

(d) Five

(e) Six

3) The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) disbursed ₹17 lakh to which body under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework?

(a) Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board

(b) National Botanical Research Institute

(c) Indian Council of Agricultural Research

(d) Central Pollution Control Board

(e) Biodiversity Management Committee of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation

4) Which scheme’s tableau will be showcased at the Republic Day Parade after ten years, as highlighted by the Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj?

(a) SVAMITVA

(b) Digital India

(c) Jal Jeevan Mission

(d) PMGSY

(e) AMRUT

5) The newly launched Aadhaar App allows users to manage how many Aadhaar profiles on a single device under the concept of “One Family – One App”?

(a) Two

(b) Five

(c) Four

(d) Three

(e) Six

6) Who attended as the Chief Guest at the 3rd International Conclave organised by IBBI and INSOL India to mark a decade of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC)?

(a) Justice D. Y. Chandrachud

(b) Justice R. F. Nariman

(c) Justice U. U. Lalit

(d) Justice N. V. Ramana

(e) Justice (Retd.) Ramalingam Sudhakar

7) The Brazilian theatre production Passado Presente Zenturo was selected for which major Indian theatre festival for its international debut?

(a) Bharat Rang Mahotsav

(b) META Awards Festival

(c) Jaipur Literature Festival

(d) Surajkund Mela

(e) Prithvi Theatre Festival

8) Which Central Ministry/Department won the award for Best Tableau in the Republic Day Parade 2026?

(a) Ministry of Tourism

(b) Ministry of Education

(c) Ministry of Culture

(d) Ministry of Information & Broadcasting

(e) Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

9) Which contingent was selected as the Best Marching Contingent among Services under the Popular Choice category based on the MyGov online poll?

(a) Rajput Regiment

(b) Gorkha Regiment

(c) Assam Regiment

(d) Madras Regiment

(e) Sikh Regiment

10) Who has been awarded the 2026 IEEE Medal of Honor for visionary leadership in accelerated computing?

(a) Satya Nadella

(b) Jensen Huang

(c) Sundar Pichai

(d) Elon Musk

(e) Tim Cook

11) Which State secured the first position in the implementation of the Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) (PESA) Act, 1996 among Fifth Schedule Areas?

(a) Madhya Pradesh

(b) Himachal Pradesh

(c) Chhattisgarh

(d) Maharashtra

(e) Odisha

12) Who is the author of the book The Life and Legacy of Arun Jaitley?

(a) M. Venkaiah Naidu

(b) Sumant Batra

(c) Arun Jaitley

(d) Om Books International

(e) SP Singh Baghel

13) Who authored the Telugu book Agni Sarsulu Vikasinchina Kamalam Draupadi Murmu?

(a) Draupadi Murmu

(b) Lakshamma

(c) Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad

(d) M. Venkaiah Naidu

(e) SP Singh Baghel

14) The Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron (1TS) departed Belawan, Indonesia, after a successful three-day port call. How many littoral (coastal) states are part of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)?

(a) 32

(b) 36

(c) 35

(d) 38

(e) 40

15) What is the maximum range of the Long Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile (LR-AShM) currently developed by DRDO for the Indian Navy?

(a) 1,500 km

(b) 1,800 km

(c) 2,000 km

(d) 2,500 km

(e) 3,500 km

16) Which Indian company signed a term sheet for equity participation in a
Singapore-based ship-owning company during India Energy Week 2026?

(a) ONGC

(b) NTPC

(c) Indian Oil Corporation

(d) Bharat Petroleum

(e) GAIL (India) Limited

17) How much primary capital will Emirates NBD Bank infuse to acquire a controlling stake in RBL Bank?

(a) USD 1 billion

(b) USD 2 billion

(c) USD 3 billion

(d) USD 4 billion

(e) USD 5 billion

18) What is the name of Microsoft’s second-generation in-house AI processor?

(a) Athena 200

(b) Titan AI

(c) Apollo 2

(d) Maia 200

(e) Nova 200

19) Which organization did NITI Aayog sign a Statement of Intent (SoI) with to advance digital literacy and skill development in Aspirational Blocks?

(a) NIIT Foundation

(b) Infosys Foundation

(c) TATA Trusts

(d) Tech Mahindra Foundation

(e) Microsoft India

20) Which government department signed an agreement with Stock Holding Services Limited (SSL) to expand capital market services across India?

(a) Department of Financial Services

(b) Department of Commerce

(c) Department of Posts

(d) Ministry of Corporate Affairs

(e) Ministry of Finance

21) Which organization collaborated with the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) to conduct a Transliteration Capacity-Building Workshop on Ayurvedic manuscripts?

(a) All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA)

(b) Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)

(c) Banaras Hindu University (BHU)

(d) National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA)

(e) Central Sanskrit University (CSU)

22) Which institute developed a predictive framework identifying 492 potential glacial lake formation sites in the Eastern Himalayas?

(a) IIT Delhi

(b) IIT Kharagpur

(c) IIT Guwahati

(d) IIT Bombay

(e) IIT Roorkee

23) As of 2026, how close is the Doomsday Clock set to midnight, highlighting heightened risks to humanity from nuclear weapons, climate change, and artificial intelligence?

(a) 17 minutes

(b) 85 seconds

(c) 2 minutes

(d) 10 minutes

(e) 30 seconds

24) Who dedicated the new Aadhaar App to the nation, a next-generation mobile platform developed by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to provide Aadhaar Number Holders (ANH) with secure and convenient digital identity services?

(a) Amit Shah

(b) Jitin Prasada

(c) Rajeev Chandrasekhar

(d) Nandan Nilekani

(e) Piyush Goyal

25) Ajit Pawar, who passed away in January 2026, was serving as the Deputy Chief Minister of which state at the time of his demise?

(a) Gujarat

(b) Maharashtra

(c) Karnataka

(d) Rajasthan

(e) Madhya Pradesh

Answers :

1) Answer: D

Short Explanation:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has put on hold plans to require domestic banks to disclose and manage climate-related risks.

Draft rules published in 2022 proposed voluntary implementation starting FY2027 (April 1, 2027).

Detailed Explanation:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has put on hold plans to require domestic banks to disclose and manage climate-related risks.

Globally, understanding climate-related risks and green investments is key to transitioning to a low-carbon economy, with countries like the United Kingdom (UK) and Japan making disclosures mandatory for financial institutions.

RBI’s proposed climate disclosure norms, under discussion with banks since 2022, would have required regular disclosure of climate-related risks in loan portfolios, along with mitigation strategies and targets.

Draft rules published in 2022 proposed voluntary implementation starting FY2027 (April 1, 2027).

RBI decided to delay final guidelines, citing that climate disclosure is not a priority and that implementation could be costly and onerous for corporates lacking mandatory climate reporting.

2) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

The Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026 have been notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and will come into force from 1 April 2026, replacing the 2016 rules.

Segregation of waste at source into four streams—wet, dry, sanitary and special care waste—has been made mandatory.

Detailed Explanation:

The Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026 have been notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and will come into force from 1 April 2026, replacing the 2016 rules.

The rules are based on the principles of Circular Economy, Extended Producer Responsibility and the Polluter Pays principle to improve waste segregation and management.

Environmental compensation will be imposed for non-compliance such as operating without registration, false reporting, forged documents or improper waste management.

The Central Pollution Control Board will issue guidelines, while State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees will levy environmental compensation.

Segregation of waste at source into four streams—wet, dry, sanitary and special care waste—has been made mandatory.

3) Answer: E

Short Explanation:

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) is strengthening India’s commitment to sustainable use of biological resources and fair benefit sharing under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework.

The NBA has disbursed ₹17 lakh to the Biodiversity Management Committee of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation through the Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board.

The payment is linked to the commercial use of Bacillus genus soil micro-organisms for developing probiotic products.

Detailed Explanation:

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) is strengthening India’s commitment to sustainable use of biological resources and fair benefit sharing under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework.

The NBA has disbursed ₹17 lakh to the Biodiversity Management Committee of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation through the Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board.

The payment is linked to the commercial use of Bacillus genus soil micro-organisms for developing probiotic products.

The benefit-sharing mechanism ensures that part of the commercial profits is returned to local communities for development activities.

The NBA has observed a growing role of micro-organisms in biotechnology-driven industrial innovation.

The biotechnology sector has contributed around ₹10 crore to the national ABS fund.

Microbial resources are increasingly important in healthcare, agriculture and industrial applications.

Maharashtra is the second-highest beneficiary State in ABS disbursements after Andhra Pradesh.

4) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

On the eve of the 77th Republic Day, Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel honoured elected Panchayat representatives invited as Special Guests for the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi.

The Minister highlighted that after ten years, the SVAMITVA scheme tableau will be showcased at the Republic Day Parade.

Detailed Explanation:

On the eve of the 77th Republic Day, Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel honoured elected Panchayat representatives invited as Special Guests for the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi.

The event was attended by Shri Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, along with senior ministry officials.

Several key initiatives and publications were launched, including PANCHAM chatbot, PESA Rankings 2024–25, 17th Gramoday Sankalp magazine, Compendium of Basic Statistics on PRIs–2025, and the Expert Committee Report on Service Delivery at Panchayat Level.

The Minister highlighted that after ten years, the SVAMITVA scheme tableau will be showcased at the Republic Day Parade.

5) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Electronics & IT Jitin Prasada dedicated the new Aadhaar App to the nation.

The app has been developed by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

It is a next-generation, privacy-first mobile application for Aadhaar number holders.

The app allows management of up to five Aadhaar profiles on one device, enabling the concept of “One Family – One App.”

Users can update their address and registered mobile number through the app, with more services planned.

Detailed Explanation:

Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Electronics & IT Jitin Prasada dedicated the new Aadhaar App to the nation.

The app has been developed by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

It is a next-generation, privacy-first mobile application for Aadhaar number holders.

The app enables users to securely carry, show, share and verify their Aadhaar digitally.

The app gives residents greater control, consent and convenience over their identity data.

The app supports multiple real-life use cases such as hotel check-ins via QR code, optional face verification, age verification for cinema tickets, hospital visitor verification and gig worker verification.

It includes features like face verification for proof of presence, single-click biometric lock and unlock, and viewing of authentication history.

A QR-based contact card is provided for easy sharing of contact details.

The app allows management of up to five Aadhaar profiles on one device, enabling the concept of “One Family – One App.”

Users can update their address and registered mobile number through the app, with more services planned.

Residents can share only required identity fields through customised QR codes generated by requesting entities.

6) Answer: E

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI), in association with INSOL India, organised the 3rd International Conclave to mark a decade of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) and discuss the future of insolvency resolution in India.

Justice (Retd.) Ramalingam Sudhakar, President, NCLT, attended as the Chief Guest and highlighted the transformative impact of the IBC on India’s insolvency framework.

7) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

The Brazilian theatre productionPassado PresenteZenturo was scheduled for its international debut in 2026, with performances in India and Russia, marking a major milestone for Brazil’s contemporary theatre.

The play was selected for the 25th Bharat Rang Mahotsav, one of the world’s leading theatre festivals, organised by the National School of Drama (NSD) under the Ministry of Culture, India.

Detailed Explanation:

The Brazilian theatre productionPassado PresenteZenturo was scheduled for its international debut in 2026, with performances in India and Russia, marking a major milestone for Brazil’s contemporary theatre.

The play was selected for the 25th Bharat Rang Mahotsav, one of the world’s leading theatre festivals, organised by the National School of Drama (NSD) under the Ministry of Culture, India.

During the Indian leg, the production was staged in Bengaluru on 5 February 2026 and New Delhi on 7 February 2026.

8) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

The results of the Best Marching Contingents and Best Tableaux of the Republic Day Parade 2026 were announced after evaluation by three separate panels of judges.

The Best Tableau from Central Ministries/Departments award was won by the Ministry of Culture for “Vande Mataram – The Soul Cry of a Nation”.

Detailed Explanation:

The results of the Best Marching Contingents and Best Tableaux of the Republic Day Parade 2026 were announced after evaluation by three separate panels of judges.

Among the three Services, the Indian Navy was selected as the Best Marching Contingent, while Delhi Police won the award among CAPFs/Other Auxiliary Forces.

The top three tableaux from States/UTs were Maharashtra (Ganeshotsav: A Symbol of Aatmanirbharta), Jammu & Kashmir (Handicrafts and Folk Dances of J&K), and Kerala (Water Metro & 100% Digital Literacy).

The Best Tableau from Central Ministries/Departments award was won by the Ministry of Culture for “Vande Mataram – The Soul Cry of a Nation”.

Special prizes were awarded to the Central Public Works Department for “Vande Mataram – Commemoration of 150 Years” and the dance group “Vande Mataram: The Eternal Resonance of India”.

9) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

• The results of the Best Marching Contingents and Best Tableaux of the Republic Day Parade 2026 were announced after evaluation by three separate panels of judges.

• The top three tableaux from States/UTs were Maharashtra (Ganeshotsav: A Symbol of Aatmanirbharta), Jammu & Kashmir (Handicrafts and Folk Dances of J&K), and Kerala (Water Metro & 100% Digital Literacy).
• Under the Popular Choice category, based on the MyGov online poll, the Assam Regiment was selected as the Best Marching Contingent among Services.

Detailed Explanation:

• The results of the Best Marching Contingents and Best Tableaux of the Republic Day Parade 2026 were announced after evaluation by three separate panels of judges.
• The top three tableaux from States/UTs were Maharashtra (Ganeshotsav: A Symbol of Aatmanirbharta), Jammu & Kashmir (Handicrafts and Folk Dances of J&K), and Kerala (Water Metro & 100% Digital Literacy).
• The Best Tableau from Central Ministries/Departments award was won by the Ministry of Culture for “Vande Mataram – The Soul Cry of a Nation”.
• Special prizes were awarded to the Central Public Works Department for “Vande Mataram – Commemoration of 150 Years” and the dance group “Vande Mataram: The Eternal Resonance of India”.
• Under the Popular Choice category, based on the MyGov online poll, the Assam Regiment was selected as the Best Marching Contingent among Services.
• In the Popular Choice category, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) won the award among CAPFs.

10) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

IEEE, the world’s largest technical professional organization with over 500,000 members, has named Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA, as the recipient of the 2026 IEEE Medal of Honor.

The IEEE Medal of Honor is the organization’s highest recognition and carries a $2 million prize.

Detailed Explanation:

IEEE, the world’s largest technical professional organization with over 500,000 members, has named Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA, as the recipient of the 2026 IEEE Medal of Honor.

The IEEE Medal of Honor is the organization’s highest recognition and carries a $2 million prize.

Jensen Huang is being honoured for a lifetime of visionary leadership and pioneering work in accelerated computing.

His work has positioned NVIDIA at the forefront of global technological innovation.

Under his leadership, NVIDIA invented the first graphics processing unit (GPU) in 1999, revolutionising computing.

The invention of the GPU enabled breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, medicine, engineering, robotics, autonomous vehicles and manufacturing.

Past recipients include pioneers such as Vinton G. Cerf, Robert Kahn, Bradford Parkinson and Morris Chang.

NVIDIA became the first company to reach a $5 trillion market capitalisation in October 2025.

11) Answer: D

Among the 10 States with Fifth Schedule Areas where PESA Act applies, Maharashtra bagged the first position in implementation of PESA, closely followed by Madhya Pradesh in second position and Himachal Pradesh in third position.

Minister of State for Panchayat Raj Shri SP Singh Baghel congratulated the top performing States and encouraged the other States to follow their foot-steps so that the spirit of PESA Act can be implemented in letter and spirit to strengthen Gram Sabhas and Panchayats in the Fifth Schedule Areas.

12) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

A book titled The Life and Legacy of Arun Jaitley has been formally launched, chronicling the life, contributions, and legacy of late leader Arun Jaitley.

The book is authored by Sumant Batra and published by Om Books International.

Detailed Explanation:

A book titled The Life and Legacy of Arun Jaitley has been formally launched, chronicling the life, contributions, and legacy of late leader Arun Jaitley.

The book is authored by Sumant Batra and published by Om Books International.

Former Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu attended the event as the chief guest, underlining Jaitley’s national stature.

The book portrays Arun Jaitley as an exceptional public figure who left a lasting imprint across law, politics, governance, and public service in India.

13) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

The Telugu book 'Agni SarsuluVikasinchina Kamalam Draupadi Murmu' (The lotus that bloomed in the fire of embers), which describes the life of President Draupadi Murmu from her tribal roots to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, was released at Andhra University in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP).

This book was released by Lakshamma, a woman sanitation worker who cleans the roads at Andhra University.

It has been written by former Member of Parliament (MP) Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad (President of the World Hindi Council).

Detailed Explanation:

The Telugu book 'Agni SarsuluVikasinchina Kamalam Draupadi Murmu' (The lotus that bloomed in the fire of embers), which describes the life of President Draupadi Murmu from her tribal roots to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, was released at Andhra University in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP).

This book was released by Lakshamma, a woman sanitation worker who cleans the roads at Andhra University.

It has been written by former Member of Parliament (MP) Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad (President of the World Hindi Council).

The book was unveiled by Lakshamma, a woman sanitation worker who cleans the roads at Andhra University, who represents the story of Murmu's empowerment for marginalized communities.

14) Answer: B

The Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron (1TS) departed Belawan, Indonesia, after a successful three-day port call, aimed at strengthening maritime engagement with Indonesia under the IONS framework and the MAHASAGAR vision.

The visit involved INS Tir, INS Shardul, INS Sujata, and ICGS Sarathi, whose crews and trainees engaged extensively with the Indonesian Navy.

The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) comprises 36 littoral (coastal) states, organized into four main regional groups: South Asian, West Asian, East African, and South East Asian/Australian.

15) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

At the 77th Republic Day Parade on Kartavya Path, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) unveiled the Long Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile (LR-AShM) for the first time, highlighting India’s advances in hypersonic weapon systems.

The LR-AShM is designed to meet the Indian Navy’s coastal battery requirements and is capable of engaging both static and moving targets at ranges of up to 1,500 km, with multiple payload options.

Detailed Explanation:

At the 77th Republic Day Parade on Kartavya Path, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) unveiled the Long Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile (LR-AShM) for the first time, highlighting India’s advances in hypersonic weapon systems.

The LR-AShM is designed to meet the Indian Navy’s coastal battery requirements and is capable of engaging both static and moving targets at ranges of up to 1,500 km, with multiple payload options.

Extended-range variants of up to 3,500 km are under development, and Army and Air Force versions are also being considered.

The LR-AShM follows a quasi-ballistic trajectory, starting like a ballistic missile but flying at lower altitudes and manoeuvring mid-course.

It achieves hypersonic speeds of Mach 10 initially and sustains average speeds of Mach 5, using multiple atmospheric skips to evade interception.

The missile’s low-altitude flight, extreme speed, and manoeuvrability make it hard to detect and significantly reduce enemy reaction time.

16) Answer: E

Short Explanation:

GAIL (India) Limited has signed a term sheet for equity participation in a ship-owning company based in Singapore, in partnership with J M Baxi Marine Services and Japan’s Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K LINE).

The term sheet signing took place in the presence of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG).

Detailed Explanation:

GAIL (India) Limited has signed a term sheet for equity participation in a ship-owning company based in Singapore, in partnership with J M Baxi Marine Services and Japan’s Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K LINE).

The term sheet signing took place in the presence of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG).

The agreement was signed during the India Energy Week (IEW) 2026, which was held in Goa.

The equity participation deal relates to a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) carrier, highlighting India’s focus on energy transportation infrastructure.

The LNG carrier is currently under construction at Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) in South Korea (SK).

17) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the proposed acquisition of a majority stake in RBL Bank Limited by UAE-based Emirates NBD Bank, allowing the lender to take control of the Indian private sector bank.

The deal involves a primary capital infusion of about USD 3 billion (₹26,850 crore) to acquire a controlling stake in RBL Bank.

Detailed Explanation:

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the proposed acquisition of a majority stake in RBL Bank Limited by UAE-based Emirates NBD Bank, allowing the lender to take control of the Indian private sector bank.

The deal involves a primary capital infusion of about USD 3 billion (₹26,850 crore) to acquire a controlling stake in RBL Bank.

The proposed combination envisages the acquisition of up to 74% (minimum 51%) shareholding of RBL Bank Limited (RBL) by Emirates NBD Bank (P.J.S.C.).

Emirates NBD is a public joint stock company, listed on the Dubai Financial Market, headquartered in Dubai, UAE, and offers a wide range of banking and financial services internationally.

18) Answer: D

Short Explanation:

Microsoft has introduced the second generation of its in-house artificial intelligence processor, “Maia 200”, along with a new suite of AI-focused software tools, strengthening its push to build an integrated AI ecosystem.

The Maia 200 AI chip builds on Microsoft’s first Maia chip, which was originally introduced in 2023.

Detailed Explanation:

Microsoft has introduced the second generation of its in-house artificial intelligence processor, “Maia 200”, along with a new suite of AI-focused software tools, strengthening its push to build an integrated AI ecosystem.

The Maia 200 AI chip builds on Microsoft’s first Maia chip, which was originally introduced in 2023.

The Maia 200 is manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) using advanced 3-nanometer (3-nm) process technology.

The chip incorporates high-bandwidth memory, enhancing its ability to handle data-intensive AI workloads.

The Maia 200 AI processor is now operational at a Microsoft data centre in Iowa, marking its first live deployment.

Microsoft has plans to expand deployment of the Maia 200 to additional data-centre facilities.

19) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) with NIIT Foundation to advance digital literacy, financial inclusion, and skill development across Aspirational Blocks.

Detailed Explanation:

The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) with NIIT Foundation to advance digital literacy, financial inclusion, and skill development across Aspirational Blocks.

The partnership was formalised in the presence of BVR Subrahmanyam, CEO of NITI Aayog, and Rohit Kumar, Additional Secretary and Mission Director of Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) and Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP), NITI Aayog.

The initiative aims to achieve 100% block coverage, reaching approximately 1.2 lakh beneficiaries, with at least 40% women participation.

The programme focuses on training individuals in basic and advanced digital skills to enable them to access online platforms, government services, and digital tools.

20) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

The Department of Posts (DoP), Ministry of Communications, signed an agreement with Stock Holding Services Limited (SSL) at Dak Bhawan, New Delhi, to expand regulated capital market services across India through the India Post (IP) network.

Detailed Explanation:

The Department of Posts (DoP), Ministry of Communications, signed an agreement with Stock Holding Services Limited (SSL) at Dak Bhawan, New Delhi, to expand regulated capital market services across India through the India Post (IP) network.

Under this partnership, India Post will help citizens participate in organised financial markets by providing access to SSL’s digital investment services.

The capital market services offered include opening of Dematerialized (Demat) and trading accounts, Mutual Fund (MF) investments, participation in Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), and other authorised investment products.

21) Answer: E

Short Explanation:

The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), under the Ministry of Ayush, in collaboration with the Central Sanskrit University (CSU), successfully completed a 15-day Transliteration Capacity-Building Workshop on Ayurvedic manuscripts in Kerala.

Detailed Explanation:

The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), under the Ministry of Ayush, in collaboration with the Central Sanskrit University (CSU), successfully completed a 15-day Transliteration Capacity-Building Workshop on Ayurvedic manuscripts in Kerala.

The workshop was conducted under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between CCRAS and CSU, as part of a national initiative to document, digitise, and promote research-based utilisation of classical Ayurvedic manuscripts.

The workshop was held at the CSU Puranattukara (Guruvayoor) Campus, Thrissur, Kerala, from 12 to 25 January 2026, and brought together 33 scholars, including 18 from Ayurveda and 15 from Sanskrit, promoting an interdisciplinary approach.

22) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

Researchers from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati developed a predictive framework that identified 492 potential glacial lake formation sites in the Eastern Himalayan region.

The study utilised high-resolution Google Earth imagery and digital elevation models (DEMs), enabling realistic forecasts by capturing complex terrain features and uncertainty.

Detailed Explanation:

Researchers from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati developed a predictive framework that identified 492 potential glacial lake formation sites in the Eastern Himalayan region.

The study utilised high-resolution Google Earth imagery and digital elevation models (DEMs), enabling realistic forecasts by capturing complex terrain features and uncertainty.

The framework can support early-warning systems for Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) and guide safer infrastructure planning for roads, hydropower projects, and settlements.

In developing the framework, researchers tested three predictive methods: Logistic Regression (LR), Artificial Neural Network (ANN), and Bayesian Neural Network (BNN).

23) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

The 2026 Doomsday Clock was moved to 85 seconds to midnight, the closest point ever, highlighting heightened risks to humanity from nuclear weapons, climate change, and artificial intelligence.

The clock adjustment was made by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BAS), which warned that rising aggression, nationalism, and erosion of global cooperation were increasing the likelihood of catastrophe.

Detailed Explanation:

The 2026 Doomsday Clock was moved to 85 seconds to midnight, the closest point ever, highlighting heightened risks to humanity from nuclear weapons, climate change, and artificial intelligence.

The clock adjustment was made by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BAS), which warned that rising aggression, nationalism, and erosion of global cooperation were increasing the likelihood of catastrophe.

The farthest setting of the Doomsday Clock was 17 minutes to midnight in 1991, following the end of the Cold War.

The Doomsday Clock, created in 1947, is a symbolic warning system, where midnight represents total annihilation, and movements of the clock reflect changes in man-made existential risks.

24) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

Minister of State for Commerce & Industry and Electronics & IT, Sh Jitin Prasada, dedicated the new Aadhaar App to the nation, marking a major milestone in resident-centric digital identity verification.

The Aadhaar App, developed by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), is a next-generation mobile platform designed to provide Aadhaar Number Holders (ANH) with a secure, privacy-first, and convenient way to carry, share, show, and verify their digital identity.

Detailed Explanation:

Minister of State for Commerce & Industry and Electronics & IT, Sh Jitin Prasada, dedicated the new Aadhaar App to the nation, marking a major milestone in resident-centric digital identity verification.

The Aadhaar App, developed by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), is a next-generation mobile platform designed to provide Aadhaar Number Holders (ANH) with a secure, privacy-first, and convenient way to carry, share, show, and verify their digital identity.

The app introduces one-click biometric lock/unlock and allows users to share encrypted Aadhaar details, enhancing security and privacy.

The app supports storage of Aadhaar details of up to five family members under a single account, enabling selective disclosure of only necessary data to protect privacy.

25) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister (DyCM) of Maharashtra and chief of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), passed away at the age of 66 in a Learjet 45 aircraft (VT-SSK) crash at Baramati Airport, Pune, Maharashtra, on January 28, 2026.

Detailed Explanation:

Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister (DyCM) of Maharashtra and chief of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), passed away at the age of 66 in a Learjet 45 aircraft (VT-SSK) crash at Baramati Airport, Pune, Maharashtra, on January 28, 2026.

He was born on July 22, 1959, in Deolali Pravara, located in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra.

Ajit Pawar was a senior Indian politician with a strong influence in western Maharashtra and deep grassroots connections, which enabled him to play a key role in shaping state politics and coalition governments.