CURRENT AFFAIRS — JANUARY 2026 (India & World)
| Date / Period | Event / Topic | Category | Key Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2026 | Zero-Duty Tariff on Indian Exports to Australia | International Trade | Australia made 100% tariff lines zero-duty for Indian exports, enhancing export competitiveness. |
| 1 Jan 2026 | Crans-Montana Ski Resort Fire (Switzerland) | Disaster | Fire at a New Year’s party at a ski resort killed ~40, injured many, emergency response mobilised. |
| 19-23 Jan 2026 | 56th World Economic Forum — Davos Summit | Global Affairs | World leaders discussed economic cooperation, sustainable growth & innovation. |
| 22 Jan 2026 | Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS Alignment | Science & Technology | Astronomers observed a rare alignment of interstellar object for study of cometary dust. |
| 23-27 Jan 2026 | North American Winter Storm | Environment | Severe snowstorms in U.S./Canada caused transport disruptions & states of emergency. |
| 27 Jan 2026 | India-EU Free Trade Agreement Finalised | International Relations, Economy | Historic FTA signed to reduce tariffs, boost market access & investments. |
| Jan 2026 | Tiger Deaths in India — Rise in Numbers | Environment & Biodiversity | India reported increased tiger fatalities, raising conservation concerns. |
| Jan 2026 | Indian Defence Procurement Contracts | Defence | Over ₹4,600 crore deals signed for modern equipment (carbines, torpedoes). |
| Jan 2026 | RBI Liquidity Operations | Economy & Banking | RBI conducted Open Market Operations (~₹2 lakh crore) to support financial stability. |
| Jan 2026 | RBI Digital Banking Guidelines | Economy & Regulatory | New digital banking compliance & customer authentication norms rolled out. |
| Jan 2026 | Heavy Rains & Flash Floods (Afghanistan & nearby) | Natural Disaster | Weather events caused casualties, highlighting climate vulnerability. |
| Jan 2026 | India Prepares INSAT-3DS Launch | Science & Technology | India’s weather satellite launch scheduled to improve forecasting. |
| Jan 2026 | Expansion of India’s Antarctic Base | Science & Environment | Bharati station being upgraded for year-round polar research. |
January 2026 Current Affairs MCQ Test (50 Qs)
SECTION A: NATIONAL AFFAIRS (India)
Q1. India finalised a historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in January 2026 with:
A) ASEAN
B) European Union
C) African Union
D) SAARC
Q2. From 1 January 2026, which country made 100% of its tariff lines zero-duty for Indian exports?
A) Canada
B) Australia
C) Germany
D) Japan
Q3. The National Tiger Conservation Authority reported how many tiger deaths in 2025?
A) 126
B) 166
C) 200
D) 142
Q4. India signed defence contracts worth over ₹4,600 crore in January 2026 mainly for:
A) Fighter jets
B) Submarines
C) Carbines and heavyweight torpedoes
D) Missile defence shields
Q5. RBI conducted large-scale Open Market Operations (OMOs) in January 2026 primarily to:
A) Control inflation by increasing repo rate
B) Stabilise liquidity in the banking system
C) Increase foreign exchange reserves
D) Introduce digital currency
Q6. The new RBI digital banking guidelines rolled out in January 2026 included:
A) Single-factor authentication
B) Two-factor authentication and compliance deadlines
C) No compliance requirements for NBFCs
D) Only mobile wallet regulations
Q7. India is preparing to launch the INSAT‑3DS satellite primarily for:
A) Navigation
B) Defence surveillance
C) Meteorological observations
D) Deep space exploration
Q8. The Bharati research station being expanded by India is located in:
A) Arctic
B) Antarctica
C) South America
D) Africa
Q9. Exercise “Sanjha Shakti” is conducted to:
A) Strengthen military-civil disaster coordination
B) Test space satellite launch capabilities
C) Train naval personnel in anti-piracy
D) Promote forest conservation
Q10. The 56th Raising Day of the Albert Ekka Brigade was celebrated in:
A) Delhi
B) Agartala
C) Mumbai
D) Bengaluru
SECTION B: INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Q11. The 56th World Economic Forum 2026 was held in:
A) Geneva
B) Zurich
C) Davos
D) Bern
Q12. The primary theme of WEF 2026 was:
A) Renewable energy transition
B) Cooperation in a contested world
C) Digital currency governance
D) Space exploration
Q13. The U.S. federal government faced a shutdown on:
A) 15 Jan 2026
B) 31 Jan 2026
C) 1 Jan 2026
D) 25 Jan 2026
Q14. The severe North American winter storm in January 2026 affected mainly:
A) South America
B) Western Europe
C) United States and Canada
D) East Asia
Q15. Geopolitical interest in Greenland in Jan 2026 increased due to:
A) Oil discoveries
B) Strategic minerals and Arctic shipping routes
C) Tourism potential
D) Military base construction
Q16. Heavy rains and flash floods in January 2026 severely affected:
A) India
B) Afghanistan
C) Australia
D) Brazil
Q17. The interstellar object observed on 22 January 2026 was:
A) Oumuamua II
B) 3I/ATLAS
C) Halley-B
D) Voyager-3
Q18. WEF 2026 discussed planetary boundaries. What does this refer to?
A) Space exploration limits
B) Limits for sustainable human activity on Earth
C) Territorial disputes
D) International trade regulations
Q19. Which country led Arctic claims discussions in January 2026?
A) USA
B) Russia
C) China
D) Denmark
Q20. India’s export focus to Australia under zero-duty tariff mainly benefits:
A) MSMEs and labour-intensive sectors
B) IT software exports only
C) Heavy machinery exporters
D) Defence equipment suppliers
SECTION C: ECONOMY & FINANCE
Q21. The total OMO conducted by RBI in Jan 2026 was approximately:
A) ₹1 lakh crore
B) ₹2 lakh crore
C) ₹50,000 crore
D) ₹5 lakh crore
Q22. The India-EU FTA will gradually reduce:
A) Import duties only
B) Tariffs on goods and services
C) Income tax rates
D) GST for domestic trade
Q23. The major sector expected to benefit from the FTA is:
A) Agriculture, manufacturing, and services
B) Only software
C) Only mining
D) Only tourism
Q24. The RBI digital banking guidelines focus on:
A) Customer security and compliance
B) Reducing banking licenses
C) Increasing cash usage
D) Promoting foreign currency trade
Q25. Which of the following is a liquidity‑boosting measure by RBI?
A) Increasing repo rate
B) Open Market Operations (OMO)
C) Devaluing INR
D) Currency swap with USA
Q26. Zero-duty tariff on Indian exports to Australia will:
A) Reduce Indian export competitiveness
B) Increase Indian export competitiveness
C) Have no effect
D) Harm Indian MSMEs
Q27. India-EU FTA was in negotiations for nearly:
A) 5 years
B) 10 years
C) 20 years
D) 25 years
Q28. Which of the following is not covered under India-EU FTA?
A) Goods
B) Services
C) Investment protection
D) Domestic tax policy
Q29. The zero-duty agreement enhances which of the following for India?
A) Trade surplus with Europe
B) Domestic production only
C) Forex reserves directly
D) None of the above
Q30. The RBI’s OMOs are conducted in:
A) Stock markets
B) Foreign exchange markets
C) Government securities market
D) Commodity markets
SECTION D: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Q31. INSAT‑3DS satellite will improve:
A) Military surveillance
B) Air and ocean transport
C) Weather prediction and climate data
D) Internet connectivity
Q32. The interstellar object 3I/ATLAS provides information about:
A) Solar wind
B) Cometary dust and interstellar material
C) Black holes
D) Mars atmosphere
Q33. The Bharati station in Antarctica is used for:
A) Polar tourism
B) Year-round scientific research
C) Naval exercises
D) Mineral extraction
Q34. Which month in 2026 is INSAT-3DS scheduled to launch?
A) January
B) February
C) March
D) April
Q35. Rare alignment of interstellar object allows scientists to study:
A) Earth’s magnetic field
B) Solar flares
C) Cometary dust properties
D) Aurora borealis
Q36. Expansion of Bharati station focuses on:
A) Climate research
B) Defence logistics
C) Antarctic mining
D) Ocean shipping
Q37. The North American storm’s scientific relevance is:
A) Climate patterns and disaster management
B) Solar radiation analysis
C) Earthquake prediction
D) Tidal energy study
Q38. Meteorological satellites help in:
A) Defence only
B) Air pollution control
C) Weather forecasting and early warning systems
D) Internet transmission
Q39. Interstellar object studies assist in:
A) Space diplomacy
B) Understanding the formation of planetary systems
C) Earthquake detection
D) Oil exploration
Q40. Antarctic research contributes to:
A) Mineral exploitation
B) Climate change monitoring and polar science
C) Tourism
D) Trade route planning
SECTION E: ENVIRONMENT & DISASTERS
Q41. Tiger deaths in India increased due to:
A) Poaching, habitat stress, and human-animal conflicts
B) Excess rainfall only
C) Industrial pollution only
D) Disease only
Q42. January 2026 floods affected which country severely?
A) Pakistan
B) Afghanistan
C) Nepal
D) Sri Lanka
Q43. Switzerland ski resort fire occurred in:
A) Zermatt
B) Crans-Montana
C) St. Moritz
D) Verbier
Q44. Severe winter storm in North America led to:
A) States of emergency and transport disruption
B) Crop failure in Australia
C) Flooding in Europe
D) Wildfires in Canada
Q45. Arctic melting opened concerns about:
A) Fishing rights only
B) New shipping routes and resource competition
C) Oil price regulation
D) Tourism opportunities
Q46. India’s air quality in Jan 2026 compared to 2025:
A) Worsened significantly
B) Improved in many cities
C) Remained same
D) Data not available
Q47. Arctic geopolitics in Jan 2026 concerned:
A) Renewable energy investment
B) Security, navigation, and resource claims
C) Tourism expansion
D) Space launch sites
Q48. Environmental concerns highlighted by WEF 2026 included:
A) Only deforestation
B) Climate change and sustainable development
C) Nuclear weapons
D) Cybersecurity
Q49. Flash floods in Afghanistan in Jan 2026 demonstrated the need for:
A) Better disaster preparedness and climate resilience
B) Military intervention
C) Mining regulations
D) Urban traffic management
Q50. Tiger conservation is governed under:
A) Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and NTCA regulations
B) Forest Rights Act
C) National Biodiversity Act
D) Environment Protection Act 1986
Answer
| Q | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | India-EU FTA finalised after decades of negotiation. |
| 2 | B | Australia made 100% tariff lines zero-duty from 1 Jan 2026. |
| 3 | B | 166 tiger deaths reported by NTCA in 2025. |
| 4 | C | Defence contracts mainly for Close Quarter Battle Carbines and heavyweight torpedoes. |
| 5 | B | OMOs are for stabilising liquidity in the banking system. |
| 6 | B | Two-factor authentication and compliance deadlines enforced. |
| 7 | C | INSAT-3DS is for meteorological observations. |
| 8 | B | Bharati is in Antarctica for polar research. |
| 9 | A | Exercise Sanjha Shakti strengthens disaster coordination. |
| 10 | B | Albert Ekka Brigade celebrated in Agartala. |
| 11 | C | WEF 2026 held in Davos, Switzerland. |
| 12 | B | Theme focused on cooperation in a contested world. |
| 13 | B | U.S. government shutdown occurred 31 Jan 2026. |
| 14 | C | Storm affected U.S. and Canada primarily. |
| 15 | B | Greenland’s Arctic shipping routes and mineral resources. |
| 16 | B | Afghanistan affected by heavy rains & floods. |
| 17 | B | 3I/ATLAS was the interstellar object observed. |
| 18 | B | Planetary boundaries define sustainable human activity limits. |
| 19 | D | Denmark led discussions due to Greenland’s jurisdiction. |
| 20 | A | MSMEs and labour-intensive sectors benefit from zero-duty exports. |
| 21 | B | OMO of ~₹2 lakh crore conducted. |
| 22 | B | FTA reduces tariffs on goods & services gradually. |
| 23 | A | Agriculture, manufacturing, and services sectors benefit. |
| 24 | A | Digital banking guidelines focus on customer security. |
| 25 | B | OMOs are RBI’s liquidity‑boosting measure. |
| 26 | B | Zero-duty enhances competitiveness of Indian exports. |
| 27 | C | Negotiations lasted nearly 20 years. |
| 28 | D | FTA doesn’t cover domestic tax policy. |
| 29 | A | Zero-duty enhances trade surplus with Europe. |
| 30 | C | OMOs conducted in government securities market. |
| 31 | C | INSAT-3DS improves weather prediction. |
| 32 | B | 3I/ATLAS allows study of cometary dust. |
| 33 | B | Bharati is a year-round research station. |
| 34 | B | INSAT-3DS scheduled for February 2026 launch. |
| 35 | C | Alignment helps study cometary dust properties. |
| 36 | A | Focus on climate research. |
| 37 | A | Storm’s relevance is in climate patterns & disaster management. |
| 38 | C | Meteorological satellites aid weather forecasting. |
| 39 | B | Interstellar object studies inform planetary system formation. |
| 40 | B | Antarctic research helps monitor climate & polar science. |
| 41 | A | Causes include poaching, habitat stress & conflicts. |
| 42 | B | Afghanistan hit by flash floods. |
| 43 | B | Fire occurred in Crans-Montana ski resort. |
| 44 | A | Storm led to emergency and transport disruptions. |
| 45 | B | Melting opens new shipping routes & resource competition. |
| 46 | B | AQI improved in many cities in 2026 vs 2025. |
| 47 | B | Arctic geopolitics concern security & resources. |
| 48 | B | WEF discussed climate change & sustainable development. |
| 49 | A | Floods show need for disaster preparedness. |
| 50 | A | Tiger conservation governed by Wildlife Protection Act & NTCA. |
UPSC Prelims-Level MCQs — January 2026
Q1. India-EU Free Trade Agreement signed in January 2026 aims to:
A) Immediately eliminate all tariffs on Indian goods to EU
B) Gradually reduce tariffs on goods and services while boosting investment
C) Restrict Indian exports to only agricultural products
D) Replace bilateral FTAs India has with individual EU countries
Q2. Zero-duty export facility with Australia mainly benefits:
A) Large-scale heavy machinery manufacturers
B) MSMEs and labour-intensive sectors
C) IT and software service exports
D) Defence equipment manufacturers
Q3. Which of the following is not a reason cited for the rise in tiger deaths in India in 2025?
A) Habitat stress
B) Human-animal conflict
C) Poaching
D) Introduction of new predatory species
Q4. The North American winter storm (Jan 23–27, 2026) is significant for UPSC-level geography because:
A) It impacted polar vortex dynamics and energy supply chains
B) It caused volcanic eruptions in Canada
C) It led to Antarctic ice melting
D) It influenced monsoon patterns in India directly
Q5. The INSAT-3DS satellite launch primarily addresses:
A) Defence surveillance and missile tracking
B) Meteorology and climate monitoring
C) Deep space observation of interstellar objects
D) Satellite-based navigation for transport
Q6. The Bharati Antarctic research station is expanding primarily to:
A) Explore minerals under the ice
B) Conduct year-round climate and polar research
C) Serve as a military outpost in Antarctica
D) Promote tourism and international collaboration
Q7. Interstellar object 3I/ATLAS observed in January 2026 is important because:
A) It is the first object from outside the solar system observed passing close to Earth
B) It helps study cometary dust and interstellar material
C) It directly affects Earth’s climate
D) It was visible only from Antarctica
Q8. The 56th World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026 theme “Cooperation in a Contested World” primarily relates to:
A) Space militarisation
B) Global economic and diplomatic cooperation under geopolitical tensions
C) Arctic shipping routes
D) Pandemic preparedness only
Q9. The U.S. government shutdown on 31 January 2026 illustrates:
A) Challenges in passing appropriations bills, impacting global economic perception
B) Collapse of U.S. banking system
C) Complete suspension of all private-sector businesses in the U.S.
D) Automatic increase in U.S. defence exports to India
Q10. Which of the following Arctic developments was highlighted in Jan 2026?
A) Greenland’s strategic minerals and new shipping routes
B) New oil discoveries in Antarctica
C) Permanent military bases by India
D) Rapid population growth in Arctic towns
Q11. RBI’s Open Market Operations in Jan 2026 were conducted to:
A) Increase lending rates across all banks
B) Stabilise liquidity in the banking system
C) Devalue Indian currency against the USD
D) Fund government defence purchases
Q12. The Davos WEF 2026 discussions on “planetary boundaries” primarily focus on:
A) Limits on human activities to maintain Earth’s environmental stability
B) International trade regulations
C) Outer space exploration limits
D) Border disputes in Asia and Africa
Q13. The Crans-Montana ski resort fire in Switzerland is relevant for UPSC current affairs mainly for:
A) International disaster management collaboration
B) Global ski tourism trends
C) Alpine vegetation research
D) Climate change treaties
Q14. The main sector expected to benefit from India-EU FTA is:
A) Agriculture, manufacturing, and services
B) Only IT services
C) Only defence production
D) Only mining and raw materials
Q15. The increase in tiger deaths highlights the need for:
A) Stronger wildlife conservation measures and human-wildlife conflict mitigation
B) Relocating human settlements to tiger reserves
C) Hunting apex predators to balance ecosystems
D) Legalising trade in tiger derivatives
Q16. The significance of interstellar object observations like 3I/ATLAS is:
A) They allow testing planetary formation theories and cometary composition
B) They provide real-time climate predictions for Earth
C) They help track Indian satellites’ orbital paths
D) They replace terrestrial telescopes for weather monitoring
Q17. INSAT-3DS is scheduled to launch in which month of 2026?
A) January
B) February
C) March
D) April
Q18. Which of the following is a key feature of India’s new RBI digital banking guidelines?
A) Mandatory cash-only transactions
B) Enhanced two-factor authentication
C) Relaxation of KYC norms for all customers
D) Prohibition of online payments
Q19. The primary reason for WEF 2026 including climate discussions is:
A) India’s role in interstellar object observations
B) Global economic and environmental sustainability
C) Arctic militarisation by NATO
D) Tourism in Europe
Q20. The zero-duty export facility to Australia will:
A) Reduce India’s export competitiveness
B) Increase Indian MSME competitiveness in global markets
C) Only affect software exports
D) Restrict trade with other countries
Answer
Answers & Explanations
| Q | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | FTA reduces tariffs gradually and promotes investment; UPSC tricky option is “immediate elimination” which is incorrect. |
| 2 | B | Zero-duty benefits MSMEs and labour-intensive sectors rather than heavy industries. |
| 3 | D | No new predatory species were cited as cause of tiger deaths. |
| 4 | A | Storm influenced polar vortex and energy supply chains; monsoons in India not directly affected. |
| 5 | B | INSAT-3DS is for meteorology, not defence or deep space. |
| 6 | B | Bharati station expansion is for year-round polar research. |
| 7 | B | 3I/ATLAS helps study cometary dust and interstellar material, not climate. |
| 8 | B | Theme refers to global cooperation amid geopolitical tensions. |
| 9 | A | Shutdown reflects legislative and appropriations challenges, affecting global perception. |
| 10 | A | Arctic developments included Greenland mineral and shipping route interests. |
| 11 | B | OMOs stabilise liquidity; they are not intended to devalue currency. |
| 12 | A | Planetary boundaries refer to safe environmental limits. |
| 13 | A | Fire highlighted international disaster management cooperation. |
| 14 | A | Agriculture, manufacturing, and services benefit the most; tricky options suggest single sectors. |
| 15 | A | Conservation and conflict mitigation needed; relocation or hunting are wrong. |
| 16 | A | Scientific study of planetary formation and cometary composition. |
| 17 | B | INSAT-3DS launch is scheduled for February 2026. |
| 18 | B | Guidelines emphasise enhanced two-factor authentication. |
| 19 | B | Climate discussions in WEF relate to sustainable development and economy. |
| 20 | B | Zero-duty facility increases MSME competitiveness globally. |