Geopolitics & World News Involving India (10 Questions)
Q1. On 8 January 2026, reports emerged that India’s finance ministry plans to scrap restrictions on which country’s firms bidding for government contracts?
A) Russia
B) United States
C) China
D) Pakistan
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: The restrictions, imposed five years ago amid border tensions, are being lifted to revive commercial ties with China.
Q2. U.S. President Donald Trump backed a Bill on 8 January 2026 mandating up to 500% tariffs on countries buying which commodity from Russia?
A) Natural Gas
B) Oil
C) Wheat
D) Arms
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: This puts pressure on India, a major buyer of discounted Russian oil, amid ongoing energy security concerns.
Q3. Which international event in India will feature European Union leaders Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa as chief guests in January 2026?
A) Vibrant Gujarat Summit
B) G20 Summit
C) Republic Day Celebrations
D) Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: They will attend India’s Republic Day on 26 January 2026, highlighting strengthened India-EU ties.
Q4. Senior officials from India’s Jal Shakti Ministry visited Farakka Barrage ahead of renewal talks for which treaty expiring in 2026?
A) Indus Waters Treaty
B) Brahmaputra Water Sharing
C) Teesta River Agreement
D) India-Bangladesh Ganga Water Sharing Treaty (1996)
Correct Answer: D.
Explanation: The 1996 treaty on Ganga waters is set to expire in December 2026.
Q5. On 8 January 2026, India’s stock markets fell sharply due to renewed jitters over U.S. tariffs primarily affecting which sector?
A) IT Services
B) Oil and Gas
C) Textiles
D) Pharmaceuticals
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: Oil and gas stocks dropped amid Trump’s policies on Russian and Venezuelan crude.
Q6. Russia warned on 8 January 2026 that Western troops in Ukraine would be considered “legitimate targets” in response to plans by which countries?
A) Britain and France
B) USA and Germany
C) Poland and Canada
D) India and Brazil
Correct Answer: A.
Explanation: Britain and France announced potential deployment for a ceasefire scenario.
Q7. Which development on 8 January 2026 highlighted India’s push towards sustainable infrastructure?
A) First commercial bio-bitumen production
B) Launch of electric vehicle policy
C) New solar alliance membership
D) Carbon tax implementation
Correct Answer: A.
Explanation: India became the first country to commercially produce bio-bitumen for road construction, reducing fossil fuel dependence.
Q8. The National Textiles Ministers’ Conference 2026, themed ‘Weaving Growth, Heritage & Innovation’, commenced on 8 January in which city?
A) New Delhi
B) Mumbai
C) Guwahati
D) Ahmedabad
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: Organized by the Ministry of Textiles and Assam government.
Q9. HDFC Bank integrated which digital currency into its SmartGateway platform in January 2026?
A) Bitcoin
B) Digital Rupee
C) Ethereum
D) Stablecoin
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: This expands CBDC usage for merchant payments.
Q10. Indian Railways achieved near-complete electrification by January 2026, covering what percentage of its broad-gauge network?
A) 90%
B) 95%
C) 99.2%
D) 100%
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: About 69,427 route kilometres electrified, making it one of the world’s largest green rail systems.
Indian Polity (6 Questions)
Q11. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids on 8 January 2026 related to coal smuggling, involving the residence of the chief of which political consultancy firm?
A) I-PAC
B) Cambridge Analytica
C) Prashant Kishor Associates
D) BJP Strategy Group
Correct Answer: A.
Explanation: Raids at I-PAC chief Prateek Jain’s residence; West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee alleged interference.
Q12. Renowned ecologist Madhav Gadgil passed away on 7 January 2026. He is best known for heading which committee report on Western Ghats?
A) Kasturirangan Committee
B) Gadgil Committee
C) Mukherjee Committee
D) Rangarajan Committee
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: The 2011 Gadgil Committee report recommended eco-sensitive zoning for the Western Ghats.
Q13. The Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) celebrated its foundation day in January 2026. Under which ministry does it operate?
A) Ministry of Mines
B) Ministry of Labour & Employment
C) Ministry of Environment
D) Ministry of Heavy Industries
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: DGMS regulates safety in coal, metalliferous, and oil mines.
Q14. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan released 55 literary works in classical Indian languages around 8 January 2026 to promote what?
A) Digital Education
B) Export Promotion
C) Linguistic Heritage and Inclusive Access
D) Sports Development
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: Includes works in Tamil and a Tirukkural Sign Language series for inclusivity.
Q15. The Election Commission served a notice to Nobel laureate Amartya Sen in January 2026 related to what process in West Bengal?
A) Voter ID Verification
B) Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls
C) Property Tax
D) Census Enumeration
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: Part of ongoing electoral roll updates.
Q16. Goa CM launched the second edition of which book by veteran journalist Prem Prakash in January 2026?
A) India’s Foreign Policy
B) Economic Reforms
C) Partition Memories
D) History That India Ignored
Correct Answer: D.
Explanation: Focuses on overlooked historical aspects.
Science, Education & Other Current Affairs (4 Questions)
Q17. ISRO’s first launch of 2026, PSLV-C62, will deploy which advanced hyperspectral satellite?
A) Chandrayaan-4
B) EOS-N1 (Anvesha)
C) Gaganyaan
D) RISAT-2
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: Primarily for strategic and civilian remote-sensing with 18 co-passengers.
Q18. Earth’s Rotation Day on 8 January 2026 marked the 175th anniversary of whose pendulum experiment?
A) Leon Foucault
B) Galileo Galilei
C) Isaac Newton
D) Albert Einstein
Correct Answer: A.
Explanation: Foucault’s 1851 experiment proved Earth’s rotation.
Q19. Simplilearn partnered with IndiaAI Mission in January 2026 to provide AI literacy to how many citizens?
A) 1 Million
B) 10 Million
C) 100 Million
D) 50 Million
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: Free ‘YUVA AI for ALL’ course.
Q20. A new reed snake species was discovered in Mizoram in January 2026, named after which local term?
A) Mizo Reed Snake
B) Local tribal name
C) Mizoram Serpent
D) Calamaria Mizoramensis
Correct Answer: D.
Explanation: Named after the state where it was found.
Sports (4 Questions)
Q21. PV Sindhu advanced to the quarterfinals of which badminton tournament on 8 January 2026?
A) All England Open
B) Indonesia Masters
C) Malaysia Open Super 1000
D) India Open
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: Defeated Japan’s Tomoka Miyazaki.
Q22. The Pro Wrestling League auction in January 2026 saw Yui Susaki bought for the highest bid of ?60 lakh by which team?
A) Mumbai Mavericks
B) Haryana Thunders
C) UP Dangal
D) Punjab Royals
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: Two-time Olympic medallist.
Q23. Which Indian wrestler attracted a bid of ?52 lakh in the Pro Wrestling League 2026 auction?
A) Bajrang Punia
B) Ravi Dahiya
C) Vinesh Phogat
D) Antim Panghal
Correct Answer: D.
Explanation: Along with Sujeet Kalkal.
Q24. The Pro Wrestling League resumes in January 2026 after six years, scheduled at which venue?
A) New Delhi
B) Mumbai
C) Noida Indoor Stadium
D) Lucknow
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: From 15 January to 1 February.
Arts & Literature (3 Questions)
Q25. The Jaipur Literature Festival 2026, starting mid-January, expands focus on which elements beyond books?
A) Sports and Politics
B) Economy and Finance
C) Science and Technology
D) Poetry, Performance, and Visual Storytelling
Correct Answer: D.
Explanation: Includes poetry readings, manga, and cross-cultural dialogues.
Q26. Union Minister released a 45-episode series in Sign Language of which classical Tamil text in January 2026?
A) Silappatikaram
B) Tirukkural
C) Manimekalai
D) Ramayana
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: For inclusive education on ethics and governance.
Q27. The National Textiles Ministers’ Conference 2026 emphasizes innovation alongside heritage in which sector?
A) Literature
B) Music
C) Cinema
D) Textiles
Correct Answer: D.
Explanation: Theme: ‘Weaving Growth, Heritage & Innovation’.
