Geopolitics & World News Involving India (Questions 1-10)
Q1. On 9 January 2026, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led protests against raids by which agency on the premises linked to political consultancy firm I-PAC?
A) Enforcement Directorate (ED)
B) CBI
C) Income Tax Department
D) NIA
Correct Answer: A.
Explanation: The ED conducted searches on I-PAC offices and related premises, prompting protests amid allegations of political targeting ahead of elections.
Q2. India rejected comments by which US official regarding the failure of a bilateral trade deal on 9 January 2026?
A) President Donald Trump
B) Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick
C) Secretary of State
D) Treasury Secretary
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: The MEA called Lutnick’s claim that PM Modi did not call President Trump “inaccurate,” amid ongoing trade tensions.
Q3. Amid US tariff threats on countries buying Russian oil, India faced potential economic impact estimated at how much additional import bill in early 2026 assessments?
A) $5-7 billion
B) $9-11 billion
C) $15-20 billion
D) $25-30 billion
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: Shifting from discounted Russian crude due to sanctions risks could raise India’s oil import costs significantly.
Q4. The Syrian defense ministry declared a ceasefire in which city’s districts on 9 January 2026 following clashes between government forces and SDF?
A) Damascus
B) Homs
C) Idlib
D) Aleppo
Correct Answer: D.
Explanation: The ceasefire covered Ashrafiyah, Bani Zeid, and Sheikh Maqsood districts after conflicts killing at least 21 people.
Q5. Iran experienced a nationwide internet blackout on 9 January 2026 amid what?
A) Cyber attack
B) Election preparations
C) Anti-government protests
D) Military exercise
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: Authorities imposed the blackout as protests spread over economic issues and security crackdowns.
Q6. The Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Yemen announced its dissolution on 9 January 2026 due to:
A) Peace agreement
B) Territorial losses to Saudi-backed government
C) Internal coup
D) Foreign intervention
Correct Answer: B.
Q7. A ceasefire was declared in Aleppo on 9 January 2026 involving which group?
A) Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)
B) ISIS
C) Al-Qaeda
D) Hezbollah
Correct Answer: A.
Q8. India launched which initiative in January 2026 alongside the Raisina Dialogue, focusing on technology governance?
A) Digital India 2.0
B) AI Global Summit
C) Raisina Science Diplomacy Initiative (RSDI)
D) Space Diplomacy Forum
Correct Answer: C.
Q9. The UN projected India’s GDP growth for FY 2025-26 at what rate, offsetting US tariff impacts?
A) 6.5%
B) 7.2%
C) 8.0%
D) 9.1%
Correct Answer: B.
Q10. Protests erupted in which US city on 9 January 2026 following a fatal shooting involving ICE?
A) New York
B) Chicago
C) Los Angeles
D) Minneapolis
Correct Answer: D.
Indian Polity (Questions 11-16)
Q11. The Union Budget for 2026-27 is tentatively set to be tabled on which date?
A) 1 February 2026
B) 28 January 2026
C) 15 February 2026
D) 1 March 2026
Correct Answer: A.
Explanation: It falls on a Sunday, as per the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs schedule.
Q12. New rules by which body allow MBBS/BDS colleges in PPP mode from 2026?
A) AICTE
B) UGC
C) NMC (National Medical Commission)
D) MCI
Correct Answer: C.
Q13. The Government intensified which campaign aiming for child marriage-free India by 2030?
A) Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
B) Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat (BVMB)
C) Sukanya Samriddhi
D) POSHAN Abhiyan
Correct Answer: B.
Q14. Policy shift announced around January 2026 allows private sector in core conservation of:
A) Protected monuments (ASI)
B) Forests
C) Rivers
D) Wildlife sanctuaries
Correct Answer: A.
Explanation: Moving towards PPP model for heritage governance.
Q15. India’s first hydrogen-powered train began trial runs around 9 January 2026 as part of:
A) Vande Bharat upgrade
B) Indian Railways’ clean energy push
C) Bullet train project
D) Metro expansion
Correct Answer: B.
Q16. PM Research Chair scheme aims to bring back how many global Indian-origin scientists?
A) 50
B) 120
C) 200
D) 500
Correct Answer: B.
Sports (Questions 17-21)
Q17. The 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL) season opener on 9 January 2026 featured which teams?
A) Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Giants
B) UP Warriorz vs Delhi Capitals
C) Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Mumbai Indians
D) Gujarat Giants vs RCB
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: RCB won a thrilling match with Nadine de Klerk’s performance.
Q18. Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana captained which teams in the WPL 2026 opener?
A) MI and RCB respectively
B) RCB and MI respectively
C) Delhi and Gujarat
D) UP and MI
Correct Answer: A.
Q19. In NBA news around 9 January 2026, which star was out with injury for Denver Nuggets?
A) Jayson Tatum
B) Nikola Jokic
C) Luka Doncic
D) Giannis Antetokounmpo
Correct Answer: B.
Q20. Miami advanced to which championship on 9 January 2026 in college football?
A) Rose Bowl
B) Sugar Bowl
C) Orange Bowl
D) CFP National Championship
Correct Answer: D.
Q21. WPL 2026 highlights the rise of women’s cricket post which recent triumph?
A) ODI World Cup
B) T20 World Cup
C) Asia Cup
D) Commonwealth Games
Correct Answer: A.
Arts, Culture, Literature & Education (Questions 22-28)
Q22. Sandesha Awards 2026 were announced for excellence in which fields?
A) Sports and Science
B) Business and Technology
C) Literature, Journalism, Music, Arts, Education
D) Politics and Governance
Correct Answer: C.
Q23. Surat Literature Festival 2026 (9-11 January) focuses on:
A) Science fiction only
B) Civilisation, policy, and cultural continuity
C) Bollywood adaptations
D) International authors exclusively
Correct Answer: B.
Q24. The Hindu Lit for Life 2026 workshops include topics on:
A) Playwriting and lotus motif in art
B) Cooking and travel
C) Stock trading
D) Coding only
Correct Answer: A.
Q25. Hindustan Institute hosted which youth festival in January 2026?
A) National Games
B) Kalai Koodam 2025 (AIU South Zone)
C) Tech Fest
D) Film Festival
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: Featuring music, dance, theatre, literary, and fine arts.
Q26. GITAM Bengaluru hosted a conference on what in engineering education in January 2026?
A) AI-driven transformations
B) Traditional methods
C) Manual drafting
D) Historical architecture
Correct Answer: A.
Q27. Bio-bitumen, an eco-friendly alternative, saw commercialization in India with licenses to manufacturers around January 2026. It is produced from:
A) Petroleum
B) Plastic waste
C) Coal tar
D) Biomass like rice straw
Correct Answer: D.
Q28. Uttarakhand Police topped which national rankings announced around January 2026?
A) Crime rate reduction
B) Community policing
C) Traffic management
D) ICJS 2.0 (Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System)
Correct Answer: D.
Explanation: Scoring 93.46 in NCRB rankings.
