2026 Current Affairs Flashcards

Comprehensive Question and Answer flashcards covering major current affairs events, statistics, policy initiatives, and scientific developments from January 2026.

What key agreement have India and the European Union agreed to sign regarding security?

A new Security and Defence Partnership covering maritime security, cybersecurity, and counterterrorism.

What was India's bilateral trade in goods with the European Union in 2023–24?

USD $137.41\text{ billion}$, making the EU India's largest trading partner for goods.

When was the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) launched by India, and which new country recently joined it?

It was launched in November $2019$ at the ASEAN-led East Asia Summit in Bangkok, and Spain recently joined it.

Which Indian state is set to become the first to declare an official 'State Bacterium'?

Kerala.

What is Granth Kutir, recently inaugurated by the President of India at Rashtrapati Bhawan?

A library housing around $2,300\text{ books}$ and about $50\text{ manuscripts}$ in $11\text{ Indian classical languages}$ to support the Gyan Bharatam Mission.

Which Indian initiative was named among the six finalists for the 2026 Franz Edelman Award?

The Anna Chakra initiative of the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD), developed in partnership with WFP India and IIT Delhi.

When was the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative first launched and with which product?

It was first launched in $2018$ featuring Moradabad's brassware in Uttar Pradesh.

Which Indian state was selected by the World Economic Forum to host a Centre for Energy and Cyber Resilience under the 4IR Network?

Andhra Pradesh, India.

How many total Padma Awards were approved by President Droupadi Murmu on the eve of Republic Day 2026?

$131\text{ Padma Awards}$.

What is ASC ARJUN, recently deployed by Indian Railways at Visakhapatnam Railway Station?

An indigenously developed humanoid robot working with the Railway Protection Force (RPF) for security, surveillance, and assistance.

Under the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, what institutional bodies are mandated for higher education institutions?

An Equal Opportunity Centre (EOC), a ten-member Equity Committee, and Equity Squads.

Which three Buddhist sites from Odisha's 'Diamond Triangle' were included in UNESCO's tentative list for World Heritage Sites?

Ratnagiri, Udayagiri, and Lalitgiri.

Which language did the Karnataka government support declaring as the State's second additional official language?

Tulu.

Under what new category did the CPCB classify Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs)?

The Blue Category, classified as Essential Environmental Services (ESS).

Which nation became the 21st country to join the Eurozone on January 2, 2026?

Bulgaria.

Who established India's first school for girls at Bhide Wada in Pune in 1848?

Savitribai Phule alongside her husband Jyotirao Phule.

Which cell was established by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to support the expansion of India's concert economy?

Live Events Development Cell (LEDC).

What percentage of global crude oil reserves does Venezuela hold?

Approximately $18\%$, which is more crude oil reserves than the US and Russia combined.

What is India's current annual rice production, making it the world's largest producer?

$150.18\text{ million tonnes}$, surpassing China's $145.28\text{ million tonnes}$.

What milestone event was commemorated by PM Modi during the Somnath Swabhiman Parv in 2026?

$1,000\text{ years}$ since the first attack on the Somnath Temple by Mahmud of Ghazni in $1026\text{ AD}$.

What is the proposed Battery Pack Aadhaar Number (BPAN) system?

A $21\text{-character}$ unique identification number proposed for every battery pack in India to ensure full lifecycle traceability.

Where were the ancient Piprahwa relics excavated from, and when were they originally discovered?

Excavated from the Piprahwa Stupa in Uttar Pradesh (ancient Kapilavastu) and discovered in $1898$ by William Claxton Peppé.

Which ecologist known for his work on the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) passed away in January 2026?

Madhav Gadgil.

What is Suryastra, contracted by the Indian Army in collaboration with Israel?

India's first indigenously manufactured universal multi-calibre rocket launcher with a strike range up to $300\text{ km}$.

What is the Dust EXperiment (DEX) launched onboard ISRO's XPoSat mission?

A $3\text{ kg}$ homegrown cosmic dust detector that confirmed a cosmic dust particle hits Earth's atmosphere roughly every $1000\text{ seconds}$.

What is the total approved cost for the digital Census of India 2027?

$\text{INR } 11,718.24\text{ crore}$.

When is Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrated, and what historical event does it mark?

Celebrated on January 9 to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's return to India from South Africa in $1915$.

What is the PANKHUDI Portal launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development?

An integrated digital CSR and partnership facilitation portal supporting Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, Mission Vatsalya, and Mission Shakti.

What is India's GDP growth projection for 2026 according to the UN WESP 2026 report?

$6.6\%$, down from $7.4\%$ in 2025.

Where is the secretariat of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) located?

Gurugram, India.

What is the peak computing capacity of the PARAM SHAKTI supercomputing facility launched at IIT Madras?

$3.1\text{ petaflops}$, powered by the indigenous PARAM RUDRA supercomputing cluster.

What is Pax Silica?

A US-led strategic initiative to build a secure silicon and critical minerals supply chain for AI and semiconductor technologies.

What is the third-generation MPATGM flight-tested by DRDO?

A Fire & Forget Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile equipped with top attack capability and an Imaging Infrared homing seeker.

According to the WEF Global Risks Report 2026, what is ranked as the top risk globally and the top risk for India?

Geo-economic confrontation is the top global risk for 2026, while Cybersecurity is ranked as the top risk for India.

Which state emerged as the leading performer among large states in NITI Aayog's Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2024?

Maharashtra.

What ranking did India achieve in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025?

Ranked $38\text{th}$ out of around 140 economies.

What is the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty?

A legally binding global agreement under UNCLOS to conserve and sustainably use marine biological diversity in international waters (high seas beyond $200\text{ nautical miles}$).

What is Disobind, developed by Indian researchers?

An open-source AI-based tool using protein language models to predict interactions of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins (IDPs).

Where was India's first open-sea marine fish farming project launched?

At North Bay in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, focusing on Cobia and Seabass.

Which nation topped the Responsible Nations Index (RNI), and what is India's rank?

Singapore topped the list, and India ranked $16\text{th}$ globally.

Which world's largest nuclear power plant restarted operations in Japan in January 2026?

Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant ($8,200\text{ MW}$ capacity) in Niigata Prefecture.

Who was selected for the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2025?

Mozambican rights activist and humanitarian Graça Machel.