Which organisation developed the Close Quarter Battle (CQB) Carbine unveiled in early January 2026?
The CQB Carbine was developed by DRDO, specifically by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in Pune. It is a compact weapon designed for counter-terrorism and close-range combat operations by forces like NSG, CRPF, and Para SF.
💡 Concept Note
ARDE Pune handles conventional armaments development including small arms, grenades, and rockets. The CQB Carbine fills the operational gap between a full rifle (heavy for urban close combat) and a pistol (limited range). This is part of India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat push in defence manufacturing.
The Sirkeer Malkoha, a bird belonging to the Cuculidae family, was sighted in which state in early January 2026 — unusual given its typical habitat in the peninsular plains?
The Sirkeer Malkoha (Taccocua leschenaultii) was sighted in Uttarakhand. It normally inhabits dry scrub and forest plains of peninsular India. Its appearance in Uttarakhand suggests potential climate-driven range expansion.
💡 Concept Note
Sirkeer Malkoha is classified Least Concern on IUCN Red List but is rarely observed due to its cryptic nature. Range shifts of bird and wildlife species are an important ecological indicator of climate change impacts — a topic frequently tested in UPSC Environment and Ecology.
Which country became the 21st member of the Eurozone on January 1, 2026, replacing its own currency with the Euro at a fixed rate?
Bulgaria adopted the Euro on January 1, 2026 at a fixed rate of 1 EUR = 1.95583 BGN (Bulgarian Lev), becoming the 21st Eurozone member — 19 years after joining the EU in 2007. Croatia was the 20th member (January 2023).
💡 Concept Note
The Eurozone has 21 members while the EU has 27. Six EU members retain their own currencies: Denmark (formal opt-out), Sweden, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, and Romania. To join the Eurozone, countries must meet five Maastricht Convergence Criteria covering inflation, budget deficit, public debt, exchange rate stability, and long-term interest rates.
Which Indian state constituted the country's first 8th State Pay Commission in January 2026?
Assam constituted India’s first 8th State Pay Commission — the first state in India to reach its 8th pay commission cycle. This reflects Assam’s consistent practice of periodically revising government employee pay scales.
💡 Concept Note
State Pay Commissions are constituted approximately every 10 years to recommend salaries for state government employees, parallel to Central Pay Commissions. India’s 7th Central Pay Commission was implemented in 2016. The 8th CPC was approved by the Union Cabinet in January 2025 for implementation likely in 2026.
The Land Stack portal, launched in Chandigarh UT and Tamil Nadu in January 2026, is a GIS-integrated digital land records system under which programme?
Land Stack is a GIS-integrated digital land records portal under the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP). It integrates village cadastral maps with ownership records for transparent land administration.
💡 Concept Note
DILRMP (formerly NLRMP) aims to create an integrated land information management system with computerised records, digitised maps, and mutation records. SVAMITVA Scheme is a separate programme that maps rural habitation land using drones, primarily for property rights documentation in villages.
What is the maximum operational range of the Pralay surface-to-surface missile developed by DRDO?
Pralay has an adjustable range of 150 to 500 km. At maximum range from forward-deployed positions, it can reach most of Pakistan’s strategically important cities. It carries a 500 to 1,000 kg conventional warhead and uses INS + GPS + NavIC guidance with a CEP of approximately 10 metres.
💡 Concept Note
Pralay is a quasi-ballistic missile — unlike purely ballistic missiles, it manoeuvres during the terminal phase, making interception harder. Its NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) integration ensures guidance independence if GPS is denied by a third party. The salvo launch of two missiles simultaneously overwhelms Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) systems with finite interceptor magazines.
The SOAR initiative launched by President Murmu on January 1, 2026 falls under which ministry?
SOAR (Skilling for AI Readiness) was launched by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. A budget of Rs 500 crore was allocated for a Centre of Excellence in AI for Education, along with the hashtag SkillTheNation Challenge.
💡 Concept Note
India’s AI skilling ecosystem includes FutureSkills Prime (MeitY + NASSCOM collaboration), PMKVY (Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana), and SOAR. With over 65% of India’s population under 35, developing AI-ready skills is central to converting the demographic dividend into an economic advantage.
Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL) is notable as India's first Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) focused exclusively on which sector?
SMFCL is India’s first maritime-focused NBFC. It sanctioned its first loans totalling Rs 4,300 crore: Rs 4,000 crore for a greenfield port project, Rs 150 crore for the Dredging Corporation of India, and Rs 110 crore for Goa Shipyard Limited.
💡 Concept Note
SMFCL operates under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways under the Sagarmala Programme (launched 2015; planned investment Rs 6 lakh crore). India targets increasing port capacity to 3 billion metric tonnes by 2030. NBFC regulation falls under RBI under the Reserve Bank of India Act 1934, Chapter III-B.
Under PMMVY 2.0 introduced in 2022, what cash benefit is provided for the second child if it is a girl?
PMMVY 2.0 (2022) extended the scheme to provide Rs 6,000 for the second child if it is a girl child. The original PMMVY provided Rs 5,000 for the first child. PMMVY completed 9 years on January 1, 2026, with over 3.6 crore beneficiaries cumulatively.
💡 Concept Note
PMMVY (Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana) was launched January 1, 2017, formerly as Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY). It is administered by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. Funding ratio is 60:40 (Centre:State) and 90:10 for NE and Special Category States. It is a conditional cash transfer linked to ante-natal care check-ups, institutional delivery, and immunisation.
The new sin goods tax structure effective February 1, 2026 — which levied 40% on pan masala and cigarettes and 18% on bidis — replaces which earlier levy?
The new sin goods tax structure replaces the GST Compensation Cess, a temporary levy introduced after the GST rollout in 2017 to compensate states for revenue loss. It was legally mandated only until 2022 but was extended multiple times, including to repay COVID-era back-to-back loans to states.
💡 Concept Note
The GST Compensation Cess applied to sin goods (tobacco, pan masala), luxury items, and aerated drinks. Its sunset date has been controversial as states depended on compensation. The new permanent structure formalises higher sin goods taxation without the legal time-limit constraint of a cess. Sin taxes serve dual goals: revenue generation and public health deterrence.
