Daily Current Affairs Quiz
Daily Quiz — January 4, 2026
Question 1 of 10
World Braille Day is observed on January 4 every year. Louis Braille invented the Braille system in 1824 using a specific number of raised dots. How many dots are used in one Braille cell, and how many possible combinations do they create?
Braille uses a 3x2 grid of six raised dots, which creates 64 possible combinations (2^6 = 64, including the blank cell). Louis Braille invented this system in 1824 at age 15. World Braille Day has been observed on his birth anniversary (January 4) since 2019, designated by UN Resolution 73/161 (2018).
💡 Concept Note
India's legal framework for the visually impaired: Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act 2016 (replaced PwD Act 1995; aligns with UN CRPD 2006). Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan is the government's accessibility campaign. India has ~50 million visually impaired persons — one of the world's largest such populations.
Question 2 of 10
Radio Sangam, launched by the Indian Army at Keri village, Rajouri, J&K in January 2026, is significant because it is India's first community radio station at which location?
Radio Sangam (88.8 FM), launched January 2, 2026, is India's first community radio station along the Line of Control (LoC). It broadcasts agricultural, cultural, and awareness content for border communities in Rajouri district, J&K.
💡 Concept Note
India's Community Radio Policy was issued in 2006, allowing non-profit civil society organisations to operate 50-100W FM stations covering a 10-15 km radius. As of 2024, India has ~250+ community radio stations. This is the Indian Army's WHAM (Winning Hearts and Minds) strategy in action — a tool for civil-military trust-building in conflict-affected border areas.
Question 3 of 10
The Indian Army declared 2026 as which thematic year, announced by Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi?
The Indian Army declared 2026 as the Year of Networking and Data Centricity, focusing on digital integration, real-time decision-making, and data-driven battlefield operations. The previous theme (2024-25) was Year of Technology Absorption.
💡 Concept Note
India's military modernisation focuses on theaterisation (merging Army/Air Force/Navy into joint Theatre Commands), multi-domain operations (MDO), and the iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) ecosystem for startups. The 78th Army Day was to be held for the first time in Jaipur (January 15, 2026) — not Delhi.
Question 4 of 10
SEBI's amended merchant banker regulations require Category-I merchant bankers to achieve what net worth by January 2, 2028?
Under SEBI's amended Merchant Banker Regulations, Category-I merchant bankers must achieve net worth of Rs 25 crore by January 2, 2027 and Rs 50 crore by January 2, 2028 (up from the current Rs 10 crore). Underwriting obligations are capped at 20 times liquid net worth.
💡 Concept Note
SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) was established under the SEBI Act 1992 (statutory status). Merchant bankers manage IPO structuring, book building, underwriting, M&A advisory, and rights issues. The reforms address India's booming IPO market (Rs 1+ lakh crore raised annually) where adequate capital backing is essential.
Question 5 of 10
The Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project in Uttarakhand is located on which river, and what is its installed capacity?
The Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project is a 444 MW run-of-river project on the Alaknanda River in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand. It is being constructed by THDC India Limited and generates approximately 1,665 GWh annually.
💡 Concept Note
The Alaknanda joins the Bhagirathi at Devprayag (one of the Panch Prayag confluences) to form the Ganga. Other major rivers meeting Alaknanda at Panch Prayag: Pindar (at Karnaprayag), Mandakini (at Rudraprayag), Nandakini (at Nandaprayag), Dhauliganga (at Vishnuprayag). Uttarakhand has ~27,000 MW hydropower potential.
Question 6 of 10
The Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) 3rd phase approvals cover 11 product segments. Which of the following is NOT one of the approved product segments?
Semiconductor wafer fabrication is NOT part of ECMS — it is addressed separately under the India Semiconductor Mission and the DLI Scheme under Semicon India. ECMS covers 11 segments: PCBs, capacitors, connectors, enclosures, lithium-ion cells, camera modules, display modules, optical transceivers, aluminium extrusions, anode materials, and copper clad laminates.
💡 Concept Note
ECMS is administered by MeitY (Ministry of Electronics and IT). The 3rd tranche approved 22 proposals worth Rs 41,863 crore; cumulative total: 46 projects, Rs 56,567 crore across 8 states. These components are critical for India's electronics manufacturing push (target: $300 billion by 2026).
Question 7 of 10
The PLI Scheme for Textiles focuses primarily on which product categories?
The PLI Scheme for Textiles focuses on Man-Made Fiber (MMF) apparel/fabrics and technical textiles — segments where India has traditionally lagged despite global demand. The scheme has an outlay of Rs 10,683 crore (FY22-FY26); 74 applications approved with Rs 28,711 crore proposed investment. The deadline was extended to March 31, 2026.
💡 Concept Note
India's textile industry ($110 billion) is the 2nd largest employer after agriculture. India dominates cotton textiles but has missed the global shift to MMF (Man-Made Fibers like polyester, nylon) which now account for ~70% of global fiber consumption. Bangladesh and Vietnam lead in MMF garments — PLI aims to correct this gap.
Question 8 of 10
The Galaxy frog (Melanobatrachus indicus), found in the Western Ghats, has what IUCN conservation status?
The Galaxy frog (Melanobatrachus indicus) is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Seven rare specimens were found in Kerala's wet evergreen forests in the Western Ghats. The Western Ghats is one of the world's biodiversity hotspots with exceptional amphibian endemism.
💡 Concept Note
India has 4 biodiversity hotspots: Western Ghats, Eastern Himalayas (Indo-Burma), Sundaland (Andaman & Nicobar), and Indo-Burma region. The Western Ghats has 179+ amphibian species, most endemic. IUCN threat categories: Extinct → EW → CR → EN → VU → NT → LC. WPA Schedule I = highest protection.
Question 9 of 10
The Capital Gains Account Scheme (CGAS) allows taxpayers to park long-term capital gains. What is the maximum period for which capital gains can be kept in this account before becoming taxable?
Under the Capital Gains Account Scheme (under the Income Tax Act 1961), long-term capital gains can be kept in a CGAS account for up to 3 years before becoming taxable. ICICI Bank launched its CGAS from January 1, 2026. The scheme has two account types: Type A (savings account with flexible withdrawals) and Type B (term deposit, minimum Rs 10,000).
💡 Concept Note
Section 54 of the Income Tax Act 1961 provides exemption on LTCG from residential property sale if reinvested in another residential property within 2 years (purchase) or 3 years (construction). CGAS is used when the reinvestment cannot be completed before the ITR filing date. LTCG from equity funds: taxed at 10% above Rs 1 lakh (Section 112A).
Question 10 of 10
The Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics of Bhagwan Buddha, inaugurated by PM Modi, was held in which city?
PM Modi inaugurated the exhibition 'The Light and the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One' at the Rai Pithora Cultural Complex, New Delhi (January 3, 2026). The exhibition reunited the Sacred Piprahwa relics (from Siddharthnagar, UP — identified as ancient Kapilavastu) after 128 years since W.C. Peppe discovered them in 1898.
💡 Concept Note
Piprahwa in Siddharthnagar, UP is identified as ancient Kapilavastu — the Sakya kingdom where Siddhartha Gautama grew up. The exposition ran till June 2026 at Qila Rai Pithora, organised by the Ministry of Culture in partnership with Godrej Industries Group (public-private partnership that repatriated the relics from a Sotheby's auction in Hong Kong, 2025). Buddhist soft power is a key theme in India's foreign policy with Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean region.