Daily Current Affairs Quiz
Daily Quiz — January 7, 2026
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10 questions based on today’s current affairs & editorials
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Question 1 of 10
What is Calamaria mizoramensis, recently discovered by Mizoram University researchers and published in Zootaxa?
Calamaria mizoramensis is a newly discovered non-venomous reed snake species from Mizoram. It is nocturnal and semi-fossorial, inhabiting humid forested hills at 670-1,295 metres elevation.
The discovery brings the global Calamaria genus count to 70 species.
The discovery brings the global Calamaria genus count to 70 species.
💡 Concept Note
Calamaria belongs to the family Colubridae — the world’s largest snake family. Reed snakes are small burrowing snakes common across South and Southeast Asia.
Mizoram has approximately 86% forest cover and its herpetofauna count stands at 169 species. Northeast India sits at the junction of three global biodiversity hotspots: Eastern Himalayas, Indo-Burma, and Western Ghats.
Mizoram has approximately 86% forest cover and its herpetofauna count stands at 169 species. Northeast India sits at the junction of three global biodiversity hotspots: Eastern Himalayas, Indo-Burma, and Western Ghats.
Question 2 of 10
Dnyanganga Wildlife Sanctuary, which was in news, is located in which state and forms part of which Tiger Reserve?
Dnyanganga Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Buldhana district of Maharashtra and forms part of the Melghat Tiger Reserve. It covers approximately 205 square kilometres near the Dnyanganga River.
💡 Concept Note
Melghat Tiger Reserve in Amravati district was Maharashtra’s first Tiger Reserve (1974) and one of India’s first 9 Tiger Reserves under Project Tiger (1973). It is located in the Satpura hills.
Melghat means “meeting of ghats” in Marathi.
Melghat means “meeting of ghats” in Marathi.
Question 3 of 10
The Industrial Research and Development Promotion Program (IRDPP), which removed the 3-year existence condition for deep-tech startups, operates under which organisation?
IRDPP is a Research and Development programme of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Government of India. DSIR celebrated its 42nd Foundation Day on January 4, 2026, when it announced the removal of the 3-year mandatory existence condition for deep-tech startups, providing up to Rs 1 crore in financial assistance.
💡 Concept Note
DSIR (Department of Scientific and Industrial Research) functions under the Ministry of Science and Technology. Its programmes include PRISM (Promoting Innovations in Individuals, Startups and MSMEs), SIRO (Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) recognition, and technology development partnerships.
CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) is separate from DSIR but also under MoST.
CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) is separate from DSIR but also under MoST.
Question 4 of 10
DRDO developed a portable desalination device named SWaDeS (Sea Water Desalination System). Which DRDO laboratory developed it?
SWaDeS was developed by Defence Laboratory Jodhpur, DRDO. The manual variant supports 10-12 personnel; the engine-operated variant supports 20-25 personnel. It converts seawater with TDS up to 35,000 mg/L to below 500 mg/L within 2-3 minutes setup time.
💡 Concept Note
SWaDeS features a CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear) water purification module — enabling soldiers to purify water even in contaminated environments. CEP (Circular Error Probable) in weapons and TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) in water quality are both important Prelims data points.
Question 5 of 10
National Siddha Day is observed annually on January 6, marking the birth anniversary of which sage?
National Siddha Day is observed on January 6 to mark the birth anniversary of Sage Agathiyar (Agastya), regarded as the father of the Siddha system of medicine. The 9th National Siddha Day (2026) had the theme “Siddha for Global Health.”
💡 Concept Note
Siddha medicine is one of the oldest medical systems — originating in Tamil Nadu; uses herbal, mineral, and animal products; emphasises balance of five elements. AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy) systems are governed by the Ministry of AYUSH. Siddha is practiced primarily in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Sri Lanka.
Question 6 of 10
The Indian Army unveiled the Bhairav drone warfare force with over 1 lakh operatives. How many battalions have been raised as of January 2026?
15 battalions of the Bhairav drone force have been raised, with 25 more planned. The force appeared publicly for the first time at the Army Day Parade in Jaipur on January 15, 2026.
It is named after Bhairav, a fierce form of Lord Shiva.
It is named after Bhairav, a fierce form of Lord Shiva.
💡 Concept Note
Bhairav is part of the Indian Army’s 2026 Year of Networking and Data Centricity initiative. Drone warfare has been decisive in the Nagorno-Karabakh war (2020) and Ukraine (2022-present).
India faces drone infiltration along the LoC from Pakistan (400+ per year) and PLA drone surveillance in Ladakh.
India faces drone infiltration along the LoC from Pakistan (400+ per year) and PLA drone surveillance in Ladakh.
Question 7 of 10
ONGC and which foreign company established joint ventures named Bharat Ethane IFSC One and Bharat Ethane IFSC Two at GIFT City for ethane shipping?
ONGC and Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) established two 50:50 joint ventures — Bharat Ethane IFSC One and Bharat Ethane IFSC Two — at GIFT City, Gandhinagar. These JVs will operate two Very Large Ethane Carriers (VLECs) transporting ethane from the USA to India for use at OPaL (ONGC Petro Additions Limited) in Dahej, Gujarat.
The ships are expected to begin operations by mid-2028 with a combined investment of ~$370 million.
The ships are expected to begin operations by mid-2028 with a combined investment of ~$370 million.
💡 Concept Note
GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City) is India’s first International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), regulated by IFSCA (International Financial Services Centres Authority, established 2020). OPaL uses ethane as a cracker feedstock for petrochemical production.
Ethane is a cheaper feedstock than naphtha for producing ethylene. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) is one of Japan’s largest shipping companies.
Note: MOL here refers to the Japanese shipping firm, not Hungary’s MOL Group (an oil and gas company).
Ethane is a cheaper feedstock than naphtha for producing ethylene. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) is one of Japan’s largest shipping companies.
Note: MOL here refers to the Japanese shipping firm, not Hungary’s MOL Group (an oil and gas company).
Question 8 of 10
CSIR-NPL, New Delhi inaugurated the National Environmental Standard Laboratory (NESL). What is its global ranking in terms of such facilities?
NESL at CSIR-NPL is Asia’s first and the world’s second National Environmental Standard Laboratory (after the UK). It was inaugurated during CSIR-NPL’s 80th Foundation Day in January 2026 by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh.
Developed in collaboration with Germany’s PTB (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt), it enables certification of all air quality monitoring equipment under Indian climatic conditions. The National Primary Standard Facility for Solar Cell Calibration (world’s fifth) was also inaugurated simultaneously.
Developed in collaboration with Germany’s PTB (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt), it enables certification of all air quality monitoring equipment under Indian climatic conditions. The National Primary Standard Facility for Solar Cell Calibration (world’s fifth) was also inaugurated simultaneously.
💡 Concept Note
CSIR-NPL (National Physical Laboratory) in New Delhi is India’s apex measurement standards laboratory. It maintains national standards for Mass, Length, Time, Temperature, and Electrical units.
Accurate environmental standards are critical for India’s AQI (Air Quality Index) monitoring system across 500+ cities. The NESL supports India’s National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) which targets a 20-30% reduction in PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations in non-attainment cities by 2024.
Germany’s PTB is equivalent to India’s CSIR-NPL in the metrology domain.
Accurate environmental standards are critical for India’s AQI (Air Quality Index) monitoring system across 500+ cities. The NESL supports India’s National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) which targets a 20-30% reduction in PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations in non-attainment cities by 2024.
Germany’s PTB is equivalent to India’s CSIR-NPL in the metrology domain.
Question 9 of 10
India's Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme covers which category of fertilizers?
The NBS scheme covers Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilizers — DAP, MOP, SSP, NPK complexes. Urea is governed separately under a fixed Maximum Retail Price (MRP) mechanism; its pricing is not under NBS. For Rabi 2025-26, the NBS allocation was Rs 37,952.29 crore; DAP subsidy was raised to Rs 29,805 per metric tonne.
💡 Concept Note
NBS was introduced in 2010 to rationalise fertiliser subsidies and promote soil health by incentivising balanced use of nutrients. Under NBS, a fixed subsidy per kg of nutrient (N, P, K, S) is announced seasonally; companies set MRP but subsidy is on the nutrient content.
PM PRANAM scheme (2023) aims to reduce chemical fertiliser use by promoting alternatives.
PM PRANAM scheme (2023) aims to reduce chemical fertiliser use by promoting alternatives.
Question 10 of 10
Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin signed an MoU with UN Women for gender-responsive governance. Tamil Nadu also became the first sub-national government globally to partner with which international body for public sector innovation?
Tamil Nadu became the first sub-national (state-level) government globally to enter a strategic partnership with UNICEF for public sector innovation, through a Letter of Intent between the Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission and UNICEF India. This partnership was formalised alongside the MoU with UN Women on gender-responsive governance.
The initiative aims to embed evidence-informed innovation in governance, budgeting, and service delivery — especially for women and children.
The initiative aims to embed evidence-informed innovation in governance, budgeting, and service delivery — especially for women and children.
💡 Concept Note
UN Women is a United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and empowerment of women, established 2010. SDG 5 covers gender equality.
Gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) involves gender-based analysis of budgets to assess impact on women and girls. India introduced the Gender Budget Statement in the Union Budget from 2005-06.
UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund — originally United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund) was established 1946 and works on child rights, nutrition, education, and health globally. Tamil Nadu has consistently ranked high on human development indicators among Indian states.
Gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) involves gender-based analysis of budgets to assess impact on women and girls. India introduced the Gender Budget Statement in the Union Budget from 2005-06.
UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund — originally United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund) was established 1946 and works on child rights, nutrition, education, and health globally. Tamil Nadu has consistently ranked high on human development indicators among Indian states.
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