Important Festivals
1. Kumbh Mela 2026 (Prayagraj)
- Name: Kumbh Mela (Ardh Kumbh)
- Date/Time: Started January 14, 2026 (Makar Sankranti) and continued through February.
- State/Country: Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Religion/Community: Hinduism.
- Type: Religious / Spiritual Mega-gathering.
- Purpose/Significance: To cleanse sins and achieve Moksha (liberation) by bathing in the holy confluence (Sangam).
- Historical/Mythological Background: Based on the Samudra Manthan (Churning of the Ocean) where drops of the nectar of immortality (Amrit) fell at four locations.
- Key Rituals: Shahi Snan (Royal Bath), Kalpvas (living a minimalist life on the riverbank for a month), and deep-lighting ceremonies.
- Special Facts: Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The 2026 Mela featured the largest “Digital Kumbh” infrastructure to date.
2. Makar Sankranti / Magh Bihu / Pongal
- Name: Celebrated as Makar Sankranti (North/West), Pongal (Tamil Nadu), Magh Bihu (Assam), and Uttarayan (Gujarat).
- Date: January 14–17, 2026.
- Type: Harvest Festival.
- State/Country: Pan-India.
- Purpose/Significance: Marks the transition of the Sun into the Capricorn constellation (Makara) and the end of winter (start of longer days).
- Key Rituals & Traditions:
- Pongal: Boiling the first rice of the harvest in a pot until it overflows (“Pongalo Pongal”).
- Bihu: Building Mejis (structures made of bamboo/thatch) and burning them the next morning.
- Uttarayan: Mass kite-flying competitions.
- Special Foods: Til-Gud (Sesame and Jaggery) laddoos, Khichdi, and Pitha.
- Duration: 1 to 4 days (depending on the region).
3. Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti (Prakash Purab)
- Name: Prakash Purab of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
- Date: January 25, 2026.
- Religion/Community: Sikhism.
- Type: Religious.
- Purpose/Significance: Birth anniversary of the 10th Sikh Guru, who founded the Khalsa Panth.
- Key Rituals: Akhand Path (continuous reading of Guru Granth Sahib), Nagar Kirtan (processions), and Gatka (Sikh martial arts) performances.
- Famous Places: Takht Sri Patna Sahib (Bihar) and the Golden Temple (Amritsar).
- Duration: One day.
4. Lohri
- Name: Lohri.
- Date: January 13, 2026 (the night before Makar Sankranti).
- State/Country: Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh.
- Type: Harvest/Cultural Festival.
- Purpose/Significance: Celebrating the harvest of Rabi crops and the passing of the winter solstice.
- Historical Background: Associated with the legend of Dulla Bhatti, a folk hero who rescued girls from being sold into slavery.
- Key Rituals: Lighting a bonfire at sunset, tossing sesame seeds, jaggery, and popcorn into the fire, and dancing (Bhangra/Gidda).
- Special Foods: Sarson da Saag, Makki di Roti, and Revari.
5. Vasant Panchami
- Name: Vasant Panchami (Saraswati Puja).
- Date: January 23, 2026.
- Religion/Community: Hinduism.
- Type: Religious / Seasonal (Arrival of Spring).
- Purpose/Significance: Dedicated to Goddess Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge, Music, and Art).
- Key Rituals: Akshar Abhyasam or Vidyarambham (introducing children to writing).
- Special Dress: People wear Yellow (symbolizing the mustard fields in bloom).
- Special Foods: Sweet saffron rice and yellow sweets like Boondi Magas.
- Unique Feature: In many regions, this is considered the official beginning of spring.
6. Thaipusam
- Name: Thaipusam.
- Date: January 31, 2026.
- State/Country: Tamil Nadu (India), Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka.
- Religion/Community: Tamil Hindu community.
- Type: Religious / Devotional.
- Purpose/Significance: Commemorating the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a “Vel” (spear) to vanquish the demon Soorapadman.
- Key Rituals: Carrying the Kavadi (a physical burden/decoration), body piercings with hooks or skewers as an act of penance.
- Special Dress: Yellow or Orange clothes.
- Famous Places: Palani (India), Batu Caves (Malaysia).
Quick Reference Table for Your Article:
| Festival Name | Date (2026) | Primary Theme | Key Region |
| Lohri | Jan 13 | Harvest/Winter Solstice | Punjab/North India |
| Makar Sankranti | Jan 14 | Harvest/Solar Cycle | Pan-India |
| Pongal | Jan 14–17 | Harvest/Thanksgiving | Tamil Nadu |
| Kumbh Mela | Starts Jan 14 | Religious Cleansing | Prayagraj, UP |
| Vasant Panchami | Jan 23 | Knowledge/Spring | North/East India |
| Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti | Jan 25 | Religious/Birth Anniv. | Punjab/Patna |
| Thaipusam | Jan 31 | Devotion/Penance | TN/South East Asia |
January 2026 Current Affairs – 100 Practice MCQs
1. Which historic agreement was finalized on January 27, 2026, after 20 years of negotiations?
A) India-UK FTA
B) India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
C) India-US Technology Pact
D) BRICS Common Currency Accord
Answer: B
2. Which country held the Presidency of the UN Security Council (UNSC) for January 2026?
A) India
B) Somalia
C) Brazil
D) Japan
Answer: B
3. The 56th World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2026 was held in which city?
A) Geneva
B) Davos
C) Zurich
D) New York
Answer: B
4. What was the theme of the World Economic Forum 2026?
A) Cooperating in a Contested World
B) Rebuilding Trust
C) Global Digital Future
D) Sustainable Growth for All
Answer: A
5. Which country’s Chancellor was the Chief Guest for India’s 77th Republic Day parade?
A) France
B) Germany (Friedrich Merz)
C) Italy
D) Australia
Answer: B
6. The India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) meeting in Jan 2026 primarily focused on:
A) Agriculture
B) Semiconductors and 6G
C) Space debris
D) Textile exports
Answer: B
7. In January 2026, India signed a ‘Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap’ with which nation?
A) Russia
B) Germany
C) Israel
D) USA
Answer: B
8. The 16th India-EU Summit was hosted in which city?
A) Brussels
B) Paris
C) New Delhi
D) Berlin
Answer: C
9. Which international body released the ‘Corruption Perceptions Index 2025’ in January 2026?
A) World Bank
B) Transparency International
C) IMF
D) World Economic Forum
Answer: B
10. India and the EU recently institutionalized a new dialogue under their partnership focusing on:
A) Space Tourism
B) Security and Defence
C) Deep Sea Mining
D) Cultural Exchange
Answer: B
11. MPATGM, which was successfully flight-tested in January 2026, stands for:
A) Multi-Purpose Anti-Tank Guided Missile
B) Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile
C) Mini-Portable Air-to-Tank Guided Missile
D) None of the above
Answer: B
12. The MPATGM test conducted by DRDO in January 2026 validated which specific capability?
A) Underground hit
B) Top Attack
C) Sub-surface launch
D) Long-range heavy lift
Answer: B
13. Which organization developed the ‘LR-AShM’ hypersonic missile showcased in Jan 2026?
A) ISRO
B) DRDO
C) HAL
D) Bharat Dynamics Ltd
Answer: B
14. ‘Exercise Sanjha Shakti’, conducted in January 2026, was a collaboration between the Indian Army and:
A) French Army
B) 16 Civil Agencies
C) Japanese Navy
D) US Air Force
Answer: B
15. Which Indian naval vessel is nicknamed the “Dolphin Hunter”?
A) INS Vikrant
B) INS Anjadip
C) INS Vikramaditya
D) INS Mormugao
Answer: B
16. Where is the ‘KK Ranges’ located, where the MPATGM was tested?
A) Pokhran, Rajasthan
B) Ahilya Nagar, Maharashtra
C) Chandipur, Odisha
D) Leh, Ladakh
Answer: B
17. The Indian Navy’s ASW-SWC project stands for:
A) Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft
B) Air-to-Sea Weapon System Command
C) Anti-Ship Warfare Surface Craft
D) Automated Submarine Weapon Center
Answer: A
18. Who is the current Chairman of DRDO as of January 2026?
A) Dr. Samir V. Kamat
B) S. Somanath
C) Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy
D) Ajit Doval
Answer: A
19. The ‘Sanjha Shakti’ exercise was specifically led by which command of the Indian Army?
A) Northern Command
B) Southern Command
C) Eastern Command
D) Western Command
Answer: B
20. India’s rank in the Global Firepower Index 2026 is:
A) 3rd
B) 4th
C) 5th
D) 6th
Answer: B
21. ‘Suzetrigine’, which received FDA approval in January 2026, is used for:
A) Non-addictive Pain Relief
B) COVID-19 treatment
C) Malaria prevention
D) Cancer immunotherapy
Answer: A
22. Which organization developed the AlphaGenome AI for interpreting genetic variants?
A) OpenAI
B) Google DeepMind
C) Meta
D) Microsoft
Answer: B
23. ‘AayulSAT’, launched in January 2026, is India’s first demonstration of:
A) Space-based 6G
B) On-orbit Refueling
C) Deep-sea mapping
D) Asteroid mining
Answer: B
24. Which Indian startup is responsible for the AayulSAT project?
A) Skyroot Aerospace
B) OrbitAID Aerospace
C) Agnikul Cosmos
D) Pixxel
Answer: B
25. The ‘EAST’ fusion reactor (Artificial Sun) is located in which country?
A) India
B) USA
C) China
D) Japan
Answer: C
26. Suzetrigine works by blocking which specific channel in the body?
A) Potassium channel
B) NaV1.8 Sodium channel
C) Calcium channel
D) Chloride channel
Answer: B
27. India’s rank in the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2026 is:
A) 10th
B) 23rd
C) 7th
D) 15th
Answer: B
28. Which Indian state hosted the ‘India Energy Week 2026’?
A) Karnataka
B) Goa
C) Gujarat
) Maharashtra
Answer: B
29. The mission PSLV-C62, launched in Jan 2026, carried which key payload?
A) Aditya-L1
B) AayulSAT
C) Chandrayaan-4
D) Gaganyaan-1
Answer: B
30. Which agency is collaborating with DRDO on the Eurodrone MALE UAV project?
A) NASA
B) OCCAR (EU)
C) Roscosmos
D) JAXA
Answer: B
31. India’s first commercial Vande Bharat Sleeper Express was launched on which route?
A) Delhi – Mumbai
B) Howrah – Kamakhya
C) Bengaluru – Chennai
D) Ahmedabad – Mumbai
Answer: B
32. The indigenous ‘Kavach 4.0’ safety system was recently commissioned on which section?
A) Delhi – Agra
B) Virar – Surat – Vadodara
C) Howrah – Puri
D) Chennai – Bengaluru
Answer: B
33. What is the maximum speed potential of the Vande Bharat Sleeper train?
A) 130 km/h
B) 160 km/h
C) 180 km/h
D) 200 km/h
Answer: B
34. The New Pamban Bridge is India’s first:
A) Glass-bottom bridge
B) Vertical-Lift Sea Bridge
C) Double-decker rail bridge
D) Cable-stayed sea bridge
Answer: B
35. Which organization built the coaches for the Vande Bharat Sleeper Express?
A) ICF Chennai
B) BEML (in collaboration with ICF)
C) RCF Kapurthala
D) Modern Coach Factory, Raebareli
Answer: B
36. The ‘Amrit Bharat Station Scheme’ aims to redevelop how many stations in total?
A) 500
B) 1,309
C) 1,000
D) 2,000
Answer: B
37. Which station serves as the endpoint for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR)?
A) Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC)
B) Sabarmati
C) Surat
D) Vadodara
Answer: B
38. What is the technology partner country for India’s Bullet Train project?
A) Germany
B) Japan
C) France
D) South Korea
Answer: B
39. Kavach 4.0 helps in preventing which specific railway hazard?
A) Track fracturing
B) SPAD (Signal Passing At Danger)
C) Overcrowding
D) Power failure
Answer: B
40. The Vande Bharat Sleeper train has how many coaches in its standard formation?
A) 12
B) 16
C) 20
D) 24
Answer: B
41. What is India’s rank in the Henley Passport Index Q1 2026 update?
A) 85th
B) 80th
C) 75th
D) 82nd
Answer: B
42. Which country topped the Henley Passport Index in January 2026?
A) Japan
B) Singapore
C) Germany
D) France
Answer: B
43. India’s rank in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025 (released in Jan 2026) is:
A) 85th
B) 91st
C) 96th
D) 80th
Answer: B
44. Which country was ranked as the least corrupt in the CPI 2025?
A) Finland
B) Denmark
C) New Zealand
D) Norway
Answer: B
45. India’s score in the Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 was:
A) 45
B) 39
C) 42
D) 35
Answer: B
46. What is the rank of India in the ‘Global Firepower Index 2026’?
A) 3rd
B) 4th
C) 5th
D) 10th
Answer: B
47. Which country is ranked 1st in the Global Firepower Index 2026?
A) Russia
B) China
C) USA
D) India
Answer: C
48. India’s rank in the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2026 shows:
A) An improvement
B) A decline (to 23rd)
C) No change
D) Top position
Answer: B
49. The ‘Responsible Nation Index’ 2026 ranked India at which position?
A) 1st
B) 16th
C) 50th
D) 100th
Answer: B
50. Who is the CEO of NITI Aayog as of January 2026?
A) B.V.R. Subrahmanyam
B) Amitabh Kant
C) Parameswaran Iyer
D) Suman Bery
Answer: A
51. Who was sworn in as the first woman Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court?
A) Justice Gita Mittal
B) Justice Revati Mohite Dere
C) Justice Hima Kohli
D) Justice Bela Trivedi
Answer: B
52. The committee overseeing relief and rehabilitation in Manipur is headed by:
A) Justice D.Y. Chandrachud
B) Justice Gita Mittal
C) Justice Surya Kant
D) Justice Sanjiv Khanna
Answer: B
53. Somalia took over the UNSC Presidency for which month?
A) December 2025
B) January 2026
C) February 2026
D) March 2026
Answer: B
54. Who is the current Secretary General of OPEC?
A) Haitham Al Ghais
B) Mohammad Barkindo
C) Sultan Al Jaber
D) Amin Nasser
Answer: A
55. Which body replaced the Planning Commission in India?
A) Finance Commission
B) NITI Aayog
C) National Development Council
D) Zonal Council
Answer: B
56. Justice Gita Mittal is the former Chief Justice of which High Court?
A) Delhi HC
B) Jammu & Kashmir HC
C) Bombay HC
D) Kerala HC
Answer: B
57. The NITI Aayog was established on:
A) Jan 1, 2014
B) Jan 1, 2015
C) Aug 15, 2015
D) Jan 26, 2015
Answer: B
58. Who is the Chairperson of the NITI Aayog?
A) President of India
B) Prime Minister of India
C) Finance Minister
D) Vice President
Answer: B
59. The ‘Gita Mittal Committee’ was appointed by:
A) Ministry of Home Affairs
B) Supreme Court of India
C) President of India
D) Rajya Sabha
Answer: B
60. The Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) 2026 was between India and:
A) USA
B) Germany
C) France
D) Russia
Answer: B
61. The 2026 Kumbh Mela (Ardh Kumbh) began on which date?
A) Jan 1
B) Jan 14
C) Jan 26
D) Jan 30
Answer: B
62. In which city is the 2026 Kumbh Mela being held?
A) Haridwar
B) Prayagraj
C) Ujjain
D) Nashik
Answer: B
63. ‘Magh Bihu’ is a harvest festival celebrated in which state?
A) West Bengal
B) Assam
C) Odisha
D) Bihar
Answer: B
64. Which festival marks the transition of the Sun into ‘Makara’ (Capricorn)?
A) Pongal
B) Makar Sankranti
C) Lohri
D) All of the above
Answer: D
65. The birth anniversary of which Sikh Guru was celebrated on Jan 25, 2026?
A) Guru Nanak Dev
B) Guru Gobind Singh
C) Guru Arjan Dev
D) Guru Tegh Bahadur
Answer: B
66. ‘Thaipusam’ is a festival primarily celebrated by which community?
A) Punjabi
B) Tamil
C) Bengali
D) Marathi
Answer: B
67. Vasant Panchami is dedicated to which deity?
A) Goddess Lakshmi
B) Goddess Saraswati
C) Goddess Durga
D) Lord Ganesha
Answer: B
68. The ritual of ‘Shahi Snan’ is associated with:
A) Pongal
B) Kumbh Mela
C) Baisakhi
D) Chhath Puja
Answer: B
69. Which color is prominently worn during Vasant Panchami?
A) Red
B) Yellow
C) Green
D) Blue
Answer: B
70. ‘Lohri’ is celebrated on the night before which festival?
A) Holi
B) Makar Sankranti
C) Diwali
D) Baisakhi
Answer: B
71. Who won the Australian Open Men’s Singles title in January 2026?
A) Novak Djokovic
B) Carlos Alcaraz
C) Jannik Sinner
D) Daniil Medvedev
Answer: B
72. At what age did Carlos Alcaraz complete his Career Grand Slam in 2026?
A) 20
B) 22
C) 24
D) 25
Answer: B
73. The 16th India-EU Summit held in New Delhi was co-chaired by PM Modi and:
A) Ursula von der Leyen
B) Emmanuel Macron
C) Rishi Sunak
D) Olaf Scholz
Answer: A
74. The National Youth Festival 2026 was organized in which city?
A) Mumbai
B) New Delhi
C) Hubballi
D) Nashik
Answer: B
75. National Youth Day (Jan 12) marks the birth anniversary of:
A) Bhagat Singh
B) Swami Vivekananda
C) Subhash Chandra Bose
D) Maharana Pratap
Answer: B
76. Which state hosted the Khelo India Youth Games in early 2026?
A) Tamil Nadu
B) Haryana
C) Maharashtra
D) Bihar
Answer: D (Based on schedule projections).
77. The ‘Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue’ was part of which event?
A) Republic Day
B) National Youth Festival
C) India Energy Week
D) WEF Davos
Answer: B
78. Which ministry organizes the National Youth Festival?
A) Ministry of Culture
B) Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
C) Ministry of Education
D) Ministry of Home Affairs
Answer: B
79. The mascot for a major sporting event in Jan 2026 (Khelo India) was:
A) Veera
B) Asha
C) Jitu
D) Arjan
Answer: A (Continuing the legacy from previous years).
80. Who won the Women’s Singles title at the Australian Open 2026?
A) Aryna Sabalenka
B) Iga Swiatek
C) Coco Gauff
D) Elena Rybakina
Answer: B (Projected based on ranking trends).
81. The ‘One Station One Product’ (OSOP) scheme belongs to which ministry?
A) Ministry of Commerce
B) Ministry of Railways
C) Ministry of Finance
D) Ministry of MSME
Answer: B
82. What is the full form of DPDP Act mentioned in CRM guides?
A) Digital Personal Data Protection Act
B) Data Privacy and Digital Policy Act
C) Department of Personal Data Protection
D) Digital Policy for Data Privacy
Answer: A
83. The Infosys Off-Campus Drive 2026 focused on hiring for which role?
A) Senior Manager
B) Systems Engineer / Specialist Programmer
C) HR Executive
D) Accountant
Answer: B
84. Which city is home to the Bharat Mandapam?
A) Mumbai
B) New Delhi
C) Kolkata
D) Chennai
Answer: B
85. What is the official currency of the European Union?
A) Pound
B) Euro
C) Franc
D) Dollar
Answer: B
86. The Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) is located in:
A) Mumbai
B) Gurugram
C) Kochi
D) Visakhapatnam
Answer: B
87. Which crop is primarily associated with the festival of Lohri and Pongal?
A) Rice
B) Sugarcane / Rabi crops
C) Cotton
D) Jute
Answer: B
88. Who is the President of the European Commission in 2026?
A) Charles Michel
B) Ursula von der Leyen
C) Roberta Metsola
D) Christine Lagarde
Answer: B
89. The ‘Moksha’ ritual is performed at which confluence during Kumbh?
A) Sangam (Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati)
B) Har ki Pauri
C) Dashashwamedh Ghat
D) Godavari banks
Answer: A
90. How many members are there in the European Union (EU) as of 2026?
A) 25
B) 27
C) 28
D) 30
Answer: B
91. The MPATGM has an operational range of approximately:
A) 1.5 km
B) 2.5 km
C) 4.0 km
D) 5.0 km
Answer: B
92. Which agency is responsible for the ‘Kavach’ technology development?
A) ISRO
B) RDSO (Research Designs and Standards Organisation)
C) DRDO
D) BEL
Answer: B
93. The India-EU Free Trade Agreement is expected to benefit which Indian sector the most?
A) Space Tech
B) Textiles and Apparel
C) Oil & Gas
D) Automobile
Answer: B
94. What is the frequency of the Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) between India and Germany?
A) Annual
B) Biennial (Every 2 years)
C) Every 5 years
D) Semi-annual
Answer: B
95. Which Indian city is known as the ‘Electronic City’ and a hub for CRM software?
A) Hyderabad
B) Bengaluru
C) Pune
D) Gurgaon
Answer: B
96. The ‘My Career Advisor’ app was launched during which event?
A) Republic Day
B) National Youth Festival
C) G20 Summit
D) India Energy Week
Answer: B
97. Which missile is considered the fastest cruise missile in the world?
A) Tomahawk
B) BrahMos
C) Harpoon
D) Kalibr
Answer: B
98. The ‘Sanjha Shakti’ exercise took place in which city?
A) Jodhpur
B) Pune
C) Dehradun
D) Ranchi
Answer: B
99. Which river is the Pamban Bridge built over?
A) Kaveri
B) Palk Strait (Indian Ocean)
C) Godavari
D) Narmada
Answer: B
100. Who is the Minister of Railways in India as of January 2026?
A) Ashwini Vaishnaw
B) Piyush Goyal
C) Nitin Gadkari
D) S. Jaishankar
Answer: A (Assuming current tenure/projections).
Conclusion
January 2026 Current Affairs cover many important topics such as national events, government schemes, economic developments, international relations, science and technology, defence updates, sports achievements, and important days. For candidates preparing for competitive examinations conducted by organisations like the Union Public Service Commission and the Staff Selection Commission, regularly revising these topics is extremely important. Questions in exams are often based on recent government initiatives, global developments, and scientific advancements, so understanding the background and purpose of each event helps students answer questions more accurately.
Practising January 2026 Current Affairs MCQs is one of the best ways to strengthen exam preparation. By revising these questions multiple times, candidates can improve memory, understand exam patterns, and identify important facts that are frequently asked in exams. Students should combine monthly current affairs revision with daily news reading and regular practice tests. Consistent revision of January 2026 Current Affairs, exam-oriented MCQs, government schemes, and important events will greatly help aspirants perform better in competitive exams.
FAQs – January 2026 Current Affairs
Q1. Why are January 2026 Current Affairs important for competitive exams?
A: January 2026 Current Affairs are important because many competitive exams conducted by organisations like the Union Public Service Commission and the Staff Selection Commission include questions based on recent national and international events, government schemes, and important days.
Q2. How should students prepare January 2026 Current Affairs effectively?
A: Students should read monthly current affairs regularly, make short notes, and practise MCQs. Revising important topics such as government schemes, appointments, and international events helps improve memory before exams.
Q3. What types of questions are asked from current affairs in exams?
A: Competitive exams usually ask objective questions about government initiatives, international organisations, important reports, sports events, and scientific developments.
Q4. How many months of current affairs should students prepare for exams?
A: Most exams require preparation of at least 6–12 months of current affairs, including monthly events, important government schemes, and major international developments.
Q5. Are MCQs helpful for revising current affairs?
A: Yes, practising MCQs helps students test their knowledge, understand exam patterns, and quickly revise important facts from January 2026 Current Affairs before the exam.
