Current Affairs Quiz 21st January 2026 Quiz

Exp. RBI Notifies Revised Integrated Ombudsman Scheme (RB-IOS)

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has notified revised rules under the Reserve Bank–Integrated Ombudsman Scheme (RB-IOS), 2026 to strengthen and streamline customer grievance redressal.

Under the new scheme, there is no upper limit on the amount of dispute that a complainant can raise against a regulated financial entity before the RBI Ombudsman.

The Ombudsman has the power to award compensation of up to ₹30 lakh for any consequential financial loss suffered by the complainant.

Additionally, compensation of up to ₹3 lakh may be granted for loss of time, expenses incurred, and harassment or mental anguish suffered by the complainant.

The revised RB-IOS, 2026, will be applicable to banks, NBFCs, non-bank PPI issuers, and credit information companies, and will come into effect from July 1, 2026.

RBI can appoint one or more officers as Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsman. Appointments will generally be for a three-year term.

Exp. LTIMindtree Wins ₹3,000 Crore CBDT Contract for AI-Based Tax Analytics Platform Modernisation

IT services firm LTIMindtree has secured a ₹3,000 crore contract from the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to develop an AI-based programme for modernising India’s national tax analytics platform.

The project, titled “Insight 2.0”, will be executed over a seven-year period and focuses on leveraging artificial intelligence for advanced tax data analytics.

The modernised platform is designed to deliver real-time insights to policymakers, supporting data-driven decision-making and strengthening tax administration.

Exp. India’s First Green Ammonia Project Launched in Kakinada

India’s first Green Ammonia project has been launched in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, with CM N. Chandrababu Naidu laying the foundation stone for large-scale green hydrogen and ammonia plants, aiming to establish a national green energy hub and a future “Green Hydrogen Valley.”

The AM Green project will be the world’s largest green ammonia facility, producing 1.5 million tonnes annually from June 2027, primarily for export to Germany.

The green hydrogen and ammonia plants together will attract ₹84,000 crore investment, supporting Andhra Pradesh’s renewable energy targets, including 160 GW of green energy through solar, wind, and other renewable sources.

Exp. PM Modi Launches India’s First Overnight Sleeper Vande Bharat Train on Howrah–Guwahati Route

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched India’s first overnight sleeper Vande Bharat train connecting Howrah (Kolkata) to Kamakhya (Guwahati) during his two-day visit to West Bengal, with the inauguration held in Malda.

The train was manufactured indigenously by BEML in Bengaluru, incorporating technology from the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai.

Covering nearly 1,000 km, the fully air-conditioned train has 16 sleeper coaches (First AC, AC 2-tier, AC 3-tier) accommodating around 823 passengers, and features modern amenities such as ergonomic berths, automatic doors, noise-reduction systems, advanced suspension, Kavach anti-collision technology, and a top speed of 130 km/h.

Exp. Uganda President Yoweri Museveni Wins Seventh Term

Uganda President Yoweri Museveni has won a seventh term in office, further extending his long-standing leadership in the country.

He secured 71.65% of the total votes in the presidential election, reaffirming his political dominance.

Yoweri Museveni has been in power since 1986, making him one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders.

About Uganda

• Capital – Kampala
• Currency – Ugandan shilling
• Official languages- Swahili, English
• President – Yoweri Museveni

Exp. Sandeep Bakhshi Re-appointed as ICICI Bank MD & CEO

ICICI Bank has approved the re-appointment of Sandeep Bakhshi as Managing Director and CEO for another two-year term, marking his third re-appointment since 2021.

The new tenure of Sandeep Bakhshi will be effective from October 4, 2026, extending his leadership at ICICI Bank

About Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India (ICICI) Bank

• Founded – 1994
• Headquarters – Mumbai
• MD & CEO – Sandeep Bakhshi
• Tagline – Hum Hai Na Khayal Apka

Exp. DGCA Imposes ₹22.2 Crore Penalty on IndiGo for December 2025 Flight Disruptions

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a penalty of ₹22.2 crore on IndiGo for major flight disruptions witnessed in December 2025.

The regulator stated that the disruptions were primarily caused by overstretching of flight crew, resulting in widespread delays and cancellations.

Exp. Ponduru Khadi from Andhra Pradesh Receives GI Tag, Boosting Traditional Handloom Sector

Ponduru Khadi, a rare hand-woven cotton fabric from Andhra Pradesh, has been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, enhancing global visibility, legal protection, and market opportunities for artisans of this traditional craft.

The GI registration, awarded to the Khadi and Village Industries Commission, legally safeguards Ponduru Khadi—produced exclusively in Ponduru village, Srikakulam district—against imitation and certifies its geographical origin.

Exp. Finke River Recognised as World’s Oldest Flowing River

The Finke River in central Australia, also known as Larapinta by the Arrernte people, is believed to be the world’s oldest river still flowing today, dating back 300–400 million years.

Stretching over 640 kilometres across the Northern Territory and South Australia, the river cuts through some of Australia’s most ancient landscapes, long predating the age of dinosaurs.

Unlike typical rivers, the Finke flows intermittently, appearing as isolated waterholes for most of the year, connecting briefly only after heavy rainfall, yet forming a continuous ancient river system.

Exp. PM Modi inaugurated the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Project

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Project (4-Laning of Kaliabor-Numaligarh section of NH-715), worth over Rs. 6,950 Crore in Kaliabor, Assam.

Under this, a 90-kms corridor from Kaliabor to Numaligarh is being developed at a cost of about Rs. 7,000 crore, including a 35-kilometre elevated wildlife corridor.

It will feature 35 km of Elevated Wildlife Corridor that will pass through Kaziranga National Park, 21 km Bypass section and 30 km widening of the existing highway section of NH-715 from two to four lanes.

The project will pass through Nagaon, Karbi Anglong and Golaghat districts and will significantly improve connectivity to Upper Assam, particularly Dibrugarh and Tinsukia.

As part of the project, Bypasses will be developed at Jakhalabandha and Bokakhat that will help to decongest towns, improve urban mobility and enhance the quality of life for local residents.

Exp. Tamil Nadu Announces ‘Semmozhi Illakiya Virudhu’: New National-Level Literary Award for Major Indian Languages

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin announced a new state-sponsored annual literary honour at the valedictory ceremony of the Chennai International Book Fair, aimed at recognising outstanding literary works in major Indian languages other than Hindi.

The award has been named “Semmozhi Illakiya Virudhu (Classical Language Literary Award)”, will be conferred annually, have a national-level character, and carry a cash prize of ₹5 lakh for each selected work.

In the first phase, the award will recognise literary excellence in seven Indian languages — Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odiya, Bengali and Marathi, with the government indicating that more languages may be included in future phases

Exp. India’s Electronics Exports Surge Past $47 Billion in 2025

India’s electronics exports crossed $47 billion in 2025, registering a 37% growth over $34.93 billion in 2024, with smartphones—mainly iPhones—contributing nearly two-thirds (~$30 billion) of total exports, driven by PLI-linked manufacturing.

December 2025 exports stood at $4.17 billion, up 16.8% year-on-year, with electronics crossing the $4 billion monthly mark in 7 out of 12 months, making it the fastest-growing export category among India’s top 10 sectors.

Growth has been propelled by successive PLI schemes (Smartphone PLI-2020, India Semiconductor Mission-2021, IT Hardware PLI-2023) and the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) 2025 (₹22,919 crore outlay), with exports projected to cross $55 billion in 2026.

Exp. 20 January – Penguin Awareness Day

Penguin Awareness Day is observed annually on 20 January to spread awareness about penguin species, their habitats, and the environmental threats they face, especially due to climate change and melting polar ice.

Penguins are flightless seabirds found primarily in the Southern Hemisphere, with Antarctica hosting the largest population, and they play a crucial role in maintaining the marine ecosystem balance.

Exp. CareEdge Projects 7% GDP Growth for India in FY 2026-27 Despite Global Economic Uncertainties

CareEdge Ratings has projected that India’s economy will grow at 7% in FY 2026-27, indicating continued resilience despite global economic uncertainties, while real GDP growth for FY 2025-26 has been pegged at 7.4% as per the First Advance Estimates.

For FY 2026-27, CareEdge estimates real GDP growth at 7% and nominal GDP growth at 10.1%, with India’s macroeconomic outlook remaining constructive, while the RBI has projected 7.3% GDP growth for FY 2025-26.

Exp. Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron Reaches Singapore’s Changi Naval Base

Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron, comprising INS Tir, INS Shardul, INS Sujata, and Indian Coast Guard Ship Sarathi, arrived at Changi Naval Base, Singapore, for a training deployment in the South East Indian Ocean Region.

The visit strengthens maritime security cooperation, highlights India’s leadership in the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), and aligns with the MAHASAGAR vision for mutual and holistic advancement of security and growth across regions.