Current Affairs Quiz 24th and 25th January 2026 Quiz

Exp. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana Completes 11 Years of Empowering the Girl Child

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) has completed 11 years since its launch on 22 January 2015 under the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao initiative, aimed at securing the financial future of the girl child.

SSY offers an attractive government-notified interest rate, currently at 8.2%, making it one of the most rewarding small savings schemes.

Investments qualify for Section 80C tax deduction; the minimum annual deposit is ₹250, while the maximum is ₹1.50 lakh.

Deposits can be made for 15 years, and the account matures after 21 years from the date of opening.

Exp. Republic Day 2026 Parade to Feature 30 Tableaux at Kartavya Path

A total of 30 tableaux will roll down Kartavya Path, New Delhi, during the 77th Republic Day celebrations on 26 January 2026.

The tableaux will include 17 from States and Union Territories and 13 from Ministries, Departments, and Services.

Based on the themes ‘Swatantrata ka Mantra: Vande Mataram’ and ‘Samriddhi ka Mantra: Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, the tableaux will highlight 150 years of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ along with India’s rapid progress and self-reliance.

Exp. Election Commission launches ECINET digital platform at IICDEM 2026

During the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management in New Delhi, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar launched ECINET, a unified digital platform integrating 40+ election-related apps and web services to enhance citizen participation.

ECINET connects citizens, candidates, political parties, and election officials on a single platform and has been developed in 22 Indian languages along with English.

On the second day, bilateral discussions were held with international delegations, including the UK, focusing on India’s election arrangements, the ECINET app, and possibilities for closer cooperation in electoral management.

About Election Commissioner of India (ECI)

• It is a constitutional body to conduct and regulate elections in the country.
• Founded – 25 January 1950
• Headquarters – New Delhi
• 1st Chief – Sukumar Sen
• 1st Women Chief – V.S. Ramadevi
• 26th Chief – Gyanesh Kumar (replace Rajiv Kumar)
• Commissioner – Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi
• Tenure – 6/65yrs

Exp. Amit Shah to Launch ODOC Scheme at Uttar Pradesh Day Celebrations in Lucknow

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah will attend the Uttar Pradesh Day celebrations as the Chief Guest in Lucknow, with the event being held at Rashtra Prerna Sthal.

On the occasion, he will launch the ‘One District One Cuisine’ (ODOC) scheme, aimed at identifying and promoting the traditional cuisine of each district of Uttar Pradesh through quality improvement, branding, and market access.

Mr Shah will also inaugurate the Sardar Patel Industrial Zone Programme, present awards under the Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Yojana, and confer the Uttar Pradesh Gaurav Samman 2025–26.

About Uttar Pradesh

• Capital – Lucknow
• Chief Minister – Yogi Adityanath
• Governor – Anandiben Patel

Exp. CDS Releases Military Quantum Mission Policy Framework to Integrate Quantum Technologies in Armed Forces

CDS General Anil Chauhan released the Military Quantum Mission Policy Framework, outlining a policy and roadmap for adopting Quantum Technologies in India’s Armed Forces.

The framework focuses on integrating four key pillars—Quantum Communication, Quantum Computing, Quantum Sensing & Metrology, and Quantum Materials & Devices—across the Tri-Services to prepare for future warfare and achieve technological dominance.

The vision document ensures synergy and alignment with the National Quantum Mission, defining an indicative roadmap and policy to implement quantum technologies as a niche but strategic capability in Defence forces.

Exp. Hyderabad to Host Wings India 2026, Asia’s Largest Civil Aviation Event

Hyderabad to host Wings India 2026, Asia’s largest civil aviation event, at Begumpet Airport, bringing together aviation leaders, aircraft manufacturers, and government delegations from over 20 countries.

The event will be inaugurated by Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu and has been held in Hyderabad since 2008 as a biennial event organized by the Indian government.

The theme for Wings India 2026 is: “Indian Aviation: Paving the Future From Design to Deployment, Manufacturing to Maintenance, Inclusivity to Innovation, and Safety to Sustainability”.

Exp. India Partners with World Economic Forum to Launch Skills Accelerator for Future-Ready Workforce

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship signed an MoU with the World Economic Forum to strengthen India’s skills and Technical & Vocational Education and Training (TVET) ecosystem.

Under this MoU, a Skills Accelerator will be launched in India to bridge critical skill gaps and enhance the global employability of Indian youth.

The initiative aims to align India’s talent pool with emerging domains like artificial intelligence, green energy, robotics, and advanced manufacturing, fostering a future-ready and globally competitive workforce.

Currently active skill accelerator countries include Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brazil, Indonesia, Nigeria and Qatar.

Exp. 24 January – National Girl Child Day

National Girl Child Day is observed every year on 24 January to raise awareness about the rights, education, and well-being of girls in India.

The day emphasizes ending gender discrimination and promoting equal opportunities for girls in education, health, and society.

Theme 2026-  Empowering Every Daughter, Building a Stronger India.

Exp. United States Officially Withdraws from WHO Citing COVID-19 Mismanagement

The United States has officially withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO), following a one-year notice given by President Donald Trump in 2025.

The U.S., which was the largest contributor to WHO funding (about 18%), cited poor management and mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic as reasons for withdrawal.

The U.S. announced it will now work directly with other countries on global health issues, bypassing WHO.

About World Health Organization (WHO)

• Formation – 7 April 1948
• Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
• First President – Andrija Štampar
• Director General – Tedros Adhanom (Ethiopia)
• Member Countries – 194

Exp. 24 January – International Day of Education

International Day of Education is observed every year on 24 January to highlight the role of education in peace, development, and human rights worldwide.

Theme 2026 -The power of youth in co-creating education

The day emphasizes inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.

It aims to raise awareness about global education challenges and encourage governments, organizations, and communities to invest in education for a sustainable future.

Exp. Razorpay POS Secures RBI Licence to Operate as Offline Payment Aggregator

Razorpay POS, the offline payments arm of fintech major Razorpay, has secured a licence from the RBI to operate as an offline payment aggregator.

With this licence, Razorpay now holds all three key RBI authorisations: online payment aggregator, cross-border payment aggregator (obtained in December 2025), and offline payment aggregator.

This development strengthens Razorpay’s position in India’s digital payments ecosystem, enabling it to offer seamless payment solutions across online and offline channels.

Exp. Olympic Medallist Saina Nehwal Announces Retirement from Competitive Badminton

Saina Nehwal announced her retirement from competitive badminton after being out of action for nearly two years due to chronic knee problems and cartilage degeneration.

She made history by winning a bronze medal at the London 2012 Olympics, becoming the first Indian woman to medal in Olympic badminton.

Nehwal also achieved World No. 1 ranking in 2015, won the BWF Super Series title (Indonesia Open 2009), Commonwealth Games gold (2010 & 2018), and World Championship silver (2015).

Throughout her career, she overcame injuries, contributed to Indian badminton’s global recognition, and received prestigious awards including Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, Khel Ratna, and Arjuna Award.

Recently Retired Players

• Alyssa Healy (Australia)- All forms of international cricket
• Jinson Johnson (Kerala, India) – Middle-distance Runner
• Usman Khawaja (Australia) – International cricket
• Doug Bracewell (New Zealand) – all forms of international cricket
• Mohit Sharma (India) – All Forms of Cricket
• Kane Williamson (New Zealand) – T20 Internationals

Exp. NASA Astronaut Sunita Williams Retires After 27-Year Stellar Career

NASA astronaut Sunita ‘Suni’ Williams retired after a stellar 27-year career, completing three missions aboard the International Space Station and setting numerous human spaceflight records, including 608 days in space.

She performed nine spacewalks totaling over 62 hours, became the first person to run a marathon in space, and ranks second in cumulative time in space among NASA astronauts.

Born to an Indian father and Slovenian mother, Williams is a retired U.S. Navy captain, helicopter and fixed-wing pilot with over 4,000 flight hours and holds degrees in physical science and engineering management.

During her visit to India, she participated in an interactive session at the American Center, sharing experiences from missions like the Boeing Starliner and SpaceX Crew-9, inspiring future generations in space exploration.

About National Aeronautics and Space Administration

• Formed- July 29, 1958
• Headquarters- Washington, D.C., USA
• Administrator- Jared Isaacman

Exp. Punjab Launches First Dog Sanctuary in Ludhiana as Pilot Project

Punjab launched its first Dog Sanctuary in Ludhiana at the Haibowal Dairy Complex as a pilot project to address the stray dog issue.

The initiative aims to reduce dog bite cases and improve public safety through organised management of stray dogs.

The sanctuary will function as per the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court, ensuring humane and lawful handling of animals.

About Punjab

• Capital – Chandigarh
• Chief Minister – Bhagwant Mann
• Governor – Gulab Chand Kataria

Exp. Lucknow Becomes UP’s First Zero Fresh Waste Dump City

Lucknow has become Uttar Pradesh’s first ‘Zero Fresh Waste Dump’ city after achieving 100% scientific processing of municipal solid waste.

The milestone was achieved with the inauguration of the third waste processing facility at the Shivari Plant, strengthening the city’s sustainable waste management system.

Lucknow generates about 2,000 metric tonnes of waste daily, managed through three plants of 700 MT/day capacity each, with waste segregated into 55% organic and 45% inorganic components.