Current Affairs Quiz 29th January 2026 Quiz

Exp. Simran Bala Becomes First Woman CRPF Officer from Rajouri

Simran Bala, a 26-year-old Assistant Commandant, became the first woman CRPF officer from Rajouri (Jammu & Kashmir) to lead an all-male CRPF marching contingent at the 77th Republic Day Parade on Kartavya Path.

Breaking Barriers: Her leadership at the national parade marks a significant milestone for women in central armed police forces, inspiring greater gender inclusion in uniformed services.

About Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)

• Headquarters- New Delhi
• Formation – 27 July 1939
• Motto- Service and Loyalty
• Director General- Gyanendra Pratap Singh

Exp. India Ranks 8th in Global Al Investment: WEF White Paper

India ranked 8th among 11 countries in terms of historical accumulated investments in the AI ecosystem (2010–2024) as a percentage of 2024 GDP, according to a WEF white paper.

The US and Singapore led the rankings, with AI investments at 3.4–5.1% and 3.1–4.6% of GDP, respectively, followed by South Korea and China.

India’s accumulated AI investments since 2010 stood at 1.2–1.8% of its 2024 GDP, placing it above Europe (excluding the UK) and Brazil, but below UAE, Japan, Canada, and the UK.

The report noted that global AI investments are heavily skewed towards hardware, largely driven by just two companies—TSMC and UMC.

Exp. PFRDA Constitutes SAARG Committee to Review and Modernise NPS Investment Framework

‘The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has set up a high-level committee to review and modernise the investment framework of the National Pension System (NPS).

The committee, named the Strategic Asset Allocation and Risk Governance (SAARG) panel, will be chaired by Narayan Ramachandran, former CEO of Morgan Stanley India and current Chairman of TeamLease Services Ltd.

The SAARG committee will review existing NPS investment guidelines, benchmark them against global pension systems, and align them with India’s evolving investment landscape.

Exp. Amelia Valverde Appointed Head Coach of Senior Indian Women’s Football Team

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has appointed Amelia Valverde of Costa Rica as the head coach of the senior Indian women’s football team.

Immediate Assignment: She has joined the Indian camp in Antalya, Türkiye, where the Blue Tigresses are preparing for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026, scheduled for March.

Recent Appointments

• MD and CEO of Tata Communications – Ganesh Lakshminarayanan
• BJP National President – Nitin Nabin (Youngest,45)
• Central Vigilance Commissioner – Praveen Vashista
• Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court – Justice Revati Mohite Dere (First Woman)
• Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court – Justice Soumen Sen

Exp. IAF Group Captain and Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Awarded Ashok Chakra at 77th Republic Day Parade

Indian Air Force Group Captain and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla has been awarded the Ashok Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry award, for his exceptional service.

The honour recognises his significant role, including participation in the Axiom Mission to the International Space Station (ISS), marking a milestone in India’s space and defence achievements.

President Droupadi Murmu conferred the award during the 77th Republic Day Parade.

Exp. President Droupadi Murmu Approves Gallantry Awards for 70 Armed Forces Personnel on 77th Republic Day Eve

President Smt Droupadi Murmu approved gallantry awards for 70 Armed Forces personnel, including six posthumous recognitions, on the eve of the 77th Republic Day.

The awards include 1 Ashok Chakra, 3 Kirti Chakras, 13 Shaurya Chakras (including 1 posthumous), 1 Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry), 44 Sena Medals (Gallantry) (including 5 posthumous), 6 Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry), and 2 Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry).

These awards honour the exceptional courage, sacrifice, and gallantry of personnel from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.

President Droupadi Murmu Approves Gallantry Awards for 70 Armed Forces Personnel on 77th Republic Day Eve

President Smt Droupadi Murmu approved gallantry awards for 70 Armed Forces personnel, including six posthumous recognitions, on the eve of the 77th Republic Day.

The awards include 1 Ashok Chakra, 3 Kirti Chakras, 13 Shaurya Chakras (including 1 posthumous), 1 Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry), 44 Sena Medals (Gallantry) (including 5 posthumous), 6 Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry), and 2 Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry).

These awards honour the exceptional courage, sacrifice, and gallantry of personnel from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Kirti Chakra Recipients

• IAF officer and astronaut Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair
• Major Arshdeep Singh of 1 Assam Rifles
• Naib Subedar Doleshwar Subba of 2 Para (SF)

Exp. Madhya Pradesh to Observe 2026 as ‘Year of Agriculture’ Under “Prosperous Farmers – Prosperous State” Vision

Madhya Pradesh will observe 2026 as the ‘Year of Agriculture’, announced by Governor Mangubhai Patel during the 77th Republic Day function in Bhopal.

Under the theme “Prosperous Farmers – Prosperous State”, a 10-point agricultural development model has been adopted, focusing on technology transfer, income growth, natural farming, marketing, exports, innovation, and digital transparency.

About Madhya Pradesh

• Capital – Bhopal
• Chief Minister – Dr Mohan Yadav (replace Shivraj Singh Chauhan)
• Deputy CM – Jagdish Devda & Rajendra Shukla
• Governor – Mangubhai C. Patel

Exp. Amit Shah to Inaugurate Assam’s Largest Multi-Sports Stadium in Dibrugarh on January 30

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the first phase of Assam’s largest multi-sports stadium in Dibrugarh, marking a key step in the state’s sports infrastructure development.

Built at Khanikar, Dibrugarh at a cost of Rs 233 crore, the stadium spans 104 bighas, has a 35,000 seating capacity, and is designed to host national and international sporting events, positioning Dibrugarh as a future sports hub in Northeast India.

The multi-disciplinary stadium will offer world-class amenities for athletes, promote grassroots and professional sports development, and stimulate economic growth through sports tourism and allied services.

Exp. ICGS Varaha & Atulya arrive at Port of Colombo for official visit

Indian Coast Guard ships ICGS Varaha and ICGS Atulya arrived at the Port of Colombo for an official visit.

ICGS Varaha, a 96.2-meter Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), is commanded by Commandant Ashvini Kumar, while ICGS Atulya, a 50-meter Fast Patrol Vessel, is under Commandant Anit Kumar Mishra.

The visiting ships will participate in exercises with the Sri Lanka Coast Guard, aiming to enhance professional interaction and bilateral maritime cooperation.

Exp. Scotland Replaces Bangladesh in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Scheduled in India

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that Scotland will replace Bangladesh in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after Bangladesh declined to play according to the official schedule.

The T20 World Cup 2026 will be held in India from 7 February to 8 March 2026, featuring international teams competing across multiple venues.

Exp. BPCL to Sign $780 Million Crude Oil Deal with Brazil’s Petrobras at India Energy Week 2026

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) to sign a term contract with Brazil’s Petrobras to source 12 million barrels of crude oil, valued at around $780 million.

The agreement will be formalised during India Energy Week (IEW) 2026, which will take place in Goa from January 27 to 30.

BPCL’s overseas arm, Bharat PetroResources Ltd (BPRL), will also sign an MoU with Shell for potential collaboration in global exploration.

Exp. Adani to Begin ₹9,700-Crore Phase 2 of Vizhinjam Port

Adani Vizhinjam Port Pvt Ltd (AVPPL) will begin Phase 2 construction of the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala, with an investment of ₹9,700 crore, expected to be completed by 2028.

Phase 2 will increase the port’s capacity from 1 million TEUs to 5 million TEUs, significantly expanding container handling capabilities.

Phase 1 involved an investment of about ₹28,867 crore, and the inauguration of Phase 2 will be led by Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, with Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal as chief guest.

Exp. FDI inflows to India surged by 73 per cent to $47 billion in 2025: UN

FDI inflows to India surged 73% to USD 47 billion in 2025, driven mainly by large investments in services (finance, IT, R&D) and manufacturing, supported by policies integrating India into global supply chains.

China’s FDI declined for the third consecutive year, falling 8% to USD 107.5 billion, while global FDI rose 14% to USD 1.6 trillion in 2025.

A significant portion of global FDI growth came through major financial hubs such as the UK, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Ireland, contributing over USD 140 billion.

Cross-border M&A activity fell by 22% to USD 132 billion, except for strong growth in semiconductors and telecommunications, while international project finance rose 7% to USD 218 billion.

Data centres were a major driver of FDI in 2025, with greenfield investments reaching USD 125 billion and India ranking among the top 10 recipients, alongside countries like France, the US, and South Korea.

Exp. 27 January – National Geographic Day

National Geographic Day is observed every year on 27 January to celebrate the contributions of geography and geographic knowledge in understanding the Earth.

The day highlights the role of maps, exploration, environmental studies and geospatial science in human development. It aims to create awareness about natural resources, climate, biodiversity and sustainable development.

Exp. 26 January – International Customs Day

International Customs Day is observed every year on 26 January to recognise the role of customs administrations in securing international trade and borders.

Theme 2026 -Customs Protecting Society Through Vigilance and Commitment

The day marks the establishment of the World Customs Organization (WCO), which came into force on 26 January 1953.