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Daily Current Affairs
13 January, 2026
1. Operation Hawkeye, recently seen in news, is related to which of the following?
A. UN peacekeeping mission in Iraq
B. U.S.-led counter-terrorism airstrikes against ISIS in Syria
C. NATO naval exercise in the Mediterranean
D. Joint U.S.–Turkey border patrol
E. Cyber surveillance operation against ISIS
Answer: B. U.S.-led counter-terrorism airstrikes against ISIS in Syria
Explanation: Operation Hawkeye is a U.S.-led military operation launched in December 2025 involving air and precision strikes against ISIS targets in Syria, executed by US CENTCOM.
2. Which principle of international law is primarily violated when a state uses force without UN Security Council authorisation or self-defence justification?
A. Sovereign immunity
B. Pacta sunt servanda
C. Article 2(4) of the UN Charter
D. Article 103 of the UN Charter
E. Principle of reciprocity
Answer: C. Article 2(4) of the UN Charter
Explanation: Article 2(4) of the UN Charter prohibits the threat or use of force against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of any state, unless authorised by the UNSC or justified under self-defence (Article 51).
3. Indusfood 2026, inaugurated in January 2026, is best described as:
A. A global agriculture subsidy platform
B. Asia’s premier Food & Beverage sourcing and trade show
C. An international food security treaty
D. A farmers’ income support scheme
E. A UN-backed nutrition programme
Answer: B. Asia’s premier Food & Beverage sourcing and trade show
Explanation: Indusfood is Asia’s leading global F&B sourcing and trade exhibition, organised by TPCI under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
4. The first-ever Military–Civil Fusion (MCF) exercise ‘Sanjha Shakti’ was conducted by the Indian Army at:
A. Pokhran, Rajasthan
B. Babina, Uttar Pradesh
C. Diggi Range, Khadki Military Station, Pune
D. Chandipur, Odisha
E. Leh, Ladakh
Answer: C. Diggi Range, Khadki Military Station, Pune
Explanation: ‘Sanjha Shakti’ was the inaugural MCF exercise conducted in January 2026 at Diggi Range, Pune, involving the Indian Army and 16 civilian agencies.
5. The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025 aims to replace which of the following regulators?
A. UGC, AICTE and NCTE
B. NAAC and NBA
C. CBSE and NCERT
D. NIOS and SCERT
E. ICMR and NMC
Answer: A. UGC, AICTE and NCTE
Explanation: The Bill proposes a single apex body (VBSA) replacing multiple regulators like UGC, AICTE and NCTE to streamline higher education governance.
6. India’s retail inflation is measured using which index?
A. Wholesale Price Index
B. GDP Deflator
C. Consumer Price Index
D. Producer Price Index
E. Cost Inflation Index
Answer: C. Consumer Price Index
Explanation: Retail inflation in India is measured using the Consumer Price Index (CPI), published monthly by MoSPI and used by RBI for monetary policy decisions.
7. Under RBI’s Scale-Based Regulatory (SBR) framework, NBFCs posing extreme systemic risk may be placed in which layer?
A. Base Layer
B. Middle Layer
C. Upper Layer
D. Top Layer
E. Special Resolution Layer
Answer: D. Top Layer
Explanation: The Top Layer under SBR is expected to be empty normally and is reserved for NBFCs posing extreme systemic risk, subject to very stringent regulation.
8. PhonePe PG Bolt primarily enhances digital payments by using:
A. Blockchain settlement
B. Biometric authentication
C. Device-based card tokenization
D. Offline QR payments
E. UPI auto-debit mandates
Answer: C. Device-based card tokenization
Explanation: PhonePe PG Bolt uses one-time device tokenization for Visa and Mastercard cards, enabling secure one-click in-app payments without repeated CVV entry.
9. According to the SBI report, what is the optimal Credit–Deposit (CD) ratio for public and private sector banks?
A. 60–65%
B. 65–70%
C. 70–75%
D. 76–80%
E. Above 85%
Answer: D. 76–80%
Explanation: SBI’s research suggests that CD ratios beyond 80% reduce profitability and strain liquidity, making 76–80% optimal for PSBs and private banks.
10. Bamanwas Kankar panchayat, recently in news, is significant because it has become:
A. India’s first zero-budget natural farming district
B. Rajasthan’s first fully organic certified panchayat
C. A model solar-powered farming village
D. A PM-KISAN pilot panchayat
E. A climate-resilient seed hub
Answer: B. Rajasthan’s first fully organic certified panchayat
Explanation: Bamanwas Kankar in Kotputli–Behror district is Rajasthan’s first officially certified fully organic panchayat, banning chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
