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Daily Current Affairs
29 & 30 January, 2026
1. The 2nd India–Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (2026) was held under which institutional framework to strengthen India–Arab engagement?
A. Non-Aligned Movement
B. Arab–India Cooperation Forum (AICF)
C. India–GCC Strategic Dialogue
D. BRICS Plus Forum
E. Asian Cooperation Council
Answer: B. Arab–India Cooperation Forum (AICF)
Explanation: The Arab–India Cooperation Forum (AICF), established in 2008, serves as the key institutional platform for structured India–Arab League engagement, under which foreign ministers’ meetings are conducted.
2. Under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, waste must be segregated into how many mandatory streams?
A. Two
B. Three
C. Four
D. Five
E. Six
Answer: C. Four
Explanation: The SWM Rules, 2026 mandate segregation into four streams—wet waste, dry waste, sanitary waste, and special care waste—to improve recycling and reduce landfill dependency.
3. Which principle allows authorities to impose environmental compensation for improper waste disposal under SWM Rules, 2026?
A. Precautionary Principle
B. Sustainable Development Principle
C. Polluter Pays Principle
D. Equity Principle
E. Common but Differentiated Responsibility
Answer: C. Polluter Pays Principle
Explanation: The Polluter Pays Principle ensures that waste generators bear financial responsibility for non-segregation, improper disposal, and false reporting.
4. Why did the Supreme Court stay the implementation of UGC Equity Regulations, 2026?
A. Violation of federal structure
B. Conflict with NEP 2020
C. Vagueness and potential misuse
D. Budgetary constraints
E. Opposition from state governments
Answer: C. Vagueness and potential misuse
Explanation: The Supreme Court cited vague definitions and the risk of misuse as reasons for staying the implementation and directed reconsideration of the regulations.
5. PANCHAM digital chatbot is primarily designed to assist which group?
A. Urban local bodies
B. School teachers
C. Panchayati Raj representatives
D. Anganwadi workers
E. Farmers’ Producer Organisations
Answer: C. Panchayati Raj representatives
Explanation: PANCHAM is a WhatsApp-based AI chatbot launched by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to assist over 30 lakh elected Panchayat representatives.
6. The Power Gap Index primarily measures a country’s ability to:
A. Increase military spending
B. Expand GDP growth
C. Convert resources into geopolitical influence
D. Improve internal security
E. Achieve trade surplus
Answer: C. Convert resources into geopolitical influence
Explanation: The Power Gap Index assesses power efficiency—how effectively a country converts material resources into real strategic and geopolitical influence.
7. Which institution issues the Digital Food Currency under India’s pilot programme?
A. Ministry of Finance
B. National Payments Corporation of India
C. Reserve Bank of India
D. Food Corporation of India
E. NITI Aayog
Answer: C. Reserve Bank of India
Explanation: The Digital Food Currency is a programmable CBDC issued by the Reserve Bank of India to modernise subsidy delivery under the PDS.
8. Why has SEBI’s corporate bond liquidity window seen low adoption?
A. High transaction taxes
B. Mandatory participation
C. Issuer discretion and buyback obligations
D. Short settlement cycle
E. Retail investor opposition
Answer: C. Issuer discretion and buyback obligations
Explanation: Issuers are reluctant due to buyback requirements, reserved issue size, and balance sheet impact, resulting in negligible usage of the liquidity window.
9. Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) are primarily aimed at:
A. Replacing APMCs
B. Eliminating middlemen
C. Aggregating produce and improving farmer bargaining power
D. Providing free inputs
E. Export promotion only
Answer: C. Aggregating produce and improving farmer bargaining power
Explanation: FPOs help farmers collectively access markets, technology, credit, and better prices by improving their bargaining strength.
10. The Paathara (Khoni) practice is best described as:
A. A crop rotation method
B. A rainwater harvesting system
C. A traditional underground grain storage technique
D. A biofertiliser preparation method
E. A terrace farming technique
Answer: C. A traditional underground grain storage technique
Explanation: Paathara (Khoni) is an indigenous, electricity-free underground grain storage system used for long-term paddy preservation.
