Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC Prelims — January 2026

Q1. With reference to India's evolving malaria elimination strategy, consider the following statements: 1. The National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination (NSPME) 2023-2027 retains the interim goal of zero indigenous cases by 2027 set under the National Framework for Malaria Elimination (NFME) 2016-2030. 2. Unlike the earlier NSPME 2017-2022, the NSPME 2023-2027 leverages real-time case reporting through the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP). 3. India exited the WHO 'High Burden to High Impact' (HBHI) group in 2024, during the NSPME 2023-2027 cycle. Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. The National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination (NSPME) 2023-2027 retains the interim goal of zero indigenous cases by 2027 set under the National Framework for Malaria Elimination (NFME) 2016-2030.
2. Unlike the earlier NSPME 2017-2022, the NSPME 2023-2027 leverages real-time case reporting through the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP).
3. India exited the WHO 'High Burden to High Impact' (HBHI) group in 2024, during the NSPME 2023-2027 cycle.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 3 only
• C. 1 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. As reported by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in late 2025 (cited in the World Malaria Report 2025), how many districts in India have recorded zero indigenous malaria cases for three consecutive years (2022-2024)?

• A. 122 districts across 18 States/UTs
• B. 145 districts across 20 States/UTs
• C. 160 districts across 23 States/UTs
• D. 198 districts across 25 States/UTs

Q3. With reference to the Calcutta High Court's April 2025 order on the Murshidabad violence, consider the following statements: 1. The PIL was filed by Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. 2. The matter was heard by a special bench comprising Justices Soumen Sen and Raja Basu Choudhury. 3. The violence had erupted following protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. 4. The High Court ordered the immediate deployment of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and consequently five companies of the CRPF were deployed in the district. Which of the above statements is/are NOT correct?

1. The PIL was filed by Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.
2. The matter was heard by a special bench comprising Justices Soumen Sen and Raja Basu Choudhury.
3. The violence had erupted following protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.
4. The High Court ordered the immediate deployment of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and consequently five companies of the CRPF were deployed in the district.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 3 only
• C. 4 only
• D. 2 and 4 only

Q4. In the PIL relating to the Murshidabad violence, the petitioner sought a probe by a central investigative agency constituted under the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008. Which of the following agencies was sought to be entrusted with the probe?

• A. Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
• B. Enforcement Directorate (ED)
• C. National Investigation Agency (NIA)
• D. Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)

Q5. How many companies of the Border Security Force (BSF) were deployed in Murshidabad district pursuant to the Calcutta High Court's April 2025 direction on the Waqf (Amendment) Act violence?

• A. Three
• B. Five
• C. Seven
• D. Ten

Q6. With reference to the April 2025 violence in Murshidabad district that led to the Calcutta High Court ordering deployment of central forces, consider the following areas: 1. Dhuliyan 2. Samserganj 3. Beldanga 4. Jangipur Which of the above are correctly identified as areas where the April 2025 Waqf (Amendment) Act-related violence erupted?

1. Dhuliyan
2. Samserganj
3. Beldanga
4. Jangipur

• A. 1, 2 and 3 only
• B. 2, 3 and 4 only
• C. 1, 2 and 4 only
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. According to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's statement on the floor of the Kerala Legislative Assembly on 20 January 2026, how many paragraphs of the Cabinet-approved policy address were reportedly altered (omitted from or added to) by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar?

• A. Two
• B. Three
• C. Four
• D. Five

Q8. With reference to the official briefings on 'Operation Sindoor' held at the National Media Centre, New Delhi in May 2025, consider the following: 1. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi - Indian Army 2. Wing Commander Vyomika Singh - Indian Air Force 3. Vikram Misri - Foreign Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs 4. Lt General Rajiv Ghai - Chief of Defence Staff Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

1. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi - Indian Army
2. Wing Commander Vyomika Singh - Indian Air Force
3. Vikram Misri - Foreign Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs
4. Lt General Rajiv Ghai - Chief of Defence Staff

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 3 and 4 only
• C. 1, 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q9. The detained Indian seafarers from MT Valiant Roar were lodged in prison at which Iranian port — the country's largest commercial port and the principal IRGC Navy base on the Persian Gulf?

• A. Bandar-e Bushehr
• B. Bandar-e Anzali
• C. Bandar Abbas
• D. Chabahar

Q10. How many Indian crew members aboard the tanker MT Valiant Roar were detained by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the December 2025 seizure that is the subject of the Delhi High Court's January 2026 notice to the Centre?

• A. 12
• B. 14
• C. 16
• D. 18

Q11. With reference to the Director General-level appointments cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet in January 2026, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Praveen Kumar, a 1993-batch IPS officer of the West Bengal cadre, was appointed Director General of the Border Security Force.
2. Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor, a 1990-batch IPS officer and former Director General of Police, Haryana, was appointed Director General of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police.
3. Rakesh Aggarwal, a 1994-batch IPS officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre, was appointed Director General of the National Investigation Agency.
4. Sadanand Date was given an extension as Director General of the National Investigation Agency until 2028.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 3 and 4 only
• C. 1, 2 and 3
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q12. On 14 January 2026, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, in a single order, approved Director General-level appointments to how many central security agencies under the Ministry of Home Affairs?

• A. Two
• B. Three
• C. Four
• D. Five

Q13. In the context of India's TB-elimination effort, the term 'Ni-Kshay Mitra' most accurately refers to which one of the following?

• A. A community health worker designated under NTEP to administer Directly Observed Treatment (DOTS) to notified TB patients
• B. An individual, NGO, cooperative society, corporate or elected representative who voluntarily adopts TB patients for at least six months to provide nutritional, additional diagnostic and vocational support
• C. A frontline ASHA worker incentivised under Nikshay to trace household contacts of notified TB patients
• D. A peer-support counsellor drawn from cured TB patients who mentors newly diagnosed patients during the intensive phase of treatment

Q14. The Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, which anchors the Ni-Kshay Mitra community-support model, was launched in 2022 under the authority of which one of the following?

• A. The Prime Minister of India
• B. The President of India
• C. The Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare
• D. The Vice-President of India, in his capacity as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha

Q15. With reference to the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) and associated initiatives as of 2025, consider the following statements: 1. Ni-Kshay Poshan Yojana provides a monthly nutritional incentive of ₹1,000 to notified TB patients through Direct Benefit Transfer. 2. Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan operates the Ni-Kshay Mitra community-support model. 3. The 100-Day TB Elimination Campaign is implemented under NTEP, with focus on high-burden districts. 4. Nikshay is the IT-enabled case-notification portal for TB patients. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Ni-Kshay Poshan Yojana provides a monthly nutritional incentive of ₹1,000 to notified TB patients through Direct Benefit Transfer.
2. Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan operates the Ni-Kshay Mitra community-support model.
3. The 100-Day TB Elimination Campaign is implemented under NTEP, with focus on high-burden districts.
4. Nikshay is the IT-enabled case-notification portal for TB patients.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 3 and 4 only
• C. 1, 2 and 4 only
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q16. As per the WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2025, which one of the following countries accounted for the single largest share (about 32%) of the global burden of multi-drug-resistant / rifampicin-resistant TB (MDR/RR-TB) in 2024?

• A. China
• B. Indonesia
• C. India
• D. the Philippines

Q17. Within the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra, which constituent party secured the largest share of unopposed victories in the 2026 Municipal Corporation elections that triggered the State Election Commission's probe?

• A. Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction)
• B. Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction)
• C. Bharatiya Janata Party
• D. Republican Party of India (Athawale)