MCQs on Current Affairs 13.01.2026

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Q1. Which of the following activities marks the beginning of the nationwide run-up programme for Pariksha Pe Charcha 2026?

  1. Quiz and writing competitions
  2. Swadeshi Sankalp Daud
  3. Interactive session with the Prime Minister
  4. Teacher training workshops

Correct Option: 2. Swadeshi Sankalp Daud
Explanation:
The nationwide run-up programme for PPC 2026 will commence on 12 January 2026, coinciding with Swami Vivekananda Jayanti (National Youth Day). The opening event is the Swadeshi Sankalp Daud, a student-led run/walk that symbolises the spirit of self-reliance. Quiz and writing competitions are scheduled later, on 23 January 2026, marking the culmination of the run-up programme.

Q2. What was the primary objective of the BHASHINI Samudaye workshop organised by the Digital India BHASHINI Division?

  1. To launch a private-sector-led multilingual AI platform
  2. To consolidate India’s language AI ecosystem through collaboration and participatory governance
  3. To replace existing rule-based translation systems with proprietary AI tools
  4. To promote English as the primary language for digital governance

Correct Option: 2. To consolidate India’s language AI ecosystem through collaboration and participatory governance
Explanation:
The BHASHINI Samudaye workshop was organised to strengthen and consolidate India’s language AI ecosystem by fostering collaborative engagement, participatory governance, and shared ownership of public digital infrastructure. The focus was on inclusivity, sovereignty, and public-good AI—not privatization, language dominance, or exclusive proprietary systems.

Q3. Which initiative was launched to support the systematic onboarding of high-value multilingual datasets into BHASHINI and AI Kosh?

  1. BhashaDaan Citizen Platform
  2. National Language Translation Mission (NLTM)
  3. Dataset Onboarding Supporting Team (DOST)
  4. BHASHINI Samudaye Platform

Correct Option: 3. Dataset Onboarding Supporting Team (DOST)
Explanation:
The Dataset Onboarding Supporting Team (DOST) as a collaborative initiative involving BHASHINI, the Gates Foundation, and Civic Data Lab. DOST’s purpose is to identify, prepare, and onboard high-value datasets—including text, speech, and regional language data—into BHASHINI and AI Kosh, strengthening India’s inclusive and bias-aware AI infrastructure.

Q4. What is the primary aim of the YUVA AI FOR ALL course under the National AI Literacy Program?

  1. To make AI literacy a core life skill for youth, regardless of technical background
  2. To replace traditional school curricula with AI education
  3. To train government employees exclusively on AI applications
  4. To provide advanced AI programming skills to software professionals

Correct Option: 1. To make AI literacy a core life skill for youth, regardless of technical background
Explanation:
YUVA AI FOR ALL is a foundational course designed to make AI literacy accessible to all youth, requiring no prior technical or programming knowledge. Its primary objective is to enable young citizens to understand AI, its uses, and ethical applications, thereby democratising AI knowledge.

Q5. Which of the following features make the YUVA AI FOR ALL course widely accessible?

  1. Free of cost and available in 11 Indian languages
  2. Only offered in English on a single learning platform
  3. Limited to advanced AI concepts requiring programming experience
  4. Available exclusively for college students in metropolitan cities

Correct Option: 1. Free of cost and available in 11 Indian languages
Explanation:
• The course is free and offered in 11 Indian languages (including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, etc.)
• It is hosted on multiple digital platforms like FutureSkills Prime, iGOT Karmayogi, and DIKSHA
• Designed for inclusivity, accessible to youth across India regardless of technical background or location
Options 2, 3, and 4 are incorrect because the course is not limited to English, advanced learners, or urban college students; it is explicitly designed to be inclusive and accessible nationwide.

Q6. Who can open an account under the NPS Vatsalya scheme?

  1. Any Indian citizen above 18 years of age
  2. Minors below 18 years, operated by a parent or legal guardian
  3. Only NRIs below 18 years
  4. Any adult for their own retirement planning

Correct Option: 2. Minors below 18 years, operated by a parent or legal guardian
Explanation:
• The scheme is exclusively for minors below 18 years, with the minor as the sole beneficiary.
• The account is opened in the minor’s name but is operated by the parent or legal guardian.
• Option 1 is incorrect because adults above 18 cannot open an NPS Vatsalya account.
• Option 3 is partially true but restrictive; the scheme is open to all Indian citizens including NRIs/OCIs, not only NRIs.
• Option 4 is incorrect because the scheme is not for adults’ personal retirement; it is for long-term savings for minors.

Q7. Which of the following is true about withdrawals under NPS Vatsalya before the minor attains majority?

  1. Partial withdrawals are allowed only once and for any purpose
  2. Up to 25% of own contributions (excluding returns) can be withdrawn for education, medical treatment, or specified disabilities
  3. Full withdrawal is allowed at any time before 18 years
  4. Withdrawals are not permitted under any circumstances

Correct Option: 2. Up to 25% of own contributions (excluding returns) can be withdrawn for education, medical treatment, or specified disabilities
Explanation:
• The guidelines allow partial withdrawals after 3 years from account opening.
• Maximum 25% of own contributions (excluding returns) can be withdrawn for education, medical treatment, or specified disabilities.
• Withdrawals are allowed twice before 18 years and twice between 18–21 years, subject to conditions.
• Option A is incorrect because withdrawals are allowed twice, not only once, and for specific purposes.
• Option C is incorrect because full withdrawal before 18 years is not permitted.
• Option D is incorrect because the scheme does allow partial withdrawals under specified conditions.

Q8. What is the significance of the new BSL-4 Bio-Containment Facility being built in Gujarat?

  1. It will be India’s first BSL-4 laboratory
  2. It will be the first state government-built BSL-4 laboratory in India
  3. It will replace the National Institute of Virology, Pune
  4. It is designed only for vaccine manufacturing

Correct Option: 2. It will be the first state government-built BSL-4 laboratory in India
Explanation:
• India already has a BSL-4 laboratory in Pune at the National Institute of Virology, so Option 1 is incorrect.
• The new Gujarat facility is the first BSL-4 lab being built by a state government, making Option 2 correct.
• Option 3 is incorrect because it does not replace the Pune lab; it complements India’s biosecurity infrastructure.
• Option 4 is partially true but incomplete; the facility is for research on highly infectious viruses, including zoonotic diseases, not just vaccine manufacturing.

Q9. Which of the following statements about Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals (GCTs) is correct?

  1. GCTs are exclusively focused on road transport and do not integrate railways or ports.
  2. GCTs use the Engine-on-Load (EOL) system to minimize train detention time during loading/unloading.
  3. GCTs are entirely developed and funded by the government, with no private sector participation allowed.
  4. GCTs are designed only for bulk goods and cannot handle containerized cargo.

Correct Option: 2. GCTs use the Engine-on-Load (EOL) system to minimize train detention time during loading/unloading.
Explanation:
• Option A: Incorrect — GCTs are multimodal, integrating railways with roads, ports, and airports.
• Option B: Correct — GCTs operate under the Engine-on-Load (EOL) system, where the locomotive stays at the terminal during loading/unloading to reduce detention and allow the train to depart immediately once ready.
• Option C: Incorrect — GCTs encourage private sector participation, which has mobilized around ₹8,600 crore in investments so far.
• Option D: Incorrect — GCTs handle both containerized cargo and bulk goods, making them versatile logistics hubs.

Q10. “Pax Silica”, recently in news, is best described as:

  1. A global climate alliance aimed at reducing semiconductor emissions
  2. A U.S.-led strategic framework for cooperation on advanced technologies and supply chains
  3. A multilateral defence pact under the Quad framework
  4. A United Nations initiative to regulate artificial intelligence

Correct Option: 2. A U.S.-led strategic framework for cooperation on advanced technologies and supply chains
Explanation:
“Pax Silica” is a U.S.-led eight-nation arrangement designed to strengthen cooperation in semiconductors, critical minerals, and artificial intelligence. Its primary objective is to build secure, resilient and trusted technology supply chains, especially in sectors that are strategically critical. It is not a defence alliance, nor a UN-led initiative, but a technology and supply-chain partnership driven by geopolitical and economic considerations.

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