By solving daily current affairs quizzes, candidates can track their preparation progress and identify areas that need improvement. This consistent practice enhances accuracy, builds confidence, and improves overall performance in time-bound competitive exams.
Q1. Madhav Gadgil, who passed away in January 2026, is widely remembered for reshaping India’s environmental discourse by advocating a people-centric approach to conservation and highlighting the ecological rights of forest-dependent communities. He is best known for chairing which of the following expert bodies?
(a) National Biodiversity Authority
(b) National Green Tribunal
(c) Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel
(d) Forest Advisory Committee
(e) National Board for Wildlife
Answer: c
Solution:
Madhav Gadgil, a pioneering ecologist and renowned people’s conservationist, passed away on 7 January 2026 in Pune at the age of 83.
Initially associated with an urban, elite-centric conservation approach, Gadgil later evolved into a strong advocate of community-based and people-centric environmental conservation.
He emphasised that forest-dependent communities are not outsiders but “constituents of the ecosystem”, referring to them as the “common people of India.”
His most influential contribution was serving as the Chairman of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP).
The WGEEP Report, though rejected by the government at the time, strongly warned against unregulated development in the Western Ghats, one of the world’s most fragile biodiversity hotspots.
Over the years, the report’s recommendations have repeatedly gained relevance, especially after landslides and ecological disasters in the Western Ghats region.
Gadgil’s work continues to influence debates on sustainable development, ecological governance, and environmental justice in India.
Q2. The second edition of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders’ Dialogue (VBYLD) 2026, organised by the Department of Youth Affairs to promote youth-led ideas for achieving Viksit Bharat@2047, was held in which of the following States/Union Territories?
(a) Maharashtra
(b) Gujarat
(c) Delhi
(d) Uttar Pradesh
(e) Rajasthan
Answer: c
Solution:
- The Department of Youth Affairs, under the leadership of Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, is organising the second edition of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders’ Dialogue (VBYLD) 2026 from 9–12 January 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
- Reimagined from the National Youth Festival, VBYLD 2026 aims to serve as a national platform for youth participation in India’s long-term development vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.
- The Dialogue enables meaningful interaction between young leaders, policymakers, and national as well as global icons, encouraging youth-driven policy ideas and innovative solutions.
- The initiative focuses on youth aged 15–29 years, empowering them to translate ideas into actionable solutions aligned with India’s development priorities.
- The Viksit Bharat Challenge Track forms the core component of the Dialogue and is conducted through a four-stage structured process.
- Stage 1: Digital Quiz (September–October 2025) was conducted on MY Bharat and MyGov platforms, witnessing participation of over 50.42 lakh youth across all States and Union Territories.
- Stage 2: Essay Challenge (October–November 2025) received more than two lakh submissions across ten national priority themes.
- Stage 3: State-level Vision Deck (PPT) Challenge (November–December 2025) shortlisted participants based on leadership qualities, clarity of vision, and collaborative skills.
- The Challenge Track will culminate in a National Championship during VBYLD 2026, where 1,500 shortlisted young leaders will present their ideas at the grand finale in New Delhi.
Q3. Under the recently notified National Sports Board (Search-cum-Selection Committee) Rules, 2026, the Search-cum-Selection Committee has been entrusted with the responsibility of recommending a panel of suitable names for appointment to which of the following positions in the National Sports Board?
(a) Chairperson and two Members
(b) Chairperson and Secretary
(c) President and Vice-President
(d) Chief Executive Officer and two Directors
(e) Treasurer and two Executive Members
Answer: a
Solution:
- The Union Government has notified the National Sports Board (Search-cum-Selection Committee) Rules, 2026 under the provisions of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.
- These Rules empower the Central Government to constitute a Search-cum-Selection Committee for the appointment of the Chairperson and Members of the National Sports Board.
- The Search-cum-Selection Committee will be chaired by the Cabinet Secretary and will include:
- The Secretary (Sports),
- One expert with experience in sports administration, and
- Two recipients of national sports awards.
- The Committee is entrusted with recommending a panel of suitable names for the positions of Chairperson and two Members of the National Sports Board.
- Eligible candidates must be persons of ability, integrity and standing, possessing knowledge or practical experience in fields such as public administration, sports governance, sports law, or related areas.
- The notification of these Rules initiates the formal process for constituting the National Sports Board, which will function as the central authority for:
- Granting recognition to National Sports Bodies, and
- Ensuring compliance with governance, financial, and ethical standards.
Q4. The National Textiles Ministers’ Conference 2026 was held in Guwahati under a specific theme. Which of the following best reflects the core pillars of that theme?
(a) Sustainability, Speed, and Scale
(b) Weaving Growth, Heritage & Innovation
(c) Local to Global: The Handloom Journey
(d) Technical Textiles and Industrial Revolution 4.0
(e) Atmanirbhar Bharat: Fiber to Fashion
Answer: b
Solution:
- A two-day National Textiles Ministers’ Conference was held on 8–9 January 2026 in Guwahati, Assam.
- The Conference brought together Textile Ministers and senior officials from various States and Union Territories to deliberate on the future roadmap of India’s textile sector.
- It was organised by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
- The theme of the Conference was “India’s Textiles: Weaving Growth, Heritage & Innovation”.
- The event aimed to promote cooperative federalism by strengthening coordination and collaboration between the Centre and States.
- A key objective of the Conference was to position India as a global hub for textiles, apparel, and technical textiles, while balancing growth, heritage preservation, and innovation.
Q5. Consider the following statements regarding the District-Led Textiles Transformation (DLTT) initiative:
- Districts are categorised into Champion and Aspirational districts.
- Aspirational Districts focus on Industry 4.0 and export market integration.
- GI tagging is promoted to position unique handicrafts in global markets.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1, 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1 and 3
(e) 3 only
Answer: d
Solution:
- The Ministry of Textiles has unveiled the District-Led Textiles Transformation (DLTT) initiative during the National Textiles Ministers’ Conference held in Guwahati, Assam.
- DLTT is a strategic initiative aimed at promoting inclusive, sustainable, and export-oriented growth across India’s textile sector through a sector-specific, district-level approach.
- Under the initiative, the Ministry plans to:
- Transform 100 high-potential districts into Global Export Champions, and
- Upgrade 100 Aspirational Districts into self-reliant textile hubs.
- All districts were evaluated using a data-driven scoring methodology based on three key parameters:
- Export Performance
- MSME Ecosystem
- Workforce Presence
- Based on the assessment, districts were categorised into a two-pronged strategy:
- Champion Districts
- Aspirational Districts (Hence statement 1 is correct.)
- Champion Districts (Scale & Sophistication) will focus on addressing advanced bottlenecks through:
- Upgradation to Mega Common Facility Centres (CFCs),
- Adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies, and
- Strengthening direct export market linkages. (Hence statement 2 is incorrect.)
- Aspirational Districts (Foundation & Formalisation) will focus on building the ecosystem from the ground up by:
- Basic skilling and certification of the workforce,
- Establishment of Raw Material Banks, and
- Promotion of micro-enterprises through Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Cooperatives.
- The initiative also emphasizes Purvodaya convergence, prioritising eastern and north-eastern regions for:
- Tribal belt development,
- Improved connectivity, and
- Geographical Indication (GI) tagging to position unique handicrafts in global premium markets. (Hence statement 3 is correct.)
- Through convergence of government resources and collaboration with industry and academia, DLTT aims to strengthen textile clusters and replicate successful models across districts.
