Sectional Test on Current Affairs for CLAT UG [Part 3]

1. Which institution in India published the First Advance Estimates of National Income in January 2026?
a) Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
b) NITI Aayog
c) Reserve Bank of India
d) Ministry of Finance

2. Which country formally assumed the presidency of the European Union Council in January 2026?
a) France
b) Spain
c) Belgium
d) Hungary

3. Which future human spaceflight mission was the subject of a significant test successfully carried out by ISRO in January 2026?
a) Chandrayaan-4
b) Gaganyaan
c) Aditya-L2
d) NISAR

4. In January 2026, which Indian state initiated a dedicated Climate Action Cell to ensure that state-level policies are consistent with India’s national net-zero goals?
a) Gujarat
b) Kerala
c) Tamil Nadu
d) Maharashtra

5. The World Economic Forum issued a report in January 2026, which cautioned about most immediate and rapidly increasing risks associated with:
a) Cyber warfare and AI misuse
b) Space debris accumulation
c) Ocean acidification
d) Nuclear proliferation

6. Which African country formally joined the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) in January 2026?
a) Egypt
b) Kenya
c) Nigeria
d) Ethiopia

7. For the 35th consecutive year, India and Pakistan exchanged lists of their nuclear installations on January 1, 2026, as mandated by a bilateral confidence-building agreement. In what year was this agreement originally signed?
a) 1985
b) 1988
c) 1990
d) 1992

8. India’s inaugural indigenous Pollution Control Vessel, ‘Samudra Pratap,’ was commissioned in January 2026 as a measure for both maritime security and environmental protection. The vessel’s primary purpose is to counter:
a) Pirates in Indian Ocean
b) Oil spills and marine pollution
c) Illegal fishing
d) Submarine threats

9. According to the global safety rankings in January 2026, for how many consecutive years was Abu Dhabi rated the world’s safest city?
a) 5 years
b) 7 years
c) 10 years
d) 12 years

10. A Level-4 solar radiation storm occurred in January 2026, causing bright auroras visible across parts of Europe. What systems or technologies are susceptible to disruption by such a severe solar storm?
a) Local police radar
b) Ocean tides
c) Mountain weather patterns
d) Satellite communications and GPS

11. The BRICS expansion debate resurfaced in December 2025 mainly due to concerns over:
a) Military integration
b) Currency settlement mechanisms
c) Climate financing
d) Trade tariffs

12. Which fuel is at the core of India’s net-zero transition debates highlighted in December 2025?
a) Green hydrogen
b) Nuclear fuel
c) Coal
d) Bio-CNG

13. Which ministry relaxed the three-year eligibility norm for startups engaged in deep-tech R&D in January 2026?
a) Ministry of Science & Technology
b) Ministry of Commerce
c) Ministry of Skill Development
d) Ministry of Corporate Affairs

14. The 184 new crop varieties launched by India in January 2026 primarily aimed to improve:
a) Export competitiveness only
b) Organic farming certification
c) Climate resilience and productivity
d) Irrigation efficiency alone

15. India’s Smart Green Aquaculture Institute inaugurated in January 2026 uses which technology?
a) Cage farming
b) Biofloc system
c) Integrated fish-rice farming
d) Recirculating Aquaculture System

1. Correct Answer: A – The National Statistical Office (NSO), which operates under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), releases the First Advance Estimates. These estimates provide an initial indication of the country’s economic growth.

2. Correct Answer: D – In January 2026, Hungary assumed the rotating presidency of the EU Council, where it established legislative priorities.

3. Correct Answer: B – In January 2026, ISRO focused on critical testing for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, including parachute system validation. The uncrewed Gaganyaan-1, carrying the Vyommitra robot, is scheduled for early 2026, advancing India’s first crewed Low Earth Orbit mission.

4. Correct Answer: C – A dedicated Climate Action Cell was established in Tamil Nadu to strengthen its climate governance framework.

5. Correct Answer: A – AI-driven cyber threats were identified as a major short-term risk during the Global Risks discussions at Davos.

6. Correct Answer: A

7. Correct Answer: B – As a nuclear confidence-building measure, India and Pakistan have an agreement to exchange lists of their nuclear installations. This agreement, originally signed on December 31, 1988, and which became effective in 1991, saw its 35th such exchange on January 1, 2026.

8. Correct Answer: B – India launched its first indigenous Pollution Control Vessel, the ‘Samudra Pratap,’ in January 2026. Designed to combat oil spills and chemical pollution, its deployment boosts India’s environmental protection, coastal security, maritime law enforcement in its Exclusive Economic Zone, and search and rescue capabilities.

9. Correct Answer: C – Abu Dhabi retained the top position as the world’s safest city for the 10th consecutive year. 

10. Correct Answer: D – A severe solar radiation storm (Level-4) poses a risk of disruption to several key systems, including satellite operations, GPS navigation, high-frequency (HF) radio communications, and the electric power grid.

11. Correct Answer: B – De-dollarisation and local currency trade were central issues.

12. Correct Answer: A

13. Correct Answer: A – In January 2026, the Ministry of Science & Technology’s DSIR eliminated the three-year existence requirement for deep-tech startups. This relaxation allows these startups earlier access to support via the Industrial Research and Development Promotion Programme (IRDPP).

14. Correct Answer: C – Varieties were developed for climate resilience, higher yield, and reduced input cost.

15. Correct Answer: D – Inaugurated in January 2026, India’s Smart Green Aquaculture Institute utilizes advanced Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) technology. This enables year-round, tropical farming of high-value cold-water species like rainbow trout by continuously treating and reusing water for precise control over quality, temperature, and biosecurity.