Weekly Current Affairs Test : 8th to 14th January 2026

A Sakthivel has been appointed as the Chairman of the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), marking his fifth term leading the organisation. Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) was established in 1978. It was set up under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992. AEPC is the official body representing apparel exporters in India. It functions under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. Its main role is to promote and support exports of Indian garments and textiles globally.

Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) recently released 15 critically endangered Indian vultures in Melghat Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra. Melghat Tiger Reserve is located in Maharashtra on the southern offshoot of the Satpura Range called Gavilgarh Hill. It was the first tiger reserve established in Maharashtra. The name Melghat means the confluence of several valleys reflecting its landscape. It is the catchment area of five Tapti River tributaries: Khandu, Khapra, Sipna, Gadga, and Dolar.

Researchers from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research used supercomputers to create the first simulation proving the Mpemba effect. The Mpemba effect means hot water can freeze faster than cold water under certain conditions. The effect was first described by Aristotle in his book Meteorologica. It is named after Erasto Mpemba, a Tanzanian student who highlighted it in 1969. Heated water contains microbubbles that enhance convection and faster heat transfer. Warm water evaporates more, removing heat as evaporation is an endothermic process. Warm water is less dense, improving convection and cooling. Frost in cold water acts as an insulator and slows heat loss.

At the 79th Foundation Day of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the Union Minister launched the SHINE scheme in New Delhi. SHINE stands for Standards Help Inform and Nurture Empowered Women. It is a new initiative of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The scheme places women at the centre of India’s quality and standards journey. It provides structured training through partnerships with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Self-Help Groups (SHGs). It empowers women with knowledge to ensure safety, quality, and family protection. The scheme also helps strengthen livelihoods and community awareness.

The Adani Group has started the 570 megawatt (MW) Wangchhu Hydro Electricity Project in Bhutan. It is a run-of-river hydropower project on the Wangchu River in Chukha district, Bhutan. The Wangchu River, called Raidāk River in India, is a tributary of the Brahmaputra River. The project is developed by Wangchhu Hydroelectric Power Limited (WHPL). WHPL is a joint venture of Adani Power Limited (APL) and Druk Green Power Corporation Limited (DGPC). DGPC holds 51% stake and APL holds 49%. The ₹6,000 crore project follows the Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) model.

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) launched a four-day Sports Sciences Workshop for combat sports coaches at its Sports Science Division in New Delhi to improve scientific coaching methods. The Sports Authority of India (SAI) is the apex national sports body of India established by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India. It was established in 1984 to continue the legacy of the Ninth Asian Games held in New Delhi in 1982. SAI is a registered society fully funded by the Government of India. Its main objectives are promoting sports and achieving excellence at national and international levels.

The first phase of the All-India Tiger Estimation 2026 (AITE-26) has started in the Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. It is located in the Bargur Hills of Erode district in Tamil Nadu. The sanctuary lies between Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve of Tamil Nadu and Male Mahadeshwara and Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuaries of Karnataka. The area is part of the Nilgiris Elephant Reserve.

Recently, 50,373 public health facilities across all States and Union Territories were certified under National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS). National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) is a national quality framework created by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). It aims to improve the safety, quality, and patient-focused nature of public healthcare services. It first focused on District Hospitals to ensure reliable and quality care. Now it covers District Hospitals, Sub-District Hospitals, Community Health Centres, and Ayushman Arogya Mandir Primary Health Centres, Urban Primary Health Centres, and Sub Health Centres.

On January 5, 2026, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) commissioned the world’s first and largest Liquid Conversion–Maximum (LC-Max) Residue Upgradation Facility (RUF) at Visakhapatnam Refinery in Andhra Pradesh. It was developed under the Visakh Refinery Modernization Project (VRMP) with an investment of ₹31,407 crore. Refinery capacity increased from 8.33 to 15 Million Metric Tonnes Per Annum (MMTPA). The residue hydrocracking unit of 3.55 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) converts about 93% low-value residue into high-value fuels.

The Public Investment Board (PIB) approved the ₹26,070-crore, 1,720 Megawatt (MW) Kamala Hydroelectric Project in Arunachal Pradesh. The project is planned on the Kamala River, a major tributary of the Subansiri River, in Kamle district. It is a storage-based hydroelectric scheme with an important flood moderation component. A 216-metre-high concrete gravity dam and an underground powerhouse will be constructed. The project will generate 6,869.92 Million Units (MU) of green energy every year. It will also help reduce floods in the Brahmaputra valley.

India’s External Affairs Minister joined India’s first engagement with the Weimar Triangle alongside France, Poland, and Germany. The Weimar Triangle is a regional political grouping of France, Germany, and Poland. It was formed on 29 August 1991 through a joint declaration at Weimar in Germany. Its aim was to involve France in German–Polish reconciliation using Franco-German experience. It seeks to strengthen political dialogue and cooperation among the three countries.

The Centre has granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag to Nagauri Ashwagandha, recognising its unique regional identity. It is mainly grown in the Nagaur district of Rajasthan. The dry climate and sandy soil of Nagaur are ideal for Ashwagandha cultivation. This variety has longer and thicker roots rich in medicinal compounds, especially alkaloids. Its berries have a dark, bright red colour, which indicates superior quality. The roots are brittle and starchy in nature. Nagauri Ashwagandha is considered the best Ashwagandha variety in arid regions.

The Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) celebrated its 125th Foundation Day at Dhanbad, Jharkhand. It is a regulatory agency under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India. It ensures occupational safety, health, and welfare of workers employed in mines. It is headed by the Director-General of Mines Safety and headquartered at Dhanbad.

Scientists used first images from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory to discover the fastest-spinning asteroid of its size, named 2025 MN45. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is located on Cerro Pachón in the Chilean Andes at 8,684 feet altitude. It is named after astronomer Vera C. Rubin, who provided early evidence for dark matter. It is jointly funded by the United States National Science Foundation (NSF) and the United States Department of Energy (DoE). Its goals include studying dark matter and dark energy, mapping the Milky Way, tracking asteroids and comets, and observing changing cosmic objects.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister announced that Ratapani Tiger Reserve will be named after archaeologist and Padma Shri awardee Dr Vishnu Shridhar Wakankar. Ratapani Tiger Reserve is located in Raisen and Sehore districts of Madhya Pradesh, spread across the Vindhya mountain ranges. The reserve covers about 1,271 square kilometres with an undulating landscape of hills, plateaus, valleys, and plains. It lies north of the Narmada River, with the Kolar River forming its western boundary.

The Home and Cooperation Minister launched the National IED Data Management System (NIDMS) to strengthen counter-Improvised Explosive Device (IED) security and internal security systems. It is a national digital platform developed by the National Bomb Data Centre of the National Security Guard (NSG). The system enables systematic collection and analysis of data related to Improvised Explosive Devices to improve terrorist incident investigations. It works as a two-way online platform for the National Investigation Agency, Anti-Terrorism Squads, state police, and Central Armed Police Forces.

Scientists led by “Frogman of India” S. D. Biju discovered two new frog species from remote mountain regions of Arunachal Pradesh. Soman’s Slender Arm Frog, scientifically named Leptobrachium somani, was discovered at Tiwarigaon and named in honour of environmental journalist E. Somanath. This small frog is about 55 millimetres long, has a greyish-brown body with light-grey markings, and silver-grey to light-blue eyes. It lives in evergreen forests, with males calling near slow or fast-flowing streams. Mechuka Slender Arm Frog, known as Leptobrachium mechuka, is named after Mechuka town where it was first found.

Prasar Bharati recently launched “Creator’s Corner” on DD News to empower digital creators across India. It is a dedicated platform to showcase content created by independent digital creators on a national television network. The initiative aims to promote the digital economy by encouraging quality content creation and wider outreach through collaboration. Content will cover news and current affairs, culture, travel, cuisine, art, literature, music, health, education, science and technology, environment, and entertainment. The programme will be telecast at 7:00 PM from Monday to Friday on DD News.

The Ministry of Textiles launched the District-Led Textiles Transformation initiative at the National Textile Ministers Conference in Guwahati. It is a strategic programme to promote inclusive and sustainable growth in India’s textile sector. The aim is to develop 100 high-potential districts as Global Export Champions and transform 100 Aspirational Districts into self-reliant textile hubs. Districts are classified based on export performance, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises ecosystem, and workforce availability.

Research at 27 test lakes in northeastern Germany showed an increase in the abundance of charophytes. Charophytes are a type of green algae found in freshwater ecosystems. Fossils of charophytes date back to the Silurian Period, about 443 million years ago. This period marked the shift of plants from water to land, and charophytes are the closest living relatives of land plants. They grow in silt, mud, peat, or sand and often colonize newly cleared areas first.

The Flamingo Festival recently attracted many families to Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, which is located near Sullurpeta in Andhra Pradesh. It is located close to Pulicat Lake, the second-largest salt lake in India. The sanctuary is an important breeding site for the spot-billed pelican. It has rich vegetation, including Barringtonia swamp forests and southern dry evergreen scrub.

The Union Ministry of Agriculture has proposed merging three ongoing schemes with the Pradhan Mantri–Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. Pradhan Mantri–Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme operating under Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. It aims to speed up agricultural growth and improve farmers’ income. It encourages states to increase public investment, boost productivity, reduce post-harvest losses, and promote crop diversification.

“Boda Tyohar”, the biggest annual festival of the Hatti tribe, recently began with traditional fervour in Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh. The Hatti tribe is located along the Himachal Pradesh–Uttarakhand border in the Giri and Tons river basin, tributaries of the Yamuna River. Their name comes from selling farm produce in local markets called Haat. They live in Trans-Giri area of Sirmaur and Jaunsar Bawar region of Uttarakhand with shared traditions.

The Indian Army has launched Depot Integration Management Edition, which is a pan-Army digital logistics platform. It provides near real-time visibility of logistic items from units up to Army Headquarters. It is developed jointly by the Indian Army and Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics. The platform standardises digital workflows across all Army depots and units. It equips commanders with integrated dashboards, exception alerts, and predictive stock analytics. It will reduce paperwork by about 70 percent and shorten the logistics cycle by one-third.

The Bhadrakali inscription is a major 12th-century record confirming the history, development, and royal patronage of the Somnath Temple. It is located at Prabhas Patan, Gujarat, on the wall of the Bhadrakali Temple. It was carved in 1169 Common Era (CE), corresponding to Valabhi Samvat 850 and Vikram Samvat 1255, and is protected by the State Department of Archaeology. It records Somnath Temple’s construction across four yugas: gold in Satya Yuga by Chandra (Soma), silver in Treta Yuga by Ravana, wood in Dvapara Yuga by Shri Krishna, and stone in Kali Yuga by King Bhimdev Solanki.

The Senapati Forest Division launched Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) exercises to restore the Barak River watershed and support local livelihoods. The exercise was conducted at Saranamai village in Senapati district, Manipur, under the Barak catchment area. It involved community mapping of natural resources, land use, wealth status, matrix ranking, timelines, and Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis. The exercise will provide baseline data for an action plan under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) scheme of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Army recently conducted successful trials of the indigenous Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) Weapon System. It is fully designed and developed in India by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The system includes the missile, launcher, target acquisition system, and fire control unit. It is a third-generation “fire and forget” missile with advanced autonomy after launch. It uses an Imaging Infrared (IIR) homing seeker for accurate day-and-night operations

The Special Secretary of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) inaugurated the Indian Customs Electronic Gateway–Land Port Management System (ICEGATE–LPMS) at the Integrated Check Post (ICP), Agartala, Tripura. Indian Customs Electronic Gateway (ICEGATE) was established in 2007 as the national portal of Indian Customs under Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). It provides electronic filing (e-filing) services to traders, cargo carriers, and other trading partners. It acts as a centralized platform for electronic interaction between Indian Customs and the trading community.

The Central Empowered Committee recommended restoring the Ecologically Sensitive Zone (ESZ) of Bannerghatta National Park (BNP) to its original 2016 extent. Bannerghatta National Park is located in the Anekal range hills near Bengaluru, Karnataka. India’s first butterfly enclosure was opened here in 2006. The Suvarnamukhi stream flows through the park and is the main water source for wildlife. It is a key habitat for endangered Asian elephants, tigers, leopards, Indian gaur, deer species, sloth bear, pangolin, and slender loris.

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research–National Physical Laboratory (CSIR–NPL) established the National Environmental Standard Laboratory (NESL). It is located at the CSIR–National Physical Laboratory in New Delhi. It was set up to test and recalibrate air pollution monitoring instruments and environmental sensors under Indian conditions. It ensures reliable and credible data for the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). It allows manufacturers, industries, and municipal bodies to validate instrument performance within India. It supports industrial emission audits, smart city monitoring networks, and provides reference gases and standard protocols.