Stay updated with Daily Current Affairs 23 January 2026 MCQs, designed to help aspirants revise the most important national and international news of the day. These multiple-choice questions are especially useful for competitive exams like SSC, Banking, UPSC, Railways, Defence, and State-level exams, making your daily revision quick, effective, and exam-oriented.

Daily Current Affairs Today – Jan 23, 2026 | Important for UPSC, SSC, Banking & Railways

Welcome to your daily dose of exam-oriented current affairs. Today’s briefing covers major geopolitical shifts at Davos, significant infrastructure pushes in Kerala, and the 129th birth anniversary of one of India’s most iconic freedom fighters.

Major Headlines

National (India)

• PM Modi Visits Kerala: Launches projects worth ₹4,000+ crore, including three Amrit Bharat Express trains and the CSIR-NIIST Innovation Hub in Thiruvananthapuram.
• 150 Years of Vande Mataram: India begins year-long nationwide celebrations to mark the sesquicentennial of the national song.
• Striped Tiger Butterfly: Officially declared the State Butterfly of Chandigarh by the State Board of Wildlife.
• Aravalli Protection: Supreme Court seeks fresh clarity on the 100-metre benchmark for ecological impact in the Aravalli hills.

International

• Davos 2026: U.S. President Donald Trump signs the “Board of Peace” charter with 19 founding nations to oversee global conflict resolution.
• Nuclear Milestone: Japan restarts the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, the world’s largest nuclear power station, to bolster energy security.
• India-EU FTA: Negotiations enter the final stage as Finland’s Ambassador expresses optimism for a 2026 conclusion.

Sports

• Cricket: Sri Lanka defeats England by 19 runs in the 1st ODI at Colombo; spinners Jeffrey Vandersay and Dunith Wellalage lead the attack.
• T20 World Cup 2026: ICC launches the “Rohit Sharma Campaign” and confirms India as the primary host after rejecting Bangladesh’s request to shift matches.

Economy

• Rupee Hit: The Indian Rupee falls to a record low of ₹91.70 against the USD due to geopolitical tensions and foreign fund outflows.
• RBI Forecast: The Reserve Bank of India’s latest bulletin projects India to remain the world’s fastest-growing major economy in FY26 with a 7.4% GDP growth estimate.

Daily Current Affairs: Deep-Dive Explanations

1. PM Modi’s Kerala Development Push:
   The Prime Minister’s visit to Kerala focuses on “Inclusive Growth and Connectivity.” Key highlights include flagging off three Amrit Bharat Express trains (push-pull technology for high speed) and launching the PM SVANidhi Credit Card. This card is a milestone in financial inclusion, providing street vendors with interest-free revolving credit to build formal credit histories.
2. Trump’s “Board of Peace” (Davos 2026):
   During the World Economic Forum, President Trump unveiled an international organization aimed at resolving conflicts in the Middle East and beyond. Russia has reportedly pledged $1 billion from frozen assets toward this initiative. For students, this marks a shift in global diplomatic architecture and the privatization of conflict mediation.
3. RBI’s “State of the Economy” Report:
   The RBI’s January 2026 bulletin estimates India’s real GDP growth at 7.4% for 2025-26. This resilience is attributed to a rebound in manufacturing and upbeat rural demand. However, the report warns of “downside risks” like the depreciation of the rupee and stalled India-U.S. trade negotiations.
4. 150 Years of Vande Mataram:
   Written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in the 1870s (first published in the novel Anandamath), the song celebrates its 150th anniversary this year. The government is using this as a cultural diplomacy tool to promote national unity and “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) aspirations.
5. Japan Restarts World’s Largest Nuclear Plant:
   The restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant is a critical pivot in global energy policy. Following years of “nuclear-phobia” post-Fukushima, major economies are returning to nuclear energy to meet Net Zero targets. This serves as a background for India’s own “Nuclear Energy Mission” aiming for 100 GW by 2047.

Today’s Notable Days: Daily Current Affairs

• Parakram Diwas (Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti): Celebrates the 129th birth anniversary of the legendary leader who founded the Azad Hind Fauj; it honors his “indomitable spirit” and selfless service to the nation.
• National Handwriting Day: Established to acknowledge the history and influence of penmanship, coinciding with the birthday of John Hancock.

Important Days in January 2026: Guide for Competitive Exams

Daily Current Affairs: January 23, 2026 Exam-Oriented MCQs

Question 1: Parakram Diwas is celebrated every year on January 23 to commemorate the birth anniversary of which leader?

1. Mahatma Gandhi,
2. Bhagat Singh,
3. Subhas Chandra Bose,
4. Sardar Patel

Answer: C

Explanation: The Government of India declared January 23 as Parakram Diwas in 2021 to honor Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s contribution to the independence movement.

Question 2: Which city’s State Board of Wildlife recently declared the “Striped Tiger” as its State Butterfly?

1. Delhi
2. Chandigarh
3. Puducherry
4. Lakshadweep

Answer: B

Explanation: Chandigarh officially adopted the Striped Tiger butterfly to raise awareness about local biodiversity.

Question 3: What was the record low closing value of the Indian Rupee against the US Dollar on January 22, 2026?

1. 83.50
2. 89.90
3. 91.70
4. 95.00

Answer: C

Explanation: Geopolitical tensions and FII outflows pushed the Rupee to a historic low of 91.70.

Question 4: The “Board of Peace” initiative, signed at Davos 2026, was primarily spearheaded by which country?

1. India
2. USA
3. Switzerland
4. France

Answer: B

Explanation: U.S. President Donald Trump launched the Board of Peace charter during the World Economic Forum to oversee global ceasefire plans.

Question 5: PM Modi launched the “PM SVANidhi Credit Card” in which city on Jan 23, 2026?

1. Kochi
2. Thiruvananthapuram
3. Chennai
4. Bengaluru

Answer: B

Explanation: The PM launched the credit card and other development projects during his visit to Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Question 6: According to the RBI’s January 2026 bulletin, what is the estimated real GDP growth for India in FY26?

1. 6.5%
2. 7.0%
3. 7.4%
4. 8.2%

Answer: C

Explanation: The RBI estimates growth at 7.4%, positioning India as the fastest-growing major economy.

Question 7: Which nuclear power plant, the largest in the world, was restarted in January 2026?

1. Kudankulam
2. Kashiwazaki-Kariwa
3. Zaporizhzhia
4. Fukushima Daiichi

Answer: B

Explanation: Japan restarted the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant to address energy shortages and carbon goals.

Question 8: The song “Vande Mataram” was first published in which famous novel?

1. Gitanjali
2. Anandamath
3. Durgeshnandini
4. Nil Darpan

Answer: B

Explanation: Written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, it was first published in his 1882 novel Anandamath.

Question 9: Which country defeated England in the 1st ODI held in Colombo on January 22, 2026?

1. India
2. Sri Lanka
3. Pakistan
4. Bangladesh

Answer: B

Explanation: Sri Lanka’s spinners defended 271 to win by 19 runs against England.

Question 10: Who is the current Union Minister who represented India’s reform momentum at WEF Davos 2026?

1. S. Jaishankar
2. Ashwini Vaishnaw
3. Nirmala Sitharaman
4. Piyush Goyal

Answer: B

Explanation: Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted India’s structural reforms and semiconductor ecosystem at Davos.

This Day in History (January 23)

This section of our daily briefing focuses on the historical weight of January 23. From the birth of “Netaji” to scientific breakthroughs that reached the ocean’s deepest floor, today is a cornerstone of the global and Indian calendar.

• 1556: The Shaanxi Earthquake: Recorded as the deadliest earthquake in human history, it struck Shaanxi, China, killing an estimated 830,000 people.
• 1849: A Medical Milestone: Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States, graduating from Geneva Medical College in New York.
• 1950: Jerusalem Declared Capital: The Knesset (Israeli Parliament) passed a resolution proclaiming Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, a decision that remains a central point of global geopolitical discussion.
• 1957: Longest UN Speech: Indian diplomat V.K. Krishna Menon delivered the longest speech in the history of the United Nations—lasting nearly 8 hours—to defend India’s sovereignty over Kashmir.
• 1960: Reaching the Deepest Point: Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh, aboard the bathyscaphe Trieste, reached the bottom of the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench (approx. 10,911 meters), the deepest known point on Earth.
• 1997: First Female Secretary of State: Madeleine Albright was sworn in as the first woman to serve as the U.S. Secretary of State, breaking a significant glass ceiling in international diplomacy.
• 2004: Opportunity Lands on Mars: NASA’s robotic rover Opportunity landed on the Red Planet, beginning a mission that lasted far beyond its expected 90-day lifespan.

2. Famous Birthdays (January 23)

National (India)

• Subhas Chandra Bose (1897): Known as Netaji, he was the preeminent leader of the Indian independence movement and founder of the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army). His birthday is celebrated as Parakram Diwas.
• Bal Thackeray (1926): The influential Indian politician and cartoonist who founded the Shiv Sena, a major political party in Maharashtra.
• Veer Surendra Sai (1809): A legendary freedom fighter from Odisha who led a massive uprising against the British for several decades before the 1857 mutiny.
• Ramesh Sippy (1947): The veteran Indian filmmaker and director of the cult classic Sholay, which redefined Indian cinema.
• Rekha Bhardwaj (1964): National Award-winning Indian playback singer known for her unique voice and soulful tracks in films like Omkara and Haider.

International

• John Hancock (1737): American Founding Father and the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence. His large signature led to his name becoming a synonym for “signature.”
• Edouard Manet (1832): A pivotal French painter who was one of the first 19th-century artists to paint modern life and a key figure in the transition from Realism to Impressionism.
• Gertrude B. Elion (1918): American biochemist and Nobel Prize winner who developed groundbreaking drugs for leukemia, malaria, and organ transplants.
• Arjen Robben (1984): Renowned Dutch footballer and one of the most clinical wingers of his generation, famous for his long tenure at Bayern Munich.
• Mariska Hargitay (1964): Award-winning American actress best known for her long-running role as Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Conclusion: Navigating the Path to 2026

As we wrap up our coverage for January 23, 2026, it is clear that the legacy of leaders like Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose continues to shape India’s modern trajectory. From the strategic shifts discussed at Davos to the ambitious infrastructure projects in Kerala, the themes of resilience, autonomy, and forward-planning remain constant.

For students and aspirants, today’s news serves as a reminder that current affairs are not merely facts to be memorized, but a living narrative of how history informs the future. By interlinking the “Parakram” (valour) of the past with the economic and technological milestones of the present, you build the analytical depth required to excel in any competitive arena.

Final Thought for the Day

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” — Winston Churchill

Keep your preparation consistent, stay curious, and remember that every daily brief you master is a step closer to your goal. We will be back tomorrow with more updates to keep you ahead of the curve.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: How can I best prepare for Current Affairs for competitive exams?

A: The best strategy is a “Daily-Weekly-Monthly” approach. Read daily updates, revise them at the end of the week, and go through a monthly compilation for long-term retention.

Q2: Are these daily updates sufficient for UPSC and SSC exams?

A: While these updates cover major headlines, we recommend supplementing them with an editorial analysis from a standard newspaper like The Hindu or Indian Express for deeper conceptual clarity.

Q3: Where can I find the sources for these news items?

A: Our content is curated from reliable sources including the Press Information Bureau (PIB), official government handles, and leading international news agencies.

Q4: How many months of current affairs are usually asked in exams?

A: Most national-level exams (like SSC, Banking, and UPSC) focus on the last 10 to 12 months of events preceding the exam date.

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Daily Current Affairs 22 January 2026