January 2026 Edition

January 2026 Current Affairs MCQs & Solutions

Top national & international current affairs questions for CSS, PMS, FPSC, PPSC, and NTS screening tests.

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#20501

The 2026 CAVA Men’s Volleyball Championship is scheduled to conclude on which date?

(a) July 22, 2026
(b) July 25, 2026
(c) August 01, 2026
(d) July 29, 2026
Explanation: The tournament is a week-long event that officially concludes on July 29, 2026. The other dates represent either the start of the event or arbitrary dates within the same month. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2017387/hosts-pakistan-to-face-sri-lanka-in-central-asian-volleyball-opener, 22 Jul 2026]
#20502

Which player scored the equalizer for Canada in the 2026 World Cup match against Bosnia-Herzegovina?

(a) Jonathan David
(b) Jovo Lukic
(c) Ismael Kone
(d) Cyle Larin
Explanation: Cyle Larin scored the equalizer in the 78th minute of the match. Jovo Lukic scored the opening goal for Bosnia-Herzegovina, while Jonathan David and Ismael Kone were other Canadian players involved in key attacking plays. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2007443/canada-draw-with-bosnia-herzegovina-to-earn-first-ever-world-cup-point, 12 Jun 2026]
#20503

Which of the following statements regarding the 2026 CAVA Men’s Volleyball Championship is INCORRECT?

(a) The tournament is being hosted at the Liaqat Gymnasium.
(b) The Pakistan Volleyball Federation made security arrangements for all participating teams.
(c) India participated in the tournament after securing no-objection certificates.
(d) The championship aims to promote regional friendship through sports.
Explanation: The Indian team withdrew from the tournament at the eleventh hour despite the PVF securing the necessary documentation and security arrangements. Therefore, the statement that India participated is false. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2017387/hosts-pakistan-to-face-sri-lanka-in-central-asian-volleyball-opener, 22 Jul 2026]
#20504

Consider the following statements about the 2026 CAVA Men’s Volleyball Championship: 1. The tournament is hosted by Pakistan at the Pakistan Sports Complex. 2. India withdrew from the competition shortly before the start of the event. 3. Afghanistan's participation was confirmed and the team arrived in Islamabad on time. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) All three
Explanation: Statements 1 and 2 are factually correct. Statement 3 is incorrect because Afghanistan's participation remained uncertain due to documentation issues, and the team had not arrived in Islamabad as expected. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2017387/hosts-pakistan-to-face-sri-lanka-in-central-asian-volleyball-opener, 22 Jul 2026]
#20505

Consider the following statements regarding current administrative and governance developments in Pakistan as of August 4, 2026: 1. The government has transitioned public sector pension management to a defined-contribution model via new agreements with fund managers. 2. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is currently seeking legal recourse in the Islamabad High Court to maintain confidentiality regarding financial and contractual data. 3. The Senate Subcommittee has launched an inquiry to address deficiencies in the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) following recent child mortality in Karachi. Which of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only 1 and 2
(b) Only 2 and 3
(c) Only 1 and 3
(d) 1, 2, and 3
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct as the government has executed agreements with pension fund managers to reform the system. Statement 2 is correct as the PCB challenged an IHC order to disclose player financial details. Statement 3 is incorrect because the Senate Subcommittee's recent action concerned the tobacco smuggling seizure, while the vaccine-preventable mortality crisis is a separate public health issue. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2020481/govt-executes-agreements-with-pension-fund-managers]
#20506

Who scored the opening goal for India in the 2026 Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship final?

(a) Ketan Kushwaha
(b) Shahrukh Ali
(c) Romit Pal
(d) None of these
Explanation: Romit Pal scored the first goal for India four minutes and 13 seconds into the final match. Ketan Kushwaha and Shahrukh Ali also scored in the match but were not the first to find the net. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2018608/india-beat-pakistan-to-retain-youth-hockey5s-asian-title, 27 Jul 2026]
#20507

The West Indies cricket team was eliminated from the Super Eight stage of the 2026 T20 World Cup on which date?

(a) March 1, 2026
(b) March 10, 2026
(c) February 23, 2026
(d) March 5, 2026
Explanation: The West Indies team was eliminated from the tournament on March 1, 2026. The report was published on March 10, 2026, which serves as the reference date for the travel delays. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1980612/t20-world-cup-west-indies-players-leave-india-on-commercial-flights-after-charter-cancelled, 10 Mar 2026]
#20508

Consider the following statements regarding governance, legal accountability, and diplomatic engagements as of 07 August 2026:

(a) Only 1 and 2 are correct
(b) Only 2 and 3 are correct
(c) Only 1 and 3 are correct
(d) All statements are correct
Explanation: The PCB (Event: 0ad64b0f...) enforces institutional accountability for misconduct, while the Peshawar High Court (Event: b3926b00...) exercises constitutional mandate under Article 199 regarding residency petitions. Additionally, the Senate Committee (Event: 17b1abf4...) is actively scrutinizing public sector compensation to ensure administrative and financial transparency within state organizations. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2021098/pcb-bans-all-rounder-hamza-for-two-years-over-misleading-visa-information]
#20509

Which of the following statements regarding the 2026 T20 World Cup travel situation is INCORRECT?

(a) The West Indies team was stranded due to the cancellation of an ICC-organized charter flight.
(b) The England team was forced to wait longer than the West Indies team for their return charter flight.
(c) International airspace closures in the Middle East contributed to the travel delays.
(d) Cricket West Indies had to coordinate commercial flights to facilitate the squad's return.
Explanation: The statement that England waited longer is incorrect; reports indicated that the England team was given priority and returned on a charter flight within two days of their loss. The other statements accurately reflect the logistical challenges described. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1980612/t20-world-cup-west-indies-players-leave-india-on-commercial-flights-after-charter-cancelled, 10 Mar 2026]
#20510

Arrange the following diplomatic and administrative developments in correct chronological order based on the events provided for 07 August 2026:

(a) 1-2-3-4
(b) 4-3-2-1
(c) 2-1-4-3
(d) 3-4-1-2
Explanation: All events occurred on the same date (August 7, 2026). In academic test design, when events share a specific calendar day, they are classified by their logical sequence in the national news cycle and policy-making context: PCB disciplinary action, followed by regional sports scheduling, bilateral strategic engagement, and finally geopolitical defensive alignment. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2021098/pcb-bans-all-rounder-hamza-for-two-years-over-misleading-visa-information]
#20511

Which of the following statements regarding the performance of Pakistani athletes on July 25, 2026, is INCORRECT?

(a) Afzal Khan won his boxing bout by a unanimous decision.
(b) Fatima Zehra forced a referee stoppage in her boxing match.
(c) Ayub Qureshi won his lawn bowls match against Ross Owen.
(d) Jehanara Nabi did not qualify for the swimming semi-finals.
Explanation: Ayub Qureshi lost his lawn bowls match to Ross Owen of Wales, making the statement that he won incorrect. The other three statements accurately reflect the outcomes reported for the respective athletes. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2018172/pakistan-boxers-afzal-fatima-start-commonwealth-games-campaigns-in-style, 25 Jul 2026]
#20512

In the 2026-27 domestic structure, the Hanif Mohammad Trophy has been upgraded and renamed as:

(a) President's Trophy Grade-I
(b) Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Silver
(c) National T20 Cup Gold
(d) Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Gold
Explanation: The previously non-first-class Hanif Mohammad Trophy was upgraded to first-class status and rebranded as the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Silver division. The Gold division represents the top-tier first-class competition. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2018156/pcb-tinkers-with-domestic-structure-again, 24 Jul 2026]
#20513

Which of the following statements regarding the 2026-27 domestic cricket structure is INCORRECT?

(a) The National Inter-Club Championship is a mandatory annual feature of the new calendar.
(b) The regional National One-day Cup has been omitted for the third successive season.
(c) The Talent Hunt Programme has been expanded to 1,200 schools across 100 districts.
(d) The Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Gold division consists of eight teams.
Explanation: The National Inter-Club Championship has been left out of the 2026-27 calendar, making statement D incorrect. The other three statements accurately reflect the details provided in the PCB's structural revisions. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2018156/pcb-tinkers-with-domestic-structure-again, 24 Jul 2026]
#20514

In which venue was the Central Asian Volleyball Association (CAVA) Men’s Volleyball Championship held on 2026-07-25?

(a) Jinnah Stadium
(b) Liaquat Gymnasium
(c) Ayub National Stadium
(d) None of these
Explanation: The tournament matches were hosted at the Liaquat Gymnasium located within the Pakistan Sports Complex in Islamabad. Jinnah Stadium is a separate facility often used for football or athletics, making it an incorrect distractor. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2018165/pakistan-stay-perfect-in-central-asian-volleyball-association-championship, 25 Jul 2026]
#20515

Consider the following statements about the CAVA Men’s Volleyball Championship matches held on 2026-07-25: 1. Pakistan maintained an unbeaten record in the tournament. 2. The match between Uzbekistan and Sri Lanka concluded in four sets. 3. Kazakhstan won the opening set against Bangladesh. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) All three
Explanation: All three statements are factually accurate based on the tournament reports from 2026-07-25. Pakistan remained unbeaten, Uzbekistan won 3-1 (four sets), and Kazakhstan took the first set against Bangladesh. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2018165/pakistan-stay-perfect-in-central-asian-volleyball-association-championship, 25 Jul 2026]
#20516

The PCB has revived which domestic competition after a three-year gap in the 2026-27 season?

(a) Hanif Mohammad Trophy
(b) National Inter-Club Championship
(c) Regional National One-day Cup
(d) National Under-19 three-day championship
Explanation: The PCB has officially revived the National Under-19 three-day championship for the 2026-27 season. The National Inter-Club Championship remains excluded from the current calendar. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2018156/pcb-tinkers-with-domestic-structure-again, 24 Jul 2026]
#20517

Which of the following statements regarding the CAVA Men’s Volleyball Championship matches on 2026-07-25 is INCORRECT?

(a) Pakistan defeated Nepal in straight sets.
(b) Uzbekistan defeated Sri Lanka 3-1.
(c) The tournament was held at the Liaquat Gymnasium.
(d) Bangladesh defeated Kazakhstan in a three-set sweep.
Explanation: The match between Bangladesh and Kazakhstan was a five-set thriller, not a three-set sweep. The other statements accurately reflect the match outcomes and venue. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2018165/pakistan-stay-perfect-in-central-asian-volleyball-association-championship, 25 Jul 2026]
#20518

Consider the following statements about the German national football team's recent history: 1. Germany has won four World Cup titles in its history. 2. Manuel Neuer participated in the 2026 World Cup at the age of 40. 3. Joshua Kimmich has served as the team captain since 2023. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) All three
Explanation: Germany has indeed won four World Cups, and Manuel Neuer played in the 2026 World Cup at age 40. However, statement 3 is incorrect because Joshua Kimmich has worn the captain's armband since autumn 2024, not 2023. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2018152/jurgen-klopp-handed-task-of-reviving-germanys-football-fortunes, 25 Jul 2026]
#20519

Which of the following central banks is scheduled to hold a policy meeting on Thursday, July 30, 2026?

(a) Bank of England
(b) Bank of Japan
(c) Federal Reserve
(d) None of these
Explanation: The Bank of England is scheduled to hold its meeting on Thursday, while the Federal Reserve meets on Wednesday and the Bank of Japan on Friday. None of the other options match the Thursday schedule. [Source: https://www.brecorder.com/news/40431958/shares-bonds-make-guarded-gains-as-oil-slips, 27 Jul 2026]
#20520

Consider the following statements about the security situation in Lakki Marwat: 1. The March 10, 2026, attack was the first time a quadcopter was used in the district. 2. Local police identified the perpetrators as suspected terrorists. 3. Previous quadcopter strikes in the region have targeted public spaces like football grounds. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) All three
Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect because the report mentions a previous quadcopter strike in the same district approximately one month prior. Statements 2 and 3 are factually accurate based on the provided information. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1980622/5-children-injured-in-quadcopter-attack-in-kps-lakki-marwat-officials, 10 Mar 2026]