January 2026 Edition
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January 2026 Current Affairs MCQs & Solutions
Top national & international current affairs questions for CSS, PMS, FPSC, PPSC, and NTS screening tests.
#8581
Who presented the Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2026 in the Punjab Assembly?
(a) Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman
(b) Azma Bokhari
(c) Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan
(d) Ejaz Augustine
Explanation: Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, serving as the Punjab Parliamentary Affairs Minister, formally presented the bill to the assembly. While Azma Bokhari participated in the debate and Ejaz Augustine moved an amendment, Rehman was the minister responsible for the bill's introduction. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1995556/punjab-assembly-passes-bill-setting-minimum-marriage-age-at-18-for-both-males-and-females, 27 Apr 2026]
#8582
For how many years had Viktor Orban ruled Hungary prior to his defeat in 2026?
(a) 10 years
(b) 12 years
(c) 20 years
(d) 16 years
Explanation: Viktor Orban had been in power for 16 years before conceding the 2026 election. He was seeking a fifth consecutive term. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1991135/viktor-orban-concedes-painful-defeat-to-conservative-peter-magyar-in-hungary-polls, 12 Apr 2026]
#8583
Who is the current Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan involved in the 2026 diplomatic efforts?
(a) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
(b) Ishaq Dar
(c) Shah Mehmood Qureshi
(d) None of these
Explanation: Ishaq Dar serves as the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan and has been actively engaging with international counterparts to support the peace process. The other names listed are former foreign ministers. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1991712/trump-says-us-iran-talks-could-resume-over-the-next-two-days-were-more-inclined-to-go-to-pakistan, 14 Apr 2026]
#8584
Which of the following statements regarding the 2026 US-Iran diplomatic engagement is INCORRECT?
(a) President Donald Trump confirmed he would personally participate in the negotiations.
(b) The initial talks in Islamabad concluded without a formal agreement.
(c) The ceasefire is currently considered precarious due to potential naval blockades.
(d) Pakistan has been communicating with both sides regarding the timing of the next round.
Explanation: President Trump explicitly confirmed that he would not take part in the negotiations. The other statements accurately reflect the status of the talks and the ceasefire as of April 2026. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1991712/trump-says-us-iran-talks-could-resume-over-the-next-two-days-were-more-inclined-to-go-to-pakistan, 14 Apr 2026]
#8585
On what date was the ceasefire between the United States and Iran initially brokered in 2026?
(a) April 8, 2026
(b) April 14, 2026
(c) April 22, 2026
(d) None of these
Explanation: The ceasefire between the US and Iran was brokered on April 8, 2026. April 22, 2026, is the date the ceasefire is set to expire, making it a common distractor. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1991712/trump-says-us-iran-talks-could-resume-over-the-next-two-days-were-more-inclined-to-go-to-pakistan, 14 Apr 2026]
#8586
Who received Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif upon his arrival in Saudi Arabia on April 15, 2026?
(a) Prince Faisal bin Farhan
(b) Prince Saud bin Mushaal bin Abdulaziz
(c) Prince Khalid bin Salman
(d) Prince Bandar bin Sultan
Explanation: Prince Saud bin Mushaal bin Abdulaziz, the Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region, was among the officials who received the Prime Minister. The other princes listed were not mentioned as part of the reception committee. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1991908/pm-shehbaz-meets-saudi-crown-prince-in-jeddah-dar-says-avenues-to-further-enhance-cooperation-discussed, 15 Apr 2026]
#8587
Which regional countries were identified as providing support to Pakistan's mediation efforts between the US and Iran in 2026?
(a) India and Afghanistan
(b) China and Russia
(c) Saudi Arabia and Qatar
(d) Turkiye and Egypt
Explanation: Pakistan's diplomatic efforts to bring the US and Iran to the table were backed by Turkiye and Egypt. While other countries like China and Saudi Arabia were consulted, Turkiye and Egypt were specifically cited as supporting the back-channel efforts. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1991712/trump-says-us-iran-talks-could-resume-over-the-next-two-days-were-more-inclined-to-go-to-pakistan, 14 Apr 2026]
#8588
Consider the following statements about the diplomatic visit of the Prime Minister in April 2026: 1. The visit to Saudi Arabia and Qatar was conducted in a bilateral context. 2. The Prime Minister is expected to hold a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkiye. 3. The delegation included the Information Minister and the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister.
(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 official reports regarding the Prime Minister's diplomatic tour. The visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar were bilateral, the meeting with President Erdogan was planned for the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, and the delegation included both the Information Minister and the SAPM. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1991908/pm-shehbaz-meets-saudi-crown-prince-in-jeddah-dar-says-avenues-to-further-enhance-cooperation-discussed, 15 Apr 2026]
#8589
Consider the following statements about the diplomatic developments in April 2026: 1. The ceasefire between the US and Iran is scheduled to expire on April 22, 2026. 2. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif briefed President Asif Ali Zardari on his upcoming visits to Saudi Arabia and Turkiye. 3. The US and Iran have not engaged in any direct dialogue since 1979 prior to the 2026 Islamabad talks. 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 and 2 are factually correct based on the report. Statement 3 is incorrect because the Islamabad talks marked the highest engagement since 1979, but it does not imply that no other form of dialogue occurred in the intervening decades. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1991712/trump-says-us-iran-talks-could-resume-over-the-next-two-days-were-more-inclined-to-go-to-pakistan, 14 Apr 2026]
#8590
What was the record voter turnout recorded during the 2026 Hungarian parliamentary elections?
(a) 77.8 percent
(b) 72.5 percent
(c) 67.0 percent
(d) 82.1 percent
Explanation: The election saw a record turnout of 77.8 percent at 6:30 pm local time. This high participation reflects the intense public interest in the contest between Orban and Magyar. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1991135/viktor-orban-concedes-painful-defeat-to-conservative-peter-magyar-in-hungary-polls, 12 Apr 2026]
#8591
Who is the political newcomer that defeated Viktor Orban in the 2026 Hungarian elections?
(a) Gergley Gulyas
(b) Peter Magyar
(c) JD Vance
(d) None of these
Explanation: Peter Magyar, a former government insider, emerged as the primary challenger and victor in the 2026 parliamentary elections. Gergley Gulyas is Orban's chief of staff. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1991135/viktor-orban-concedes-painful-defeat-to-conservative-peter-magyar-in-hungary-polls, 12 Apr 2026]
#8592
Consider the following statements about the diplomatic developments in 2026: 1. Pakistan initiated contact with regional leaders immediately following the start of the conflict on February 28. 2. The US-Iran talks in Islamabad were aimed at addressing the global fuel crisis and regional instability. 3. The quadrilateral moot in Islamabad included representatives from the United States and Iran. 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 correct as they reflect the timeline of Pakistan's diplomatic engagement and the objectives of the talks. Statement 3 is incorrect because the quadrilateral moot involved Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkiye, and Pakistan, not the US or Iran directly. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1991120/dar-briefs-turkish-saudi-egyptian-fms-on-islamabad-talks-reaffirms-support-for-diplomacy-and-dialogue, 12 Apr 2026]
#8593
On April 12, 2026, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar held telephonic conversations regarding the Islamabad Talks with the foreign ministers of which of the following groups of countries?
(a) Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkiye
(b) China, Iran, and the United States
(c) Qatar, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates
(d) None of these
Explanation: Ishaq Dar engaged in diplomatic outreach with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkiye to brief them on the status of the US-Iran talks held in Islamabad. These nations are key regional stakeholders involved in the broader de-escalation efforts. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1991120/dar-briefs-turkish-saudi-egyptian-fms-on-islamabad-talks-reaffirms-support-for-diplomacy-and-dialogue, 12 Apr 2026]
#8594
Consider the following statements about the meeting between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on April 10, 2026: 1. The Prime Minister recalled a recent telephone conversation with the Crown Prince. 2. The meeting focused exclusively on military procurement and defense hardware. 3. The Saudi Finance Minister reaffirmed the resolve to strengthen fraternal bonds.
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) All three
Explanation: Statement 1 and 3 are factually correct based on the official readout. Statement 2 is incorrect because the meeting focused on trade, investment, and economic development, not exclusively on military procurement. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1990567/in-meeting-with-saudi-finance-minister-pm-emphasises-strong-commitment-to-expanding-cooperation-in-all-spheres, 10 Apr 2026]
#8595
Consider the following statements about the 2026 Hungarian elections: 1. Peter Magyar's party secured more than two-thirds of the parliamentary seats. 2. Viktor Orban was seeking his fifth consecutive term in office. 3. The election results were finalized and confirmed by the European Union before Orban conceded. 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 correct as Magyar won 137 seats (over two-thirds) and Orban was indeed seeking a fifth term. Statement 3 is incorrect because Orban conceded while results were still being counted and not yet final. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1991135/viktor-orban-concedes-painful-defeat-to-conservative-peter-magyar-in-hungary-polls, 12 Apr 2026]
#8596
Consider the following statements about the energy conservation measures announced in April 2026: 1. The federal government decided that markets in provinces other than Sindh should close by 8:00 PM. 2. The Sindh government notification applies to both weekdays and weekends. 3. The austerity measures were triggered by the global fuel crisis resulting from the US-Israel war on Iran. Which of the statements given above 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 government's policy announcements. The federal directive specifically excluded Sindh initially, the Sindh notification covers the entire week, and the geopolitical cause of the fuel crisis is correctly identified. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1990483/sindh-implements-austerity-measures-notifies-early-market-closure-among-other-steps, 10 Apr 2026]
#8597
Who led the Iranian delegation that arrived in Islamabad for the 2026 talks?
(a) Abbas Araghchi
(b) Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf
(c) Ali Khamenei
(d) None of these
Explanation: Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, led the delegation to Islamabad. Abbas Araghchi was part of the delegation as the Foreign Minister, but he was not the head of the delegation. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1990461/vance-en-route-iranian-delegation-touches-down-for-islamabad-talks, 10 Apr 2026]
#8598
Which of the following is NOT a precondition mentioned by the Iranian side for the commencement of negotiations in 2026?
(a) A ceasefire in Lebanon
(b) The release of Iran's blocked assets
(c) The immediate withdrawal of US forces from the Middle East
(d) None of these
Explanation: The Iranian side specifically cited a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of blocked assets as their preconditions. The withdrawal of US forces was not listed as a specific precondition for these talks. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1990461/vance-en-route-iranian-delegation-touches-down-for-islamabad-talks, 10 Apr 2026]
#8599
Which US official was tasked with leading the American delegation to the 2026 Islamabad Talks?
(a) Donald Trump
(b) JD Vance
(c) Antony Blinken
(d) None of these
Explanation: US Vice President JD Vance was the official designated to lead the American delegation to Islamabad. Donald Trump provided the guidelines for the negotiations but did not travel to Pakistan himself. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1990461/vance-en-route-iranian-delegation-touches-down-for-islamabad-talks, 10 Apr 2026]
#8600
Who led the Iranian delegation during the peace talks held in Islamabad on April 11, 2026?
(a) Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf
(b) Hossein Amir-Abdollahian
(c) Ali Bagheri Kani
(d) None of these
Explanation: Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, led the Iranian delegation during the Islamabad talks. The other names listed are prominent Iranian officials but were not the heads of this specific delegation. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1990743/us-iran-search-for-breakthrough-in-islamabad-as-talks-stretch-into-third-round, 11 Apr 2026]