Current Affairs in Gujarati 15th October 2026 : Current GK
On 15 Oct 2026
Current Affairs 1st January 2026 : Daily GK Update in English
1. Which country adopted the euro as its official currency on January 1, 2026, becoming the 21st member of the eurozone?
a) Romania
b) Bulgaria
c) Croatia
d) Sweden
Answer: b) Bulgaria
Explanation: Bulgaria officially replaced the lev with the euro on January 1, 2026, marking a significant step in its EU integration and economic alignment with the eurozone.
2. Which Pacific island nation was among the first to welcome the New Year 2026 due to its time zone?
a) Fiji
b) Tonga
c) Kiribati
d) Samoa
Answer: c) Kiribati
Explanation: Kiribati, located in the UTC+14 time zone, is consistently one of the first places on Earth to enter the new year, followed closely by other Pacific nations.
3. In which city did fireworks explode over the Sydney Harbour Bridge to mark the arrival of 2026, despite heightened security?
a) Melbourne
b) Brisbane
c) Sydney
d) Perth
Answer: c) Sydney
Explanation: Sydney, Australia, hosted its iconic New Year's fireworks display over the Harbour Bridge on January 1, 2026, with increased security following recent events.
4. Which iconic building in Dubai hosted a major fireworks display for New Year's 2026 celebrations?
a) Emirates Towers
b) Burj Khalifa
c) Burj Al Arab
d) Etihad Towers
Answer: b) Burj Khalifa
Explanation: The Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, was the centerpiece of Dubai's spectacular New Year's fireworks on January 1, 2026.
5. What major event began on January 1, 2026, in the sporting world, particularly in tennis?
a) French Open
b) Wimbledon
c) Australian Open
d) US Open
Answer: c) Australian Open
Explanation: The Australian Open tennis tournament traditionally kicks off in January, with the 2026 edition beginning around this time in Melbourne.
6. Which city projected a video mapping light show onto the Arc de Triomphe for New Year's 2026?
a) Rome
b) Paris
c) Berlin
d) Madrid
Answer: b) Paris
Explanation: Paris celebrated the New Year with a light show on the Arc de Triomphe, marking events including the 70th anniversary of its sister city relationship with Rome.
7. On January 1, 2026, which river in Bangkok saw fireworks displays for New Year celebrations?
a) Mekong River
b) Chao Phraya River
c) Irrawaddy River
d) Yangtze River
Answer: b) Chao Phraya River
Explanation: Bangkok, Thailand, lit up the sky over the Chao Phraya River with fireworks to usher in 2026.
8. Which European country began its presidency of the Council of the European Union on January 1, 2026?
a) Cyprus
b) Hungary
c) Poland
d) Denmark
Answer: a) Cyprus
Explanation: Cyprus assumed the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union starting January 1, 2026.
9. What is the common name for the full moon that peaked around early January 2026?
a) Snow Moon
b) Wolf Moon
c) Harvest Moon
d) Blue Moon
Answer: b) Wolf Moon
Explanation: The first full moon of 2026, known as the Wolf Moon, peaked in early January and was noted as a supermoon in some reports.
10. Which global event concluded its extended period on January 6, 2026?
a) Paris Olympics
b) 2025 Jubilee
c) COP30
d) FIFA World Cup
Answer: b) 2025 Jubilee
Explanation: The Catholic Church's 2025 Jubilee year, a period of special celebrations, officially ended on January 6, 2026.
11. In which city did Big Ben's chimes usher in 2026 for UTC time zones?
a) Edinburgh
b) London
c) Dublin
d) Manchester
Answer: b) London
Explanation: London's Big Ben clock chimed midnight to mark the New Year for countries in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on January 1, 2026.
12. Which country scheduled a presidential election for January 18, 2026?
a) Portugal
b) Costa Rica
c) Myanmar
d) Benin
Answer: a) Portugal
Explanation: The 2026 Portuguese presidential election was scheduled for January 18.
13. What major New Year tradition occurred at Copacabana Beach on January 1, 2026?
a) Lantern Festival
b) Fireworks and beach parties
c) Polar Bear Plunge
d) Parade
Answer: b) Fireworks and beach parties
Explanation: Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Beach hosted massive fireworks and celebrations, recognized as one of the world's largest New Year's events.
14. Which awareness campaign often starts on January 1, encouraging plant-based eating?
a) Dry January
b) Veganuary
c) Movember
d) Pink October
Answer: b) Veganuary
Explanation: Veganuary, a global campaign promoting veganism, begins annually on January 1.
15. In 2026, which rugby championship was set to kick off on January 31?
a) Rugby World Cup
b) Six Nations
c) Rugby Championship
d) Super Rugby
Answer: b) Six Nations
Explanation: The Six Nations rugby union tournament involving European teams began at the end of January 2026.
16. Which U.S. holiday is observed on January 1 if it falls on a weekday?
a) Martin Luther King Jr. Day
b) New Year's Day
c) Presidents' Day
d) Independence Day
Answer: b) New Year's Day
Explanation: January 1 is federally recognized as New Year's Day in the United States.
17. What celestial event, like the Quadrantid meteor shower, peaks in early January?
a) Perseids
b) Quadrantids
c) Leonids
d) Geminids
Answer: b) Quadrantids
Explanation: The Quadrantid meteor shower typically peaks in early January, offering skywatching opportunities.
18. Which city in Japan featured projection mapping on its government building for New Year 2026?
a) Osaka
b) Kyoto
c) Tokyo
d) Hiroshima
Answer: c) Tokyo
Explanation: Tokyo celebrated with projection mapping on the Metropolitan Government building.
19. On January 1, 2026, many countries observed which restricted or public holiday?
a) Christmas
b) New Year's Day
c) Easter
d) Diwali
Answer: b) New Year's Day
Explanation: New Year's Day is widely observed as a public or restricted holiday globally on January 1.
20. Which Middle Eastern city in Qatar hosted fireworks in its Lusail district for 2026?
a) Doha
b) Dubai
c) Abu Dhabi
d) Riyadh
Answer: a) Doha (Lusail is in Qatar)
Explanation: Lusail in Qatar featured prominent New Year fireworks celebrations.
21. What major trade change for Indian exports to Australia began in 2026?
a) Higher tariffs
b) Zero customs duties on all lines
c) Quotas imposed
d) Bans on certain goods
Answer: b) Zero customs duties on all lines
Explanation: From January 1, 2026, Australia eliminated duties on 100% of Indian exports under their trade agreement.
22. Which global health organization was the U.S. scheduled to officially leave in January 2026?
a) WHO
b) UNICEF
c) WTO
d) IMF
Answer: a) WHO
Explanation: The U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization was set to take effect in January 2026.
23. In skywatching for January 2026, which planet was highlighted alongside the Wolf Moon and meteor showers?
a) Mars
b) Venus
c) Jupiter
d) Saturn
Answer: c) Jupiter
Explanation: Jupiter was noted for its prominence in the night sky during January 2026 events.
24. Which campaign encouraging alcohol abstinence starts annually on January 1?
a) Veganuary
b) Dry January
c) Stoptober
d) No-Shave November
Answer: b) Dry January
Explanation: Dry January promotes going alcohol-free for the month, starting January 1.
25. As of January 1, 2026, how does the Gregorian calendar describe the year 2026?
a) Leap year starting on Wednesday
b) Common year starting on Thursday
c) Leap year starting on Friday
d) Common year starting on Saturday
Answer: b) Common year starting on Thursday
Explanation: 2026 is a common year (not a leap year) beginning on a Thursday in the Gregorian calendar.