8 January 2026 Current Affairs – Daily GK and Mock Test

8 January – Important History Events (Exam Oriented Notes)

1918 – US President Woodrow Wilson announced Fourteen Points

On 8 January 1918, US President Woodrow Wilson presented the Fourteen Points.
These points were proposed to establish peace after World War I and to prevent future wars.

1935 – Elvis Presley was born

On this day, Elvis Presley, famous American singer and actor, was born.
He is known as the “King of Rock and Roll” and influenced modern popular music.

1959 – Charles de Gaulle became President of France

On 8 January 1959, Charles de Gaulle became the first President of the Fifth Republic of France.
He played a major role in shaping modern French politics.

Today Latest Post Current Affairs

8 January 2026 Current Affairs – Daily GK and Mock Test

Government Approves New High-Security Paper Production Line at Security Paper Mill

Q1. What is the total cost approved by the government for setting up the new cylindrical mould watermark banknote (CWBN) line?
(a) ₹1,200 crore
(b) ₹1,500 crore
(c) ₹1,800 crore
(d) ₹2,000 crore
Answer: (c) ₹1,800 crore
Explanation: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved a ₹1,800 crore proposal to set up a new CWBN line to meet rising demand for high-security paper.

Q2. What will be the annual production capacity of the newly approved CWBN line?
(a) 3,000 tonnes
(b) 4,500 tonnes
(c) 6,000 tonnes
(d) 12,000 tonnes
Answer: (c) 6,000 tonnes
Explanation: The new cylindrical mould watermark banknote line will have an annual capacity of 6,000 tonnes of high-security paper.

Q3. After adding the new CWBN line, what will be the total annual production capacity of the Security Paper Mill, Narmadapuram?
(a) 6,000 tonnes
(b) 9,000 tonnes
(c) 10,000 tonnes
(d) 12,000 tonnes
Answer: (d) 12,000 tonnes
Explanation: With the new line replacing two old lines, the total production capacity of the Security Paper Mill will increase to about 12,000 tonnes per year.

Q4. The high-security paper produced at the Security Paper Mill is used for which of the following purposes?
(a) Printing textbooks and government reports
(b) Printing currency notes, non-judicial stamp papers, and passports
(c) Printing newspapers and magazines
(d) Printing election ballots only
Answer: (b) Printing currency notes, non-judicial stamp papers, and passports
Explanation: The mill produces high-security paper used specifically for Indian banknotes, non-judicial stamp papers, and passports.

Q5. Security Paper Mill, Narmadapuram is a unit of which organisation?
(a) Reserve Bank of India
(b) Ministry of Home Affairs
(c) Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL)
(d) National Payments Corporation of India
Answer: (c) Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL)
Explanation: Security Paper Mill, Narmadapuram (earlier Hoshangabad) functions under SPMCIL, which is responsible for producing security-grade paper and printing materials for India.

India Becomes First Country to Commercially Produce Bio-Bitumen for Road Construction

Q1. Which country has become the first in the world to commercially produce bio-bitumen for road construction?
(a) China
(b) United States
(c) Germany
(d) India
Answer: India
Explanation: India achieved a global first by starting the commercial production of bio-bitumen, highlighting its leadership in sustainable and eco-friendly infrastructure development.

Q2. Who announced the commercial production of bio-bitumen at the CSIR Technology Transfer Ceremony?
(a) Jitendra Singh
(b) Nirmala Sitharaman
(c) Nitin Gadkari
(d) Dharmendra Pradhan
Answer: Nitin Gadkari
Explanation: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari made the announcement during the CSIR Technology Transfer Ceremony in New Delhi.

Q3. Bio-bitumen is primarily produced using which of the following materials?
(a) Crude oil and coal tar
(b) Natural gas
(c) Biomass and agricultural waste
(d) Plastic waste
Answer: Biomass and agricultural waste
Explanation: Bio-bitumen is an eco-friendly alternative to conventional bitumen and is made from biomass and agricultural waste, reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

Q4. Which organization played a key role in developing and transferring the bio-bitumen technology?
(a) ISRO
(b) DRDO
(c) IIT Delhi
(d) CSIR
Answer: CSIR
Explanation: The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) was instrumental in developing the technology and enabling its commercial application.

Q5. The production of bio-bitumen directly helps address which major environmental problem in India?
(a) Water scarcity
(b) Crop residue burning
(c) Deforestation
(d) Marine pollution
Answer: Crop residue burning
Explanation: By using agricultural waste as raw material, bio-bitumen helps reduce crop residue burning, a major cause of seasonal air pollution in many parts of India.

Goa CM Launches New Edition of “History That India Ignored”

Q1. Who is the author of the book “History That India Ignored”, whose new edition was launched in Goa?
(a) Ramachandra Guha
(b) Prem Prakash
(c) Vikram Sampath
(d) Sanjeev Sanyal
Answer: Prem Prakash
Explanation: The book is authored by veteran journalist Prem Prakash, who is also the Chairman of Asian News International (ANI).

Q2. Which Chief Minister launched the new edition of “History That India Ignored”?
(a) Manohar Lal Khattar
(b) Himanta Biswa Sarma
(c) Pramod Sawant
(d) Devendra Fadnavis
Answer: Pramod Sawant
Explanation: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant launched the new edition of the book and described it as an important contribution to India’s historical understanding.

Q3. The book “History That India Ignored” mainly focuses on which aspect of Indian history?
(a) Economic reforms after independence
(b) Lesser-known narratives of India’s freedom struggle
(c) Ancient Indian civilization
(d) Post-independence foreign policy
Answer: Lesser-known narratives of India’s freedom struggle
Explanation: The book highlights overlooked and misrepresented chapters of India’s freedom struggle, especially the sacrifices of unsung freedom fighters.

Q4. Which two major freedom movement-related subjects receive special attention in the book?
(a) Quit India Movement and Non-Cooperation Movement
(b) Bhagat Singh and the Ghadar Movement
(c) Veer Savarkar and the Indian National Army
(d) Civil Disobedience Movement and Swadeshi Movement
Answer: Veer Savarkar and the Indian National Army
Explanation: The book revisits the life of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and the role of the Indian National Army led by Subhash Chandra Bose, correcting long-standing distortions.

Q5. Goa was liberated from Portuguese rule in which year, as highlighted in the book?
(a) 1947
(b) 1956
(c) 1961
(d) 1965
Answer: 1961
Explanation: Goa was liberated from Portuguese rule in 1961, much later than most parts of India, and this freedom struggle is given special recognition in the book.

Three New Species of Meadow Katydids Discovered in Jammu and Kashmir

Q1. How many new species of meadow katydids were recently discovered in Jammu and Kashmir?
(a) One
(b) Two
(c) Three
(d) Four
Answer: Three
Explanation: Researchers discovered three previously unknown species of meadow katydids, indicating that insect biodiversity in the Kashmir region is richer than earlier believed.

Q2. The newly discovered meadow katydid species belong to which genus?
(a) Gryllus
(b) Locusta
(c) Tettigonia
(d) Conocephalus
Answer: Conocephalus
Explanation: All three new species were identified under the genus Conocephalus, commonly known as meadow katydids or long-horned grasshoppers.

Q3. The research leading to the discovery was conducted by scientists from which institution?
(a) University of Kashmir
(b) Aligarh Muslim University
(c) Banaras Hindu University
(d) Jawaharlal Nehru University
Answer: Aligarh Muslim University
Explanation: The study was led by Muzamil Syed Shah along with entomologists from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).

Q4. Which advanced technique was used to confirm that the specimens represented new species?
(a) DNA sequencing
(b) X-ray diffraction
(c) Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
(d) Carbon dating
Answer: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
Explanation: SEM was used to closely examine microscopic anatomical features such as the stridulatory file, helping distinguish new species from known ones.

Q5. The genus “Conocephalus” belongs to which insect order?
(a) Lepidoptera
(b) Coleoptera
(c) Diptera
(d) Orthoptera
Answer: Orthoptera
Explanation: Conocephalus is part of the order Orthoptera, which includes grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids—an important fact for competitive exams.

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