This is the current affairs of 27 January 2026. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
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1. Which Republic Day was celebrated on January 26, 2026?
a. 74th
b. 75th
c. 76th
d. 77th
Answer: d. 77th
– The Constitution of India came into force on January 26, 1950.
– On this date, India became a Republic, and the first Republic Day was celebrated on January 26, 1950.
– In the year 2026, the 77th Republic Day was celebrated.
– The main ceremony was held at Kartavya Path, where President Droupadi Murmu hoisted the national flag.
Meaning of Republic
– It is a form of government where power is held by the people or their elected representatives.
– In a republic, the President or Prime Minister and other leaders are elected by the people, and there is no king or queen. Modern republics are based on the idea that sovereignty rests with the people.
– This day symbolizes the anniversary of India officially adopting its Constitution and becoming a sovereign republic.
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2. What was the theme of the 77th Republic Day celebration (26 January 2026)?
a. Mother of Democracy
b. 150 Years of Vande Mataram
c. Republic of India: Mother of Democracy
d. Golden India: Heritage and Development
Answer: b. 150 Years of Vande Mataram
Theme of 2026
– 150 Years of Vande Mataram
Note: Previous year (2025) theme – Golden India: Heritage and Development
Tableau based on Vande Mataram by the Ministry of Culture
– At Kartavya Path, the Ministry of Culture presented a tableau based on the theme “Vande Mataram: The Mantra of Freedom.”
– At the front of the tableau, the manuscript of Vande Mataram written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay was displayed, with his image on the lower panel.
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3. Who were the chief guests at the 77th Republic Day celebration?
a. Vladimir Putin and António Guterres
b. Prabowo Subianto and António Costa
c. Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa
d. Emmanuel Macron
Answer: c. Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa (President of the European Commission and President of the European Council)
– For the first time, India invited the leadership of the European Union—the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, António Costa—as chief guests for the Republic Day celebrations 2026.
– This selection is based on several factors such as strategic and diplomatic considerations, business interests, and international geopolitics.
European Union and European Council
– The EU consists of 27 countries.
– The European Commission and the European Council are two major institutions of the European Union (EU) that play an important role in policymaking, decision-making, and implementation.
– The Commission is the executive body of the EU, while the Council provides strategic leadership.
Previous Republic Day Chief Guests
– 2026: Leadership of the European Union (President of the European Commission and President of the European Council)
– 2025: President of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto
– 2024: President of France, Emmanuel Macron
– 2023: President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
– 2021 / 2022: None (due to COVID-19 pandemic)
– 2020: Former President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro
– 2019: President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa
– 2018: Leaders of all 10 ASEAN countries
– 2017: Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (current President of the UAE)
– 2016: Former French President, François Hollande
– 2015: Former US President, Barack Obama
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4. At the 77th Republic Day parade ceremony, which vehicle did the Indian President and the chief guests, Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa, ride to reach Kartavya Path?
a. Historic horse-drawn carriage
b. Historic camel-drawn carriage
c. A decorative bullock cart
d. High-security car
Answer: a. Historic horse-drawn carriage
– On the 77th Republic Day (26 January 2026), President Droupadi Murmu traveled from Rashtrapati Bhavan to Kartavya Path seated in the traditional carriage.
– This historic carriage was also used during the Republic Day celebrations in 2025 and 2024.
– Before 2024, the carriage was last used in 1984; afterward, following the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, it was replaced by a high-security car.
– However, during the Beating Retreat ceremony on January 29, former President Pranab Mukherjee reintroduced the carriage in 2014.
– In 2024, it was again used for the main event, when President Droupadi Murmu arrived at Kartavya Path in the carriage along with French President Emmanuel Macron.
About the Carriage
– After Independence, this carriage came to India after winning a toss against Pakistan.
– This gold-plated, horse-drawn small carriage originally belonged to the Viceroy during British rule in India.
– After Independence in 1947, the Governor General’s Bodyguard (now known as the President’s Bodyguard) was divided between India and Pakistan in a 2:1 ratio.
– When it came to the Viceroy’s carriage, both countries claimed ownership.
– Ultimately, the decision was made by a toss.
– The toss took place between Lieutenant Colonel Thakur Govind Singh, the first Commandant of the President’s Bodyguard Regiment, and Sahibzada Yaqub Khan of the Pakistani Army.
– India won the toss, and the carriage came to India.
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5. Which foreign military contingent also participated in the parade at Kartavya Path during the 77th Republic Day celebrations?
a. European Union
b. Indonesia
c. France
d. Germany
Answer: a. European Union
– For the first time, a European Union military contingent carrying the flags of Operation Atalanta and Operation Aspides participated in the parade, marking the EU’s first-ever participation in a military parade outside Europe.
– As part of the march-past, four soldiers riding in two Gypsy vehicles advanced with the European Union flag.
Does the European Union have its own army?
– No, the European Union does not have a permanent, independent army.
– However, it has the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), under which peacekeeping missions, training missions, crisis management operations, Operation Atalanta, and Operation Aspides are conducted.
Operation Atalanta
– Operation Atalanta is a major anti-piracy naval operation launched by the European Union in 2008.
– It works to protect commercial vessels off the coast of Somalia and in the Indian Ocean, safeguard World Food Programme (WFP) ships, and prevent the trafficking of drugs and weapons.
Operation Aspides
– Operation Aspides (EUNAVFOR ASPIDES) is a defensive naval operation launched by the European Union to protect commercial shipping from attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and western Indian Ocean.
– It was launched on 19 February 2024 with the objective of ensuring freedom of navigation and maritime security.
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6. Which hypersonic missile was displayed for the first time at the 77th Republic Day parade ceremony?
a. LR-RaM
b. SR-AshA
c. PK-DRDO
d. LR-AShM
Answer: d. LR-AShM (Long Range – Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile: speed Mach 10, average speed Mach 5)
– It has been developed by DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation).
– It was displayed for the first time at the 77th Republic Day parade ceremony.
– This weapon system is designed to meet the coastal battery requirements of the Indian Navy.
– LR-AShM is a hypersonic glide missile capable of engaging static and moving targets and is designed to carry various payloads.
– It is the first missile of its kind with indigenous avionics systems and a high-accuracy sensor package.
– The missile flies at low altitude with high speed and maneuverability, making it difficult for enemy ground-based and ship-based radars to detect.
Speed of the Missile
– The missile follows a semi-ballistic trajectory, starting at Mach 10 and maintaining an average speed of Mach 5.
– Semi-ballistic missiles start with ballistic speed but fly at lower altitudes and maneuver during flight to evade interception.
Fuel and Engine Type
– Hypersonic cruise missiles use scramjet engines to sustain powered flight and maneuvering at hypersonic speeds within the atmosphere.
– The LR-AShM is configured with a two-stage solid propulsion rocket motor system.
– These propulsion systems accelerate the missile to the required hypersonic speed.
– After the first stage burns out, a portion separates from the missile.
– After the second stage burns out, the missile glides through the atmosphere before striking the target.
Strategic Importance and Way Forward
– The biggest advantage of hypersonic speed is that it makes missiles difficult to detect.
– It can cover a distance of about 1,500 kilometers in 15 minutes.
– Versions with a strike range of up to 3,500 kilometers are currently in various stages of development.
– This missile can neutralize all categories of warships.
– This version and upcoming range variants will prove to be important weapons for maritime control operations, preventing any adversary from using sea areas for military or commercial purposes.
– This capability will be extremely important for the strategically significant Indian Ocean region.
– Versions of this missile for the Army and Air Force, as well as ship-launched versions for the Navy, are reported to be under consideration or in development.
– Due to its versatility, this missile could place India in a strong position in the field of hypersonic weapons.
– A known successful test of this missile was conducted by DRDO on 16 November 2024 from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.
Other Missiles Displayed
– BrahMos supersonic cruise missile
– Akash air defence system
– Suryastra rocket launcher
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7. Who is the first woman officer to lead the all-women CRPF marching contingent on Republic Day 2026?
a. Simran Bala
b. Seema Dhundia
c. Usha Kiran
d. Annie Abraham
Answer: a. Simran Bala
– 26-year-old Simran Bala hails from Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir.
– She is an Assistant Commandant in the CRPF.
– Simran Bala is the first woman officer to lead a completely male CRPF marching contingent.
– This achievement is not just a personal success but a victory for women’s leadership in Indian security forces.
– Soon after receiving her commission, she was posted in Chhattisgarh.
– She became part of the “Bastariya Battalion,” which is globally renowned for anti-Naxal operations.
CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force)
– CRPF is the largest central armed police force in India.
– It functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
– The primary role of CRPF is to assist states and union territories in policing, maintaining law and order, and counter-terrorism.
– It is a prestigious force with around 325,000 personnel.
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8. At the 77th Republic Day parade, replicas of major weapon systems deployed during which operation were displayed in a joint tableau of the three armed forces?
a. Operation Sindhu
b. Operation Sindoor
c. Operation Swadesh
d. Operation Fatah
Answer: b. Operation Sindoor
– During the Republic Day 2026 parade ceremony, a joint tableau of the three armed forces was presented at Kartavya Path.
– It showcased replicas of major weapon systems deployed by defence forces during Operation Sindoor in May 2025.
– Weapons used during the operation, including BrahMos missiles, Akash missile systems, and the S-400 system, were displayed.
– In the aerial display, a Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter flew with the “Operation Sindoor” flag, while the Indian Air Force presented a spectacular flypast in “Sindoor Formation” with Rafale, Sukhoi, MiG-29, and Jaguar aircraft.
– The Suryastra universal rocket launcher system, Arjun main battle tank, Dhanush artillery guns, and Divyastra battery were also included in the display.
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9. Which newly formed battalion of the Indian Army participated in the Republic Day parade for the first time?
a. Bhairav Battalion
b. Rudra Battalion
c. Surya Battalion
d. None of these
Answer: a. Bhairav Battalion
– The newly formed Bhairav Battalion, a specialized assault infantry unit created to bridge the gap between conventional forces and special operations units, also drew attention.
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10. When is International Customs Day observed?
a. 23 January
b. 24 January
c. 25 January
d. 26 January
Answer: d. 26 January
– It is observed to honor the role of customs officers and agencies.
– The World Customs Organization began observing this day in 1953.
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11. When is International Holocaust Remembrance Day observed?
a. 25 January
b. 27 January
c. 29 January
d. 31 January
Answer: b. 27 January
– During World War II, genocide took place in which approximately six million European Jews were killed.
– In memory of this, the United Nations declared the observance of this day in 2005.
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