1. Former World Billiards Champion Manoj Kothari Passes Away
Indian cue sports legend and former world billiards champion Manoj Kothari passed away in January 2026 at Kaveri Hospital in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, following a heart attack. His death at the age of 67 is being seen as the end of a golden era in Indian billiards. Manoj Kothari played a crucial role in giving India a distinct identity on the international billiards stage.
2. Australia makes history in Sydney, breaks 134-year-old Ashes record
In the fifth Ashes Test between Australia and England at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the Australian team delivered a rare and memorable batting performance in Test cricket history. Australia set a new record in Ashes history by forming seven partnerships of 50 runs or more in a single innings.
3. HSBC Private Bank Appoints Ida Liu as CEO
In January 2026, HSBC Private Bank appointed Ida Liu as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective January 5, 2026. This appointment reflects HSBC's long-term strategy in the global private banking and wealth management sector. Ida Liu succeeded Gabriel Castello, who had been serving as interim CEO since December 2024.
4. India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026
The Election Commission of India will host the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM 2026) from January 21 to 23, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. This conference will be the largest international event on democracy and election management ever hosted by India.
5. Assam Governor Launches Sanskar Shala for Value-Based Education
Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya inaugurated ‘Sanskar Shala’, a value-based education program for children, in Guwahati. The program aims to instill moral education, Indian cultural values, and a sense of social responsibility in children alongside formal education. In today's modern and technology-driven society,
6. New Reed Snake Species Discovered in Mizoram
Scientists from Mizoram, in collaboration with researchers from Russia, Germany, and Vietnam, have identified a new species of reed snake in the state, which has been given the scientific name Calamaria mizoramensis. This discovery is considered a significant achievement in India's reptile biodiversity.
7. United Nations Declares 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists
The United Nations has declared 2026 as the ‘International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists,’ aiming to bring long-neglected grasslands, savannas, and rangeland ecosystems to the forefront of global climate policy. This declaration acknowledges that effective climate mitigation cannot rely solely on forests but requires giving equal importance to all types of ecosystems.
8. World Hindi Day
World Hindi Day is celebrated annually on January 10th and aims to promote the propagation, prestige, and use of the Hindi language globally. This day is considered an important medium for India's cultural diplomacy and linguistic soft power. The origins of World Hindi Day date back to 1975, when the first World Hindi Conference was held in Nagpur on January 10th.
QUIZ
1. With which country's player did Manoj Kothari win the World Doubles Billiards Championship in 1997?
A - Australia
B - India
C - England
D - Scotland
Indian cue sports legend and former world billiards champion Manoj Kothari passed away in January 2026 at Kaveri Hospital in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, after suffering a heart attack. His death at the age of 67 is being seen as the end of a golden era for Indian billiards. He brought international recognition to India by winning the IBSF World Billiards Championship in 1990 and the World Doubles Billiards Championship in 1997.
2. How many 50+ run partnerships did Australia make in one innings of the Ashes Test?
A - 5
B - 6
C - 7
D - 8
In the fifth Ashes Test between Australia and England at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Australia produced a rare batting performance in Test cricket history. Australia set a new record in Ashes history by making seven partnerships of more than 50 runs in a single innings, a feat that has only happened twice in 134 years of Test cricket.
3. Who was appointed as the new CEO of HSBC Private Bank in January 2026?
A - Gabriel Castello
B - James Forbes
C - Ida Liu
D - Susan Miller
In January 2026, HSBC Private Bank appointed Ida Liu as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective January 5, 2026. This appointment reflects HSBC's long-term strategy in global private banking and wealth management. Ida Liu succeeded Gabriel Castello and brings over 25 years of global banking experience.
4. Which institution is organizing IICDEM 2026?
A - Government of India
B - NITI Aayog
C - Election Commission of India
D - United Nations
The Election Commission of India will organize the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM 2026) from January 21 to 23, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. This will be the largest international conference on democracy and election management ever hosted by India.
5. Who inaugurated the ‘Sanskar Shala’ program?
A - Chief Minister of Assam
B - Education Minister of Assam
C - Governor of Assam, Lakshman Prasad Acharya
D - President of India
The Governor of Assam, Lakshman Prasad Acharya, inaugurated the value-based education program ‘Sanskar Shala’ for children in Guwahati. The program aims to instill ethics, Indian cultural values, and social responsibility in children alongside formal education. Designed for children aged 4 to 14 years, this initiative focuses on making education a means of character building, not just limited to academic achievements.
6. What is the scientific name of the new species of reed snake discovered in Mizoram?
A - Calamaria mizoramensis
B - Calamaria indica
C - Calamaria orientalis
D - Calamaria himalayensis
Scientists from Mizoram, in collaboration with international researchers, have identified a new species of reed snake, named Calamaria mizoramensis. This discovery represents a significant addition to India's reptile biodiversity.
7. In which year did the United Nations declare the ‘International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists’?
A - 2024
B - 2026
C - 2025
D - 2027
The United Nations has declared 2026 as the ‘International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists,’ aiming to give prominence to grasslands, savannas, and rangeland ecosystems, which have long been neglected in global climate policy. This declaration underscores that relying solely on forests is insufficient to combat climate change, as grasslands also act as effective carbon sinks.
8. When and where was the first World Hindi Conference held?
A - 1967, Delhi
B - 1970, Bhopal
C - 1975, Nagpur
D - 1980, Varanasi
World Hindi Day is celebrated annually on January 10th, with the objective of promoting and enhancing the prestige of the Hindi language globally. This day is a crucial means of strengthening India's cultural diplomacy and linguistic soft power.
ONE LINER
In which year did Manoj Kothari win his first IBSF World Billiards title? – 1990
Which year has the United Nations declared as the ‘International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists’? – 2026
Where will the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM 2026) be held? – Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
What is the name of the value-based education program launched for children in Assam? – Sanskar Shala
Which team had previously made 7 half-century partnerships in a single innings? – India (2007, The Oval)
What was the name of the former world billiards champion who passed away in January 2026? – Manoj Kothari
On which date is World Hindi Day celebrated every year? – January 10
Who became the new CEO of HSBC Private Bank in January 2026? – Ida Liu
How many 50+ run partnerships did Australia make in one innings of the fifth Ashes Test played in Sydney? – 7 partnerships
What is the scientific name of the new reed snake species discovered in Mizoram? – Calamaria mizoramensis