Dear Readers, Daily Current Affairs Questions Quiz for SBI, IBPS, RBI, RRB, SSC Exam 2026 of 03rd & 04th May  2026. Daily GK quiz online for bank & competitive exam. Here we have given the Daily Current Affairs Quiz based on the previous days Daily Current Affairs updates. Candidates preparing for IBPS, SBI, RBI, RRB, SSC Exam 2026 & other competitive exams can make use of these Current Affairs Quiz.

 

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1) In 2026, the Reserve Bank of India’s 46th Half-Yearly Report on Management of Foreign Exchange Reserves (Oct 2025–Mar 2026) reported which of the following as India’s total forex reserves at end-March 2026?

(a) USD 700.09 billion

(b) USD 691.11 billion

(c) USD 680.05 billion

(d) USD 880.52 billion

(e) USD 197.67 billion

 

2) In 2026, the RBI mandated phased reporting of OTC INR derivative contracts to Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL). What is the minimum reporting coverage required for related parties from 01 January 2028?

(a) 60%

(b) 70%

(c) 80%

(d) 90%

(e) 100%

 

3) In 2026, under the RBI’s Amendment Directions for NBFCs, which category is assigned to NBFCs not availing public funds, having no customer interface, and with asset size below ₹1,000 crore?

(a) Unregistered Type I NBFCs

(b) Type II NBFCs

(c) Systemically Important NBFCs

(d) Core Investment Companies

(e) Deposit-taking NBFCs

4) In 2026, under the RBI’s updated Credit Card Directions, after how many days from the due date will a credit card account be marked as “past due”?

(a) 1 day

(b) 2 days

(c) 5 days

(d) 3 days

(e) 7 days

 

5) In 2026, under SEBI’s PaRRVA framework, which entity has been recognised as the Past Risk and Return Verification Agency (PaRRVA) for validating performance data?

(a) CRISIL Limited

(b) ICRA Limited

(c) CARE Ratings Limited

(d) NSE Clearing Limited

(e) BSE Limited

6) In 2026, the Ganga Expressway inaugurated in Uttar Pradesh connects which two cities?

(a) Lucknow to Varanasi

(b) Meerut to Prayagraj

(c) Kanpur to Gorakhpur

(d) Agra to Ayodhya

(e) Noida to Jhansi

7) In 2026, during the 75th anniversary of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), what was launched to make it India’s first fully digitised sports body?

(a) NRAI Talent Hunt Portal

(b) My NRAI Athlete Application

(c) Khelo India Shooting App

(d) National Sports Digital Platform

(e) India Shooting Performance Tracker

8) In 2026, under the Citizenship Amendment Rules, which of the following has been made mandatory for all Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) registration and renunciation applications?

(a) Submission through district magistrate offices

(b) Physical submission of documents in duplicate

(c) Mandatory in-person interview

(d) Verification by state police authorities only

(e) Online submission of applications

9) In 2026, who chaired the BRICS Deputy Foreign Ministers and Special Envoys for the Middle East and North Africa meeting held in New Delhi?

(a) Vinay Kwatra

(b) S. Jaishankar

(c) Dr Neena Malhotra

(d) P. Kumaran

(e) Dammu Ravi

10) In May 2026, who was appointed as the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), succeeding T. Rabi Sankar?

(a) Rohit Jain

(b) Michael Debabrata Patra

(c) M. Rajeshwar Rao

(d) T. Rabi Sankar

(e) Shaktikanta Das


11) In 2026, who has assumed charge as the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) from 1 May?

(a) Anil Kumar Jha

(b) Anugraha Narayana Das

(c) S. Krishnan

(d) Rajesh Kumar Singh

(e) Ajay Bhushan Pandey

12) In 2026, who was appointed as the President of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT)?

(a) Bachu Venkat Balaram Das

(b) Justice R. Subhash Reddy

(c) Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud

(d) Justice (Retd.) Anupinder Singh Grewal

(e) Uday Umesh Lalit

13) In 2026, the India–Cambodia Bilateral Military Exercise CINBAX-II is being conducted under which framework?

(a) NATO Defence Protocol

(b) SAARC Security Charter

(c) QUAD Security Framework

(d) ASEAN Defence Agreement

(e) Chapter VII of the UN Mandate

14) In 2026, DRDO and the Indian Navy conducted the maiden salvo launch of which missile system from a naval helicopter?

(a) NASM-SR

(b) Astra Mk-1

(c) BrahMos Block III

(d) Nirbhay Cruise Missile

(e) Akash-NG

15) In 2026, the Coastal Atmospheric Research Testbed (C-ART) was established by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) at which location?

(a) IIT Madras, Chennai

(b) IIT Kharagpur

(c) IISc, Bengaluru

(d) NIOT, Chennai

(e) Andhra University, Visakhapatnam


16) In 2026, which of the following indigenously developed solutions was launched by MeitY to support the design of Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) in India?

(a) Universal PPIC Test Engine

(b) Silicon Photonics Process Design Kit (PDK)

(c) Bharat Chip Design Platform

(d) National Semiconductor Toolkit

(e) Opto-Electronic Fabrication Suite

 

17) In 2026, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) approved the formation of a Joint Venture for integrated petrochemicals marketing and trading with which of the following subsidiaries?

(a) Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) and ONGC Petro additions Limited (OPaL)

(b) Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL)

(c) Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)

(d) Oil India Limited (OIL) and Engineers India Limited (EIL)

(e) Petronet LNG Limited and ONGC Videsh Limited

18) In 2026, which former Indian golfer, a four-time Order of Merit champion, passed away at the age of 57 in Lucknow?

(a) Jeev Milkha Singh

(b) Arjun Atwal

(c) Anirban Lahiri

(d) Shiv Kapur

(e) Vijay Kumar

19) In 2026, what is the theme of World Laughter Day, it falls on the first Sunday of May every year?

(a) Laugh for Health

(b) Joy for All

(c) World Peace Through Laughter

(d) Happiness for Humanity

(e) Smile for Wellness

20) In 2026, what is the theme of World Press Freedom Day on May 3?

(a) Media for Democracy

(b) Freedom and Responsibility

(c) Journalism for Justice

(d) Shaping a Future of Peace

(e) Voice of the People

Answers:

1) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released the 46th Half-Yearly Report on Management of Foreign Exchange Reserves for the period October 2025 to March 2026.

During this period, India’s foreign exchange reserves declined from USD 700.09 billion to USD 691.11 billion.

The RBI publishes these reports twice a year, based on positions as of end-March and end-September.

India’s foreign exchange reserves are held in multiple currencies, including the US Dollar, Euro, Pound Sterling, and Japanese Yen, but are reported in US Dollar terms.

Detailed Explanation:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released the 46th Half-Yearly Report on Management of Foreign Exchange Reserves for the period October 2025 to March 2026.

During this period, India’s foreign exchange reserves declined from USD 700.09 billion to USD 691.11 billion.

The RBI publishes these reports twice a year, based on positions as of end-March and end-September.

India’s foreign exchange reserves are held in multiple currencies, including the US Dollar, Euro, Pound Sterling, and Japanese Yen, but are reported in US Dollar terms.

The Foreign Currency Assets (FCA) form a major component of reserves and are maintained as a multi-currency portfolio comprising global currencies and valued in USD terms.

As of end-March 2026, RBI held 880.52 metric tonnes of gold, including 680.05 tonnes domestically stored.

Additionally, 197.67 tonnes of gold were kept in custody with the Bank of England and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), while 2.80 tonnes were held as gold deposits.

 

2) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has directed banks to report all Over-the-Counter (OTC) foreign exchange derivative contracts involving the Indian Rupee (INR) to the Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).

The directive aims to enhance transparency in the foreign exchange market.

It applies to global transactions undertaken by related parties, including offshore entities of Authorised Dealer (AD) Category-I banks.

From 01 January 2028, the reporting requirement increases to 80% coverage.

From 01 July 2028, banks must achieve 100% reporting of all such transactions by related parties.

Detailed Explanation:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has directed banks to report all Over-the-Counter (OTC) foreign exchange derivative contracts involving the Indian Rupee (INR) to the Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).

The directive aims to enhance transparency in the foreign exchange market.

It applies to global transactions undertaken by related parties, including offshore entities of Authorised Dealer (AD) Category-I banks.

Both deliverable and non-deliverable INR derivative contracts must be reported.

From 01 July 2027, banks must report all foreign exchange derivative contracts involving INR undertaken by their parent entities, including branches of the parent.

From the same date, banks must report at least 70% of transactions of other related parties.

From 01 January 2028, the reporting requirement increases to 80% coverage.

From 01 July 2028, banks must achieve 100% reporting of all such transactions by related parties.


3) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued final guidelines titled RBI (NBFC – Registration, Exemptions and Framework for Scale Based Regulation) Amendment Directions, 2026 for certain Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs).

The new regulations will come into effect from 01 July 2026.

The framework applies to NBFCs not availing public funds and not having customer interface, with an asset size below ₹1,000 crore.

Such entities will be classified as ‘Unregistered Type I NBFCs’, while all other NBFCs will be categorised as ‘Type II NBFCs’.

Detailed Explanation:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued final guidelines titled RBI (NBFC – Registration, Exemptions and Framework for Scale Based Regulation) Amendment Directions, 2026 for certain Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs).

The new regulations will come into effect from 01 July 2026.

The framework applies to NBFCs not availing public funds and not having customer interface, with an asset size below ₹1,000 crore.

Such entities will be classified as ‘Unregistered Type I NBFCs’, while all other NBFCs will be categorised as ‘Type II NBFCs’.

These eligible NBFCs will be exempted from RBI registration and reserve fund requirements.

RBI has introduced a one-time deregistration window for eligible NBFCs, valid until 31 December 2026, providing a structured exit mechanism from regulatory oversight.

This marks the first-ever introduction of a formal exit route under the NBFC regulatory framework.

The RBI has also allowed suo motu loan resolution for borrowers affected by natural calamities based on recommendations of the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC).


4) Answer: D

Short Explanation:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced a 3-day grace period for credit card payments under its updated regulatory framework.

A credit card account will be marked as “past due” only after 3 days from the due date, instead of being classified immediately.

Banks can impose late payment charges and report to credit bureaus only after the 3-day grace period.

The new rule will come into effect from 01 April 2027.

Detailed Explanation:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced a 3-day grace period for credit card payments under its updated regulatory framework.

A credit card account will be marked as “past due” only after 3 days from the due date, instead of being classified immediately.

Banks can impose late payment charges and report to credit bureaus only after the 3-day grace period.

The new rule will come into effect from 01 April 2027.

Under the revised norms, late fees and penalties will be levied only on the outstanding amount, not on the total billed amount.

However, the “days past due” will still be counted from the original due date, even during the grace period.

The changes are part of the RBI (Credit Cards and Debit Cards: Issuance and Conduct Directions, 2026).

The regulation aims to standardise reporting and penalty practices across credit card issuers.

It provides a limited relief window of 3 days, ensuring no immediate penalty or credit reporting impact if payment is made within this period.

5) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has operationalised the Past Risk and Return Verification Agency (PaRRVA) framework to improve transparency in performance claims made by market intermediaries.

The PaRRVA framework aims to strengthen investor protection and market transparency in India’s financial ecosystem.

Under the framework, CARE Ratings Limited has been recognised as the PaRRVA agency responsible for validation of performance data.

The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) will function as the PaRRVA Data Centre (PDC) as per SEBI’s regulatory framework issued on 04 April 2025.

Detailed Explanation:

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has operationalised the Past Risk and Return Verification Agency (PaRRVA) framework to improve transparency in performance claims made by market intermediaries.

The PaRRVA framework aims to strengthen investor protection and market transparency in India’s financial ecosystem.

Under the framework, CARE Ratings Limited has been recognised as the PaRRVA agency responsible for validation of performance data.

The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) will function as the PaRRVA Data Centre (PDC) as per SEBI’s regulatory framework issued on 04 April 2025.

The pilot phase of PaRRVA was launched on 08 December 2025 and tested its operational structure.

After successful completion of the pilot phase, PaRRVA will begin full-scale operations from 04 May 2026.

PaRRVA is India’s first system to independently validate risk and return performance claims of regulated intermediaries and unregistered finfluencers.

The framework enables investment advisers, research analysts, and algorithmic trading service providers to showcase verified performance data.


6) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Uttar Pradesh covering Varanasi and Hardoi, focusing on women empowerment and infrastructure development.

He attended a Mahila Sammelan in Varanasi with large participation of women and offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.

Development projects worth around ₹6,350 crore were inaugurated and foundation stones laid during the visit.

This includes over 48 completed projects worth more than ₹1,050 crore and 112 projects worth over ₹5,300 crore.

It connects 12 districts from Meerut to Prayagraj, integrating western, central, and eastern Uttar Pradesh and enhancing logistics and connectivity.

Detailed Explanation:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Uttar Pradesh covering Varanasi and Hardoi, focusing on women empowerment and infrastructure development.

He attended a Mahila Sammelan in Varanasi with large participation of women and offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.

Development projects worth around ₹6,350 crore were inaugurated and foundation stones laid during the visit.

This includes over 48 completed projects worth more than ₹1,050 crore and 112 projects worth over ₹5,300 crore.

The initiatives cover sectors such as healthcare, tourism, railways, infrastructure, and connectivity.

The Ganga Expressway was inaugurated in Hardoi, marking a major step in world-class infrastructure development.

The expressway is a 594 kilometre long six-lane (expandable to eight lanes) greenfield access-controlled corridor built at a cost of ₹36,230 crore.

It connects 12 districts from Meerut to Prayagraj, integrating western, central, and eastern Uttar Pradesh and enhancing logistics and connectivity.

7) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya attended the 75th anniversary celebrations of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) held at Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range Finals Hall, New Delhi.

A commemorative logo was unveiled to mark 75 years of Indian shooting, symbolising excellence, discipline, and achievements in the sport.

The My National Rifle Association of India Athlete Application was launched as a digital platform, making the federation India’s first fully digitised sports body.

Detailed Explanation:

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya attended the 75th anniversary celebrations of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) held at Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range Finals Hall, New Delhi.

A commemorative logo was unveiled to mark 75 years of Indian shooting, symbolising excellence, discipline, and achievements in the sport.

The My National Rifle Association of India Athlete Application was launched as a digital platform, making the federation India’s first fully digitised sports body.

The association announced a grassroots initiative to introduce 7.5 lakh school and college students to shooting before the 2028 Olympic Games.

The programme will provide a hands-on “10-shot experience”, promoting sports participation and talent identification at the grassroots level.

 

8) Answer: E

Short Explanation:

The Government of India, through the Ministry of Home Affairs, notified the Citizenship Amendment Rules 2026, modifying the Citizenship Rules 2009 to make processes more streamlined, digital, and efficient.

All applications related to Overseas Citizen of India registration and renunciation will now be submitted online, eliminating manual paperwork.

Detailed Explanation:

The Government of India, through the Ministry of Home Affairs, notified the Citizenship Amendment Rules 2026, modifying the Citizenship Rules 2009 to make processes more streamlined, digital, and efficient.

A key clarification states that a minor child cannot hold both an Indian passport and a foreign passport simultaneously, reinforcing citizenship norms.

All applications related to Overseas Citizen of India registration and renunciation will now be submitted online, eliminating manual paperwork.

The rules introduce electronic Overseas Citizen of India registration, allowing issuance of either a physical card or digital registration.

The requirement of submitting documents in duplicate has been removed, simplifying the application process.

9) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

Dr Neena Malhotra, Secretary South, Ministry of External Affairs, chaired the Brazil Russia India China South Africa (BRICS) Deputy Foreign Ministers and Special Envoys for the Middle East and North Africa meeting in New Delhi under India’s chairship.

Detailed Explanation:

Dr Neena Malhotra, Secretary South, Ministry of External Affairs, chaired the Brazil Russia India China South Africa (BRICS) Deputy Foreign Ministers and Special Envoys for the Middle East and North Africa meeting in New Delhi under India’s chairship.

The meeting witnessed participation from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, focusing on regional stability, humanitarian crises, and the West Asia conflict.

Members expressed concern over the situation in Palestine and Gaza, including humanitarian assistance and the role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

The group reiterated zero tolerance for terrorism, welcomed the Lebanon ceasefire, and condemned attacks on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

10) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

The Government of India has appointed Rohit Jain as the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) through a notification dated 02 May 2026.

He will succeed T. Rabi Sankar, the former Deputy Governor of RBI, who retired recently.

Detailed Explanation:

The Government of India has appointed Rohit Jain as the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) through a notification dated 02 May 2026.

The appointment has been made under the provisions of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (Section 8).

Rohit Jain is currently serving as an Executive Director at the Reserve Bank of India.

His appointment as Deputy Governor of RBI will be effective from 03 May 2026 for a tenure of three years or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

He will succeed T. Rabi Sankar, the former Deputy Governor of RBI, who retired recently.

The portfolio allocation for Rohit Jain as Deputy Governor is yet to be announced.

11) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

Shri Anugraha Narayana Das, a 1991-batch officer of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS), has assumed charge as the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) with effect from 1 May 2026.

He brings over three decades of experience in defence, financial management and public service.

Detailed Explanation:

Shri Anugraha Narayana Das, a 1991-batch officer of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS), has assumed charge as the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) with effect from 1 May 2026.

He brings over three decades of experience in defence, financial management and public service.

During his career, he has led key initiatives in procurement policy, audit and oversight mechanisms, budgeting, and expenditure monitoring.

He has undergone advanced training from premier global institutions including IIM Bengaluru and Duke University.

He has served in important roles across the Ministry of Defence, Service Headquarters, and field formations.

12) Answer: D

Short Explanation:

Justice (Retd.) Anupinder Singh Grewal, former judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC), has been appointed as the President of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).

He succeeded Bachu Venkat Balaram Das, who was serving as the acting President of NCLT.

Detailed Explanation:

Justice (Retd.) Anupinder Singh Grewal, former judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC), has been appointed as the President of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).

The appointment has been approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) for a term of five years or until the age of 67 years, whichever is earlier.

He succeeded Bachu Venkat Balaram Das, who was serving as the acting President of NCLT.

This is the first time a former senior High Court judge has been appointed as the President of NCLT, a post traditionally held by a former Chief Justice of a High Court.

Justice Grewal has over 30 years of legal and judicial experience, beginning his legal practice at the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 1992.

He was appointed as an Additional Judge of Punjab and Haryana HC on 25 September 2014.

13) Answer: E

Short Explanation:

The Indian Army contingent has departed for the 2nd edition of India–Cambodia Bilateral Military Exercise CINBAX-II 2026, a joint India–Cambodia Army Exercise.

The exercise will be conducted from 04 to 17 May 2026 at the Techo Sen Phnom Thom Mreas Prov Royal Cambodian Air Force Training Centre (Camp Basil), Kampong Speu Province, Cambodia.

The exercise is part of India’s ongoing Defence Cooperation with friendly foreign countries amid evolving global security challenges.

Detailed Explanation:

The Indian Army contingent has departed for the 2nd edition of India–Cambodia Bilateral Military Exercise CINBAX-II 2026, a joint India–Cambodia Army Exercise.

The exercise will be conducted from 04 to 17 May 2026 at the Techo Sen Phnom Thom Mreas Prov Royal Cambodian Air Force Training Centre (Camp Basil), Kampong Speu Province, Cambodia.

The exercise is part of India’s ongoing Defence Cooperation with friendly foreign countries amid evolving global security challenges.

CINBAX-II 2026 is conducted under the framework of Chapter VII of the United Nations (UN) Mandate, focusing on company-level joint training in a sub-conventional operational environment.

The Indian Army contingent consists of 120 personnel, mainly from a battalion of the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment.

The Cambodian Army contingent comprises 160 personnel from the Royal Cambodian Army.

 

14) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with the Indian Navy (IN) successfully conducted the maiden salvo launch of the Naval Anti-Ship Missile–Short Range (NASM-SR).

The test was carried out from a naval helicopter platform off the coast of the Bay of Bengal in Odisha.

During the trial, two missiles were launched in quick succession from the same helicopter, marking the first-ever salvo launch of an advanced air-launched anti-ship missile system.

Detailed Explanation:

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with the Indian Navy (IN) successfully conducted the maiden salvo launch of the Naval Anti-Ship Missile–Short Range (NASM-SR).

The test was carried out from a naval helicopter platform off the coast of the Bay of Bengal in Odisha.

During the trial, two missiles were launched in quick succession from the same helicopter, marking the first-ever salvo launch of an advanced air-launched anti-ship missile system.

The missiles successfully demonstrated waterline hit capability, enhancing their effectiveness against enemy ships.

All test objectives were successfully achieved, with tracking carried out using radar, electro-optical systems, and telemetry at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur.

The test was witnessed by senior DRDO scientists, representatives from the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force (IAF), and Development-cum-Production Partners (DcPP).

 

15) Answer: E

Short Explanation:

The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, has established a Coastal Atmospheric Research Testbed (C-ART) at Andhra University (AU), Visakhapatnam.

Andhra University has provided land on its campus for an open-field meteorological observatory to enable continuous atmospheric observations and research collaboration.

The Open-Field Observatory of C-ART was inaugurated on 1 May 2026 by Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, MoES, in the presence of Prof. G. P. Raja Sekhar (Vice Chancellor, AU) and Dr. Suryachandra Rao (Director, IITM).

Detailed Explanation:

The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, has established a Coastal Atmospheric Research Testbed (C-ART) at Andhra University (AU), Visakhapatnam.

Andhra University has provided land on its campus for an open-field meteorological observatory to enable continuous atmospheric observations and research collaboration.

The Open-Field Observatory of C-ART was inaugurated on 1 May 2026 by Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, MoES, in the presence of Prof. G. P. Raja Sekhar (Vice Chancellor, AU) and Dr. Suryachandra Rao (Director, IITM).

The initiative is part of the Mission Mausam programme of MoES, aimed at strengthening weather observation networks and improving model prediction systems.

A brochure on the Coastal Atmospheric Research Testbed was released highlighting research objectives, implementation strategy, institutional collaboration, advanced meteorological instruments, and regional impact.

A short film on the C-ART project in Visakhapatnam was also released during the event.

 

16) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has launched two indigenously developed Silicon Photonics technology solutions at the Centre of Excellence for Programmable Photonic Integrated Circuits and Systems (CoE-CPPICS), IIT Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

The two solutions are the Silicon Photonics Process Design Kit (PDK) and the Universal Programmable Photonic Integrated Circuit (PPIC) Test Engine.

The Silicon Photonics PDK provides 50+ verified components for designing Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) within India.

Detailed Explanation:

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has launched two indigenously developed Silicon Photonics technology solutions at the Centre of Excellence for Programmable Photonic Integrated Circuits and Systems (CoE-CPPICS), IIT Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

The two solutions are the Silicon Photonics Process Design Kit (PDK) and the Universal Programmable Photonic Integrated Circuit (PPIC) Test Engine.

The Silicon Photonics PDK provides 50+ verified components for designing Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) within India.

It reduces dependence on foreign design libraries and supports indigenous chip development across startups, industry, defence, academia, and India’s semiconductor ecosystem.

The Universal PPIC Test Engine is an automated platform for testing, characterisation, and validation of photonic and optoelectronic modules.

It eliminates reliance on overseas testing facilities and helps in faster chip development, cost reduction, and reduced project delays.

17) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC), under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), has approved the formation of a Joint Venture (JV) for integrated petrochemicals marketing and trading.

The JV will be formed with ONGC’s subsidiaries Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) and ONGC Petro additions Limited (OPaL).

The proposal is subject to approval from the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) under the Ministry of Finance (MoF).

Detailed Explanation:

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC), under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), has approved the formation of a Joint Venture (JV) for integrated petrochemicals marketing and trading.

The JV will be formed with ONGC’s subsidiaries Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) and ONGC Petro additions Limited (OPaL).

The proposal is subject to approval from the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) under the Ministry of Finance (MoF).

The shareholding structure of the JV includes ONGC (50% – ₹25 crore), MRPL (25% – ₹12.5 crore), and OPaL (25% – to be confirmed).

The JV aims to create a unified group-level platform for petrochemical marketing operations across ONGC group companies.

It will enable operational integration, improving efficiency, supply chain optimisation, and cost reduction through economies of scale.

18) Answer: E

Short Explanation:

Former Indian golfer Vijay Kumar passed away at the age of 57 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP).

He was born in 1968 in Martinpurwa, Lucknow, and rose from humble beginnings in the sport.

Detailed Explanation:

Former Indian golfer Vijay Kumar passed away at the age of 57 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP).

He was born in 1968 in Martinpurwa, Lucknow, and rose from humble beginnings in the sport.

He began his career as a caddie and initially played using makeshift clubs made from tree branches, before turning professional in 1988.

Vijay Kumar achieved domestic dominance, becoming a four-time Order of Merit champion (1995–96, 1997–2000).

He was a leading figure in Indian golf from the mid-1990s to early 2000s, winning nearly 100 titles.

 

19) Answer: C

World Laughter Day 2026 is observed on May 3, 2026, as it falls on the first Sunday of May every year.

The day was established in 1998 by Dr Madan Kataria, founder of the Laughter Yoga Movement.

The theme for 2026 is “World Peace Through Laughter”, focusing on the role of laughter in reducing stress, improving immunity, and promoting peace.

The first celebration of World Laughter Day was held on May 10, 1998.

 

20) Answer: D

World Press Freedom Day is observed every year on May 3 to promote the importance of press freedom and independent media.

The day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1993, following a recommendation by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization General Conference.

The theme for 2026 is “Shaping a Future of Peace”.