Dear Readers, Daily Current Affairs Questions Quiz for SBI, IBPS, RBI, RRB, SSC Exam 2026 of  12th September 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) How many cities across India will be covered under the September 2026 round of the Inflation Expectations Survey of Households (IESH)?

(a) 15 cities

(b) 17 cities

(c) 19 cities

(d) 21 cities

(e) 25 cities

 

2) Which payment solution introduced through the PhonePe–Visa partnership enables Indian travellers to make payments in international markets by scanning Visa-supported QR codes?

(a) Tap to Pay

(b) Smart Accept

(c) Visa PayWave

(d) Device Tokenisation

(e) Cross Border Scan to Pay

 

3) What type of RBI authorisation did Jio Payment Solutions Limited (JPSL) receive for its cross-border payment platform?

(a) Payment Aggregator – Online (PA-O)

(b) Payment Aggregator – Cross-Border (PA-CB)

(c) Payment System Operator (PSO)

(d) Payment Aggregator – Offline (PA-OO)

(e) Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI)

 

4) Which organisation was recognised by the Reserve Bank of India as the second Self-Regulatory Organisation for the FinTech sector (SRO-FT)?

(a) Fintech Association for Consumer Empowerment (FACE)

(b) Unified Fintech Forum (UFF)

(c) Digital Lenders Association of India (DLAI)

(d) Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI)

(e) FinTech Association of India (FAI)

5) Which organisations launched “Investment UPI”, a facility that allows users to keep money invested in the UTI Liquid Fund while using it for UPI payments?

(a) PhonePe and UTI Mutual Fund

(b) CRED and UTI Mutual Fund

(c) Paytm and UTI Mutual Fund

(d) Multipl  and UTI Mutual Fund

(e) Groww and UTI Mutual Fund

6) Which payment institution partnered with NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) to enable UPI QR code acceptance for merchants in Singapore?

(a) FOMO Pay

(b) PayNow

(c) DBS Bank

(d) GrabPay

(e) NETS

 

7) What is the name of the AI company that partnered with IDFC FIRST Bank to establish a joint Research and Development (R&D) Lab?

(a) Sarvam AI

(b) Krutrim AI

(c) CoRover AI

(d) Yellow.ai

(e) Uniphore

8) What penalty did IRDAI impose on ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited for regulatory lapses related to outsourcing, vendor management and corporate governance?

(a) ₹50 lakh

(b) ₹75 lakh

(c) ₹1 crore

(d) ₹1.5 crore

(e) ₹2 crore

 

9) Which scheme was launched by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to provide free online coaching for competitive examinations?

(a) Chief Minister Yuva Sashaktikaran Yojana

(b) Chief Minister Yuva Bhavishya Nirman Yojana

(c) Uttarakhand Yuva Kaushal Yojana

(d) Mukhyamantri Yuva Rozgar Yojana

(e) Yuva Pratibha Vikas Yojana

 

10) Which State became the first to execute a Shareholders’ Agreement under the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded Industrial Training Institutes scheme?

(a) Telangana

(b) Uttar Pradesh

(c) Gujarat

(d) Maharashtra

(e) Rajasthan

 

11) What is the estimated total cost of the eight railway multi-tracking projects approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs?

(a) ₹18,504 crore

(b) ₹19,804 crore

(c) ₹20,804 crore

(d) ₹21,804 crore

(e) ₹22,804 crore

 

12) How much financial assistance is provided per patient under the Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana for Bone Marrow Transplantation?

(a) ₹5 lakh

(b) ₹7 lakh

(c) ₹8 lakh

(d) ₹10 lakh

(e) ₹12 lakh

 

13) Which of the following Indian properties was newly added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List?

(a) Colonial Penal Settlement of Andaman Islands

(b) Rangpur-Sivasagar Historic Ensemble

(c) The Painted Haveli Towns of Shekhawati

(d) Nicobarese Cultural Continuity in the Central Group of Nicobar Islands

(e) All of the above

 

14) Which of the following Indian mechanisms has been recognised by the United Kingdom as a qualifying carbon-pricing mechanism under its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)?

(a) Carbon Credit Trading Scheme

(b) Perform, Achieve and Trade Scheme

(c) Renewable Energy Certificate Scheme

(d) Energy Conservation Scheme

(e) Green Credit Programme

15) Who among the following was selected for the 2026 Borlaug CAST Communication Award?

(a) Karim Maredia

(b) Norman Borlaug

(c) MS Swaminathan

(d) Rattan Lal

(e) Gurdev Singh Khush

16) What is the name of India’s first Advanced Ocean Research Vessel (ORV) launched under the Deep Ocean Mission?

(a) Sagar Kanya

(b) Sagar Manthan

(c) Sagar Nidhi

(d) Sagar Sampada

(e) Sagar Anvesh

 

17) Which company has partnered with Amazon to develop customised AI chips for Amazon Web Services (AWS) data centres?

(a) Intel

(b) NVIDIA

(c) Broadcom

(d) AMD

(e) Qualcomm

18) Which of the following institutions was selected as one of the three Indian host institutions for the US-India Fellowship 2026–27?

(a) Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

(b) Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru

(c) Indian Institute of Technology Delhi

(d) Manipal Academy of Higher Education

(e) Jawaharlal Nehru University

 

19) Which company operated its first commercial flight using Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) blended with 1% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) supplied by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL)?

(a) Akasa Air

(b) Air India

(c) IndiGo

(d) SpiceJet

(e) Vistara

 

20) What is the name of the portal launched by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) to strengthen India’s National Data System and harmonise administrative data?

(a) National Data Integration Portal

(b) Quarterly Progress Report Portal on Data Harmonisation

(c) National Statistical Data Portal

(d) Administrative Data Harmonisation Portal

(e) National Data Quality Assurance Portal

 

21) Which of the following is the world’s most valuable airport operator by valuation among the companies mentioned?

(a) Airports of Thailand

(b) Adani Airports Holdings Ltd

(c) Aena

(d) Fraport AG

(e) Groupe ADP

 

22) Which portal is used to assess depot infrastructure and operational efficiency under the performance framework for the Food Corporation of India?

(a) Anna Darpan Portal

(b) Depot Darpan Portal

(c) Foodgrain Management Portal

(d) Supply Chain Darpan Portal

(e) FCI Performance Monitoring Portal

23) Which of the following is the name of the AI-based geospatial project launched through a tripartite collaboration among NIT Rourkela, NRSC-ISRO and Tea Board India?

(a) CHAYANKAN

(b) TEA-ANALYTICS

(c) TEA-GEO

(d) CHAI-SCOPE

(e) TEA-MONITOR

24) Which Japanese company signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Samtel Avionics Limited to explore solutions for space debris mitigation?

(a) NEC Corporation

(b) Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

(c) IHI Corporation

(d) BULL Co., Ltd.

(e) Astroscale Japan Inc.

 

25) Which company signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with JSW Group to advance the proposed 51:49 joint venture for passenger vehicle operations in India?

(a) Hyundai Motor Company

(b) Toyota Motor Corporation

(c) Volkswagen Group

(d) Renault Group

(e) Stellantis

26) Which institution hosted the Mumbai City Connect of MC²⁺ Ignite, an energy innovation accelerator?

(a) Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

(b) Indian Institute of Technology Delhi

(c) Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai

(d) Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru

(e) National Institute of Technology Rourkela

 

27) Which Indian institution was the highest-ranked Indian university in the PitchBook 2026 ranking of global top 100 universities for entrepreneurs?

(a) Indian Institute of Technology Delhi

(b) Indian Institute of Technology Madras

(c) Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

(d) Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

(e) Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur

 

28) Which university topped the global PitchBook 2026 ranking of universities for entrepreneurs?

(a) Stanford University

(b) Harvard University

(c) University of California, Berkeley

(d) University of Cambridge

(e) Massachusetts Institute of Technology

 

29) Which of the following technology was introduced on the PhonePe platform in February 2025 and forms the basis for its Visa consumer payment solutions?

(a) Visa Device Tokenisation

(b) Visa Cross Border Scan to Pay

(c) Visa Tap to Pay

(d) Visa Digital Wallet

(e) Visa Secure Checkout

 

30) In which year was IDFC FIRST Bank founded as a banking subsidiary of IDFC Limited?

(a) 2015

(b) 2014

(c) 2018

(d) 2016

(e) 2017

 

Answers:

1) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched three surveys to assess inflation expectations, consumer confidence and consumer sentiment, providing important inputs for monetary-policy formulation ahead of the next bi-monthly monetary policy announcement on 7 October 2026.

The September 2026 round of the Inflation Expectations Survey of Households (IESH) will capture households’ subjective assessments and expectations of price movements and inflation.

The IESH will measure inflation expectations based on households’ individual consumption baskets and will cover 19 cities across India.

Detailed Explanation:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched three surveys to assess inflation expectations, consumer confidence and consumer sentiment, providing important inputs for monetary-policy formulation ahead of the next bi-monthly monetary policy announcement on 7 October 2026.

The September 2026 round of the Inflation Expectations Survey of Households (IESH) will capture households’ subjective assessments and expectations of price movements and inflation.

The IESH will measure inflation expectations based on households’ individual consumption baskets and will cover 19 cities across India.

The Urban Consumer Confidence Survey (UCCS) will collect qualitative responses from households regarding the general economic situation, employment conditions, price levels, household income and spending.

The UCCS will be conducted across the same 19 cities covered under the IESH.

The RBI has also introduced the Rural Consumer Confidence Survey (RCCS) to capture current perceptions and one-year-ahead expectations regarding the general economy, employment, prices, household income and spending.

The RCCS will cover rural and semi-urban households across 31 States and Union Territories, expanding the RBI’s assessment of consumer sentiment beyond major urban centres.

2) Answer: E

Short Explanation:

PhonePe and Visa partnered at the Global Fintech Fest 2026 to create a unified, cardless and borderless payment ecosystem covering online purchases, in-store transactions and overseas payments.

The partnership introduced three key payment solutions — Tap to Pay, Cross Border Scan to Pay, and Smart Accept — to expand digital payment capabilities for consumers and merchants in India.

PhonePe became the first Indian app to offer Visa’s Cross Border Scan to Pay capability for international transactions.

PhonePe also became the first platform in India to enable Visa’s three core consumer payment capabilities: online device tokenisation, Tap to Pay and Cross Border Scan to Pay.

Detailed Explanation:

PhonePe and Visa partnered at the Global Fintech Fest 2026 to create a unified, cardless and borderless payment ecosystem covering online purchases, in-store transactions and overseas payments.

The partnership introduced three key payment solutions — Tap to Pay, Cross Border Scan to Pay, and Smart Accept — to expand digital payment capabilities for consumers and merchants in India.

PhonePe became the first Indian app to offer Visa’s Cross Border Scan to Pay capability for international transactions.

PhonePe also became the first platform in India to enable Visa’s three core consumer payment capabilities: online device tokenisation, Tap to Pay and Cross Border Scan to Pay.

The new solutions build on Visa Device Tokenisation, which was introduced on the PhonePe platform in February 2025.

Tap to Pay will allow Android users to tokenise their Visa cards and make contactless payments directly through smartphones at Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals.

Tap to Pay will support payments even in low-connectivity environments and will be rolled out in phases from 9 September 2026.

Cross Border Scan to Pay will enable Indian travellers to scan Visa-supported QR codes and make payments across 14 international markets.

3) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

Jio Payment Solutions Limited (JPSL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Jio Financial Services, launched a cross-border payment platform on 9 September 2026 to help Indian exporters accept international payments from customers worldwide and improve their global competitiveness.

The launch follows JPSL receiving Reserve Bank of India (RBI) authorisation to operate as a Payment Aggregator for Cross-Border (PA-CB) transactions covering permitted export and import payments.

The platform enables domestic exporters to accept international payments through multi-currency virtual accounts, international cards and local payment rails.

Detailed Explanation:

Jio Payment Solutions Limited (JPSL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Jio Financial Services, launched a cross-border payment platform on 9 September 2026 to help Indian exporters accept international payments from customers worldwide and improve their global competitiveness.

The launch follows JPSL receiving Reserve Bank of India (RBI) authorisation to operate as a Payment Aggregator for Cross-Border (PA-CB) transactions covering permitted export and import payments.

The platform enables domestic exporters to accept international payments through multi-currency virtual accounts, international cards and local payment rails.

The platform supports preferred local payment options, allowing overseas customers to pay through familiar payment methods in their respective markets.

The platform reduces the need for overseas buyers to directly navigate SWIFT or correspondent-banking systems, simplifying international payment collection.

JPSL aims to address challenges faced by Indian businesses in collecting international payments, including multiple currencies, multiple payment partners, extensive paperwork and manual reconciliation.

 

4) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra announced the recognition of the Unified Fintech Forum (UFF) as the second Self-Regulatory Organisation for the FinTech sector (SRO-FT).

UFF became the second fintech SRO, nearly two years after FACE (Fintech Association for Consumer Empowerment) was recognised as the first SRO-FT on 28 August 2024.

The SRO-FT framework was finalised by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in May 2024 to promote responsible conduct, industry-wide standards, codes of conduct, compliance monitoring, and constructive engagement among fintech firms, regulators and policymakers.

Detailed Explanation:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra announced the recognition of the Unified Fintech Forum (UFF) as the second Self-Regulatory Organisation for the FinTech sector (SRO-FT).

UFF became the second fintech SRO, nearly two years after FACE (Fintech Association for Consumer Empowerment) was recognised as the first SRO-FT on 28 August 2024.

The SRO-FT framework was finalised by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in May 2024 to promote responsible conduct, industry-wide standards, codes of conduct, compliance monitoring, and constructive engagement among fintech firms, regulators and policymakers.

The recognition of UFF marks another step towards developing a more structured, responsible and well-regulated fintech ecosystem in India.

UFF was earlier known as the Digital Lenders Association of India (DLAI), which was established in October 2016 and had been working towards industry self-regulation even before the RBI introduced the formal SRO-FT framework.

An SRO-FT applicant can be any representative FinTech organisation, but its representative character must be demonstrated through actual membership.

An SRO-FT applicant may also list FinTe

 

5) Answer: D

Short Explanation:

Multipl and UTI Mutual Fund launched “Investment UPI”, a new category that allows users to keep money invested in the UTI Liquid Fund while retaining instant access for UPI payments.

Investment UPI combines investment, liquidity and payments within a single user experience, functioning as a new type of UPI-based spending account.

The facility allows users to make UPI payments, pay bills and meet everyday expenses without manually redeeming their liquid-fund investment each time.

Detailed Explanation:

Multipl and UTI Mutual Fund launched “Investment UPI”, a new category that allows users to keep money invested in the UTI Liquid Fund while retaining instant access for UPI payments.

Investment UPI combines investment, liquidity and payments within a single user experience, functioning as a new type of UPI-based spending account.

The facility allows users to make UPI payments, pay bills and meet everyday expenses without manually redeeming their liquid-fund investment each time.

Users can invest money earmarked for short-term expenses such as travel, shopping and household bills in eligible liquid mutual funds and access it when required.

Payments can be completed through Multipl’s integrated UPI interface, with investment redemption and payment execution taking place within the same application.

The initiative aims to encourage consumers to invest surplus money rather than keeping it entirely idle in conventional bank accounts.

 

6) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has entered into a strategic partnership with FOMO Pay, a Singapore-headquartered payment institution, to enable Unified Payments Interface (UPI) QR code acceptance for merchants in Singapore.

Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) has joined the initiative as one of the first merchant partners, enabling Indian tourists to make payments using UPI-enabled applications in Singapore.

Detailed Explanation:

NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has entered into a strategic partnership with FOMO Pay, a Singapore-headquartered payment institution, to enable Unified Payments Interface (UPI) QR code acceptance for merchants in Singapore.

Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) has joined the initiative as one of the first merchant partners, enabling Indian tourists to make payments using UPI-enabled applications in Singapore.

The initiative aims to expand the global acceptance of UPI, improve payment interoperability between India and Singapore, and strengthen India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) globally.

Under the payment arrangement, Indian tourists can make payments in Indian Rupees (INR) through their UPI applications, while participating Singapore merchants receive settlements in Singapore Dollars (SGD).

The India–Singapore UPI linkage will facilitate seamless cross-border digital payments for Indian visitors in Singapore.

 

7) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

IDFC FIRST Bank and Sarvam AI have announced the establishment of a joint Research and Development (R&D) Lab to combine banking expertise with AI research and engineering.

The partnership aims to build a “self-improving bank” by developing AI systems that can understand banking processes, operate within regulatory and internal controls, learn from real-world outcomes and continuously improve.

The initiative goes beyond simply deploying the latest AI models and focuses on developing AI capabilities specifically suited to banking and financial-services use cases.

Detailed Explanation:

IDFC FIRST Bank and Sarvam AI have announced the establishment of a joint Research and Development (R&D) Lab to combine banking expertise with AI research and engineering.

The partnership aims to build a “self-improving bank” by developing AI systems that can understand banking processes, operate within regulatory and internal controls, learn from real-world outcomes and continuously improve.

The initiative goes beyond simply deploying the latest AI models and focuses on developing AI capabilities specifically suited to banking and financial-services use cases.

The joint R&D Lab will work across frontier AI research, post-training, AI safety and AI security, with a focus on applying these technologies within a regulated banking environment.

The lab will combine IDFC FIRST Bank’s banking expertise with Sarvam AI’s AI research and engineering capabilities to test new AI models and techniques against real-world banking use cases.

8) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) imposed a ₹1 crore penalty on ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited on 7 September 2026 for regulatory lapses related to outsourcing, vendor management, and corporate governance.

The penalty was based on an onsite inspection conducted in September 2019, followed by show-cause notices issued on 8 July 2024 and 17 December 2024.

The regulatory action mainly concerned payments made by ICICI Lombard under the “Sales Marketing and Business Support” expenditure head.

IRDAI found that ICICI Lombard used agents of other insurers for event-management activities without maintaining adequate supporting documentation.

Detailed Explanation:

Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) imposed a ₹1 crore penalty on ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited on 7 September 2026 for regulatory lapses related to outsourcing, vendor management, and corporate governance.

The penalty was based on an onsite inspection conducted in September 2019, followed by show-cause notices issued on 8 July 2024 and 17 December 2024.

The regulatory action mainly concerned payments made by ICICI Lombard under the “Sales Marketing and Business Support” expenditure head.

IRDAI found that ICICI Lombard used agents of other insurers for event-management activities without maintaining adequate supporting documentation.

The insurer failed to properly classify certain event-management services as outsourced activities, resulting in non-compliance with applicable outsourcing norms.

IRDAI also found that certain expenses were not reported appropriately, highlighting deficiencies in the insurer’s vendor management and internal controls.

The case involved violations related to the Outsourcing Regulations, 2017, which govern activities that insurance companies can assign to external service providers.

The Corporate Governance Guidelines, 2016 prescribe standards relating to board oversight, internal controls, disclosures, and accountability for insurance companies.

9) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the Chief Minister Yuva Bhavishya Nirman Yojana at the Chief Minister’s Camp Office, Main Sevak Sadan.

The scheme aims to provide free online coaching for competitive examinations to eligible students studying in Government and aided colleges and State universities.

In the first phase, the scheme will provide free online coaching to 11,000 students.

The initiative is particularly aimed at helping students from hilly and remote areas, where access to quality coaching and proper guidance is often limited.

Uttarakhand has implemented the country's strictest anti-copying law to ensure transparency in recruitment examinations.

According to the Chief Minister, more than 34,000 young people have received government jobs during the past five years.

Detailed Explanation:

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the Chief Minister Yuva Bhavishya Nirman Yojana at the Chief Minister’s Camp Office, Main Sevak Sadan.

The scheme aims to provide free online coaching for competitive examinations to eligible students studying in Government and aided colleges and State universities.

In the first phase, the scheme will provide free online coaching to 11,000 students.

The initiative is particularly aimed at helping students from hilly and remote areas, where access to quality coaching and proper guidance is often limited.

Uttarakhand has implemented the country's strictest anti-copying law to ensure transparency in recruitment examinations.

According to the Chief Minister, more than 34,000 young people have received government jobs during the past five years.

The government stated that its objective is not limited to providing employment but also to encourage young people to become job creators through self-employment, startups, skill development, entrepreneurship and local products.

The State has witnessed an increase in reverse migration, with several young people returning to villages and creating livelihoods through business, agriculture, horticulture, homestays and local-product enterprises.

10) Answer: E

Short Explanation:

The National Steering Committee under the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded Industrial Training Institutes scheme approved Strategic Investment Plans worth ₹735.70 crore for three Industrial Training Institute clusters in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana.

With this approval, the total sanctioned investment under the scheme increased to ₹2,171 crore across 9 Industrial Training Institute clusters.

The approved ₹735.70 crore investment was distributed among three clusters:

Bhiwadi cluster, Rajasthan – ₹241 crore

Medchal cluster, Telangana – ₹254.30 crore

Meerut cluster, Uttar Pradesh – ₹240.40 crore

The Bhiwadi cluster in Rajasthan covers 5 Industrial Training Institutes, with Government Industrial Training Institute, Bhiwadi serving as the hub institute.

Detailed Explanation:

The National Steering Committee under the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded Industrial Training Institutes scheme approved Strategic Investment Plans worth ₹735.70 crore for three Industrial Training Institute clusters in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana.

With this approval, the total sanctioned investment under the scheme increased to ₹2,171 crore across 9 Industrial Training Institute clusters.

The approved ₹735.70 crore investment was distributed among three clusters:

Bhiwadi cluster, Rajasthan – ₹241 crore

Medchal cluster, Telangana – ₹254.30 crore

Meerut cluster, Uttar Pradesh – ₹240.40 crore

The Bhiwadi cluster in Rajasthan covers 5 Industrial Training Institutes, with Government Industrial Training Institute, Bhiwadi serving as the hub institute.

The Medchal cluster in Telangana also covers 5 Industrial Training Institutes. Its Strategic Investment Plan was submitted by Zen Technologies Limited.

The Meerut cluster in Uttar Pradesh covers 5 Industrial Training Institutes, with Government Industrial Training Institute, Saket, Meerut serving as the hub institute.

The 5th National Steering Committee meeting was chaired by Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

Rajasthan became the first State to execute a Shareholders’ Agreement under the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded Industrial Training Institutes scheme for the Bhiwadi cluster.

 

11) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved eight railway multi-tracking projects.

The projects have an estimated total cost of ₹20,804 crore and will expand the Indian Railways network by approximately 1,196 kilometres.

The projects are targeted for completion by Financial Year 2029–30.

The approved projects include third-line, fourth-line and railway doubling works across 9 States: Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

Detailed Explanation:

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved eight railway multi-tracking projects.

The projects have an estimated total cost of ₹20,804 crore and will expand the Indian Railways network by approximately 1,196 kilometres.

The projects are targeted for completion by Financial Year 2029–30.

The approved projects include third-line, fourth-line and railway doubling works across 9 States: Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

Five projects in Southern India have an estimated cost of ₹10,021 crore and cover approximately 540 kilometres.

Major Southern India projects include the Arakkonam–Renigunta third and fourth lines and the doubling of the Hosur–Omalur section.

The remaining three projects in Eastern and Central India have an estimated cost of ₹10,783 crore and cover approximately 656 kilometres.

Major projects in Eastern and Central India include the Kharagpur–Jharsuguda fourth line and the Katni–Pendra Road fourth line.

The projects are expected to add 74 million tonnes per annum of combined freight capacity.

12) Answer: D

Short Explanation:

The Ministry of Coal, in association with Coal India Limited, organised an event in New Delhi to highlight key milestones under its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana and Nanha Sa Dil, and launched the Comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility Framework for Indian Coal Companies.

Under Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana, financial assistance of up to ₹10 lakh per patient is provided directly to empanelled hospitals for Bone Marrow Transplantation.

The scheme has a total financial outlay of ₹130 crore across four phases.

Detailed Explanation:

The Ministry of Coal, in association with Coal India Limited, organised an event in New Delhi to highlight key milestones under its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana and Nanha Sa Dil, and launched the Comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility Framework for Indian Coal Companies.

The event was attended by Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy, Minister of State for Coal and Mines Satish Chandra Dubey and Secretary, Ministry of Coal, Vikram Dev Dutt, along with senior officials, medical experts, implementing partners and beneficiary families.

Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana was launched to provide treatment support to children suffering from Thalassemia and Aplastic Anaemia, which are rare genetic blood disorders.

The scheme has expanded from an initial network of 4 hospitals to 21 empanelled hospitals across India.

Coal India Limited is the only Central Public Sector Enterprise in India to undertake a healthcare initiative of this scale for rare genetic blood disorders such as Thalassemia and Aplastic Anaemia.

Under Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana, financial assistance of up to ₹10 lakh per patient is provided directly to empanelled hospitals for Bone Marrow Transplantation.

The scheme has a total financial outlay of ₹130 crore across four phases.

 

13) Answer: E

Short Explanation:

Four Indian properties have been added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Tentative List, strengthening India's representation on the global heritage map.

The four newly added properties are:

Colonial Penal Settlement of Andaman Islands – Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Nicobarese Cultural Continuity in the Central Group of Nicobar Islands – Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Rangpur-Sivasagar Historic Ensemble – Assam

The Painted Haveli Towns of Shekhawati – Rajasthan

Detailed Explanation:

Four Indian properties have been added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Tentative List, strengthening India's representation on the global heritage map.

The four newly added properties are:

Colonial Penal Settlement of Andaman Islands – Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Nicobarese Cultural Continuity in the Central Group of Nicobar Islands – Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Rangpur-Sivasagar Historic Ensemble – Assam

The Painted Haveli Towns of Shekhawati – Rajasthan

With these additions, the number of Indian properties on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Tentative List has increased to 73, comprising 53 cultural, 3 mixed and 17 natural properties.

Inclusion in the Tentative List is the first mandatory stage in the World Heritage nomination process. A country cannot nominate a property for the World Heritage List unless it has first been included in its Tentative List.

The Colonial Penal Settlement of Andaman Islands is a serial property comprising four historically connected sites:

Cellular Jail

Viper Island

Chatham Island

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island, formerly known as Ross Island

The proposed property represents the evolution of the British colonial penal system after the 1857 uprising, including forced labour, incarceration and administrative control.

14) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

The United Kingdom (U.K.) has recognised India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) as a qualifying carbon-pricing mechanism for pricing relief under its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

The recognition was confirmed by the U.K. HM Treasury in a communication addressed to the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power, on 7 September 2026.

India’s CCTS has been included in the U.K. 's published indicative list of overseas carbon-pricing schemes that qualify under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (Calculation of CBAM Rate and Determination of Carbon Price Relief) Regulations, 2026.

Detailed Explanation:

The United Kingdom (U.K.) has recognised India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) as a qualifying carbon-pricing mechanism for pricing relief under its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

The recognition was confirmed by the U.K. HM Treasury in a communication addressed to the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power, on 7 September 2026.

India’s CCTS has been included in the U.K. 's published indicative list of overseas carbon-pricing schemes that qualify under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (Calculation of CBAM Rate and Determination of Carbon Price Relief) Regulations, 2026.

The recognition is expected to reduce the carbon-related tax burden on Indian exporters whose eligible goods are exported to the U.K. and covered under the U.K. CBAM.

Under the arrangement, U.K. importers of eligible Indian goods covered by CBAM can seek carbon-price relief corresponding to the effective carbon price already borne by those goods under India’s CCTS.

India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) aims to reduce, remove or avoid greenhouse-gas emissions from the Indian economy by putting a price on emissions through the trading of Carbon Credit Certificates (CCCs).

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) will meet the financial requirements for implementing the CCTS through fees and charges collected from entities under the scheme and its own resources.

 

15) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

Karim Maredia, an Indian-American agricultural scientist and Associate Dean and Director of the World Agriculture Center at Michigan State University, has been selected for the 2026 Borlaug CAST Communication Award.

The award is presented by the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology in honour of Norman Borlaug, the Nobel laureate widely recognised for his contribution to the Green Revolution.

Karim Maredia will be honoured at the Library of Congress on 10 December 2026.

Detailed Explanation:

Karim Maredia, an Indian-American agricultural scientist and Associate Dean and Director of the World Agriculture Center at Michigan State University, has been selected for the 2026 Borlaug CAST Communication Award.

The award is presented by the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology in honour of Norman Borlaug, the Nobel laureate widely recognised for his contribution to the Green Revolution.

Karim Maredia will be honoured at the Library of Congress on 10 December 2026.

The award recognises agricultural scientists who effectively communicate scientific research to farmers, policymakers and non-technical audiences.

Maredia was born in a village in Gujarat, India, and grew up in a family involved in farming. His early experience in rural India influenced his belief that scientific knowledge should benefit wider society.

He earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth in India.

He later moved to the United States and obtained a Master of Science in Integrated Pest Management from Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University and a Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Breeding and Integrated Pest Management from the University of Arkansas.

16) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Dr. Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), virtually launched India’s first Advanced Ocean Research Vessel (ORV), Sagar Manthan (Yard 3041), at Rishi Bankim Shipyard, Kolkata, West Bengal.

ORV Sagar Manthan has been constructed at an approximate cost of ₹840 crore under the Government of India’s flagship Deep Ocean Mission (DOM).

The vessel was designed, engineered and constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) for the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).

Following naval maritime traditions, Manju Singh, wife of Dr. Jitendra Singh, named the vessel Sagar Manthan, while Kavita Ellanti, wife of Dr. T. Srinivasa Kumar Tummala, Secretary, MoES, launched the vessel into the water.

ORV Sagar Manthan will gradually replace the 43-year-old ORV Sagar Kanya, which was procured from Germany in 1983.

The vessel has been constructed under Vertical-4 – Deep Ocean Survey and Exploration of the Deep Ocean Mission (DOM).

Detailed Explanation:

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Dr. Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), virtually launched India’s first Advanced Ocean Research Vessel (ORV), Sagar Manthan (Yard 3041), at Rishi Bankim Shipyard, Kolkata, West Bengal.

ORV Sagar Manthan has been constructed at an approximate cost of ₹840 crore under the Government of India’s flagship Deep Ocean Mission (DOM).

The vessel was designed, engineered and constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) for the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).

Following naval maritime traditions, Manju Singh, wife of Dr. Jitendra Singh, named the vessel Sagar Manthan, while Kavita Ellanti, wife of Dr. T. Srinivasa Kumar Tummala, Secretary, MoES, launched the vessel into the water.

ORV Sagar Manthan will gradually replace the 43-year-old ORV Sagar Kanya, which was procured from Germany in 1983.

The vessel has been constructed under Vertical-4 – Deep Ocean Survey and Exploration of the Deep Ocean Mission (DOM).

 

17) Answer: E

Short Explanation:

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. has partnered with Amazon to develop customised Artificial Intelligence (AI) chips for Amazon Web Services (AWS) data centres.

The partnership covers AWS data-centre infrastructure worth more than USD 60 billion and focuses on AI inference and high-speed optical connectivity.

The collaboration aims to support scalable, cost-efficient and high-performance data-centre infrastructure for advanced AI workloads.

The agreement was signed by Cristiano Amon, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Qualcomm, and Prasad Kalyanaraman, Vice President (VP) of AWS.

Detailed Explanation:

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. has partnered with Amazon to develop customised Artificial Intelligence (AI) chips for Amazon Web Services (AWS) data centres.

The partnership covers AWS data-centre infrastructure worth more than USD 60 billion and focuses on AI inference and high-speed optical connectivity.

The collaboration aims to support scalable, cost-efficient and high-performance data-centre infrastructure for advanced AI workloads.

The agreement was signed by Cristiano Amon, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Qualcomm, and Prasad Kalyanaraman, Vice President (VP) of AWS.

The partnership includes multi-generation chip development, combining Qualcomm’s custom silicon capabilities with advanced networking technologies.

Qualcomm will contribute its SerDes (Serializer/Deserializer) and optical digital signal processing technologies to the project.

The high-speed optical connectivity solutions will support data-transfer rates of up to 1.6 terabits per second (Tbps).

The technology will integrate custom silicon design with advanced networking technologies, enabling efficient coordination between computing and data transmission layers.

18) Answer: D

Short Explanation:

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), an Institution of Eminence (IoE) Deemed to be University, was selected as one of the 3 Indian host institutions for the US-India Fellowship for 2026–27.

The fellowship was formally launched by Sergio Gor, the United States of America (USA) Ambassador to India and Special Envoy to South and Central Asia, at a special ceremony held in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

The US-India Fellowship is a structured 12-month programme aimed at strengthening scientific and technological collaboration between India and the United States of America (USA).

The key focus areas of the fellowship are Artificial Intelligence (AI), quantum computing, semiconductors, biotechnology, energy, defence and space technologies.

Detailed Explanation:

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), an Institution of Eminence (IoE) Deemed to be University, was selected as one of the 3 Indian host institutions for the US-India Fellowship for 2026–27.

The fellowship was formally launched by Sergio Gor, the United States of America (USA) Ambassador to India and Special Envoy to South and Central Asia, at a special ceremony held in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

The US-India Fellowship is a structured 12-month programme aimed at strengthening scientific and technological collaboration between India and the United States of America (USA).

The key focus areas of the fellowship are Artificial Intelligence (AI), quantum computing, semiconductors, biotechnology, energy, defence and space technologies.

Apart from MAHE, the other two Indian host institutions selected for the fellowship are Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru, Karnataka.

Selected fellows will receive a USD 1,650 monthly stipend, along with housing and meals, medical insurance, round-trip economy airfare between the U.S. and India, and visa and logistical support.

The US Consulate General in Chennai, MAHE, IIT-M and IISc Bengaluru will act as facilitators for the programme.

 

19) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

Akasa Air successfully operated its first commercial flight using conventional Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) blended with 1% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) supplied by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL).

The SAF-blended commercial flight departed from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, Maharashtra, and arrived at Manohar International Airport, Goa.

The initiative marks a step towards the adoption of sustainable aviation fuels and aviation decarbonisation in India.

Detailed Explanation:

Akasa Air successfully operated its first commercial flight using conventional Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) blended with 1% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) supplied by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL).

The SAF-blended commercial flight departed from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, Maharashtra, and arrived at Manohar International Airport, Goa.

The initiative marks a step towards the adoption of sustainable aviation fuels and aviation decarbonisation in India.

The initiative follows the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Akasa Air and BPCL in July 2026 to explore SAF adoption and establish a framework for the supply and offtake of SAF-blended ATF at designated airports across India.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is an alternative aviation fuel designed to help reduce carbon emissions from the aviation sector compared with conventional fossil-based aviation fuel.

The initiative supports India’s target of achieving 5% SAF blending by 2030.

The global aviation sector has set a target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

 

20) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) launched the Quarterly Progress Report (QPR) Portal on Data Harmonisation to strengthen India’s National Data System (NDS) and promote the effective use and harmonisation of administrative data.

The QPR Portal was formally inaugurated by Shaktikanta Das, Principal Secretary-2 to the Prime Minister (PM), during a MoSPI workshop held at Rang Bhawan Auditorium, New Delhi.

The portal is a technology-enabled platform designed for use by all Central Ministries, Departments and Organisations (MDOs).

Detailed Explanation:

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) launched the Quarterly Progress Report (QPR) Portal on Data Harmonisation to strengthen India’s National Data System (NDS) and promote the effective use and harmonisation of administrative data.

The QPR Portal was formally inaugurated by Shaktikanta Das, Principal Secretary-2 to the Prime Minister (PM), during a MoSPI workshop held at Rang Bhawan Auditorium, New Delhi.

The portal is a technology-enabled platform designed for use by all Central Ministries, Departments and Organisations (MDOs).

The main objective of the QPR Portal is to improve the identification, cataloguing, standardisation and quality of datasets maintained by Central Ministries, Departments and Organisations.

The portal aims to promote data-driven governance and evidence-based policymaking through better management and harmonisation of administrative data.

The portal tracks the adoption of national and international standards, classifications and common unique identifiers in machine-readable datasets.

It also monitors data-quality checks under the Statistical Quality Assurance Framework (SQAF).

21) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

Adani Group is raising $1 billion (₹9,825 crore) by selling a 5.54% stake in Adani Airports Holdings Ltd (AAHL) to marquee investors.

The key investors participating in the stake sale include BlackRock, Temasek, Alpha Wave Global and Premji Invest.

The transaction values AAHL at a pre-money equity valuation of $18 billion, making it the world’s third-most valuable airport operator.

AAHL ranks third globally among airport operators by valuation, after Spain’s Aena and Airports of Thailand.

Detailed Explanation:

Adani Group is raising $1 billion (₹9,825 crore) by selling a 5.54% stake in Adani Airports Holdings Ltd (AAHL) to marquee investors.

The key investors participating in the stake sale include BlackRock, Temasek, Alpha Wave Global and Premji Invest.

The transaction values AAHL at a pre-money equity valuation of $18 billion, making it the world’s third-most valuable airport operator.

AAHL ranks third globally among airport operators by valuation, after Spain’s Aena and Airports of Thailand.

The proceeds from the $1 billion fund raise will be used for capacity expansion and commercial development of AAHL’s airport business.

AAHL operates a portfolio of eight airports, including Mumbai Airport.

AAHL’s eight airports collectively handle around 23% of India’s passenger traffic and approximately 29% of the country’s air-cargo volume.

AAHL reported FY2026 revenue of ₹13,081 crore, highlighting the scale of its airport operations.

 

22) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

The Department of Food and Public Distribution and the Food Corporation of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding for Financial Year 2026–27 to strengthen operational efficiency, accountability and technology adoption in India's foodgrain management system.

The agreement establishes a comprehensive performance framework for the Food Corporation of India with defined and measurable annual targets.

The Depot Darpan Portal is a web-based platform used to assess depot infrastructure and operational efficiency.

Detailed Explanation:

The Department of Food and Public Distribution and the Food Corporation of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding for Financial Year 2026–27 to strengthen operational efficiency, accountability and technology adoption in India's foodgrain management system.

The agreement establishes a comprehensive performance framework for the Food Corporation of India with defined and measurable annual targets.

The framework focuses on reducing storage losses, optimising storage capacity utilisation, improving logistics and supply chain management, and strengthening quality control mechanisms.

Greater digitisation of business processes and adoption of modern information technology solutions have been emphasised to improve transparency, monitoring and overall operational efficiency.

Capacity-building and skill-development programmes for Food Corporation of India employees will support the adoption of emerging technologies and modern foodgrain management systems.

The performance-based framework adopts an outcome-oriented approach by linking Food Corporation of India operations with clearly defined annual parameters and benchmarks.

A portion of the performance targets has been linked to the functioning of Food Corporation of India depots through the Depot Darpan Portal.

The Depot Darpan Portal is a web-based platform used to assess depot infrastructure and operational efficiency.

23) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

National Institute of Technology Rourkela, National Remote Sensing Centre, Indian Space Research Organisation and Tea Board India signed a Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding for collaborative research under the advanced research and development project titled “चायांकन (CHAYANKAN): Comprehensive Artificial Intelligence-based Geospatial Data Analytics for Tea Plantation Monitoring.”

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed at Regional Remote Sensing Centre-East, National Remote Sensing Centre, Kolkata.

Detailed Explanation:

National Institute of Technology Rourkela, National Remote Sensing Centre, Indian Space Research Organisation and Tea Board India signed a Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding for collaborative research under the advanced research and development project titled “चायांकन (CHAYANKAN): Comprehensive Artificial Intelligence-based Geospatial Data Analytics for Tea Plantation Monitoring.”

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed at Regional Remote Sensing Centre-East, National Remote Sensing Centre, Kolkata.

The three-year project commenced in April 2026 and aims to develop advanced geospatial and Artificial Intelligence-based solutions for:

Tea plantation mapping

Yield estimation

Pest and disease forecasting

The project will integrate multi-source remote sensing data from satellite and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle platforms with ground-based observations.

The project will use advanced machine learning techniques and modelling approaches to strengthen data-driven monitoring and management of tea plantations.

The initiative is expected to support effective governance and scientific decision-making in the tea sector by improving the availability and analysis of plantation-related data.

24) Answer: D

Short Explanation:

Samtel Avionics Limited and Japan-based BULL Co., Ltd. signed a Memorandum of Understanding, to explore solutions for space debris mitigation.

The collaboration will explore combining BULL’s passive Post-Mission Disposal technology with Samtel Avionics’ Active Space Debris Removal Vehicle technology.

The agreement is exploratory in nature and will assess the technical and commercial feasibility of integrating the two technologies rather than immediately committing to a commercial product.

Detailed Explanation:

Samtel Avionics Limited and Japan-based BULL Co., Ltd. signed a Memorandum of Understanding, to explore solutions for space debris mitigation.

The collaboration will explore combining BULL’s passive Post-Mission Disposal technology with Samtel Avionics’ Active Space Debris Removal Vehicle technology.

The agreement is exploratory in nature and will assess the technical and commercial feasibility of integrating the two technologies rather than immediately committing to a commercial product.

Post-Mission Disposal focuses on preventing satellites and other space objects from becoming long-term orbital debris after completing their missions.

Active Space Debris Removal, in contrast, involves a dedicated spacecraft approaching and removing objects that are already non-functional and unable to dispose of themselves.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding, the companies will examine technical requirements, system interfaces, customisation, development milestones and possible integration of the technologies.

The companies may also explore the possibility of using Samtel Avionics’ debris removal vehicles to attach BULL’s passive Post-Mission Disposal devices to existing debris already in orbit, subject to separate agreements and applicable technical, export-control and regulatory requirements.

The partnership aims to develop practical and sustainable solutions to improve the long-term safety and sustainability of outer space activities.

 

25) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

JSW Group and Volkswagen Group signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding to advance their proposed 51:49 joint venture for Volkswagen's passenger vehicle operations in India.

The agreement initiates exclusive discussions between the two groups on the valuation and other terms of the proposed transaction.

The companies are targeting a binding agreement by December 2026.

The final transaction value has not yet been determined. Market estimates indicate that the proposed venture could involve more than €1 billion (around ₹10,000 crore) in project investment and capital commitments.

The proposed joint venture will initially cover the eight Skoda and Volkswagen brands currently sold in India, along with future vehicle launches, including electric vehicles.

Detailed Explanation:

JSW Group and Volkswagen Group signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding to advance their proposed 51:49 joint venture for Volkswagen's passenger vehicle operations in India.

The agreement initiates exclusive discussions between the two groups on the valuation and other terms of the proposed transaction.

The companies are targeting a binding agreement by December 2026.

The final transaction value has not yet been determined. Market estimates indicate that the proposed venture could involve more than €1 billion (around ₹10,000 crore) in project investment and capital commitments.

The proposed joint venture will initially cover the eight Skoda and Volkswagen brands currently sold in India, along with future vehicle launches, including electric vehicles.

The partnership is expected to focus on mass-market internal combustion engine, hybrid and electric vehicles.

The manufacturing operations, workforce and supplier ecosystem of Skoda Auto Volkswagen India could also become part of the proposed joint venture.

The two companies are working on arrangements relating to model sharing, common vehicle platforms, manufacturing, employee transfers, sales and marketing operations.

 

26) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, in association with MC²⁺ Foundation, hosted the Mumbai City Connect of MC²⁺ Ignite, an energy innovation accelerator, at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay.

The programme brought together stakeholders from the energy sector, academia, research institutions, startups and the innovation ecosystem to discuss emerging technologies, industry challenges and opportunities to accelerate innovation in India's energy sector.

The event was led by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Arun Kumar Singh and Professor Aniruddha B. Pandit, Vice Chancellor, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai.

Detailed Explanation:

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, in association with MC²⁺ Foundation, hosted the Mumbai City Connect of MC²⁺ Ignite, an energy innovation accelerator, at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay.

The programme brought together stakeholders from the energy sector, academia, research institutions, startups and the innovation ecosystem to discuss emerging technologies, industry challenges and opportunities to accelerate innovation in India's energy sector.

The event was led by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Arun Kumar Singh and Professor Aniruddha B. Pandit, Vice Chancellor, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai.

A key milestone was the signing of a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding between MC²⁺ Foundation, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and the Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, on September 8, 2026.

The collaboration aims to strengthen the connection between industry, academia and startups by providing innovators with access to:

Research and development facilities and laboratories

Academic and industry mentors

Funding

Market access

Opportunities for pilot projects in real-world operating environments

As a partner public sector undertaking in the MC²⁺ ecosystem, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited will collaborate with Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and the Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship on Artificial Intelligence-driven Subsurface Intelligence and six other energy innovation areas.

27) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

Eight Indian universities featured among the global top 100 universities for entrepreneurs in the PitchBook 2026 ranking, highlighting India's growing presence in the venture-backed startup ecosystem.

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay emerged as the highest-ranked Indian institution, securing 22nd position globally.

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi ranked 27th globally, followed by:

Indian Institute of Technology Madras – 48th

Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur – 49th

Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur – 50th

Detailed Explanation:

Eight Indian universities featured among the global top 100 universities for entrepreneurs in the PitchBook 2026 ranking, highlighting India's growing presence in the venture-backed startup ecosystem.

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay emerged as the highest-ranked Indian institution, securing 22nd position globally.

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi ranked 27th globally, followed by:

Indian Institute of Technology Madras – 48th

Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur – 49th

Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur – 50th

University of Delhi – 62nd

University of Mumbai – 74th

Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani – 91st

Among Indian institutions, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay recorded the highest number of founders.

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi recorded the highest capital raised by alumni-founded companies, amounting to $55.7 billion.

Alumni founders of Indian Institute of Technology Bombay raised $33.6 billion, followed by:

Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur – $23.2 billion

Indian Institute of Technology Madras – $23 billion

Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur – $21.2 billion

University of Delhi ranked 62nd globally with 366 founders and 350 companies.

University of Mumbai ranked 74th globally with 339 founders.

Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani ranked 91st, with 265 founders and 230 companies.

28) Answer: C

Eight Indian universities featured among the global top 100 universities for entrepreneurs in the PitchBook 2026 ranking, highlighting India's growing presence in the venture-backed startup ecosystem.

The 2026 edition covered more than 222,000 venture capital-backed founders, whose companies received funding between 1 January 2015 and 1 August 2026.

The United States dominated the global top 100 with 62 universities, while India had 8 institutions in the ranking.

University of California, Berkeley topped the global ranking with 2,380 founders and 2,155 companies, followed by Stanford University and Harvard University.

The global ranking also featured institutions from Canada, Israel, China, the United Kingdom and several other countries.

 

29) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

PhonePe became the first Indian app to offer Visa’s Cross Border Scan to Pay capability for international transactions.

PhonePe also became the first platform in India to enable Visa’s three core consumer payment capabilities: online device tokenisation, Tap to Pay and Cross Border Scan to Pay.

The new solutions build on Visa Device Tokenisation, which was introduced on the PhonePe platform in February 2025.

Tap to Pay will allow Android users to tokenise their Visa cards and make contactless payments directly through smartphones at Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals.

Detailed Explanation:

PhonePe became the first Indian app to offer Visa’s Cross Border Scan to Pay capability for international transactions.

PhonePe also became the first platform in India to enable Visa’s three core consumer payment capabilities: online device tokenisation, Tap to Pay and Cross Border Scan to Pay.

The new solutions build on Visa Device Tokenisation, which was introduced on the PhonePe platform in February 2025.

Tap to Pay will allow Android users to tokenise their Visa cards and make contactless payments directly through smartphones at Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals.

Tap to Pay will support payments even in low-connectivity environments and will be rolled out in phases from 9 September 2026.

Cross Border Scan to Pay will enable Indian travellers to scan Visa-supported QR codes and make payments across 14 international markets.

The international markets include Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Japan, China and South Korea, among other participating markets.

 

30) Answer: A

About IDFC FIRST Bank :

It is an Indian private-sector bank headquartered in Mumbai and was founded in 2015 as a banking subsidiary of IDFC Limited.

MD & CEO : V. Vaidyanathan