Dear Readers, Daily Current Affairs Questions Quiz for SBI, IBPS, RBI, RRB, SSC Exam 2026 of  20th August  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) Recently in news, under the Foreign Assets of Small Taxpayers – Disclosure Scheme (FAST-DS) Rules, 2026, what is the effective total levy on the value of the declared undisclosed foreign asset or income?

(a) 30%

(b) 40%

(c) 50%

(d) 60%

(e) 70%

 

2) Recently in news, India’s WPI-based inflation eased to what rate in July 2026?

(a) 8.78%

(b) 9.12%

(c) 9.78%

(d) 9.87%

(e) 10.05%

 

3) Recently in news, the Qatar–India Postal Remittance Service was launched in partnership with Qatar Post and which Indian organisation to integrate PosTransfer with the UPI ecosystem?

(a) Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

(b) NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL)

(c) State Bank of India (SBI)

(d) Ministry of Finance

(e) Bharat BillPay

4) Recently in news, BSE Limited signed an MoU with which organisation to improve MSMEs’ access to equity financing through capital markets?

(a) FICCI

(b) CII

(c) PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI)

(d) ASSOCHAM

(e) NASSCOM

5) Recently in news, India’s retail inflation (CPI-based inflation) rose to what rate in July 2026, marking a 19-month high?

(a) 3.95%

(b) 4.05%

(c) 4.25%

(d) 4.45%

(e) 4.75%

6) Recently in news, what is the eligible age group for customers applying for the YES Essence Credit Card?

(a) 18–55 years

(b) 20–50 years

(c) 30–60 years

(d) 25–65 years

(e) 21–60 years

7) Recently in news, the windfall gains tax on selected petroleum exports is officially known as which duty?

(a) Basic Excise Duty (BED)

(b) Customs Duty

(c) Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED)

(d) Goods and Services Tax (GST)

(e) Countervailing Duty (CVD)

 

8) Recently in news, who launched SEBI’s new cybersecurity portals “SEBI Incident Reporting” and “Cyber Suraksha”?

(a) Madhabi Puri Buch

(b) Tuhin Kanta Pandey

(c) Sanjay Malhotra

(d) Ajay Seth

(e) Shaktikanta Das

 

9) Recently in news, under the Vidyarthi Sahayahasta Scheme, what reservation has been announced within the existing 15% rural reservation for admission to professional courses?

(a) 5%

(b) 6%

(c) 7.5%

(d) 10%

(e) 12.5%

10) Recently in news, which organisation launched the Diabetes Rural Outreach Digital Portal and VISHWAS (Diabetes Awareness Video Library)?

(a) Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

(b) Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India

(c) National Health Authority (NHA)

(d) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

(e) All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)

11) Recently in news, which state became the first to declare snakebite a notifiable disease?

(a) Maharashtra

(b) Gujarat

(c) Karnataka

(d) Odisha

(e) Rajasthan

12) Recently in news, what is the theme of 5^th edition of SEMICON India 2026 held at Yashobhoomi (India International Convention and Expo Centre), Dwarka, New Delhi?

(a) Powering India’s Digital Future

(b) Silicon to Systems: Building the Ecosystem

(c) Semiconductor India: A Global Hub

(d) Chips for a Viksit Bharat

(e) Building India’s Semiconductor Future

 

13) Recently in news, the Tamil Nadu Government announced that maternity leave for women government employees having their third child will be increased to_________

(a) 180 days

(b) 270 days

(c) 300 days

(d) 365 days

(e) 420 days

 

14) Recently in news, consider the following statements regarding the Prime Minister Internship Scheme Industry Awards 2026:

1. Mahindra & Mahindra Limited was recognised as the Overall Industry Champion.
2. HDFC Bank Limited received the Pre-Internship Excellence Award.
3. Shriram Finance Limited received the Internship Management Excellence Award.
4. IBM India Private Limited received the Innovation in Programme Implementation Award.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) Only 1 and 2

(b) Only 2 and 3

(c) Only 1, 2 and 3

(d) All the above

(e) None of the above

 

15) Recently in news, who has been recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s youngest male Chartered Accountant (CA)?

(a) Lakshmanan Meyyappan

(b) Arjun Menon

(c) Rohan Kumar

(d) Aditya Sharma

(e) Vivek Nair

 

16) Recently in news, who was re-elected as the President of Zambia for a second consecutive five-year term (2026–2031)?

(a) Hakainde Hichilema

(b) Edgar Lungu

(c) Kenneth Kaunda

(d) Michael Sata

(e) Rupiah Banda

 

17) Recently in news, who has been appointed as the Expert Adviser on Structure and Process at 10 Downing Street?

(a) Keir Starmer

(b) Rishi Sunak

(c) Andy Burnham

(d) David Lammy

(e) Gautam Rangarajan

18) Recently in news, the Ministry of Defence signed a contract to lease two MQ-9B Sea Guardian RPAS for which period?

(a) 12 months

(b) 18 months

(c) 24 months

(d) 30 months

(e) 36 months

19) Recently in news, SraVaani, an open-source multilingual speech-recognition model, was developed by which institution?

(a) IIT Madras

(b) IISc Bengaluru

(c) IIT Bombay

(d) IIIT Hyderabad

(e) C-DAC Pune

 

20) Recently in news, Tata Power signed a Master Research Agreement (MRA) with which institution to accelerate next-generation energy technologies and clean energy solutions?

(a) IIT Delhi

(b) IIT Madras

(c) IIT Bombay

(d) IISc Bengaluru

(e) IIT Kanpur

 

21) Recently in news, CDSL Investor Protection Fund (CDSL IPF) launched which multilingual investor education film?

(a) The Wealth Garden

(b) The Garden of Prosperity

(c) The Path to Prosperity

(d) Investing for Tomorrow

(e) The Smart Investor

 

22) Recently in news, which company secured a ₹155 crore order from the Ministry of Home Affairs for deploying Indrajaal Ranger mobile anti-drone patrol vehicles?

(a) Bharat Electronics Limited

(b) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited

(c) Bharat Dynamics Limited

(d) Tata Advanced Systems

23) Recently in news, India signed an MoU with which country to strengthen cooperation in defence research, development, innovation and shared production?

(a) Azerbaijan

(b) Armenia

(c) Georgia

(d) Kazakhstan

(e) Uzbekistan

 

24) Recently in news, veteran Bengali filmmaker Raja Sen, who passed away at the age of 71, made his feature-film directorial debut with which film?

(a) Chokher Bali

(b) Khela

(c) Utsab

(d) Unishe April

(e) Damu

25) Recently in news, what is the theme of World Humanitarian Day on August 19, 2026?

(a) Humanitarian Action for a Better World

(b) Standing Together for Humanity

(c) Honouring fallen humanitarians and calling for greater protection of health care

(d) Protecting Humanity in Times of Crisis

(e) Together for Humanitarian Aid

26) Recently, World Photography Day is observed annually on which date?

(a) 15 August

(b) 17 August

(c) 18 August

(d) 19 August

(e) 20 August

27) What is the currency of Zambia?

(a) Zambian Dollar

(b) Zambian Franc

(c) Zambian Kwacha

(d) Zambian Shilling

(e) Zambian Pound

28) Recently in news, at which advanced technology node has one of the successfully fabricated semiconductor chips been developed in India?

(a) 7 nm

(b) 10 nm

(c) 14 nm

(d) 12 nm

(e) 16 nm

 

29) Recently in news, the “golden hour” for treatment after a snakebite refers to which period?

(a) First 15 minutes

(b) First 30 minutes

(c) First 45 minutes

(d) First 60 minutes

(e) First 90 minutes

 

30) Recently in news, the SEBI Incident Reporting Portal is aligned with which framework to promote consistency in cyber-incident reporting?

(a) Basel III Framework

(b) FSB’s Format for Incident Reporting Exchange (FIRE)

(c) FATF Cybersecurity Framework

(d) IOSCO Cyber Resilience Framework

(e) G20 Digital Security Framework

Answers:

1) Answer: D

Short Explanation:

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has notified the Foreign Assets of Small Taxpayers – Disclosure Scheme (FAST-DS) Rules, 2026, providing eligible taxpayers with a one-time opportunity to voluntarily disclose certain previously undisclosed foreign assets and income.

The FAST-DS was announced in the Union Budget 2026–27 and came into effect from 16 August 2026.

Taxpayers have to pay 30% tax on the value of the declared undisclosed foreign asset or income, along with an additional amount equal to the tax, taking the effective total levy to 60%.

Detailed Explanation:

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has notified the Foreign Assets of Small Taxpayers – Disclosure Scheme (FAST-DS) Rules, 2026, providing eligible taxpayers with a one-time opportunity to voluntarily disclose certain previously undisclosed foreign assets and income.

The FAST-DS was announced in the Union Budget 2026–27 and came into effect from 16 August 2026.

The scheme is aimed at eligible small taxpayers, including students, young professionals, technology employees and relocated Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) who may have failed to disclose eligible foreign assets or income.

Under FAST-DS, eligible taxpayers can voluntarily disclose certain undisclosed foreign assets, undisclosed foreign income or undeclared foreign assets by paying the prescribed tax or fee.

Taxpayers have to pay 30% tax on the value of the declared undisclosed foreign asset or income, along with an additional amount equal to the tax, taking the effective total levy to 60%.

The last date for filing FAST-DS declarations is 31 December 2026, and no declaration can be filed under the scheme after this deadline.

The Fair Market Value (FMV) of the foreign assets for the purpose of the scheme will be determined as of 31 March 2026.

2) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation in India eased marginally to 9.78% in July 2026, compared with 9.87% in June 2026, mainly due to cooling prices of fuel, power and food items.

This was the first month-on-month decline in WPI inflation under the government’s WPI-based inflation data using the new 2022-23 base year.

WPI inflation had remained on an upward trajectory since the beginning of FY 2026-27, mainly due to the West Asia war and the resultant blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Detailed Explanation:

Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation in India eased marginally to 9.78% in July 2026, compared with 9.87% in June 2026, mainly due to cooling prices of fuel, power and food items.

This was the first month-on-month decline in WPI inflation under the government’s WPI-based inflation data using the new 2022-23 base year.

WPI inflation had remained on an upward trajectory since the beginning of FY 2026-27, mainly due to the West Asia war and the resultant blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz is an important route for India’s crude oil imports, and its blockade pushed up global crude oil and fertiliser costs, with a spillover effect on food prices.

According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, major drivers of WPI inflation in July 2026 included mineral oils (petroleum products), food articles, manufactured basic metals, non-food articles, manufactured food products, and chemicals and chemical products.

Fuel and Power inflation declined significantly to 20.05% in July 2026, from 27.41% in June 2026.

Food Articles inflation also eased to 5.44% in July 2026, compared with 5.49% in June 2026.

In contrast, Manufactured Products inflation increased to 8.29% in July 2026, from 7.48% in June 2026.

India’s retail inflation (CPI-based inflation) increased to 4.45% in July 2026, from 4.38% in June 2026, mainly due to higher food prices.

3) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

The Qatar-India Postal Remittance Service, based on PosTransfer powered by Unified Payments Interface (UPI), was operationalised in Doha, Qatar, enabling faster, secure and cost-effective cross-border remittances between Qatar and India.

The service was made available on 15 August 2026, coinciding with India’s Independence Day.

The service was developed through a partnership among Qatar Post, Department of Posts (DoP), Ministry of Communications, Universal Postal Union’s Interconnection Platform (UPU-IP), and NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL).

Detailed Explanation:

The Qatar-India Postal Remittance Service, based on PosTransfer powered by Unified Payments Interface (UPI), was operationalised in Doha, Qatar, enabling faster, secure and cost-effective cross-border remittances between Qatar and India.

The service was made available on 15 August 2026, coinciding with India’s Independence Day.

The service was developed through a partnership among Qatar Post, Department of Posts (DoP), Ministry of Communications, Universal Postal Union’s Interconnection Platform (UPU-IP), and NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL).

PosTransfer powered by UPI integrates the UPU-IP with India’s UPI ecosystem to enable international inward remittances directly into UPI-enabled bank accounts in India.

Customers in Qatar can initiate remittances at Qatar Post outlets by providing the recipient’s UPI ID along with the required customer identification details.

The recipient in India must first activate the facility for receiving international inward remittances through their UPI app.

4) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

BSE Limited, formerly known as the Bombay Stock Exchange, and the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to improve Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)’ access to equity financing through capital markets.

The partnership aims to create greater awareness among MSMEs about Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), SME listing procedures, and the benefits of becoming publicly listed companies.

Detailed Explanation:

BSE Limited, formerly known as the Bombay Stock Exchange, and the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to improve Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)’ access to equity financing through capital markets.

The partnership aims to create greater awareness among MSMEs about Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), SME listing procedures, and the benefits of becoming publicly listed companies.

The MoU was signed in New Delhi, Delhi, by Sundararaman Ramamurthy, MD & CEO of BSE Limited, and Dr. Ranjeet Mehta, CEO & Secretary General of PHDCCI.

The collaboration will increase awareness of equity financing, particularly through the BSE SME Platform, and help eligible businesses understand and navigate the SME listing process.

Under the partnership, MSMEs will receive expert guidance, mentorship, knowledge-sharing, and capacity-building support to assess opportunities and requirements for raising capital through capital markets.

 

5) Answer: D

Short Explanation:

India’s retail inflation (CPI-based inflation) rose to a 19-month high of 4.45% in July 2026, driven mainly by higher food and fuel prices.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) data was released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).

In July 2026, food, restaurant and accommodation services, and transport became costlier, while inflation in healthcare, recreation, sports and culture eased marginally.

The CPI series was updated earlier in 2026 with a new base year of 2024.

Under the revised CPI series, historical data for the overall index is available from August 2021, while sector-wise data is available only from January 2026 onwards.

Detailed Explanation:

India’s retail inflation (CPI-based inflation) rose to a 19-month high of 4.45% in July 2026, driven mainly by higher food and fuel prices.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) data was released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).

In July 2026, food, restaurant and accommodation services, and transport became costlier, while inflation in healthcare, recreation, sports and culture eased marginally.

The CPI series was updated earlier in 2026 with a new base year of 2024.

Under the revised CPI series, historical data for the overall index is available from August 2021, while sector-wise data is available only from January 2026 onwards.

Inflation in the Food and Beverages category increased to 5.2% in July 2026, from 5.05% in June 2026.

Inflation in the Restaurants and Accommodation Services segment rose to 7.7% in July 2026, from 6.9% in June 2026, making it the highest level recorded in 2026 so far.

Inflation in the Transport sector increased marginally to 4.4% in July 2026, compared with 4.3% in June 2026.

Inflation in the Health segment eased to 1.3% in July 2026, from 1.4% in June 2026, continuing its declining trend since February 2026.

Inflation in the Recreation, Sport and Culture category declined to 1.6% in July 2026, from 1.75% in June 2026.

6 Answer: E

Short Explanation:

YES Bank Limited launched the ‘YES Essence Credit Card’, a women-focused lifestyle and rewards credit card designed to address the evolving lifestyle and healthcare needs of women.

The card primarily targets young professionals, salaried customers and digitally savvy women.

Customers aged between 21 and 60 years are eligible for the card, subject to a minimum net monthly salary of ₹30,000.

Detailed Explanation:

YES Bank Limited launched the ‘YES Essence Credit Card’, a women-focused lifestyle and rewards credit card designed to address the evolving lifestyle and healthcare needs of women.

The card primarily targets young professionals, salaried customers and digitally savvy women.

Customers aged between 21 and 60 years are eligible for the card, subject to a minimum net monthly salary of ₹30,000.

Customers who already hold any YES Bank Credit Card are not eligible to avail the benefits of the new YES Essence Credit Card.

The card provides accelerated rewards on spending categories such as dining, groceries, shopping, beauty and travel.

7) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

The Ministry of Finance reduced India’s windfall gains tax on exports of petrol, diesel and Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF).

The windfall gains tax on selected petroleum exports is officially known as Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED).

SAED is an export duty imposed on selected petroleum products when international prices and refinery margins generate extraordinary gains for producers.

Detailed Explanation:

The Ministry of Finance reduced India’s windfall gains tax on exports of petrol, diesel and Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF).

The windfall gains tax on selected petroleum exports is officially known as Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED).

SAED is an export duty imposed on selected petroleum products when international prices and refinery margins generate extraordinary gains for producers.

India follows fortnightly revisions for these petroleum export duties, with rates linked to changes in global crude oil and fuel prices.

With effect from 15 August 2026, the SAED on petrol exports was reduced to nil (₹0 per litre) from ₹3.5 per litre.

The SAED on diesel exports was reduced to ₹24 per litre from ₹25.5 per litre.

The SAED on ATF exports was reduced to ₹19.5 per litre from ₹22 per litre.

The latest reduction partially reversed the sharp increase announced on 3 August 2026, when the SAED was raised to ₹3.5 per litre for petrol, ₹25.5 per litre for diesel and ₹22 per litre for ATF.

8) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

Tuhin Kanta Pandey, Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), launched two new cybersecurity portals, ‘SEBI Incident Reporting’ and ‘Cyber Suraksha’, to strengthen cybersecurity, cyber resilience and information sharing across the securities market ecosystem.

The two portals were launched during the inaugural ceremony of SEBI’s Symposium on Cyber Defence, held from 17 to 21 August 2026 in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Detailed Explanation:

Tuhin Kanta Pandey, Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), launched two new cybersecurity portals, ‘SEBI Incident Reporting’ and ‘Cyber Suraksha’, to strengthen cybersecurity, cyber resilience and information sharing across the securities market ecosystem.

The two portals were launched during the inaugural ceremony of SEBI’s Symposium on Cyber Defence, held from 17 to 21 August 2026 in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

The SEBI Incident Reporting Portal is a revamped portal designed to make cyber-incident reporting more structured, timely and actionable for market intermediaries.

The SEBI Incident Reporting Portal is aligned with the Financial Stability Board (FSB)’s Format for Incident Reporting Exchange (FIRE) to promote greater consistency in incident reporting.

Alignment with the FSB FIRE format is expected to facilitate smoother cross-border cybersecurity incident reporting and reduce communication-related friction.

9) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

Karnataka Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar announced the Vidyarthi Sahayahasta Scheme during the Independence Day celebrations in Bengaluru to improve access to professional education for students from rural government schools.

Under the scheme, 7.5% reservation will be provided within the existing 15% rural reservation for admission to professional courses.

The scheme will benefit students who have studied from Class 1 to Class 10 in rural government schools.

Detailed Explanation:

Karnataka Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar announced the Vidyarthi Sahayahasta Scheme during the Independence Day celebrations in Bengaluru to improve access to professional education for students from rural government schools.

Under the scheme, 7.5% reservation will be provided within the existing 15% rural reservation for admission to professional courses.

The scheme will benefit students who have studied from Class 1 to Class 10 in rural government schools.

The provision is aimed at helping eligible rural students secure admission to professional programmes, including medical and engineering courses, by reducing educational and geographical barriers.

The initiative is intended to create a more level playing field for rural students and improve their access to higher and professional education.

The Karnataka Government has stated that detailed guidelines regarding the admission process, eligibility verification and implementation timeline will be issued by the Education Department.

 

10) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

The Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India launched the Diabetes Rural Outreach Digital Portal and VISHWAS (Diabetes Awareness Video Library) to strengthen diabetes prevention and management in rural India.

Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, called for making preventive healthcare and diabetes prevention a national priority.

The Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India Rural Outreach Programme focuses on diabetes awareness, screening, treatment, prevention and long-term follow-up in rural communities.

The programme has already covered around 30 villages across several States, with plans for further expansion.

Detailed Explanation:

The Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India launched the Diabetes Rural Outreach Digital Portal and VISHWAS (Diabetes Awareness Video Library) to strengthen diabetes prevention and management in rural India.

Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, called for making preventive healthcare and diabetes prevention a national priority.

The Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India Rural Outreach Programme focuses on diabetes awareness, screening, treatment, prevention and long-term follow-up in rural communities.

The programme has already covered around 30 villages across several States, with plans for further expansion.

The Diabetes Rural Outreach Digital Portal will support beneficiary registration, treatment documentation, longitudinal follow-up, programme monitoring and generation of anonymised real-world data.

The initiative aims to combine community participation, digital technology and scientific data to develop evidence-based approaches for diabetes and other non-communicable diseases.

VISHWAS (Diabetes Awareness Video Library) will provide digital resources to improve diabetes awareness and healthcare knowledge among communities.

11) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

The Maharashtra Government has declared snakebite a notifiable disease, making it mandatory for all hospitals, medical colleges and healthcare professionals to report every suspected or confirmed snakebite case and death.

The decision was announced by Maharashtra Health Minister Prakash Abitkar to strengthen snakebite surveillance, timely treatment, prevention and Anti-Snake Venom (ASV) management.

Detailed Explanation:

The Maharashtra Government has declared snakebite a notifiable disease, making it mandatory for all hospitals, medical colleges and healthcare professionals to report every suspected or confirmed snakebite case and death.

The decision was announced by Maharashtra Health Minister Prakash Abitkar to strengthen snakebite surveillance, timely treatment, prevention and Anti-Snake Venom (ASV) management.

Under the notification, snakebite cases must be reported to the concerned District Health Officer or District Surgeon.

Serious and fatal cases must be reported immediately through available communication systems.

Cases will be recorded through the Health Management Information System (HMIS), Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) or other government-approved reporting systems.

A state-to-district nodal mechanism has been established for snakebite prevention and control, with the Director of Hospitals overseeing it at the state level.

Healthcare institutions must maintain records of Anti-Snake Venom (ASV) received, consumed and available in stock to ensure adequate supplies in high-incidence areas.

12) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

SEMICON India 2026, the 5th edition of India’s flagship semiconductor conference and exhibition, will be held from 17–19 September 2026 at Yashobhoomi (India International Convention and Expo Centre), Dwarka, New Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate SEMICON India 2026 on 17 September 2026.

The event is jointly organised by the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI).

Theme: “Silicon to Systems: Building the Ecosystem.”

Detailed Explanation:

SEMICON India 2026, the 5th edition of India’s flagship semiconductor conference and exhibition, will be held from 17–19 September 2026 at Yashobhoomi (India International Convention and Expo Centre), Dwarka, New Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate SEMICON India 2026 on 17 September 2026.

The event is jointly organised by the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI).

Theme: “Silicon to Systems: Building the Ecosystem.”

SEMICON India 2026 will bring together government leaders, semiconductor companies, investors, industry experts, academia, start-ups and students to strengthen collaboration, innovation, manufacturing and investment in the semiconductor sector.

The event will focus on semiconductor manufacturing, chip design, Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital transformation, supply chains, chemicals, gases and materials, government programmes, sustainability, product creation, start-ups, innovation, talent and skill development.

13) Answer: D

Short Explanation:

The Tamil Nadu Government has announced that maternity leave for women government employees having their third child will be increased from 12 weeks to 365 days (one year).

The announcement was made by D. Sarathkumar, Minister for Human Resources Management, in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly during the demand for grants for his department.

Currently, women government employees with less than two surviving children are eligible for 365 days of maternity leave, while those with two or more surviving children receive 12 weeks of maternity leave with full pay.

The proposed change will extend the 365-day maternity leave benefit to eligible women employees having their third child.

Detailed Explanation:

The Tamil Nadu Government has announced that maternity leave for women government employees having their third child will be increased from 12 weeks to 365 days (one year).

The announcement was made by D. Sarathkumar, Minister for Human Resources Management, in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly during the demand for grants for his department.

Currently, women government employees with less than two surviving children are eligible for 365 days of maternity leave, while those with two or more surviving children receive 12 weeks of maternity leave with full pay.

The proposed change will extend the 365-day maternity leave benefit to eligible women employees having their third child.

A detailed Government Order (GO) is expected to be issued to formally implement the revised provision.

Tamil Nadu maternity leave timeline:

2011: Maternity leave increased from 90 days to 6 months.

2016: Leave further increased to 9 months.

July 2021: Maternity leave extended to 365 days (1 year) for eligible women government employees.

The existing 12-week maternity leave for women with two or more surviving children is based on Supreme Court directives and subsequent amendments to state service rules.

14) Answer: D

Short Explanation:

Mahindra & Mahindra Limited was recognised as the Overall Industry Champion for its outstanding contribution to internships and youth engagement under the Prime Minister Internship Scheme.

Top Public Sector Undertaking Partners: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, NTPC Limited and Western Coalfields Limited.

Top Private Partners: Reliance Industries Limited, Infosys Limited and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Limited.

Pre-Internship Excellence Award: HDFC Bank Limited.

Internship Management Excellence Award: Shriram Finance Limited.

Innovation in Programme Implementation Award: IBM India Private Limited.

Detailed Explanation:

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs organised the Prime Minister Internship Scheme Industry Awards 2026 in New Delhi to recognise industry partners for their contribution to the successful implementation of the Prime Minister Internship Scheme during its pilot phase.

Mahindra & Mahindra Limited was recognised as the Overall Industry Champion for its outstanding contribution to internships and youth engagement under the Prime Minister Internship Scheme.

Top Public Sector Undertaking Partners: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, NTPC Limited and Western Coalfields Limited.

Top Private Partners: Reliance Industries Limited, Infosys Limited and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Limited.

Pre-Internship Excellence Award: HDFC Bank Limited.

Internship Management Excellence Award: Shriram Finance Limited.

Innovation in Programme Implementation Award: IBM India Private Limited.

Innovation in Exit Pathways Award: Power Grid Corporation of India Limited.

Sectoral Champions: Metals and Mining — Central Coalfields Limited; Fast-Moving Consumer Goods — ITC Limited; Agriculture and Allied — DCM Shriram Limited; Healthcare — Dr. Lal PathLabs Limited; Pharmaceutical — Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Limited and Emcure Pharmaceuticals Limited.

Banking and Financial Services: National Stock Exchange of India Limited; Oil, Gas and Energy — Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited and Oil India Limited; Information Technology and Software Development — Tech Mahindra Limited.

15) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

Lakshmanan Meyyappan, a 16-year-old Indian, has been recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s youngest male Chartered Accountant (CA).

He achieved the record at the age of 16 years and 141 days in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Meyyappan began pursuing the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification at the age of 15 and completed it in approximately one year.

Detailed Explanation:

Lakshmanan Meyyappan, a 16-year-old Indian, has been recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s youngest male Chartered Accountant (CA).

He achieved the record at the age of 16 years and 141 days in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Meyyappan began pursuing the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification at the age of 15 and completed it in approximately one year.

His interest in accounting developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, following his Class 10 board examinations.

He subsequently earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter and is currently pursuing a Master of Science (MSc) in Finance.

He is working as a Senior Research Analyst at Century Financial in Dubai, where his responsibilities include investment research, financial analysis and decision-making.

16) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

Hakainde Hichilema, leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND), was re-elected as the President of Zambia for a second consecutive five-year term (2026–2031).

The Zambian general elections were held on 13 August 2026.

Hakainde Hichilema secured 2,965,326 votes, receiving approximately 61.4% of the vote share.

Detailed Explanation:

Hakainde Hichilema, leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND), was re-elected as the President of Zambia for a second consecutive five-year term (2026–2031).

The Zambian general elections were held on 13 August 2026.

Hakainde Hichilema secured 2,965,326 votes, receiving approximately 61.4% of the vote share.

He defeated the main opposition challenger Brian Mundubile, who secured 1,856,217 votes, equivalent to approximately 38.4% of the vote share.

Nearly 5 million votes were cast in the election.

Under Zambia’s presidential election system, a candidate must secure more than 50% + 1 of the valid votes to win outright and avoid a second-round run-off.

17) Answer: E

Gautam Rangarajan, an Indian-origin strategist and media executive, has been appointed Expert Adviser on Structure and Process by British Prime Minister Andy Burnham at 10 Downing Street.

The appointment was announced by Downing Street, and Rangarajan will advise on the restructuring of the UK Government’s structure and processes.

19) Answer: D

Short Explanation:

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) to lease two MQ-9B Sea Guardian High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) for the Indian Navy.

The leasing period of the two MQ-9B Sea Guardian RPAS is 30 months.

The contract is valued at approximately ₹1,943 crore.

The contract was signed on 17 August 2026 at Kartavya Bhawan-2, New Delhi.

The contract-signing ceremony was held in the presence of A. Anbarasu, Additional Secretary & Director General (Acquisition), Department of Defence.

Detailed Explanation:

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) to lease two MQ-9B Sea Guardian High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) for the Indian Navy.

The leasing period of the two MQ-9B Sea Guardian RPAS is 30 months.

The contract is valued at approximately ₹1,943 crore.

The contract was signed on 17 August 2026 at Kartavya Bhawan-2, New Delhi.

The contract-signing ceremony was held in the presence of A. Anbarasu, Additional Secretary & Director General (Acquisition), Department of Defence.

The MQ-9B Sea Guardian is equipped with advanced systems, state-of-the-art sensors and sophisticated payloads, making it suitable for long-duration maritime surveillance.

The induction of these systems will significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) capabilities.

The MQ-9B Sea Guardian systems will provide persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) coverage over vast areas of the maritime domain.

 

19) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru released SraVaani as an open-source multilingual speech-recognition model.

SraVaani was developed by the SPIRE Lab at IISc in collaboration with ARTPARK, with support from Google.

The model converts spoken words into text across 65 Indian languages and dialects, expanding speech-recognition technology beyond traditionally supported languages.

SraVaani covers 20 scheduled Indian languages and 45 regional languages and dialects, including Garo, Angika, Chakma, Kokborok, Tulu, Bundeli and Bajjika.

Detailed Explanation:

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru released SraVaani as an open-source multilingual speech-recognition model.

SraVaani was developed by the SPIRE Lab at IISc in collaboration with ARTPARK, with support from Google.

The model converts spoken words into text across 65 Indian languages and dialects, expanding speech-recognition technology beyond traditionally supported languages.

SraVaani covers 20 scheduled Indian languages and 45 regional languages and dialects, including Garo, Angika, Chakma, Kokborok, Tulu, Bundeli and Bajjika.

The model supports 10 scripts and has an automatic language identification feature, eliminating the need for users to manually select the language before speech recognition.

SraVaani is designed to address the gap in speech AI for India's regional and non-scheduled languages, which remain underserved by existing speech-recognition systems.

 

20) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

Tata Power Company Limited and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) signed a Master Research Agreement (MRA) to accelerate the development, scaling and commercialisation of next-generation energy technologies and clean energy solutions.

The MRA was signed at the IIT Bombay campus, Mumbai, Maharashtra, by Dr. Praveer Sinha, CEO & MD, Tata Power, and Prof. Shrikrishna V. Kulkarni, Dean (Research & Development), IIT Bombay.

The partnership aims to bridge the gap between laboratory research and commercial deployment by developing scalable, industry-ready energy technologies.

Detailed Explanation:

Tata Power Company Limited and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) signed a Master Research Agreement (MRA) to accelerate the development, scaling and commercialisation of next-generation energy technologies and clean energy solutions.

The MRA was signed at the IIT Bombay campus, Mumbai, Maharashtra, by Dr. Praveer Sinha, CEO & MD, Tata Power, and Prof. Shrikrishna V. Kulkarni, Dean (Research & Development), IIT Bombay.

The partnership aims to bridge the gap between laboratory research and commercial deployment by developing scalable, industry-ready energy technologies.

The collaboration will support India’s clean energy transition, strengthen energy security, and contribute to sustainable development.

The key focus areas include smart grids, power electronics, energy storage systems, electric mobility, cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence (AI) for power systems, digital grid technologies, carbon capture technologies, and circular economy.

 

21) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

CDSL Investor Protection Fund (CDSL IPF) has launched a multilingual investor education film titled “The Garden of Prosperity” to promote financial awareness, thoughtful financial planning and informed investing.

The animated film has been developed in collaboration with Amar Chitra Katha (ACK), using engaging storytelling to explain important investment concepts in a simple and relatable manner.

Detailed Explanation:

CDSL Investor Protection Fund (CDSL IPF) has launched a multilingual investor education film titled “The Garden of Prosperity” to promote financial awareness, thoughtful financial planning and informed investing.

The animated film has been developed in collaboration with Amar Chitra Katha (ACK), using engaging storytelling to explain important investment concepts in a simple and relatable manner.

“The Garden of Prosperity” uses the analogy of nurturing a garden to explain the importance of making wise and thoughtful investment decisions.

The animated film features the popular historical characters Akbar and Birbal, who guide a newly married couple on how to invest their wedding gifts wisely.

Through the story, Akbar and Birbal explain essential concepts related to financial planning and informed investing, making investment knowledge easier to understand.

 

22) Answer: E

Short Explanation:

Sigma Advanced Systems, in partnership with Indrajaal Autonomous Defence Systems, secured a ₹155 crore order from the Ministry of Home Affairs for deploying Indrajaal Ranger mobile anti-drone patrol vehicles.

The contract includes ₹145 crore for border security and ₹10 crore for urban policing and VVIP protection.

The order marks a shift in counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (counter-UAS) security from static installations towards mobile and active patrolling.

Indrajaal Ranger is based on the Toyota Hilux platform and uses SkyOS. It is designed to detect, track, identify and neutralise rogue drones while operating at high speed.

Detailed Explanation:

Sigma Advanced Systems, in partnership with Indrajaal Autonomous Defence Systems, secured a ₹155 crore order from the Ministry of Home Affairs for deploying Indrajaal Ranger mobile anti-drone patrol vehicles.

The contract includes ₹145 crore for border security and ₹10 crore for urban policing and VVIP protection.

The order marks a shift in counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (counter-UAS) security from static installations towards mobile and active patrolling.

Indrajaal Ranger is based on the Toyota Hilux platform and uses SkyOS. It is designed to detect, track, identify and neutralise rogue drones while operating at high speed.

The deployment will strengthen India's capabilities against drone-based security threats, particularly in sensitive border and urban areas.

Sigma Advanced Systems' consolidated revenue from operations increased 16% quarter-on-quarter to ₹374 crore in Q1 Financial Year 2026–27, compared with ₹323 crore in Q4 Financial Year 2025–26.

23) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

India and Armenia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Yerevan to strengthen cooperation in research, development, innovation and shared production in the defence sector.

The MoU was signed between India’s Ministry of Defence and Armenia’s Ministry of High-Tech Industry, reaffirming their commitment to expand bilateral defence industrial cooperation.

Rajesh Kumar Singh, Defence Secretary of India, met Davit Tadevosyan, Minister of High-Tech Industry of Armenia, in Yerevan during his two-day visit to Armenia.

Detailed Explanation:

India and Armenia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Yerevan to strengthen cooperation in research, development, innovation and shared production in the defence sector.

The MoU was signed between India’s Ministry of Defence and Armenia’s Ministry of High-Tech Industry, reaffirming their commitment to expand bilateral defence industrial cooperation.

Rajesh Kumar Singh, Defence Secretary of India, met Davit Tadevosyan, Minister of High-Tech Industry of Armenia, in Yerevan during his two-day visit to Armenia.

Rajesh Kumar Singh also met Suren Papikyan, Defence Minister of Armenia, to explore new avenues for strengthening India-Armenia defence cooperation.

He further held discussions with Lieutenant General Edvard Asryan, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia, focusing on defence industrial cooperation and defence research and development.

Nilakshi Saha Sinha, Ambassador of India to Armenia, also participated in the high-level discussions.

Operational Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) increased 11% quarter-on-quarter to ₹61 crore, with an operating EBITDA margin of around 16%.

The company’s order book has exceeded ₹8,000 crore, supported by recent aerospace and defence contracts.

24) Answer: E

Short Explanation:

Veteran Bengali filmmaker Raja Sen passed away at the age of 71 in Kolkata, West Bengal.

He was born on 10 November 1955 in Kolkata.

Raja Sen began his filmmaking journey with documentaries and later entered feature filmmaking with his directorial debut Damu (1996).

Detailed Explanation:

Veteran Bengali filmmaker Raja Sen passed away at the age of 71 in Kolkata, West Bengal.

He was born on 10 November 1955 in Kolkata.

Raja Sen began his filmmaking journey with documentaries and later entered feature filmmaking with his directorial debut Damu (1996).

Damu focused on the bond between a young boy and an elephant and won the National Film Award for Best Children’s Film in 1997.

Raja Sen won three National Film Awards during his career: Suchitra Mitra (1993) for Best Arts/Cultural Film, Damu (1997) for Best Children’s Film, and Atmiyo Swajan (1999) for Best Film on Family Welfare.

 

25) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

World Humanitarian Day (WHD) is observed annually on 19 August to honour humanitarian workers who provide life-saving assistance during conflicts, disasters and other humanitarian crises.

World Humanitarian Day 2026 Theme: “Honouring fallen humanitarians and calling for greater protection of health care.”

Detailed Explanation:

World Humanitarian Day (WHD) is observed annually on 19 August to honour humanitarian workers who provide life-saving assistance during conflicts, disasters and other humanitarian crises.

World Humanitarian Day 2026 Theme: “Honouring fallen humanitarians and calling for greater protection of health care.”

The day also promotes the protection of humanitarian personnel and respect for International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) designated 19 August as World Humanitarian Day through Resolution A/RES/63/139, adopted on 11 December 2008.

The first World Humanitarian Day was observed on 19 August 2009.

26) Answer: D

Short Explanation:

World Photography Day is observed annually on 19 August to celebrate the art, craft, science and history of photography.

World Photography Day 2026 Theme: “HOME”.

The first official World Photography Day was celebrated on 19 August 2010.

In 2010, nearly 270 photographers from around the world shared their photographs in a global online gallery, which was viewed by people from 100+ countries.

Detailed Explanation:

World Photography Day is observed annually on 19 August to celebrate the art, craft, science and history of photography.

World Photography Day 2026 Theme: “HOME”.

The first official World Photography Day was celebrated on 19 August 2010.

In 2010, nearly 270 photographers from around the world shared their photographs in a global online gallery, which was viewed by people from 100+ countries.

World Photography Day commemorates the significance of photography and cameras in documenting people, places, events and history.

The daguerreotype, an early photographic process, was publicly announced by the French Academy of Sciences in 1839.

The first digital photograph was created in 1957, nearly two decades before the invention of the digital camera.

27) Answer: C

About Zambia :

Capital : Lusaka

Currency : Zambian kwacha

28) Answer: D

Short Explanation:

By April 2026, 211 chips had been taped out by 75 institutions, demonstrating the growth of India's domestic chip-design capabilities.

7 chips have been successfully fabricated at different technology nodes, including an advanced 12 nanometre (nm) node.

Semicon 2.0 will further support semiconductor Intellectual Property (IP), chip design and system design, strengthening India's position as a global semiconductor design hub.

Detailed Explanation:

Under the Chips to Start-up (C2S) Programme, Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools have been deployed in 320 academic institutions, with more than 68,000 students trained.

Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools are specialised software platforms used to design, simulate, verify and optimise semiconductor chips before manufacturing.

The Government has provided advanced design tools to more than 332 academic institutions and 105 start-ups.

24 semiconductor design projects have been approved for financial support under the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme.

105 start-ups and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have also received support for Electronic Design Automation tools under the Design Linked Incentive ecosystem.

By April 2026, 211 chips had been taped out by 75 institutions, demonstrating the growth of India's domestic chip-design capabilities.

7 chips have been successfully fabricated at different technology nodes, including an advanced 12 nanometre (nm) node.

29) Answer: D

The Maharashtra Government has also been considering a regional snake venom collection bank to strengthen the availability of anti-venom.

The Health Minister stressed the importance of treatment during the “golden hour” — the first 60 minutes after snakebite.

Anti-Snake Venom (ASV) is used to neutralise the effects of snake venom and is an essential treatment for venomous snakebite.

Semicon 2.0 will further support semiconductor Intellectual Property (IP), chip design and system design, strengthening India's position as a global semiconductor design hub.

30) Answer: B

The SEBI Incident Reporting Portal is a revamped portal designed to make cyber-incident reporting more structured, timely and actionable for market intermediaries.

The SEBI Incident Reporting Portal is aligned with the Financial Stability Board (FSB)’s Format for Incident Reporting Exchange (FIRE) to promote greater consistency in incident reporting.

Alignment with the FSB FIRE format is expected to facilitate smoother cross-border cybersecurity incident reporting and reduce communication-related friction.