Dear Readers, Daily Current Affairs Questions Quiz for SBI, IBPS, RBI, RRB, SSC Exam 2026 of 29th October 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) Consider the following statements regarding the GST amendments under the Finance Act, 2026:

1. The amendments relating to post-supply discounts and refunds will come into effect from 1 November 2026.
2. Post-supply discounts can be excluded from the value of supply if the supplier issues a credit note and the recipient reverses the corresponding Input Tax Credit (ITC).
3.  Section 34(1) of the CGST Act, 2017 has been amended to recognise credit notes     issued for discounts covered under Section 15(3)(b).

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) I only

(b) II only

(c) I and II only

(d) All of the above

(e) None of the above

2) Which regulatory authority granted PB Money an Online Bond Platform Provider (OBPP) licence?

(a) Reserve Bank of India

(b) Securities and Exchange Board of India

(c) Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority

(d) Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India

(e) International Financial Services Centres Authority

3) Which country emerged as India’s largest soybean supplier in the 2025/26 marketing year?

(a) Benin

(b) Nigeria

(c) Togo

(d) Niger

(e) Ghana

 

4) In which country was the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity held?

(a) Georgia

(b) Armenia

(c) Azerbaijan

(d) Kazakhstan

(e) Uzbekistan

 

5) Which authority gave assent to the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) Bill 2026?

(a) Prime Minister of India

(b) Union Home Minister

(c) Chief Minister of Nagaland

(d) Governor of Nagaland

(e) President Droupadi Murmu

6) Which butterfly has been selected as Chhattisgarh’s proposed first official state butterfly?

(a) Common Banded Peacock

(b) Spot Swordtail

(c) Orange Oakleaf

(d) Blue Mormon

(e) Southern Birdwing

7) By how much did the Union Cabinet increase the Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) for Central Government employees and pensioners, effective from 1 July 2026?

(a) 2%

(b) 2.5%

(c) 3%

(d) 3.5%

(e) 4%

8) What is the total budgetary outlay approved for the Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme (CMPS)?

(a) ₹5,000 crore

(b) ₹7,500 crore

(c) ₹8,000 crore

(d) ₹10,000 crore

(e) ₹12,000 crore

 

9) In news, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation Proposes Major Changes to Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises 2027–28. Since which financial year has the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) been conducted?

(a) 2019–20

(b) 2020–21

(c) 2021–22

(d) 2022–23

(e) 2023–24

 

10) Who has been assigned the additional charge of Director General of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)?

(a) Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor

(b) Sanjay Singhal

(c) Rajesh Kumar Singh

(d) Anil Chauhan

(e) Manoj Yadav

11) Who became the first Indian Air Force officer to be appointed Additional Secretary in the Department of Military Affairs (DMA)?

(a) Air Marshal Vikram Gaur

(b) Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit

(c) Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor

(d) Air Marshal Tejinder Singh

(e) Air Marshal Sandeep Singh

12) Which edition of the India–Indonesia Joint Special Forces Exercise GARUDA SHAKTI was conducted in 2026?

(a) 8th edition

(b) 9th edition

(c) 10th edition

(d) 11th edition

(e) 12th edition

 

13) Which organisation is organising VISV-2026 in collaboration with the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS)?

(a) Defence Research and Development Organisation

(b) Indian Space Research Organisation

(c) Defence Production Department

(d) National Security Council Secretariat

(e) Indian Council of World Affairs

 

14) Who became the first English footballer in 25 years to win the men’s Ballon d’Or?

(a) Kylian Mbappé

(b) Lamine Yamal

(c) Michael Owen

(d) Harry Kane

(e) Jude Bellingham

 

15) How many books were shortlisted for the 2026 Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay New India Foundation (NIF) Book Prize?

(a) Three

(b) Four

(c) Five

(d) Six

(e) Seven

 

16)In which national park was the new flowering plant species Osbeckia assamensis documented?

(a) Kaziranga National Park

(b) Nameri National Park

(c) Dibru-Saikhowa National Park

(d) Orang National Park

(e) Manas National Park

 

17) Recently, Yasuo Fukuda, who passed away at the age of 90, was the former Prime Minister of which country?

(a) Japan

(b) South Korea

(c) China

(d) Thailand

(e) Vietnam

18) Which clubs won the Men’s and Women’s Club of the Year awards, respectively?

(a) Real Madrid and Chelsea

(b) Manchester City and Barcelona

(c) Bayern Munich and Arsenal

(d) Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona

(e) Liverpool and Real Madrid

19) Where was the 10th edition of the India–Indonesia Joint Special Forces Exercise GARUDA SHAKTI held in December 2025?

(a) Uttarakhand

(b) Himachal Pradesh

(c) Rajasthan

(d) Madhya Pradesh

(e) Arunachal Pradesh

20) Who is the Governor of Chhattisgarh?

(a) Ramen Deka

(b) Haribhau Bagade

(c) Gulab Chand Kataria

(d) C. P. Radhakrishnan

(e) Arif Mohammed Khan


Answers:

1) Answer: D

Short Explanation:

The Ministry of Finance has notified 1 November 2026 as the effective date for amendments under the Finance Act, 2026, relating to post-supply discounts, provisional GST refunds under the Inverted Duty Structure (IDS), and export refunds.

The amendments were announced in the Union Budget 2026–27, passed under the Finance Act, 2026, and approved by the GST Council.

The amendments aim to simplify GST compliance, provide relief to businesses, accelerate refunds and improve working capital availability.

The amendment to post-supply discounts removes the requirement that such discounts must be established through an agreement entered into before or at the time of supply.

Under the amended rules, post-supply discounts can be excluded from the value of supply if the supplier issues a credit note and the recipient reverses the corresponding Input Tax Credit (ITC), subject to applicable conditions.

Section 34(1) of the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act, 2017, has been amended to recognise credit notes issued for discounts covered under Section 15(3)(b), aligning credit note provisions with GST valuation rules.

Detailed Explanation:

The Ministry of Finance has notified 1 November 2026 as the effective date for amendments under the Finance Act, 2026, relating to post-supply discounts, provisional GST refunds under the Inverted Duty Structure (IDS), and export refunds.

The amendments were announced in the Union Budget 2026–27, passed under the Finance Act, 2026, and approved by the GST Council.

The amendments aim to simplify GST compliance, provide relief to businesses, accelerate refunds and improve working capital availability.

The amendment to post-supply discounts removes the requirement that such discounts must be established through an agreement entered into before or at the time of supply.

Under the amended rules, post-supply discounts can be excluded from the value of supply if the supplier issues a credit note and the recipient reverses the corresponding Input Tax Credit (ITC), subject to applicable conditions.

Section 34(1) of the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act, 2017, has been amended to recognise credit notes issued for discounts covered under Section 15(3)(b), aligning credit note provisions with GST valuation rules.

The changes are expected to benefit industries such as Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), pharmaceuticals, retail and consumer durables, where dealer rebates, turnover-based incentives and sales-target discounts are common.

Under the amended Inverted Duty Structure (IDS) refund rules, eligible registered businesses can receive up to 90% of the claimed refund amount provisionally, subject to applicable conditions and verification.

The provision allows eligible provisional refunds to be issued within seven days, helping businesses access working capital more quickly.

Inverted Duty Structure (IDS) refers to a situation in which the GST rate on inputs is higher than the GST rate on output supplies, potentially leading to accumulated input tax credit.

Short Explanation:

The Ministry of Finance has notified 1 November 2026 as the effective date for amendments under the Finance Act, 2026, relating to post-supply discounts, provisional GST refunds under the Inverted Duty Structure (IDS), and export refunds.

The amendments were announced in the Union Budget 2026–27, passed under the Finance Act, 2026, and approved by the GST Council.

The amendments aim to simplify GST compliance, provide relief to businesses, accelerate refunds and improve working capital availability.

The amendment to post-supply discounts removes the requirement that such discounts must be established through an agreement entered into before or at the time of supply.

Under the amended rules, post-supply discounts can be excluded from the value of supply if the supplier issues a credit note and the recipient reverses the corresponding Input Tax Credit (ITC), subject to applicable conditions.

Section 34(1) of the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act, 2017, has been amended to recognise credit notes issued for discounts covered under Section 15(3)(b), aligning credit note provisions with GST valuation rules.

Detailed Explanation:

The Ministry of Finance has notified 1 November 2026 as the effective date for amendments under the Finance Act, 2026, relating to post-supply discounts, provisional GST refunds under the Inverted Duty Structure (IDS), and export refunds.

The amendments were announced in the Union Budget 2026–27, passed under the Finance Act, 2026, and approved by the GST Council.

The amendments aim to simplify GST compliance, provide relief to businesses, accelerate refunds and improve working capital availability.

The amendment to post-supply discounts removes the requirement that such discounts must be established through an agreement entered into before or at the time of supply.

Under the amended rules, post-supply discounts can be excluded from the value of supply if the supplier issues a credit note and the recipient reverses the corresponding Input Tax Credit (ITC), subject to applicable conditions.

Section 34(1) of the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act, 2017, has been amended to recognise credit notes issued for discounts covered under Section 15(3)(b), aligning credit note provisions with GST valuation rules.

The changes are expected to benefit industries such as Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), pharmaceuticals, retail and consumer durables, where dealer rebates, turnover-based incentives and sales-target discounts are common.

Under the amended Inverted Duty Structure (IDS) refund rules, eligible registered businesses can receive up to 90% of the claimed refund amount provisionally, subject to applicable conditions and verification.

The provision allows eligible provisional refunds to be issued within seven days, helping businesses access working capital more quickly.

Inverted Duty Structure (IDS) refers to a situation in which the GST rate on inputs is higher than the GST rate on output supplies, potentially leading to accumulated input tax credit.

2) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

PB Money has received an Online Bond Platform Provider (OBPP) licence from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to simplify bond investments and expand access to fixed-income products for retail investors.

The OBPP licence enables PB Money to manage the end-to-end bond investment process, including investor onboarding, Know Your Customer (KYC) verification, bond discovery, evaluation, order placement, payment coordination and post-investment services.

Detailed Explanation:

PB Money has received an Online Bond Platform Provider (OBPP) licence from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to simplify bond investments and expand access to fixed-income products for retail investors.

The OBPP licence enables PB Money to manage the end-to-end bond investment process, including investor onboarding, Know Your Customer (KYC) verification, bond discovery, evaluation, order placement, payment coordination and post-investment services.

The platform allows investors to compare bonds based on yield, credit rating and investment amount, helping them make informed investment decisions.

PB Money is registered as a stockbroker in the debt segment of the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE), enabling investors to access bond offerings and trade secondary-market bonds and debentures.

PB Money has partnered with Paisabazaar, allowing investors to explore bond offerings on the Paisabazaar platform and complete their transactions through PB Money.

3) Answer: D

Short Explanation:

India’s soybean imports reached a record 1.1 million metric tonnes in the 2025/26 marketing year, compared with approximately 2,000 tonnes in the previous year.

The sharp increase in imports was driven by a rally in domestic soybean prices, which encouraged Indian mills to increase overseas purchases.

The Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) provided data on India’s soybean imports.

India permits imports only of non-genetically modified (non-GM) soybeans, restricting supply to a limited number of African countries.

The major African soybean suppliers to India include Benin, Niger, Togo and Nigeria.

Niger emerged as India’s largest soybean supplier in 2025/26, with estimated shipments exceeding 430,000 tonnes during the marketing year ended 30 September 2026.

Detailed Explanation:

India’s soybean imports reached a record 1.1 million metric tonnes in the 2025/26 marketing year, compared with approximately 2,000 tonnes in the previous year.

The sharp increase in imports was driven by a rally in domestic soybean prices, which encouraged Indian mills to increase overseas purchases.

The Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) provided data on India’s soybean imports.

India permits imports only of non-genetically modified (non-GM) soybeans, restricting supply to a limited number of African countries.

The major African soybean suppliers to India include Benin, Niger, Togo and Nigeria.

Niger emerged as India’s largest soybean supplier in 2025/26, with estimated shipments exceeding 430,000 tonnes during the marketing year ended 30 September 2026.

Indian customs authorities investigated soybean imports declared as originating in Niger over suspicions that some shipments originated in Nigeria and were mislabelled to evade import tariffs.

India’s soymeal exports fell by 50% in 2025/26 to approximately 1 million tonnes.

4) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released the first global coral reef assessment under the Red List of Ecosystems (RLE) at the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Yerevan, Armenia.

According to the assessment, 96% of the shallow-water coral reef ecosystems assessed have been classified as Critically Endangered (CR) and are expected to collapse by 2075.

The assessment covers coral reef ecosystems in warm, shallow waters across 127 tropical and subtropical ecoregions.

Detailed Explanation:

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released the first global coral reef assessment under the Red List of Ecosystems (RLE) at the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Yerevan, Armenia.

According to the assessment, 96% of the shallow-water coral reef ecosystems assessed have been classified as Critically Endangered (CR) and are expected to collapse by 2075.

The assessment covers coral reef ecosystems in warm, shallow waters across 127 tropical and subtropical ecoregions.

The assessment encompasses 188,362 square kilometres of coral reefs across more than 80 countries and territories.

The IUCN assessed each ecoregion against five criteria: reduction in distribution, restricted distribution, environmental degradation, disruption of biotic processes and quantitative risk analysis.

Out of the 127 coral reef ecosystems assessed, four were classified as Data Deficient (DD) because insufficient scientific data were available to accurately evaluate their risk of collapse.

 

5) Answer: E

President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) Bill 2026, which was unanimously passed by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on 3 September 2026.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio announced the President’s assent through a post on the social media platform X.

Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio thanked President Droupadi Murmu for granting assent and expressed gratitude to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for coordinating the process.

The Chief Minister described the development as an important step towards fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Eastern Nagaland

6) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

Chhattisgarh has selected the Orange Oakleaf (Kallima inachus) as its proposed first official state butterfly.

The proposal was finalised at the 15th meeting of the State Wildlife Board and forwarded to the State Government for formal notification.

The butterfly was selected through an online public voting process conducted from 31 July to 31 August 2026. A total of 5,813 people participated, and the Orange Oakleaf secured 3,000 votes.

Detailed Explanation:

Chhattisgarh has selected the Orange Oakleaf (Kallima inachus) as its proposed first official state butterfly.

The proposal was finalised at the 15th meeting of the State Wildlife Board and forwarded to the State Government for formal notification.

The butterfly was selected through an online public voting process conducted from 31 July to 31 August 2026. A total of 5,813 people participated, and the Orange Oakleaf secured 3,000 votes.

The other shortlisted species were the Common Banded Peacock, which received 1,606 votes and finished second, and the Spot Swordtail, which received 1,207 votes and finished third.

An expert committee shortlisted the three species based on their ecological significance, ease of identification and presence in Chhattisgarh.

The Orange Oakleaf is known for its distinctive camouflage. When its wings are closed, it resembles a dry or withered leaf, helping it conceal itself from predators.

When its wings are spread, it displays striking shades of deep orange, dark blue and jet-black.

7) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved an additional 3% instalment of Dearness Allowance (DA) for Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners, effective from 1 July 2026.

Following the increase, DA and DR will rise from 60% to 63% of Basic Pay and Pension, respectively.

The increase aims to compensate employees and pensioners for the impact of rising prices.

Detailed Explanation:

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved an additional 3% instalment of Dearness Allowance (DA) for Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners, effective from 1 July 2026.

Following the increase, DA and DR will rise from 60% to 63% of Basic Pay and Pension, respectively.

The increase aims to compensate employees and pensioners for the impact of rising prices.

The combined annual financial impact of the increase on the government exchequer is estimated at ₹10,016.10 crore.

The decision is expected to benefit approximately 48.54 lakh Central Government employees and 68.71 lakh pensioners.

The increase has been approved in accordance with the accepted formula based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC).

8) Answer: D

Short Explanation:

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme (CMPS) with a budgetary outlay of ₹10,000 crore up to Financial Year 2039–40.

Announced in the Union Budget 2026–27, the scheme aims to establish a globally competitive container manufacturing ecosystem in India, reduce import dependence and strengthen supply-chain resilience.

The scheme will support both greenfield manufacturing facilities (new facilities) and brownfield expansion (expansion of existing facilities) to increase domestic container manufacturing capacity and improve the competitiveness of Indian manufacturers.

Detailed Explanation:

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme (CMPS) with a budgetary outlay of ₹10,000 crore up to Financial Year 2039–40.

Announced in the Union Budget 2026–27, the scheme aims to establish a globally competitive container manufacturing ecosystem in India, reduce import dependence and strengthen supply-chain resilience.

The scheme will support both greenfield manufacturing facilities (new facilities) and brownfield expansion (expansion of existing facilities) to increase domestic container manufacturing capacity and improve the competitiveness of Indian manufacturers.

The scheme has three major components:

Interest Subvention Assistance (ISA): With an allocation of ₹859 crore, it will provide interest subvention of 3% per annum on eligible term loans for establishing new container manufacturing facilities and expanding existing manufacturing capacity.

Operational Expenditure Assistance (OEA): With an allocation of ₹8,891 crore, it will provide financial assistance for containers manufactured by eligible manufacturers in accordance with global shipping standards and sold in the market.

The assistance is intended to bridge the cost gap and improve the competitiveness of domestically manufactured containers.

Testing and Certification Assistance: With an allocation of ₹150 crore, it will support the establishment of common testing facilities, including facilities for dynamic longitudinal impact testing, to strengthen testing and certification capabilities.

9) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

The National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has proposed changes to the schedule of the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) 2027–28 to improve its policy relevance and address emerging data requirements.

ASUSE has been conducted since 2021–22 to generate comprehensive statistical information on India’s unincorporated non-agricultural sector, which contributes significantly to employment, gross value added, livelihoods and economic activity through its linkages with the incorporated sector.

Detailed Explanation:

The National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has proposed changes to the schedule of the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) 2027–28 to improve its policy relevance and address emerging data requirements.

ASUSE has been conducted since 2021–22 to generate comprehensive statistical information on India’s unincorporated non-agricultural sector, which contributes significantly to employment, gross value added, livelihoods and economic activity through its linkages with the incorporated sector.

The proposed changes have been developed based on stakeholder feedback received during ASUSE 2026, consultations with stakeholder Ministries, Data User Conferences, expert-group discussions and the NSO’s internal assessment of survey requirements.

Gender-specific constraints: For the first time, questions will be introduced to capture the constraints faced by female entrepreneurs in operating and managing their establishments. The information will help analyse challenges faced by female-led enterprises and inform policy discussions on women’s participation in economic activity.

10) Answer: B

Short Explanation:

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) assigned the additional charge of Director General (DG) of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) to Sanjay Singhal, Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

The appointment was approved on 27 October 2026 and will take effect from 31 October 2026.

Sanjay Singhal is a 1993-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer belonging to the Uttar Pradesh cadre.

Detailed Explanation:

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) assigned the additional charge of Director General (DG) of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) to Sanjay Singhal, Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

The appointment was approved on 27 October 2026 and will take effect from 31 October 2026.

Sanjay Singhal is a 1993-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer belonging to the Uttar Pradesh cadre.

He will succeed Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor, a 1990-batch IPS officer of the Haryana cadre, who is scheduled to retire on 31 October 2026.

The ITBP guards India’s 3,488-kilometre border with China.

The SSB guards India’s international borders with Nepal and Bhutan.

The appointment involves Sanjay Singhal holding additional charge of ITBP DG while continuing as the DG of SSB.

11) Answer: A

Air Marshal Vikram Gaur was appointed Additional Secretary in the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) under the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in October 2026, becoming the first Indian Air Force (IAF) officer to hold this position.

Before his appointment, he served as Joint Secretary (Air and Staff Duties) in the DMA from October 2024 and was promoted to Air Marshal in July 2026.

12) Answer: D

The 11th edition of the India–Indonesia Joint Special Forces Exercise GARUDA SHAKTI 2026 commenced at Banyuwangi, Indonesia.

Exercise GARUDA SHAKTI 2026 is being conducted from 27 October to 6 November 2026 to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation and operational interoperability between India and Indonesia.

The 10th edition of Exercise GARUDA SHAKTI was held from 3 to 12 December 2025 at the Special Forces Training School (SFTS), Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh, India.

The first edition of the India–Indonesia Joint Special Forces Exercise GARUDA SHAKTI was held in 2012 in India.

13) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth will inaugurate VISV-2026 on 30 October 2026 at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi.

VISV-2026 stands for Vision, Innovation, Synergy, Values and is being organised by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS).

The theme of VISV-2026 is “Showcasing Defence Capabilities, Strengthening Global Partnerships.”

Detailed Explanation:

Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth will inaugurate VISV-2026 on 30 October 2026 at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi.

VISV-2026 stands for Vision, Innovation, Synergy, Values and is being organised by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS).

The theme of VISV-2026 is “Showcasing Defence Capabilities, Strengthening Global Partnerships.”

The event aims to showcase India’s indigenous defence technology capabilities and strengthen engagement with friendly partner nations.

VISV-2026 will bring together representatives from the defence establishment, industry, academia and diplomatic community to highlight India’s progress in defence research, development and production.

The event will explore opportunities for technology-led cooperation, strategic partnerships, joint collaboration and capability development between India and friendly partner nations.

14) Answer: D

Short Explanation:

England captain Harry Kane won the men’s Ballon d’Or for the first time, becoming the first Englishman in 25 years to receive football’s top individual honour. Spain’s Alexia Putellas won the Women’s Ballon d’Or for the third time.

Harry Kane, a 33-year-old striker for Bayern Munich, finished ahead of Kylian Mbappé of France and Real Madrid, while Lamine Yamal of Spain and Barcelona finished third.

Detailed Explanation:

England captain Harry Kane won the men’s Ballon d’Or for the first time, becoming the first Englishman in 25 years to receive football’s top individual honour. Spain’s Alexia Putellas won the Women’s Ballon d’Or for the third time.

Harry Kane, a 33-year-old striker for Bayern Munich, finished ahead of Kylian Mbappé of France and Real Madrid, while Lamine Yamal of Spain and Barcelona finished third.

Kane scored 73 goals for club and country during the 2025–26 season, including 61 goals for Bayern Munich. He helped Bayern retain the Bundesliga title and became the German league’s leading scorer for the third consecutive season.

Kane became the first Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001 and the fifth English player overall to receive the award.

Kane also won the men’s Gerd Müller Trophy, awarded to the season’s leading striker. Charlyn Corral of Mexico and Pachuca won the women’s Gerd Müller Trophy.

15) Answer: C

Short Explanation:

The New India Foundation (NIF) announced the shortlist of five books for the 2026 Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize (KCBP).

The award recognises outstanding non-fiction works that deepen understanding of India’s history, democracy, politics and society.

The winner will receive a cash prize of ₹15 lakh.

Detailed Explanation:

The New India Foundation (NIF) announced the shortlist of five books for the 2026 Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize (KCBP).

The award recognises outstanding non-fiction works that deepen understanding of India’s history, democracy, politics and society.

The winner will receive a cash prize of ₹15 lakh.

The winner is scheduled to be announced in December 2026, and the award presentation will take place on 12 December 2026 during the Bangalore Literature Festival 2026.

Niraja Gopal Jayal, a political scientist and chair of the jury, highlighted the shortlisted books’ contributions to understanding India’s historical and contemporary experiences through rigorous and imaginative non-fiction.

The five shortlisted books and their authors are:

A Man for All Seasons: The Life of K. M. Panikkar — Narayani Basu.

Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia — Sam Dalrymple

Assembling India’s Constitution: A New Democratic History — Rohit De and Ornit Shani.

A Sixth of Humanity: Independent India’s Development Odyssey — Devesh Kapur and Arvind Subramanian.

The Secret Master: Arun Kashalkar and a Journey to the Edge of Music — Sumana Ramanan.

15) Answer: E

Short Explanation:

Researchers Namita Nath of Gauhati University, Assam, and Barnali Das of Pragjyotish College, Assam, documented a new flowering plant species named Osbeckia assamensis in Manas National Park, Assam.

The discovery was made through floristic surveys conducted between 2021 and 2025 and published in the peer-reviewed international journal Phytotaxa.

Osbeckia assamensis belongs to the family Melastomataceae and the genus Osbeckia.

Detailed Explanation:

Researchers Namita Nath of Gauhati University, Assam, and Barnali Das of Pragjyotish College, Assam, documented a new flowering plant species named Osbeckia assamensis in Manas National Park, Assam.

The discovery was made through floristic surveys conducted between 2021 and 2025 and published in the peer-reviewed international journal Phytotaxa.

Osbeckia assamensis belongs to the family Melastomataceae and the genus Osbeckia.

The plant is a perennial shrub that grows approximately 2–2.5 metres tall, with a largely unbranched stem, large opposite leaves and pink flowers measuring 3–3.5 cm.

Each inflorescence bears 30–35 flowers, compared with 5–12 flowers in Osbeckia nayarii, a closely related species.

The new species is distinguished by its stem structure, leaf characteristics, flower arrangement, hairy calyx margins and seed characteristics.

17) Answer: A

Short Explanation:

Yasuo Fukuda, former Prime Minister of Japan, passed away in Tokyo, Japan, at the age of 90.

He was born on 16 July 1936 in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, Japan.

Yasuo Fukuda was Japan’s first second-generation Prime Minister, meaning he was the first Japanese Prime Minister whose father had also served as Prime Minister.

Detailed Explanation:

Yasuo Fukuda, former Prime Minister of Japan, passed away in Tokyo, Japan, at the age of 90.

He was born on 16 July 1936 in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, Japan.

Yasuo Fukuda was Japan’s first second-generation Prime Minister, meaning he was the first Japanese Prime Minister whose father had also served as Prime Minister.

Before entering politics, Fukuda worked at Maruzen Petroleum for nearly 17 years.

He entered politics in 1976 as a secretary to his father, Takeo Fukuda, who was also a former Prime Minister of Japan.

He was elected to Japan’s House of Representatives in 1990.

He served as Chief Cabinet Secretary from 2000 to 2004.

Fukuda served as the Prime Minister of Japan from September 2007 to September 2008.

18) Answer: D

Short Explanation:

England captain Harry Kane won the men’s Ballon d’Or for the first time, becoming the first Englishman in 25 years to receive football’s top individual honour. Spain’s Alexia Putellas won the Women’s Ballon d’Or for the third time.

Paris Saint-Germain won the Men’s Club of the Year award, while Barcelona received the Women’s Club of the Year award.

Detailed Explanation:

England captain Harry Kane won the men’s Ballon d’Or for the first time, becoming the first Englishman in 25 years to receive football’s top individual honour. Spain’s Alexia Putellas won the Women’s Ballon d’Or for the third time.

Lamine Yamal of Barcelona won the men’s Kopa Trophy for young players for the third consecutive year, while Barcelona’s Vicky López won the women’s Kopa Trophy.

Unai Simón of Spain won the men’s Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper, while Cata Coll of Barcelona and Spain received the women’s award.

Luis de la Fuente, coach of Spain’s men’s national team, was named Men’s Coach of the Year, while Pere Romeu of Barcelona won the Women’s Coach of the Year award.

Paris Saint-Germain won the Men’s Club of the Year award, while Barcelona received the Women’s Club of the Year award.

Bukayo Saka, the England and Arsenal winger, received the Sócrates Award, which recognises footballers for their humanitarian work and social initiatives.

The ceremony was held at the London Palladium to mark the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d’Or. It was the first time the ceremony was held in London, paying tribute to England’s Stanley Matthews, the inaugural winner in 1956.

The Ballon d’Or was established by France Football in 1956 and has been co-organised with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) since 2024.

19) Answer: B

The 10th edition of Exercise GARUDA SHAKTI was held from 3 to 12 December 2025 at the Special Forces Training School (SFTS), Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh, India.

The first edition of the India–Indonesia Joint Special Forces Exercise GARUDA SHAKTI was held in 2012 in India.

20) Answer: A

About Chhattisgarh:

Chief Minister: Vishnu Deo Sai

Governor: Ramen Deka

Capital: Raipur

National Parks: Indravati, Kanger Valley, Guru Ghasidas National Parks

Wildlife Sanctuaries: Achanakmar, Barnawapara, Udanti Wild Buffalo, Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuaries