August 2026 Current Affairs Quiz – 85 questions

Answer: (a) Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY)

• The Correct Answer is: A) Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY)
• Approved by the Union Cabinet under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The scheme provides capital funding for setting up floating solar power plants across India's extensive lakes, water reservoirs, and dams, producing clean energy without utilizing critical land space.

Answer: (b) Delhi

• The Correct Answer is: B) Delhi
• State & Chief Minister / Authority: Delhi | Chief Minister: Rekha Gupta
• Key Details & Launcher: Implemented by the Government of Delhi to eliminate commuting barriers and boost school retention. It distributes free bicycles to female students enrolled in Class 9 across government and government-aided schools to ensure safe and independent transit.

Answer: (d) Samudra Manthan

• The Correct Answer is: D) Samudra Manthan
• Approved by the Union Cabinet with an extensive financial outlay of ₹84,084 crore. It is structured to accelerate offshore geological surveys, deep-sea exploration, and hydrocarbon mapping beneath the ocean bed to strengthen India's long-term energy independence.

Answer: (c) Uttar Pradesh

• The Correct Answer is: C) Uttar Pradesh
• State & Chief Minister: Uttar Pradesh | Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath
• Key Details & Launcher: Approved by the Uttar Pradesh government to honor women's welfare and social inclusion, this transport initiative grants lifelong free bus travel across all state-operated transport corporation services to female citizens aged 60 and above.

Answer: (c) Jammu & Kashmir

• The Correct Answer is: C) Jammu & Kashmir
• State / UT & Leadership: Jammu & Kashmir | Lieutenant Governor: Manoj Sinha
• Key Details & Launcher: Reached under the administrative framework of the ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society) Nav Bharat Saksharta Yojana, successfully expanding functional adult literacy, basic education, and digital access across the region.

Answer: (b) Tamil Nadu

• The Correct Answer is: B) Tamil Nadu
• State & Chief Minister: Tamil Nadu | Chief Minister: Joseph Vijay
• Key Details & Launcher: Launched by the Government of Tamil Nadu to provide specialized technical instruction and training to women farmers in modern agricultural drone technology, aerial crop observation, and precision farming methods.

Answer: (b) Karnataka

• The Correct Answer is: B) Karnataka
• State & Chief Minister: Karnataka | Chief Minister: D. K. Shivakumar
• Key Details & Launcher: Rolled out by the Government of Karnataka to provide state pensioners, family pensioners, and eligible dependents with cashless health insurance coverage of up to ₹5 lakh annually for secondary, tertiary, and emergency medical treatments.

Answer: (c) Tamil Nadu

• The Correct Answer is: C) Tamil Nadu
• State & Chief Minister: Tamil Nadu | Chief Minister: Joseph Vijay
• Key Details & Launcher: Announced within the Tamil Nadu state budget to extend financial security to brides from economically disadvantaged families by presenting an 8-gram gold coin and a traditional silk saree on their wedding day.

Answer: (a) Tamil Nadu

• The Correct Answer is: A) Tamil Nadu
• State & Chief Minister: Tamil Nadu | Chief Minister: Joseph Vijay
• Key Details: The Government of Tamil Nadu enacted a landmark policy amendment making it the first state in India to extend maternity leave from 12 weeks to 365 days (one full year) for female government employees specifically upon the birth of a third child. This progressive welfare step aims to encourage family welfare, provide adequate postnatal care, and ensure better work-life balance for working mothers.

Answer: (a) Ladakh

• The Correct Answer is: A) Ladakh
• Territory & Leadership: Ladakh | Lieutenant Governor: Vinai Kumar Saxena
• Key Details & Approval: The Union Cabinet approved the formal establishment of a dedicated circuit or permanent bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to serve the Union Territory of Ladakh. This historical administrative reform ensures accessible, swift, and cost-effective delivery of justice for residents of the remote mountainous region without requiring travel to Srinagar or Jammu.

Answer: (d) First Schedule

• The Correct Answer is: D) First Schedule
• Constitutional Provision: First Schedule of the Indian Constitution
• Key Details & Amendment: The Union Home Ministry officially processed the state nomenclature change, transitioning Kerala to Keralaam by amending the First Schedule of the Constitution (which outlines the states and union territories of the Indian Union). The change aligns the state's official title with its native Malayalam nomenclature, reflecting historical and cultural identity.

Answer: (a) Rashtriya Gaurav Apmaan Nivaran (Amendment) Bill, 2026

• The Correct Answer is: A) Rashtriya Gaurav Apmaan Nivaran (Amendment) Bill, 2026
• Parliamentary Action: Passed by both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha in July 2026
• Key Details: The Parliament enacted the Rashtriya Gaurav Apmaan Nivaran (Amendment) Bill, 2026, expanding national honor protections. It explicitly makes public acts of disrespect, deliberate distortion, or the obstruction of the singing of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ punishable legal offenses, mirroring safeguards already in place for the national anthem and national flag.

Answer: (c) Ladakh

• The Correct Answer is: C) Ladakh
• State / UT & Leadership: Ladakh | Lieutenant Governor: Vinai Kumar Saxena
• Key Details: Independent India's first comprehensive caste-based demographic enumeration under the broader Census 2027 framework officially commenced as a pilot exercise in the Union Territory of Ladakh. This administrative undertaking aims to collect granular socioeconomic and community data to better target developmental and welfare allocations.
• Census 2027 Details:
• Official Motto / Theme: "Inclusivity, Innovation, and Digital Transformation" to build a data foundation for a developed India (Viksit Bharat) by 2047.
• Mascots: "Pragati" (female enumerator) and "Vikas" (male enumerator), symbolizing equal participation in national progress.
• Digital Transformation: India's first-ever fully digital census, replacing paper with secure mobile apps and digital monitoring dashboards.
• Self-Enumeration: A secure web portal allowing citizens to pre-fill census data online in regional languages prior to field verification.
• Caste Census Inclusion: For the first time in independent India, comprehensive caste-based data collection is officially integrated into the demographic survey.
• Two-Phase Process: Split into Phase 1 (Houselisting & Housing Census) and Phase 2 (Population Enumeration).

Answer: (c) 38

• The Correct Answer is: C) 38
• Key Details: Parliament enacted the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, which officially raised the maximum sanctioned judicial strength of the Supreme Court of India to 38 (including the Chief Justice of India). This statutory expansion was necessitated by mounting litigation backlogs and the need to constitute larger constitutional benches for timely hearings.
• It amended the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956.

Answer: (c) East Bengal FC

• The Correct Answer is: C) East Bengal FC
• East Bengal FC won the 135th edition of the Durand Cup in August 2026.
• Match Summary
• Date: August 23, 2026
• Venue: Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium), Kolkata
• Result: East Bengal defeated arch-rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant 4–1.
• Milestone: This victory secured East Bengal's record-equalling 17th title and ended a 22-year title wait.
• Key Performers
• Edmund Lalrindika: Scored a brilliant first-half hat-trick and won the Golden Ball.
• Bipin Singh: Opened the scoring for East Bengal in the 10th minute.
• Manvir Singh: Scored the lone goal for Mohun Bagan.

Answer: (a) Punnamada Lake

• The Correct Answer is: A) Punnamada Lake, Alappuzha
• The 72nd Nehru Trophy Boat Race was held at Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha (Alleppey), Kerala.
• Event Details
• Date: August 22, 2026
• Location: Punnamada Lake, Alappuzha, Kerala
• Event Type: Annual snake boat regatta

Answer: (d) Asmita Dey

• The Correct Answer is: D) Asmita Dey
• Asmita Dey won the gold medal in the women's 48 kg judo category at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
• She defeated Canada's Heidi Quach in the final to claim India's first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medal in judo.
• The 23rd Commonwealth Games:
• Dates: July 23 – August 2, 2026
• Host City: Glasgow, Scotland (re-hosting after 2014)
• Participants: Around 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories
• Replacement Host: Glasgow stepped in after the original host, Victoria (Australia), withdrew due to rising costs.

Answer: (a) Belgium and Netherlands

• The Correct Answer is: A) Belgium and Netherlands
• The 16th edition of the FIH Hockey World Cup in 2026 is co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands.
• Tournament Details
• Dates: August 14 to 30, 2026
• Host Venues: Wavre (Belgium) and Wagener Stadium in Amsterdam (Netherlands)
• Format: Combined men's and women's tournaments featuring 16 teams in each gender category.

Answer: (d) 39 medals

• The Correct Answer is: D) 39 medals
• India won a total of 39 medals at the 23rd Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow.
• Medal Breakdown
• Gold: 13, Silver: 17, Bronze: 9
• Medal Standings Highlights
• First Place: Australia
• Second Place: England
• Third Place: Canada
• Fourth Place: India (with 39 total medals: 13 gold, 17 silver, and 9 bronze)

Answer: (a) Tanvi Sharma

• The Correct Answer is: A) Tanvi Sharma
• Rising Indian badminton prodigy Tanvi Sharma etched her name in sports history by winning the prestigious Taipei Open Super 300 Women's Singles title. By clinching this championship at a record-low age, she became the youngest female shuttler to ever conquer the tournament, showcasing exceptional court craft, stamina, and international maturity against seasoned global competitors.

Answer: (c) Anil Menon

• The Correct Answer is: C) Anil Menon
• NASA astronaut Anil Menon became the third astronaut of Indian origin (After Sunita Williams (1st ) and Raja Chari (2nd ) to complete a spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) in August 2026.
• Spacewalk Details
• First Spacewalk: Completed on August 6, 2026, alongside veteran NASA astronaut Jessica Meir.
• Second Spacewalk: Conducted on August 18–19, 2026, alongside European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot to replace a communication antenna.
• Mission Duration: His debut extravehicular activity lasted 6 hours and 27 minutes.
• Background: Menon traces his family ancestry to Palakkad in Kerala, India.

Answer: (c) Razorpay

• The Correct Answer is: C) Razorpay
• Razorpay launched India's first AI-powered payment foundation model, 'Razorpay Vulcan', in August 2026.
• Key Details About Razorpay Vulcan
• Technology Partners: Built in collaboration with NVIDIA and Amazon Web Services (AWS) using Amazon SageMaker AI.
• Training Scale: Trained on approximately 3 trillion data points from 4 billion payment transactions.
• Performance Impact: Early beta deployments showed an 8–10% improvement in payment success rates and detected 8x more international card fraud

Answer: (b) Earthquake Swarm

• The Correct Answer is: B) Earthquake Swarm
• Scientists refer to this cluster of repeated, low-intensity seismic tremors as an earthquake swarm. [1]
• Key Details of the Event
• Total Tremors: Over 29 minor earthquakes were recorded across Maharashtra.
• Affected Areas: Most tremors occurred in the Nashik and Palghar districts.
• Characteristics: The quakes were shallow (5–8 km deep) and happened without a single dominant mainshock.
• Potential Cause: Experts link the activity to hydro-seismicity, where heavy monsoon rainwater seeps into fractured underground rocks and builds up pressure.

Answer: (a) Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh

• The Correct Answer is: A) Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh
• India's first large-scale bio-polymer manufacturing plant is being set up at the Kumbhi sugar unit in the Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh.
• Project Details
• Developer: Balrampur Chini Mills Limited under the brand name Balrampur Bioyug.
• Investment: Approximately ₹3,080 crore.
• Output: Converts locally grown sugarcane into 80,000 tonnes of Polylactic Acid (PLA) bioplastic annually.
• Sustainability: Operates on renewable energy with a Zero Liquid Discharge system.

Answer: (a) 23 August

• The Correct Answer is: A) 23 August
• National Space Day 2026 was celebrated on August 23, 2026. [1]
• Overview of National Space Day 2026
• Date: August 23, 2026, marking India's third annual National Space Day.
• Significance: Commemorates the historic soft landing of the Chandrayaan-3 Vikram lander near the lunar south pole (named Shiv Shakti Point) on August 23, 2023.
• Theme: "Towards Viksit Bharat: Innovating, Collaborating and Aspiring to Global Space Leadership".
• Main Event Host: Ahmedabad, hosted via the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Answer: (b) Sophie Adenot

• The Correct Answer is: B) Sophie Adenot
• European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot made history by becoming the first French woman to complete a spacewalk.
• Mission Details
• Date: August 18, 2026
• Partner: NASA astronaut Anil Menon
• Task: Replacing a communication antenna outside the International Space Station (ISS)
• Duration: 6 hours and 23 minutes
• Milestone: She follows Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti as the second European woman to perform a spacewalk.

Answer: (c) Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh

• The Correct Answer is: C) Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh
• India's first dedicated Quantum and Artificial Intelligence (AI) university campus will be established in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh.
• Campus Overview
• Developer: Developed by the National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT) under MeitY.
• Investment & Size: Funded with a ₹730.70 crore central grant on an 8.5-acre permanent site in Amaravati, with programs temporarily starting in September 2026 at Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur.
• Core Focus Areas
• Quantum & AI: Focuses on quantum computing, algorithms, communication, hardware, machine learning, and AI-quantum convergence.
• Semiconductors: Includes chip design, VLSI, and semiconductor testing.

Answer: (a) Rajasthan

• The Correct Answer is: A) Rajasthan
• Rajasthan became the first state in India to grant an exploration license for a Rare Earth Element (REE) block.
• Key Details
• Location: A 207.6 sq. km block covering Nawatala Devigarh in Balotra district and Shergarh in Jodhpur district.
• Awarded To: Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Ltd. (CMPDI), a public sector enterprise.
• Minerals Found: Lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, and neodymium.

Answer: (b) Param Pragya

• The Correct Answer is: B) Param Pragya
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Param Pragya AI supercomputing facility at the IIT Delhi Sonipat campus on August 8, 2026.
• Facility Overview
• Name: Param Pragya
• Event: IIT Delhi's 57th Convocation Ceremony
• Funding: Supported by a ₹120 crore grant under the National Supercomputing Mission
• Performance: 8 PetaFlops peak performance for high-performance computing (HPC) and 250 PetaFlops for AI workloads
• Purpose: Boosts research in artificial intelligence, data science, healthcare, robotics, and cybersecurity

Answer: (a) Everest

• The Correct Answer is: A) Everest
• India's first privately developed 800 kN Full-Flow Staged Combustion (FFSC) rocket engine has been named EVEREST.
• Key Details
• Developer: Astrobase Space Technologies, a startup based in Bengaluru.
• Unveiled On: August 7, 2026.
• Propellant: Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and Liquid Methane.
• Thrust: 800 kN (80-tonne class).
• Significance: Makes India the fourth nation globally to achieve FFSC engine technology, after Russia, the United States, and China.

Answer: (d) 57th

• The Correct Answer is: D) 57th
• The 57th foundation day of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was celebrated on August 15, 2026.
• Key Details
• Establishment Date: August 15, 1969 (Coincides with India's Independence Day.)
• Founder: Dr. Vikram Sarabhai
• Current Chairman: Dr. V. Narayanan (After S. Somanath)
• Headquarter: Antariksh Bhavan, Bengaluru, Karnataka
• Motto: "Space technology in the service of humankind"

Answer: (c) Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh

• The Correct Answer is: C) Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
• Project Details
• Location: Tarluvada (Bheemunipatnam/Anandapuram mandal), spread across a 30-acre site.
• Company: ASIP Technologies (Advanced System in Package Technologies), in partnership with South Korea's APACT Co.
• Type: Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility approved under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM 1.0).
• Investment: Around ₹2,500 crore total (with an initial phase of over ₹460 crore).

Answer: (d) PowerBank-50

• The Correct Answer is: D) PowerBank-50
• The PowerBank-50, developed by the Hyderabad-based spacetech startup TakeMe2Space, has become India's first indigenous satellite battery to achieve flight heritage status. [1]
• Key Details
• Launch Mission: Flew aboard Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1 rocket (Mission Aagaman) on July 18, 2026.
• Function: Powered an experimental payload for Cosmoserve Space at an altitude of 450 km in Low Earth Orbit.
• Specifications: Weighs 380 grams, stores over 50 Wh of energy, and supports missions up to 5 years.

Answer: (c) Pigs

• The Correct Answer is: C) Pigs
• Key Details
• Target Animal: Healthy pigs older than eight weeks.
• Developer: ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (ICAR-NIHSAD) in Bhopal.
• Administration: Given as a 1 mL intramuscular injection with a booster dose after 14 days. [1, 2]

Answer: (b) Nathan Thomas

• The Correct Answer is: B) Nathan Thomas
• Nathan Thomas broke the historic record recognized by Guinness World Records when he began teaching engineering at the age of 18 years and 346 days.
• Key Details of the Achievement
• Appointment Date: Began teaching in August 2023 at Miami Dade College.
• Course Taught: COP 2270: C For Engineers.
• The Previous Record: Held for 306 years by Scottish mathematician Colin Maclaurin, who started teaching at age 19 in 1717.
• Overall Milestone: Edged out the previous general record-holder Alia Sabur by 16 days.

Answer: (c) Moon

• The Correct Answer is: C) Moon
• The Einstein Crater is located on the Moon.
• Impact Details
• Date: August 5, 2026
• Object: Spent SpaceX Falcon 9 upper-stage rocket
• Speed: About 5,400 mph (8,700 km/h)
• Location: Near the western limb on the Moon's Earth-facing side

Answer: (c) IIT Guwahati

• The Correct Answer is: C) IIT Guwahati
• The low-cost, portable optical sensing device named ‘E-Eye’ was developed by the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) in August 2026.
• Key Details About E-Eye
• Purpose: Instantly detects water pollution, heavy metals (like arsenic, lead, iron, chromium), fluoride, and harmful bacteria such as E. coli.
• Cost: The device costs roughly ₹3,500, with each test sample costing around ₹2.
• Technology: Operates on the Beer-Lambert law, combining optical sensing with digital electronics and wireless data transmission to support India's Jal Jeevan Mission.

Answer: (b) 176th

• The Correct Answer is: B) 176th
• India secured the 176th rank out of 177 countries in the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2026. [1]
• Key Details
• Score: 22.46 out of 100
• Global Position: Second lowest globally (just ahead of Laos at 177th)
• Top Performer: Estonia secured the 1st rank
• Publishers: Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy and Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) at Columbia University

Answer: (c) Punjab

• The Correct Answer is: C) Punjab
• Punjab has overtaken Kerala to secure the No. 1 rank in NITI Aayog's School Education Quality Index (SEQI) 2026.
• Key Details of the Ranking
• Top State: Punjab climbed significantly from the 27th position in 2020 to the top spot.
• Previous Leader: Kerala traditionally held the leading position in school education quality.
• Key Reforms: Success was driven by foundational learning initiatives like Mission Samarth, infrastructure upgrades, digital smart classrooms, and introducing Artificial Intelligence as a core subject.

Answer: (a) Jalandhar, Punjab

• The Correct Answer is: A) Jalandhar, Punjab
• Key Details
• Location: Jalandhar, Punjab (the headquarters of the 11 Corps).
• Role: Acts as "eyes in the sky" to provide real-time aerial surveillance, intelligence, and target tracking.
• Strategic Focus: Strengthens unmanned aerial capabilities and reconnaissance along the western frontier facing Pakistan

Answer: (b) Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL)

• The Correct Answer is: B) Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL)
• Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) collaborated with the Indian Army to develop the indigenously produced Extreme Weather Grade (XWG) diesel
• Key Details
• Temperature Rating: Remains fluid and effective at temperatures down to -42°C.
• Operational Benefit: Prevents fuel gelling or waxing in high-altitude areas like Ladakh and Siachen.
• Vehicle Compatibility: Works directly in standard military vehicles without needing engine modifications.

Answer: (b) Amethi, Uttar Pradesh

• The Correct Answer is: B) Amethi, Uttar Pradesh
• The successful test-firing of India's first 100% indigenous AK-203 assault rifle, 'Sher', was conducted at the Korwa Ordnance Facility in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh.
• The rifle was produced by Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL), a joint venture between India and Russia. This test confirms complete end-to-end indigenization with all 50 components and 180 child parts sourced domestically from Indian industry. The weapon successfully completed burst and automatic firing tests in August 2026 ahead of upcoming Indian Army user evaluations.

Answer: (b) Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan

• The Correct Answer is: B) Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan
• The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement was signed by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye (Turkey), and Pakistan.
• Key Details of the Pact
• Signing Date: August 7, 2026, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
• Core Principle: An armed attack on any one of the three member countries is considered an attack on all three.
• Strategic Makeup: Often dubbed the "Islamic NATO" or a trilateral security triangle, the alliance combines Saudi Arabia's financial and energy resources, Türkiye's advanced conventional military and drone technology, and Pakistan's military capabilities.

Answer: (d) Rajasthan

• The Correct Answer is: D) Rajasthan
• State Police: Rajasthan Police (specifically the Bikaner district police and local teams).
• Location: Khajuwala sector along the India-Pakistan international border in Bikaner.
• Seizures: 10 kg of Afghan heroin (valued at roughly ₹50 crore), 11 foreign-made sophisticated pistols, 22 magazines, and 100 live cartridges.
• Objective: To bust a cross-border, Pakistan-backed drone smuggling racket operating ahead of Independence Day.

Answer: (d) Glaw Lake (Arunachal Pradesh)

• The Correct Answer is: D) Glaw Lake (Arunachal Pradesh)
• Glaw Lake officially became India's 101st Ramsar site as well as Arunachal Pradesh's very first Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention.
• 2026 Added New Ramsar Sites:
• 97th - Patna Bir Sanctuary: Etah, UP – 11th of the state
• 98th - Chhari-Dhand, Gujarat – 5th of the state
• 99th - Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary, Aligarh, UP – 12th of the state
• 100th - Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary (Surha Tal), Ballia, UP – 13th of the state
• 101st – Glaw Lake, Arunachal Pradesh – 1st of the state

Answer: (c) 891

• The Correct Answer is: C) 891
• The Asiatic lion population in India has risen to 891 by the year 2025, according to data shared by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav.
• Key Population Facts
• 2015 Count: 523 lions
• 2020 Count: 674 lions
• 2025 Count: 891 lions
• Total Growth: A 32% increase since 2020 and a 70% increase over the decade.
• Conservation Details
• Habitat Range: Expanded from 30,000 square kilometers in 2020 to nearly 35,000 square kilometers.
• Project Lion: Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August 2020 to protect the big cats.
• Location: The count covers the Greater Gir landscape in Gujarat.

Answer: (b) Juna Deesa, Gujarat

• The Correct Answer is: B) Juna Deesa, Gujarat
• Project Overview
• Developer: Gujarat Forest Department (approved by the Central Zoo Authority)
• Location: Juna Deesa, Banaskantha district, Gujarat
• Area: Approximately 103 hectares of government land
• Estimated Cost: Around ₹542.14 crore

Answer: (c) Uttar Pradesh

• The Correct Answer is: C) Uttar Pradesh
• Key Details
• Location: Built across the Betwa River in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh.
• Designation: Recognized as a World Heritage Irrigation Structure (WHIS) by the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID).
• Function: Serves as the headworks of the Betwa Canal System, providing crucial irrigation to drought-prone areas in Bundelkhand.
• History: Construction started in 1881, and the system became fully operational in 1886.

Answer: (a) Ladakh

• The Correct Answer is: A) Ladakh
• India's first high-altitude wildlife safari is being developed in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
• Key Locations
• The safari project covers high-altitude and rugged cold desert landscapes, including:
• Hemis National Park
• Changthang and Karakoram wildlife sanctuaries
• Regions like Nubra, Zanskar, Sham, Kargil, and Drass

Answer: (b) Udmal, Maharashtra

• The Correct Answer is: B) Udmal, Maharashtra
• Key Details of the Initiative
• Location: A hilltop village in Nashik, Maharashtra, located roughly 5 km away from any major urban light source. [1, 2]
• Community Action: The local Gram Sabha passed a pioneering Dark Sky Resolution under the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) to control artificial light pollution and install well-directed, smart outdoor lighting.
• Astro-Tourism & Funding: The district administration sanctioned ₹42.1 lakh under the District Annual Tribal Sub-Plan to promote astronomy tourism, fund night-sky quality assessments, and train local tribal youth in collaboration with the organization AstronEra.
• Certification Goal: The village is moving through the official process to be certified by DarkSky International as a model for community-led night sky conservation.

Answer: (a) Meghalaya

• The Correct Answer is: A) Meghalaya
• Meghalaya launched 'Mission Clouded Leopard' to protect and restore the habitat of its state animal.
• Key Details of the Mission
• Target Species: Mainland clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List.
• Announcement: Unveiled by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on August 4, 2026.
• Core Focus: Habitat protection, landscape connectivity, scientific monitoring, and community participation guided by the Meghalaya Clouded Leopard Action Plan.
• Initial Finding: A scientific survey in the Balpakram landscape has already identified 21 individual clouded leopards.

Answer: (c) V.O. Chidambaranar Port (Tamil Nadu)

• The Correct Answer is: C) V.O. Chidambaranar Port (Tamil Nadu)
• In August 2026, the V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority made maritime history by officially becoming India's first major port to achieve 'Scope-2 emission-free' status (certified by Bureau Veritas after its renewable energy generation offset its electricity consumption). Additionally, it became the first major port in the country to receive the prestigious ISO 50001:2018 certification for its Energy Management System (EnMS), highlighting its leadership in sustainable port operations, green infrastructure integration, and carbon reduction.

Answer: (d) Kerala

• The Correct Answer is: D) Kerala
• Overview of 'Farmguard' in Kerala
• Deployment: Implemented by the Kerala Forest Department in high-risk, forest-fringe areas across several divisions.
• Technology: Uses high-resolution cameras, night vision, and machine learning algorithms to detect and identify specific wildlife (like elephants, leopards, and wild boars).
• Alerts: Automatically triggers real-time alerts via messaging platforms to forest officials and Rapid Response Teams (RRTs).
• Deterrence: Employs non-lethal, multi-frequency acoustic deterrents and simulated sounds to safely drive animals back into the forest.

Answer: (c) United States of America

• The Correct Answer is: C) United States of America
• The United States Department of the Treasury launched the 'Operation Economic Outcast' sanctions campaign against Iran.
• Overview of the Campaign
• Announced: August 24, 2026, by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
• Goal: Sever every economic lifeline supporting the Iranian regime and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
• Key Targets: Oil smuggling, digital assets, technology, gold, shipping, and aviation networks.
• Enforcement: Expanded secondary sanctions against international entities and financial institutions that continue conducting business with Iran.

Answer: (a) India

• The Correct Answer is: A) India
• India will host the 18th BRICS Summit on September 12–13, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
• Summit Details
• Host Country: India
• Location: New Delhi, India (at Bharat Mandapam)
• Dates: September 12–13, 2026
• Theme: "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability"
• Attendees: Leaders from BRICS member nations, partner countries, and outreach invitees, alongside international figures such as UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Answer: (b) Lake Ontario

• The Correct Answer is: B) Lake Ontario
• Key Details
• Context: The decision came amid rising trade tensions and tariff disputes between the United States and Canada.
• Implementation: The order directed the Department of the Interior and geographic naming bodies to update official US federal databases and maps, prompting adoption by US mapping services like Google Maps and Apple Maps for domestic users.
• Canadian Response: Canadian leaders rejected the unilateral designation, maintaining that the body of water remains Lake Ontario.

Answer: (c) Nauru

• The Correct Answer is: C) Nauru
• Key Details of the Name Change
• Old Name: Nauru
• New Name: Republic of Naoero
• Pronunciation: Spoken as "Now-ero" instead of the old "Now-roo".
• Country Code: Changed from NRU to NRO.
• Citizen Name: People from the nation are now called dei-Naoero.
• Why the Change Happened
• Indigenous Roots: The new name uses the traditional spelling from the local Nauruan language.
• Moving Past Colonialism: The old name was made easier for foreign visitors to say during colonial times.

Answer: (b) Lebanon

• The Correct Answer is: B) Lebanon
• Lebanon became the first country in the Middle East and the Arab world to officially abolish the death penalty in August 2026.
• Key Details of the Decision
• The Vote: The Lebanese Parliament passed the new law on August 11, 2026.
• The New Penalty: All existing and future death sentences were replaced with life imprisonment and aggravated hard labor.
• Prior Practice: Lebanon had an unofficial stop on executions since 2004, but courts continued to give out death sentences.

Answer: (d) Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

• The Correct Answer is: D) Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
• Summit Details
• Dates: August 31 – September 1, 2026
• Headquarter: Beijing, China
• Location: Yrys-Ordo Congress Hall in Bishkek
• Milestone: Marked the 25th anniversary of the SCO
• Theme: '25 Years of the SCO: Together Towards Sustainable Peace, Development and Prosperity'
• Key Attendees: Leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin

Answer: (d) Massachusetts and Boston

• The Correct Answer is: D) Massachusetts and Boston
• Key Details
• State: Massachusetts (proclaimed by Governor Maura Healey)
• City: Boston (proclaimed by Mayor Michelle Wu)
• Purpose: To honor India's Independence Day and recognize the achievements and contributions of the Indian-American community in fields like technology, healthcare, education, and public service.
• Multiple US states—including New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Delaware, and Connecticut—officially proclaimed August 15, 2026, as 'India Day' or 'India Independence Day',.

Answer: (d) Patradevi, Goa

• The Correct Answer is: D) Patradevi, Goa
• Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the redeveloped Hutatma Smruti Smarak at Patradevi in Goa. [1]
• Date: August 26, 2026
• Significance: The site marks a historic location where unarmed satyagrahis faced Portuguese forces during the 1955 movement for Goa's freedom.
• Key Attendees: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Union Minister of State Shripad Y. Naik attended the ceremony.

Answer: (b) Bhogapuram, Andhra Pradesh

• The Correct Answer is: B) Bhogapuram (Vizianagaram), Andhra Pradesh
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram in the Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh.
• Key Details
• Location: Bhogapuram, Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh (serving the Visakhapatnam and North Andhra region).
• Date: August 1, 2026.
• Significance: It is Andhra Pradesh's first greenfield international airport since the state bifurcation in 2014.
• Capacity: Built to handle six million passengers annually.

Answer: (c) Gujarat

• The Correct Answer is: C) Gujarat
• Key Details About Pithora Painting
• Region: Originated primarily in the Chhota Udaipur and Panchmahal districts of Gujarat.
• Communities: Practiced by the Rathwa, Bhil, Bhilala, and Nayaka tribal groups.
• Significance: A ritualistic wall art dedicated to Pithora Baba (the tribal god of marriage, fertility, and prosperity).
• Process: Created using natural colors and pigments on the inner walls of houses by ritual painters called Lakharas.

Answer: (b) Jammu & Kashmir

• The Correct Answer is: B) Jammu & Kashmir
• The Sungal Tunnel was inaugurated along the Jammu-Poonch road on the Akhnoor–Poonch section of National Highway 144A (NH-144A) in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Key Details
• Route: Connects Akhnoor and Poonch through the Kalidhar Range.
• Builder: Constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) under Project Sampark.
• Benefits: Cuts travel distance by 11 to 13 kilometers and reduces travel time by about 45 minutes.

Answer: (b) Mysuru, Karnataka

• The Correct Answer is: B) Mysuru, Karnataka
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Youth Centre (Viveka Smaraka) at the Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama on Narayana Shastri Road in Mysuru, Karnataka.
• Key Details
• Date: August 1, 2026
• Location: Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Narayana Shastri Road, Mysuru, Karnataka
• Significance: Built at a cost of ₹35 crore, the memorial stands at the exact site where Swami Vivekananda stayed during his visit to Mysuru in November 1892.