Q.1) Which of the following Indian Coast Guard vessels was decommissioned at Okha Port, Gujarat, in August 2026?
[a] ICGS Subhadra Kumari Chauhan
[b] ICGS Meera Behn
[c] ICGS Sarojini Naidu
[d] ICGS Annie Besant
View Answer
Answer: [b] ICGS Meera Behn
Explanation:
ICGS Meera Behn (Pennant No. 234) was decommissioned on 21 August 2026 at Okha Port, Gujarat, after around two decades of service. It was commissioned in 2006 and served its entire operational tenure from Okha, contributing to EEZ protection and coastal surveillance. Both Meera Behn and Subhadra Kumari Chauhan belonged to the Sarojini Naidu-class Fast Patrol Vessel series built by Goa Shipyard Limited.
Q.2) The YJ-18A, recently tested by China with a new black stealth coating, belongs to which category of weapon?
[a] Ballistic missile
[b] Anti-aircraft missile
[c] Anti-ship cruise missile
[d] Surface-to-air missile
View Answer
Answer: [c] Anti-ship cruise missile
Explanation:
The YJ-18A (Yingji/Eagle Strike) is a Chinese anti-ship cruise missile and forms part of the broader YJ-18 missile family, which also includes variants intended for land-attack missions. The recently tested variant features a radar-absorbing black coating designed to reduce radar reflections and improve stealth. The YJ-18 is operational in China and reportedly entered service around 2014.
Q.3) The Sanchar Saathi initiative of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has recently crossed significant milestones in recovering which of the following?
[a] Lost or stolen Aadhaar cards
[b] Lost or stolen mobile handsets
[c] Lost or stolen laptops
[d] Lost or stolen SIM cards only
[e] Lost or stolen banking devices
View Answer
Answer: [b]
Explanation:
Sanchar Saathi is a flagship citizen-centric initiative of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) aimed at protecting mobile subscribers and strengthening the security of India’s telecom ecosystem. The initiative has recently achieved a significant milestone by helping recover more than 75,000 lost/stolen mobile handsets in a month on a pan-India basis for the first time since its inception.
Q.4) The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has signed a strategic five-year agreement with which organisation to establish a state-of-the-art End-to-End Optical Network Test Bed?
[a] Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)
[b] Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT)
[c] Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)
[d] Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC)
[e] National Informatics Centre (NIC)
View Answer
Answer: [b]
Explanation:
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, has signed a strategic five-year agreement with the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) to establish a state-of-the-art End-to-End Optical Network Test Bed. Funded and supported by DoT, this Test Bed will be located at the C-DOT Campus in New Delhi. It will serve as a critical real-world environment to accelerate the development, testing, and commercialization of optical communication solutions created by Indian startups and industry players.
Q.5) The Government of India has constituted a High-Powered Task Force (HPTF) to recommend comprehensive reforms in the public examination system. Who has been appointed as its Chairman?
[a] Amitabh Kant
[b] Nandan Nilekani
[c] Sam Pitroda
[d] R. S. Sharma
View Answer
Answer: [b]
Explanation:
The Government of India has constituted a HPTF with Nandan Nilekani as Chairman to examine and recommend comprehensive reforms relating to the conduct, security, design, and governance of public examinations, including examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The HPTF aims to develop a public examination system that is robust, secure, transparent, equitable and future-ready.
Q.6) PARIVARTAN (Programme for Accelerated Renewal and Incentivization of Vehicle Assets for Reducing Transport Air Pollution and Network Emissions) Scheme, was launched in July 2026 to replace over 2 lakh trucks and buses conforming to Bharat Stage (BS)-IV or prior emission norms, registered in the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the NCR districts of Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, with BS-VI or stricter norm compliant or electric vehicles with a total financial outlay of?
[a] ₹5,585 crore
[b] ₹7,585 crore
[c] ₹9,585 crore
[d] ₹11,585 crore
View Answer
Answer: [c]
Explanation:
The PARIVARTAN (Programme for Accelerated Renewal and Incentivization of Vehicle Assets for Reducing Transport Air Pollution and Network Emissions) Scheme has a total financial outlay of ₹9,585 crore. The scheme aims to replace over 2 lakh trucks and buses conforming to Bharat Stage (BS)-IV or earlier emission norms with BS-VI or stricter norm-compliant vehicles or electric vehicles in the National Capital Territory of Delhi and NCR districts of Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The Scheme has a total financial outlay of ₹9,585 crore, including ₹5,041 crore in budgetary support from the Central Government.
Q.7) The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) growth rate released by the National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) for July 2026 stood at:
[a] 5.7%
[b] 6.2%
[c] 6.7%
[d] 7.3%
View Answer
Answer: [c]
Explanation:
The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) recorded a growth rate of 6.7% in July 2026, compared with 7.3% (Quick Estimate) in June 2026. The growth rates of the sectors, Mining & Quarrying, Manufacturing, Electricity & Gas Supply and Water Supply, Sewerage & Waste Management for the month of July 2026 are (-) 0.9 percent, 7.3 percent, 8.7 percent and 7.4 percent respectively.
Q.8) The Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma & MedTech (PRIP) Scheme has been launched with a total financial outlay of:
[a] ₹2,500 crore
[b] ₹3,500 crore
[c] ₹5,000 crore
[d] ₹7,500 crore
View Answer
Answer: [c]
Explanation:
The Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma & MedTech (PRIP) Scheme has a financial outlay of ₹5,000 crore. The scheme aims to strengthen India’s Pharma and MedTech research and development ecosystem by supporting startups, MSMEs, and large companies to move up the innovation value chain.
Q.9) Which state has launched India’s first state-level Sports Genomics Programme?
[a] Maharashtra
[b] Haryana
[c] Gujarat
[d] Karnataka
View Answer
Answer: [c] Gujarat
Explanation:
Gujarat has launched India’s first state-level Sports Genomics Programme, driven by the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) under the Department of Science and Technology. The programme studies the genetic, physiological and performance characteristics of athletes to improve scientific talent identification and high-performance training. It is also significant in the context of Gujarat’s preparations related to the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
Q.10) Under the Uttar Pradesh Startup Policy-2026, selected startups are eligible to receive a monthly sustenance allowance of how much for two years?
[a] ₹10,000
[b] ₹15,000
[c] ₹20,000
[d] ₹25,000
View Answer
Answer: [c] ₹20,000
Explanation:
Under the Uttar Pradesh Startup Policy-2026, selected startups can receive a sustenance allowance of ₹20,000 per month for two years. The policy also doubles prototype funding to ₹10 lakh and provides annual cloud-service reimbursement of up to ₹2 lakh. The broader initiative is designed to strengthen Uttar Pradesh’s startup ecosystem through funding, incubation, research, innovation and infrastructure support.
Q.11) What is the name of Uzbekistan’s highest state honour conferred on Prime Minister Narendra Modi?
[a] Order of Amir Temur
[b] Order of Friendship
[c] Oliy Darajali Do’stlik Order
[d] Order of Independence
View Answer
Answer: [c] Oliy Darajali Do’stlik Order
Explanation:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the Oliy Darajali Do’stlik Order, the highest state honour of Uzbekistan, by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent. During the visit, India and Uzbekistan also agreed to elevate their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, target $5 billion in bilateral trade by 2030, develop a long-term uranium supply framework and establish a Foreign Ministers-led Coordination Council.