1. In which blocks is Mission Samriddh Gaon, started by the Ministry of Rural Development, being piloted?
Answer: E. Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the mission at Krishi Bhawan as a framework for integrated rural change with livelihood saturation, covering every eligible household in an area. One aim is to stop distress migration from villages to cities.
2. Which one of these is among the five key features of Mission Samriddh Gaon?
Answer: A. The mission is multi-sector, bringing together agriculture, health, education, skilling and infrastructure, and farming systems spread income so a single crop failure does not ruin a household. Its other features include family-level saturation, convergence, the Lakhpati Didi model and rural warehouses and cold chains.
3. The e-Shram Portal completed five years on 26 August 2026. What identifier does it give each registered worker?
Answer: B. e-Shram, begun on 26 August 2021 under the Labour Ministry, is India's first Aadhaar-verified database of unorganised workers. The portable number lets migrants keep their entitlements across States, and fifteen schemes are now linked to it.
4. Who can register on the e-Shram Portal?
Answer: C. EPFO and ESIC members are left out because they already have formal social security. The portal aims at farm labourers, domestic helpers, construction workers, street vendors and gig and platform workers.
5. PM-SYM is one of the schemes converged on e-Shram. What assured monthly pension does it give after age 60?
Answer: D. PM-SYM guarantees Rs 3,000 a month after 60. The bundle also has PMJJBY with Rs 2 lakh life cover and PMSBY with up to Rs 2 lakh for accidental death or permanent disability.
6. Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary reported India's notable first sighting of the Smew. In which district does it lie?
Answer: E. The 70.13 sq km sanctuary lies on the Brahmaputra's southern bank in Nagaon and is a notified buffer of Kaziranga Tiger Reserve. The Smew is a migratory diving duck of northern Europe and Asia, so this record is unusual.
7. India's mushroom output rose from 51,000 tonnes in 2015 to nearly what amount in 2024?
Answer: A. This reflects a compound annual growth rate of 23.76 per cent and makes India the third-largest producer, although it holds only about 0.7 per cent of world output. Bihar is rising as a hub, but short shelf life and weak market links still hold the sector back.
8. The Meghalaya Assembly passed a resolution against uranium mining. Uranium-bearing areas in which district are mainly concerned?
Answer: B. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma moved the resolution, which opposes both mining and ore-processing plants in the State after concerns from the Khasi Students' Union and communities. Much of Meghalaya's land is community-owned, so local consent matters greatly.
9. What were India's gross foreign direct investment inflows in April-June 2026, the highest in at least 15 years?
Answer: C. Gross inflows of 30.7 billion dollars less outflows of 22.8 billion dollars left net FDI of 7.8 billion dollars, the best since June 2022. The gap arises because repatriation and disinvestment offset new investment.
10. Which statement correctly sets FDI apart from FPI?
Answer: D. A Japanese carmaker setting up or buying into an Indian factory is making FDI, but buying listed Indian shares purely for returns is FPI. Portfolio money can leave within days, while direct investment is tied up in physical assets.
11. In what way does an incremental cash reserve ratio differ from the ordinary CRR?
Answer: E. If deposits grow from Rs 1,000 crore to Rs 1,200 crore and iCRR is 10 per cent, the bank must keep Rs 20 crore more with RBI. It soaks up only recent surplus instead of hitting existing books, and may be tried before a repo hike.
12. Which two parameters in SEBI's IT Resilience Index for market infrastructure institutions get the top weight of 20 per cent each?
Answer: A. Business continuity and reliability get 10 per cent each and scalability 5 per cent, with the rest of the nine parameters sharing the balance. The index tests whether trading, clearing and depository systems can withstand cyberattacks, glitches and volume surges.
13. PPPAC gave in-principle approval to privatise 11 airports. What proportion of AAI employees must concessionaires keep for up to three years?
Answer: B. The airports will be bid out in five bundles on a 50-year concession, drawing around Rs 8,622 crore of private investment. Pairing strong airports with weak ones helps loss-making regional airports find bidders, and the retention clause eases staff transition.
14. On what date was the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, which has completed 12 years, launched?
Answer: C. PMJDY was designed as a financial inclusion mission covering accounts, credit, insurance, pension and remittances. Its lasting effect was creating the bank accounts on which direct benefit transfers and digital payments later rested.
15. Which ministry is the nodal ministry for Mission Samriddh Gaon?
Answer: B. The mission falls under the Ministry of Rural Development.