1. Which technology is the "Eärendil-1" mission, granted a two-year experimental licence by the US FCC, meant to demonstrate?
Answer: A. Eärendil-1, from California startup Reflect Orbital, is an orbital mirror with an ultra-light thin-film reflector and motorised gimbals, flying at about 625 km to send sunlight to chosen spots on Earth after dark. It is named for a mariner in Tolkien's The Silmarillion, and the FCC (est. 1934) issued the licence.
2. At which launch site did China achieve the first reusable booster landing of its Long March 10B?
Answer: C. The landing took place at Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site. CASC's Long March 10B is a next-generation reusable medium-to-heavy rocket with a recoverable first stage, intended to cut launch costs, support the lunar programme and deploy big constellations cheaply.
3. The PMFME Scheme has passed 2 lakh credit-linked beneficiaries. What credit-linked capital subsidy does it offer?
Answer: E. It gives a 35% credit-linked capital subsidy capped at ₹10 lakh per beneficiary, plus ₹40,000 seed capital per SHG member, on a One District One Product basis. The Food Processing Ministry's Centrally Sponsored scheme began 29 June 2020 and is funded 60:40, 90:10 for NE and Himalayan states, and fully for UTs without legislature.
4. On which route will India's first hydrogen-powered passenger train be flagged off on 17 July 2026?
Answer: B. The Hydrogen-Electric Multiple Unit will run 89 km between Jind and Sonipat in Haryana at a cost of ₹136 crore, built by Northern Railway with Medha Servo Drives and Ballard Power Systems fuel cells. It backs Net Zero 2070 and the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which targets 5 million tonnes yearly by 2030.
5. The UMANG portal, recently in the news over security flaws, was built by NeGD under which ministry?
Answer: D. UMANG, launched in November 2017, was developed by the National e-Governance Division under MeitY and offers 2,400+ services in one place. Researchers found flaws exposing user data and MeitY began corrective action; CERT-In, set up in 2004 under Section 70B of the IT Act, 2000, is the cyber emergency nodal agency.
6. According to NSO data, retail inflation (CPI) climbed to what figure in June 2026, going above the RBI's 4% target for the first time under the new CPI series?
Answer: B. CPI inflation reached 4.38% in June 2026 against 3.93% in May, the first breach of 4% under the new series (base year 2024, effective January 2026, using online market data for the first time in place of the 2011-12 series). Food inflation was 5.32%, transport 4.31%, rainfall was 42.8% short and silver jewellery inflation hit 133.21%.
7. Which CPI group carries the biggest weight, about 45.86%?
Answer: D. Food & Beverages has the largest CPI weight at roughly 45.86%. NSO under MoSPI publishes the index, which covers rural and urban consumption and guides the RBI's monetary policy.
8. For what tenure can NRIs hold foreign-currency deposits in FCNR(B) accounts, which the RBI supports with a concessional swap facility?
Answer: A. FCNR(B) deposits run for 1 to 5 years in designated currencies (USD, GBP, EUR, JPY, AUD, CAD) for NRIs and PIOs, fully repatriable and free of exchange-rate risk for the depositor. Under the swap window banks exchange the currency with RBI for rupees at concessional cost and reverse at maturity; FM Sitharaman reviewed it and urged more NRI outreach.
9. Delhi CM Rekha Gupta launched the AI-driven "Dust Portal 2.0". It monitors construction and demolition sites starting at what size?
Answer: C. The portal uses AI to watch construction and demolition sites of 500 square yards or more, tightening dust control and pollution monitoring through technology-led governance.
10. In which state or UT does Lakhanpur lie, a town chosen among India's first for a PM SVANidhi Street Food Hub promoting Dogra cuisine?
Answer: E. Lakhanpur is in Jammu & Kashmir. The hub, backed by the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, will promote Dogra cuisine, tourism, hygienic street food and sustainable livelihoods for vendors.
11. Across how many villages will the telecom network survey covered by the Department of Posts and TRAI MoU, India's largest of its kind, be conducted?
Answer: C. The survey spans 5.68 lakh villages, with more than 1.40 lakh Gramin Dak Sevaks gathering field data on connectivity gaps. Separately, Gujarat signed a ₹5,629 crore Amended BharatNet agreement for 14,287 Gram Panchayats and over 5 lakh rural fibre connections.
12. What value did India's intangible investment reach in 2023, the fastest growth among major economies, per the WIPO report?
Answer: E. WIPO reported India's intangible investment at USD 78.2 billion in 2023, led by software, R&D, innovation and intellectual property.
13. Who took the men's singles title at Wimbledon 2026?
Answer: B. Italy's Jannik Sinner won the men's singles, and Linda Nosková of the Czech Republic took the women's singles at the London Championships.
14. Playback singer S. Janaki, who died aged 88 after recording over 48,000 songs, won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer how many times?
Answer: D. Janaki sang over 48,000 songs in nearly 20 Indian languages across six decades and won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer four times.
15. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, former Emir of Qatar who died aged 74, reigned over which years?
Answer: A. He ruled from 1995 to 2013, turning Qatar into a global energy, investment and diplomatic centre through LNG export growth and institutions like Al Jazeera.
16. What was the theme of World Population Day on 11 July 2026?
Answer: D. The theme was "Realizing the hopes and aspirations of young people – today and for the future", spotlighting population issues, reproductive health and sustainable development. 11 July also marks the Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Srebrenica Genocide.
17. In which year did the UN General Assembly adopt the resolution establishing World Horse Day on 11 July?
Answer: A. The resolution was adopted in 2025, so 2026 is only the second yearly observance of the day, which recognises horses' contribution to human society.
18. How many ancient Indian artefacts did Australia say it would repatriate during PM Modi's visit?
Answer: C. Australia announced the return of three ancient Indian artefacts. The visit also saw the Civil Nuclear Agreement implementation arrangement finalised, a new Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation signed, and wider education ties.
19. Chitkara University's ₹20 crore Atal Incubation Centre–Chitkara Incubation Foundation (AIC-CIF) will back deep-tech startups in which fields?
Answer: E. AIC-CIF will support deep-tech ventures in drone technology, agritech and renewable energy, encouraging innovation, research commercialisation and entrepreneurship.
20. Which honour did Fortune India recently present to Nita Ambani, Founder-Chairperson of Reliance Foundation?
Answer: B. She received the Fortune India Most Powerful Women (MPW) Honour 2026 for institution building and inclusive development, and the MPW 2026 list of leading women was released too.