1. On 24 June 2026, Bangladesh became the ____ nation to join the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA).
Answer: B. Bangladesh's entry on 24 June 2026 made it the 27th IBCA member; its Cabinet had cleared the move earlier, on 22 May 2026.
2. Launched by PM Modi at Mysuru on 9 April 2023, the International Big Cat Alliance has its headquarters in which city?
Answer: D. The alliance operates from New Delhi, with the NTCA under MoEFCC as nodal agency. It gained treaty-based status as an international organisation on 23 January 2025 and covers 7 big cat species.
3. The Ministry of Home Affairs has announced that digital recording of all investigations and trials under the new criminal laws begins on what date?
Answer: A. Under the MHA announcement, digital recording across investigations and trials under BNS, BNSS and BSA starts on 1 January 2027, with the data held on the MeghRaj government cloud.
4. How many pillars of the criminal justice system are brought together on one platform by the Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS)?
Answer: C. ICJS links five pillars: police, courts, prisons, forensics and prosecution, through CCTNS, e-Courts, e-Prisons, e-Forensics and e-Prosecution, so data flows smoothly between them.
5. Which state runs the Sujalam Sufalam Jal Abhiyan (SSJA), a flagship water conservation drive that added 20,789 lakh cubic feet of storage capacity in 2026?
Answer: E. SSJA is Gujarat's major groundwater recharge and water conservation campaign, begun in 2018. CM Bhupendra Patel started the 2026 round in Gandhinagar on 23 February 2026.
6. By 2030, the SUMAN Roadmap 2030 (unveiled at the 16th CCHFW Conference) seeks to bring India's Maternal Mortality Ratio under how many per 100,000 live births?
Answer: C. Launched by J.P. Nadda on 29 June 2026 in New Delhi, the roadmap targets an MMR below 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030, matching SDG 3.1 and concentrating on 130 high-burden districts across 13 states.
7. What is "Ayushman Sarathi", which Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda launched on 29 June 2026?
Answer: E. Ayushman Sarathi is the National Health Authority's official WhatsApp chatbot for PM-JAY, offering round-the-clock help such as eligibility checks, card management, eKYC and grievance redressal.
8. Project BRAHMANK marked its 16th Raising Day on 29 June 2026 at Ranaghat in Arunachal Pradesh. Which organisation runs this project?
Answer: B. BRAHMANK is a Border Roads Organisation project under the Defence Ministry, raised on 29 June 2011. It looks after 811 km of road and 86 bridges in Arunachal Pradesh and part of Assam's Dhemaji district.
9. Who launched the FCRA 2.0 Portal together with the e-OCI Card on 30 June 2026?
Answer: D. Home Minister Amit Shah introduced the FCRA 2.0 Portal, hosted on MeghRaj cloud, and the e-OCI Card, which is expected to serve over 50 lakh OCI cardholders worldwide.
10. Foreign contributions received under the FCRA, 2010 must be routed into a designated account held at which bank branch?
Answer: A. The amended FCRA 2010 requires the designated account at the New Delhi Main Branch of the State Bank of India on Sansad Marg. Section 7 also bars passing foreign funds on to others.
11. Who designed EPFO's CITES 2.01, whose database migration ran from 26 June to 1 July 2026?
Answer: D. C-DAC built CITES 2.01. It folds more than 120 scattered EPFO databases into one national database, so any provident fund office can handle any member's request.
12. Around how many EPS pensioners gain from the Centralised Pension Payment System (CPPS), which has run under the CITES framework since 1 January 2025?
Answer: A. CPPS serves over 78 lakh EPS pensioners, who can draw pension from any bank and branch in India without having their Pension Payment Orders moved when they change bank or place.
13. Under the RBI's revised framework, an Unregistered Type I NBFC, which is exempt from registration under Section 45-IA of the RBI Act, 1934, must have assets below what amount?
Answer: C. Such an NBFC takes no public funds, has no customer interface and holds assets under ₹1,000 crore. Voluntary surrender of its registration certificate is filed on RBI's PRAVAAH portal.
14. By when did IRDAI Chairman Ajay Seth say the first Bima Sugam products should be available?
Answer: E. Ajay Seth said on 30 June 2026 that the initial motor, health and term life products on Bima Sugam would be ready by the end of September 2026; it forms part of the Bima Trinity with Bima Vistaar and Bima Vahaak.
15. In IRDAI's "Bima Trinity" framework, what does Bima Vahaak stand for?
Answer: B. Bima Vahaak is an agent network built around women. These agents are meant to sell the rural composite cover, Bima Vistaar, through the Bima Sugam online marketplace.
16. In which state was the country's first PACS-based RuTAGe Smart Village Centre (RSVC) opened, at Beerpur PACS?
Answer: E. The first PACS-based RSVC opened at Beerpur PACS in Jagtial district, Telangana, with a second at Nandanam FSCS in Hanumakonda. The Principal Scientific Adviser's office and NABARD lead it, with a ₹33.52 lakh Gramya Vikas Nidhi grant.
17. The Union Cabinet cleared the World's Largest Grain Storage Plan in the Cooperative Sector (WLGSP-Coops) on 31 May 2023. Which ministry carries out the plan?
Answer: B. The Ministry of Cooperation, created on 6 July 2021 under Amit Shah with the vision "Sahakar Se Samriddhi", implements it, building PACS-level godowns, custom hiring centres, processing units and Fair Price Shops.
18. General Upendra Dwivedi was succeeded as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff by whom?
Answer: D. General Dhiraj Seth took over as the 31st Army Chief after General Upendra Dwivedi retired following more than four decades in uniform.
19. With the Union Cabinet's extra ₹30,000 crore for NIIF, the government's overall commitment to the fund doubles to what figure?
Answer: A. The Cabinet's additional ₹30,000 crore in the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund doubles the government's total pledge to ₹60,000 crore, aimed at infrastructure and new sectors such as e-mobility.
20. Where was the 30th edition of Exercise RIMPAC 2026, in which the Indian Navy took part, held?
Answer: C. RIMPAC 2026 took place in Hawaii, USA. It is the largest maritime exercise in the world, with warships, submarines, aircraft and roughly 30,000 personnel.
21. What was the theme of National Statistics Day on 29 June 2026, held to remember P.C. Mahalanobis?
Answer: A. The 2026 theme was "Unlocking the Potential of Administrative Data". The day is marked every 29 June in honour of statistician Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis.
22. The anniversary of which event is remembered on International Asteroid Day, 30 June?
Answer: C. Every 30 June, the day raises awareness of asteroid impact risks and planetary defence, and it commemorates the 1908 Tunguska event over Siberia.
23. Which driver took victory at the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix, his second win of the season?
Answer: E. George Russell of Mercedes-AMG Petronas won in Austria ahead of Max Verstappen, which was his second victory of the 2026 season.
24. India's women's cricket side has directly qualified for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. After how long a gap does cricket come back to the Games?
Answer: B. India took Asia's automatic spot for LA 2028, and cricket makes its Olympic return after a gap of 128 years.
25. Which state saw the launch of the "PM Family Care Tracker" pilot, a digital platform tracking children's health, nutrition, education and welfare benefits?
Answer: D. Amit Shah started the pilot in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The platform follows children's health, nutrition, education and welfare benefits so government schemes reach them on time.
26. Which ministry commissioned NIRD&PR Hyderabad to prepare the National Study Report on Low Participation in Gram Sabha, which came out on 30 June 2026?
Answer: B. NIRD&PR produced this two-volume report for the Panchayati Raj Ministry, and NITI Aayog Member Dr. R. Balasubramaniam released it. The survey reached about 7,790 people in 400 Gram Panchayats spread over 26 States and UTs.
27. The constitutional footing for the Gram Sabha is found in which Article?
Answer: D. The 73rd Amendment, in force from 24 April 1993, added Article 243A, which defines the Gram Sabha as the body of all registered voters of a Gram Panchayat's village area.
28. Through which Schedule of the Constitution does the PESA Act, 1996 carry the 73rd Amendment's provisions into Scheduled Areas?
Answer: E. PESA was enacted on 24 December 1996 and applies to the Fifth Schedule areas of 10 states. It gives Gram Sabhas rights such as prior informed consent before land acquisition or mining.
29. Who released the 'Delegation of Financial Powers to DRDO (DFP-2026)', which gives DRDO greater financial freedom for defence research?
Answer: A. Rajnath Singh launched DFP-2026 in New Delhi on 29 June 2026 together with DFPDS-2026 for procurement. It funds trial campaigns, lets DRDO sanction pre-project R&D, and has separate schedules for EMRPs, DIA-CoEs and TDF grants.
30. 'Swar Prerna Veethika' is a permanent photo gallery for great musicians that opened on 1 July 2026. Which Akashvani anniversary was being marked?
Answer: C. Padma Vibhushan Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia opened the gallery at Akashvani Bhavan, New Delhi, as part of the 90-year celebrations before radio broadcasting in India reaches its centenary in 2027. AIR began on 8 June 1936 and took the name Akashvani in 1956.
31. A community effort to protect the Himalayan Ray-Finned Fish (Schizothorax pelzami), known locally as 'Ngarsing', is led by the Sangno clan of which tribe?
Answer: C. In East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh, the Nyishi Sangno clan moved 52 fingerlings from Lapabung stream to Richaso stream. The fish, a cyprinid also called Transcaspian marinka, is listed as Endangered by IUCN.
32. Which company built 'Vikram-1', described as India's first privately developed orbital-class rocket, to fly under Mission Aagaman?
Answer: A. Hyderabad's Skyroot Aerospace has set a launch window of 12 July to 4 August 2026 from Sriharikota. Aagaman aims for a 450 km low Earth orbit at 60 degrees inclination with payloads up to 350 kg; its earlier suborbital flight was Vikram-S in November 2022.
33. Mission SAKSHAM, started by RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, builds skills and capacity in which segment of banking?
Answer: D. Mission SAKSHAM (Sahakari Bank Kshamta Nirman) began on 28 April 2026 for UCBs. Across 24 months it plans to train roughly 1.40 lakh people, from board members to IT and cybersecurity staff, via classroom and e-learning in over twelve languages.
34. In March 2026, the gross NPA ratio of Scheduled Commercial Banks fell to a record low of what level, according to the RBI's June 2026 Financial Stability Report?
Answer: E. Released on 30 June 2026, the report puts SCB GNPA at its lowest in several decades. The baseline scenario sees only a slight increase to 1.9% by March 2028, while severe stress could push it to roughly 3.8 to 4.1%.
35. The RBI's Financial Stability Report is described as the joint view of a sub-committee of which body?
Answer: B. The report comes out twice a year, in June and December, and the first one appeared in March 2010. It reflects the FSDC Sub-Committee headed by the RBI Governor, while the non-statutory FSDC, set up in December 2010, is chaired by the Finance Minister.
36. Which sector showed the highest GNPA ratio, 5.1%, in the June 2026 Financial Stability Report?
Answer: D. Agriculture's 5.1% was the top figure and the sector made up 37.2% of all SCB gross NPAs. In contrast, large borrowers saw GNPA drop from 2.4% in September 2024 to 1.2% in March 2026.
37. Which emerging risk did the RBI cite in the June 2026 Financial Stability Report as capable of eroding monetary sovereignty and dulling policy transmission?
Answer: E. The central bank cautioned that wide use of stablecoins pegged to foreign currencies could weaken its control over policy and ease money laundering. It also pointed to AI-fuelled market optimism and fintech multi-lending, meaning unsecured loans from five or more lenders.
38. ICGV 201214 and ICGV 181030, two high-oleic groundnut varieties picked for national release, were bred by which institute together with partner institutions?
Answer: C. ICRISAT developed both medium-duration Spanish bunch types, with Junagadh Agricultural University on ICGV 201214 and UAS Dharwad on ICGV 181030. The AICRP-G Varietal Identification Committee selected them at its Pune meeting on 21 to 23 April 2026.
39. For which region is ICGV 181030 the first high-oleic groundnut variety to be cleared for cultivation?
Answer: A. With about 78% oleic acid, ICGV 181030 is approved for Zone IV, covering Odisha and the North-East, and is also recommended for Zone II. Groundnuts with at least 78% oleic acid keep 5 to 10 times longer and are better for the heart.
40. Where is the headquarters of ICRISAT, the institute behind the new groundnut varieties?
Answer: B. ICRISAT was founded on 28 March 1972 as an intergovernmental research centre linked to CGIAR and sits at Patancheru near Hyderabad. Dr. Himanshu Pathak, its Director General since 6 March 2025, is the first Indian in that role.
41. Balwaan Krishi, a farm-equipment startup, opened logistics hubs in Chennai and Visakhapatnam. In which city is the company headquartered?
Answer: C. Rohit Bajaj and Shubham Bajaj founded the firm in 2016 and it is based in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Its 14,000 sq ft Chennai hub, backed by Rs 50 lakh, will serve all 38 Tamil Nadu districts via 34 dealers, and it launched India's first ISI-marked farm equipment line in July 2023.
42. What is the compensation cap for financial loss under the RBI-Integrated Ombudsman Scheme (RB-IOS) 2026, which took effect on 1 July 2026?
Answer: D. The 2026 scheme replaced the 2021 version from 1 July 2026 and covers banks, NBFCs, PPI issuers and credit information companies. It allows up to ₹30 lakh for financial loss and ₹3 lakh for mental harassment.
43. The CCEA approved lowering the permitted broken-rice share in raw rice supplied under PDS and PMGKAY from 25% to what figure?
Answer: B. Under the tighter quality standard, raw rice may contain only 10% broken grains instead of 25%, and parboiled rice 5% instead of 16%. This is expected to lift quality, aid ethanol production and trim logistics costs.
44. Ravi Shankar became an RBI Executive Director on 1 July 2026. Which department will he lead?
Answer: E. With more than three decades at the RBI behind him, he takes charge of DSIM, which looks after economic statistics and surveys.
45. Who will chair the High-Level Study Group set up by the I&B Ministry to look at opportunities and challenges for Indian cinema?
Answer: A. The ministry announced two reforms for the film industry: this study group under Prasoon Joshi and a set of Model State Cinema Regulations. Both target better global competitiveness and more cinema infrastructure.
46. Interest rates on small savings schemes were left unchanged for Q2 FY27. Counting back, this is which straight quarter with no revision?
Answer: C. The Finance Ministry kept rates for PPF, NSC, Sukanya Samriddhi Account and the other schemes as they were, extending the freeze to nine quarters in a row.
47. Which two states signed the ₹34,102 crore water-sharing agreement with the Centre for the Yamuna Water Project?
Answer: E. The pact with Haryana and Rajasthan settles an interstate water dispute that had dragged on, and will bring drinking water and irrigation to several districts.
48. SEBI has set up an expert group to examine rules for debenture trustees. Who is its head?
Answer: D. Led by Ananta Barua, the group will suggest reforms that strengthen protection for investors. SEBI accepts public comments on the matter up to 15 July 2026.
49. The 'Bharat AI & Cyber Innovation Hub' is a tie-up between SBI Life Insurance and which institute?
Answer: A. The hub with IIT Bombay will build home-grown, AI-driven cybersecurity tools to improve the digital resilience of the insurance sector.
50. At which airport did the DGCA complete India's first satellite-based SLS approach landing trial on an Airbus A320 using GAGAN?
Answer: B. The test used GAGAN, the GPS-Aided GEO Augmented Navigation system, to guide the A320 down at Udaipur, showing that satellite-guided precision landings are feasible and marking a notable aviation milestone.
51. Ravi Agrawal received a six-month reappointment, taking his tenure to 31 December 2026, as head of which organisation?
Answer: D. He continues as Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes, and the extension runs until the end of December 2026.
52. Vijaya Mehta died in Mumbai aged 92. In which field was she a noted pioneer?
Answer: B. She was a trailblazer of Marathi stage and film work and was honoured with the Padma Shri in 1987.
53. What is the 2026 theme of the International Day of Parliamentarism, marked on 30 June?
Answer: A. The UN marks this day every 30 June. This year's theme draws attention to how legislatures shape democracy, governance and human rights.
54. National Doctors' Day on 1 July honours the birth and death anniversary of which noted physician?
Answer: C. The day recalls Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, who was born and died on 1 July. The 2026 theme is 'Behind the Mask: Who Heals the Healers?'
55. ICAI came into being on 1 July 1949, which is celebrated as National Chartered Accountants Day. Which year of the institute's foundation does the 2026 observance mark?
Answer: E. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India was set up on 1 July 1949, so the 2026 event counts as its 78th foundation year.
56. Which Assam district is home to the Nameri Tiger Reserve, where tiger numbers rose fourfold from 3 in 2022 to 12 by the end of 2025?
Answer: C. Nameri lies in Sonitpur district of north-central Assam, and the Wildlife Institute of India confirmed the count. Tigers have also come back to Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary, Nameri's satellite core, after vanishing locally in the early 2000s.
57. Nameri's northern boundary is shared with which tiger reserve in Arunachal Pradesh?
Answer: E. Pakke Tiger Reserve, covering 1,276.95 sq km, adjoins Nameri on the north. Nameri's main river is the Jia Bhoreli (Kameng), a Brahmaputra tributary, and the reserve is a stronghold of the endangered white-winged wood duck.
58. Assam's earliest tiger reserve was which of these?
Answer: B. Manas was the first tiger reserve in Assam, being among the nine original Project Tiger reserves of 1973. Nameri followed in 2000, and Assam now has four: Kaziranga, Manas, Nameri and Orang, the last being India's smallest by core area.
59. At which national park did PM Indira Gandhi start Project Tiger on 1 April 1973?
Answer: D. The project began at Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand with nine reserves. The NTCA, set up in 2005 under the amended Wild Life Protection Act 1972, now oversees it; the Bengal Tiger is IUCN Endangered, CITES Appendix I and WPA Schedule I.
60. Where was the white-rumped vulture tagged 'Z25', electrocuted recently near Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, bred in captivity?
Answer: A. Z25 came from the Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre at Pinjore, Haryana, Asia's first vulture breeding facility (2001, BNHS with the Haryana Forest Department). It was freed at Tadoba-Andhari on 30 December 2025, moved to Mudumalai on 7 April 2026, and died on 28 June 2026 on the Sigur plateau.
61. Under which IUCN Red List category does the White-Rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) fall?
Answer: D. The species has been listed Critically Endangered since 2000 after losing 99.7% of its numbers between 1993 and 2002, chiefly through diclofenac poisoning. Diclofenac was banned for veterinary use on 11 March 2006, and meloxicam is the safe substitute.
62. Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi travelled to India from 1 to 3 July 2026 for which numbered India–Japan Annual Summit?
Answer: A. It was the 16th India–Japan Annual Summit, held in New Delhi on Takaichi's first Official State Visit as Japan's first woman PM. A business delegation of about 120 announced roughly 2 trillion yen (about $13 billion) of investment, and Japan hosts the 17th summit in 2027.
63. Three joint statements were adopted at the 16th India–Japan Summit. Which topic below was NOT covered by any of them?
Answer: A. The statements dealt with Economic Security, Artificial Intelligence and Energy Resilience, and none dealt with space exploration. The two sides also chose to mark 2027, 75 years of diplomatic ties, as the "Year of Shared Horizons".
64. Aligned with Japan's FOIP at the summit, the MAHASAGAR doctrine expands to which phrase?
Answer: E. MAHASAGAR stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security And Growth Across Regions. Modi announced it in Mauritius in March 2025 as the broader successor to SAGAR (2015), extending the Indian Ocean vision to the Indo-Pacific and Africa.
65. Which pillar of India's Indo-Pacific Oceans' Initiative (IPOI) does Japan lead as partner?
Answer: B. Japan leads the Connectivity pillar (Trade Connectivity & Maritime Transport) of IPOI, which Modi announced at the East Asia Summit in Bangkok in November 2019 with seven pillars. Shinzo Abe first set out Japan's FOIP in his August 2007 speech to India's Parliament.
66. The EPF Scheme, 2026, effective 29 June 2026, has been framed under which legislation?
Answer: E. It was framed under the Code on Social Security, 2020, and takes the place of the EPF Scheme, 1952. The basics stay as they were: 12% contribution, ₹15,000 wage ceiling and 8.25% interest for FY 2025-26, while EPS 1995 and EDLI carry on.
67. The EPF Scheme, 2026 merges the previous 13 categories of partial withdrawal into how many?
Answer: B. Thirteen categories became three: Essential Needs (illness, education, marriage), Housing Needs and Special Circumstances. The scheme also adds a 25% minimum balance rule, a Principal Employer idea for contract workers, and up to 3 months of emergency deferment.
68. What share of the total fund balance must a member keep as a minimum retirement corpus under the EPF Scheme, 2026?
Answer: D. Members must keep at least 25% of the combined employee and employer balance, so with ₹1 lakh only ₹75,000 can be taken out. Exempted PF trusts also cannot declare interest more than 200 bps over the EPF rate.
69. Which set names the three transition initiatives that came with the EPF Scheme, 2026?
Answer: A. The trio is the Employees' Enrolment Campaign 2026 (helping employers fix past registration lapses), VISHWAS 2026 (settling legacy disputes with EPFO) and AMNESTY 2026 (letting employers clear old compliance gaps without penal action).
70. Assam's third Biodiversity Heritage Site, the Borjuli wetland, is of global importance for protecting which species?
Answer: C. Borjuli, a 0.41-hectare wetland in Sonitpur, shelters Oryza rufipogon, wild ancestor of cultivated rice, which resists disease and pests and tolerates floods and salinity. It is India's 55th BHS and the first meant for conserving wild rice.
71. Which section of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 allows the notification of Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS)?
Answer: A. State governments notify BHSs under Section 37, in consultation with local Biodiversity Management Committees and guided by the National Biodiversity Authority (set up 2003, based in Chennai). Assam's two earlier BHSs are Majuli and Hajong Tortoise Lake.
72. Which disease outbreak was simulated in 'Pashujanya Yudh Abhyas (PYA)', the third national mock drill under the National One Health Mission?
Answer: C. The five-day drill from 29 June to 3 July 2026 at Khari village, Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, simulated Influenza A (H1N1) in animals that could spill over to people and wildlife. DAHD organised it with ICAR, NCDC, ICMR and the PSA office under the National Joint Outbreak Response Team.
73. Which institution serves as the anchor of the National One Health Mission (NOHM)?
Answer: E. The National Institute of One Health in Nagpur anchors NOHM, whose foundation stone Modi laid in December 2022. The mission was cleared by PM-STIAC in July 2022, is coordinated by the Principal Scientific Adviser's office, and spans over 13 ministries.
74. In what year was the Digital India Programme, which completed 11 years on 1 July 2026, launched?
Answer: B. PM Modi started Digital India on 1 July 2015 to create a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy; today it stresses areas such as AI and semiconductor manufacturing.
75. What is the name of Seychelles' highest honour, which PM Modi was given during his 27–29 June 2026 visit?
Answer: D. Modi received "Guardian of the Blue Horizon", the top Seychelles honour. The visit also saw India and Seychelles sign 9 MoUs spanning defence, healthcare, maritime cooperation and digital payments.
76. Which two international banks has NPCI teamed up with for real-time forex settlement of cross-border UPI payments?
Answer: B. NPCI joined HSBC India and JP Morgan Payments to settle foreign exchange instantly on cross-border UPI transactions, which makes them faster and more transparent. Bank of Baroda separately tied up with Japan's Mizuho Bank on M&A financing.
77. After receiving 8 more GI tags, how many GI products does Himachal Pradesh now have in total?
Answer: D. The eight new tags, among them Kinnauri Apple, Seabuckthorn and Chamba Metal Art, bring Himachal's GI product count to 17 and support traditional products and rural livelihoods.
78. Who succeeds Keki Mistry as part-time Chairman of HDFC Bank for a three-year term?
Answer: A. Rajiv Kumar was named HDFC Bank's part-time Chairman for three years in place of Keki Mistry, and he is also appointed an Additional Independent Director.
79. For ₹281.7 crore, Kotak Mahindra Bank is set to take over the India retail and wealth business of which foreign bank?
Answer: C. Kotak will buy Deutsche Bank's India retail and wealth arm, covering loans, deposits and assets under management, to strengthen its affluent banking segment. CCI separately approved DWS Group's stake purchase in Nippon Life India AIF and the Aditya Birla-led RCB deal.
80. Animal Taxonomy Summit (ATS) 4.0, started by MoEFCC in Kolkata, coincided with which Foundation Day of the Zoological Survey of India?
Answer: E. The summit marked ZSI's 111th Foundation Day, and it came with the release of fresh biodiversity records and yearly discovery reports.
81. The rollout of GST in which year is remembered on GST Day, 1 July?
Answer: C. GST Day recalls the launch of the Goods and Services Tax on 1 July 2017. Registered taxpayers have grown from 66.5 lakh to 1.65 crore by 2026, and 2 July is separately World Sports Journalists Day, honouring the 1924 founding of the International Sports Press Association.
82. Ex-ISRO scientist Mylswamy Annadurai now chairs the Curriculum Design Committee of which state?
Answer: E. Annadurai, called the "Moon Man of India", heads Tamil Nadu's committee modernising the curriculum for 1.3 crore students with stress on AI, science and critical thinking. Biswanath Sinha also succeeded Dr. A. Jayathilak as Kerala's Chief Secretary.
83. Where is the first greenfield integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex in India, which PM Modi dedicated to the nation?
Answer: B. The complex is at Balotra in Rajasthan. On the same occasion Modi opened Jodhpur Airport's new terminal building and launched projects worth ₹1.06 lakh crore in energy, transport and infrastructure.
84. Which edition of the National Water Awards has the Jal Shakti Ministry opened on the Rashtriya Puraskar portal?
Answer: D. The 7th National Water Awards were opened for entries, honouring individuals, institutions and states for the best practices in water conservation and management.
85. India's first export-import shipping container, made at Dadri, was produced for which global shipping line?
Answer: A. Sarbananda Sonowal unveiled the container, built for A.P. Moller–Maersk, as a boost to India's manufacturing and shipping capabilities. Jitendra Singh also opened the third batch of the DAKSH leadership programme for public officials.
86. The NSO's 'Labour Market Dynamics in Million-Plus Cities' report says roughly what share of women in India's 46 biggest cities stay out of the workforce because of childcare and housework?
Answer: B. Drawing on PLFS 2024-25, the report found 68.7% of women in these cities cite care and household duties for staying outside the labour force, against only about 1% of men. Salaried women also earn 23% less, at ₹23,700 a month versus ₹30,700.
87. Which city had the top share, 83%, of women giving care work as the reason for not being in the labour force, in the NSO report?
Answer: E. Howrah in West Bengal led at 83%, with Surat next at 81% and Pimpri-Chinchwad and Bhopal at 78%. Coimbatore (38%) and Agra (41%) were lowest, and female LFPR in these cities rose from 19.8% in 2017-18 to 27.2% in 2025.
88. The Periodic Labour Force Survey, begun in 2017-18, followed the advice of which committee?
Answer: C. The NSO under MoSPI began PLFS in 2017-18 on the 2010 Amitabh Kundu Committee's recommendation, replacing the older five-yearly employment-unemployment surveys. Urban households are visited four times a year in a rotating panel and rural households once a year.
89. Which body launched 'Medical Innovations Patent Mitra', a platform giving fully government-funded patent help to biomedical innovators?
Answer: D. ICMR started it under NITI Aayog's guidance with the Department of Pharmaceuticals, and DPIIT backs it. Health Minister JP Nadda launched it at the ISHTA symposium; it covers filing, prosecution and technology transfer, and ICMR DG Dr Rajiv Bahl wants life-science patents to grow tenfold in two years.
90. India's first undersea cable designed for AI workloads, the I-2SEA Submarine Cable System, will come ashore at which two Indian locations?
Answer: A. The roughly 3,600 km cable connects Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to the east coast. Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh gives the shortest subsea route to Hyderabad's AI data centres, and South Chennai adds a second landing; Lightstorm, Microsoft, Singtel and Tata Communications form the consortium, NEC is the supplier and service is planned for Q4 2029.
91. What fraction of intercontinental data traffic worldwide is carried by submarine cables?
Answer: C. More than 550 working undersea cables spanning around 1.4 million km handle nearly all such traffic, leaving only about 1% to satellites. India has around 17 international cables and Mumbai takes roughly 75% of its international bandwidth, which explains the push for east-coast landings.
92. Where was the 5th Foundation Day of the Ministry of Cooperation held on 6 July 2026?
Answer: A. The ministry, formed on 6 July 2021, held the event under the theme 'Sahakar Se Samriddhi' with Amit Shah as Chief Guest. He laid foundation stones for 47 grain godowns, opened 85, announced the conversion of 50,000 PACS to e-PACS, a Cooperative Life Insurance Company and Bharat Taxi's growth to 500 cities.
93. Sahakar CBS and Sahakar Sahyogi, introduced on the Ministry of Cooperation's 5th Foundation Day, are digital tools made for which type of institution?
Answer: B. Sahakar CBS is a shared core banking platform and Sahakar Sahyogi is an AI conversational platform, both built for UCBs by NUCFDC, their umbrella body, and not by the RBI itself. NCD 3.0 (National Cooperative Database) and a geo-tagging mobile app were launched too.
94. Under which entry of the Constitution's lists does the subject 'Cooperation' fall?
Answer: E. Cooperation is a state subject in Entry 32 of List II in the Seventh Schedule. The 97th Amendment of 2011 inserted Part IX-B (Articles 243-ZH to 243-ZT) and made forming cooperatives a Fundamental Right under Article 19(1)(c), while multi-state societies fall under the MSCS Act, 2002.
95. White Revolution 2.0 sets the Ministry of Cooperation a goal of raising milk procurement by how much over five years?
Answer: D. The plan relies on 25,282 newly registered dairy cooperative societies across 31 States and UTs, with the Sardar Patel Cooperative Dairy Federation connecting over 20 lakh farmers. India already produces about 22-23% of the world's milk.
96. ISRO's SOLVE motor had its first ground test, SOLVE-ST01, at Sriharikota on 3 July 2026. What does SOLVE stand for?
Answer: A. SOLVE is a sub-orbital test vehicle for the Gaganyaan Crew Module's Integrated Parachute Tests. It lifts the module to 10-17 km, after which 10 parachutes open before splashdown; its solid stage derives from the PSLV strap-on motor with a slow-burning propellant and SITVC nozzle.
97. ISRO's 'Mission MITRA' in Leh, which involved the four designated Gaganyaan astronauts, examined what?
Answer: D. MITRA, short for Mapping of Interoperable Traits and Response Assessment, was a week-long Ladakh exercise simulating spaceflight stresses on the crew. India's first crewed flight, Gaganyaan-4/H1, is aimed for Q1 2027, which would make India the fourth country with crewed spaceflight.
98. NSE has asked the RBI for permission to launch Quanto Cross-Currency Derivatives. What is the key feature of a Quanto contract?
Answer: E. A quantity-adjusted contract lets an investor take a view on a foreign pair such as EUR/USD while profit and loss are paid in a preset currency at a fixed conversion rate, removing settlement-currency FX risk. NSE disclosed the plan in its DRHP filed with SEBI on 17 June 2026 for its IPO.
99. Which of these currency pairs cannot currently be traded on Indian exchanges?
Answer: C. Only the four rupee pairs, USD/INR, EUR/INR, GBP/INR and JPY/INR, trade at present, so pairs without the rupee are unavailable, a gap Quanto contracts target. SEBI and RBI jointly regulate currency derivatives, and after RBI's April 2024 underlying-exposure rule ADTV slid from over ₹35,000 crore to around ₹5,000 crore.
100. In CMFRI's 'Marine Fish Stock Status of India, 2022' report, what share of the 135 stocks assessed was rated sustainable?
Answer: B. The claim released on 11 February 2026 listed 91.1% as sustainable, 8.2% as overfished and 0.7% as rebuilding, with landings valued at ₹58,247 crore for 2022. Critics point out that CMFRI relies on landing data instead of at-sea surveys, and the FAO calls Indian marine fisheries plateaued and fully exploited.
101. Along which state's coast is India's continental shelf the widest?
Answer: A. The shelf is widest off Gujarat and part of Maharashtra. The territorial sea reaches 12 nautical miles and the EEZ 200 nautical miles (about 371 km, around 2 million sq km); India ranks third in fish output and second in aquaculture, and ICAR's CMFRI, set up in 1947 and based in Kochi, runs the stock assessments.
102. Under the reworked PGS-India certification framework, within what area must Regional Councils now operate?
Answer: B. The Agriculture Ministry limited RCs to one state for both organic and natural farming certification. Multi-state RCs have until 30 April 2027 to hand local groups to state-based RCs; MoUs signed before 31 March 2026 remain valid, but fresh inter-state registrations are not allowed.
103. Which description best fits PGS-India, started on 7 April 2011?
Answer: E. Run by the Agriculture Ministry, it is a cheap peer-review system for small and marginal farmers issuing PGS-Green (in-conversion) and PGS-Organic certificates. Exports use APEDA's third-party NPOP, both share the Jaivik Bharat logo, and the PGS Secretariat is at NCONF, Ghaziabad.
104. Which tea estate became the first in India to produce Matcha tea on a commercial basis?
Answer: C. Chota Tingrai in Tinsukia district reached the milestone on 3 July 2026 after almost ten years working with Japanese experts and using a fully automated Japanese-style unit. Its first 5-kg lot fetched ₹3,000/kg at the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre.
105. The processed leaves from shade-grown Camellia sinensis that are ground to make Matcha go by what name?
Answer: D. Plants are covered for 3-4 weeks before harvest, blocking about 90% of sunlight, which raises chlorophyll and keeps L-theanine for umami flavour. The steamed, de-stemmed, de-veined, dried leaf is tencha, and it is stone-ground into powder; the practice began in Song Dynasty China and monk Eisai brought it to Japan in 1191 CE.
106. Established in 1970, the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre ranks where among India's tea auction centres by size?
Answer: E. GTAC began on 25 September 1970 and sits behind Kolkata (1861), handling about half of Assam's auction volume. Assam produces around half of India's tea, and India is second in production, third in exports and first in consumption worldwide.
107. VB-G RAM G, which took over from MGNREGA from 1 July 2026, received a first installment of ₹25,863 crore. What does the name stand for?
Answer: A. The Centre released ₹25,863 crore as the first tranche under the scheme that succeeded MGNREGA on 1 July 2026. Uttar Pradesh received the largest allocation, then Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.
108. Egypt opened the largest defence headquarters in the world. By what popular name is it known?
Answer: B. The State Strategic Command Headquarters, nicknamed the Octagon, covers about 22,000 acres and serves as the central command of Egypt's armed forces.
109. Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth revealed the 'VIJAY' transformation roadmap. Which set of priorities does it stand for?
Answer: C. The roadmap seeks a technology-driven, future-ready Indian Army built on those five pillars, and was announced by General Dhiraj Seth, the COAS.
110. India reached its best-ever position in the Sustainable Development Report 2026. What was the rank?
Answer: D. India stood 94th, its best placing so far, helped by gains in digital connectivity and electricity access. Finland headed the table with Sweden and Denmark behind it.
111. Which trio of Indian business figures joined the ITU 'AI for Good' Global Commission as founding members?
Answer: A. These three are among the 44 global leaders on the commission, which advocates responsible AI governance and digital inclusion.
112. Modernisation of water and sanitation in which Indian city will be supported by a USD 230 million ADB loan?
Answer: C. The loan funds new pipelines, pumping stations and a ring-main distribution network, and Chennai becomes the first Indian city to adopt this approach.
113. Paytm Europe obtained a Payment Institution licence, allowing services across the European Economic Area, from the financial regulator of which country?
Answer: B. The Luxembourg regulator's licence lets Paytm Europe offer regulated payments throughout the EEA, extending Paytm into European financial services. Separately, the RBI fined Bank of Baroda and GIC Housing Finance a combined ₹66.7 lakh for KYC and lending lapses.
114. Who won Peru's 2026 presidential election and is due to take office on 28 July 2026?
Answer: D. She won a tight runoff and has led the Popular Force Party for more than ten years before this victory.
115. Which Finland-based company has teamed up with Agnikul Cosmos to build India's SAR satellite ecosystem?
Answer: E. The tie-up covers making Synthetic Aperture Radar satellites and indigenous launch services for defence, disaster management and environmental monitoring. Also in the news, ICAR-CMFRI used DNA analysis to identify a new Arabian Sea deep-sea fish, Cyttopsis indica.
116. What was the theme for the International Day of Cooperatives 2026, observed on 4 July?
Answer: C. The day fell on 4 July 2026 and its theme stressed how cooperatives support sustainable development and inclusive growth.
117. Adani Enterprises and International Resources Holding signed an MoU for a USD 11.5 billion integrated aluminium project with the government of which state?
Answer: A. The project spans mining, refining, smelting and downstream manufacturing, and is expected to be India's biggest FDI in metallurgy.
118. Which DRDO laboratory is in charge of the Underwater Fiber Optic Sensing System (UFOSS) being rolled out under the "Deep Ocean Watch" project?
Answer: C. The Kochi-based Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) heads UFOSS, a permanent network of undersea acoustic and hydrographic sensors on the Indian Ocean floor linked to shore by armoured fibre-optic cable. An EoI went out on 20 June 2026 with a 48-month delivery target.
119. For how long is the UFOSS designed to remain operational?
Answer: E. The system is built to last 20 years, with cable-laying ploughs and ROVs burying it deep in the seabed. A Lead System Integrator may team up with as many as 5 engineering firms, and the project is India's counterpart to the US IUSS, successor to SOSUS, aimed at Chinese SSNs and Pakistan's Hangor-class AIP boats.
120. What does Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology make possible?
Answer: B. AIP lets non-nuclear submarines stay underwater for two to three weeks without coming up for air, a big stealth gain. Examples are fuel cells (German Type 214), Stirling engines and France's MESMA, and India's Project 75(I) plans six AIP boats.
121. The 9th Session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts (IGE) on Consumer Protection Law and Policy, which India has been named to chair, is organised by which body?
Answer: D. UNCTAD runs the IGE, not the WTO. India chairs the 6-8 July 2026 session at the Palais des Nations in Geneva through Nidhi Khare, Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs, and the UN Principles for Consumer Product Safety (UNGA, December 2025) are formally launched there.
122. In which year did the UN General Assembly first adopt the United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection (UNGCP)?
Answer: A. UNGA Resolution 39/248 of 16 April 1985 first adopted them. They gained sustainable-development principles in 1999 and a major digital and e-commerce update in December 2015, and remain non-binding soft law guiding national consumer laws.
123. ICMR-MINDS took the Gold Award at the National Awards for e-Governance 2026. What is it about?
Answer: D. ICMR-MINDS is an implementation research effort that folds mental health and substance-use screening and care into non-communicable disease management. An AI-based Clinical Decision Support System lets trained non-specialist frontline workers deliver care, and it won Gold in Category 2 (AI innovation for citizen-centric services).
124. Which body presents the National Awards for e-Governance?
Answer: A. DARPG, the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances under the Personnel Ministry, has run the awards since 2003, not MeitY. Dr Jitendra Singh handed the ICMR-MINDS award at the 29th NCeG in Jaipur on 1-2 July 2026.
125. Which theme did the 29th National Conference on e-Governance (NCeG) 2026 in Jaipur carry?
Answer: C. The Jaipur conference was themed "Viksit Bharat 2047: AI-enabled, Data-driven & Secure Digital Governance" and ended by adopting the Jaipur Declaration 2026 to strengthen digital governance.
126. Under the RBI's new capital market lending norms that took effect on 1 July 2026, a bank's overall Capital Market Exposure may not exceed what share of its Tier-I capital?
Answer: E. The framework, notified 13 February 2026 under a new Chapter XIII A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, caps total CME at 40% of Tier-I capital and direct exposure at 20%. Loans to market intermediaries need full collateral, and funding brokers' proprietary trading is barred apart from market-making.
127. What Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratio do the new RBI norms allow on loans against listed equity shares?
Answer: B. Loans against listed shares carry a 60% LTV, versus 75% for MF, ETF, REIT and InvIT units and 85% for debt mutual funds. Other figures include a 40% haircut on shares, ₹1 crore LAS limit per person, and a ₹25 lakh cap on IPO and secondary-market loans.
128. Bank finance for which broker activity has been prohibited under the new RBI capital market rules, except for market-making?
Answer: E. Lending for proprietary trading, where firms trade with their own money, is banned to curb speculation. Volumes dipped after the tighter rules: MCX fell about 40%, BSE 7-10%, and NSE's proprietary share slid from 52% to 51.3%.
129. INS Mahendragiri (F38), due for commissioning at Visakhapatnam on 11 July 2026, is the sixth vessel of which indigenous stealth frigate programme?
Answer: B. It is the sixth Project 17A stealth frigate built in India. Its commissioning at Visakhapatnam on 11 July 2026 adds to the country's domestic warship-building drive and maritime security.
130. The "Chita Andolan" (Pyre Protest) has restarted in Madhya Pradesh over delayed rehabilitation linked to which project?
Answer: D. Families displaced by the Ken–Betwa Link Project, India's first river-interlinking scheme under the National Perspective Plan, restarted the protest, citing slow rehabilitation, compensation and resettlement.
131. Japan's Hayabusa2 probe recently passed within 800 metres of which asteroid?
Answer: A. Hayabusa2's close flyby was of Torifune, a primitive near-Earth asteroid useful to planetary science and future impact-mitigation planning. The same spacecraft earlier collected samples from Ryugu.
132. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared modernisation proposals worth roughly how much in its latest meeting?
Answer: C. The DAC approved proposals of about ₹52,000 crore, including advanced missile systems, anti-drone technology, naval unmanned systems and high-altitude pseudo satellites for all three services.
133. At Bamako, India launched its first Forum for the Promotion of Exports with which African nation?
Answer: A. The inaugural India–Mali Forum for the Promotion of Exports took place in Bamako, Mali's capital, and looked at openings in textiles, mining, energy, healthcare and education.
134. Sikkim mountaineer Tshering Choden recently climbed Mount Elbrus. It is the tallest peak on which continent?
Answer: C. Elbrus in Russia is the highest point of Europe. It is Tshering Choden's second Seven Summits success, following Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain.
135. SBI is taking over NHB's 10% holding in RDCL. In which market segment does RDCL work?
Answer: E. RDCL is the RMBS Development Company Limited, which works on residential mortgage-backed securities. SBI's purchase of National Housing Bank's 10% stake aims to deepen that market, add liquidity and aid housing finance.
136. Which side lifted the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, extending its record to seven titles?
Answer: B. Australia beat England in the final for a record seventh title, and Beth Mooney was named both Player of the Final and Player of the Tournament.
137. At what age did Vaibhav Sooryavanshi debut to become India's youngest international cricketer?
Answer: D. He debuted aged 15 years and 99 days, overtaking Sachin Tendulkar's long-standing mark for India's youngest international debutant, following an outstanding IPL 2026.
138. Which folk art form was the late Teejan Bai, who died aged 70, famed for?
Answer: B. Teejan Bai, who died in Raipur on 5 July 2026, was the first woman to perform Pandavani, the Mahabharata-based Chhattisgarhi narrative form, in the Kapalik style in public. She held the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.
139. Which scientific milestone does World Zoonoses Day on 6 July recall?
Answer: D. The day recalls Louis Pasteur giving the first successful rabies vaccine in 1885, and it promotes the One Health approach to diseases passing between animals and people. World Rural Development Day, first held in 2025, also falls on 6 July.
Answer: A. The World Bank supports the programme, which seeks to speed up pollution control under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
141. How many payloads will Skyroot's Vikram-1 rocket take up on Mission Aagaman, among them a space-debris robotic arm and a CubeSat?
Answer: C. Six payloads will fly from Sriharikota, including technology demonstrations, the debris-removal robotic arm, a CubeSat and commemorative items honouring C.V. Raman, Vikram Sarabhai and A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
142. Which country recently gave PM Modi its highest civilian honour, "Bintang Adipurna"?
Answer: E. Indonesia conferred its top civilian award, Bintang Adipurna, on Modi for deepening India–Indonesia ties, and EAM S. Jaishankar called it a matter of pride for every Indian.
143. In which city is India holding the two-day BRICS Women Working Group Meeting during its BRICS Chairship?
Answer: C. The meeting is in Kochi and covers women's empowerment, their economic participation and gender-inclusive development.
144. Which Indian Naval sail training ship reached New York for SAIL4TH 250 and the Parade of Sail on the Hudson River?
Answer: E. INS Sudarshini reached New York for the US International Naval Review 250 and SAIL4TH 250, joining the Hudson Parade of Sail to show India's maritime heritage and naval diplomacy.
145. CCRAS has launched three research initiatives in New Delhi. For which system of medicine is it the apex research council?
Answer: B. The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences is Ayurveda's apex research body. Its three launches were a Research Methodology Textbook, CCRAS PRAYATNA 2026-27 and a Digital Ecosystem Dashboard.
146. Which company developed 'Mission Drishti', billed as the first OptoSAR satellite in the world and the biggest privately built Earth-observation satellite from India?
Answer: D. Bengaluru's GalaxEye Space, incubated at IIT Madras, built it. It flew on a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, on 3 May 2026 to low Earth orbit, but was lost when a geomagnetic solar storm damaged a key onboard system.
147. What does the 'OptoSAR' technology used in Mission Drishti mean?
Answer: C. It pairs electro-optical cameras, which need daylight and clear skies, with SAR radar that works in any weather, day or night. Together they serve defence, disaster management, agriculture and infrastructure monitoring.
148. In UNCTAD's World Investment Report 2026, where did India rank among global FDI recipients in 2025?
Answer: A. India moved up two places from 13th in 2024, with inflows rising 44% to $38.89 billion in 2025 on the back of advanced manufacturing and Alphabet's record $14.5 bn greenfield data-centre plan. Its outward FDI was $35.7 bn, ranking 18th.
149. Which country remained the top FDI destination in 2025, drawing $277 billion, according to UNCTAD's WIR 2026?
Answer: B. US inflows of $277 bn were 2% lower, while China came 4th as its inflows fell from $116.24 bn to $104.66 bn. Developing economies rose 2% and Developing Asia 3%; UNCTAD has published this flagship report annually since 1991.
150. An investment counts as FDI when a foreign entity owns at least what share of a business's equity?
Answer: E. A stake of 10% or more signals a lasting interest and a say in management. Greenfield means starting a new project from the ground up, while brownfield means buying or expanding something that already exists.
151. Which country led the Global Passport Index (GPI) 2026 with a score of 96.05?
Answer: D. Sweden topped the fifth GPI, ahead of Switzerland, Finland, Germany and the Netherlands. Portugal-based Global Citizen Solutions publishes it, ranking 197 countries on Enhanced Mobility (50%), Investment (25%) and Quality of Life (25%).
152. Where does India stand in the Global Passport Index (GPI) 2026?
Answer: A. India placed 125th of 197 with 45.1 points, its best score in five years, though it fell one place from 124th in 2025. It was 136th in Enhanced Mobility, 118th in Quality of Life and 94th in Investment.
153. INS Mahendragiri (F38), due for commissioning on 11 July 2026, takes its name from a mountain range in which state?
Answer: B. The range is in the Eastern Ghats of Odisha and holds the state's second-highest peak at about 1,501 m. The frigate is the sixth of seven Project 17A (Nilgiri-class) ships, designed by the Warship Design Bureau, built by Mazagon Dock in Mumbai with over 75% indigenous content, and will join the Eastern Fleet.
154. Seven stealth frigates are being built under Project 17A. How is the work split between the shipyards?
Answer: C. The roughly ₹45,000 crore programme follows the Shivalik-class Project 17, with MDL building four ships and GRSE three. It engaged over 200 MSMEs and created around 4,000 direct and 10,000 indirect jobs; the lead ship INS Nilgiri was handed over in December 2024.
155. The 17th-century Jestha Varna Mahavihar won the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award of Merit 2025. In which place is it located?
Answer: E. This Buddhist monastery, also called Jyaba Bahi or Chakrabahil, stands 300 metres from Patan Durbar Square in Lalitpur. It was honoured for community-led restoration after the 7.8-magnitude 2015 Gorkha earthquake, paid for by India's NPR 13.78 crore heritage grant.
156. Nepal is home to how many UNESCO World Heritage Sites?
Answer: C. The four are Kathmandu Valley (1979), Sagarmatha National Park (1979), Chitwan National Park (1984) and Lumbini (1997), the Buddha's birthplace. UNESCO itself was founded on 16 November 1945 in Paris, and India joined on 4 November 1946.
157. Who has been named Director General of the Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D)?
Answer: B. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet picked Mittal for BPR&D, Amit Garg for NCRB and Sujeet Pandey for SVPNPA. All three are senior IPS officers of the 1993-94 batches.
158. Which NPCI official has joined the Supervisory Board of SWIFT?
Answer: A. NPCI's MD & CEO got the seat, which reflects India's rising weight in global digital payments infrastructure and recognition of the UPI-driven ecosystem.
159. A consortium led by TPG Rise Climate, with GIC and ICICI Bank, agreed to buy a 100% stake in Aseem Infrastructure Finance. Who is the seller?
Answer: E. The buyers will take full ownership from the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund in one of India's largest private climate-focused infrastructure deals, which should add to climate financing.
160. China put the HY-2E (Haiyang-2E) satellite into orbit on a Long March-4B rocket. What is it meant for?
Answer: D. The ocean-observation satellite will track sea conditions, weather and marine ecosystems and assist disaster management. The launch was China's 47th space mission of 2026.
161. How many medals did India win at the U15 and U20 Asian Wrestling Championships in Pattaya, Thailand?
Answer: A. India collected 41 medals, comprising 12 gold, 13 silver and 16 bronze, which underlines the country's growing depth in junior wrestling.
162. Girish Bharadwaj died aged 76. By what popular title was he known?
Answer: E. The Padma Shri recipient earned the nickname by building more than 150 low-cost suspension bridges in five states, which greatly improved connectivity for remote rural communities.
163. From which Indian state did APEDA help send Amrapali mangoes to Dubai?
Answer: B. Two metric tonnes came from Gumla and Deoghar, supplied by women-led Farmer Producer Companies for sale at Lulu stores. Farmers' returns rose about 180%, and the shipment promotes exports from tribal areas.
164. In which city did the Ministry of Panchayati Raj hold the third Outreach Workshop on the Atmanirbhar Panchayat Programme?
Answer: C. Kochi in Kerala hosted more than 800 Panchayats to discuss financial self-reliance, mobilising local resources and sustainable rural governance, and urged them to raise their own revenue and prepare bankable projects.
165. What is the 2026 theme of World Kiswahili Language Day, observed on 7 July under UNESCO?
Answer: D. UNESCO marks the day every 7 July, and this year's theme highlights Kiswahili's part in promoting unity, cultural exchange and international cooperation.
166. World Bioproduct Day, held on 7 July to promote renewable bio-based products, was begun in 2021 by which organisations?
Answer: B. Those two bodies started the day in 2021 to point out how bioproducts help environmental sustainability, climate action and the circular bioeconomy.
167. Among the three categories of the Global Passport Index 2026, in which one did India do best?
Answer: A. Investment gave India its best position at 94th, up 3, versus 118th in Quality of Life (up 11) and 136th in Enhanced Mobility (down 1). Enhanced Mobility has the heaviest weight at 50%, with Investment and Quality of Life at 25% each.
168. Of these pairings of global indices with India's latest ranks, which one is wrong?
Answer: E. India is 102nd of 123 in the 2025 Global Hunger Index, not 55th. The other ranks are right: HDI 130/193, GII 38/139, WPFI 151/180 and SDG Index 94/167; CPI is 91/182, Global Peace Index 115/163 and World Happiness Report 116/147.
169. PM Modi and Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto together opened a conservation project at the Prambanan Temple complex. Which Indian agency leads the project?
Answer: E. The Archaeological Survey of India is the lead Indian agency. Modi and Prabowo jointly inaugurated the conservation and restoration project at the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Yogyakarta, Java, on 8 July 2026.
170. Indonesia's biggest Hindu temple complex, Prambanan, is mainly devoted to which deity?
Answer: B. Prambanan, built in the 9th–10th century by the Sanjaya dynasty, chiefly honours Lord Shiva alongside Brahma and Vishnu. Its central Shiva temple stands 47 metres tall with Ramayana reliefs, and it became a UNESCO site in 1991, one of Indonesia's 10.
171. How many students across India's schools does the Ministry of Education's UDISE+ Report 2025-26 cover?
Answer: D. The report, released on 7 July 2026, covers 24.72 crore students, 1.03 crore teachers and 14.67 lakh schools. UDISE+ began in 2018-19 and is India's biggest school education database; teacher numbers are up 8.3% since 2022-23, with 90.2% of students Aadhaar-seeded.
172. UDISE+ 2025-26 puts the Secondary-stage Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) at 21:1. What PTR benchmark does NEP 2020 set?
Answer: A. NEP 2020 sets 30:1, and India beats it at every stage: 10:1 Foundational, 12:1 Preparatory, 17:1 Middle and 21:1 Secondary. Secondary GER climbed to 71.7% from 68.5%, women are 54.9% of teachers, and secondary dropout fell to 7.0%.
173. What is the total outlay of the PM-SETU scheme, whose nationwide rollout across 200 ITI clusters was approved on 7 July 2026?
Answer: C. PM-SETU is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of ₹60,000 crore over 5 years under MSDE, announced in Budget 2024-25, cleared in May 2025 and launched 4 October 2025. It targets upgrading 1,000 government ITIs with World Bank and ADB co-financing, and SIPs of ₹1,237.58 crore were cleared for 5 clusters in Odisha, Gujarat and Telangana.
174. According to the AISHE 2023-24 Report, the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education touched what level for the first time?
Answer: A. The report, released 8 July 2026, shows GER hitting 30.0 for the first time with total enrolment of 4.50 crore. Female GER is 31.2, the Gender Parity Index is 1.08 for the 7th year above 1.0, and ST enrolment grew fastest at 75.7%.
175. India overtook Spain to become the world's ____ largest LNG regasification market, according to the IGU World LNG Report 2026.
Answer: C. India ranks 4th in regasification with 52.5 mtpa across 8 working terminals, after adding 7.1 mtpa in 2025, and is also the fourth biggest LNG importer. LNG is natural gas chilled to −162°C and is about 95% methane.
176. SEBI amended its FPI Regulations to swap the USD 2,500 registration fee for Category-I FPIs with a rupee fee of how much?
Answer: E. The new fee is ₹2.3 lakh, applicable after six months, covering Category-I FPIs and FVCIs, and it removes dollar dependence while easing collection and reconciliation. Applicants must also give a date of birth or incorporation for PAN, and DDPs must remit fees to SEBI within 5 working days.
177. Which statement correctly sets FPI apart from FDI?
Answer: B. FPI means putting money into financial assets such as shares, bonds and mutual funds for returns, usually short term and without management control, under SEBI. FDI is a direct, long-term investment with real ownership and a say in management.
178. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's PRAGATI initiative seeks to build a nationwide network of how many agri-entrepreneurs?
Answer: D. PRAGATI targets 20,000 agri-entrepreneurs in 8 states (MP, Bihar, UP, Assam, WB, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Rajasthan) to spread regenerative, climate-resilient farming. It is a privately led, multi-stakeholder effort whose entrepreneurs run village kiosks for agronomy advice, soil health, mechanisation, credit and market access.
179. Which organisation originated the concept of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA), built on productivity, resilience and emission reduction?
Answer: B. FAO coined CSA, which rests on raising productivity and incomes sustainably, adapting to climate change, and cutting or removing greenhouse gases where possible. Regenerative farming, PRAGATI's focus, covers no-till, cover crops, crop rotation, agroforestry and livestock integration.
180. Prof. S. Mahendra Dev, who said more non-farm jobs can solve India's agricultural problem, chairs which body?
Answer: D. He has chaired the Economic Advisory Council to the PM since 5 June 2025. The EAC-PM, in its present form since 26 September 2017, is a non-statutory, non-constitutional body with non-binding advice. Farming gives about 17% of GDP and about 43% of jobs, and 86% of farmers are small or marginal.
181. DRDO tested the guided long-range Pinaka rocket from ITR Chandipur. What user-defined minimum strike range was confirmed?
Answer: A. The guided Pinaka, a Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher system, was fired at Chandipur in Odisha, where it met the user-defined minimum range of 60 km and struck the designated target precisely.
182. For which forthcoming mission did ISRO carry out the CE20 cryogenic engine Flight Acceptance Hot Test on 6 July 2026?
Answer: C. The test was for the LVM3-M7 mission, carried out at the Main Engine & Stage Test facility at IPRC Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. The engine ran at 19.5 tonnes of thrust for 45 seconds and at 22 tonnes for 25 seconds.
183. In which city did Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram launch "TribeX", India's first digital learning platform on tribal arts, culture and traditional knowledge?
Answer: E. TribeX was launched in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, at the National Workshop on Strengthening Tribal Research Institutes, as the first digital learning platform devoted to tribal art, culture and traditional knowledge.
184. Geneva hosted the first session of the UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance 2026. Which pair serves as its Co-chairs?
Answer: C. Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff co-chair it, with ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin as Vice-Chair. It met 6-7 July 2026 under UNGA Resolution 79/325, following the Global Digital Compact, and India sent MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh.
185. Under Section 39 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, Mizoram's Natural History Museum in Aizawl became which numbered Designated Repository in India?
Answer: E. MoEFCC notified the Aizawl museum as India's 21st Designated Repository under Section 39, acting on the National Biodiversity Authority's recommendation.
186. ICAR-NRC on Yak and Assam Don Bosco University built an IoT smart collar for yaks. By what nickname is the domestic yak (Bos grunniens) known?
Answer: B. The yak is the "Ship of the Himalayas", suited to sub-zero alpine conditions and a source of milk, meat, fibre, fuel and load carrying. ICAR's National Research Centre on Yak made the smart collar with Assam Don Bosco University.
187. GIFT City signed an MoU to boost cross-border investment and financial links with the Vietnam International Financial Center in which city?
Answer: D. The partner is VIFC-Da Nang, with the MoU signed in New Delhi by India's IFSC. GIFT City also signed MoUs with Tata Communications on Global Capability Centres and with CEPT University.
188. Sirsa Kinnow, newly given a GI tag, is the first GI-tagged fruit of which state?
Answer: A. It is Haryana's first GI-tagged fruit, granted to Kharisureran Farmer Producer Company Limited in Sirsa district. Kinnow is a King Mandarin × Willow Leaf Mandarin hybrid made by Howard B. Frost in early 20th-century California, rich in vitamin C, calcium and potassium.
189. Who will serve as South Indian Bank's MD & CEO for three years starting 1 October 2026?
Answer: D. Mahesh Muralidhar Pai takes over from P.R. Seshadri on 1 October 2026. Separately, N.S. Vishwanathan was reappointed part-time Chairman of Axis Bank for three years, from 27 October 2026 to 26 October 2029.
190. As InsuranceDekho's brand ambassador, Sourav Ganguly started which campaign aimed at insurance advisors?
Answer: A. Ganguly launched "Khul Kar Khelo". InsuranceDekho, legally Girnar Insurance Brokers Pvt. Ltd., was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana.
191. Shapoor Zadran, who died aged 38 in New Delhi, was a left-arm fast bowler for which country?
Answer: C. Zadran, born 8 July 1987 in Paktia Province, played for Afghanistan as a left-arm fast bowler and died in New Delhi on 7 July 2026 at 38.
192. The 'Guwahati Declaration', adopted by BRICS nations on 7 July 2026, concerns which subject?
Answer: E. It was adopted at the end of the two-day BRICS Heads of Anti-Drug Agencies Meeting (6-7 July 2026) in Guwahati, hosted by the Home Ministry. It stresses real-time intelligence sharing, digital technologies, AI and joint law enforcement; India's BRICS 2026 theme is 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability'.
193. Which economist first came up with the term 'BRIC' in 2001?
Answer: D. Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill coined it. The first formal summit was in Yekaterinburg in 2009, South Africa joined in 2010, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE and Saudi Arabia entered on 1 January 2024, Indonesia in January 2025 as the first Southeast Asian member, and India chairs in 2026.
194. Which city came first in the EIU Global Liveability Index 2026?
Answer: B. Copenhagen in Denmark led, with Vienna, Melbourne, Sydney and Zurich after it. The EIU scores 173 cities on 30 indicators in five groups: Stability, Healthcare, Culture & Environment, Education and Infrastructure, and Damascus was last at 173.
195. Which Indian city ranks highest in the EIU Global Liveability Index 2026?
Answer: A. New Delhi took 120th place, ahead of Mumbai at 121, Chennai at 123 and Bengaluru at 127. The EIU, set up in 1946 and based in London as part of The Economist Group, has issued this index since 1988 and also runs the Democracy Index and a Cost of Living Survey.
196. How many States or UTs earned the top 'Utkarsh' grade in the Ministry of Education's Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0 for 2025-26?
Answer: C. No State or UT crossed the Utkarsh threshold of 90%. PGI-S uses 70 indicators out of 1000 marks and PGI-D covers 784 districts out of 600; grades run Utkarsh (above 90%), Uttam (61-90%), Prachesta (31-60%) and Akanshi (under 40%), with grades used in place of ranks to spur improvement.
197. The IMF's July 2026 World Economic Outlook Update, 'Global Economy in Crosscurrents of War and Technology', forecasts India's FY27 GDP growth at what level?
Answer: C. The IMF trimmed FY27 growth from April's 6.5% to 6.4% and lifted FY28 to 6.7%, after 7.7% growth in FY26. It sees world growth at 3.0% in 2026 and 3.4% in 2027, with headline inflation of 4.7% in 2026; the WEO appears in April and October with updates between.
198. What was the main reason the Asian Development Bank cut its FY27 India growth forecast to 6.6% from 6.9%?
Answer: B. In its India Economic Outlook 2026, ADB said costlier energy erodes household purchasing power. FY28 growth stays at 7.3%, and the FY27 inflation forecast rose to 5.2% from 4.5%; ADB was founded in 1966, is based in Manila and has Masato Kanda as President.
199. Which DRDO laboratory was the principal developer of the Pinaka Long-Range Guided Rocket, test-fired recently at ITR Chandipur?
Answer: E. ARDE Pune built the Pinaka LRGR with HEMRL, DRDL and RCI of Hyderabad. The Chandipur trial in Odisha confirmed a user-specified minimum range of 60 km, fired from a Pinaka MBRL launcher that can handle several rocket variants.
200. The Indian Navy's Drishti-10 Starliner UAV that went down near Porbandar is made by Adani Defence as the Indian version of which Israeli drone?
Answer: A. It is Adani Defence's Hyderabad-built version of Elbit Systems' Hermes-900 MALE UAV, with 36 hours' endurance, about 450 kg payload and a cost near ₹140 crore. The 8 July 2026 crash was the second Hermes-900 loss in 18 months, and the type is flown by INAS 343 'Frontier Formidables'.
201. Where is Adani Defence building South Asia's biggest private missile ecosystem with a ₹2,500 crore investment?
Answer: D. CM Mohan Yadav and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia laid the foundation stone. It is India's first private complex that brings composite propellants, TNT manufacturing and missile system integration together at one site.
202. What does the term 'The Hummus Trail', seen in the news recently, refer to?
Answer: B. About 80,000 Israelis visit India each year, and their long 6-12 month trips are called 'Tiul Gadol'. The topic drew attention after the Hind Rajab Foundation sought action against an Israeli tourist in Himachal Pradesh; Israel set aside 4 million NIS in 2026 for India-Israel tourism cooperation.
203. Kamarajar Port is now India's second major port with an 18-metre draft able to take Cape-size ships. Which port got there first?
Answer: D. Capital Dredging Phase VI gave Kamarajar, formerly Ennore Port and about 24 km north of Chennai, the 18 m depth after Visakhapatnam. It is India's first corporatised Major Port under the Landlord model, declared the 12th Major Port in March 1999 and operational from 1 February 2001.
204. Gujarat's first Data Centre Policy (2026-29), announced by CM Bhupendra Patel, aims for ₹6 lakh crore of investment and how much data centre capacity?
Answer: A. The policy puts its weight on hyperscale data centres, cloud computing and AI infrastructure, alongside the ₹6 lakh crore investment target.
205. India hosted the 13th ASEAN-India AITIGA Joint Committee Meeting in New Delhi. What was the value of India-ASEAN trade in 2025-26?
Answer: E. That was about 11% of India's global trade, but the deficit grew from US$7.5 bn at the start to roughly US$44 bn in 2023. AITIGA, the goods pillar of AIFTA, was signed 13 August 2009 and took effect 1 January 2010; the 6-10 July 2026 meeting at Vanijya Bhawan was co-chaired by Nitin Kumar Yadav and Mastura Ahmad Mustafa.
206. On his 6-8 July 2026 Indonesia visit, PM Modi became the first Indian PM to address the Indonesian Parliament. Which bilateral vision did he unveil?
Answer: C. He spoke to the DPR (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat), announced the Ganga-Mahakam Vision, toured Prambanan Temple, whose restoration the ASI led, and received 'Bintang Adipurna', Indonesia's top civilian honour. The trip yielded 20 outcomes, 14 MoUs and 6 announcements.
207. In which city has the International Centre for Civilizational Studies 'Manas and Mahabharata' been set up?
Answer: D. The Centre for Studies of International Relations (CSIR), New Delhi and the Manas National Academy founded it. The first Hindi translation of the Kyrgyz epic 'Manas' by Hem Chandra Pande and Ramakant Dwivedi came out, and a three-way agreement was signed with 7 Kyrgyz universities.
208. CSIR-IICT Hyderabad created India's first home-grown process for which green refrigerant that can replace HFCs in cooling systems?
Answer: A. The process for Hydrofluoroolefin-1234yf supports Atmanirbhar Bharat. Separately, CSIR-CIMFR Dhanbad built the Smart Algal Liquid Tree (SALT), a mobile microalgae photobioreactor that absorbs CO₂, installed at CIMFR and at NCL, Singrauli (MP).
209. ISRO ran the IMAT-05 parachute test for Gaganyaan on 7 July 2026. At what location was it carried out?
Answer: B. An IAF IL-76 dropped the payload from 2.5 km up to check the Main Parachute System for the uncrewed Gaganyaan G1 mission. The Crew Module has 10 parachutes of 4 kinds: Apex Cover Separation, Drogue, Pilot and Main.
210. After the government permitted 100% FDI in insurance, which firm became the first foreign insurer to wholly own its Indian life insurance arm?
Answer: C. Britain's Aviva Plc is buying Dabur Invest Corp's remaining 26% of Aviva Life Insurance India, lifting its holding from 74% to 100%. The 100% FDI decision came in May 2026 and the deal ends a joint venture with Dabur that dates back to 2001.
211. Seventeen-year-old Aswath S became India's 98th Chess Grandmaster at the Pune International GM Round Robin. Which state is he from?
Answer: E. The player from Kanyakumari got his last GM norm by finishing second on 7/9 in Pune. His earlier norms came at the Grenke Open A in Germany (April 2025) and the First Saturday GM in Budapest (December 2025).
212. Who won the 2026 F1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, giving Ferrari its 250th Grand Prix victory?
Answer: B. Leclerc of Monaco won for Ferrari, his first victory of 2026 and ninth overall, with George Russell of Mercedes second and Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari third. Kimi Antonelli leads the Drivers' standings on 179 points and Mercedes the Constructors' on 333.
213. Which state is set to stage the 8th Khelo India Youth Games in November 2026?
Answer: C. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya made the announcement, with about 8,000 athletes expected. Bihar hosted the 7th edition in 2025 and Maharashtra were overall champions; MYAS began Khelo India in 2018.
214. Leander Paes was named Player Ambassador of the Asian Tennis Federation. What does his bronze at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics still stand as?
Answer: D. Paes remains the only Indian to win an Olympic tennis medal. A former doubles World No. 1, he has 18 Grand Slam titles and 8 Asian Games medals (5 gold), and received the Arjuna Award (1990), Khel Ratna (1996-97), Padma Shri (2001) and Padma Bhushan (2014), and entered the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2024.
215. PM Modi attended the Third India–Australia Annual Summit in which Australian city?
Answer: D. Melbourne hosted the summit, which adopted a Joint Statement reinforcing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of 2020. Outcomes included a Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation, an annual Defence Ministers' Dialogue, a Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap, and an MoU between Australian Maritime Border Command and the Indian Coast Guard.
216. Where will the tracking station through which Australia supports the Gaganyaan Mission be located, per the India-Australia summit outcomes?
Answer: A. The tracking station will be on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The summit also produced an Administrative Arrangement under the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement for long-term uranium exports under IAEA safeguards, the Rooftop Solar Academy, and faster CECA talks with a stronger lithium and cobalt partnership.
217. Where will the National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Mining, set up with Western Australia, be established under the summit outcomes?
Answer: C. India and Western Australia will place the Centre in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. On education, Flinders University got a Letter of Intent for a Bengaluru campus, Victoria University was approved for Gurugram, and Australia announced US$10 million under the Maitri Grants Programme.
218. Which Ministry built "TribeX", India's first dedicated digital learning platform on tribal arts, culture and traditional knowledge?
Answer: E. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs developed TribeX as a central learning platform and repository that protects tribal arts, culture and languages, builds skills, links learners to master artisans, and is open to learners and researchers worldwide.
219. Which state was declared India's 6th fully literate State under the ULLAS Initiative in July 2026?
Answer: B. Uttarakhand became the sixth, under ULLAS (Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for FY 2022-27 for non-literate adults aged 15 and above. Andaman & Nicobar and Sikkim also crossed 95% literacy under ULLAS in 2026.
220. By 2027, ULLAS seeks Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) for how many adult learners?
Answer: E. The target is 5 crore adults by 2027, about 1 crore each year. Learners sit the FLNAT twice a year and those who pass receive a NIOS–DoSEL certificate.
221. A first Hindi translation of the "Manas" epic, Kyrgyzstan's national epic, came out under the India-Kyrgyzstan civilizational initiative. How does UNESCO recognise it?
Answer: B. UNESCO lists the Manas epic, among the longest epic poems anywhere and about the warrior Manas, on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A "Manas and Mahabharata" civilizational studies centre was set up in Bishkek, which borders Kazakhstan, China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
222. Which indigenously developed missile is covered by the defence agreement India signed with Indonesia in Jakarta?
Answer: D. The deal covers Astra Mk 1, a DRDO-developed beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile made by Bharat Dynamics Limited, which hits aircraft at long range and cuts reliance on imported missiles of this type.
223. Which propellant pair fuels the CE20 cryogenic engine on LVM3's upper stage?
Answer: A. CE20, built by ISRO's LPSC and tested at IPRC Mahendragiri, burns liquid hydrogen with liquid oxygen in LVM3's C25/C32 stage. It succeeded the CE-7.5, has flown on eight straight LVM3 missions including Chandrayaan-2 and 3, and is the human-rated engine for Gaganyaan.
224. Parrot Bornavirus 4 (PaBV-4) was found for the first time in India in captive birds. Which disease does it chiefly cause?
Answer: C. PaBV-4, a single-stranded RNA virus, is the principal cause of Proventricular Dilatation Disease, a serious and often fatal neurological and digestive illness in parrots, macaws, parakeets, cockatiels and lovebirds, with weight loss and an enlarged stomach among its signs.
225. The National CAMPA Governing Body cleared four wildlife projects under a new scheme starting with how large a corpus?
Answer: A. The scheme has a ₹3,000 crore corpus over 5 years under National CAMPA (MoEFCC, CAF Act 2016). It funds River Dolphin Conservation, Project Snow Leopard Phase II, the Indian Rhinoceros Conservation Action Plan and the Wild Water Buffalo Conservation Project.
226. Regarding the species in the new CAMPA wildlife projects, pick the statement that is false.
Answer: C. The River Dolphin of the Ganga-Brahmaputra system is under Schedule I, the top protection tier of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, not Schedule IV, so that claim is wrong. The other four statements hold true.
227. The SEA Regenerative Mustard Model Farm Programme saw mustard yields rise by up to 30% on demonstration farms in the 2025-26 rabi season. Which states does it cover?
Answer: E. Run since 2019 by the Solvent Extractors' Association of India with Solidaridad Network Asia, it has 3,000 demonstration plots across 14 districts of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana, aiming for higher yields, better soil and less edible oil import dependence.
228. How much surplus liquidity did the RBI soak up from banks via money market operations on 9 July 2026?
Answer: B. The RBI absorbed ₹1.10 lakh crore on 9 July 2026, a sign of plentiful cash with banks.
229. What facility has SEBI now allowed mutual funds to use to cope with brief liquidity gaps arising from settlement timing differences?
Answer: D. SEBI cleared intraday borrowing for mutual funds to bridge short liquidity mismatches from differing settlement timings, improving operations without raising long-term leverage.
230. Which city did Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw say would be built up as a big high-speed rail hub, with bullet train corridors planned to Pune, Chennai and Bengaluru?
Answer: B. Hyderabad is to become a major high-speed rail hub, with proposed bullet train links to Pune, Chennai and Bengaluru, aiding regional connectivity and growth.
231. India and New Zealand raised ties to a Strategic Partnership and aim to double their bilateral trade by 2030 to what figure?
Answer: D. After talks between Modi and Christopher Luxon, the aim is to double trade to ₹35,000 crore by 2030. The countries also marked 100 years of sporting ties in 2026, which began with the Indian Army Hockey Team's 1926 tour.
232. The newly adopted BRICS Ministerial Declaration 2026 covers cooperation in which sector?
Answer: A. BRICS Transport Ministers adopted it to boost technology- and innovation-led cooperation on sustainable, carbon-neutral transport by road, rail, air and waterways.
233. NITI Aayog recently held a stakeholder consultation on putting which 2025 Act into practice?
Answer: C. The consultation was on the SHANTI Act 2025 and covered regulation, financing, insurance, manufacturing capability, public awareness and operational readiness.
234. India's humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mission "Operation Amistad", now concluded, helped which earthquake-hit country?
Answer: E. Operation Amistad was India's HADR mission for earthquake-hit Venezuela, which thanked India for timely help. "Amistad" means friendship in Spanish.
235. To which class or project does INS Mahendragiri, the indigenous stealth frigate commissioned by Rajnath Singh, belong?
Answer: C. It is the sixth of seven Project 17A (Nilgiri-class) guided-missile stealth frigates built in India, commissioned by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to join the Eastern Fleet at Visakhapatnam.
236. On what date is World Population Day marked?
Answer: E. World Population Day falls on 11 July and in 2026 it focused on population challenges and sustainable development, with J.P. Nadda stressing voluntary family planning, informed choices and healthy families.
237. A DNA-based indexing system for which species was cleared at the 91st meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) at CASFOS Coimbatore?
Answer: D. At the 9 July 2026 meeting chaired by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, the panel approved the Rhino DNA Index System (RhoDIS), a forensic database of individual rhinos' genetic fingerprints, and also reviewed 118 infrastructure and defence proposals.
238. What is the IUCN conservation status of the Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis)?
Answer: B. The species is Vulnerable per IUCN, in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and in CITES Appendix I. It is Assam's State Animal, with about 70% of the roughly 4,000 worldwide living at Kaziranga, up from around 200 in the early 1900s; World Rhino Day falls on 22 September.
239. Which agencies jointly carried out ISRO's IMAT-05 (Integrated Main Parachute Airdrop Test-5) for Gaganyaan?
Answer: E. On 7 July 2026 at the ADRDE drop zone in Sheopur, MP, an IAF IL-76 released a dummy mass standing in for the crew module, qualifying the Main Parachute for peak loads on the uncrewed G1 flight. ADRDE, the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment, is a DRDO lab in Agra, UP.
240. Which of these was not one of the three Gaganyaan Crew Module qualification tests ISRO recently finished?
Answer: B. The completed tests covered CMUS, which makes the module self-right after splashdown, umbilical separation between Crew and Service Modules, and structural behaviour during apex cover separation. Gaganyaan plans to carry astronauts to roughly 400 km orbit for about 3 days, with sea splashdown and Navy recovery.
241. How many free units of electricity per month can households get under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana?
Answer: C. MNRE started the scheme in February 2024 with a ₹75,021 crore outlay, running to March 2027, aiming at 1 crore households. Over 36.3 lakh rooftop systems now serve 44 lakh-plus households, led by Tier-II/III cities, and the Utility-Led Aggregation model targets 30 lakh low-income homes.
242. Copenhagen stayed No. 1 in the EIU Global Liveability Index 2026 for a second straight year. In which three categories did it score a perfect 100?
Answer: A. Delhi was India's best at 120th with 48.1, and the global average liveability score stayed at 76.1. The bottom five were Damascus (173), Tripoli (172), Dhaka (171), Karachi (170) and Algiers (169), while Western Europe stayed the most liveable region.
243. The government wants to link GeM with TReDS so MSMEs can go from procurement to invoice financing. On what date was GeM launched?
Answer: E. GeM is the national public procurement portal under the Commerce and Industry Ministry, with Ajay Bhadoo as CEO. The Public Procurement Policy requires CPSEs to buy at least 25% from MSMEs, with 4% for SC/ST-owned and 3% for women-owned; the integration is driven by the MSME and Commerce Ministries, not SEBI.
244. Which statement about TReDS (Trade Receivables Discounting System) is incorrect?
Answer: A. Financing on TReDS is without recourse to the seller, so a buyer default does not fall on the MSME. Launched in 2017 under a December 2014 RBI framework, it has financiers bid for uploaded invoices at about 7-11% APR with payment in 24-48 hours, and from 30 June 2026 all CPSEs must pay MSME invoices through it.
245. MoSPI's 'Review of Crop Statistics System' report says what share of India's village maps are more than 20 years old?
Answer: B. West Bengal and Puducherry were at 100%, Odisha at 99% and Uttarakhand at 98%, while Gujarat was best at 5%. The report also noted Girdawari delays (only 33-48% of sample villages finished on time) and that about 40% of Crop Cutting Experiments in Jharkhand and UP used untrained staff, out of roughly 1.2 million CCEs in 2023-24.
246. The MoSPI crop statistics report highlighted 'Girdawari'. What is it?
Answer: C. The Village Revenue Officer or Patwari conducts it to gather crop acreage data for agricultural statistics. Crop Cutting Experiments are field trials for estimating yield used in production figures, insurance and policy, and CACP under the Agriculture Ministry relies on such data when recommending MSPs.
247. Where did Union Minister Bhupender Yadav inaugurate the Centre of Excellence on Human-Wildlife Conflict?
Answer: D. Located in Tamil Nadu, the CoE is a national hub for research, policy support and scientific handling of such conflicts. The National Human-Wildlife Conflict Portal and the publication 'Current Status of Human-Wildlife Conflict in India' were also released.
248. Where will ICMR set up India's first Centre for High Altitude Medicine and Public Health Research?
Answer: B. The centre will deal with high-altitude medicine, tribal health, disaster preparedness, climate-sensitive diseases and digital healthcare for remote areas. In a separate item, QCI and NSIC signed an MoU to raise MSME competitiveness via ZED Certification and ONDC integration.
249. India and Australia launched 'PACTS' during PM Modi's 8-10 July 2026 visit. What does it stand for?
Answer: A. The Australia-India partnership aims to strengthen cyber security, supply chain resilience, digital infrastructure and cooperation on critical technologies across the Indo-Pacific.
250. Before its MPC meeting, the RBI began three countrywide surveys. Which of these is not among them?
Answer: C. The launched surveys were IESH, RCCS and UCCS, which collect household views on inflation, jobs, income and spending to inform monetary policy decisions.
251. How much financing did the World Bank approve for the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana?
Answer: D. The money is meant to speed up rooftop solar installation, strengthen domestic manufacturing, draw in private investment and help create about 1.7 million renewable energy jobs.
252. What ownership split was approved for the Dixon Technologies-Vivo Mobile India joint venture making smartphones?
Answer: C. Dixon gets the majority 51% and Vivo Mobile India 49% in the government-cleared venture, which supports electronics manufacturing under Make in India.
253. Which BharatNet-powered initiative of the Department of Telecommunications won the WSIS Prize 2026 under Action Line C6?
Answer: E. Samriddh Gram uses BharatNet to deliver health, education, banking and livelihood services via digital village centres, advancing inclusive rural development.
254. SBI sold 1.42% of SBI Funds Management Ltd for ₹1,655 crore in a pre-IPO placement. How big is the planned IPO?
Answer: D. The placement precedes the company's proposed ₹11,700 crore IPO. Separately, AU Small Finance Bank and Zaggle introduced a co-branded retail credit card on Visa and RuPay with UPI payments and Zagg Coins cashback.
255. Which reusable rocket booster did China recover under control for the first time after an orbital mission?
Answer: E. The successful recovery after an orbital launch is China's first controlled booster recovery, advancing its reusable space technology and efforts to lower launch costs.
256. Sourav Ganguly was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame at the ICC Annual Conference in Edinburgh. He is which Indian to get the honour?
Answer: A. The former India captain was honoured for his outstanding contribution to international cricket and is the twelfth Indian in the Hall of Fame.
257. National Fish Farmers' Day on 10 July recalls which landmark event of 10 July 1957?
Answer: C. The day marks that breakthrough in India's fisheries sector and also pays tribute to fish farmers and aquaculture professionals.
258. 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.
259. 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.
260. 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.
261. 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.
262. 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.
263. 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%.
264. 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.
265. 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.
266. 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.
267. 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.
268. 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.
269. 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.
270. 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.
271. 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.
272. 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.
273. 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.
274. 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.
275. 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.
276. 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.
277. 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.
278. MeitY launched NIDAR 2.0, the National Innovation Challenge for Drone Application and Research, in partnership with which body?
Answer: E. The 2026-27 edition is a national hackathon for engineering students under the SwaYaan Capacity Building Initiative, approved in July 2022. Track 1 is drone innovation such as disaster-response swarms, medical delivery and GPS-denied navigation; Track 2 is indigenous flight controllers and autopilots on C-DAC's VEGA Microprocessor.
279. Which framework, titled the 'Anatomy of Cyber Failure', appears in the Digital Threat Report 2025-26 on India's BFSI sector?
Answer: D. The report's second edition, issued by MeitY with CERT-In, CSIRT-Fin and SISA Information Security, also offers an 18-month roadmap. It finds that AI favours attackers, attack cycles are shortening and attacks imitate genuine sessions; CERT-In works under MeitY per the IT Act 2000, and CSIRT-Fin is the financial sector's response team.
280. The LAHDC Act, 1997 is being extended to all seven Ladakh districts. Which two districts did it originally cover?
Answer: C. The Act first set up Autonomous Hill Development Councils in Leh and Kargil for decentralised governance. After 17 new tehsils were created, it will cover the whole UT; the councils control local development planning, Khalsa Sarkar land, undemarcated forests and certain local taxes.
281. What does the 'SHANTI Vision', unveiled by EAM S. Jaishankar for India's 2028-29 UNSC campaign, stand for?
Answer: A. It is India's diplomatic framework for seeking a non-permanent Security Council seat, putting weight on the Global South, a rules-based order, peacekeeping reform including Women, Peace and Security, responsible technology governance and development partnerships across 79 countries.
282. How many terms has India served so far as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council?
Answer: B. The terms were 1950-51, 1967-68, 1972-73, 1977-78, 1984-85, 1991-92, 2011-12 and 2021-22. The Council has 15 members, 5 permanent and 10 elected for two years, and India has sent nearly 3 lakh personnel to about 50 peacekeeping missions.
283. Odisha has proposed raising Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary to 'Debrigarh-Gaur National Park'. Along which reservoir does the sanctuary lie?
Answer: A. The 353 sq km sanctuary in Bargarh district sits on the Hirakud Reservoir of the Mahanadi, and about 290.65 sq km would become the park's core, free of human settlements. Its tropical dry deciduous forests were a base for Veer Surendra Sai's resistance against British rule.
284. From what date will the RBI's revised governance framework for bank boards, which lets boards concentrate on strategy and risk instead of routine matters, apply?
Answer: C. The framework trims what goes to boards by handing routine work to committees and management, strengthens the Chairperson's role in setting agendas, improves information flow and adds periodic governance reviews, so boards can attend to strategy, risk, financial stability and compliance.
285. Under RBI's proposed one-time approval for mutual funds, insurers and pension funds acquiring bank stakes, the approval would cover acquisitions up to what share of the bank's paid-up capital or voting rights?
Answer: B. At present these investors need RBI's prior approval to reach 5% or more, and again if they fall below 5% and later cross it. The draft amendment lets RBI, after the first approval, permit later purchases up to 10% in that same bank, subject to conditions.
286. On which date will the nationwide 'Hariyali Amavasya Tree Festival' plantation drive under the Vriksh Mitra Abhiyan, launched by Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, take place?
Answer: E. The festival turns planting trees into a national celebration within a people-led campaign built around the 'One Tree, Five Companions' pledge and a Vriksh Mitra Pariwar network from national to village level. It also links plantation to PM Gram Sadak Yojana and Lakhpati Didi Yojana and ties in with Mission LiFE.
287. The Union Government has prohibited 'Paraquat Dichloride'. What kind of agrochemical is it?
Answer: D. Often sprayed to clear fields after harvest, it ranks among the most toxic herbicides and the Agriculture Ministry banned it. No specific antidote exists, and small amounts can trigger multi-organ failure, lung fibrosis and kidney and liver damage, with thousands of deaths from suicide, accidents and homicides linked to it.
288. Crystal Crop Protection launched six agri innovations for Kharif 2026, including 'Samorian', a patented herbicide with a triple mode of action. For which crop is it intended?
Answer: D. Samorian handles both grassy and broadleaf weeds in soybean. The other launches are Takuro for maize, Xeberia and MAXentra for paddy fungicide, Valtruva for cotton insect control and KGR-T GreenAg, an organic nutrition product delivered in effervescent tablets.
289. The 'SANKALP Framework' for quality, sustainability and efficiency in public infrastructure was released at whose 172nd Annual Day?
Answer: A. The Central Public Works Department held the event at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, where Housing & Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal launched the framework together with two publications about India's urban development journey.
290. PM Modi's 10-11 July 2026 trip to New Zealand was the first by an Indian PM in how many years?
Answer: E. Relations were raised to a Strategic Partnership, 10 MoUs were signed and a Roadmap to 2030 adopted. The countries also aim to double trade to NZD 7 billion by 2030, with cooperation on defence, maritime security, agriculture, education and critical technologies.
291. Which bank started 'FinSpark'26', a national cybersecurity hackathon themed 'Securing the Future of Banking'?
Answer: C. The hackathon invites solutions for banking security, AI-based fraud detection, insider threats and cyber resilience, with prizes worth over ₹10 lakh.
292. FIU-IND came second at the Best Egmont Case Award (BECA) 2026 for exposing a cyber fraud and money laundering network of roughly what size?
Answer: B. The Financial Intelligence Unit-India was Runner-up for the case, which led to cash and cryptocurrency seizures, asset attachment and prosecution under the PMLA, 2002.
293. Which reusable rocket prototype did JAXA successfully lift off and land in its first such test?
Answer: E. The RV-X rose about 10 metres, hovered for 40 seconds and touched down safely, a significant step in Japan's reusable launch vehicle programme.
294. India beat England by 270 runs in the first Women's Test at Lord's. Who was the first woman to hit a Test century there?
Answer: D. In the win captained by Harmanpreet Kaur, one of India's biggest Test victories, Bhatia's hundred was a first at Lord's among women, and debutant Kranti Gaud took five wickets.
295. Anjum Chopra joined the ICC Hall of Fame 2026 along with Kevin Pietersen. Which Indian woman to be honoured is she?
Answer: C. The former India captain is the third Indian woman and the 13th Indian overall in the Hall of Fame, inducted together with ex-England captain Pietersen.
296. Tamil writer Poomani died aged 79. Which novel won him the 2014 Sahitya Akademi Award?
Answer: A. His Sahitya Akademi win in 2014 was for Agnaadi, while his novel Vekkai became the film Asuran. In other news, veteran Congress leader and former Central Silk Board Chairman H. Hanumanthappa, a former Rajya Sabha MP, died at 94.
297. What is the title of the debut book by Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla about his Axiom-4 mission?
Answer: B. Its full title is 'The Second Orbit: Belief of a Man… Dreams of 1.4 Billion Hearts', and it recounts his path as an astronaut, the Axiom-4 flight to the ISS and India's human spaceflight ambitions.
298. International Malala Day on 12 July honours Malala Yousafzai's birthday and which year's UN speech?
Answer: C. The day recalls her 2013 address to the UN urging education for all. 12 July is also the International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms, whose 2026 theme is 'From Source to Impact: Protecting Land and Life from Sand and Dust Storms'.
299. Andhra Pradesh's 'Pillale Sampada' (Children are Wealth) initiative offers ₹30,000 for a third child. How much does it propose for a fourth child?
Answer: A. The scheme aims to encourage balanced population growth as fertility declines, and concentrates on maternal health, childcare and public awareness.
300. The 'Seafarer Safety Tracker' launched by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal aims chiefly at safeguarding Indian seafarers in which conflict-prone area?
Answer: E. Built on a 'Seafarer-First' approach, the tool allows continuous monitoring, prompt emergency response and coordinated help for Indian crew, especially around the Strait of Hormuz.
301. Which group kept the top spot as India's most valuable brand at US$33.6 billion in Brand Finance's India 100 Report 2026?
Answer: B. The report values India's top 100 brands at US$252.8 billion, 7% above 2025. Infosys and Life Insurance Corporation came after the Tata Group.
302. Two merchant vessels were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Sarbananda Sonowal to start the 'Seafarer-First' Initiative. Name them.
Answer: A. The attacks hit MT Al Bahiyah and MT Mombasa and put 30 Indian seafarers, from a 46-strong crew, at risk. The Shipping Ministry's DGS now tracks each Indian seafarer on a dashboard regardless of flag, using liaison officers across the Persian Gulf, Hormuz and Gulf of Oman.
303. The Latin expression "Codex Alimentarius", name of the body that lately adopted seven standards led by India, translates to what?
Answer: C. It translates as "Food Code" and refers to the worldwide body of food standards, guidelines and practice codes. FAO created the Commission in 1961 and WHO joined a year later; the Secretariat is at FAO Rome, and the WTO SPS Agreement treats it as the food safety benchmark.
304. India led the drafting of Codex standards for which pair of produce, adopted at CAC49 in Geneva?
Answer: E. Standards for Dried Coriander Seeds and Fresh Curry Leaves were adopted under India's lead, while Vanilla and Large Cardamom standards came under its co-chairmanship. A Cashew Kernels standard proposed by India (CCPFV) was cleared too, and India became Co-Chair of the new e-working group on New Food Sources and Production Systems.
305. The 12th-century Abathsahayeswarar Temple at Thukkachi in Thanjavur, a UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award of Distinction winner, follows which uncommon architectural style?
Answer: B. This Later Chola Shaivite temple is in the rare Kara Kovil style, with a sanctum shaped like a processional chariot, and holds one of the oldest stone idols of Lord Sarabeshwarar. Kulottunga I endowed daily Thevaram recitation and Vikrama Chola enlarged it; the 2024 UNESCO award was for heritage conservation.
306. What outlay did the Cabinet approve for "Semicon 2.0", the India Semiconductor Mission's second phase?
Answer: D. The CCEA sanctioned ₹1.27 lakh crore with a six-pillar approach covering chip design, chip development, manufacturing, raw materials, specialty gases and minerals, and the supply chain, extending incentives to raw material and gas suppliers. Semicon 1.0 (2021) had ₹76,000 crore, cleared 12 projects and drew ₹1.64 lakh crore of investment.
307. Which law must Regulated Entities comply with under the RBI's Draft Data Governance Framework, which they must also revisit at least annually?
Answer: B. The draft guidance treats data from creation through deletion and wants a proportionate, risk-based framework reviewed once a year or oftener, in line with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, India's chief statute on processing personal data.
308. MoSPI's trial "Index of Services Production (ISP)", the services equivalent of IIP, uses which base year and coverage?
Answer: D. The ISP, a trial from April 2026 by NSO, uses base 2024-25 and 19 formal service sub-sectors covering about 60% of the services economy. It gives monthly real output on the 29th of each month using GST data, administrative sources and ASISSE, with turnover deflated by WPI and CPI or proxies and PPIs planned later.
309. NABARD marked its 45th Foundation Day by launching the "Gramodyam" Entrepreneurship Development Programme. How many rural entrepreneurs is its 3-year pilot meant to produce?
Answer: A. Dr. Shaji K. V., NABARD Chairman, launched it on 13 July 2026 with a goal of about 4,000 entrepreneurs. NSDC and the Institute for Industrial Development help run a digital-first hybrid model with psychometric tests, mentoring, bankable DPRs and loans via RRBs and others in every State and UT.
310. Japan's Parliament passed a law treating cryptocurrencies as financial assets, taking them out of which earlier legal framework?
Answer: C. Crypto moved out of the Payment Services Act into the financial regulatory framework, bringing tougher rules including insider trading provisions and heavier penalties for unregistered trading.
311. Whom did the RBI clear as Part-Time Chairman of HDFC Bank for three years from 15 July 2026?
Answer: E. The RBI approved Rajiv Kumar, a former Finance Secretary and Chief Election Commissioner, as the bank's part-time Chairman for three years starting 15 July 2026.
312. The Commerce & Industry Ministry reports India's overall exports in Q1 FY27 (April–June 2026) at what level?
Answer: C. Total exports of goods and services were USD 232.73 billion in Q1 FY27, against imports of USD 270.15 billion, with merchandise exports up to USD 129.32 billion.
313. NIDAR 2.0, from MeitY and Drone Federation India under SwaYaan, backs drones with indigenous processors. What prize pool does it offer?
Answer: E. The challenge carries a pool above ₹65 lakh and encourages autonomous drones and homegrown drone parts running on indigenous VEGA processors.
314. Which rank did the Indian Air Force hold on to in the WDMMA Global Air Power Rankings 2026?
Answer: B. The IAF stayed third in the world, behind only the United States and Russia, and ahead of China's air force for a fifth straight year.
315. Ukraine joined with how many European countries to announce an Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition?
Answer: D. Nine European countries teamed up with Ukraine in the coalition, which will jointly build affordable systems against new ballistic missile threats and strengthen Europe's missile defence.
316. Axis Max Life Insurance's "Smart RISE" retirement plan pairs a guaranteed annuity with a variable annuity tied to which index?
Answer: A. Smart RISE links its variable annuity to the NIFTY 50, aiming for steady retirement income with possible market-linked returns and legacy planning options.
317. After Unjha Cumin and Unjha Fennel received GI tags, how many GI-tagged agricultural products does Gujarat hold?
Answer: D. The GI Registry's grant to the two Unjha spices lifts Gujarat's count of GI-tagged agricultural products to six.
318. At the 56th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) 2026 in Colombia, what best-ever result did India achieve?
Answer: A. All five Indian participants earned gold medals, India's best IPhO showing, placing it jointly at the top of the medal tally with Russia, China, Kazakhstan, South Korea and Taiwan.
319. Which trio of Indian-origin experts did the US Federal Reserve name to head task forces reviewing its monetary policy framework?
Answer: C. The Fed picked Raghuram Rajan, Raj Chetty and Asha Sharma to lead the task forces, which look at balance sheet policy, economic data, and AI's effect on productivity and jobs.
320. Which NASA astronaut flew with two Roscosmos cosmonauts on Russia's Soyuz MS-29 mission to the ISS?
Answer: E. Anil Menon of NASA flew on Soyuz MS-29 with two cosmonauts for an eight-month stay of scientific research and technology demonstrations.
321. India came fourth with how many medals at the inaugural Asian U23 Athletics Championships 2026 held in China?
Answer: B. The haul was 16 medals, made up of 3 gold, 4 silver and 9 bronze, with relays and javelin the strong events; China led. In a separate result, the Indian Deaf Women's Cricket Team swept Sri Lanka 5-0 to win the first Women's Deaf T20I Series, India's first away triumph in this sport.
322. What inspired "Mayur", the mascot of the 22nd Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship 2026 that Delhi CM Rekha Gupta unveiled?
Answer: E. Mayur draws on the Indian Peacock, the national bird, and stands for unity, pride, energy and the spirit of the Commonwealth at the Delhi championship.
323. The UN International Day of Hope, which saw its second observance in 2026, falls on which date?
Answer: B. Observed on 12 July, the day encourages hope, peace, resilience and sustainable development; this was only its second year.
324. Google India has signed an MoU with which state to develop an AI ecosystem, with an AI Centre of Excellence and the "TIDEZ" zone?
Answer: D. Tripura's government is Google India's partner, with the agreement spanning AI, cloud infrastructure, digital governance and skilling. It includes setting up an AI Centre of Excellence and TIDEZ, the Tripura IT & Data Ecosystem Zone.
325. Which theme guides the "Viksit Bharat Yuva Connect Programme (VBYCP)" running in universities and colleges from 16 July to 15 August 2026?
Answer: A. MY Bharat of the Youth Affairs & Sports Ministry runs the month-long programme under "Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat", with youth icons leading awareness sessions against substance abuse toward Viksit Bharat@2047 and Nasha Mukt Bharat.
326. What size of BioEconomy Growth Fund does NITI Aayog's 'Roadmap for Building India as a Leading Bioeconomy Powerhouse by 2035' propose?
Answer: A. The fund, for 2026-2035, is meant to close the 'Valley of Death' between lab research and commercial output using blended finance, equity-risk funding, VGF and infrastructure support. The goal is a Top 3 biotech position by 2035, with priority on biomanufacturing, advanced therapeutics, synthetic biology, fermentation and diagnostics.
327. Among the six National BioMissions proposed by NITI Aayog, which pairing is correct?
Answer: D. GeneIndia covers affordable gene and cell therapy, BioX Foundry synthetic biology commercialisation, One Health Grid integrated surveillance of infectious diseases and AMR, the Marine Biotechnology Mission seaweed and marine bio-products, and BioPharmaNext biologics, biosimilars and AI-enabled drug discovery. AgriBio 2.0 deals with climate-resilient gene-edited crops and biological inputs.
328. From what date would the draft CAFE III (Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency) norms for passenger vehicles take effect?
Answer: C. The draft, open for comments for 21 days, applies to M1 passenger vehicles of up to 8 seats besides the driver, both made and imported. CAFE sets fleet-average fuel efficiency or CO₂ limits for manufacturers, nudging them toward EVs, hybrids and renewable fuels like E20, ethanol, CNG and CBG.
329. What is the aim of the PARIVARTAN Scheme, whose operational guidelines MoHUA approved?
Answer: E. The name expands to Programme for Accelerated Renewal and Incentivization of Vehicle Assets for Reducing Transport Air Pollution and Network Emissions. This Central scheme under the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry swaps aged high-emission commercial vehicles in the NCR for cleaner ones, to improve air quality and cut greenhouse gases.
330. According to WTTC's Economic Impact Research Report 2026, what share of India's GDP does tourism account for in 2026?
Answer: B. The share is projected to reach 7.0% by 2036, with the sector growing at a 6.3% CAGR over 2026-2036, faster than the economy's 5.7%. It supports 48.1 million jobs (11.1%) in 2026, rising to 63.5 million by 2036; foreign visitors spend ₹3.3 lakh crore, with the US (11%), Bangladesh (10%) and UK (7%) the top 2025 source countries.
331. After more than 60 years, the Indian Grey Hornbill (Ocyceros birostris) is back in which forest following a reintroduction effort?
Answer: A. The Gujarat Forest Department's programme brought it back to Gir. It is a medium-sized tree-dwelling bird of the hornbill family Bucerotidae, endemic to the Indian subcontinent, and rated Least Concern by IUCN.
332. What outlay was approved by the Union Cabinet for the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS)?
Answer: D. The five-year scheme, FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31, seeks to expand handset manufacturing, domestic value addition, local component sourcing, Indian mobile brands and R&D, while lowering import reliance and strengthening supply chains.
333. In the growth figures for FY2012-FY2024 cited in the producer-controlled cooperatives debate, which sector grew the most?
Answer: B. Milk rose 85% and fruits and vegetables 52%, whereas subsidy-driven paddy and wheat managed just 27%, suggesting producer-led sectors do better. Economist Nitin Desai favours the Amul model, begun at Anand in 1946 by Tribhuvandas Patel under Dr. Verghese Kurien, for Agrivoltaics under PM-KUSUM; NDDB dates from 1965 and Operation Flood from 1970.
334. What does 'Agrivoltaics (Agri-PV)' mean?
Answer: C. Panels are mounted over the crops so farmers earn from both farming and electricity, using land better, saving irrigation water and generating clean power. PM-KUSUM (2019, MNRE) backs it through grid-connected plants (A), standalone pumps (B) and solarised existing pumps (C); with farms averaging 1.08 hectares, cooperatives help pool land, investment and profit.
335. At ICAR Foundation Day 2026, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan asked scientists to create what kind of solutions for pulses and oilseeds?
Answer: E. Speaking at ICAR's 98th Foundation Day, he sought high-yielding non-GMO varieties, with approval of GM Mustard DMH-11 still pending, and stressed crop diversification, climate-smart farming for 2047 goals, home-grown fertilizer answers and El Niño contingency plans. ICAR, set up in 1929 and based in New Delhi, falls under the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ministry.
336. The National Investment Policy for Urea (NIPU) 2026 plans 8-9 new gas-based urea plants. How much yearly capacity would they add?
Answer: D. India uses about 40 MT of urea a year, makes around 30 MT and imports roughly 10 MT, a quarter of use; the West Asia conflict and Hormuz disruption lifted urea prices 40-50%. The policy separates fixed and variable costs, sets a 12-16% return-on-equity band and converts fixed costs to rupees after four years to reduce forex risk.
337. The recommended N:P:K nutrient ratio for healthy soil is 4:2:1. What is India's present ratio, as noted in the NIPU 2026 context?
Answer: A. That figure points to overuse of nitrogen, mainly urea, which is a soil health worry and the reason balanced fertilisation is being pushed.
338. Which state was first in India to pass a Women Farmers Empowerment Act (2026), recognising women as farmers even when they own no land?
Answer: C. It was enacted during the UN-observed International Year of the Woman Farmer. The law defines a woman farmer broadly (crops, livestock, poultry, fisheries, agro-forestry, vermiculture, mushrooms, primary processing), includes owners, tenants and labourers, and issues a Woman Farmer Certificate via the Gram Sabha or Nagar Panchayat so land ownership is not needed for schemes, supported by a digital registry and an Empowerment Fund.
339. Which ocean scientist, who helped build India's Tsunami Early Warning System, was named Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)?
Answer: B. He takes up the post for two years and is expert in satellite oceanography, coastal hazard mitigation and disaster management.
340. The UN issued its first scientific assessment report on which technology, cautioning that it is developing faster than governance can keep up?
Answer: E. The report says AI progress is outstripping global governance and urges stronger international regulatory frameworks for safe, responsible and fair AI.
341. Which RBI approval did Delhivery Financial Services obtain?
Answer: D. The Delhivery Ltd subsidiary can now offer credit, insurance, payment solutions and fuel cards to support its logistics ecosystem. Separately, TCS signed a multi-year, multi-million AI-driven Network-as-a-Service deal with ABB.
342. Which group became the fastest new entrant to India's top 10 most valuable brands in the Brand Finance India 100 Report 2026?
Answer: A. The report puts India's top 100 brands at USD 252.8 billion, up 7% year on year. Tata Group stayed on top while Adani raced into the top ten.
343. Who was named Ukraine's new Prime Minister, a one-time CEO of Naftogaz of Ukraine?
Answer: E. Parliament appointed him on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's nomination to reinforce governance, energy security and key infrastructure during the continuing conflict.
344. Kerala-based space startup HEX20 sent up its second satellite, 'KOYO' (Kinetic Optical Yaw Observer). On which mission did it fly?
Answer: C. KOYO went up on Transporter-17, a multi-payload flight, as a technology demonstrator for testing advanced space technologies and international payloads.
345. ATREE researchers found two new rare solitary bee species, Elaphropoda triangulata and Habropoda adi, in which region?
Answer: B. The finding highlights the rich biodiversity of the Eastern Himalayas. Separately, MYAS gave the Judo Federation of India conditional recognition so it can run the sport and hold national championships again.
346. 'The Voice of Justice', a book of speeches released by Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan, collects the addresses of which Justice?
Answer: A. Its full title is 'The Voice of Justice: Justice Gavai Speaks', and the speeches shed light on constitutional law, judicial reasoning and India's legal system.
347. What was the theme of World Youth Skills Day 2026, marked on 15 July?
Answer: B. Observed by the UN on 15 July, the 2026 theme underlines technical and vocational skills as routes to youth employment, entrepreneurship and sustainable development.
348. Tamil Nadu CM C. Joseph Vijay launched 'Nalam TN'. What is it?
Answer: E. The chatbot lets people register for OP visits and book appointments at government hospitals online, making care easier to reach and cutting waiting time.
349. Spain's Submer Group announced a USD 2 billion semiconductor investment covering a wafer fab and ATMP facilities. In which state?
Answer: C. The investment will set up wafer fabrication plus assembly, testing, marking and packaging units, supporting the India Semiconductor Mission and domestic chipmaking.
350. India's first hydrogen-powered train, which PM Modi will flag off from Jind station in Haryana, carries safety systems that can detect what?
Answer: D. Multi-layer safety systems on the train sense hydrogen leaks, heat, flames and smoke, a milestone for clean railway transport. Separately, MoFPI and NIFTEM Thanjavur began a pilot short-term skill programme for Assistant Baking Technician (NSQF Level-3) at ITC-ICML, Trichy.
351. The NITI Aayog Investment Friendliness Index (IFI) ranks States and UTs by their investment ecosystem. Which state took first place overall?
Answer: B. Gujarat led the overall table, followed by Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Odisha. Category leaders were Gujarat (Large States), Uttarakhand (Hilly and North-Eastern) and Goa (UTs/City States), and the index spans 28 States and 8 UTs, first proposed at the 9th Governing Council meeting in July 2024.
352. The NITI Aayog Investment Friendliness Index scores States on how many assessment pillars?
Answer: D. It uses eight pillars: Infrastructure, Business Climate, Resources, Government Policy, Regulatory Ease, Institutional Environment, Financial Health and Environmental Resilience. Scores above 50 mark Top Performers, 45-50 Frontrunners, 40-45 Emerging Performers, and below 40 Aspiring States.
353. The White Rabbit Technology behind India's first IST Distribution Demonstration Network at RRSL Jakkur, Bengaluru, began as open-source work at which organisation?
Answer: A. The network rests on open-source White Rabbit technology from CERN, built by the Legal Metrology Division with NPL, ISRO, BSNL and SEBI. It sends IST over fibre or Ethernet with Precision Time Protocol (IEEE 1588) to under 1 nanosecond accuracy, useful for defence, financial timestamps, 5G/6G, space and quantum work, and power or nuclear sites.
354. The Indian Navy is to commission "Malvan", the second Mahe-class indigenous vessel of what kind?
Answer: C. Malvan is a Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft built by Cochin Shipyard in Kochi with over 80% local content. It carries hull-mounted and towed array sonar, light torpedoes, rocket launchers and mine-laying gear to guard ports, harbours, islands and coastal assets.
355. In which national park is the newly described monkey "Congo Colobus" (Colobus congoensis), called Likweli locally, found exclusively?
Answer: E. This newly found leaf-eating monkey lives only in Lomami National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo, in high-altitude rainforest canopies. It eats leaves, fruit and seeds, makes deep roaring calls over long distances, and helps forests regrow by spreading seeds.
356. Manasbal Lake has seen migratory birds return after years of ecological decline. What is it known for?
Answer: C. Manasbal in Ganderbal district, J&K, is India's deepest freshwater lake and is looked after by the Wullar-Manasbal Development Authority. Over the winter of Dec 2025 to Jan 2026, more than 46 bird species from 23 families, including Mallard, White-headed Duck and Golden Eagle, were noted, and a Bird Watching Festival took place.
357. EPFO's "Vishwas 2026", a one-off scheme to settle damages and penalty disputes, started on 29 June 2026. For how long will it run?
Answer: E. The scheme runs for 6 months from 29 June 2026 and covers defaults before 14 June 2024. It rests on Section 14B of the EPF & MP Act, 1952 and Section 128 of the Code on Social Security, 2020, and works fully online within set time limits to encourage voluntary compliance and reduce litigation.
358. Vishwas 2026 sets a reduced penalty rate for defaults lasting up to 2 months. What is it?
Answer: B. A default of up to 2 months now attracts 0.25% per month, 2 months up to under 4 months attracts 0.50% per month, and anything beyond 4 months attracts 1% per month.
359. What did the overall unemployment rate come to in the PLFS Monthly Bulletin for June 2026, the 15th in the series?
Answer: D. The NSO's bulletin put it at 5.5%, same as May, with rural at 5.0% (from 5.1%) and urban at 6.6% (from 6.4%). LFPR for age 15 and above was 54.4%, and under Current Weekly Status one counts as employed after working at least an hour in the previous seven days.
360. Products from the Lakhpati Didi initiative were displayed at Bharat Tex 2026. What yearly income does the initiative want rural women to reach at minimum?
Answer: A. It aims for at least ₹1 lakh a year per rural woman through sustainable livelihoods, women-run enterprises and stronger SHGs. The Rural Development Ministry started it on 15 August 2023 under DAY-NRLM, and Bharat Tex is India's biggest global textile expo, held by BTTF with Textiles Ministry support.
361. DBT and which foreign partner jointly fund Phase III of the Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP), launched with ₹1,500 crore?
Answer: D. The UK's Wellcome Trust is the partner, giving ₹500 crore alongside DBT's ₹1,000 crore, to strengthen India's biomedical research base and develop globally competitive scientists.
362. In which city did India host the 12th BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers' Meeting during its 2026 BRICS Chairship?
Answer: A. Hyderabad in Telangana was the venue, under the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability". The ministers adopted a Declaration and India launched BRICS CONNECT for technical cooperation, knowledge sharing and capacity building.
363. Under the Shipbuilding Development Scheme (SbDS), MoPSW approved a Greenfield Shipbuilding Cluster and a Ship Repair Facility. Where, in that order?
Answer: C. In-principle approval went to a greenfield shipbuilding cluster at Porbandar and a ship repair facility at Vadinar, both in Gujarat, in support of the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 for home-grown shipbuilding and repair.
364. What was the subject of "Saushrutam 2026", the three-day international seminar at AIIA, New Delhi, which President Droupadi Murmu opened?
Answer: E. The seminar covered Ayurvedic Surgery and opened at the All India Institute of Ayurveda on Sushruta Jayanti. The President also opened an AI-enabled 3 Tesla MRI and released an NCISM study on women Ayurveda graduates.
365. Arjun Ram Meghwal launched the "e-VSP Portal", built with NIC. What does it offer?
Answer: B. The electronic Vidhi Sahitya Prakashan portal gives digital access to legal books, journals and publications for students, researchers, advocates, judges and other legal professionals. Separately, VISTAS opened India's first AI-integrated vertical university campus in Chennai with partners like Intel Unnati, Microsoft, Oracle Academy and TCS iON.
366. To bring multilingual AI into digital banking, the Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) signed an MoU with which bank?
Answer: E. Punjab National Bank is the partner; BHASHINI's multilingual AI will let customers use PNB's digital services in several Indian languages, aiding financial inclusion. Also reported: pi-labs teamed with Google Cloud on public sector AI, and Dr. Nandini Azad of the Working Women's Forum got Bharat Samman 2026.
367. Inga Ruginienė was followed as Lithuania's 20th Prime Minister by whom?
Answer: B. Mindaugas Sinkevičius, head of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP), was sworn in as the 20th PM, succeeding Inga Ruginienė and heading a centre-left coalition government.
368. Amitabh Bachchan became Policybazaar's Brand Ambassador for which nationwide insurance awareness campaign?
Answer: D. He fronts the "Parivaar Sabse Pehle" campaign, which pushes health and term insurance and backs IRDAI's Insurance for All by 2047 vision.
369. Fairfax Financial Holdings is the preferred bidder for a 60.72% stake in IDBI Bank. What is the deal's value?
Answer: A. The Canadian firm would buy the 60.72% from the Government of India and LIC for ₹52,932 crore, likely the biggest foreign investment in an Indian bank, pending regulatory approvals.
370. India came third at the Asian U-19 & U-23 Boxing Championships 2026 in Jakarta, winning 29 medals. Which country led the medal table?
Answer: C. India's 29 medals (5 gold, 13 silver, 11 bronze) gave it third place in Jakarta. Uzbekistan topped the table with Kazakhstan next.
371. The ICC's newly approved formats add which stage to the Men's ODI World Cup?
Answer: A. A Super 7 stage is added to the ODI World Cup, while the T20 World Cup gets a Super 10 stage with Eliminators, intended to sharpen competition and cut dead-rubber matches.
372. Moozhikkal Pankajakshi, a Padma Shri recipient who died aged 90 in Kerala, was known for which traditional art?
Answer: C. She was recognised worldwide for keeping alive Nokkuvidya Pavakkali, Kerala's distinctive traditional puppetry.
373. Which date is shared by AI Appreciation Day and World Snake Day?
Answer: E. Both fall on 16 July. AI Appreciation Day honours AI's role in innovation, governance, health, education and the economy, while World Snake Day stresses snakes' ecological value; India has roughly 300 species, protected by the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
374. India's Rafale jets are taking part for the first time in Exercise Pitch Black 2026. Which country's air force hosts this large multinational air combat exercise?
Answer: E. The RAAF holds this exercise every second year, first at Darwin in 1983, and it gets its name from the focus on night flying across big uninhabited areas. The 20 July to 7 August 2026 round runs from the Darwin, Tindal and Amberley air bases with roughly 19-20 countries. India deployed four Rafales, a pair of C-17 Globemaster III and over 120 airmen, marking the Rafale's first appearance.
375. CTF 154 is behind 'Operation Southern Readiness 26-2', a multinational maritime security training event. Which place is the Indian Navy's host location?
Answer: A. The 20-23 July 2026 event is at the Southern Naval Command, Kochi, run by the Navy-led Combined Task Force 154, which is the training arm of the Combined Maritime Forces, a grouping of over 40 nations. Participants get lectures, simulator exercises and live sea practice.
376. India's first and deepest twin geothermal wells, backing a 1 MW demonstration power plant, were commissioned at which place?
Answer: D. At over 14,000 feet in eastern Ladakh, the ONGC Energy Centre drilled the wells with Iceland's ÍSOR as consultant. The two 1,000 m wells hit 135°C at 400 m, with 200-240°C expected deeper, and heat comes from the Indus Suture Zone where the Indian and Eurasian plates collided; India's potential is about 10 GW, with Tattapani and Manikaran also candidates.
377. Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1 reached orbit under 'Mission Aagaman'. India thus became which nation to have private orbital launch capability?
Answer: C. The rocket lifted off from Sriharikota's SDSC on 18 July 2026 at 12:05 pm IST and placed its payload in a 450 km LEO at 60° inclination, so only the USA and China were ahead. 'Aagaman' means 'Arrival' in Sanskrit, and the mission was called a grand success.
378. Which statement about the Vikram-1 rocket is incorrect?
Answer: B. Skyroot Aerospace of Hyderabad, set up by ex-ISRO engineers Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, built it, not Agnikul. The roughly 20 m tall, 1.7 m wide vehicle honours Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, uses Kalam-100 and Kalam-250 engines, and follows Skyroot's suborbital Vikram-S of 18 November 2022.
379. Muthoot Finance and five more NBFCs were penalised by the RBI. Which legal provision empowers the RBI to fine NBFCs?
Answer: C. The RBI levies such fines through Section 58G(1)(b) with Section 58B(5) of its 1934 Act, and not under the Banking Regulation Act. Amounts ranged between ₹2.70 lakh and ₹6.20 lakh, the highest on Avail Financial for breaching exposure and directorship limits. The regulator stressed the penalties concern compliance lapses and do not affect whether customer transactions are valid.
380. Under the RBI's Scale-Based Regulation (SBR) framework, into which layers are NBFCs grouped?
Answer: B. NBFCs are placed by size, activity and risk, with tougher rules for higher layers. Related points: NBFCs cannot take demand deposits or issue cheques on themselves, an NPA is a loan overdue 90+ days under IRAC norms, and KYC risk categories must be reviewed at least every six months.
381. At the 72nd National Film Awards (2024), which film took the top prize for Best Feature Film?
Answer: A. Yami Gautam won Best Actress for the same film. Mammootty (Bramayugam) and Kartik Aaryan (Chandu Champion) shared Best Actor, which was Mammootty's fourth National Award in that category.
382. A study in which Assam national park found that invasive plants act as key nectar and larval host plants for butterflies, with 220 butterfly species recorded?
Answer: E. Researchers counted 220 butterfly species, along with 56 host plants for larvae and 41 plants for nectar. It shows invasive plants have a real ecological function, so controlling them has to be weighed against conserving biodiversity.
383. What did India win to record its best-ever showing at the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) 2026?
Answer: D. India's four golds are its best IChO result ever, and PM Modi congratulated the team. At the 37th International Biology Olympiad in Vilnius, Lithuania, it got one gold from Bhavyaa Gunwal of Haryana plus three silvers from Soumil Maity (WB), Nishit Kalani (Rajasthan) and Anmol Kumar (Punjab).
384. Which Chinese player withdrew hurt in the semifinal, sending P.V. Sindhu into the Japan Open 2026 women's singles final in Tokyo?
Answer: A. Sindhu was ahead 21-19, 15-10 when Chen Yu Fei pulled out. In the quarterfinal she had progressed on a walkover from Japan's Nozomi Okuhara.
385. How many indicators does MoSPI's updated 'PAIMANA' infrastructure-monitoring dashboard now track?
Answer: E. PAIMANA stands for Project Assessment, Infrastructure Monitoring & Analytics for Nation-building. Its latest quarterly update brought in 44 new indicators, giving a broad framework for watching key infrastructure sectors.
386. The Ease of Doing Business Act, 2026 made which state India's first to adopt a complete risk-based, trust-based system for approving businesses?
Answer: D. Chhattisgarh's Assembly passed the law, which offers self-certification to low-risk units, deemed approvals and lighter compliance. Over 15 lakh MSMEs are expected to gain from it.
387. The White Rabbit Technology-based IST Distribution Network, opened in Bengaluru by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, supports which vision?
Answer: B. The network provides a precise, home-built timing system under the One Nation, One Time idea. It lessens dependence on foreign GPS timing used by banks, telecom operators, defence units, power grids and stock exchanges.
388. With which company did Akasa Air sign an MoU to speed up Sustainable Aviation Fuel use in India under the ICAO CORSIA framework?
Answer: C. The agreement with BPCL supports long-term SAF supply, higher blending and decarbonising Indian aviation. In unrelated news, Gujarat took the 2026 Agriculture Leadership Award for horticulture at the 17th Conclave in Delhi.
389. Under 'Project Astra Farm', Indian Analog Astronaut Captain Aman Johri ran a microgravity research mission on which Maharashtra-grown crops?
Answer: B. He studied them under reduced gravity, furthering India's space agriculture research and sustainable food systems for future space missions.
390. Reliance Jio got IN-SPACe technical approval for a LEO satellite constellation of about how many satellites?
Answer: A. The roughly 1,600-satellite network would be India's first home-grown satellite internet system, offering satellite broadband, direct-to-device connectivity and enterprise communication services.
391. West Indies great Sir Garfield Sobers died aged 89. Across 93 Tests, with 8,032 runs, how many wickets did he take?
Answer: C. Considered one of cricket's greatest all-rounders, he took 235 wickets in those 93 Tests and was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, among many honours.
392. The Day of International Criminal Justice on 17 July marks the 1998 adoption of which statute that created the International Criminal Court?
Answer: E. The statute led to the creation of the ICC, which seeks to hold people to account for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and aggression.
393. What is the 2026 theme of Nelson Mandela International Day, held on 18 July?
Answer: D. The day honours the birthday of Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first democratically elected President, and this year's theme urges individuals to help build a better society.
394. What capacity is planned for India's first River Kinetic Energy Demonstration Project, covered by an MoU between Arunachal Pradesh and the Norwegian firm Tidal Sail AS?
Answer: E. The pilot is meant to draw clean power from flowing rivers with no dam required, and it strengthens green ties between India and Norway.
395. Telangana's MoU with Microsoft sets up a Green Skills Centre of Excellence in Hyderabad. Which state flagship initiative does it support?
Answer: A. The centre will train people in AI, sustainable manufacturing and green technologies for Telangana's Green Pharma City and its next-generation life sciences plans. Separately, India Post opened a Mascot Design Contest on MyGov, and the Cabinet cleared railway multitracking in Odisha and Jharkhand plus two Varanasi elevated corridors worth over ₹25,000 crore, along with NIPU-2026.
396. Over 108,000 internet-connected young adults in 73 countries took part in the UNFPA study "Lives, Choices and Futures — Demographic Futures Survey 2026". What age bracket did they belong to?
Answer: D. The 108,926 respondents were aged 18 to 39. Financial security ranked first when choosing a partner (81%), economic and housing limits were the main obstacle to parenthood (72%), two children was the commonest ideal, and about 66% felt hopeful. UNFPA stressed the sample is not nationally representative.
397. The UNFPA survey notes India's Total Fertility Rate has dropped to roughly 1.9-2.0. What TFR is conventionally taken as replacement level?
Answer: A. Replacement level is 2.1 births per woman, so India's figure (down from around 3.3 in the early 2000s) now lies beneath it. Indian women aged 18-39 say their ideal is 2.1 children but 35-39 year-olds have had only 1.0, and UNFPA urges a rights-based approach to reproductive choice rather than fixed birth targets; TFR is a lifetime per-woman average.
398. Which organisation launched the E-Commerce Council of India (ECCI), a pioneering national platform for India's $120-billion digital commerce sector?
Answer: C. IAMAI, led by Dr. Subho Ray, launched ECCI with 70-80 founding members such as Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy, Eternal (Zomato), Meesho and Tata 1mg. It will handle policy advocacy, cross-border trade support, MSME digital onboarding, AI commerce practices and the yearly Indian E-Commerce Summit.
399. Manasbal Lake, recovering ecologically after roughly 70,000 sq ft was cleared of weeds, is dubbed the "Supreme Gem of all Kashmir Lakes". On which migratory bird flyway does it lie?
Answer: E. Manasbal, at Safapora in Ganderbal about 30 km north of Srinagar, is a wintering ground along the Central Asian Flyway. It is the Kashmir Valley's deepest natural freshwater lake at about 13 m, named after Manasarovar, with lotus blooming in July-August and the Mughal Jharokha Bagh of Nur Jahan on its shore; WMDA manages it.
400. Which team beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final at MetLife Stadium to win the FIFA World Cup 2026?
Answer: B. Spain lifted its second World Cup, its first since 2010, on 19 July 2026, with Ferran Torres scoring about the 106th minute and Emiliano Martínez making a final-record 11 saves. The USA, Canada and Mexico co-hosted the 23rd edition across 16 cities, and Mexico became the first nation to stage matches in three tournaments (1970, 1986, 2026).
401. The Golden Ball for the best player of the FIFA World Cup 2026 went to whom?
Answer: E. Rodri of Spain took the Golden Ball. Other awards: Golden Boot to Kylian Mbappé, Golden Glove to Unai Simón, Best Young Player to Pau Cubarsí, and Fair Play to the Netherlands. Nobody has won consecutive World Cups since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.
402. "Lestes paloti" is a newly found spreadwing damselfly from Kerala's Western Ghats, the first new Lestes there in almost 96 years. Its name honours a scientist from which institution?
Answer: B. The name honours Dr. Muhamed Jafer Palot of the Zoological Survey of India, Kozhikode. It is the first new Western Ghats Lestes since L. malabaricus (1929) and the first new Indian one since L. garoensis (1987), found in six Kerala districts in scrub near homesteads and on laterite hillocks, away from open water.
403. Under the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, the Court's sanctioned strength, counting the CJI, goes from 34 to what number?
Answer: D. The Bill, brought to Lok Sabha on 20 July 2026 by Arjun Ram Meghwal, amends Section 2 of the 1956 Act to lift strength from 34 to 38. It replaces a May 2026 Ordinance, keeps the collegium, and needs just a simple majority because Article 124(1) lets Parliament set the number by law; the strength was 8 in 1950 and 34 in 2019.
404. What was India's WPI inflation in June 2026, a record under the new 2022-23 base series?
Answer: A. WPI inflation was 9.87%, up from 9.68% in May. Primary Articles were 7.0%, Fuel & Power 27.41%, Manufactured Products 7.48%, against CPI at only 4.38%. The surge comes from supply-side cost pressures such as fuel and a weak El Niño-linked monsoon, not demand, and the RBI targets CPI, not WPI.
405. According to Michal Kalecki's analysis of inflation, how are the prices of manufactured and industrial goods mainly set?
Answer: C. Kalecki saw industrial prices as cost-determined, since factories run below capacity and set a profit markup over costs, whereas primary commodity prices are demand-determined. In India manufactured inflation is driven mostly by material costs, particularly oil, and food inflation by the El Niño-linked poor monsoon.
406. To what level did the RBI's Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index) climb in March 2026 (FY26)?
Answer: A. The index reached 70.0, from 67.0 in FY25 and 64.2 in FY24, led by the Usage parameter. Introduced in August 2021, it scales 0-100 using 97 indicators across banking, investment, insurance, postal and pension sectors, weights Access 35%, Usage 45% and Quality 20%, and has no base year.
407. What do the RBI's new Prudential Norms on Specified Non-Financial Assets (SNFA), in force from 1 October 2026, forbid Regulated Entities from doing?
Answer: C. Issued under the Resolution of Stressed Assets Directions, 2025, they stop REs from selling an SNFA, such as property taken over in a loan settlement, back to the defaulting borrower, promoters, related parties or their agents. This blocks defaulters from regaining assets at a discount and closes a moral-hazard gap.
408. By submitting its Instrument of Acceptance on 20 July 2026, India became which numbered WTO member to accept the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS)?
Answer: E. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal gave the document to WTO DG Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, making India the 123rd acceptor. The AFS was adopted by consensus at MC12 in Geneva in June 2022, entered into force on 15 September 2025 after 111 ratifications, and follows SDG Target 14.6.
409. Which one of these falls outside the scope of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies?
Answer: B. Aquaculture and inland fisheries are excluded, which matters for India's largely small-scale and inland sector. The agreement bans subsidies for IUU fishing, overfished stocks and unregulated high seas fishing, is the first WTO pact with an environmental sustainability aim, and is only the second new multilateral agreement since 1995 after the Trade Facilitation Agreement.
410. Through an MoU with CSIR-NIScPR, the CGPDTM joined which consortium to get access to international journals and patent databases?
Answer: D. The Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks' office joined the National Knowledge Resource Consortium, gaining international journals, patent databases, e-books and scientific resources to support research, innovation and IP administration.
411. NIELIT has announced two semiconductor Centres of Excellence in line with ISM 2.0. In which cities will they be set up?
Answer: B. The centres will come up in Ahmedabad and Guwahati, offering specialised training in semiconductor manufacturing, packaging and advanced electronics under the India Semiconductor Mission 2.0.
412. How much government subsidy does each beneficiary get under Telangana's Indiramma Housing Scheme for the Hyderabad Core Urban Region (CURE)?
Answer: D. The high-rise affordable housing scheme offers ₹5 lakh per beneficiary, with beneficiaries paying around ₹6 lakh. Applications run from 21 July to 10 August 2026 through MeeSeva Centres, the portal and WhatsApp.
413. Following Sanjay Kumar Jain's resignation, who was named IRCTC's Additional CMD?
Answer: A. The Railways Ministry appointed Rahul Himalian, formerly IRCTC's Director for Tourism & Marketing, as Additional Chairman & Managing Director.
414. Whom did P.V. Sindhu beat in the final to win her first Japan Open Women's Singles title in 2026?
Answer: C. She defeated Japan's Akane Yamaguchi in the final for her maiden Japan Open crown, while Christo Popov of France took the men's singles.
415. "Peacko", modelled on the Indian peafowl, is the official mascot of which event to be staged in New Delhi from 17 to 23 August 2026?
Answer: E. Mansukh Mandaviya unveiled Peacko as mascot of the BWF (badminton) World Championships 2026 in New Delhi, held 17-23 August 2026.
416. What was the 2026 theme of World Chess Day on 20 July?
Answer: C. The UN-backed day celebrates chess as a means of education, inclusion and peace, and the 2026 theme was "Celebrate, create and make a difference".
417. Andhra Pradesh's MoU with UN-Habitat provides for a Centre of Excellence for Urban Affairs at which place?
Answer: E. The agreement encourages sustainable, climate-resilient urban growth and places the Centre of Excellence at Amaravati. In other news, UP launched Kaushal Setu and Kaushal Sarathi skill portals and Transition VC started its ₹1,500 crore Fund II for clean energy and deep-tech startups.
418. Which company built the 'e200X (PT-01)', billed as India's first full-scale eVTOL (electric air taxi) prototype?
Answer: B. The Chennai-based deep-tech startup, incubated at IIT Madras and founded in 2019 by Prof. Satya Chakravarthy, unveiled it. An eVTOL is a zero-emission battery aircraft that rises vertically like a helicopter and then flies forward on wings; PT-01 combines airframe, battery, landing gear, propulsion and avionics and is moving from simulation to physical ground testing.
419. The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, brought by Amit Shah in the Rajya Sabha, adds legal protection for which national symbol?
Answer: A. Introduced on 20 July 2026, the opening day of the Monsoon Session, it fixes a gap since the 1971 Act had no penalty for Vande Mataram. The new Section 3 punishes deliberately stopping its singing or disrupting a gathering singing it with up to 3 years' jail, a fine or both, in the song's 150th anniversary year (composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, published in Anandamath in 1882).
420. The RBI's draft Foreign Exchange Management (Foreign Investment) Rules, 2026 would replace which current rules?
Answer: D. The draft is open for comments until 31 August 2026 and swaps the NDI Rules for a principle-based framework announced in Budget 2026-27. It separates FEMA's procedural parts from FDI Policy conditions, treats all investors alike, reduces compliance and lays down terms for Indian companies listing shares directly abroad. Note that DPIIT, not the RBI, frames FDI policy, and the usual FDI-FPI dividing line is a 10% stake.
421. Under PMKSY, which component does the Department of Land Resources of the Ministry of Rural Development implement?
Answer: E. PMKSY began on 1 July 2015 as a Centrally Sponsored Core Scheme. AIBP and HKKP sit with Jal Shakti, PDMC with Agriculture (now mostly via RKVY), and WDC, which absorbed IWMP, with Land Resources; the scheme has no specific provision for private investment, and NABARD runs the Long Term Irrigation Fund for AIBP projects.
422. What is the Centre-State funding ratio under PMKSY for North-Eastern and Hilly States?
Answer: C. General States get 75:25 sharing. For 2021-22 to 2025-26 the scheme carries about ₹93,068 crore, with ₹37,454 crore as central help, and a 90% grant supports two National Projects, Renukaji in HP and Lakhwar in Uttarakhand, vital to Delhi's water and Yamuna revival. A new AIBP sub-scheme, M-CADWM (₹1,600 crore, 2025-26), delivers water by pressurised pipes and micro-irrigation.
423. According to the PIB feature 'White Gold: India's Cotton Story', what is India's place in global cotton?
Answer: D. India's 114.84 lakh ha is around 38% of world area, and it supplies roughly 19-23% of global fibre. It is the only country growing all four recognised cotton species, with about 6 million farmers directly (40-50 million across the chain) and 62% of cultivation rain-fed; zones are Northern, Central (largest) and Southern.
424. The Mission for Cotton Productivity follows the '5F' vision. What does 5F stand for?
Answer: B. The Agriculture and Textiles ministries implement it jointly with 10 ICAR institutes. Related efforts include the Kapas Kisan App (41 lakh-plus farmers, Aadhaar-linked MSP payments), Kasturi Cotton Bharat (₹30 crore branding and traceability via CCI and TEXPROCIL), MSP aiming at 50% over cost for medium/long staple kapas, and HDPS with blockchain traceability.
425. What output-based incentive does the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) give farmers practising natural farming?
Answer: A. NMNF began in November 2024 as its own centrally sponsored scheme growing out of BPKP under PKVY. The money covers practising, training, cattle upkeep, preparing inputs, or buying from Bio-input Resource Centres, backed by two Krishi Sakhis/CRPs in each cluster, PGS-India certification handled by NCONF Ghaziabad and geo-tagged tracking on the NMNF portal.
426. In NITI Aayog's assessment of natural farming, what share of adopting farmers reported higher crop productivity and better soil health?
Answer: C. About 90.1% also said input costs fell. ICAR's AINP on Natural Farming, running since 2020-21 after AINP-Organic Farming, spans 20 centres in 16 states and 8 cropping systems, and Himalayan trials saw soil organic carbon rise from about 0.90% to 1.15% in 2-3 years with richer microbial diversity.
427. 'Angen (Invisible)' won Best Debut Film of a Director (Non-Feature) at the 72nd National Film Awards and became the first National Award-winning film in which language?
Answer: E. Directed by Ravi Raj Murmu, the 12-minute short portrays tribal culture and storytelling of Jharkhand. In other news, fertiliser exports from India climbed around 52% from FY24 to FY26, and Amit Shah remembered Batukeshwar Dutt, who threw bombs in the Central Legislative Assembly in 1929 with Bhagat Singh, on his death anniversary.
428. 'Shabdalok', India's first immersive language museum featuring about 380 Indian languages, was inaugurated where?
Answer: C. Union Home Minister Amit Shah opened it, with digital displays, holograms, AR, VR and interactive exhibits celebrating the country's linguistic diversity.
429. India's first approved dengue vaccine, QDENGA (TAK-003), covers all four serotypes. For which age group is it approved?
Answer: D. The DCGI cleared it on a two-dose schedule, making it the first dengue vaccine available in India.
430. Under the 2020 Foreign Military Sales deal, the US handed over its 21st unit of which helicopter to the Indian Navy?
Answer: E. The MH-60R is a multi-role helicopter that adds punch to the Navy's anti-submarine warfare, maritime surveillance and rescue tasks. Elsewhere, DoLR and the RBI Innovation Hub discussed linking digital land records with the Unified Lending Interface for digital, consent-based farm loans.
431. Which award has NSA Ajit Doval been chosen for, to be presented in Pune on 1 August 2026?
Answer: A. It recognises his work in national security, counter-terrorism and border management.
432. Following Keir Starmer's resignation, who became the 59th Prime Minister of the United Kingdom?
Answer: B. The senior Labour figure and former Mayor of Greater Manchester won the party leadership contest and was asked by King Charles III to form the government.
433. Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye was chosen Chairman of which regional bloc at its 69th summit in Sierra Leone?
Answer: B. He heads the Economic Community of West African States for one year, with emphasis on regional cooperation and institutional reform.
434. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope found the exoplanet 'Beta Pictoris d', about 63 light-years away. That makes Beta Pictoris only the second known system with what?
Answer: E. The giant planet joins two already imaged there. Separately, Anduril's YFQ-44A Fury, a Collaborative Combat Aircraft meant to fly with F-35s and F-22s, fired a live AIM-120 AMRAAM for the first time for the US Air Force.
435. FIFA announced a record, richest-ever prize pool for the 2026 World Cup. What was the total, and how much did champions Spain get?
Answer: D. Besides Spain's USD 51 million, Argentina received USD 34 million and England USD 30 million out of the USD 871 million total.
436. Pakistan will stage the 14th South Asian Federation (SAF) Games on 23-31 March 2027 in which cities?
Answer: C. It will be Pakistan's third time hosting after 1989 and 2004. In other news, England football great and two-time Ballon d'Or winner Kevin Keegan died at 75.
437. Which authors wrote 'RSS @100: A Century of Service, Unity & Sacrifice', a book released by Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan?
Answer: A. The book traces the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's hundred-year journey and its role in nation-building.
438. Which historic event does International Moon Day on 20 July mark?
Answer: A. The UN observes the day to encourage peaceful space exploration, scientific research and sustainable use of lunar resources.
439. Transition VC's ₹1,500 crore Fund II intends to back about how many startups across a four-year investment period?
Answer: E. The fund will back about 20 engineering-led startups in clean energy, industrial deep-tech and advanced manufacturing. In other items, an AP-UN-Habitat Centre of Excellence on urban affairs is coming up at Amaravati and Uttar Pradesh launched the Kaushal Setu and Kaushal Sarathi skill portals.
440. Released on 20 July 2026, the revised Index of Core Industries (ICI) moves to which base year and brings in which industry as the ninth core sector?
Answer: E. The new series is based on 2022-23 = 100, replacing 2011-12, and widens the basket from eight to nine industries by adding Iron Ore at a weight of 4.905%. It begins from June 2026 with a 38-month back series, matches the base year already used for GDP, WPI and IIP, and is a monthly production-volume leading indicator for IIP compiled by the Office of the Economic Adviser, DPIIT.
441. In the revised ICI (2022-23 series), which industry now has the biggest weight?
Answer: B. Electricity is now the heaviest at 30.932%, up from 19.85%, passing Refinery Products at 22.572%. The core industries' combined share in IIP is revised to 32.88% from 40.27%; Steel now uses gross output and Coal covers raw coal only, dropping middlings and washed coal to avoid double counting.
442. According to the RBI Bulletin of July 2026, how much FCNR(B) deposit money came in through concessional swap measures from 8 June to 17 July 2026?
Answer: D. The bulletin, released 22 July, reported $17.4 billion mobilised that way. It also said the economy handled external uncertainty well, June retail inflation edged up while core stayed soft, liquidity improved, Q1 FY27 trade grew strongly (with the India-UK CETA expected to help), and FPI inflows turned positive in June-July.
443. NSE Indices Limited launched the "Nifty500 Ahimsa Index", India's first index screening out companies involved in animal cruelty, together with which partner?
Answer: A. The 10 July 2026 launch was with the Ahimsagain Foundation, using its Ahimsa Investment Movement (AIM) framework that sorts companies into Green, Orange and Red bands, admitting only Green. It tracked 326 companies on 30 June 2026, with holdings like Bharti Airtel, Infosys, M&M, TCS, Maruti Suzuki and NTPC.
444. Pick the incorrect statement about the Nifty500 Ahimsa Index.
Answer: C. The index leaves out commercial banks, major NBFCs and most Reliance Group firms, so claiming it includes all major banks and NBFCs is false. It also excludes meat, dairy, poultry, leather, cosmetics and animal-testing pharma, is free-float weighted from 1 April 2016 at 1,000, is rebalanced half-yearly, and can underlie ETFs and index funds.
445. At what age would members choose between an Annuity/Pension and a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) under the proposed EPFO 3.0 reforms?
Answer: A. The proposal gives members that choice at 60. Other planned features include an RBI-regulated Core Banking Solution for 60+ crore workers, a Target Retirement Sum with live dashboards, gig worker cover under the Code on Social Security 2020 (about 2.5 crore more), one UAN linked to many employers, and varied contribution sources; Singapore's CPF is being studied.
446. Mission "Golden Spice", a five-year ₹175.45-crore MDoNER initiative, seeks to strengthen the value chain of which GI-tagged product?
Answer: C. The mission (2025-2030) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region targets Lakadong Turmeric, improving cultivation, processing, branding and exports, with MDoNER bearing 50% of the cost. Separately, India told the UNSC that the Indus Waters Treaty stays in abeyance until Pakistan credibly ends cross-border terrorism.
447. Which state leads the PLI Scheme for Automobile and Auto Components, with 66 manufacturing units?
Answer: E. Maharashtra heads the list with 66 units, ahead of Tamil Nadu at 38 and Haryana and Karnataka at 35 each, out of 225 units under the ₹25,938-crore scheme approved in 2021 by Heavy Industries. Also, the Centre is weighing removal of airport-airline cross-ownership limits, still at consultation stage.
448. To build indigenous eco-friendly blowing agent technology and cut imports of fluorochemicals, ISRO's VSSC signed an MoU with which institute?
Answer: B. VSSC partnered with CSIR-IICT (Indian Institute of Chemical Technology) to develop the technology for space uses, building India's strategic materials capability. ISRO's HSFC and SCTIMST also started India's first home-grown Postdoctoral Fellowship in Bioastronautics.
449. On which platform does the "Gems of India" Challenge, launched by Ashwini Vaishnaw for grassroots digital creators making 1-3 minute district-showcase videos, operate?
Answer: D. The pilot runs on MyWAVES, where creators film short videos on their district's culture, heritage, tourism and traditions for prizes up to ₹5 lakh, with all States and UTs to follow. Also, ISSDA and GSSE teamed up to push stainless steel in clean energy and a National Stainless Steel Policy, with the market eyed at USD 15.8 billion by 2030.
450. IIT Kanpur's green hydrogen Centre of Excellence "ECOGEN" is being set up under which policy and with whose approval?
Answer: B. ECOGEN, the Centre of Excellence on Innovative and Integrated Ecosystem for Green Hydrogen, is approved by UPNEDA under the UP Green Hydrogen Policy 2024 and will research hydrogen production, storage, distribution and use. Separately, IIPA and ICAI signed a three-year MoU on municipal accounting and financial management for Urban Local Bodies.
451. RBI data show India's outward FDI commitments fell 47.9% year-on-year in June 2026 to what amount?
Answer: D. Commitments dropped to USD 3 billion, with falls in equity, debt and guarantee commitments. ONGC Videsh Rovuma Limited (OVRL) made June's largest overseas equity commitment.
452. Kerala's eight-year-old Iya Krish became the youngest Asian to climb Mount Toubkal (4,167 m). It is the tallest mountain of which region?
Answer: A. Toubkal, in Morocco, is North Africa's highest summit. Iya trained through trekking and Kalaripayattu, and has her sights set on Elbrus, Kilimanjaro and Everest next.
453. At which naval base was INS Malvan, the second Mahe-class ASW Shallow Water Craft, commissioned, making it the first vessel commissioned there?
Answer: C. Naval Base Karwar was the site, and Malvan is the first vessel commissioned there. Built by Cochin Shipyard with more than 80% indigenous content, it strengthens coastal anti-submarine capability.
454. Paninian India's "Yantur 4.5 kN" programme is India's first privately developed engine of which kind in its class?
Answer: E. It is a turbofan engine, India's first privately built in its class, meant for long-range autonomous cruise missiles and future Collaborative Combat Aerial Vehicles (CCAVs).
455. Agharkar Research Institute scientists found five new species of what kind of organism, from the genus Allographa, in Kerala's Western Ghats?
Answer: C. They were lichens. The findings, published in Mycological Progress, form the region's first thorough molecular phylogenetic study of Allographa and add to India's recorded lichen diversity.
456. Which Indian Grandmaster took the Menuires International Chess Championship 2026 in France on tie-break?
Answer: E. GM S. Rohith Krishna won on FIDE tie-break rules, with GM Raja Rithvik second; both stayed unbeaten and scored 7 points from 9 rounds.
457. Why is Pi Approximation Day marked on 22 July?
Answer: B. In day/month form 22 July reads 22/7, a fraction that closely approximates π. It was first celebrated in 1995 in Sweden, whereas Pi Day, 14 March, follows 3.14.
458. Which theme did the World Federation of Neurology choose for World Brain Day 2026 on 22 July?
Answer: D. The 2026 theme was "Brain Health: Access for All", and 22 July also recalls the WFN's founding in 1957.
459. How large was the FY2026-27 Budget presented by Sikkim CM Prem Singh Tamang, which featured the state's first Renal Transplant Programme and statewide HPV screening?
Answer: A. The Budget came to ₹19,215 crore, putting health, education, infrastructure and welfare first, with HPV screening across the state, the first renal transplant programme, an ART Centre and 100 MBBS seats at Sikkim Government Medical College.
460. The Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board's MoU with the UAE Food Cluster plans a ₹100-crore food processing unit in which district?
Answer: D. The unit will be in Chittoor district, part of a food processing cluster for horticultural exports that is meant to encourage value addition and UAE investment.
461. What level could global growth in 2026 fall to if US-Iran hostilities drag on, according to the World Bank's June 2026 Global Economic Prospects?
Answer: A. In the worst case, with severe energy supply disruption and market volatility beyond six months, growth slides to 1.3% from 2.9% in 2025, and global inflation reaches about 4.5%. The baseline, if disruptions ease, is 2.5% growth with inflation around 4.0%.
462. Which CSIR laboratory organised the Technology Transfer Event of 23 July 2026 in New Delhi, where four indigenous technologies went to industry?
Answer: C. CSIR-CSIO Chandigarh organised it under CSIR DG Dr. N. Kalaiselvi. Four technologies were handed to industry, an IoT-based Smart Rural Water Monitoring System was commercially launched, and Bharat Electronics Limited was recognised for royalty on licensed defence technology.
463. Where did AYUSH Minister Prataprao Jadhav inaugurate "Prakriti Café", which promotes healthy eating based on Ayush Ahaar principles?
Answer: E. The café is at Ayush Bhawan, New Delhi, the AYUSH Ministry's first such workplace initiative, encouraging balanced nutritious choices rooted in traditional Indian wellness systems.
464. What proportion of mining and metals sites face major physical water risk, according to ICMM's first Global Mining and Metals Water Dataset report, which examined 12,000 sites across 148 countries?
Answer: D. Released in London on 22 July 2026 with the WWF Water Risk Team and WRI, it assessed floods, droughts, baseline water stress, baseline depletion and interannual variability. Some 38% of sites are under severe stress, 27% are drought-prone (80.7% in Africa-Middle East) and 5% carry three or more combined risks. Central India stands out as a hotspot, which matters for the National Critical Mineral Mission 2025 and the MMDR Amendment Act 2023.
465. SOFI 2026, themed on the high cost of a healthy diet, is a joint publication of which five UN agencies?
Answer: B. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World, released 21 July 2026, tracks SDG Targets 2.1 (hunger) and 2.2 (malnutrition). It reports 645 million hungry in 2025, or 7.8% against 8.1% in 2024, and 2.69 billion people (32.7%) unable to afford a healthy diet.
466. Which region has now overtaken Asia as the centre of world hunger, per SOFI 2026?
Answer: E. Africa has 309 million hungry (20.0%, one in five) against Asia's 292 million (6.0%), and 66.6% of Africans cannot afford a healthy diet. Healthy-diet cost is mostly animal-source foods, fruits and vegetables (about 70%), while starchy staples give half the calories for a sixth of the cost; women's anaemia rose to 30.7%, adult obesity to 16.2%, and 510-520 million may still be hungry in 2030. India pulled Southern Asia's undernourishment from 13.9% in 2021 to 9.3% in 2025.
467. The Union Cabinet cleared the 'BHAVYA - Rasayan' Scheme on 24 July 2026 with a ₹3,030 crore outlay. How many dedicated Chemical Parks will it create?
Answer: A. BHAVYA-Rasayan, short for Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana - Rasayan, is a central sector scheme of the Chemicals & Petrochemicals Department for FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31. Three parks get ₹3,000 crore for shared infrastructure, plus ₹30 crore for administration; the Centre gives up to ₹1,000 crore a park, the State at least ₹500 crore, parks are picked by the Challenge Route and each needs 2,000 acres (8 sq km) of land free of encumbrances. It forms the chemicals arm of the March 2026 BHAVYA scheme for 100 plug-and-play industrial parks costing ₹33,660 crore.
468. DRDO carried out the first flight test of the 'Kusha' LR-SAM, often described as India's home-grown counterpart to which foreign system?
Answer: C. Held on 23 July 2026 at Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha, the test destroyed an electronic target mimicking a fast, high-altitude threat. Kusha fits the 'Sudarshan Chakra' air umbrella vision with M1 (150 km), M2 (250 km) and M3 (350 km) interceptors, indigenous AESA radars, command centres and precision seekers; Defence Secretary and DRDO Chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh watched.
469. The 2026 amendments to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 cleared by Cabinet propose a maximum fine of what amount for organised paper leaks?
Answer: A. The draft Bill cleared by Cabinet on 24 July 2026 raises minimum jail from 3 to 5 years, maximum jail to 10 years and the top fine to ₹10 crore, with investigations due in three months and statutory fast-track courts. The original 2024 law, in force from 21 June 2024, treats offences as cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable, allows CBI transfer, and set 3-5 years plus up to ₹10 lakh for individuals (Sec 10) and 5-10 years plus at least ₹1 crore for organised crime (Sec 11).
470. The Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA), now with 90 members, was set up in July 2023 after the PM unveiled the Bharat 6G Vision in which month and year?
Answer: E. B6GA is an industry-led platform that the government facilitates and DoT supports, arising from the Bharat 6G Vision of March 2023 and formed in July 2023. Its 90 members push 6G research, IP and standards, and it has bilateral MoUs with groups in the USA, Europe, South Korea and Japan, with 6G Brasil and with ESA.
471. What is the annual family income ceiling for eligibility under the PM-YASASVI scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment?
Answer: B. The scheme serves OBC, EBC and DNT students who are not in the creamy layer and whose family income is at most ₹2.50 lakh. It has Pre-Matric, Post-Matric, Top Class Schools and Top Class Colleges tiers; top class school students get up to ₹75,000 a year (Classes 9-10) and ₹1,25,000 (Classes 11-12). NTA runs the YASASVI Entrance Test, applications use the National Scholarship Portal with DBT to Aadhaar-seeded accounts, and the hostel component began in 1998-99.
472. What is the ceiling on a transaction made with no internet connection under NPCI's upcoming offline NFC 'Tap-and-Pay' UPI facility?
Answer: C. Payers just tap NFC-enabled devices to pay up to ₹2,000 to the recipient's UPI ID/VPA without scanning a QR. It extends UPI Lite X and seeks to bring UPI closer to contactless card payments; NFC is Near Field Communication, a wireless technology working over short distances.
473. Under Mission Golden Spice for Lakadong Turmeric, MDoNER/NEC supplies 50% of funds. What is the target for doubling farmers' earnings by 2030?
Answer: D. Jyotiraditya Scindia and Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma launched the ₹175.45 crore mission on 21 July 2026, which also aims for a ₹100-crore local value chain by 2028-29. The rest is paid by the Agriculture Ministry (33.1%) and Meghalaya (16.9%); it falls under the Ashtalakshmi strategy's initiative to unlock the Northeast's economic potential, with APEDA, Spices Board, National Turmeric Board, ICAR, NABARD and SFAC as partners.
474. What is special about Lakadong Turmeric, grown mainly in Meghalaya's Jaintia Hills?
Answer: D. That high curcumin level is its main edge. It carries a GI tag for Meghalaya, gained global attention when the PM showcased it at the G7 Summit, and targets markets in the US, EU, Japan and the Gulf.
475. Himachal farmers pioneered a sustainable stolon-based cultivation model for Kutki (Picrorhiza kurroa). What are its IUCN and CITES statuses?
Answer: B. Destructive wild harvesting pushed it to Endangered. This Himalayan herb grows at 2,700-4,500 m from Kashmir to Sikkim, and its medicinal value lies in the stolon, so Mandi farmers take only lateral stolons and let the mother rhizome regrow, harvesting in about 2-2.5 years. Its active principle kutkin (kutkoside plus Picroside I and II) is in 2,000-plus formulations, Picroliv protects the liver, and it is key to Arogyavardhani Vati.
476. India's first full annual report on scientific mine closure, restoration and later land use is called 'AAROH'. Which ministry published it and which body compiled it?
Answer: E. The Ministry of Coal released the Annual Report on Mine Closure, compiled by the CCO, which lists 42 coal mines closed on scientific lines, 33 of them within the last year. The launch also included a virtual opening of Coal India's Coal NEER Plants and a three-party MoU among BCCL, JRDA, Hindalco Industries and Rajdhani Universal Fabrics.
477. Under the ₹19,000 crore AEW&C Mk-II Programme, for which DRDO signed contracts, six aircraft of which type will be turned into airborne early-warning platforms?
Answer: A. The Cabinet Committee on Security approved the programme, with induction planned for 2032-33, to boost airborne surveillance and air defence.
478. During Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi's 17-20 July 2026 India visit, the master plan of which campus, India's first international IIT campus, was revealed?
Answer: C. The trip strengthened the India-Tanzania Strategic Partnership across blue economy, trade, tourism, health, education and technology. Elsewhere, NCVET recognised NIRDPR as a Dual Awarding Body for NSQF-aligned qualifications, bringing the count to 107 by July 2026, and DIBD with the Goa government held the 'BHASHINI Rajyam' workshop on AI-driven multilingual governance, centred on Konkani.
479. NABARD signed an MoU with which entity to co-finance green, climate-resilient rural infrastructure, starting with Maharashtra?
Answer: A. The pact covers renewable energy, Gram Panchayat infrastructure, biogas, solar cold storage and decarbonised public institutions, backing the circular economy and rural sustainability. Microsoft India and IIT Delhi's FITT also introduced UNNATI AI 2.0, aimed at AI skilling and innovation in smaller Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
480. Which firm became India's first Authorised Dealer Category-II (AD-II) entity approved by the RBI for trade remittances of up to ₹25 lakh per transaction?
Answer: D. EbixCash is the first AD-II entity the RBI has cleared for trade remittances, and also for family maintenance remittances, which can help MSME importers and exporters. Another launch: EnKash brought India's first UPI-enabled meal card, where meal balances pay through eligible UPI QR codes with tax benefits.
481. What real GDP growth range has ICRA projected for Q1 FY27?
Answer: C. ICRA expects strong industrial activity, infrastructure growth and better high-frequency indicators to support growth, even with higher energy prices and input cost pressures.
482. Paras Semiconductors signed an MoU with MPSeDC for a ₹6,200 crore greenfield facility of which kind in Madhya Pradesh?
Answer: B. The plant will make advanced semiconductor packages for strategic uses, boosting India's semiconductor ecosystem and backing the India Semiconductor Mission.
483. Who has been appointed CEO of NITI Aayog for a two-year term?
Answer: E. The 1989-batch IAS officer replaces Nidhi Chhibber, who held additional charge. Separately, the RBI approved Areion Group's ₹936 crore takeover of Aviom India Housing Finance under CIRP, with an estimated 65% lender recovery, subject to NCLT approval.
484. Two cities are under consideration as hosts for the 2029 World Abilitysport Games, for which the Paralympic Committee of India and CPSFI have agreed to bid together. Which are they?
Answer: C. The MoU aims to bring this multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities to India in 2029, with Chennai and Bhubaneswar as the candidate venues.
485. National Flag Adoption Day on 22 July marks the Constituent Assembly's adoption of the Tiranga in which year?
Answer: D. The flag was adopted on 22 July 1947, so 2026 is the 79th anniversary. National Broadcasting Day on 23 July recalls the first organised radio broadcast by the Indian Broadcasting Company in 1927, making 2026 its 99th anniversary.
486. Which company developed 'Qdenga', India's first dengue vaccine?
Answer: E. Takeda's vaccine is licensed in over 40 countries with WHO prequalification and covers all four dengue serotypes; unlike Dengvaxia, it needs no prior dengue screening. It takes two doses three months apart, though protection against DENV-3 and DENV-4 in people never infected before looks weaker and affordability remains a worry.
487. From 24 July 2026 the US applied a Section 301 tariff on Indian goods over weak action against forced labour. What rate was applied to India?
Answer: B. The rate was set at 10% rather than the proposed 12.5% because DGFT amended the Foreign Trade Policy on 13 July 2026 to forbid imports made using forced labour, and because the four Labour Codes made headway. FIEO felt this gave exporters an advantage over countries taxed at 12.5%, while gems and jewellery and textile sectors still feared margin and reputation hits.
488. Türkiye hosted the NATO Ankara Summit 2026, the alliance's 36th. Which country will host the following summit?
Answer: B. The 36th summit (7-8 July 2026, Beştepe complex, Ankara) ended with the Ankara Summit Declaration, Türkiye's second after Istanbul 2004, and Albania hosts next. NATO, created by the 1949 Washington Treaty and led by Mark Rutte from Brussels, has 32 members (Finland 2023, Sweden 2024); Article 5 has been invoked just once, after 9/11.
489. India slipped to which position in the Henley Passport Index 2026 (20th anniversary edition), with access to 55 destinations?
Answer: D. India fell to 81st with 55 destinations, from 75th in the February 2026 edition, level with Mauritania and Algeria; its worst-ever place was 90th in 2021. Henley & Partners compiles the index from IATA data on 199 passports and 227 destinations, counting visa-free, visa-on-arrival and eTA entry but not e-visas needing prior approval.
490. Which country's passport ranked first in the Henley Passport Index 2026, with visa-free entry to 192 destinations?
Answer: A. Singapore was first at 192 destinations, with Japan, South Korea and the UAE tied second at 188 (the UAE's climb being notable) and Sweden third at 187. Afghanistan stayed last with 22, ahead of Syria (25), Iraq (28), Pakistan (29) and Yemen (30).
491. Which three existing laws would the Securities Markets Code (SMC) Bill merge and replace?
Answer: C. The 157-clause Bill, brought to Lok Sabha by FM Nirmala Sitharaman on 18 December 2025, combines the SEBI Act 1992, the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act 1956 and the Depositories Act 1996, like the Labour Codes. The Finance Standing Committee under Bhartruhari Mahtab accepted 85+ suggestions, including deleting Clause 93(g), listing offences explicitly, a 120-day ombudsperson timeline, and 25% of SEBI surplus going to a reserve fund.
492. Sarnath's "Ancient Buddhist Site" was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List on 25 July 2026. Which numbered Indian World Heritage Site did it become?
Answer: E. It became India's 45th, inscribed at the 48th Committee session at Busan, and Uttar Pradesh's fourth after the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. It includes the Chaukhandi Stupa with its octagonal Mughal tower (AD 1588, by Govardhan, son of Todar Mal, for Humayun) and the Sarnath remains such as Dhamek Stupa, Dharmarajika Stupa and the Ashokan column; ICOMOS evaluated it and it had been on the Tentative List since 3 July 1998.
493. Three of the four main Buddhist pilgrimage sites are now World Heritage Sites after Sarnath's inscription. Which one is still not inscribed?
Answer: C. Kushinagar, site of the mahaparinirvana in Uttar Pradesh, remains uninscribed. Lumbini (birth, 1997), Bodh Gaya (enlightenment, Mahabodhi Temple 2002) and Sarnath (first sermon, 2026) are listed; at Sarnath the Buddha preached the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta to five disciples and founded the Sangha, and its Ashokan Pillar's Lion Capital became India's National Emblem in 1950.
494. Within how many days must investigations be completed under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026?
Answer: E. The Bill, circulated to MPs on 25 July 2026, sets 60 days for investigation, while the three-month limit applies to trial after the chargesheet. It also provides fines up to ₹10 crore for organised networks, Special Task Forces, Special Fast Track Courts with day-to-day trial, new Sections 12A and 12B limiting adjournments, and appeals within 30 days to be decided in 3 months.
495. In which landmark case did the Supreme Court read the right to a speedy trial into Article 21?
Answer: B. Hussainara Khatoon v. State of Bihar (1979) did so. Later, Brij Mohan Lal (2012) directed States to make Fast-Track Courts permanent or phase them out; the 11th Finance Commission funded 1,734 FTCs, and Fast Track Special Courts (Oct 2019) handle rape and POCSO cases, with BNSS 2023 requiring sexual-offence trials to end within two months of chargesheet.
496. According to a NABARD study, what share of rural households said they borrow from fintech firms?
Answer: D. Under 2% of rural households do, even though India has the world's third-largest fintech ecosystem, projected beyond $400 billion by 2028-29. The barriers are trust, awareness and suitability rather than digital infrastructure, along with high rates compared with the 7% KCC credit, loan-app scandals and remote grievance redress; rural borrowers prefer PACS acting as Common Service Centres.
497. Which measure is NABARD reinforcing as a rural alternative to fintech credit?
Answer: E. Every listed step is under way: ERP-based computerisation of about 1 lakh PACS (about ₹2,516 crore), turning PACS into multipurpose societies with CSC, fair price shop, PM-KUSUM and Jan Aushadhi services, eKisanCredit linking land records, Aadhaar, eKYC and core banking (NABARD took a 10% stake in developer 24×7 Moneyworks in 2025), and working with RBI on NSFI 2.0.
498. About how much methane do India's irrigated paddy fields release in a year, per the Nature Food study?
Answer: D. About 3.9 million tonnes a year, from the world's leading rice grower (154 million tonnes in 2025-26), with Eastern India a global methane hotspot. Paddy emissions worldwide have doubled since the 1960s to 1.1 billion tonnes CO₂e; standing water creates oxygen-free conditions that produce methane, and India is outside the Global Methane Pledge with agriculture left out of its NDC mitigation goals.
499. By what range can Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) cut methane emissions in paddy farming?
Answer: A. AWD, which periodically dries the fields, lowers methane by 30-70% and saves 15-30% of irrigation water but needs reliable irrigation. Alternatives include Direct Seeded Rice, System of Rice Intensification, crop diversification, neem-coated urea, PM-PRANAM and biochar; the Odisha Millet Mission of 2017 shows diversification working with procurement support.
500. Mirabai Chanu won India's first gold at Glasgow 2026 in the women's 48 kg class, completing a CWG gold hat-trick. What was her record total lift?
Answer: C. She lifted a total of 190 kg (snatch 85 kg, clean & jerk 105 kg), both Games records, adding to golds from Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022. Glasgow 2026 (23 July to 2 August), the XXIII CWG, is a smaller edition after Victoria withdrew in 2023, with Scotland hosting a fourth time and Chanambam Rishikanta Singh taking men's 60 kg silver.
501. Which team did U Mumba TT beat 8-5 in the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 7 final in Panaji, Goa, to hold on to the title?
Answer: E. U Mumba TT overcame Dempo Goa Challengers 8-5, ending Goa's unbeaten run with Manush Shah starring. Separately, CPCB told the Supreme Court there is no agreement on commercial production of next-generation green firecrackers because of a banned chemical, leaving it for the court.
502. Which upgraded KYC system will banks and insurers roll out in August 2026, letting verified KYC records be fetched with OTP-based consent?
Answer: B. CKYC 2.0 begins in August 2026 for banks and insurers, with mutual funds later. Institutions can pull verified records from the central registry after the customer consents by OTP, so PAN, Aadhaar or address proof need not be submitted repeatedly.
503. Harrisons Malayalam Limited introduced India's first drone-based transport of freshly plucked tea leaves in Idukki, Kerala. Which company partnered with it?
Answer: E. Tropoworks was the partner. Drones now carry the leaves from plantations to processing centres, cutting transport time and fuel cost and improving plantation logistics.
504. The CCEA cleared the 3rd and 4th lines on the Ballari-Guntakal section (about ₹1,264 crore). Which two states does it span?
Answer: B. The 46-km multitracking project, targeted for 2028-29, crosses Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and improves access for about 99 villages and 7 lakh people. Separately, the CSIR-CSIO technology transfer event moved four technologies and earned ₹1.67 crore in royalties, with BEL receiving licensed defence technologies.
505. Where will the permanent National Skill Training Institute for Women (NSTI-W) campus announced by Bihar and MSDE be built?
Answer: D. It will be at Bihta, costing ₹99.97 crore, along with a ₹7 crore Skill India International Centre in Patna, to promote women's skilling and overseas jobs.
506. ICAR-CMFRI's "DeepDATA" mobile app, which gives verified information on deep-sea fish species, was launched under which mission?
Answer: A. It comes under the Deep Ocean Mission and provides scientifically verified data on deep-sea fish while letting citizens help record marine biodiversity, backing research, conservation and sustainable fisheries.
507. Who took over as Interim President of FIDE, the International Chess Federation, becoming the first Indian to head it?
Answer: C. Viswanathan Anand, a five-time World Champion and FIDE Deputy President since 2022, stepped up as Interim President when Arkady Dvorkovich suspended his duties, the first Indian to lead FIDE even on an interim basis.
508. Who has Infosys named CEO-Designate from 1 April 2027 to follow Salil Parekh?
Answer: A. Ashiss Kumar Dash, an Infosys veteran of over 30 years, is named for a five-year term (2027-2032), subject to shareholder approval.
509. ZSI researchers described two new spiders, "Simonia lawbah" and "Hamataliwa papikonda". Which states did they come from, in that order?
Answer: C. Simonia lawbah, from Meghalaya, is the first Indian record of its genus, and Hamataliwa papikonda, from Andhra Pradesh, is the first of its genus in that state. Also, Argentina's Nicolás Otamendi retired from international football after 17 years and 139 matches, following the 2026 World Cup final.
510. Who was the first IVF baby, born in 1978, whose birth World IVF Day (25 July) commemorates?
Answer: E. The day, also World Embryologist Day, marks the 1978 birth of Louise Brown, the first baby born through IVF, and spreads awareness of IVF and Assisted Reproductive Technology.
511. The International Day for Judicial Well-being on 25 July marks the adoption of which 2024 declaration?
Answer: B. The day, proclaimed by the UNGA in 2025, recalls the Nauru Declaration on Judicial Well-being (2024), which supports the mental, emotional and physical health of judges and magistrates. 25 July also hosts the International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent, with the 2026 theme "Right to Health – A Fundamental Right Still Denied".
512. Which institution implements the 'Corporate Mitra Scheme', which builds a certified cadre of para-professionals offering affordable compliance and advisory help to MSMEs, under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs?
Answer: E. It is a 12-month skills and employment programme that trains young graduates as accredited 'Corporate Mitras' for MSME work in GST, accounting, cost accounting, secretarial services and corporate governance. IICA Shillong lately held an awareness webinar for Arunachal Pradesh with Rajiv Gandhi University.
513. Who created BitChat, the offline Bluetooth mesh messaging app whose GitHub repositories I4C asked to be taken down?
Answer: C. I4C ordered GitHub to delete three BitChat repositories. It is an MHA body set up in 2018 that operates the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and helpline 1930. The open-source peer-to-peer app by Twitter/X co-founder Jack Dorsey, launched in July 2025, runs without internet, mobile networks or central servers.
514. The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), which recently set up an Expert Committee on Invasive Alien Species after NGT directions, has its headquarters in which city?
Answer: D. An autonomous statutory body under MoEFCC, it was set up on 1 October 2003 to implement the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and sits at Chennai. The system has the NBA, 28 State Biodiversity Boards and about 2.76 lakh Biodiversity Management Committees keeping People's Biodiversity Registers. It guides states on Biodiversity Heritage Sites (Section 37) and clears foreign access to resources under Sections 3, 4 and 6, whereas Indians merely inform SBBs beforehand under Section 7.
515. After the NEET-UG paper leak row, PM Modi set up a high-powered six-member panel on examination reforms. Who heads it?
Answer: A. Announced on 26 July 2026, a day after Dharmendra Pradhan quit as Education Minister over the NEET-UG 2026 leak, it is headed by the Infosys co-founder and first UIDAI Chairman. Other members are S. Somanath, Tapan Deka, V. Kamakoti, Anita Karwal and Amrit Lal Meena.
516. The government cleared the RBI's proposal for polymer banknote field trials in which two denominations, 1 billion pieces each?
Answer: B. MoS Finance Pankaj Chaudhary told the Lok Sabha on 27 July 2026 that regular issuance would follow the trials. Under Section 25 of the RBI Act, 1934 the Centre approves banknote design and material on the RBI Central Board's advice; polymer (BOPP) notes last 2.5-4 times longer than cotton-pulp notes, resist dirt and moisture and carry features such as transparent windows, and the low-value notes have the shortest circulation life, making them ideal for tests.
517. The USDA's 'Dairy: World Markets and Trade' report puts India's cow milk output at 105.4 million tonnes for 2026. Which producer is ahead of India in cow's milk?
Answer: C. That 105.4 mt is for cow's milk alone, up from 103.2 mt, while for total milk India is the world's largest at 247.87 million tonnes in 2024-25, up 3.58% and about 69% over 2014-15. Buffalo milk, richer in fat, sets India apart, and cows in milk are expected to reach 62.5 million, the most among countries tracked.
518. India's per capita milk availability has risen to what level, against a world average of about 322 g/day?
Answer: E. UP, Rajasthan, MP, Gujarat and Maharashtra together produce 54.09% of India's milk, which is nearly a quarter of world output, and dairy is about 5% of the economy with over 8 crore farmers. USDA expects US butter exports up 40% in 2026, EU up 10% and New Zealand at a record 22.5 mt, but no big growth in Indian dairy exports, since India is consumption-driven.
519. Which theme guided the 2nd BRICS Science Academies Forum 2026 at IIT Hyderabad?
Answer: D. The forum on 22-23 July 2026 centred on AI and Global South cooperation. India additionally hosted the third BRICS Ministerial on Disaster Risk Reduction, a meeting of BRICS Interior Ministers, a BRICS Network University board meeting and a conference on traditional and indigenous knowledge, while BRICS CCI Women Empowerment issued the WISE Whitepaper.
520. During her 19-25 July 2026 three-nation tour, President Droupadi Murmu became the first Indian President to visit which country?
Answer: A. She visited Moldova, North Macedonia and Romania between 19 and 25 July 2026. In Skopje she unveiled a Gandhi bust, a first for an Indian President in North Macedonia; Moldova saw India launch the 3Ts Roadmap on Trade, Technology and Talent, and in Romania three MoUs were signed and 2028 named the India-Romania Year of Innovation.
521. VIYONA Fintech was approved as a Customer Operating Unit on which platform, formerly called BBPS?
Answer: B. The Hyderabad-based firm can handle interoperable payments of utility, broadband, insurance, EMI and education fee bills on the platform. NPCI has already certified it for services such as UPI Switch, IMPS, BOU and eKYC Setu.
522. NSE introduced India's first domestic benchmark-based Natural Gas Futures (symbol NATGASIND). Whose hub price is the cash-settled contract linked to?
Answer: B. The contract, trading from 27 July 2026 in 250 mmBtu lots, is cash-settled against the Dahej hub price of the Indian Gas Exchange (IGX). It offers participants a home-grown pricing reference to manage volatility in gas prices. In another item, EIL and CSIR-IMMT agreed to work on research for critical and strategic minerals, covering mineral processing, extractive metallurgy and scale-up.
523. Vizhinjam International Seaport, cleared by CBIC for direct EXIM cargo from 18 August 2026, is being built under PPP by the Kerala Government and which company?
Answer: C. It is designated a Customs Port under the Customs Act, 1962. The PPP project is expected to cut reliance on foreign transshipment hubs and make India's trade more efficient.
524. Who received additional charge of the Union Education Ministry after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak?
Answer: A. President Murmu accepted Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation under Article 75(2), after which Pralhad Joshi took the extra portfolio. The Higher Education Secretary's post went to Naresh Pal Gangwar and T.K. Anil Kumar took over School Education & Literacy.
525. On its 13th integrated test flight from Starbase, Texas, SpaceX's Starship deployed how many Starlink Version 3 satellites?
Answer: D. Starship released 20 Starlink V3 satellites, then re-entered and splashed down under control in the Indian Ocean, testing its systems, deployment and heat shield. NASA tracked it for Artemis preparation and future Mars missions.
526. India marked the 27th Kargil Vijay Diwas on 26 July 2026. By what code name was the IAF's air campaign in the 1999 Kargil War known?
Answer: E. Operation Vijay was the Army's effort, while the IAF's was Safed Sagar. The war followed Pakistani intrusions across the LoC in May 1999, after which Indian forces retook the occupied positions; the day honours the armed forces' courage and sacrifice.
527. Which organisation proclaimed the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem (26 July) in 2015?
Answer: E. UNESCO declared it in 2015 and it was first marked in 2016, to spread awareness of what mangroves mean ecologically, climatically and socially. The day also honours environmental activist Hayhow Daniel Nanoto, who died during a mangrove restoration protest in 1998.
528. Himachal Pradesh launched the 'Mukhyamantri Machhuara Samman Nidhi Yojana'. What lump sum does it give reservoir fishermen during the annual fishing ban?
Answer: B. About 3,700 fishing families around five major reservoirs benefit, with yearly spending estimated at ₹1.20 crore and monitoring by the Directorate of Fisheries.
529. Odisha signed MoUs to build its first AI Data Centre in the Odisha Sovereign AI Park. HCLTech is one partner; which Indian AI startup is the other?
Answer: D. The combined outlay is ₹14,257 crore, with HCLTech contributing roughly ₹730 crore, and the centre will pair high-performance computing with homegrown AI models. Another MoU creates a Global Development Centre in Bhubaneswar that should provide around 5,000 jobs by 2028.
530. Which minister brought the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 before the Lok Sabha on 27 July 2026?
Answer: D. Dr Jitendra Singh, Union MoS for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, introduced it. The Bill reworks the 2024 Act with much heavier penalties and tighter deadlines, including an optional Special Task Force with a 2-month probe limit and compulsory Special Fast Track Courts completing day-to-day trials within 3 months.
531. The 2026 Amendment Bill prescribes at least 7 years in prison and a ₹10 crore minimum fine for organised exam crimes. What is the new fine for individuals who use unfair means, up from ₹10 lakh under the 2024 Act?
Answer: A. Individuals now face ₹50 lakh and 5-10 years instead of ₹10 lakh and 3-5 years. Service providers go from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crore plus recovery of exam costs, management persons face at least 5 years and ₹5 crore, and a service provider's debarment doubles from 4 to 8 years.
532. Under which Panchayati Raj Ministry scheme does the "Atmanirbhar Panchayat Programme", which helps Gram and Block Panchayats turn idle assets into revenue-earning projects, sit?
Answer: C. It is anchored in the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) and aims to build Own Sources of Revenue for panchayats so they depend less on central and state grants. MoPR also launched the SAMARTH Panchayat Portal and Model OSR Rules for stronger governance under Viksit Bharat @2047.
533. Which two states already run the SAMARTH Panchayat Portal, India's pioneering single digital platform for panchayat revenue, with over 51 lakh taxpayers on board?
Answer: E. Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh use it for taxpayer registration, auto-generated demand notices, digital payments and live tracking, with property tax, user charges and trade licences standardised. It has issued ₹95 crore of demand notices and gathered over ₹27 crore; Maharashtra, Mizoram, Assam, Haryana, West Bengal and UP come next in phases.
534. Which kind of material would NASA's "PRAXIS" concept, chosen under NIAC 2026 Phase I, be the first mission to physically collect?
Answer: B. PRAXIS (Planetary Rings Autonomous EXploration with In-situ Sampling), led at JPL by Dr B. Marco Quadrelli, aims to gather particles from planetary rings using bio-inspired robots, live AI and light sampling devices. NIAC supports risky early ideas via Phase I (roughly 9 months), Phase II (about 2 years) and Phase III; India's nearest parallel is Chandrayaan-3 landing with autonomous hazard detection.
535. Under the Samudra Manthan Mission, ONGC has started its first deepwater exploration well, "MN-DW18-1-H-D". Which offshore basin hosts it?
Answer: E. The Mahanadi Offshore Basin hosts the well, which Hardeep Singh Puri spudded by virtual means on 25 July 2026; it is the first of four planned deepwater wells. The programme answers the PM's 15 August 2025 call and frees roughly a million square km of previously restricted offshore acreage; ONGC's DeepX centre, opened 5 January 2026, and the Utkal and Konark finds underpin it.
536. The Mahanadi River originates in the Sihawa hill range of which district?
Answer: B. It rises in the Sihawa hills of Dhamtari district, Chhattisgarh, then flows north and east into Odisha, cuts through the Eastern Ghats at the Satkosia Gorge and reaches the Bay of Bengal at False Point near Paradip. Its heavy silt load built the thick offshore sediments that make the basin rich in hydrocarbons; Seonath is its longest tributary and Tel the largest on the right bank.
537. Training SHG women as "Solar Didis", the "DWEEPTI Yojana" is a first-of-its-kind women-led distributed renewable energy policy. Which state introduced it?
Answer: D. Chhattisgarh, via its Panchayat & Rural Development Department with Transform Rural India under the Green Economy Transition Mission. SHG women work as vendors, technicians, installers and entrepreneurs, Cluster Level Federations can register as authorised vendors under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, and flexible loans flow through the SHG-Bank Linkage Programme; Kabirdham was the pilot.
538. The BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026 puts India second in supplying seafarers, with 12.16% of the world total. Which country is ahead?
Answer: A. The Philippines is first. India's 311,936 maritime professionals outnumber those of China, Russia and Indonesia, and its share more than doubled over a decade from 5.2% (2015) and 6% (2021). Sarbananda Sonowal announced "Mission 20%" to lift the share to 20%, in line with Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
539. Which state was first to become eligible for the second instalment under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) after using over 75% of its first?
Answer: C. Maharashtra qualified first, having utilised nearly ₹260 crore of the ₹335 crore released, and gets another ₹335 crore. RKVY is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme backing state-specific agricultural development.
540. To mark the Ministry of Earth Sciences' 20th Foundation Day on 27 July 2026, how many IMD Centres of Excellence were inaugurated?
Answer: A. The count was 13, launched alongside IMD NOVA, the WINGS app, a national Doppler radar reflectivity mosaic and the Strong Motion Atlas of India. The Cyclone Warning Centre at Thiruvananthapuram also became an Area Cyclone Warning Centre, helping weather prediction, seismology and ocean science.
541. Under the revised GDP series with 2022-23 base, which index will MoSPI use as GDP deflator in place of WPI where applicable?
Answer: C. MoSPI will use the Producer Price Index (PPI) instead of WPI where applicable, since the new series with 2022-23 as base follows double deflation for more accurate real GDP. It applies from the April-June quarter of 2026-27.
542. Piyush Goyal set up a Task Force to help India capture what portion of the global toy market by 2032?
Answer: E. Five percent by 2032 is the goal, pursued via manufacturing, innovation, exports, skilling and global value chains. A Toy Sector Playbook for MSMEs and startups was released, and the industry already counts over 21,000 MSMEs, about 770 startups, 50 clusters and more than 1,800 BIS licensees.
543. What is the minimum nitrogen content of "Anhydrous Ammonia", which the Agriculture Ministry allowed for farm use for three years under the Fertiliser Control Order, 1985?
Answer: B. At least 82% nitrogen, far above urea's 46%, so it improves nutrient-use efficiency and trims urea imports. NETRA is to build a Green Urea pilot of 150 TPD in Andhra Pradesh, and Tourism signed a two-year deal with Air India to promote Incredible India abroad.
544. What kind of platform is "Drishti", the in-house digital tool Axis Finance launched for retail and MSME lending?
Answer: D. Drishti is a Business Rules Engine that automates credit assessment through analytics, underwriting workflows and statistical scorecards, used for Personal Loans, Business Loans, Loan Against Property and Home Loans to speed up lending and improve consistency and risk control.
545. OmniCard's "Flexi Benefits Basket", India's first on UPI for tax-efficient employee benefits, runs on which RBI-licensed instrument?
Answer: B. It is built on a Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) licensed by the RBI, covering spend on meals, fuel, telecom, books and gadgets at nearly 60 million UPI merchants controlled via Merchant Category Codes.
546. Edelweiss Mutual Fund launched India's first REIT-focused passive index fund tracking the Nifty REITs & Realty TRI. From when did SEBI treat REITs as equity instruments?
Answer: D. SEBI's reclassification of REITs as equity took effect on 1 January 2026. The Edelweiss fund holds roughly 60% REITs and 40% real estate companies to give diversified exposure to listed Indian real estate.
547. The CRPF celebrated its 88th Foundation Day on 27 July 2026. What was it originally called when raised in 1939?
Answer: A. Its first name was the Crown Representative's Police; it became the Central Reserve Police Force in 1949. Today it is the biggest of India's Central Armed Police Forces, serving in internal security, disaster response and counter-insurgency.
548. What was the theme for World Hepatitis Day on 28 July 2026?
Answer: C. The theme was "Hepatitis: Let's Break It Down", with a goal of eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030. The date is Dr. Baruch Samuel Blumberg's birth anniversary (he found the Hepatitis B Virus), and the World Health Assembly recognised the day in 2010.
549. India's bid for a non-permanent UNSC seat, opened by EAM S. Jaishankar with 'SHANTI' at UN Headquarters, is for which term?
Answer: E. SHANTI stands for Securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity and was unveiled on 13 July 2026. The election is slated for June 2027 at the 81st UNGA, and Jaishankar pointed to India-financed projects across 79 countries and backed Women, Peace and Security. The UNSC was founded on 24 October 1945 and has five veto-holding permanent members plus ten others elected for two years, with half replaced annually.
550. Madanapalle Municipality is emerging as a model 'Zero Waste City' under SBM-Urban 2.0. Which state is it in?
Answer: D. Madanapalle in Andhra Pradesh segregates waste at source under SWM Rules 2016, processes it locally by composting wet waste and sorting dry waste at MRFs, supplies RDF to cement plants, runs RRR Centres and bio-mines old dumpsites. SBM-Urban 2.0, begun 1 October 2021 at roughly ₹1.41 lakh crore, targets Garbage Free Cities with ODF+, ODF++ and Water+ status, legacy waste clean-up, 1-7 star ratings and the Swachh Survekshan survey, the largest of its kind worldwide.
551. At the ICM in Philadelphia, the Fields Medal 2026 was awarded. Who became only the third woman in the medal's 90-year history to win it?
Answer: C. The International Mathematical Union presented the medals on 23 July to Yu Deng, John Pardon, Jacob Tsimerman and Hong Wang. Wang, of NYU Courant and IHES, is credited with work on the 3D Kakeya Conjecture with Joshua Zahl; she and Deng are China-born, the first since Shing-Tung Yau won in 1982. The medal was set up in 1936 from a trust of John Charles Fields.
552. The e-Zero FIR system for cybercrime relies on which BNSS, 2023 provision that lets information on a cognizable offence be given electronically regardless of jurisdiction?
Answer: A. Section 173(1) replaces Section 154 CrPC and enables jurisdiction-free electronic reporting. The system, active in 18 States/UTs with I4C of MHA as nodal body, links NCRP/Helpline 1930, State e-Crime Police Stations and NCRB's CCTNS to avoid jurisdictional delay, freeze defrauded funds quickly and restore money. In 2025 over 12,000 e-Zero FIRs were registered, Delhi leading with 6,115 and Chandigarh next with 4,174; each must turn into a regular FIR within 3 days.
553. The Panchayati Raj Ministry's 'DAANVEER' initiative lets citizens voluntarily donate what to Gram Panchayats through the Meri Panchayat app?
Answer: B. MoPR Secretary Vivek Bharadwaj launched it, linking the app with the DigiHaat marketplace, which offers bundles matching each State's specifications. Needs are verified, tracking is end-to-end, delivery is direct with no cash intermediaries, and a digital certificate is issued; it builds on e-GramSwaraj, Meri Panchayat, Sabha Saar, AuditOnline and Gram Manchitra.
554. IRDAI cleared the Policyholders' Education and Protection Fund (PEPF) with an initial corpus of ₹800 crore. Under which provision is it created?
Answer: D. The fund, created under Section 16A of the IRDAI Act 1999 (added by the SBSR Act 2025), will work on insurance awareness, handling grievances, technology-based services and tracing unclaimed insurance money, similar to RBI's Depositor Education and Awareness Fund. The 28 July 2026 meeting also approved permanent registration with an annual fee for intermediaries, compulsory tagging of salespersons on every proposal or policy, and the Penalties Regulations, 2026.
555. Which firm got IRDAI registration as the fourth new general insurer approved since January 2026?
Answer: A. The approval points to heightened competition in the sector. IRDAI itself is a statutory body under the IRDA Act, 1999, based in Hyderabad.
556. The fertiliser industry wants a mid-season Kharif 2026 hike in the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS). When was NBS launched, and which fertiliser falls outside it?
Answer: B. NBS covers phosphatic and potassic fertilisers, with subsidy tied to N, P, K and S content and paid directly to companies, whereas heavily subsidised urea sits outside and fuels excess nitrogen use. The industry wants a raise as the West Asia conflict lifted ammonia and sulphur costs; rates change only twice a year. DAP has 18% N and 46% P, MOP is wholly imported, and the balanced N:P:K ratio is 4:2:1.
557. According to ICAR, what return does every ₹1 invested in agricultural research generate?
Answer: C. Extension spending returns ₹7.40 per rupee. Research drove about a third of the rise in farm output value in 2024-25; the 2026-27 Agricultural Research & Education Budget is ₹9,266 crore against ₹4,836 crore in 2014-15, and 386 varieties were released in 2025 (94% climate-resilient, 29 biofortified). About 73% of agri spending goes to subsidies and welfare, R&D is only 0.6-0.7% of GDP, and ANRF was created under the ANRF Act, 2023.
558. MoRD, through DAY-NRLM, signed a 3-year Non-Financial MoU with which organisation to help Women-Led Enterprises gain access to public procurement?
Answer: E. The 2026-29 agreement creates a National Resource Cell inside DAY-NRLM, designs incubation frameworks and SOPs, and coaches SHGs in GeM registration, bids, quality norms and compliance, beginning in Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and UP in 2026-27. Under the 2012 MSE procurement policy, 25% of buying is from MSEs, with 3% for women-owned and 4% for SC/ST-owned units. DAY-NRLM has organised over 10 crore rural women and now aims at 6 crore Lakhpati Didis by 2029-30.
559. President Murmu marked four years in office by launching initiatives at Rashtrapati Bhavan. What does 'RAAHI' stand for?
Answer: C. Other launches alongside it were an e-Audio Guide, the third e-Upahaar, a children's 'Bal Parisar' called Bachpan and a Net Zero Energy Strategy. Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan also released five books commemorating her term.
560. Which institution signed three MoUs with Tripura on financial literacy, skills and investor awareness, and will finance the programme itself?
Answer: A. Under the agreements NSE pays for the programme and Tripura offers training infrastructure, covering investor awareness, banking and capital market courses, certification and industry links. Also, the Central University of Kerala signed an MoU with the Indian Navy for research in maritime studies, AI, cybersecurity and ocean sciences.
561. FSID, C-DOT and IISc Bengaluru signed an agreement to set up a Telecom Centre of Excellence on 5G, 6G, AI and quantum communication. Which CoE of C-DOT will it be?
Answer: E. The IISc centre will also cover cybersecurity, prototype development, IP creation and industry-academia collaboration.
562. ADB approved a USD 850 million loan for the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, helping India reach what rooftop solar capacity by FY27?
Answer: B. This is Subprogram 2 of the Accelerating Affordable and Inclusive Rooftop Solar Systems Development Program. It backs the scheme's aim of 30 GW rooftop solar by FY27, widening access to cheap solar and avoiding 28.8 million tonnes of CO₂.
563. Which alliance did NVIDIA, Microsoft, IBM and over 35 other tech firms launch to make AI systems more secure, transparent and resilient?
Answer: D. It came after recent AI-related cyber incidents and promotes secure-by-design AI, shared cybersecurity standards and information sharing on AI threats. Separately, the ACC named Satya Pal Kumar (2005-batch IRS) Director of FIU-IND for five years, succeeding Pankaj Kumar Mishra.
564. CCI approved the merger of Go Digit Infoworks with Go Digit General Insurance, the first such merger under which law?
Answer: C. The merger removes the holding company layer so shareholders hold shares directly in the insurer. Separately, a new polypore fungus, Microporellus kolhapurensis, was found in Kolhapur, Maharashtra and published in BSI's journal Nelumbo.
565. World Nature Conservation Day on 28 July traces its roots to which 1972 event?
Answer: A. The Stockholm conference of 1972 is the origin, and the day supports SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
566. The Delhi Government approved the 'Delhi Lakshmi Yojana'. What monthly assistance does it give eligible women aged 21-60?
Answer: B. Eligible women get ₹2,500 each month, with income and residency conditions and a 2026-27 budget of ₹5,110 crore; the first payment is set for 28 August 2026. Separately, Chhattisgarh's DWEEPTI Yojana plans 5,000 solar enterprises run by women, 50,000 green jobs and clean power for 5 lakh families through Solar Didis.
567. Following Sunil Agrawal's resignation, whom did LIC appoint as Executive Director (Finance & Accounts) and Chief Financial Officer?
Answer: D. At the same time, Varadarajan Muthuvenkataraman became ED (Enterprise Risk Management) and Chief Risk Officer.
568. In RBI Ombudsman data for FY25, total complaints grew 13.55% to 1.33 million. Which city or UT had the highest complaint rate, more than 4.5 times the national average?
Answer: E. Also, private banks drew more complaints than PSBs for the first time since FY21, and NBFC complaints rose. Deputy Governor Swaminathan J urged regulated entities to strengthen Internal Ombudsman systems, as many grievances reached the RBI without internal resolution.
569. Launched at Cochin Shipyard on 29 July 2026, 'Machilipatnam (BY 529)' is which number in the series of eight Mahe-class ASW Shallow Water Craft?
Answer: B. It carries the name of a historic port town in Andhra Pradesh and boosts the Navy's anti-submarine warfare capability along the coast.