PPSC (Punjab) Current Affairs Quiz — Last 3 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
In the 15th round of commercial coal block auctions (bids opened 10 July 2026), how many bids were received?
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Correct answer: B — 21
21 bids were received against 8 of the 23 coal blocks offered; 16 companies took part.
Which helpline number for drug de-addiction was highlighted at the July 2026 meeting on the National Pledge Against Drug Abuse?
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Correct answer: C — 14446
The meeting highlighted the need to promote drug de-addiction through helpline 14446.
Which city hosted the 3rd India–Australia Annual Summit on 9 July 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Melbourne
The Third India–Australia Annual Summit was held in Melbourne.
The India–Australia Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation (July 2026) renews which earlier document?
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Correct answer: D — Joint Declaration on Security (2009)
The list of outcomes says the JDDSC renews the existing Joint Declaration on Security of 2009.
Which Australian university received a Letter of Intent at the July 2026 summit to set up a campus in Bengaluru?
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Correct answer: A — Flinders University
A Letter of Intent was handed to Flinders University for a campus in Bengaluru; Victoria University got a Letter of Approval for Gurugram.
Consider the following statements about the 3rd India–Australia Annual Summit (July 2026): 1. The two countries established an Annual Defence Ministers' Dialogue. 2. Australia returned three antiquities that originated in Tamil Nadu. 3. Victoria University will set up its Indian campus in Bengaluru. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1 and 2 only
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: Victoria University's campus is approved for Gurugram; Flinders University is the one coming to Bengaluru.
The Administrative Arrangement finalised at the July 2026 Melbourne summit operationalises the India–Australia Civil Nuclear Agreement signed in which year?
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Correct answer: C — 2014
The Arrangement operationalises the India–Australia Civil Nuclear Agreement signed in 2014.
Australian uranium exports to India under the July 2026 arrangement will be under the safeguards of which body?
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Correct answer: A — International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
The Arrangement enables uranium exports for peaceful purposes under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.
Consider the following statements, as given in PIB's July 2026 backgrounder on India–Australia civil nuclear cooperation: 1. Australia has the largest uranium resources in the world, more than one-third of the global total. 2. India operates 24 nuclear power reactors with an installed capacity of 8.78 GW. 3. India's Nuclear Energy Mission targets 50 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1 and 2 only
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: the Nuclear Energy Mission targets 100 GW by 2047.
Which DoT project won the WSIS Prize 2026 under Action Line C6?
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Correct answer: C — Samriddh Gram
DoT won for 'Samriddh Gram: Integrated Phygital Service Delivery Model Enabled by BharatNet'.
Samriddh Gram won the WSIS Prize 2026 under which Action Line?
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Correct answer: A — C6 – Enabling Environment
The project was the global winner under Action Line C6 – Enabling Environment.
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) process, under which the WSIS Prizes are given, is led by which UN agency?
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Correct answer: D — ITU
The WSIS Prizes are instituted under the WSIS process led by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
India's Traditional Knowledge Digital Library access agreement of July 2026 was signed between CSIR and which Australian body?
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Correct answer: B — IP Australia
CSIR and IP Australia entered into the TKDL access agreement during the 3rd India–Australia Annual Summit.
After the July 2026 agreement with IP Australia, how many patent offices have access to the TKDL database?
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Correct answer: D — 18
With the signing of the Agreement with IP Australia, eighteen patent offices now have access to the database under NDAs.
Consider the following statements about the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL): 1. It was established in 2001 by CSIR and the Ministry of AYUSH. 2. It holds information on over 5.2 lakh formulations and practices in five international languages. 3. Hindi is one of the five languages in which TKDL is made available to patent examiners. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1 and 2 only
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: the five languages are English, German, French, Japanese and Spanish.
By what date did the Sports Ministry ask National Sports Federations to publish their Los Angeles 2028 Olympic selection pathways?
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Correct answer: A — 15 July 2026
NSFs were asked to publish the pathway on their websites immediately and no later than 15 July 2026.
As stated by the Sports Ministry, the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games are scheduled for which dates?
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Correct answer: C — 14 – 30 July 2028
The Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games are scheduled to be held from 14 July to 30 July 2028.
According to the AISHE report released in July 2026, what was India's Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education in 2023-24?
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Correct answer: C — 30
GER reached 29.5 in 2022-23 and 30 in 2023-24; 31.2 is the female GER for 2023-24.
What was the Gender Parity Index (GPI) in higher education in 2023-24 as per AISHE?
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Correct answer: A — 1.08
The GPI for 2023-24 stands at 1.08 and has remained above 1.0 for seven consecutive years.
Consider the following statements about AISHE: 1. GER in AISHE is computed for the 18–23 years age group. 2. Women made up 44% of STEM enrolment in 2023-24. 3. Participation in AISHE is mandatory for all Higher Education Institutions. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1 and 2 only
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: PIB's survey note says participation in AISHE is voluntary and data is self-reported.
What was the total enrolment in higher education in 2023-24 according to AISHE?
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Correct answer: B — 4.50 crore
Enrolment rose from 3.42 crore (2014-15) to 4.46 crore (2022-23) and 4.50 crore (2023-24); 2.24 crore is female enrolment.
What is the last date for applications under the ₹37,500 crore Scheme for Promotion of Surface Coal/Lignite Gasification Projects?
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Correct answer: A — 7 September 2026
Applications close on 7 September 2026; 20 July is the pre-application conference, 7 July the RFP and 25 June the guidelines.
Under the 2026 coal/lignite gasification scheme, the financial incentive is capped at what share of the cost of plant and machinery?
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Correct answer: C — 20%
The Cabinet release says the incentive is a maximum of 20% of the cost of plant and machinery.
The coal gasification scheme approved by the Cabinet in May 2026 advances India's national target of gasifying how much coal by 2030?
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Correct answer: D — 100 million tonnes
The national target is 100 MT of coal gasification by 2030; the new scheme itself targets about 75 MT of coal/lignite.
The Prambanan Temple Complex in Indonesia, where ASI began a conservation project in July 2026, is dedicated to whom?
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Correct answer: A — The Trimurti — Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva
Prambanan, built in the 9th century, is the largest temple complex in Indonesia dedicated to the Trimurti.
In which Indonesian region is the Prambanan Temple Complex, visited by PM Modi on 8 July 2026, located?
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Correct answer: D — Yogyakarta
PIB says PM Modi visited the Prambanan Temple Complex in Yogyakarta.
As of July 2026, the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) integrates how many systems through how many APIs?
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Correct answer: D — 46 systems through 142 APIs
ULIP integrates 46 systems across 12 Central Ministries and Departments through 142 APIs.
NLDSL, which signed a ULIP MoU with Punjab in July 2026, is the logistics arm of which body?
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Correct answer: C — NICDC
NLDSL is NICDC Logistics Data Services Limited, the logistics arm of NICDC.
To reconstruct the topside ionosphere over India, IIG researchers combined bottomside ionosonde observations with scale-height data from which source?
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Correct answer: B — COSMIC radio occultation measurements
The method combines altitude-wise scale height derived from COSMIC radio occultation measurements with bottomside ionosonde observations.
According to UDISE+ 2025-26, how many school teachers were there in India?
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Correct answer: A — About 1.03 crore (1,02,73,020)
Teachers numbered 1,02,73,020 in 2025-26, up from 94,83,294 in 2022-23.
What was the dropout rate at the secondary level in 2025-26 as per UDISE+?
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Correct answer: B — 7.0%
Secondary dropout fell from 8.2% in 2024-25 to 7.0% in 2025-26; 3.6% is the middle level and 13.8% the 2022-23 secondary figure.
What was the Gross Enrolment Ratio at the secondary level in 2025-26 as per UDISE+?
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Correct answer: C — 71.7%
Secondary GER rose from 68.5% in 2024-25 to 71.7% in 2025-26; 89.6% is the middle-level GER and 51.9% the secondary retention rate.
Where did PM Narendra Modi and President Prabowo Subianto hold official talks on 7 July 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Istana Merdeka, Jakarta
The joint statement says the official bilateral talks were held on 7 July 2026 at Istana Merdeka, Jakarta.
During PM Modi's July 2026 visit, India announced the deployment of an Indonesian Liaison Officer at which centre?
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Correct answer: C — Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR)
The list of announcements includes the deployment of an Indonesian Liaison Officer in IFC-IOR.
Consider the following statements about PM Modi's State Visit to Indonesia in July 2026: 1. The visit took place from 6 to 8 July 2026. 2. It followed President Prabowo's visit to India as Chief Guest at the 76th Republic Day. 3. The outcomes included cooperation on the BrahMos Missile System. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
All three are correct as per the joint statement and the list of outcomes.
The Indonesia Open Network (ION), launched during PM Modi's July 2026 visit, is based on which Indian digital architecture?
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Correct answer: B — Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)
The announcements list the launch of Indonesia Open Network (ION), based on India's ONDC architecture.
As of July 2026, how many guarantees had been issued under ECLGS 5.0?
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Correct answer: A — 4,11,497 guarantees worth ₹1,55,229 crore
Since launch, 4,11,497 guarantees worth ₹1,55,229 crore had been issued under ECLGS 5.0.
What guarantee coverage does ECLGS 5.0 give on additional loans to MSMEs?
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Correct answer: B — 100%
ECLGS 5.0 gives 100% guarantee cover on additional loans to MSMEs and 90% to other business segments.
Consider the following statements about ECLGS 5.0: 1. It was approved by the Union Cabinet on 5 May 2026. 2. MSMEs account for 98% of guarantees issued by number. 3. It gives 90% guarantee cover to MSMEs and 100% to other businesses. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1 and 2 only
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 reverses the figures: MSMEs get 100% cover and other businesses 90%.
What was the combined outlay of the Strategic Investment Plans approved at PM-SETU's 4th National Steering Committee in July 2026?
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Correct answer: A — ₹1,237.58 crore
The committee approved SIPs worth a combined ₹1,237.58 crore; ₹240.21 crore is the Odisha cluster alone and ₹60,000 crore the scheme's total outlay.
Which company is the Anchor Industry Partner for the PM-SETU ITI cluster in Gujarat approved in July 2026?
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Correct answer: D — ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India
ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India anchors the Surat-hub cluster in Gujarat; Jindal is in Odisha, and Apollo Med-Skills and Neuland are in Telangana.
Under Component I of PM-SETU, how many Government ITIs are to be upgraded in the hub-and-spoke model?
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Correct answer: C — 1,000 ITIs (200 hubs and 800 spokes)
PIB says Component I upgrades 1,000 Government ITIs — 200 hub ITIs and 800 spoke ITIs; the scheme outlay is ₹60,000 crore.
Where will IIM Bangalore set up its first international campus, announced in July 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Singhasari SEZ, Malang
The proposed campus will be at Singhasari Special Economic Zone, Malang, Indonesia.
What will Phase One of IIM Bangalore's Indonesia campus offer?
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Correct answer: C — Executive Education Programmes for senior executives and public-sector professionals
Phase One begins with executive education; degree-granting programmes come in Phase Two, subject to Phase One's success over the first two years.
Which Indonesian honour was conferred on PM Narendra Modi on 7 July 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Bintang Adipurna of the Republic of Indonesia
PM Modi received the Bintang Adipurna of the Republic of Indonesia, the country's highest civilian honour.
Who conferred the Bintang Adipurna on PM Modi in July 2026?
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Correct answer: A — President Prabowo Subianto
The award was conferred by the President of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto.
Which rules did the Department of Consumer Affairs amend in July 2026 to ease verification of high-capacity weighing instruments?
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Correct answer: D — Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011
The Department amended the Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011.
After the 2026 amendment, what share of maximum capacity must standard weights cover before substitution, once a repeatability test is passed?
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Correct answer: B — 20% (one-fifth)
The requirement was reduced from 50% of maximum capacity to one-fifth (20%).
Which radio array did the international team including IIA's Dr Aru Beri use to find faint black hole activity in nearby galaxies (2026)?
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Correct answer: D — e-MERLIN
The team used the e-MERLIN radio array, seven telescopes across the UK working as an interferometer.
How many nearby galaxies were observed in the e-MERLIN survey reported by DST on 6 July 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 280
The team observed 280 nearby galaxies selected from the Palomar sample.
In which year was the Union Ministry of Cooperation created, which marked its 5th Foundation Day in July 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 2021
Amit Shah said the Ministry of Cooperation was created in 2021.
How many national-level cooperative societies exist, as stated at the Ministry of Cooperation's 5th Foundation Day?
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Correct answer: B — Nine
Shah said a total of nine national-level cooperative societies have been formed, including three newly created ones.
Bharat Beej Sahakari Samiti Limited (BBSSL), mentioned by Amit Shah in July 2026, is expected to become what within three years?
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Correct answer: A — India's largest seed production company
Shah said BBSSL will emerge as the country's largest seed production company within the next three years.
Who chaired MoSPI's Expert Committee on Energy Statistics, whose report was released on 6 July 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Dr Rangan Banerjee
The committee was chaired by Dr Rangan Banerjee, Director, IIT Delhi.
Which annual MoSPI publication did the Expert Committee on Energy Statistics review?
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Correct answer: A — Energy Statistics India
The committee comprehensively reviewed MoSPI's annual publication 'Energy Statistics India' and the energy statistics database.
How much crude steel did India produce in April–June 2026, according to the Steel Ministry?
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Correct answer: C — 42.1 Mt
Crude steel output was 42.1 Mt, up from 40.8 Mt in April–June 2025; 41.0 Mt is finished steel and 23.5 Mt hot metal.
In April–June 2026, what was India's trade position in finished steel?
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Correct answer: A — Net importer
Imports (about 2,063.9 thousand tonnes) exceeded exports (about 1,592.8 thousand tonnes), making India a net importer.