UPSC EPFO / APFC Current Affairs Quiz — Last 12 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Till when has Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0, approved by the Cabinet in March 2026, extended the mission?
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Correct answer: D — December 2028
JJM 2.0, approved on 10 March 2026, extends the mission till December 2028.
What is the total outlay approved for Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0?
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Correct answer: A — Rs 8.69 lakh crore
JJM 2.0 has a total outlay of Rs 8.69 lakh crore, of which central assistance is Rs 3.59 lakh crore.
Which half-humanoid will fly on the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission, targeted in the fourth quarter of 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Vyommitra
The first uncrewed experimental Gaganyaan mission will carry the half-humanoid Vyommitra.
By which year is the Bharatiya Antariksh Station planned to be operationalised, as stated in the Rajya Sabha in August 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 2035
The Bharatiya Antariksh Station is planned to be operationalised by 2035.
Consider the following statements about the Gaganyaan programme as of August 2026: 1. The TV-D1 test vehicle mission validated the Crew Escape System in flight. 2. The first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission is targeted in the second quarter of 2026. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only statement 1 is correct. The first uncrewed mission is targeted in the fourth quarter of 2026.
India's installed data centre capacity has grown from 375 MW in 2020 to about how much, as stated by MeitY in August 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 1,575 MW
MeitY said installed capacity grew from 375 MW in 2020 to about 1,575 MW.
What was India's crude steel production in April–July 2026, as per Steel Ministry data released in August 2026?
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Correct answer: D — 56.3 million tonnes
Crude steel output was 56.3 MT in April–July 2026, up 2.6% from 54.9 MT a year earlier.
In how many identified vulnerable districts was the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan launched on 15 August 2020?
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Correct answer: B — 272
NMBA was launched in 272 vulnerable districts on 15 August 2020 and expanded to all districts in August 2023.
How is the India–Israel relationship described in the PMO readout of the Modi–Netanyahu phone call of 6 August 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Special Strategic Partnership
The two leaders reviewed progress in the India–Israel Special Strategic Partnership.
How many manual scavengers had been identified through the nationwide surveys of 2013 and 2018?
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Correct answer: B — 58,098
58,098 manual scavengers were identified in the 2013 and 2018 surveys; the 2024-25 survey found none.
What one-time cash assistance has each identified manual scavenger received?
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Correct answer: D — Rs 40,000
All 58,098 identified manual scavengers have received one-time cash assistance of Rs 40,000 each.
Under the inventory-based cross-border e-commerce export framework notified in August 2026, export-only inventory operations are undertaken through which entity?
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Correct answer: B — Exporter-on-Record
Eligible e-commerce entities run export-only inventory operations through a registered Exporter-on-Record, which exports in its own name.
Under which policy was the inventory-based cross-border e-commerce export framework operationalised in August 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Foreign Trade Policy 2023
The framework was operationalised under the Foreign Trade Policy 2023 through Notification No. 27/2026-27.
In which field was the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission recognised as a WHO-SEARN Regional Centre of Excellence in August 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Pharmacovigilance
IPC was recognised as the WHO-SEARN Regional Centre of Excellence in Pharmacovigilance and Technical Centre in Quality.
Where was the 10th Anniversary Meeting of the WHO South-East Asia Regulatory Network (SEARN) held in August 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Kathmandu
SEARN's 10th Anniversary Meeting was held in Kathmandu, Nepal, on 4–5 August 2026.
What uniform registration fee will Container Train Operators pay under the single All India licence approved by Indian Railways in August 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Rs 25 crore
CTOs will pay a uniform registration fee of Rs 25 crore under the single All India licence.
Consider the following statements about the container train licensing reform of August 2026: 1. The existing route-wise categorisation of licences will be discontinued. 2. The reform was made by amending the Model Concession Agreement of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only statement 1 is correct. Indian Railways approved modifications to its own Model Concession Agreement for container train operators.
For how many new Flying Training Organisations were Letters of Intent awarded by the Civil Aviation Minister on 5 August 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 11
LoIs were awarded for 11 new FTOs across seven AAI airports.
By how many cadets per year is India's pilot training capacity expected to rise with the 11 new FTOs announced in August 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 750
The 11 new FTOs are expected to raise annual pilot training capacity by 750 cadets.
Consider the following statements about India's pilot training ecosystem as of August 2026: 1. Forty-one Flying Training Organisations operate from 63 flying bases. 2. The 11 new FTOs will be located at 11 different AAI airports. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only statement 1 is correct. The 11 new FTOs will be spread across seven AAI airports.
Noemi Aerospace (Elfly AS), with which Pawan Hans signed an MoU on electric seaplanes in August 2026, is from which country?
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Correct answer: D — Norway
Pawan Hans signed the non-binding MoU with Noemi Aerospace (Elfly AS) of Norway.
As of August 2026, how many coal blocks have been successfully auctioned since commercial coal mining began in 2020?
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Correct answer: B — 147
With the six blocks of August 2026, 147 coal blocks have been auctioned since 2020, with a production capacity of 377.974 MTPA.
Consider the following statements about the coal block auctions concluded on 4 August 2026: 1. The highest final offer, 37.50%, was for the Tara (Revised) block in Chhattisgarh. 2. All six blocks auctioned were fully explored blocks. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: four blocks were fully explored and two partially explored.
According to the MHA in August 2026, how many fugitive criminals were brought back to India between 2019 and 2026?
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Correct answer: A — 274
274 fugitives were brought back from 36 countries; 401 is the number of Red Corner Notices in the last three years.
BHARATPOL connects more than 1,400 Indian agencies with which organisation?
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Correct answer: D — INTERPOL
BHARATPOL connects more than 1,400 agencies with INTERPOL, reducing information-sharing time to 3–10 days.
In August 2026, PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana crossed which milestone of rooftop solar households?
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Correct answer: C — 50 lakh
The scheme crossed 50.06 lakh beneficiary households with rooftop solar installations.
What is the financial outlay of PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana?
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Correct answer: D — ₹75,021 crore
The scheme has an outlay of ₹75,021 crore; ₹28,024 crore is the subsidy released so far through DBT.
Consider the following statements about PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana as of August 2026: 1. Rooftop solar capacity of about 25 GW has been commissioned under the scheme. 2. About 20 lakh rooftop solar installations were recorded in the ten years before the scheme. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — Neither 1 nor 2
Both are wrong: 14.8 GW has been commissioned, and only 7.94 lakh installations were recorded in the previous ten years.
International Clouded Leopard Day is observed on which date?
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Correct answer: D — 4 August
International Clouded Leopard Day is observed on 4 August.
How many priority conservation landscapes across Northeast India are identified in India's Clouded Leopard Conservation Action Plan?
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Correct answer: A — 14
The CAP identifies 14 priority conservation landscapes across Northeast India.
Consider the following statements about India's Clouded Leopard Conservation Action Plan: 1. It was released at a meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wild Life held at Kaziranga. 2. The clouded leopard has been included in the Species Recovery Programme of the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH) scheme. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
Statement 1 is wrong: the CAP was released at the 91st SC-NBWL meeting in Coimbatore. Statement 2 is correct.
Yuva Sangam, whose Phase VII registrations opened in August 2026, is conducted under which initiative?
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Correct answer: B — Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat
Yuva Sangam is a youth exchange programme under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB) initiative.
Which institution conducted the third-party assessment of the KCC–Modified Interest Subvention Scheme reported in August 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bengaluru
The assessment was conducted through ISEC, Bengaluru.
According to the ISEC assessment, every ₹1 invested under KCC-MISS contributes how much to net value addition in agriculture and allied sectors?
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Correct answer: D — ₹2.30
Every ₹1 invested under KCC-MISS contributes ₹2.30 to net value addition; ₹1.87 lakh crore is the subsidy outlay till 2024-25.
Consider the following statements about KCC-MISS: 1. Its estimated subsidy outlay from inception till 2024-25 was about ₹1.87 lakh crore. 2. Farmers receiving the Prompt Repayment Incentive showed better credit discipline, according to the ISEC study. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both statements reflect the ISEC findings reported by the Finance Ministry.
How much freight did Indian Railways load in July 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 141.3 million tonnes
Indian Railways loaded 141.3 MT in July 2026 against 129.7 MT in July 2025, a 9% rise.
Which commodity recorded the highest year-on-year growth in railway loading in July 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Iron ore
Iron ore loading grew 22.2%, ahead of fertilisers (12%) and coal and food grains (11.5% each).
As reported in August 2026, what share of India's inhabited villages is served by a banking outlet within 5 km?
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Correct answer: A — 99.92%
99.92% of inhabited villages (6,00,868 of 6,01,328) are served by a banking outlet within 5 km.
The coverage of villages by banking outlets is tracked using data uploaded by banks on which app?
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Correct answer: B — Jan Dhan Darshak
The figures are based on data uploaded by banks on the Jan Dhan Darshak (JDD) app.
Consider the following statements: 1. RBI permits banks to open branches anywhere without prior approval, provided 25% of them are in unbanked rural areas. 2. More than 75 crore PMJDY accounts had been opened as of August 2026. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: 58.77 crore PMJDY accounts had been opened.
The revamped 'TRAI MyCall' app launched in August 2026 is meant for consumers to assess what?
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Correct answer: D — Voice-call quality
TRAI MyCall lets consumers rate and report their voice-calling experience, including call drops and audio issues.
What was coal production from captive and commercial mines in July 2026?
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Correct answer: A — 14.78 million tonnes
Production was 14.78 MT (up 9.61%), while dispatches were 17.49 MT.
What was India's position on the medal table of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games?
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Correct answer: B — 4th
India finished 4th with 39 medals, behind Australia, England and Canada and ahead of Scotland on silver medals.
How many medals did India win at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games?
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Correct answer: D — 39 medals, including 13 gold
India won 39 medals: 13 gold, 17 silver and 9 bronze.
In which sport did India win the most gold medals at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games?
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Correct answer: A — Boxing
Boxing gave India 7 of its 13 golds (7 gold, 3 silver).
Consider the following statements about the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games: 1. At the closing ceremony, the Games were handed over to Ahmedabad, host of the 2030 Commonwealth Games. 2. India won more medals in weightlifting than in boxing. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: India won 8 medals in weightlifting and 10 in boxing.
As per the Government's reply in the Rajya Sabha published on 2 August 2026, how many sewer and septic tank workers had been validated under the NAMASTE Scheme?
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Correct answer: C — 89,915
PIB (2 Aug 2026): under the NAMASTE Scheme, 89,915 sewer and septic tank workers have been validated across the country.
The fresh survey reported in August 2026, which found no manual scavengers, was conducted under which law?
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Correct answer: B — Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013
PIB (2 Aug 2026): the fresh survey was conducted across all districts under the provisions of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (MS Act, 2013).
Consider the following statements, as stated in the Government's reply of August 2026: 1. The NAMASTE Scheme was launched during 2023-24. 2. Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban 2.0 was launched on 1 October 2021. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
PIB (2 Aug 2026): NAMASTE was launched during 2023-24 and SBM-U 2.0 was launched on 1 October 2021, so both are correct.
Pingali Venkayya, whose 150th birth anniversary was marked on 2 August 2026, is remembered for his role in giving India what?
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Correct answer: D — The Tricolour (National Flag)
The PM remembered Pingali Venkayya for his invaluable role in giving the nation the Tricolour.
Which birth anniversary of Pingali Venkayya was observed on 2 August 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 150th
2 August 2026 marked Pingali Venkayya's 150th birth anniversary.
What is the duration of the 'Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan' launched in August 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 100 weeks
It is a 100-week campaign, with dedicated activities every Sunday.
The 'Nasha Mukt Yuva' initiative was piloted the previous year from which place before its national launch?
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Correct answer: B — Kashi (Varanasi)
The PM said the initiative was first launched as a pilot from Kashi, backed by the Kashi Declaration.
Consider the following statements about the 'Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan': 1. Campaign activities spanning art, culture, sports and meditation are planned for every Sunday. 2. Over 125 spiritual organisations support it under the Kashi Declaration. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct as per the launch release.
What was India's total coal production in July 2026 (provisional)?
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Correct answer: A — 69.75 million tonnes
Production was 69.75 MT, up 7.51% from 64.88 MT; 86.33 MT was dispatch and 50.35 MT was Coal India's output.
By how much did India's coal dispatch grow year on year in July 2026?
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Correct answer: D — 17.34%
Coal dispatch grew 17.34% to 86.33 MT; production grew 7.51%.
How much coal did Coal India Limited (CIL) produce in July 2026 (provisional)?
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Correct answer: B — 50.35 MT
Ministry of Coal (2 Aug 2026): Coal India Limited contributed 50.35 MT (provisional) to July 2026 production, 8.42% more than in July 2025.
Whom did Tanvi Sharma defeat in the Taipei Open 2026 women's singles final?
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Correct answer: C — Nguyen Thuy Linh
Tanvi Sharma beat Vietnam's Nguyen Thuy Linh 21-16, 21-16 in the final on 2 August 2026.
The Taipei Open, won by Tanvi Sharma in August 2026, belongs to which level of the BWF World Tour?
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Correct answer: B — Super 300
The Taipei Open is a BWF Super 300 event; it was Tanvi's maiden World Tour title.
Consider the following statements about Tanvi Sharma's Taipei Open 2026 win: 1. The final went to three games. 2. She is coached by Pullela Gopichand. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — Neither 1 nor 2
Both are wrong: she won in straight games (21-16, 21-16), and her coach is Park Tae-sang.
How much did the National Biodiversity Authority release in August 2026 as access and benefit-sharing for the use of Indian rice varieties?
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Correct answer: B — ₹8.22 crore
NBA released ₹8.22 crore – ₹2.47 crore to research institutions and ₹5.75 crore to 33 state/UT biodiversity bodies.
Which institution received the largest share of the NBA's rice benefit-sharing disbursement of August 2026?
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Correct answer: C — ICAR–Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad
ICAR–IIRR, Hyderabad received ₹2.43 crore, the largest share; G.B. Pant University received ₹3.26 lakh.
Consider the following statements about the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA): 1. It is a statutory body established under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. 2. It functions under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: the NBA is under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
How much did the Union Government release to states as an additional tax devolution instalment on 1 August 2026?
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Correct answer: C — ₹1,09,019 crore
The Centre released ₹1,09,019 crore as an additional instalment, besides the normal monthly devolution due on 10 August.
Which state received the largest share of the additional tax devolution instalment released on 1 August 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh received ₹19,208 crore, the largest share, followed by Bihar (₹10,845 crore).
Consider the following statements about the tax devolution released on 1 August 2026: 1. It was in addition to the normal monthly devolution due on 10 August 2026. 2. Bihar received the highest amount among all states. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: Uttar Pradesh received the highest amount (₹19,208 crore).