Asia Current Affairs Quiz — Last 6 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
The 4-lane Guwahati–Tezpur corridor approved by the CCEA in August 2026 is being developed along which National Highway?
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Correct answer: B — NH-15
The 135.87 km corridor from Baihata Chariali to Tezpur is on NH-15 in Assam.
In which mode will the Guwahati–Tezpur corridor on NH-15 be developed?
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Correct answer: C — Build-Operate-Transfer (Toll)
The project will be developed on Build-Operate-Transfer (Toll) mode at a capital cost of Rs 8,970.20 crore.
Consider the following statements about the Guwahati–Tezpur corridor approved in August 2026: 1. It includes an Emergency Landing Facility in the Tezpur bypass, finalised with the Indian Air Force. 2. The total project length is about 235 km. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only statement 1 is correct. The project length is 135.87 km; the 4.9 km Emergency Landing Facility is in the Tezpur bypass.
The 10th BRICS Industry Ministers' Meeting in Jaipur culminated ministerial engagement under which BRICS mechanism?
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Correct answer: A — BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution (PartNIR)
The meeting culminated the ministerial engagement under the BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution (PartNIR).
For a BRICS Working Group on which industry were Terms of Reference and an Action Plan adopted at the 10th BRICS Industry Ministers' Meeting?
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Correct answer: B — Photovoltaic industry
Ministers adopted the Terms of Reference and Action Plan for the BRICS Working Group on the Photovoltaic Industry.
What did India propose at the 10th BRICS Industry Ministers' Meeting to support innovation-led growth?
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Correct answer: C — A BRICS Incubator Network and a BRICS Startup Innovation Fund
India proposed a BRICS Incubator Network and a BRICS Startup Innovation Fund.
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.
During which period is the Har Ghar Tiranga 2026 campaign being observed?
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Correct answer: D — 9 to 17 August
Har Ghar Tiranga 2026 is being observed across the country from 9 to 17 August 2026.
The Har Ghar Tiranga 2026 campaign is dedicated to 150 years of which of the following?
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Correct answer: B — Vande Mataram
The 2026 campaign is dedicated to 150 years of the National Song 'Vande Mataram'.
What is the new initiative under Har Ghar Tiranga 2026 that will connect Indian Missions across the globe?
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Correct answer: A — Suryapath Tiranga
'Suryapath Tiranga' is the new initiative to connect Indian Missions across the globe.
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 is the name of the protocol for connecting quantum networks proposed by Bose Institute scientists in 2026?
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Correct answer: A — General Concurrence Percolation
Bose Institute scientists introduced General Concurrence Percolation (GCP), published in Physical Review A.
BIOFACH INDIA 2026, organised by APEDA in Greater Noida in August 2026, is an exhibition focused on which products?
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Correct answer: D — Certified organic products
BIOFACH INDIA 2026 promotes India's certified organic, natural and sustainable food products.
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.
At which port did DRI intercept 13 containers of Pakistan-origin dry dates in 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Kandla
DRI intercepted 13 containers carrying 364 MT of dry dates imported at Kandla Port.
The Pakistan-origin dry dates seized by DRI in August 2026 had been misdeclared as originating from which country?
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Correct answer: C — United Arab Emirates
The goods were declared as UAE-origin but were of Pakistan origin, routed via Dubai.
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.
Which award did Nitin Gadkari confer on rat miners for the Silkyara Tunnel Rescue Operation in August 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak
Gadkari conferred the Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak on the rat miners.
How many rat miners received the Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak for the Silkyara Tunnel Rescue Operation?
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Correct answer: C — 12
Twelve rat miners were conferred the Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak on 5 August 2026.
Which two bodies signed the MoU in August 2026 to commercialise India's GI products under the 'Bharat GI' banner?
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Correct answer: A — Ministry of MSME and DPIIT
The Ministry of MSME and DPIIT signed the MoU on 5 August 2026 at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi.
Under the 'Bharat GI' initiative, GI collectives and authorised users are to be onboarded onto which platforms?
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Correct answer: B — ONDC and GeM
The MoU provides for onboarding GI collectives and authorised users onto ONDC and the Government e-Marketplace (GeM).
Consider the following statements: 1. DPIIT is the nodal department for registration and legal protection of Geographical Indications under the GI of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. 2. The MSME–DPIIT MoU of August 2026 provides for integrating One District One Product (ODOP) into programme design. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both statements are correct as per the MoU announcement.
To which states did the Centre deploy a National Joint Outbreak Response Team for the Chandipura virus outbreak in August 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Gujarat and Rajasthan
The NJORT was deployed to Gujarat and Rajasthan to support the Chandipura Virus Disease response.
Which NCDC facility was activated to support the National Joint Outbreak Response Team during the Chandipura virus outbreak of 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Public Health Emergency Operations Centre
NCDC's Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) was activated to support the NJORT.
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.
Which city hosted the Second Meeting of the BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group under India's BRICS Presidency in August 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Hyderabad
DoPT hosted the Second Meeting of the BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group in Hyderabad on 4–5 August 2026.
Which NITI Aayog report released in August 2026 focuses on building an organised, professional system of caregivers?
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Correct answer: A — Reimagining Care: Strategies for Empowering Caregivers in Viksit Bharat@2047
NITI Aayog released 'Reimagining Care: Strategies for Empowering Caregivers in Viksit Bharat@2047' on 5 August 2026.
Scientists from which DST institute developed near-infrared light-driven nanobots for targeted breast cancer therapy, as reported in August 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Mohali
The nanobots were developed by scientists at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali.
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.
On which portal was the 'As Seen on Netflix' section launched in August 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Incredible India portal
The 'As Seen on Netflix' section was launched on the Incredible India portal under the Ministry of Tourism–Netflix India collaboration.
At which event was the 'Digital Handloom Atlas – One Platform. Endless Markets' launched in August 2026?
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Correct answer: D — GI & Beyond 2.0 Summit
The Digital Handloom Atlas was launched at the GI & Beyond 2.0 Summit organised by DC (Handlooms) with HEPC.
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.
India's first Telecom Manufacturing Zone (TMZ) is being developed in which city?
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Correct answer: D — Gwalior
India's first and only Telecom Manufacturing Zone is at Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.
After the Mumbai investors' meet of 4 August 2026, what were the cumulative investment commitments for the Gwalior Telecom Manufacturing Zone?
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Correct answer: C — ₹5,500 crore
₹2,000 crore of fresh commitments at Mumbai took the cumulative total to ₹5,500 crore; ₹10,000 crore is the target.
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.
ICAR's telomere-to-telomere reference genome announced in August 2026 belongs to which variety of pigeonpea?
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Correct answer: B — Asha
The T2T genome is of pigeonpea variety 'Asha', the same variety whose draft genome was published in 2011.
How many chromosomes of pigeonpea are fully represented in ICAR's T2T genome assembly?
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Correct answer: D — 11
The 752.65 million base-pair assembly gives a complete representation of all 11 chromosomes of pigeonpea.
Consider the following statements: 1. In 2011, ICAR–National Institute for Plant Biotechnology published the world's first draft genome of a pulse crop. 2. ICAR's T2T pigeonpea genome identifies 36,557 genes. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct: the 2011 pigeonpea draft was the world's first pulse-crop genome, and the T2T annotation identified 36,557 genes.