National Current Affairs From The Hindu

1. Under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, citizenship pleas in several States are now being decided by which authorities?

A. District Collectors
B. State Election Commissioners
C. High Courts
D. State Legislative Assemblies

Answer: A. District Collectors

Explanation: The Centre has empowered District Collectors in several States to decide applications for citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA). The development is significant because it involves the administrative implementation of the CAA and the process of granting citizenship to eligible applicants.

2. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has empowered District Collectors in several States and Union Territories to grant citizenship under which law?

A. Citizenship Act, 1955
B. Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019
C. Foreigners Act, 1946
D. Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920

Answer: B. Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019

Explanation: The Union Home Ministry has authorised District Collectors in Gujarat, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Punjab, Assam, Tripura (except tribal areas), and the Union Territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Ladakh and Chandigarh to grant citizenship under the CAA, 2019. The CAA provides a pathway to Indian citizenship for eligible Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who entered India on or before December 31, 2014.

3. The upcoming Census exercise in India is raising technological concerns because enumerators will primarily use which method for data collection?

A. Paper-based questionnaires only
B. Mobile devices for digital data collection
C. Biometric scanners exclusively
D. Postal questionnaires

Answer: B. Mobile devices for digital data collection

Explanation: The upcoming Census 2027 will be India’s first digital Census, with enumerators using mobile devices to collect and upload population data. Officials have raised concerns regarding device availability, internet connectivity, data security, training and technical preparedness. The Census will also involve large-scale digital handling of demographic information.

4. The Supreme Court has directed the CBSE to streamline implementation of the three-language formula from which class?

A. Class 5
B. Class 6
C. Class 8
D. Class 9

Answer: B. Class 6

Explanation: The Supreme Court directed the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to streamline implementation of the three-language formula from Class 6. The Court observed that students should have greater flexibility in choosing languages and questioned the rationale for treating English as a foreign language. The three-language scheme is part of the language policy under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

5. The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of a High Court Bench in which Union Territory?

A. Jammu & Kashmir
B. Ladakh
C. Puducherry
D. Chandigarh

Answer: B. Ladakh

Explanation: The Union Cabinet approved the establishment of a High Court Bench in Ladakh. The move is aimed at improving access to justice for people in the Union Territory, which has a difficult terrain and dispersed population. The decision follows the creation of Ladakh as a Union Territory in 2019.

International Current Affairs

6. Who has been elected as the new President of Bangladesh?

A. Muhammad Yunus
B. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir
C. Tarique Rahman
D. Abdul Hamid

Answer: B. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir

Explanation: Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, a senior leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has been elected President of Bangladesh. He secured 253 of the 304 valid votes cast by lawmakers. His election follows the BNP’s victory in Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections and marks a significant political development in the country.

Economy & Banking Current Affairs

7. India’s core industrial sector growth slowed to what level in July 2026, according to the latest data?

A. 4.2%
B. 5.4%
C. 6.8%
D. 7.1%

Answer: B. 5.4%

Explanation: India’s eight-core industrial sector grew by 5.4% in July 2026, slowing from 6% growth in June. Output declined in sectors including fertiliser, steel, iron ore and crude oil, while cement and some other sectors recorded growth. The eight core industries account for about 40.27% of the weight in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).

Science & Technology Current Affairs

8. According to the article, South Asians accounted for less than what percentage of participants in human genome-wide association studies between 2005 and 2025?

A. 1%
B. 5%
C. 10%
D. 20%

Answer: A. 1%

Explanation: South Asians remain significantly underrepresented in global genomic databases. According to the article, more than 86% of participants in genome-wide association studies were of European ancestry, while South Asians accounted for less than 1%. This lack of diversity can make AI-based health tools, genetic risk scores and disease-prediction models less accurate for South Asian populations.

9. Why can polygenic risk scores developed mainly using European genetic data be less accurate for South Asian populations?

A. South Asians have fewer genetic variants
B. Genetic variants and their effects can differ between populations
C. South Asians do not have hereditary diseases
D. Polygenic risk scores work only for infectious diseases

Answer: B. Genetic variants and their effects can differ between populations

Explanation: Polygenic risk scores (PRS) combine the effects of multiple genetic variants to estimate an individual’s genetic risk of developing a disease. However, genetic variants and their effects can vary across populations. Therefore, scores developed predominantly from European genetic datasets may not accurately predict disease risk among South Asians and need to be validated and, where necessary, recalibrated using South Asian data.

10. Which initiative is cited as an example of India’s growing efforts to build large-scale genomic and population datasets?

A. GenomeIndia
B. Digital India
C. Ayushman Bharat
D. National Health Mission

Answer: A. GenomeIndia

Explanation: GenomeIndia is one of India’s major efforts to build a comprehensive genomic dataset representing the country’s diverse population. Other initiatives mentioned include Phenome India and LongenEvity India. Such datasets can help improve understanding of population-specific genetic variations and support more accurate disease prediction and personalised healthcare.

11. According to a recent study, which combination of foods played an important role in the expansion of the human brain during evolution?

A. Fruits and vegetables
B. Sugar and meat
C. Dairy products and cereals
D. Fish and leafy vegetables

Answer: B. Sugar and meat

Explanation: A study discussed in The Hindu suggests that the expansion of the human brain was supported by increased availability of dietary energy from both sugar and meat. The researchers argue that glucose provided readily available energy for the brain, while meat supplied nutrients and energy-dense foods. The findings contribute to the broader understanding of the role of diet and nutrition in human evolution.

12. What type of thermal protection system will be used in India’s Gaganyaan crew module to protect astronauts during atmospheric re-entry?

A. Ablative Thermal Protection System
B. Liquid-cooled thermal system
C. Magnetic heat shield
D. Inflatable thermal shield

Answer: A. Ablative Thermal Protection System

Explanation: The Gaganyaan crew module will use an Ablative Thermal Protection System (TPS) to withstand the extremely high temperatures generated during atmospheric re-entry. The ablative material absorbs intense heat and gradually chars and erodes, carrying heat away from the spacecraft. India has demonstrated such technology through tests, including the CARE (Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment).

Defence & Security Current Affairs

13. India and Japan have signed a pact aimed at deepening cooperation in which area?

A. Agricultural trade
B. Defence cooperation
C. Nuclear energy only
D. Space tourism

Answer: B. Defence cooperation

Explanation: India and Japan signed an agreement aimed at further strengthening their defence ties and security cooperation. Defence cooperation between the two countries has expanded through military exercises, maritime security cooperation and greater strategic coordination in the Indo-Pacific.

14. India and Japan signed a maritime security pact to deepen defence cooperation. Which two countries’ maritime forces are specifically expected to benefit from greater cooperation under the agreement?

A. Indian Navy and Japan Coast Guard
B. Indian Coast Guard and Japan Coast Guard
C. Indian Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
D. Indian Army and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force

Answer: C. Indian Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

Explanation: India and Japan signed an agreement to strengthen maritime security and defence cooperation, including greater cooperation between the Indian Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). The pact covers areas such as ship repair, logistics support, joint exercises, information exchange, maritime domain awareness and disaster relief. The two countries also agreed to expand bilateral exercises such as JIMEX and Dharma Guardian.

Environment & Climate Change Current Affairs

15. The Odisha government has constituted a high-level inquiry committee to examine the relocation of villages from which Tiger Reserve?

A. Similipal Tiger Reserve
B. Satkosia Tiger Reserve
C. Bhitarkanika National Park
D. Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary

Answer: B. Satkosia Tiger Reserve

Explanation: Odisha has formed a committee to examine the village-wise relocation process from Satkosia Tiger Reserve, following allegations that some residents were forcibly evicted from their ancestral villages. The committee will examine compliance with laws including the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the Forest Rights Act, 2006, as well as compensation and rehabilitation measures. The reserve has also faced a serious conservation concern: the 2022 tiger census recorded zero tigers in the reserve.

16. A mining project in Maharashtra has raised concerns over its potential impact on tiger movement through which tiger corridor?

A. Kanha–Pench Tiger Corridor
B. Tadoba–Indravati Tiger Corridor
C. Bandhavgarh–Kanha Tiger Corridor
D. Melghat–Satpura Tiger Corridor

Answer: B. Tadoba–Indravati Tiger Corridor

Explanation: The Bombay High Court was hearing a matter concerning an iron ore mining project in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra and its potential impact on tiger movement. The project involves diversion of 937.077 hectares of forest land and falls within the Tadoba–Indravati tiger corridor. The court asked the petitioner to approach the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), given its statutory role in tiger conservation.

17. The Supreme Court’s landmark ‘Vanashakti’ judgment primarily relates to which issue?

A. Coastal zone regulation
B. Environmental clearance for development projects
C. Forest rights of tribal communities
D. Wildlife conservation in protected areas

Answer: B. Environmental clearance for development projects

Explanation: In the Vanashakti case, the Supreme Court examined the legal framework governing Environmental Clearance (EC) for projects. The Court held that projects requiring prior environmental clearance cannot retrospectively obtain such approval after commencing operations. The judgment emphasised the importance of prior environmental assessment and upheld the regulatory framework under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the EIA Notification, 2006.

Government Schemes Current Affairs

18. The Centre is set to expand a mechanised sanitation scheme to rural India. Which organisation is implementing the scheme?

A. NITI Aayog
B. National Safai Karamcharis Commission
C. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
D. National Disaster Management Authority

Answer: B. National Safai Karamcharis Commission

Explanation: The Centre plans to expand mechanised sanitation to rural areas to reduce hazardous manual cleaning of sewers and septic tanks. The initiative involves the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) and focuses on mechanised cleaning, worker safety, training and preventing deaths caused by unsafe sanitation practices. The NAMASTE scheme is also being expanded to cover rural sanitation workers.

19. The Tamil Nadu government announced 39 initiatives to promote women’s financial independence under which programme?

A. StartupTN
B. Naan Mudhalvan
C. Tamil Nadu Women Entrepreneurship Programme
D. Pudhumai Penn

Answer: C. Tamil Nadu Women Entrepreneurship Programme

Explanation: Tamil Nadu announced 39 initiatives under its Women’s Financial Independence and Entrepreneurship efforts, aimed at promoting women’s financial independence and entrepreneurship. The measures include support through the Tamil Nadu Women Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Scheme and related financial and institutional assistance.

Sports Current Affairs

20. The 2026 BWF World Championships are being hosted in which Indian city?

A. Mumbai
B. Bengaluru
C. New Delhi
D. Hyderabad

Answer: C. New Delhi

Explanation: The 2026 BWF World Championships are being held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi from August 17 to 23. This is the first time in 17 years that the prestigious badminton World Championships have returned to India.

Apps, Portals & Digital Initiatives Current Affairs

21. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a plan to provide free online coaching for competitive examinations using which existing national-level infrastructure?

A. India Stack
B. Digital Public Infrastructure
C. National Knowledge Network
D. BharatNet

Answer: B. Digital Public Infrastructure

Explanation: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the government’s intention to use India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to provide free online coaching for competitive examinations. The initiative is aimed at improving access to quality preparation resources, particularly for students who cannot afford expensive private coaching.

22. According to the discussion on free online coaching, approximately what share of students in India’s competitive-examination preparation ecosystem is estimated to be using online learning?

A. 20–30%
B. 40–50%
C. 70–80%
D. 90–95%

Answer: C. 70–80%

Explanation: The discussion notes that a large proportion of students preparing for competitive examinations already use online learning, with the estimate placed at around 70–80%. The government’s proposed free digital coaching initiative could therefore use the existing digital ecosystem to expand access to preparation material while reducing dependence on expensive private coaching centres.

Persons in News Current Affairs

23. Former Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga received his Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree certificate nearly six decades after completing his graduation. From which institution did he graduate in 1966?

A. Mizoram University
B. Dhanamanjuri (DM) College, Imphal
C. Gauhati University
D. St. Edmund’s College, Shillong

Answer: B. Dhanamanjuri (DM) College, Imphal

Explanation: Former Mizoram Chief Minister and Mizo National Front (MNF) president Zoramthanga received his BA degree certificate from Gauhati University nearly 60 years after completing his graduation. He had graduated in 1966 from Dhanamanjuri (DM) College in Imphal, which was then affiliated with Gauhati University.