Daily Current Affairs Quiz 16 September 2026: 15 Important GK MCQs for UPSC, SSC, Banking & Railways Exams

Question 1

The Kishau Multipurpose Project, whose agreement was signed by six beneficiary states on 15 September 2026, is planned on which river?

Accepted Answer

Tons River - The Kishau Multipurpose Project is planned on the Tons River along the Uttarakhand-Himachal Pradesh border. The agreement was signed on 15 September 2026 by six beneficiary states: Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi. • Proposed dam height → 232.6 metres • Storage capacity → 1,562 million cubic metres • Irrigation benefit → about 97,000 hectares • Expected clean hydropower → 1,476 million units Static GK link: The Tons is a major tributary of the Yamuna . The Yamuna rises from the Yamunotri Glacier in Uttarakhand and joins the Ganga at Prayagraj.

Question 2

The First Additional Protocol to the India-MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreement signed in September 2026 primarily facilitates which trade procedure?

Accepted Answer

Acceptance of electronic Certificates of Origin - The India-MERCOSUR First Additional Protocol , signed on 14 September 2026 , facilitates the acceptance of electronic Certificates of Origin under the Preferential Trade Agreement. It is intended to promote paperless trade , simplify origin verification and modernise customs procedures between India and MERCOSUR countries. • Indian signatory → Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal • MERCOSUR side → representatives of Uruguay and Paraguay, with Argentina and Brazil also represented Static GK link: MERCOSUR was created through the Treaty of Asuncion in 1991 . Its founding States Parties are Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, and its permanent secretariat is based in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Question 3

Which group correctly lists the four founding States Parties of MERCOSUR that signed the Treaty of Asuncion?

Accepted Answer

Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay - The four founding States Parties of MERCOSUR are Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay . They signed the Treaty of Asuncion in 1991 , establishing the Southern Common Market as a regional economic-integration bloc. • Core objective → freer movement of goods, services and factors of production among members • India link → the India-MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreement created a framework for tariff preferences and trade cooperation Static GK link: MERCOSUR is the Spanish abbreviation for Mercado Comun del Sur , or Southern Common Market. Its institutional headquarters are in Montevideo, Uruguay . Bolivia later joined the integration process, while Venezuela remains suspended from the bloc.

Question 4

Where is the 22nd India-US Joint Military Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026 being conducted simultaneously?

Accepted Answer

Auli and Mahajan Field Firing Range - The 22nd Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026 began on 15 September 2026 and is being conducted simultaneously at Auli in Uttarakhand and the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan. • Participation → 600 personnel from each country • Focus → employment of Integrated Battle Groups in mountainous and semi-mountainous terrain • Technology component → drones, autonomous systems, surveillance and reconnaissance Static GK link: Yudh Abhyas is an annual bilateral exercise between the Indian Army and the US Army. The series began in 2004 and is designed to improve interoperability, exchange operational practices and strengthen joint planning.

Question 5

Which statement correctly identifies the venue and theme of the World Circular Economy Forum 2026?

Accepted Answer

Gandhinagar - Circular Economy: Transition for People and Prosperity - The World Circular Economy Forum 2026 is being held at Gandhinagar, Gujarat , from 15 to 18 September 2026 under the theme Circular Economy: Transition for People and Prosperity . It is the first WCEF hosted in South Asia . • Participation → more than 2,000 stakeholders from 65+ countries • Expo → over 125 exhibitors Static GK link: WCEF is a global initiative associated with Finland and the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra . The first World Circular Economy Forum was held in 2017 at Helsinki, Finland.

Question 6

Under the September 2026 government notification, which payment modes receive statutory protection from direct or indirect charges?

Accepted Answer

RuPay debit-card payments and UPI transactions up to Rs 2,000 - The Central Government notification dated 14 September 2026 protects RuPay-powered debit-card payments and UPI transactions up to Rs 2,000 from charges. It states that no bank or system provider may directly or indirectly charge a person making or receiving payment through the specified modes. • UPI threshold → Rs 2,000 • Protection → applies to both payer and recipient Static GK link: UPI stands for Unified Payments Interface and is operated by the National Payments Corporation of India. RuPay is India's domestic card-payment network, also developed by NPCI. NPCI was incorporated in 2008 as an umbrella organisation for retail payment systems.

Question 7

The September 2026 notification protecting specified RuPay and UPI payments from charges was issued under which provision of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007?

Accepted Answer

Section 10A - The notification was issued under Section 10A of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 . It specifies RuPay-powered debit cards and UPI transactions up to Rs 2,000 as electronic payment modes on which banks and system providers cannot impose direct or indirect charges on persons making or receiving payments. • Notification date → 14 September 2026 • Notification number → S.O. 5067(E) Static GK link: The Reserve Bank of India is the designated authority for regulating and supervising payment systems under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act. The Act provides the legal framework for payment-system authorisation and oversight in India.

Question 8

The Pension Sakhi initiative announced in September 2026 was created through an MoU between the Department of Rural Development and which regulator?

Accepted Answer

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority - The Pension Sakhi initiative is based on an MoU between the Department of Rural Development and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) . The partnership uses the women-led community network under DAY-NRLM, including BC Sakhis and trained community resource persons, to spread pension awareness, support enrolment and assist rural households after enrolment. • MoU signed → 14 September 2026 • Target groups → SHG members, rural women, Lakhpati Didis and other rural participants Static GK link: PFRDA was first established as an interim regulator in 2003 and became a statutory body under the PFRDA Act, 2013 , effective from 2014 .

Question 9

Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojana, an eligible enrolled farmer is assured what minimum monthly pension after attaining 60 years of age?

Accepted Answer

Rs 3,000 - The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojana (PM-KMY) provides an assured minimum pension of Rs 3,000 per month to eligible enrolled small and marginal farmers after they attain 60 years of age. The scheme completed seven years in September 2026. • Launch date → 12 September 2019 • Entry age → 18 to 40 years • Farmer contribution → generally Rs 55 to Rs 200 per month , matched by the Central Government Static GK link: PM-KMY is a Central Sector Scheme . The Life Insurance Corporation of India manages the pension fund, while enrolment is facilitated through Common Service Centres and state governments.

Question 10

What does SPROUT stand for in the indigenous crop-research facility inaugurated at BRIC-NIPGR in September 2026?

Accepted Answer

SpeedSeed Phenotyping and Resource Optimization for Unified Trait Analysis - SPROUT stands for SpeedSeed Phenotyping and Resource Optimization for Unified Trait Analysis . The indigenous facility was inaugurated at BRIC-NIPGR, New Delhi , on 15 September 2026 to accelerate the development and evaluation of climate-resilient crops. • Capability → season-independent controlled-environment crop research • Major focus → chickpea phenotyping and stress screening • SpeedSeed potential → chickpea generation cycle can be reduced to around 40 days Static GK link: NIPGR stands for National Institute of Plant Genome Research. It functions in the biotechnology research ecosystem and focuses on plant genomics, molecular biology and crop-improvement research.

Question 11

SARAL AI, used by CSIR-NIScPR to convert research papers into accessible videos, is an initiative of which organisation?

Accepted Answer

Anusandhan National Research Foundation - SARAL AI is an initiative of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) . In September 2026, CSIR-NIScPR highlighted its use of the tool to convert research published in its journals into short, engaging and accessible videos for students and the wider public. • Adopting institute → CSIR-NIScPR • Workshop participation → more than 90 participants • Purpose → simplify complex research and extend science communication beyond traditional papers Static GK link: ANRF was created under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act, 2023 and was established in 2024 as an apex body for strategic direction in research, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Question 12

What was the theme of VIMARSH 2026, the DRDO-Industry Synergy Meet held in New Delhi on 15 September 2026?

Accepted Answer

Varta se Vikas - The VIMARSH 2026 DRDO-Industry Synergy Meet was centred on the theme Varta se Vikas . At the New Delhi event on 15 September 2026 , key initiatives were unveiled to deepen collaboration with MSMEs and deep-tech start-ups. • Support framework → direct funding, incubation support and dedicated access to DRDO testing facilities • Software initiative → secure sharing of DRDO-developed source codes with licensee industries • Technology transfer → nine licensing agreements handed to 13 manufacturing partners Static GK link: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was established in 1958 and functions under the Department of Defence Research and Development, Ministry of Defence.

Question 13

The newly described subterranean amphibian Gegeneophis chandgadi was discovered in which region?

Accepted Answer

Chandgad in Kolhapur district, Maharashtra - The new caecilian species Gegeneophis chandgadi was discovered at Chandgad in Kolhapur district, Maharashtra , in the Northern Western Ghats. It was named after the local Chandgadi dialect of Marathi, linking the scientific discovery with the cultural identity of the region. • Discovery site → Buzawade in Chandgad • India now records → 458 amphibian species , including 41 caecilian species • Known Indian Gegeneophis species → 12 Static GK link: The Western Ghats are one of the world's major biodiversity hotspots. Caecilians are limbless, mostly subterranean amphibians and are distinct from reptiles such as snakes.

Question 14

India won the Women's Asia Cup 2026 cricket title by defeating which team, and how many Women's Asia Cup titles did this give India?

Accepted Answer

Sri Lanka - eighth title - India defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the Women's Asia Cup 2026 final to claim a record-extending eighth title . India posted 183/5 before bowling Sri Lanka out for 111 , completing an unbeaten tournament campaign. • Final date → 13 September 2026 • Venue country → United Arab Emirates • India reached its 10th consecutive final Static GK link: The Women's Asia Cup is organised under the Asian Cricket Council . The 2026 edition was played in the T20I format , with eight teams participating.

Question 15

Which statement correctly matches India's two Junior Asia Cup hockey triumphs in September 2026?

Accepted Answer

Men beat Korea 4-1; women beat China 1-0 - India completed a notable Junior Asia Cup double in hockey on 13 September 2026 . The Indian Junior Men's Team defeated Korea 4-1 to win a record sixth Men's Junior Asia Cup title , while the Indian Junior Women's Team beat hosts China 1-0 to complete a hat-trick of Women's Junior Asia Cup titles . • Venue → Moqi, China • Women's final scorer → Sanika Chandrakant Mane • Both triumphs secured qualification for the respective FIH Junior World Cups Static GK link: FIH stands for International Hockey Federation. It is the global governing body for field hockey and is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz 16 September 2026: 15 Important GK MCQs for UPSC, SSC, Banking & Railways Exams

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Daily Current Affairs Quiz 16 September 2026: 15 Important GK MCQs for UPSC, SSC, Banking & Railways Exams

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