Daily Current Affairs Quiz 18 August 2026: 15 Important GK MCQs for UPSC, SSC, Banking & Railways Exams

Question 1

Exercise MAITREE-XV, scheduled from 18 to 31 August 2026, is being conducted at Vibhavadi Rangsit Camp in which country?

Accepted Answer

Thailand - The MAITREE-XV exercise is being held in Thailand . • Edition → 15th • Dates → 18 to 31 August 2026 • Venue → Vibhavadi Rangsit Camp, Surat Thani • Participants → Indian Army and Royal Thai Army • Focus → counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations Static GK link: Thailand is a Southeast Asian country whose capital is Bangkok . Its currency is the Thai baht . The MAITREE pairing is therefore an important India-Thailand defence-exercise fact for competitive exams.

Question 2

MAITREE-XV is linked with Thailand. Which is the official currency of Thailand?

Accepted Answer

Baht - The official currency of Thailand is the baht . The fact is linked with Exercise MAITREE-XV , the India-Thailand bilateral army exercise. • Exercise dates → 18 to 31 August 2026 • Host country → Thailand • Venue → Surat Thani • Participants → Indian Army and Royal Thai Army Static GK link: Thailand's capital is Bangkok . The country is part of Southeast Asia and is a member of ASEAN . For revision, remember the compact country pairing: Thailand - Bangkok - Baht.

Question 3

Which consortium is associated with India's first indigenous, fully commercial Earth observation satellite constellation approved under the IN-SPACe framework?

Accepted Answer

Allied Orbits Private Limited - Allied Orbits Private Limited is associated with India's first indigenous, fully commercial Earth observation satellite constellation . • Constellation size → 12 satellites • Sensors → optical, multispectral, hyperspectral and X-band SAR • Investment → more than Rs 1,200 crore • Target → operationalisation by 2029 Static GK link: IN-SPACe stands for Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre. It functions as a single-window agency for promoting, authorising and supervising space activities of non-government entities under the Department of Space.

Question 4

In the Earth observation constellation planned by Allied Orbits, what does SAR stand for?

Accepted Answer

Synthetic Aperture Radar - SAR stands for Synthetic Aperture Radar . The Allied Orbits constellation includes X-band SAR along with optical, multispectral and hyperspectral sensing. • Planned satellites → 12 • Investment → more than Rs 1,200 crore • Operational target → 2029 • Milestone → India's first indigenous, fully commercial EO constellation Static GK link: SAR is an active remote-sensing technique that uses radar signals rather than reflected sunlight. It is especially useful for imaging in darkness and in many cloud-covered conditions, complementing optical Earth observation systems.

Question 5

After completing seven years in August 2026, Jal Jeevan Mission had provided rural household tap-water supply to approximately how many households?

Accepted Answer

More than 15.91 crore - The Jal Jeevan Mission had provided tap-water supply to more than 15.91 crore rural households after completing seven years in August 2026. • Coverage → more than 82% • Launch date → 15 August 2019 • Core goal → functional household tap connections in rural India Static GK link: Jal Jeevan Mission is associated with the Ministry of Jal Shakti and focuses on rural drinking-water service delivery. For exams, connect JJM with household tap connections, rural water supply and its Independence Day launch in 2019 .

Question 6

Jal Jeevan Mission is administered at the Union level under which ministry?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Jal Shakti - The Jal Jeevan Mission is administered under the Ministry of Jal Shakti . • Launch → 15 August 2019 • Tap-water reach by August 2026 → more than 15.91 crore rural households • Coverage → above 82% Static GK link: The rural drinking-water programme is implemented through the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. Its core exam association is the provision of functional household tap connections in rural India, together with source sustainability and reliable water-service delivery.

Question 7

Under the CBDC-based food subsidy transfer model linked with PMGKAY, where is the eligible beneficiary's subsidy credited?

Accepted Answer

To a Digital Rupee or CBDC wallet - Under the CBDC-based transfer model linked with PMGKAY , the eligible beneficiary receives the subsidy in a Digital Rupee or CBDC wallet rather than a conventional bank account. • Nature of transfer → purpose-bound • Use → purchase of foodgrains • Merchants → empanelled sellers • Benefit → traceable digital-payment mechanism Static GK link: CBDC stands for Central Bank Digital Currency. India's retail CBDC is known as the Digital Rupee or e-rupee and is issued by the Reserve Bank of India . Programmability can restrict transferred value to specified uses.

Question 8

The Reserve Bank of India's retail Digital Rupee pilot for the public went live from which date?

Accepted Answer

1 December 2022 - The retail Digital Rupee pilot went live from 1 December 2022 . This is relevant to the August 2026 CBDC-based food subsidy transfer model under PMGKAY . • Instrument → Central Bank Digital Currency • Issuer → Reserve Bank of India • Retail pilot start → 1 December 2022 Static GK link: A CBDC is a digital form of sovereign currency and differs from private crypto-assets because it is a liability of the central bank. India's retail e-rupee pilot is intended for public and merchant use through digital wallets.

Question 9

The Ministry of Defence's approximately Rs 1,577 crore loitering-munition procurement contracts were signed with which two companies?

Accepted Answer

Tata Advanced Systems Limited and NIBE Private Limited - The Rs 1,577 crore procurement contracts were signed with Tata Advanced Systems Limited and NIBE Private Limited . • Buyer → Ministry of Defence • User → Indian Army • Procurement → loitering-munition systems, munitions and associated equipment • Category → Buy (Indian) • Route → Fast Track Procedure Static GK link: Loitering munitions are unmanned strike systems designed to remain airborne over a target area before attacking a selected target. They combine surveillance, target acquisition and precision-strike functions in a single platform.

Question 10

Which description best explains a loitering munition?

Accepted Answer

An unmanned weapon that can remain airborne before striking a selected target - A loitering munition is an unmanned weapon that can remain airborne over an area before striking a selected target. The concept is linked with the Indian Army's Rs 1,577 crore procurement from Tata Advanced Systems Limited and NIBE Private Limited . • Role → surveillance plus strike • User in the news → Indian Army • Procurement route → Fast Track Procedure Static GK link: Unlike a conventional missile that is generally launched toward a preselected target, a loitering munition can search or wait for a suitable target before committing to the strike, enabling precision engagement.

Question 11

Sandhya Kiran, a cashless healthcare scheme providing up to Rs 5 lakh per family annually, was approved by which state government?

Accepted Answer

Karnataka - Sandhya Kiran was approved by the Karnataka government as a cashless healthcare scheme. • Beneficiaries → state government pensioners, family pensioners and eligible dependants • Annual cover → up to Rs 5 lakh per family • Basis → family floater • Treatment → secondary, tertiary and emergency care at empanelled hospitals Static GK link: In a family-floater health cover, one common sum insured is shared among eligible family members rather than being separately fixed for each person. Karnataka's capital is Bengaluru .

Question 12

According to NITI Aayog's professional-services report, professional services account for approximately what share of India's total services exports?

Accepted Answer

Nearly one-fourth - The NITI Aayog report states that professional services account for nearly one-fourth of India's total services exports. • Focus → regulatory barriers in professional services • Strategy → four-pronged • Themes → emerging trends, stronger value-chain positioning, global best practices and continuous professional development Static GK link: NITI Aayog is India's policy think tank for cooperative and competitive federalism. It was established on 1 January 2015 and replaced the Planning Commission . The Prime Minister serves as its ex-officio Chairperson .

Question 13

Which statement correctly describes NITI Aayog?

Accepted Answer

It was established on 1 January 2015 and replaced the Planning Commission - NITI Aayog was established on 1 January 2015 and replaced the Planning Commission . The institution appears in the August 2026 current affairs through its professional-services report. • Report finding → professional services are nearly one-fourth of total services exports • Policy focus → regulatory reform and stronger global positioning Static GK link: NITI stands for National Institution for Transforming India . It is a government policy think tank rather than a constitutional or statutory body. The Prime Minister is its ex-officio Chairperson, and its mandate includes policy coordination, long-term strategy and cooperative federalism.

Question 14

During his August 2026 visit to Nepal, General Dhiraj Seth was conferred which honorary military rank?

Accepted Answer

Honorary General of the Nepali Army - General Dhiraj Seth , India's Chief of the Army Staff, was conferred the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army during his August 2026 visit to Nepal. • Recipient → General Dhiraj Seth • Honour → Honorary General of the Nepali Army • Significance → part of a longstanding reciprocal tradition between the two armies Static GK link: Nepal's capital is Kathmandu , and its currency is the Nepalese rupee . India and Nepal maintain longstanding military ties, including training, exchanges and the tradition of honorary General ranks for their army chiefs.

Question 15

In Indian military terminology, what does the abbreviation COAS stand for?

Accepted Answer

Chief of the Army Staff - COAS stands for Chief of the Army Staff . The abbreviation is relevant to the August 2026 news involving General Dhiraj Seth , India's COAS, who received the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army. • Service → Indian Army • Office → Chief of the Army Staff • News link → India-Nepal honorary military-rank tradition Static GK link: In defence awareness, distinguish COAS from CAS , used for the Chief of the Air Staff, and CNS , used for the Chief of the Naval Staff. These abbreviations are commonly tested in competitive examinations.

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