Daily Current Affairs Quiz 31 July 2026: 15 Important GK MCQs for UPSC, SSC, Banking & Railways Exams

Question 1

Which organisation received India’s first exploration licence for the Nawatala-Devigarh Rare Earth Elements block in Rajasthan in July 2026?

Accepted Answer

Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited - Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited (CMPDI) received the exploration licence for the Nawatala-Devigarh block, making Rajasthan the first state in India to execute an exploration licence for a Rare Earth Elements block . &bull; Licence date &rarr; 30 July 2026 &bull; Exploration area &rarr; 207.6 sq km &bull; Districts &rarr; Balotra and Jodhpur &bull; Target minerals include lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium and neodymium Static GK link: Rare Earth Elements comprise 17 elements - the 15 lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium. CMPDI is a Miniratna Category-I subsidiary of Coal India Limited and is headquartered in Ranchi.

Question 2

Rare Earth Elements, highlighted by Rajasthan’s Nawatala-Devigarh exploration licence, comprise how many elements in total?

Accepted Answer

17 - Rare Earth Elements comprise 17 elements : the 15 lanthanides together with scandium and yttrium. They are grouped because of their similar chemical behaviour and frequent occurrence in the same mineral deposits. &bull; Important examples &rarr; lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium and neodymium &bull; Major uses &rarr; electric vehicles, wind turbines, semiconductors, telecommunications and defence systems &bull; July 2026 milestone &rarr; Rajasthan executed the licence for the Nawatala-Devigarh block Static GK link: Neodymium is widely used in strong permanent magnets. Scandium and yttrium are not lanthanides, but are included among rare earths because they occur in similar deposits and show related chemical properties.

Question 3

The DAANVEER initiative launched by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj enables donations of computer systems to Gram Panchayats through which mobile application?

Accepted Answer

Meri Panchayat - The DAANVEER initiative is accessible through the Meri Panchayat mobile application . It enables citizens and organisations to donate quality-verified computer bundles to eligible Gram Panchayats through a transparent digital process. &bull; Launch date &rarr; 29 July 2026 &bull; Tagline &rarr; 'Give Back to Your Village' &bull; Potential coverage &rarr; about 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats &bull; Technology partners &rarr; National Informatics Centre and DigiHaat Static GK link: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj was created in May 2004 . The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj institutions and added Part IX and the Eleventh Schedule to the Constitution.

Question 4

India’s first Telecom Manufacturing Zone is proposed to be established at which city?

Accepted Answer

Gwalior - India’s first Telecom Manufacturing Zone is proposed at Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh under an MoU between the Department of Telecommunications and the state government. &bull; Proposed area &rarr; approximately 350 acres &bull; Implementation &rarr; a Special Purpose Company will be formed &bull; Infrastructure model &rarr; plug-and-play &bull; Proposed units &rarr; mobile phones, optical fibre, telecom equipment, semiconductors, data centres and 5G/6G technologies Static GK link: The Department of Telecommunications functions under the Ministry of Communications. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India was established in 1997 under the TRAI Act, 1997.

Question 5

How many road projects were sanctioned under the Vibrant Villages Programme to improve all-weather connectivity along India’s northern border?

Accepted Answer

111 - The Ministry of Home Affairs sanctioned 111 road projects under the Vibrant Villages Programme to improve all-weather connectivity in northern border areas. &bull; Financial outlay &rarr; Rs 2,481.93 crore &bull; Villages to receive road connectivity &rarr; 134 &bull; Covered regions &rarr; Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh &bull; Programme launch &rarr; 2023 Static GK link: The programme focuses on comprehensive development of selected border villages through roads, telecommunications, drinking water, electricity, health and education. It is administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs , which also oversees border management through its Department of Border Management.

Question 6

Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, 12 mobility pilot projects will deploy how many hydrogen-powered vehicles?

Accepted Answer

70 - The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy awarded 12 mobility pilot projects involving 70 hydrogen-powered vehicles under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. &bull; Vehicle mix &rarr; 27 buses and 43 trucks &bull; Routes &rarr; 21 &bull; Refuelling stations planned &rarr; 16 &bull; Financial assistance &rarr; Rs 410.77 crore Static GK link: The National Green Hydrogen Mission targets annual production capacity of 5 million metric tonnes by 2030. Green hydrogen is produced using renewable electricity, generally through electrolysis, and can help decarbonise sectors such as fertilisers, refining, steel and heavy transport.

Question 7

The Google Pay Flex SBI Card launched in July 2026 is available on which two card networks?

Accepted Answer

RuPay and Visa - The Google Pay Flex SBI Card is offered on the RuPay and Visa networks. The RuPay variant can be linked with UPI for merchant payments. &bull; Issuers and partners &rarr; SBI Cards and Payment Services Limited and Google Pay &bull; Joining fee &rarr; Rs 499 plus taxes &bull; Annual reward potential &rarr; up to Rs 18,000 &bull; Renewal-fee waiver threshold &rarr; annual spending of Rs 1 lakh Static GK link: RuPay is India’s domestic card-payment network developed by the National Payments Corporation of India . NPCI was incorporated in 2008 as an umbrella organisation for retail payment and settlement systems.

Question 8

NCDEX Nidhi, launched to expand investment access in rural and semi-rural India, is a transaction platform for which financial product?

Accepted Answer

Mutual funds - NCDEX Nidhi is a mutual-fund transaction platform designed to deepen investment access in rural and semi-rural India. &bull; Architecture &rarr; API-first &bull; Initial participation &rarr; six Asset Management Companies &bull; NCDEX network &rarr; approximately 800 Farmer Producer Organisations &bull; Features &rarr; UPI AutoPay for SIPs, transaction time-stamping and failure-status details Static GK link: The National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange Limited was incorporated in April 2003 and is headquartered in Mumbai. Mutual funds in India are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India under the SEBI (Mutual Funds) Regulations, 1996.

Question 9

IRDAI approved Patanjali Ayurved and DS Group’s acquisition of Magma General Insurance for approximately what value?

Accepted Answer

Rs 4,500 crore - The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India approved the acquisition of Magma General Insurance by Patanjali Ayurved and DS Group for approximately Rs 4,500 crore . &bull; Patanjali Ayurved stake &rarr; 73.56% &bull; DS Group stake &rarr; 24.50% &bull; Seller &rarr; Sanoti Properties &bull; Approval validity &rarr; three months from communication Static GK link: IRDAI is the statutory regulator for India’s insurance sector. It was constituted under the IRDA Act, 1999 and is headquartered in Hyderabad. Insurance regulation also draws authority from the Insurance Act, 1938 .

Question 10

What is the theme of the 10th India Mobile Congress scheduled for October 2026?

Accepted Answer

Scale without boundaries - The theme of the 10th India Mobile Congress is 'Scale without boundaries' . The event is scheduled at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, from 7 to 10 October 2026 . &bull; Organisers &rarr; Department of Telecommunications and Cellular Operators Association of India &bull; Startup programme &rarr; ASPIRE &bull; Focus areas &rarr; 5G, 6G, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and satellite communication &bull; Four pillars &rarr; Srishti, Suraksha, Sashakt and Samvardhan Static GK link: The International Telecommunication Union is the United Nations specialised agency for information and communication technologies. It was founded in 1865 and is headquartered in Geneva.

Question 11

India’s first dedicated Department of Military Medicine was inaugurated at which institution?

Accepted Answer

Command Hospital, Central Command, Lucknow - India’s first dedicated Department of Military Medicine was inaugurated at the Command Hospital, Central Command, Lucknow by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. &bull; Administrative framework &rarr; Directorate General of Medical Services of the Indian Army &bull; Focus &rarr; academic, research and operational military medicine &bull; Key fields &rarr; combat trauma, emergency medicine and military psychiatry &bull; Future centres &rarr; HADR and CBRNE defence Static GK link: CBRNE stands for chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosive . HADR stands for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief . The Armed Forces Medical Services provide medical support to the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Question 12

Machilipatnam (BY 529), launched in July 2026, is the seventh vessel of which Indian Navy class?

Accepted Answer

Mahe-class ASW Shallow Water Craft - Machilipatnam (BY 529) is the seventh of eight Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft . It was launched on 29 July 2026 . &bull; Builder &rarr; Cochin Shipyard Limited &bull; Indigenous content &rarr; more than 80% &bull; Role &rarr; anti-submarine operations in shallow and coastal waters &bull; Additional capabilities &rarr; underwater surveillance, mine warfare and coastal defence Static GK link: The class is intended to replace the ageing Abhay-class vessels. Anti-submarine warfare uses sensors and weapons to detect, track and neutralise hostile submarines, especially in strategically important littoral waters.

Question 13

India and Nepal jointly inaugurated the restored Gusthal Mahavihar at which historic city in Nepal?

Accepted Answer

Patan - India and Nepal jointly inaugurated the restored Prathamshree Mahavihar, also known as Gusthal Mahavihar , at Patan in Lalitpur . The monument had been damaged in the 2015 Nepal earthquake. &bull; Indian grant &rarr; approximately NPR 12 crore &bull; Conservation consultant &rarr; Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage &bull; Nepal implementation agency &rarr; Central Level Project Implementation Unit &bull; Wider assistance &rarr; restoration of 30 cultural-heritage sites Static GK link: Lalitpur is historically known as Patan or Yala . Nepal’s capital is Kathmandu, and the country uses the Nepalese rupee. India and Nepal share an open border and extensive cultural, economic and people-to-people ties.

Question 14

The Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Telecom Excellence Awards 2025 were presented to which two entities?

Accepted Answer

Amantya Technologies and Finaara - The Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Telecom Excellence Awards 2025 were conferred on Amantya Technologies Private Limited and Finaara for contributions to telecom technology. &bull; Presented by &rarr; Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia &bull; Administered by &rarr; Department of Telecommunications &bull; Nodal ministry &rarr; Ministry of Communications &bull; Nomination platform &rarr; Rashtriya Puraskar Portal Static GK link: The awards recognise notable contributions in telecom innovation, manufacturing, services and skilling. The Department of Telecommunications is responsible for policy, licensing and coordination in the telecom sector, while TRAI performs regulatory functions under the TRAI Act, 1997 .

Question 15

The Assam Land and Revenue Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 permits protected zones of up to what radius around eligible heritage institutions?

Accepted Answer

5 km - The Assam Land and Revenue Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 provides for protected zones extending up to a 5-km radius around eligible ancient religious and cultural institutions. &bull; Passed &rarr; 29 July 2026 &bull; Parent law &rarr; Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886 &bull; Minimum age of eligible institutions &rarr; 250 years &bull; Covered areas include Barpeta, Bardowa and Majuli &bull; Enforcement authority &rarr; District Commissioner Static GK link: Land is primarily a State List subject under Entry 18 of the Seventh Schedule. Majuli is a major river island in the Brahmaputra and is known for its Vaishnavite satras, associated with the neo-Vaishnavite tradition of Srimanta Sankardeva.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz 31 July 2026: 15 Important GK MCQs for UPSC, SSC, Banking & Railways Exams

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