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Daily Current Affairs
14 August, 2026
1. Giriraj Singh inaugurated “IIHT SUTRA 2026” — the FIRST national conclave of the Indian Institutes of Handloom Technology. Its theme was:
A. Handlooms for Atmanirbhar Bharat
B. Weaving the Future of the Indian Handloom Sector – Educate. Innovate
C. Threads of Tradition, Fabric of the Future
D. Loom to Global: Skill and Scale
E. Vocal for Local Handlooms
View Answer
Explanation: IIHT SUTRA 2026 — the first national conclave of the IIHTs — focused on education, research, skills and innovation in handlooms, with MoUs signed with Grasim Industries, NITRA and IIM Sambalpur.
2. Scientists led by Prof. S. D. Biju (University of Delhi) discovered three new species of which amphibian group in Northeast India?
A. Tree frogs
B. Cascade frogs
C. Bush frogs
D. Caecilians
E. Toads
View Answer
Explanation: The three new cascade frog species — Ammachi’s Cascade Frog, Sendenyu Cascade Frog and Beautiful Cascade Frog — were identified through fieldwork, DNA sequencing and morphological studies, underscoring Northeast India’s rich amphibian biodiversity.
3. The Gaj Gaurav Awards — conferred at World Elephant Day 2026 celebrations in Visakhapatnam — were instituted in which year, marking 30 years of Project Elephant?
A. 2018
B. 2020
C. 2022
D. 2024
E. 2015
View Answer
Explanation: Gaj Gaurav — India’s national honour for frontline Asian elephant conservation service — was instituted in 2022 by MoEF&CC on 30 years of Project Elephant (launched 1992) and is presented on World Elephant Day (12 August). 2026 winners: 7 mahouts of Jaldapara NP, West Bengal (bravery in the Torsha-Malangi floods — incl. Bikash Kharia who guided stranded kumki/trained elephants to safety) and 2 caregivers of Namdapha NP-TR, Arunachal (Ganesh Tamang 26+ years, Sumit Gogoi) — the only Northeast recipients.
4. Which of the following about the Asian elephant in India is INCORRECT?
A. India holds about 60% of the world’s wild Asian elephants
B. The Asian elephant is Endangered on the IUCN Red List
C. It is listed in Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
D. It was declared India’s National Heritage Animal in 2010
E. India has 45 Elephant Reserves
View Answer
Explanation: India has 33 Elephant Reserves — the other statements are correct. Related: Gaj Yatra is the corridor-protection awareness campaign; MIKE (Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants) is the CITES programme India participates in; Project Elephant is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (1992).
5. Under the Nuclear Energy Mission, the Government plans to develop and operationalise at least how many indigenous Small Modular Reactors by 2033?
A. Three
B. Five
C. Seven
D. Ten
E. Twelve
View Answer
Explanation: At least five indigenous SMRs by 2033, supporting 100 GWe nuclear capacity by 2047. SMRs (IAEA definition: up to 300 MWe per unit) are factory-fabricated modular reactors using controlled U-235 fission for baseload electricity and industrial heat — lower capital cost, faster construction, less land than gigawatt-scale plants. Nodal developer: BARC (Department of Atomic Energy). Legal enabler: the SHANTI Act, 2025 (Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear energy for Transforming India) — which permits PRIVATE sector participation in nuclear manufacturing and deployment.
6. NITI Aayog’s report “Key Sectors to Position India as a Global Manufacturing Hub” covers which FOUR sectors in this edition (with eight more to follow)?
A. Pharma, Auto, Steel, Electronics
B. Chemicals, Textiles, Telecom & Networking Equipment, Solar Photovoltaic
C. Defence, Shipbuilding, Semiconductors, Toys
D. Food Processing, Leather, Gems, Cement
E. EVs, Drones, Batteries, Robotics
View Answer
Explanation: The data-driven report assesses SEVEN factors (not just market size) — infrastructure readiness, technology readiness, raw materials, value-chain position etc. Common theme: move beyond assembly to domestic value addition, lower import dependence and export competitiveness. Chemicals: push downstream petrochemicals/specialty/inorganic production + strategic FTAs. Telecom: world’s 2nd-largest market (1.2bn+ subscribers) but heavy component imports.
7. As per the NITI report, India’s textile sector contributes ~2% of GDP, 11% of manufacturing GVA and 9% of merchandise exports, employing over ____ people.
A. 25 million
B. 35 million
C. 45 million
D. 55 million
E. 65 million
View Answer
Explanation: Textiles employ 45+ million (second-largest employer after agriculture), exporting ~$37.7 billion annually; India is the SIXTH-largest textile exporter (4.1% global share). Focus areas: man-made fibre (MMF), technical and sustainable textiles — reducing cotton dependence. Solar PV: capacity 106 GW (March 2025) vs 280 GW target by 2030; strong on modules but imports cells/wafers — needs the full polysilicon → wafers → cells → modules chain.
8. Amit Shah inaugurated NUCFDC’s new Mumbai premises, where NUCFDC launched which integrated technology platform for Urban Cooperative Banks?
A. UCB-Net
B. Bank in a Box
C. Sahkar Stack
D. Co-op Core
E. e-Sahkar
View Answer
Explanation: At the ‘Sahkar Nav-Kranti’ programme, NUCFDC (the umbrella organisation for UCBs) launched Bank in a Box — an integrated tech platform for UCBs — and signed an MoU with NFSU for cybersecurity and digital-forensics support.
9. SEBI’s proposed changes to the Accredited Investor Framework 2026 include:
A. Abolishing accreditation entirely
B. Allowing investment managers to certify investor status during onboarding, and adding securities market assets as a qualifying criterion
C. Raising the minimum net worth to â‚ą100 crore
D. Restricting accreditation to institutions only
E. Mandating annual re-accreditation by RBI
View Answer
Explanation: The proposals ease accreditation; accredited investors get lower investment thresholds and access to products with greater regulatory flexibility. Separately, MCX and NISM signed an MoU for a dedicated Commodity Markets Research Centre — policy research, white papers, doctoral fellowships and hedging/risk-management training.
10. Bank of America and Jio Financial Services agreed a JV under which BofA may acquire up to 49.9% in Jio Credit for around â‚ą18,268 crore. What INITIAL stake will BofA take via preferential allotment?
A. 10%
B. 20%
C. 24.9%
D. 26.5%
E. 33%
View Answer
Explanation: BofA initially acquires 26.5% in Jio Credit through preferential allotment, with headroom up to 49.9% (~₹18,268 crore) — bringing capital plus global expertise in financial services and risk management.
11. Cochin Shipyard delivered “MS Maria” — the second of eight HS EcoFreighter multi-purpose vessels (7,000 DWT) — to a shipping company of which country?
A. Norway
B. Germany
C. Netherlands
D. Denmark
E. Greece
View Answer
Explanation: CSL delivered MS Maria to Germany-based HS Schiffahrts — a 7,000 DWT multi-purpose vessel for worldwide trade (containers, steel coils, timber, dry bulk, project cargo).
12. Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, who passed away at 97, served as Premier during 1998-2003 and played a key role in China’s accession to which organisation in 2001?
A. IMF
B. World Trade Organization (WTO)
C. APEC
D. G20
E. World Bank
View Answer
Explanation: Zhu Rongji (Premier 1998-2003) drove SOE restructuring, fiscal-financial reforms and China’s 2001 WTO accession. Also in obituaries: eminent Marxist historian Sumit Sarkar (87) — modern Indian history scholar, Delhi University professor, Fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford.
13. The Lok Sabha referred which Bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee amid Opposition and civil society objections?
A. Digital India Bill, 2026
B. Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026
C. Broadcasting Services Bill
D. Data Protection Amendment Bill
E. Electoral Reforms Bill
View Answer
Explanation: The FCRA Amendment Bill went to a JPC for clause-by-clause scrutiny — with power to summon records, officials, experts and stakeholders, hold public consultations, and append Notes of Dissent.
14. Which statement about a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) is INCORRECT?
A. It is not mentioned in the Constitution
B. It is formed by a motion in one House concurred with by the other
C. Its chairperson is appointed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha
D. Lok Sabha members are typically twice the Rajya Sabha members (2:1)
E. It is a permanent committee that continues across Parliaments
View Answer
Explanation: A JPC is AD HOC — it stands automatically dissolved once it submits its report (unlike standing committees reconstituted annually). It is governed by the Rules of Procedure of both Houses; membership and chairmanship reflect relative party strengths, and its report is advisory.
15. The third edition of bilateral air exercise “Udara Shakti 2026” — where India deployed Rafales and C-17s — is between the IAF and the air force of which country?
A. Indonesia
B. Malaysia
C. Singapore
D. Thailand
E. Vietnam
View Answer
Explanation: Udara Shakti 2026 (3rd edition, in Malaysia) pairs the IAF (Rafale, C-17) with the Royal Malaysian Air Force (Su-30MKM, F/A-18D, A400M) — enhancing interoperability and defence cooperation.
16. International Left-Handers Day (13 August) was conceptualised by Dean Robert Campbell in which year?
A. 1966
B. 1976
C. 1986
D. 1992
E. 2000
View Answer
Explanation: Conceptualised by Dean Robert Campbell in 1976 and officially launched by the Left-Handers Club in 1992, the day (13 August) celebrates left-handed people and the challenges they face in a right-handed world.
