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Daily Current Affairs
31 July, 2026
1. In a cross-border conservation milestone, 672 captive-bred Houbara Bustards were released in Karakalpakstan to restore which ecologically devastated region?
A. Caspian Sea region
B. Aral Sea region
C. Lake Balkhash basin
D. Gobi Desert
E. Ustyurt Plateau only
View Answer
Explanation: 672 captive-bred Houbara Bustards (Chlamydotis macqueenii) were released on 26 June 2026 across Karakalpakstan (autonomous republic, north-western Uzbekistan) under a joint Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan-UAE effort to restore the Aral Sea region. The Asian Houbara/MacQueen’s Bustard (family Otididae) — now a separate species from the North African Houbara (C. undulata) — winters in India’s Thar Desert and Rann of Kutch.
2. What is the IUCN Red List status of the Asian Houbara Bustard?
A. Least Concern
B. Near Threatened
C. Vulnerable
D. Endangered
E. Critically Endangered
View Answer
Explanation: Conservation status: IUCN — Vulnerable; CITES — Appendix I (international commercial trade prohibited); CMS — Appendix II for the Asian Houbara (the North African Houbara is in Appendix I); India — Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
3. Under which Article of the Constitution do Union Ministers hold office “during the pleasure of the President” — the provision invoked when Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation was accepted?
A. Article 74
B. Article 75(1)
C. Article 75(2)
D. Article 75(3)
E. Article 78
View Answer
Explanation: Article 75(2) — Ministers hold office during the pleasure of the President. Other key provisions: Art 74 (Council of Ministers to aid and advise); Art 75(1) (Ministers appointed by President on PM’s advice); Art 75(3) (collective responsibility to the Lok Sabha); Art 75(1A) (Ministers ≤ 15% of Lok Sabha strength — 91st Amendment, 2003); Art 77(3) (Allocation of Business Rules); Art 78 (PM’s duty to communicate decisions). By convention a Minister resigns through the PM, who advises the President to accept. Pralhad Joshi (already Consumer Affairs Minister) took additional charge of Education on 26 July 2026.
4. The Cauvery River — historically called “Dakshin Ganga” — originates at Talakaveri on which range of the Western Ghats?
A. Nilgiri Hills
B. Brahmagiri range (Kodagu, Karnataka)
C. Anaimalai Hills
D. Baba Budan Hills
E. Agasthyamalai range
View Answer
Explanation: The Cauvery (“Ponni” in Tamil) rises at Talakaveri on the Brahmagiri range, Kodagu (Coorg) district, Karnataka (~1,341 m). Basin: 81,155 sq km (~2.7% of India) across Karnataka (34,273), Tamil Nadu (43,856 — largest share), Kerala (2,866) and Puducherry. Left-bank tributaries: Harangi, Hemavati, Shimsha, Arkavati; right-bank: Lakshmantirtha, Kabini, Suvarnavati, Bhavani, Noyyal, Amaravati.
5. Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu project — against which TN CM C. Joseph Vijay wrote to the PM — plans to supply how much drinking water to Bengaluru and generate how much power?
A. 2.5 TMC; 200 MW
B. 4.75 TMC; 400 MW
C. 7.5 TMC; 500 MW
D. 10 TMC; 600 MW
E. 4.75 TMC; 750 MW
View Answer
Explanation: Mekedatu (“Goat’s Leap” in Kannada — a gorge where the Arkavati joins the Cauvery; Ramanagara district, ~90-100 km south of Bengaluru, ~4 km upstream of the TN border) is a proposed balancing reservoir-cum-drinking water project by Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Ltd (â‚ą6,000-9,000 crore) — supplying 4.75 TMC to Bengaluru (the additional quantum granted by the Supreme Court) and generating 400 MW. TN CM Vijay urged the Centre (28 July 2026) not to approve it unless consistent with the CWDT Award and SC judgment.
6. As per the ADR-NEW analysis of all 31 incumbent Chief Ministers’ affidavits, how many CMs have declared criminal cases?
A. 9 (29%)
B. 11 (35%)
C. 14 (45%)
D. 17 (55%)
E. 20 (65%)
View Answer
Explanation: Of 31 CMs (28 states + Delhi, Puducherry, J&K), 14 (45%) declared criminal cases, 11 (35%) serious criminal cases, and two declared attempt-to-murder cases. Assets: average â‚ą118.07 crore; combined ~â‚ą3,660 crore; four CMs exceed â‚ą100 crore. Wider trend (18th Lok Sabha): MPs with criminal cases rose 30% (2009) → 46% (2024); serious cases 14% → 31% (+124%); candidates with criminal cases had a 15.3% winning chance vs 4.4% for clean records. Under Section 8, RP Act 1951, disqualification comes only upon conviction — 2+ years’ imprisonment brings disqualification during jail plus 6 years after release.
7. RBI has allowed banks to offer differential interest rates on bulk deposits based on the differential run-off rate under which framework?
A. Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR)
B. Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR)
C. Marginal Cost of Funds (MCLR)
D. Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR)
E. Capital Adequacy (CRAR)
View Answer
Explanation: Banks can now price bulk deposits based on differential run-off rates under the LCR framework — eliminating artificial maturity buckets — while the uniformity principle is RETAINED (uniform rates across branches/customers for similar same-date deposits). Disclosure: rates must follow the pre-disclosed website schedule; bulk deposit rates published daily by 10:00 AM (grace till 10:10 AM). LCR (Basel III) = HQLA ÷ Net cash outflows over 30 days, minimum 100%; higher run-off deposits impose higher HQLA cost, which banks may now price in.
8. What is the bulk deposit threshold for Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs) and Small Finance Banks?
A. â‚ą1 crore and above
B. â‚ą2 crore and above
C. â‚ą3 crore and above
D. â‚ą5 crore and above
E. â‚ą10 crore and above
View Answer
Explanation: Bulk deposit = single rupee term deposit of ₹3 crore+ for SCBs (excluding RRBs) and SFBs — raised from ₹2 crore to ₹3 crore in June 2024 (earlier ₹1 crore → ₹2 crore in 2019). For RRBs and Local Area Banks the threshold is ₹1 crore+. Governed by the Master Direction – RBI (Interest Rate on Deposits) Directions.
9. DFS launched India’s first sovereign-backed Protection & Indemnity (P&I) insurance product under the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool. Which company designed the product?
A. GIC Re
B. The New India Assurance Company
C. Oriental Insurance
D. United India Insurance
E. National Insurance Company
View Answer
Explanation: The P&I product (launched 30 July 2026 by DFS; first policy handed to Shipping Corporation of India by DFS Secretary Sanjay Lohiya) was designed by New India Assurance. It covers third-party liabilities — crew, cargo, pollution, wreck removal — with a 24×7 port correspondent network and indemnity up to USD 1.5 billion, reducing dependence on the International Group of P&I Clubs (12 mutual clubs covering ~87-90% of world ocean-going tonnage). P&I covers third-party liabilities outside Hull & Machinery and Cargo insurance.
10. The Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMIP) — formally launched 12 May 2026 — has USD 1.5 billion underwriting capacity backed by a sovereign guarantee of:
A. USD 1.0 billion
B. USD 1.2 billion
C. USD 1.4 billion (â‚ą12,980 crore)
D. USD 1.5 billion
E. USD 2.0 billion
View Answer
Explanation: BMIP — approved by the Cabinet in April 2026, launched 12 May 2026 — has USD 1.5 billion capacity with a USD 1.4 billion (₹12,980 crore) sovereign guarantee, runs 10 years (extendable by 5), corpus funded by ship owners and oil companies with partial GIC Re backing. It covers all four maritime risk categories — Hull & Machinery, Cargo, P&I, and War Risk — for Indian-flagged/controlled vessels and any vessel to/from an Indian port.
11. After the CCI-approved Go Digit Infoworks merger with Go Digit General Insurance, which group will hold a 57.28% stake in the insurer?
A. Prem Watsa’s Fairfax Group
B. Berkshire Hathaway
C. Allianz
D. Warburg Pincus
E. TVS Capital
View Answer
Explanation: Post-merger, Fairfax Group holds 57.28% in Go Digit General Insurance — the first merger between an insurance company and a non-insurance holding company under the amended Insurance Laws Act, 2025.
12. IRDAI approved the acquisition of Magma General Insurance from Sanoti Properties for â‚ą4,500 crore by which consortium?
A. Adani Group and Bajaj
B. Patanjali Ayurved (73.56%) and DS Group (24.50%)
C. Tata Sons and Piramal
D. JSW and Emami
E. ITC and Dabur
View Answer
Explanation: IRDAI cleared Patanjali Ayurved and DS Group’s â‚ą4,500-crore acquisition of Magma General Insurance from Sanoti Properties — Patanjali taking 73.56%, DS Group 24.50%. IRDAI also granted an insurance licence to ProTec General Insurance.
13. SBI Card and Google Pay launched the co-branded “Google Pay Flex SBI Card”. The RuPay variant supports UPI-linked credit payments with annual rewards up to:
A. â‚ą10,000
B. â‚ą12,000
C. â‚ą15,000
D. â‚ą18,000
E. â‚ą25,000
View Answer
Explanation: The Google Pay Flex SBI Card comes in RuPay and Visa variants — the RuPay version supports UPI-linked credit card payments with annual rewards up to ₹18,000, integrating directly with the Google Pay app for digital account management.
14. NCDEX launched which mutual fund transaction platform aimed at expanding MF penetration in rural and semi-rural India?
A. NCDEX Krishi
B. NCDEX Nidhi
C. NCDEX Nivesh
D. NCDEX Gram
E. NCDEX Samriddhi
View Answer
Explanation: “NCDEX Nidhi” — built on API-first architecture — initially onboarded six Asset Management Companies and supports UPI AutoPay for SIPs, targeting rural and semi-rural mutual fund penetration.
15. Ajinkya Rahane announced retirement from international cricket in July 2026. How many Test centuries did he score?
A. 10
B. 12 (including 8 overseas)
C. 15
D. 16
E. 18
View Answer
Explanation: Rahane retired with 12 Test centuries — eight of them overseas — remembered for his calm leadership, including India’s historic Test series win in Australia (2020-21) as stand-in captain.
16. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated India’s FIRST dedicated Department of Military Medicine at which hospital?
A. AFMC Pune
B. Command Hospital, Lucknow
C. Army Hospital R&R, Delhi
D. INHS Asvini, Mumbai
E. Command Hospital, Kolkata
View Answer
Explanation: India’s first Department of Military Medicine (Command Hospital, Lucknow) will strengthen combat medical preparedness via research and training in military trauma, CBRNE response, disaster medicine and humanitarian assistance.
17. DoT and the Madhya Pradesh Government signed an MoU to establish India’s FIRST Telecom Manufacturing Zone (~350 acres) at which city?
A. Indore
B. Bhopal
C. Gwalior
D. Jabalpur
E. Ujjain
View Answer
Explanation: India’s first Telecom Manufacturing Zone at Gwalior (~350 acres) will manufacture telecom equipment, semiconductors, optical fibre and 5G/6G products under a plug-and-play industrial model.
18. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs signed a 3-year MoU with which CSIR institute to conserve Rare, Endangered and Threatened (RET) medicinal plants?
A. CSIR-CIMAP
B. CSIR-NBRI
C. CSIR-IHBT
D. CSIR-NEIST
E. CSIR-CFTRI
View Answer
Explanation: The MoTA-CSIR-NBRI (National Botanical Research Institute) MoU integrates traditional tribal knowledge with modern botanical research for RET medicinal plant conservation, ensuring equitable benefit sharing with tribal communities.
19. Jyotiraditya Scindia presented the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Telecom Excellence Awards 2025 and unveiled which theme for India Mobile Congress 2026 (7-10 October, New Delhi)?
A. Connecting Bharat
B. Scale without Boundaries
C. Digital Frontiers
D. 6G for All
E. Innovate Connect Transform
View Answer
Explanation: The awards went to Amantya Technologies and Finaara; the theme “Scale without Boundaries” was unveiled for IMC 2026 (7-10 October, New Delhi).
20. India finished THIRD at the ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol 2026 in Hangzhou, China. Who won India’s only gold — in the women’s 25m pistol?
A. Manu Bhaker
B. Esha Singh
C. Sainyam Vij
D. Rhythm Sangwan
E. Palak Gulia
View Answer
Explanation: India finished third (1 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze) at ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol 2026, Hangzhou — Esha Singh won gold in women’s 25m pistol; Sainyam Vij took silver in women’s 10m air pistol.
21. International Tiger Day (29 July) was established in 2010 during which summit?
A. Kuala Lumpur Tiger Forum
B. St. Petersburg Tiger Summit
C. New Delhi Wildlife Summit
D. Kathmandu Tiger Conclave
E. Bangkok CITES CoP
View Answer
Explanation: International Tiger Day (29 July) was established at the 2010 St. Petersburg Tiger Summit. India remains home to nearly 70% of the world’s tiger population. Also: the International Day of Friendship (30 July, first observed 2011) promotes peace, solidarity and mutual understanding.
22. Under the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana, eligible women can receive the â‚ą2,500 monthly assistance through which payment options?
A. Cash only
B. Direct bank transfer only
C. Full RD/FD, or a combination of RD/FD and CBDC wallet
D. UPI wallet only
E. Post office savings only
View Answer
Explanation: Under Delhi Lakshmi Yojana (₹2,500/month; ₹5,110 crore budget 2026-27), eligible women can choose full payment through RD/FD or a combination of RD/FD and CBDC (digital rupee) wallet — a notable use of the e₹ in a welfare scheme.
23. The seventh Mahe-class ASW Shallow Water Craft “Machilipatnam”, launched by Cochin Shipyard, has indigenous content of over:
A. 60%
B. 70%
C. 80%
D. 90%
E. 50%
View Answer
Explanation: Machilipatnam — the seventh of eight Mahe-class ASW-SWCs — has over 80% indigenous content, named after the historic Andhra Pradesh port city, reflecting Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence shipbuilding.
24. In the 2026 Fields Medal announcement, Yu Deng and Hong Wang became the first ____ to receive the honour, while Hong Wang became only the third woman ever.
A. American nationals
B. Chinese nationals
C. Indian-origin mathematicians
D. Canadian nationals
E. Korean nationals
View Answer
Explanation: The IMU awarded the 2026 Fields Medal to John Pardon, Yu Deng, Jacob Tsimerman and Hong Wang — Deng and Wang the first Chinese nationals to win, and Wang only the third woman ever after Maryam Mirzakhani (2014) and Maryna Viazovska (2022).
