Current Affairs August 2026 - Part 2 - Topic Guide and MCQs

1. The Pacific island nation Nauru has officially adopted which new name, restoring its indigenous spelling?

   1. Republic of Nauruwa
   2. Naoru Islands
   3. Republic of Naoero
   4. Federated Republic of Nauru
   Show answer

   Answer: (C) Republic of Naoero

   Explanation: Nauru became the Republic of Naoero under President David Adeang; its country code changed from NRU to NRO and citizens are now called dei-Naoero. It gained independence in 1968.

2. Lebanon abolished the death penalty on 11 August 2026, becoming the first Middle Eastern country to do so. It is the second Arab League member to abolish it, after which country?

   1. Djibouti
   2. Tunisia
   3. Morocco
   4. Algeria
   Show answer

   Answer: (A) Djibouti

   Explanation: Lebanon followed Djibouti; capital punishment was replaced with life imprisonment with aggravated hard labour, formalising a moratorium in place since 17 January 2004.

3. Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in on 7 August 2026 as the 36th President of which country?

   1. Venezuela
   2. Colombia
   3. Peru
   4. Ecuador
   Show answer

   Answer: (B) Colombia

   Explanation: He became Colombia's 36th President for 2026–2030, succeeding Gustavo Petro, after winning the runoff with 49.66% of the vote against Iván Cepeda.

4. Senior BNP leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was elected as the 23rd President of which country?

   1. Bangladesh
   2. Pakistan
   3. Sri Lanka
   4. Maldives
   Show answer

   Answer: (A) Bangladesh

   Explanation: He became Bangladesh's 23rd President with 255 parliamentary votes in its first contested presidential election in 35 years, succeeding Mohammed Shahabuddin.

5. The USA removed Syria from its State Sponsors of Terrorism (SST) list on 24 August 2026. Which of the following countries remains on the list?

   1. Libya
   2. Iraq
   3. Sudan
   4. Cuba
   Show answer

   Answer: (D) Cuba

   Explanation: After Syria's removal (listed since 29 December 1979), the remaining SST countries are Cuba, Iran and North Korea.

6. Along with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, which country signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA) on 7 August 2026?

   1. Türkiye
   2. Egypt
   3. Qatar
   4. United Arab Emirates
   Show answer

   Answer: (A) Türkiye

   Explanation: Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye signed the MJDA at Al-Safa Palace, Makkah; an attack on one member is treated as an attack on all, similar to NATO's Article 5.

7. India gifted five peacocks to the United Nations Office at Geneva, reviving a tradition begun by Indira Gandhi. In which year did this tradition start?

   1. 1975
   2. 1984
   3. 1981
   4. 1971
   Show answer

   Answer: (C) 1981

   Explanation: Indira Gandhi gifted a breeding pair in 1981. The Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) is India's national bird; the birds will first stay at Ariana Park.

8. Russia imported gasoline from India for the first time in August 2026. From which refinery was the first shipment loaded?

   1. Jamnagar Refinery, Gujarat (Reliance)
   2. Paradip Refinery, Odisha (IOCL)
   3. Vadinar Refinery, Gujarat (Nayara Energy)
   4. Kochi Refinery, Kerala (BPCL)
   Show answer

   Answer: (C) Vadinar Refinery, Gujarat (Nayara Energy)

   Explanation: The cargo was loaded at Nayara Energy's Vadinar refinery in Gujarat and moved via Damietta Port, Egypt, as Russia faced fuel shortages after attacks on its refineries.

9. Russia appointed which former Chief Justice of India as its arbitrator in an investment treaty dispute filed by Ukraine's Oschadbank?

   1. U.U. Lalit
   2. N.V. Ramana
   3. Sanjiv Khanna
   4. D.Y. Chandrachud
   Show answer

   Answer: (D) D.Y. Chandrachud

   Explanation: Justice D.Y. Chandrachud (CJI until 10 November 2024) was appointed; the case is under the 1998 Russia–Ukraine Investment Protection Agreement.

10. India and Uzbekistan have set a target to raise bilateral trade to what level within the next three years?

    1. US$5 billion
    2. US$2 billion
    3. US$10 billion
    4. US$3 billion
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) US$3 billion

    Explanation: The US$3 billion target was announced at the India–Uzbekistan Business Forum in New Delhi (3 August 2026); trade had crossed US$1.32 billion and both sides are exploring an FTA.

11. Colombia declared a national emergency after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake. Colombia lies in which highly earthquake-prone zone?

    1. Alpide Belt
    2. Mid-Atlantic Ridge
    3. Pacific Ring of Fire
    4. East African Rift
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) Pacific Ring of Fire

    Explanation: Colombia lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire. The quake's epicentre was near San José del Palmar, Chocó, at a depth of about 107 km.

12. China has expanded construction at Antelope Reef in the South China Sea. This reef belongs to which disputed island group?

    1. Spratly Islands
    2. Paracel Islands
    3. Senkaku Islands
    4. Pratas Islands
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Paracel Islands

    Explanation: Antelope Reef is in the Paracel Islands, controlled by China since 1974 and also claimed by Vietnam.

13. A deadly flash flood in Nepal's Rasuwa district was triggered by an ice and rock avalanche that caused a sudden surge in which river?

    1. Kosi
    2. Gandaki
    3. Lhende Khola
    4. Karnali
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) Lhende Khola

    Explanation: The avalanche caused a surge in the Lhende Khola River, which then affected the Bhotekoshi, Trishuli and Narayani rivers; India offered humanitarian aid.

14. The proposed US–Venezuela oil deal announced by President Donald Trump would reportedly give the US majority control over how many barrels of Venezuela's proven oil reserves?

    1. 30 billion barrels
    2. 100 billion barrels
    3. 300 billion barrels
    4. 65 billion barrels
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) 65 billion barrels

    Explanation: The deal covers about 65 billion barrels; Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it could attract nearly US$100 billion in private investment. Venezuela had not confirmed it at the time.

15. The 'As Seen on Netflix' section was launched on the Incredible India portal to promote film tourism. In which year was the Incredible India campaign launched?

    1. 1998
    2. 2002
    3. 2005
    4. 2010
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) 2002

    Explanation: Incredible India began in 2002. The Netflix section, launched on 5 August 2026 at NGMA New Delhi, showcases real Indian locations from Netflix films and series.

16. 'Operation Economic Outcast', launched by the United States, is an economic pressure campaign targeting the revenue sources of which country?

    1. Iran
    2. Venezuela
    3. North Korea
    4. Russia
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) Iran

    Explanation: Operation Economic Outcast is a US economic pressure campaign against Iran's sources of revenue.

17. 'AAERI Verify', a paperless verification platform for Indian students applying to Australian universities, is integrated with which government platform?

    1. UMANG
    2. Aadhaar
    3. DigiLocker
    4. e-Pramaan
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) DigiLocker

    Explanation: AAERI Verify, built by MeitY's e-Governance Division and AAERI, is integrated with DigiLocker for academic, identity and financial documents; it was launched on 7 August 2026 in New Delhi.

18. Amit Shah launched 'Bank in a Box' and a dedicated Security Operations Centre (SOC) for Urban Cooperative Banks in Mumbai under which programme?

    1. Sahkar Nav-Kranti
    2. Sahakar Se Samriddhi
    3. Digital Sahkar Mission
    4. Jan Dhan Sahkar
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) Sahkar Nav-Kranti

    Explanation: They were launched under the Sahkar Nav-Kranti programme; the SOC gives 24×7 cyber-security monitoring and MuleHunter detects mule accounts and suspicious transactions.

19. India launched 'E-Samudra' on 8 August 2026. What is it?

    1. An underwater drone for ocean research
    2. A deep-sea fishing vessel
    3. A coastal tourism scheme
    4. A single-window digital maritime governance platform
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) A single-window digital maritime governance platform

    Explanation: E-Samudra gives single-window digital services to seafarers, shipping companies and ports. India is the world's second-largest supplier of seafarers.

20. Which state became India's first inland state to export value-added Tilapia fish products to the United States?

    1. Chhattisgarh
    2. Madhya Pradesh
    3. Jharkhand
    4. Telangana
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) Chhattisgarh

    Explanation: Chhattisgarh exported value-added Tilapia (a freshwater fish) to the USA; the effort is linked to the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).

21. India completed its first sea shipment of GI-tagged Mithila Makhana from Bihar to which country?

    1. Canada
    2. Australia
    3. United Kingdom
    4. UAE
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Australia

    Explanation: The first sea shipment of GI-tagged Mithila Makhana went from Darbhanga, Bihar, to Australia.

22. Unified Payments Interface (UPI) completed 10 years on 25 August 2026. Which organisation developed UPI?

    1. Reserve Bank of India
    2. State Bank of India
    3. NITI Aayog
    4. National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)

    Explanation: UPI was launched in 2016 by NPCI under RBI's oversight; 741 banks are connected and it accounts for about 84% of India's digital payment transactions.

23. Monisha Chakraborty has been appointed Executive Director of which institution?

    1. SEBI
    2. NABARD
    3. SIDBI
    4. Reserve Bank of India
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) Reserve Bank of India

    Explanation: Monisha Chakraborty was appointed Executive Director (ED) of the Reserve Bank of India.

24. V.O. Chidambaranar Port became India's first major port to achieve Scope-2 Emission-Free status. In which state is it?

    1. Kerala
    2. Tamil Nadu
    3. Andhra Pradesh
    4. Odisha
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Tamil Nadu

    Explanation: V.O. Chidambaranar Port is at Thoothukudi (Tuticorin), Tamil Nadu; it was also the first major port to get ISO 50001:2018 Energy Management certification.

25. India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a loan agreement for the Chennai Climate-Resilient Water Security and Sewerage Project. What is the loan amount?

    1. US$150 million
    2. US$230 million
    3. US$500 million
    4. US$320 million
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) US$230 million

    Explanation: The US$230 million ADB loan will benefit about 4.5 million people in Greater Chennai and supports AMRUT 2.0. ADB is headquartered in Manila.

Current Affairs August 2026 - Part 2 is factual rather than analytical: you either recall it in seconds or you lose the mark to somebody who did. That makes it one of the cheapest sections to convert - a handful of short sittings usually settles the whole cluster.

Expect one-line recall questions - definitions, stand-for expansions, identifiers and the ordering of things. Practise the wording as well as the concept: these papers test terminology, and the set above uses the same four-option shape they do.

Past papers reuse clusters like this almost verbatim across years and posts. Run the same set until every distractor is familiar - previous-year style questions stop being recall and start being free marks.