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

1. PM Narendra Modi became the first recipient of the 'Guardian of the Blue Horizon' Presidential Distinction, the highest civilian honour of which country?

   1. Seychelles
   2. Mauritius
   3. Maldives
   4. Fiji
   Show answer

   Answer: (A) Seychelles

   Explanation: Seychelles conferred the honour, presented by President Dr Patrick Herminie, for contributions to climate action, the Blue Economy and support for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

2. India and Australia launched PACTS (Partnership for Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains) during the Third India–Australia Annual Summit held in which city?

   1. Sydney
   2. Canberra
   3. Melbourne
   4. Perth
   Show answer

   Answer: (C) Melbourne

   Explanation: The Third Annual Summit was held in Melbourne, where PM Modi and PM Anthony Albanese reaffirmed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) and announced 18 outcomes, including PACTS and ACITI.

3. IP Australia became the 18th patent office to get access to India's Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL). In which year was TKDL established?

   1. 2001
   2. 1998
   3. 2005
   4. 2010
   Show answer

   Answer: (A) 2001

   Explanation: TKDL was set up in 2001 and holds over 5.2 lakh formulations from Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Sowa Rigpa and Yoga; patent examiners use it as prior art to stop wrongful patents.

4. Under the India–New Zealand Strategic Partnership Roadmap 2030, Kiwifruit Centres of Excellence are planned in which two Indian states?

   1. Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim
   2. Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh
   3. Meghalaya and Uttarakhand
   4. Nagaland and Uttarakhand
   Show answer

   Answer: (D) Nagaland and Uttarakhand

   Explanation: Kiwifruit Centres of Excellence will be set up in Nagaland and Uttarakhand. India and New Zealand upgraded ties to a Strategic Partnership with a trade target of NZ$7 billion by 2030.

5. How many agreements did India and Indonesia sign during PM Modi's visit, covering defence, trade, maritime security and digital payments?

   1. 18
   2. 12
   3. 10
   4. 14
   Show answer

   Answer: (D) 14

   Explanation: India and Indonesia signed 14 agreements; Indonesia also agreed to buy the BrahMos missile and the Astra BVRAAM, worth over US$600 million.

6. India became the 123rd WTO member to accept the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. At which WTO Ministerial Conference was this agreement adopted?

   1. MC11 (2017)
   2. MC13 (2024)
   3. MC12 (2022)
   4. MC10 (2015)
   Show answer

   Answer: (C) MC12 (2022)

   Explanation: The Fisheries Subsidies Agreement was adopted at MC12 in Geneva (2022) and took effect on 15 September 2025; it bans subsidies for illegal (IUU) fishing, overfishing and fishing of depleted stocks.

7. India chaired the 9th session of UNCTAD's Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Consumer Protection in Geneva. Who chaired it?

   1. Anupam Mishra
   2. Rohit Kumar Singh
   3. Nidhi Khare
   4. Leena Nandan
   Show answer

   Answer: (C) Nidhi Khare

   Explanation: Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare chaired the session; India highlighted the National Consumer Helpline and the AI-powered e-Jagriti platform.

8. India and Myanmar held their 23rd National-Level Border Coordination Meeting in New Delhi. What is the length of the India–Myanmar border?

   1. 1,643 km
   2. 1,751 km
   3. 4,096 km
   4. 699 km
   Show answer

   Answer: (A) 1,643 km

   Explanation: India shares a 1,643 km border with Myanmar (Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram). Key projects include the Kaladan Multi-Modal Project and the India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway.

9. The International Centre for Civilizational Studies – Manas and Mahabharata was inaugurated in Bishkek. The 'Manas' epic belongs to which country?

   1. Kazakhstan
   2. Uzbekistan
   3. Mongolia
   4. Kyrgyzstan
   Show answer

   Answer: (D) Kyrgyzstan

   Explanation: Manas is the national epic of Kyrgyzstan (capital Bishkek); the centre also produced the first Hindi translation of the Manas epic.

10. President Droupadi Murmu made the first-ever State Visit by an Indian President to which country, whose capital is Chisinau?

    1. Bulgaria
    2. Slovakia
    3. Croatia
    4. Moldova
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) Moldova

    Explanation: She visited Moldova (capital Chisinau; President Maia Sandu) and invited it to join CDRI and the Global Biofuels Alliance.

11. India hosted the 5th BIMSTEC National Security Advisers' Meeting in New Delhi. How many member countries does BIMSTEC have?

    1. 8
    2. 5
    3. 7
    4. 10
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) 7

    Explanation: BIMSTEC has 7 members: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. It was formed in 1997 (Bangkok Declaration) and its secretariat is in Dhaka.

12. WHO approved the first molecular diagnostic test for the Bundibugyo Ebola virus under its Emergency Use Listing. In which country was this virus first identified (2007)?

    1. Democratic Republic of the Congo
    2. Sierra Leone
    3. Uganda
    4. Guinea
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) Uganda

    Explanation: The Bundibugyo ebolavirus was first identified in Uganda in 2007; a recent major outbreak was in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

13. Who chairs the AI for Good Global Commission launched by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Salesforce?

    1. Doreen Bogdan-Martin
    2. Paul Kagame
    3. Antonio Guterres
    4. Marc Benioff
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Paul Kagame

    Explanation: Rwandan President Paul Kagame is the Chair and ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin is Vice-Chair; Indian founding members include Mukesh Ambani and Sunil Bharti Mittal.

14. India's Index of Industrial Production (IIP) grew 5.1% in May 2026. What is the new base year of the IIP?

    1. 2022–23
    2. 2011–12
    3. 2017–18
    4. 2020–21
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) 2022–23

    Explanation: The IIP now uses base year 2022–23; in May 2026 electricity & gas supply grew fastest (9.9%) and capital goods rose 12.9%. Manufacturing has the highest weight in the IIP.

15. According to RBI data, India's external debt reached USD 762.8 billion at the end of FY 2025–26. What was the external debt-to-GDP ratio?

    1. 19.8%
    2. 20.8%
    3. 22.4%
    4. 18.9%
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) 20.8%

    Explanation: The external debt-to-GDP ratio rose from 19.8% to 20.8%; the US dollar has the largest share of India's external debt.

16. According to the National Statistics Office (NSO), India's unemployment rate in 2025 fell to what level, the lowest in eight years?

    1. 3.1%
    2. 4.2%
    3. 5.0%
    4. 2.4%
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) 3.1%

    Explanation: The unemployment rate fell to 3.1% in 2025, the lowest in eight years; urban female unemployment stood at 6.4%.

17. MoSPI launched India's first Index of Services Production (ISP) with base year 2024–25. How many formal service sectors does it cover?

    1. 21
    2. 15
    3. 24
    4. 19
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) 19

    Explanation: The ISP covers 19 formal service sectors and uses the Laspeyres volume index method; services contribute nearly 53% of India's GVA. Monthly reports come out on the 29th.

18. How much financial support did the World Bank approve for the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana?

    1. USD 890 million
    2. USD 500 million
    3. USD 1.2 billion
    4. USD 750 million
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) USD 890 million

    Explanation: The World Bank approved USD 890 million (USD 820 million IBRD loan, USD 60 million Clean Technology Fund loan and USD 10 million grant) to support rooftop solar for 1 crore households.

19. The Government approved RBI's proposal to conduct field trials of polymer banknotes of which denominations?

    1. Rs 50 and Rs 100
    2. Rs 10 and Rs 20
    3. Rs 100 and Rs 200
    4. Rs 200 and Rs 500
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Rs 10 and Rs 20

    Explanation: Field trials will cover 1 billion Rs 10 notes and 1 billion Rs 20 notes. Polymer notes last longer, resist moisture and dirt, and are harder to counterfeit; paper notes will continue alongside.

20. The Favara–UPI cross-border payment corridor, enabling instant transfers to India, was launched by the monetary authority of which country?

    1. Sri Lanka
    2. Maldives
    3. Nepal
    4. Bhutan
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Maldives

    Explanation: The Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) launched it on 30 July 2026 with RBI and NIPL; it converts Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR) into Indian Rupees.

21. India's first benchmark-based natural gas futures contract 'NATGASIND' on NSE is linked to which benchmark?

    1. Henry Hub
    2. Brent
    3. Dutch TTF
    4. IGX Dahej Hub
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) IGX Dahej Hub

    Explanation: NATGASIND, approved by SEBI and launched on 27 July 2026, is linked to the Indian Gas Exchange (IGX) Dahej Hub benchmark in Gujarat.

22. Which item has been added as the 9th industry in the Index of Core Industries (ICI)?

    1. Copper
    2. Iron ore
    3. Aluminium
    4. Bauxite
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Iron ore

    Explanation: Iron ore was added as the 9th core industry (base year 2022–23) and recorded the highest growth of 43.9% in June 2026; overall ICI grew 5%.

23. Which bank will become the first Indian bank to issue Basel III-compliant Additional Tier-I (AT-1) perpetual bonds in 2026?

    1. HDFC Bank
    2. ICICI Bank
    3. Punjab National Bank
    4. State Bank of India
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) State Bank of India

    Explanation: SBI will issue the AT-1 perpetual bonds (about Rs 5,000 crore). SBI was set up in 1955 and is headquartered in Mumbai.

24. Prabhjeet Singh, former President of Uber India & South Asia, has been appointed Managing Director for India of which company?

    1. Google
    2. OpenAI
    3. Microsoft
    4. Meta
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) OpenAI

    Explanation: OpenAI appointed Prabhjeet Singh as its Managing Director for India, effective September 2026.

25. Eurobank introduced a UPI-based cross-border remittance service to send money instantly to India. Eurobank is from which country?

    1. Cyprus
    2. Italy
    3. Greece
    4. Portugal
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) Greece

    Explanation: Eurobank of Greece launched the service with NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL); Union Minister Piyush Goyal welcomed it during his visit to Greece.

Current Affairs July 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.