Current Affairs July 2026 - Part 3 - Topic Guide and MCQs

1. General Dhiraj Seth has assumed charge as which Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of India?

   1. 31st
   2. 30th
   3. 29th
   4. 32nd
   Show answer

   Answer: (A) 31st

   Explanation: General Dhiraj Seth became the 31st Chief of Army Staff; he later unveiled the 'VIJAY' vision for a future-ready Indian Army.

2. The Indian Army's first Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs), operational from 1 July 2026, have been placed under which corps?

   1. I Corps
   2. II Corps
   3. IX Corps
   4. XVII Corps (Mountain Strike Corps)
   Show answer

   Answer: (D) XVII Corps (Mountain Strike Corps)

   Explanation: The first IBGs are under XVII Corps (Mountain Strike Corps), headquartered at Panagarh; each IBG has more than 5,000 soldiers combining infantry, armour, artillery, engineers and air defence.

3. In the Army Chief's 'VIJAY' vision for a future-ready Indian Army, what does the letter 'Y' stand for?

   1. Youth Power
   2. Yogic Fitness
   3. Yoddha First
   4. Yield and Growth
   Show answer

   Answer: (C) Yoddha First

   Explanation: VIJAY = Vigilance and Readiness, Innovation and Transformation, Jointness and Integration, Aatmanirbharta, and Yoddha First.

4. INS Mahendragiri (F38), commissioned at Visakhapatnam, is the sixth stealth frigate under which project?

   1. Project 15B (Visakhapatnam class)
   2. Project 75 (Kalvari class)
   3. Project 28 (Kamorta class)
   4. Project 17A (Nilgiri class)
   Show answer

   Answer: (D) Project 17A (Nilgiri class)

   Explanation: INS Mahendragiri is the sixth Project 17A (Nilgiri-class) stealth frigate, built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) with over 75% indigenous content; it joins the Eastern Fleet.

5. INS Malvan, the second Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, was built by which shipyard?

   1. Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers
   2. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders
   3. Cochin Shipyard Limited
   4. Goa Shipyard Limited
   Show answer

   Answer: (C) Cochin Shipyard Limited

   Explanation: INS Malvan was built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) with over 80% indigenous content and commissioned at Karwar; it is named after Malvan in Maharashtra.

6. Which Indian Navy aircraft was deployed for RIMPAC 2026, the world's largest multinational naval exercise held near Hawaii?

   1. Rafale M
   2. MiG-29K
   3. P-8I
   4. Dornier-228
   Show answer

   Answer: (C) P-8I

   Explanation: India deployed a P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft. RIMPAC is hosted by the US Pacific Fleet; India has taken part since 2014.

7. The Indian Air Force deployed Rafale jets for Exercise Pitch Black 2026. Which country's air force hosts this exercise?

   1. United States
   2. France
   3. Japan
   4. Australia
   Show answer

   Answer: (D) Australia

   Explanation: Exercise Pitch Black is hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in Australia.

8. 'Kusha', flight-tested for the first time by DRDO from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha, is what type of weapon system?

   1. Anti-Tank Guided Missile
   2. Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile
   3. Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile
   4. Air-launched cruise missile
   Show answer

   Answer: (C) Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile

   Explanation: Kusha is a Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LR-SAM) that can destroy aircraft, missiles and drones; it intercepted a high-speed aerial target in its first test.

9. India's first indigenous expendable turbojet engine in the 350 kg thrust class was designed by GTRE-DRDO. Which company manufactured it?

   1. Azad Engineering
   2. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
   3. Larsen & Toubro
   4. Bharat Forge
   Show answer

   Answer: (A) Azad Engineering

   Explanation: The engine was designed by GTRE (Bengaluru) and built by Azad Engineering within 24 months; it is meant for missiles, UAVs and anti-drone systems.

10. India's first tri-service all-women world sailing expedition 'Samudra Pradakshina' was completed on which indigenous vessel?

    1. INSV Tarini
    2. IASV Triveni
    3. INSV Mhadei
    4. INS Kaundinya
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) IASV Triveni

    Explanation: Nine women officers from the Army, Navy and Air Force sailed IASV Triveni for 314 days, covering nearly 25,500 nautical miles.

11. Under the SSB Recruitment Rules, 2026, 50% of Constable (GD) vacancies are reserved for ex-Agniveers. Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) guards India's borders with which countries?

    1. Pakistan and China
    2. Nepal and Bhutan
    3. Bangladesh and Myanmar
    4. China and Bhutan
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Nepal and Bhutan

    Explanation: SSB, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, guards the India–Nepal and India–Bhutan borders. Ex-Agniveers are also exempt from the written exam, PST and PET.

12. What is the name of the mission under which Skyroot Aerospace is preparing to launch Vikram-1, India's first privately developed orbital rocket?

    1. Mission Prarambh
    2. Mission Shubharambh
    3. Mission Vijay
    4. Mission Aagaman
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) Mission Aagaman

    Explanation: Vikram-1 will fly under Mission Aagaman from Sriharikota; it can carry 350 kg to Low Earth Orbit. Skyroot's earlier suborbital Vikram-S (2022) flew under Mission Prarambh.

13. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, which began the 10-year Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), is located in which country?

    1. United States
    2. Chile
    3. South Africa
    4. Spain
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Chile

    Explanation: The Rubin Observatory is in Chile and uses the world's largest digital camera (3,200 megapixels), scanning the southern sky and producing about 10 TB of data daily.

14. ISRO completed the first ground test of 'SOLVE' under the Gaganyaan programme. What does SOLVE stand for?

    1. Solid Orbital Lift Vehicle Engine
    2. Sub-Orbital Launch Vehicle for Experiments
    3. Space Orbital Logistics Vehicle
    4. Satellite Orbit Launch Verification Engine
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Sub-Orbital Launch Vehicle for Experiments

    Explanation: SOLVE stands for Sub-Orbital Launch Vehicle for Experiments; the ground test was done at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

15. India approved its first dengue vaccine, QDENGA (TAK-003). Which Japanese company developed it?

    1. Daiichi Sankyo
    2. Astellas
    3. Otsuka
    4. Takeda
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) Takeda

    Explanation: QDENGA was developed by Takeda (Japan); Biological E is its Indian manufacturing partner.

16. Awiqli (Insulin Icodec), launched in India by Novo Nordisk as the world's first once-weekly basal insulin, is used to treat which disease?

    1. Diabetes
    2. Hypertension
    3. Tuberculosis
    4. Anaemia
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) Diabetes

    Explanation: Awiqli treats Type-1 and Type-2 diabetes and cuts insulin injections from 365 to 52 a year; it is given with the FlexTouch device.

17. Brachybacterium netajii, a new bacterial species discovered in the Hooghly River, is named in honour of whom?

    1. Jagadish Chandra Bose
    2. Satyendra Nath Bose
    3. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
    4. Rabindranath Tagore
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose

    Explanation: The species is named after Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and was identified from the Hooghly River in West Bengal using polyphasic taxonomic characterisation.

18. The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) completed India's first comprehensive inventory of butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera). How many species does it document?

    1. 13,703
    2. 10,215
    3. 15,480
    4. 12,050
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) 13,703

    Explanation: The inventory documents 13,703 species in a 22-volume catalogue after 12 years of work; India has 2,205 Geometroidea moth species, making it a global hotspot.

19. India's first Urban Night Safari has been approved at Kukrail Reserve Forest in which city?

    1. Bhopal
    2. Lucknow
    3. Jaipur
    4. Dehradun
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Lucknow

    Explanation: The Urban Night Safari will come up at Kukrail Reserve Forest, Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), over 855 acres at a cost of Rs 1,510 crore.

20. India's first deep geothermal wells, supporting a 1 MW pilot geothermal power plant, have been commissioned at Puga Valley in which Union Territory?

    1. Ladakh
    2. Jammu & Kashmir
    3. Andaman & Nicobar Islands
    4. Lakshadweep
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) Ladakh

    Explanation: The wells at Puga Valley, Ladakh, were developed by the ONGC Energy Centre; they are 1,000 m deep and recorded 135°C underground.

21. The Southern Birdwing, India's largest butterfly, was recorded for the first time in Telangana. It is the state butterfly of which state?

    1. Kerala
    2. Maharashtra
    3. Tamil Nadu
    4. Karnataka
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) Karnataka

    Explanation: The Southern Birdwing (Troides minos) is Karnataka's state butterfly; it was spotted in Telangana at the Amrabad Tiger Reserve. Its IUCN status is Least Concern.

22. According to the announcement on Global Tiger Day (29 July 2026), how many Tiger Reserves does India now have?

    1. 55
    2. 53
    3. 58
    4. 60
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) 58

    Explanation: India now has 58 Tiger Reserves and its tiger population has risen to 3,682. Tiger conservation is overseen by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

23. The White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) remains Critically Endangered. Which veterinary drug was the main cause of the sharp fall in its population?

    1. Paracetamol
    2. Diclofenac
    3. Ivermectin
    4. Amoxicillin
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Diclofenac

    Explanation: Diclofenac, a painkiller given to cattle, poisoned vultures feeding on carcasses; other threats include harmful NSAIDs, electrocution and habitat loss.

24. India's first utility-scale non-lithium battery project, a 100 MWh Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB), will be built at which location?

    1. Khavda Solar Park, Gujarat
    2. Bhadla Solar Park, Rajasthan
    3. Pavagada Solar Park, Karnataka
    4. Rewa Solar Park, Madhya Pradesh
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) Khavda Solar Park, Gujarat

    Explanation: The 100 MWh VRFB will be set up at Khavda Solar Park, Gujarat, by NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd to support grid stability.

25. The 1,000 MW Naying Hydroelectric Project in Arunachal Pradesh, which received environmental clearance, is on which river?

    1. Siyom
    2. Subansiri
    3. Kameng
    4. Lohit
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) Siyom

    Explanation: The Naying project is on the Siyom River (a tributary of the Siang) near the India–China border; it was cleared by MoEFCC.

Current Affairs July 2026 - Part 3 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.