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

1. Where did India, Australia, Japan and the US hold a Quad tabletop exercise to strengthen the Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network?

   1. Canberra
   2. New Delhi
   3. Tokyo
   4. Honolulu
   Show answer

   Answer: (C) Tokyo

   Explanation: The Quad tabletop exercise was held in Tokyo. A tabletop exercise is a discussion-based simulation, not a field drill.

2. On which date is the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement set to come into force?

   1. 20 October 2026
   2. 1 January 2027
   3. 15 November 2026
   4. 1 April 2027
   Show answer

   Answer: (A) 20 October 2026

   Explanation: The India–New Zealand FTA is set to come into force on 20 October 2026. New Zealand will give duty-free access on 100% of its tariff lines to Indian exports.

3. The US 'Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026' authorises tariffs of up to what level on countries making significant purchases of Russian energy?

   1. 25%
   2. 50%
   3. 75%
   4. 100%
   Show answer

   Answer: (D) 100%

   Explanation: The Act authorises tariffs of up to 100% on such countries; the tariffs need presidential action. President Donald Trump signed the Act.

4. India and Japan have named 2027 the 'India–Japan Year of Shared Horizons' to mark 75 years of diplomatic ties. In which year were these ties established?

   1. 1947
   2. 1952
   3. 1957
   4. 1962
   Show answer

   Answer: (B) 1952

   Explanation: India and Japan established diplomatic relations in 1952, so 2027 marks 75 years.

5. India sent its largest-ever delegation of 70 competitors to WorldSkills 2026, held in which city?

   1. Lyon
   2. Shanghai
   3. Kazan
   4. Abu Dhabi
   Show answer

   Answer: (B) Shanghai

   Explanation: India sent 70 competitors to WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 (China) and competed in 63 of 64 skill categories. The 2024 edition was held in Lyon, France.

6. Along with India, which country launched the 'Group of Friends on Safety & Security of Shipping & Seafarers' during the UNGA High-Level Week?

   1. Panama
   2. Marshall Islands
   3. Singapore
   4. Liberia
   Show answer

   Answer: (D) Liberia

   Explanation: India and Liberia launched the group in New York during the UNGA High-Level Week. Liberia runs one of the world's largest ship registries.

7. India signed the UN Convention against Cybercrime. After how many ratifications will this treaty enter into force?

   1. 40
   2. 50
   3. 30
   4. 60
   Show answer

   Answer: (A) 40

   Explanation: The convention will enter into force after 40 ratifications. The UN General Assembly adopted it in December 2024 and it opened for signature in Hanoi, Vietnam (2025).

8. Where was UNCCD COP17 held, with the theme 'Restoring Land, Restoring Hope'?

   1. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
   2. Bonn, Germany
   3. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
   4. Astana, Kazakhstan
   Show answer

   Answer: (C) Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

   Explanation: UNCCD COP17 was held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. COP16 was held in Riyadh (2024); the UNCCD secretariat is in Bonn.

9. PM Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin met on the sidelines of the 26th SCO Summit. Where was the summit held?

   1. Astana, Kazakhstan
   2. Tashkent, Uzbekistan
   3. Dushanbe, Tajikistan
   4. Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
   Show answer

   Answer: (D) Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

   Explanation: The 26th SCO Summit was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. SCO was founded in 2001; its secretariat is in Beijing and India became a full member in 2017.

10. India and the Netherlands signed two tripartite MoUs on Gujarat's Kalpasar Project. Kalpasar is a planned freshwater reservoir across which water body?

    1. Gulf of Kutch
    2. Gulf of Khambhat
    3. Gulf of Mannar
    4. Palk Bay
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Gulf of Khambhat

    Explanation: Kalpasar is a planned freshwater reservoir project across the Gulf of Khambhat in Gujarat, supported by Dutch water-engineering expertise.

11. The UK recognised India's Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) under its CBAM framework. Under which Act was India's CCTS notified in 2023?

    1. Energy Conservation Act, 2001
    2. Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
    3. Electricity Act, 2003
    4. Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) Energy Conservation Act, 2001

    Explanation: India's CCTS was notified in 2023 under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001. The UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism is due to start on 1 January 2027.

12. Saudi Arabia withdrew from Project mBridge. What is Project mBridge?

    1. A crude-oil price benchmarking initiative
    2. A rare-earth mineral trading platform
    3. A cross-border central bank digital currency (CBDC) initiative
    4. A maritime shipping insurance pool
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) A cross-border central bank digital currency (CBDC) initiative

    Explanation: Project mBridge is a cross-border CBDC (central bank digital currency) initiative; Saudi Arabia withdrew from it.

13. ONGC's new gas discovery in the Mahanadi Offshore Basin (off the Odisha coast) was made under which deep-sea exploration programme?

    1. Sagarmala
    2. Samudrayaan
    3. Samudra Manthan
    4. Bharatmala
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) Samudra Manthan

    Explanation: The find was made under the Samudra Manthan programme for deep-sea exploration. ONGC was set up in 1956.

14. What was India's record (highest-ever) annual FDI inflow in FY2025-26?

    1. USD 94.53 billion
    2. USD 81.04 billion
    3. USD 70.95 billion
    4. USD 104.20 billion
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) USD 94.53 billion

    Explanation: India received its highest-ever annual FDI inflow of USD 94.53 billion in FY2025-26. Cumulative FDI from FY2014-15 to FY2025-26 is USD 843 billion.

15. India met its fiscal-deficit target for FY2025-26. What was the fiscal deficit as a share of GDP?

    1. 5.6%
    2. 4.9%
    3. 3.0%
    4. 4.4%
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) 4.4%

    Explanation: The fiscal deficit was 4.4% of GDP (about Rs 15.19 trillion) in FY2025-26. Fiscal targets are guided by the FRBM Act, 2003.

16. Where has Maruti Suzuki commissioned its first green-hydrogen electrolyser plant?

    1. Kharkhoda, Haryana
    2. Manesar, Haryana
    3. Hansalpur, Gujarat
    4. Rohtak, Haryana
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Manesar, Haryana

    Explanation: Maruti Suzuki's first green-hydrogen electrolyser plant (300 kW pilot) is at Manesar, Haryana. The National Green Hydrogen Mission was approved in January 2023.

17. India's first sector-wide Comprehensive CSR Framework for coal companies was developed by which institution?

    1. NITI Aayog
    2. Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI)
    3. Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA)
    4. Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA)
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA)

    Explanation: The framework, launched by the Ministry of Coal and Coal India, was developed by IICA. CSR is mandatory under Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013.

18. In which city has Starbucks set up its first Global Capability Centre (GCC) in India?

    1. Chennai
    2. Bengaluru
    3. Hyderabad
    4. Pune
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) Chennai

    Explanation: Starbucks' first GCC in India is in Chennai, with about 800 jobs in phase one.

19. India ranked 1st among 41 markets in the Global Business Climate Survey 2026. The survey reflects the view of companies from which country?

    1. Germany
    2. Sweden
    3. Japan
    4. Finland
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Sweden

    Explanation: The Global Business Climate Survey 2026, conducted from the view of Swedish companies, ranked India 1st among 41 markets.

20. Which organisation plans to issue India's maiden blue bond?

    1. IREDA
    2. NABARD
    3. Sagarmala Finance Corporation
    4. Indian Railway Finance Corporation
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) Sagarmala Finance Corporation

    Explanation: Sagarmala Finance Corporation plans India's first blue bond: a Rs 600 crore base issue with a Rs 500 crore greenshoe option, rated AA+ by ICRA and CARE.

21. Coastal Local Area Bank Ltd, recently included in the Second Schedule of the RBI Act, 1934, is headquartered in which city?

    1. Visakhapatnam
    2. Vijayawada
    3. Kakinada
    4. Guntur
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Vijayawada

    Explanation: Coastal Local Area Bank Ltd is headquartered in Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh); inclusion in the Second Schedule gives it scheduled-bank status.

22. The Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 2026, effective from 1 October 2026, replaces an Act of which year?

    1. 1872
    2. 1881
    3. 1934
    4. 1891
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) 1891

    Explanation: It replaces the Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 1891 and recognises physical, electronic, digital, virtual and cloud-based banking records.

23. Indian travellers can now pay by UPI in Uzbekistan by scanning which interoperable QR codes?

    1. UZQR
    2. HUMO QR
    3. UzPay QR
    4. TashQR
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) UZQR

    Explanation: Payments are made by scanning interoperable UZQR codes, under an agreement between NIPL (NPCI International Payments Ltd) and Uzbekistan's NIPC.

24. Up to what share of ICICI Bank's paid-up capital/voting rights has the RBI allowed LIC to acquire?

    1. 4.99%
    2. 5.99%
    3. 9.99%
    4. 14.99%
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) 9.99%

    Explanation: The RBI allowed LIC to acquire up to 9.99% of ICICI Bank's paid-up capital/voting rights; the approval is valid for one year.

25. NCDEX launched RAINCHNNAI, India's second rainfall-based weather derivatives contract. Which was the first?

    1. RAINDELHI
    2. RAINKOLKATA
    3. RAINPUNE
    4. RAINMUMBAI
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) RAINMUMBAI

    Explanation: RAINCHNNAI is India's second rainfall-based weather derivatives contract, after RAINMUMBAI; both are on NCDEX.

Current Affairs September 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.