Current Affairs 17 August 2026 — Part 2

Attempt the quiz above first, then review every question with its correct answer and a short explanation below.

1. Q1.On the 80th Independence Day, how many BSF personnel in total were honoured with gallantry and service medals?

   • A.42
   • B.47
   • C.67✓ Correct Answer
   • D.94

   Explanation: This comprised 20 Medals for Gallantry (mainly for the 94th Battalion's 2024 anti-Maoist operation in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district), 5 President's Medals for Distinguished Service and 42 Medals for Meritorious Service.

2. Q2.The Border Roads Organisation built a 180-foot Bailey bridge, despite monsoon rains and flash-flood risk, in which state's Kurung Kumey district?

   • A.Sikkim
   • B.Arunachal Pradesh✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Himachal Pradesh
   • D.Uttarakhand

   Explanation: The bridge restores a vital lifeline connection for local populations in this remote border district.

3. Q3.France submitted a detailed technical and commercial proposal to India for the procurement of how many Rafale fighter jets, with extensive local production offered?

   • A.36
   • B.83
   • C.114✓ Correct Answer
   • D.126

   Explanation: The proposal is currently under Indian government review and is not yet a signed contract.

4. Q4.The IMD's mid-August 2026 red alert for extremely heavy rain, following a fresh low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, was issued for which state?

   • A.West Bengal
   • B.Odisha✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Andhra Pradesh
   • D.Tamil Nadu

   Explanation: Orange alerts for very heavy rain, flash floods and landslides were also issued across several states, with a fishermen's advisory for the West Bengal, Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh coasts from 16-18 August.

5. Q5.India is hosting the 12th BRICS Environment Ministers' Meeting at Bharat Mandapam on 18 August 2026, presided over by which Union Minister?

   • A.Bhupender Yadav✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Piyush Goyal
   • C.S. Jaishankar
   • D.Amit Shah

   Explanation: The meeting follows the Senior Officers' Meeting of the Environment Working Group on 17 August, under the theme 'Building Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability' of India's 2026 BRICS Chairship.

6. Q6.India's men's hockey team opened its FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 campaign with a 3-1 win over Wales; who scored twice for India in this match?

   • A.Sanjay
   • B.Harmanpreet Singh✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Sam Welsh
   • D.Salima Tete

   Explanation: Captain Harmanpreet Singh scored two goals after Sanjay opened the scoring; the match was played in Amstelveen, Netherlands, with India facing England next in Pool D.

7. Q7.In the FIH Women's Hockey World Cup 2026 opener, India held Olympic medallist China to a 2-2 draw; who scored for India in this match?

   • A.Navneet Kaur and Deepika✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Salima Tete and Vandana Katariya
   • C.Rani Rampal and Savita
   • D.Udita and Sushila Chanu

   Explanation: China responded through Ying Zhang and Ma Ning; the match was played in Amstelveen, Netherlands.

8. Q8.On Day 2 of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, India reached 460/9 at stumps; who top-scored for India with 167 runs?

   • A.KL Rahul
   • B.Devdutt Padikkal✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Dhruv Jurel
   • D.Rishabh Pant

   Explanation: Dhruv Jurel added a valuable 51 before Sri Lanka's spinners triggered a middle-order collapse.

9. Q9.The Industry Leaders Awards 2026, held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on 16 August, had which Padma Shri-awardee actor as guest of honour?

   • A.Kangana Ranaut✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Alia Bhatt
   • C.Deepika Padukone
   • D.Priyanka Chopra

   Explanation: The awards recognised companies, entrepreneurs and service providers for outstanding performance.

10. Q10.The RBI appointed Monisha Chakraborty as Executive Director, effective 3 August 2026, to oversee which departments?

    • A.Currency Management and Payment Systems
    • B.Foreign Exchange and Financial Markets Regulation✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Banking Supervision and Regulation
    • D.Consumer Education and Protection

    Explanation: She was previously Chief General Manager-in-Charge of the RBI's Supervision Department, with over thirty years of banking experience.

11. Q11.Prasanta Mahapatra, previously Chief General Manager, took charge as Executive Director of which regulator on 4 August 2026?

    • A.RBI
    • B.IRDAI
    • C.SEBI✓ Correct Answer
    • D.PFRDA

    Explanation: His appointment came just a day after the RBI's Monisha Chakraborty took charge as Executive Director there.

12. Q12.Iran said it reached an agreement with which country on a proposed safe shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, though the deal remains conditional on Washington easing its port blockade?

    • A.Oman✓ Correct Answer
    • B.UAE
    • C.Qatar
    • D.Saudi Arabia

    Explanation: The agreement covers geographical coordinates for inbound/outbound routes and a joint coordination centre; Iranian media say it would bar US and Israeli-linked vessels.

13. Q13.Saudi Arabia and 13 other countries launched the Multinational Maritime Defence Coalition to safeguard shipping in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait against attacks by which group?

    • A.Houthis✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Al-Shabaab
    • C.ISIS
    • D.Hezbollah

    Explanation: Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Salem Al-Shehri was named the coalition's first commander; member countries include Pakistan, Egypt, Turkiye and Bangladesh.

14. Q14.External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met German MP Jurgen Hardt on 14 August 2026 to discuss the Gulf, West Asia and which ongoing conflict?

    • A.Ukraine conflict✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Sudan civil war
    • C.Yemen war
    • D.Syria conflict

    Explanation: Hardt is the foreign-policy spokesperson of the CDU/CSU group; the meeting aimed to strengthen India-Germany strategic ties.

15. Q15.State-run ONGC secured a US Treasury (OFAC) licence to resume full operations at its Venezuelan assets, aiming to scale output to how many barrels/day within a year?

    • A.15,000
    • B.20,000
    • C.25,000
    • D.30,000✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: ONGC holds a 40% stake in the San Cristobal field and 11% in the Petrocarabobo project, and is seeking operatorship from Venezuela's PDVSA.