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Current Affairs 19 August 2026 — Part 1
Practice 19-august-2026 with 15 free MCQ questions covering current-affairs. Detailed explanations in English and Hindi, perfect for UPSC, SSC, and competitive exam preparation.
19-august-2026 — Answer Key & Explanations (15 Questions)
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Q1.Which constitutional provision did the Supreme Court invoke to quash FIRs against NEET-UG protesters, while excluding cases involving murder, rape or POCSO offences?
- A.Article 32
- B.Article 142✓ Correct Answer
- C.Article 136
- D.Article 226
Explanation: Article 142 empowers the Supreme Court to pass any order necessary for 'complete justice'. A bench led by CJI Surya Kant used it here, also proposing a high-powered panel to examine the systemic causes of the NEET-UG protests.
Q2.Under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Act, 2026, what is the revised maximum jail term for exam malpractice?
- A.3-5 years
- B.5-10 years✓ Correct Answer
- C.7-12 years
- D.1-3 years
Explanation: The amendment raised jail terms from 3-5 to 5-10 years and the maximum fine from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh, and created Special Fast-Track Courts with two-month investigation and three-month trial deadlines.
Q3.The Ashok Dham Temple stampede that killed at least seven devotees on 17 August 2026 occurred in which Bihar district?
- A.Nalanda
- B.Lakhisarai✓ Correct Answer
- C.Gaya
- D.Munger
Explanation: The stampede occurred at Lakhisarai's Ashok Dham Temple during the Shravan-month jalabhishek rush; NDMA guidelines flag 4-5 persons per square metre as the critical crowd-density threshold.
Q4.BPSC's Teacher Recruitment Examination (TRE) 4.0, which opened applications this week, is recruiting for how many School Teacher posts in Bihar?
- A.22,388
- B.32,388✓ Correct Answer
- C.42,388
- D.12,388
Explanation: The Bihar Public Service Commission opened online applications for 32,388 School Teacher posts under TRE 4.0.
Q5.MPESB's Group 2 Sub-Group 4 recruitment drive is inviting applications for how many Patwari and Assistant-grade posts in Madhya Pradesh?
- A.1,306
- B.2,306✓ Correct Answer
- C.3,306
- D.4,306
Explanation: The Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board invited applications for 2,306 Patwari and Assistant-grade vacancies under Group 2 Sub-Group 4.
Q6.Under the RRB Act, 1976, what is the Centre's equity share in a Regional Rural Bank?
- A.35%
- B.50%✓ Correct Answer
- C.15%
- D.60%
Explanation: RRB equity is split 50% Centre, 35% sponsor bank and 15% State government; India's 43 RRBs operate as RBI-regulated scheduled commercial banks and posted strong FY2025-26 credit growth.
Q7.The VB-G RAM G Act, which replaced MGNREGA, raised the statutory rural employment guarantee per household from 100 days to how many days?
- A.110 days
- B.125 days✓ Correct Answer
- C.150 days
- D.120 days
Explanation: The guarantee rose from 100 to 125 days per household, though financing shifted to a 60:40 (90:10 for Himalayan/NE states) cost-sharing model; job-days generated fell 43% in April-July 2026 versus the FY2024-25 average.
Q8.The new Section 9D inserted by the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026 bars State governments from doing what?
- A.Auctioning mineral blocks
- B.Levying fresh taxes on mineral rights or mineral-bearing land✓ Correct Answer
- C.Exporting minerals
- D.Setting mining lease periods
Explanation: Section 9D prevents States from imposing new taxes on mineral rights/land. India's iron-ore output hit a record 313 million tonnes (4th-largest globally) and coal output topped 1 billion tonnes for a second straight year.
Q9.China-India border trade resumed on 1 August 2026 after how many years of suspension?
- A.Four years
- B.Six years✓ Correct Answer
- C.Eight years
- D.Ten years
Explanation: Trade resumed after six years, reopening Nathu La, Lipulekh and Shipki La passes; the 36th round of the border-affairs working mechanism was also held in New Delhi on 6 August.
Q10.The EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) entered its 'definitive phase' from which month/year?
- A.January 2026✓ Correct Answer
- B.October 2023
- C.December 2025
- D.July 2026
Explanation: CBAM's transitional phase ran October 2023-December 2025; the definitive phase began January 2026, covering steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers, hydrogen and electricity — sectors where India has raised WTO compliance concerns.
Q11.Shabnam Sinha has been appointed Chairperson of which entity, effective 1 October 2026?
- A.Airtel Payments Bank✓ Correct Answer
- B.Paytm Payments Bank
- C.India Post Payments Bank
- D.Fino Payments Bank
Explanation: Shabnam Sinha was appointed Chairperson of Airtel Payments Bank Limited for a three-year term from 1 October 2026.
Q12.Manoj Agarwal, a senior IAS officer of the WB:1990 batch, has been appointed to which post?
- A.Chief Secretary, West Bengal✓ Correct Answer
- B.Chief Secretary, Bihar
- C.Cabinet Secretary of India
- D.Governor of West Bengal
Explanation: Manoj Agarwal was appointed the new Chief Secretary of West Bengal.
Q13.'GOBARdhan', the National Unified Scheme for Compressed Biogas approved by the Union Cabinet, carries an outlay of how much?
- A.Rs 13,731 crore
- B.Rs 23,731 crore✓ Correct Answer
- C.Rs 33,731 crore
- D.Rs 43,731 crore
Explanation: GOBARdhan has an outlay of Rs 23,731 crore for FY2026-27 to FY2035-36, aiming to raise domestic CBG production nearly ten-fold.
Q14.Karnataka's 'Vidyarthi Sahayahasta' scheme gives eligible rural government-school students what additional reservation in professional courses?
- A.5%
- B.7.5%✓ Correct Answer
- C.10%
- D.15%
Explanation: The scheme gives a 7.5% reservation within Karnataka's existing 15% rural quota, for students who studied Class I-X in rural government schools, for courses including medicine and engineering.
Q15.The Union Cabinet approved continuing PM-KISAN from 2026-27 to 2030-31 with a total outlay of approximately how much?
- A.Rs 1.15 lakh crore
- B.Rs 2.15 lakh crore
- C.Rs 3.15 lakh crore✓ Correct Answer
- D.Rs 4.15 lakh crore
Explanation: PM-KISAN's continuation carries an outlay of about Rs 3.15 lakh crore ($33 billion), extending direct income support to farmers for five more years.
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