Current Affairs 31 August 2026 — Part 2

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

1. Q1.'Gnani Artha', India's sovereign AI stack featuring the Evon 3.3 model and Plexus platform, was launched to support how many-plus Indian languages?

   • A.11+✓ Correct Answer
   • B.5+
   • C.22+
   • D.2+

   Explanation: The stack was launched by the Vice President and offers open-source deployment options.

2. Q2.The Department of Telecommunications signed a five-year agreement with which organisation to set up an indigenous optical network testbed in New Delhi?

   • A.C-DAC
   • B.C-DOT (Centre for Development of Telematics)✓ Correct Answer
   • C.ISRO
   • D.BSNL

   Explanation: C-DOT, the Department of Telecommunications' R&D body, will use the testbed to validate indigenous optical communication technologies.

3. Q3.Astronomers reported discovering a faint companion star, 'Betelgeuse B', to explain the brightness-variation cycle of which red supergiant star?

   • A.Rigel
   • B.Antares
   • C.Betelgeuse✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Aldebaran

   Explanation: Betelgeuse, located in the constellation Orion, shows a roughly six-year brightness cycle that the newly found companion may help explain.

4. Q4.India signed a $93 million deal with the US to procure nearly 100 units of which anti-tank guided missile system, after a 16-year acquisition process?

   • A.BGM-71 TOW
   • B.Spike ATGM
   • C.NAG
   • D.FGM-148 Javelin✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: NAG is India's own DRDO-developed indigenous anti-tank guided missile, distinct from the US-origin Javelin being procured here.

5. Q5.DRDO tested its Military Combat Parachute System, with jumps from 22,000 feet, at Nyoma in which Union Territory?

   • A.Ladakh✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Jammu & Kashmir
   • C.Chandigarh
   • D.Lakshadweep

   Explanation: Nyoma, in eastern Ladakh, is also the site of a new high-altitude airfield under construction.

6. Q6.The Indian Coast Guard decommissioned two Fast Patrol Vessels, ICGS Meera Behn and ICGS Subhadra Kumari Chauhan, after around how many years of service?

   • A.One decade
   • B.Two decades✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Three decades
   • D.Five years

   Explanation: Both decommissioned vessels were named after prominent Indian women freedom fighters.

7. Q7.'Gangaichthys indonepalicus', the first subterranean fish species recorded from the Indo-Gangetic Basin, was discovered in which state?

   • A.Uttar Pradesh
   • B.West Bengal
   • C.Bihar✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Assam

   Explanation: The species shows adaptations typical of cave-dwelling ('hypogean') fish, such as reduced pigmentation and eyesight.

8. Q8.The State of India's Environment 2026 report identified which of the following as the newly (seventh) breached 'planetary boundary'?

   • A.Stratospheric ozone depletion
   • B.Atmospheric aerosol loading
   • C.Land-system change
   • D.Ocean acidification✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: The report, by the Centre for Science and Environment and Down To Earth, found 7 of 9 planetary boundaries breached; ozone depletion and aerosol loading remain within safe limits.

9. Q9.Conservationists in Dehradun raised concerns over rising vulture deaths caused by which hazard, prompting relocation and mitigation plans?

   • A.Electrocution on power lines✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Pesticide (diclofenac) poisoning
   • C.Habitat loss from mining
   • D.Illegal hunting

   Explanation: Diclofenac poisoning was the historic cause of India's dramatic vulture population collapse in the 1990s-2000s; this Dehradun report instead flags power-line electrocution.

10. Q10.East Bengal FC won a record-equalling 17th Durand Cup title in 2026, beating which rival 4-1 in the final?

    • A.Bengaluru FC
    • B.Mohun Bagan Super Giant✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Mumbai City FC
    • D.Odisha FC

    Explanation: Edmund Lalrindika scored a first-half hat-trick as East Bengal ended a 22-year wait for a Durand Cup title, held at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium.

11. Q11.India Women beat Thailand Women by 94 runs in the Women's T20 Asia Cup 2026, with which batter top-scoring at 64?

    • A.Smriti Mandhana
    • B.Harmanpreet Kaur
    • C.Shafali Verma✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Jemimah Rodrigues

    Explanation: India posted 159/9 before bowling Thailand out for 65 in this Group A match.

12. Q12.Deepti Sharma became the all-time leading wicket-taker in which format of women's international cricket during the 2026 Asia Cup?

    • A.One Day Internationals
    • B.Test cricket
    • C.Only for India, not all-time
    • D.T20 Internationals✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: She reached the milestone while taking three wickets without conceding a run against Thailand.

13. Q13.Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveiled a statue of which 1857 Revolt freedom fighter in Lucknow on 30 August 2026?

    • A.Rani Lakshmibai
    • B.Begum Hazrat Mahal
    • C.Rani Chennamma
    • D.Rani Avantibai Lodhi✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: Rani Avantibai Lodhi led resistance to British forces from Ramgarh in present-day Madhya Pradesh; the distractors are other prominent women freedom fighters of the era.

14. Q14.Banaras Hindu University partnered with which industry body to organise the 'Banaras Biennale 2026' and set up an E2EE Career Lounge?

    • A.Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)✓ Correct Answer
    • B.FICCI
    • C.ASSOCHAM
    • D.NASSCOM

    Explanation: The Career Lounge offers technology-enabled career support services to BHU students; the distractors are other major Indian industry chambers.

15. Q15.Under the 'Adopt a Heritage 2.0' scheme, the Culture Ministry has signed 30 MoUs to develop visitor amenities at protected monuments that recorded how many visitors in FY 2024-25?

    • A.5 million
    • B.13.59 million✓ Correct Answer
    • C.25 million
    • D.1.36 million

    Explanation: The scheme encourages private and CSR partners ('Monument Mitras') to develop visitor-friendly amenities at protected monuments of national importance.