24 August 2026 Current Affairs MCQ
UPSC & State PCS| upscjournal
Q1. With reference to India’s wheat export policy change announced on 24 August 2026, consider the following statements:
- Specified wheat categories were shifted from “Prohibited” to “Free”.
- Certain wheat-flour products were also covered.
- DGFT functions under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b)
Explanation: India liberalised exports of specified wheat and wheat products. However, DGFT functions under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, not the Agriculture Ministry.
Q2. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) is primarily associated with:
(a) Monetary policy
(b) Foreign trade policy and export-import regulation
(c) Foodgrain procurement
(d) Securities-market regulation
Answer: (b)
Explanation: DGFT administers India’s foreign-trade policy and regulates export-import matters.
Q3. IRIGC-TEC, recently seen in the news, is a bilateral mechanism between India and:
(a) Japan
(b) Russia
(c) France
(d) United States
Answer: (b)
Explanation: IRIGC-TEC stands for India–Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation.
Q4. Which of the following are important areas of contemporary India–Russia economic cooperation?
- Energy
- Fertilisers
- Nuclear cooperation
- Science and technology
Select the correct answer:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1, 2 and 3 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (d)
Explanation: India–Russia relations extend beyond defence and include energy, fertilisers, nuclear energy, industry, science and technology.
Q5. With reference to India’s new Service Producer Price Index framework, consider the following statements:
- Its base year is 2022-23.
- It measures producer-level price movements in services.
- It is identical to the Consumer Price Index.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Service PPI measures prices received by service producers. CPI measures prices paid by consumers, so the two are different.
Q6. Which service recorded the sharpest highlighted year-on-year increase in the Q1 FY 2026-27 Service PPI data discussed in today’s current affairs?
(a) Banking services
(b) Railway services
(c) Air passenger services
(d) Pension-fund management
Answer: (c)
Explanation: The Air Passenger Service Price Index recorded a year-on-year increase of about 31.94%.
Q7. Consider the following pairs:
- UNFCCC — Climate Change
- CBD — Biodiversity
- UNCCD — Desertification and Land Degradation
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d)
Explanation: All three are correctly matched and are commonly known as the Rio Conventions.
Q8. UNCCD COP17, discussed in today’s current affairs, is being held in:
(a) Nairobi, Kenya
(b) Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
(c) Baku, Azerbaijan
(d) Bonn, Germany
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia is hosting UNCCD COP17.
Q9. India’s position at UNCCD COP17 emphasised which of the following?
(a) Complete replacement of public climate finance by private finance
(b) Predictable and sustained finance for land restoration and drought resilience
(c) Ending all agricultural subsidies globally
(d) Creation of a global carbon tax under UNCCD
Answer: (b)
Explanation: India stressed diversified, adequate, predictable and sustained finance for land restoration and drought resilience.
Q10. With reference to crop breeding, which one of the following statements is correct?
(a) Every hybrid crop is genetically modified.
(b) Hybridisation and genetic engineering are identical.
(c) A hybrid crop can be non-GMO.
(d) GMO crops can only be produced through natural cross-pollination.
Answer: (c)
Explanation: A hybrid can be created by conventional crossing of selected parent lines without genetic engineering.
Extra Fact: The superior performance sometimes seen in hybrids is called heterosis or hybrid vigour.
Q11. India’s first non-GMO high-expansion popcorn maize hybrid was launched in:
(a) Bihar
(b) Andhra Pradesh
(c) Madhya Pradesh
(d) Karnataka
Answer: (b)
Explanation: The hybrid was launched at Musunuru in Andhra Pradesh.
Q12. The India–Cambodia Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment is relevant to which broader Indian foreign-policy approach?
(a) Look West Policy
(b) Act East Policy
(c) Neighbourhood First only
(d) Arctic Policy
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Cambodia is an ASEAN member, and India’s engagement with Cambodia forms part of its wider Act East Policy.
Q13. Consider the following statements regarding Cambodia:
- Its capital is Phnom Penh.
- It is a member of ASEAN.
- The Mekong River is important to its geography.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d)
Explanation: All three are correct.
Q14. Keidanren, recently mentioned during India–Japan business engagements, is:
(a) Japan’s central bank
(b) Japan Business Federation
(c) Japanese defence ministry
(d) Japan’s stock-market regulator
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Keidanren is the influential Japan Business Federation representing major Japanese companies and business associations.
Q15. With reference to the tariff announcement made by the United States on 24 August 2026, which statement is correct?
(a) The 50% tariffs became effective immediately on 24 August.
(b) The announcement concerned proposed higher tariffs on cars, trucks, auto parts and steel from 1 January 2027.
(c) The tariffs were imposed exclusively on agricultural imports.
(d) The measure was announced by the WTO.
Answer: (b)
Explanation: The announcement concerned a future proposed tariff increase, not immediate implementation on 24 August. This is an important current-affairs date trap.
Score Guide
13–15: Excellent — strong UPSC/State PCS current-affairs command
10–12: Very good — revise a few factual areas
7–9: Good — revise today’s rapid-revision facts
Below 7: Read the 24 August current-affairs article once more
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