1. As per the Quarterly Bulletin of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for April-June 2025, what was the Unemployment Rate (UR) for males and females of age 15 years and above?
a) 5.2%
b) 5.6%
c) 5.4%
d) 55.0%
e) 57.1%
Answer: c) 5.4%
2. The Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) is expected to generate how many new jobs over a period of 2 years (starting from August 01, 2025 to July 31, 2027)?
a) Over 1.92 crore
b) Over 2.5 crore
c) Over 3.5 crore
d) Over 5.0 crore
e) Over 1.5 crore
Answer: c) Over 3.5 crore
3. The two major National Highway (NH) projects inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi in Delhi, the Delhi section of the Dwarka Expressway and the Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II), have a combined cost of approximately what amount?
a) Rs 5,360 crore
b) Rs 5,580 crore
c) Rs 9,000 crore
d) Rs 11,000 crore
e) Rs 15,000 crore
Answer: d) Rs 11,000 crore
4. The Technology Transfer Office (TTO) of which Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) signed a licensing agreement to license India’s 1st indigenously developed silicon photonics-based high-speed Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG) technology?
a) IIT-Bombay
b) IIT-Delhi
c) IIT-Kanpur
d) IIT-Madras
e) IIT-Kharagpur
Answer: d) IIT-Madras
5. Which two entities signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote drone technology for defence and security?
a) Indian Army and IIT Bombay
b) Indian Air Force and IIT Madras
c) Assam Rifles and IIIT Manipur
d) Border Security Force (BSF) and IIIT Bangalore
e) Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and IIIT Hyderabad
Answer: c) Assam Rifles and IIIT Manipur
6. As per the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s South East Asian Region (SEAR), which country has been officially declared as having eliminated Rubella as a Public Health Problem, becoming the 6th country to do so in the region?
a) India
b) Bhutan
c) Nepal
d) Sri Lanka
e) Maldives
Answer: c) Nepal
7. Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) and SBI Cards & Payment Services Limited (SBICPSL) have jointly launched a co-branded credit card. What is the name of this card?
a) Maha-SBI Card
b) Bank of Maharashtra SBI Card
c) SBI-BoM Platinum Card
d) Maha-Credit Card
e) SBI-Maha Rewards Card
Answer: b) Bank of Maharashtra SBI Card
8. What is the revised deadline for the implementation of the new margin pledge framework, as extended by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)?
a) September 1, 2025
b) October 10, 2025
c) November 1, 2025
d) December 31, 2025
e) January 1, 2026
Answer: b) October 10, 2025
9. Who was crowned Miss Universe India 2025 and will represent India at the 74th Miss Universe pageant in Thailand?
a) Rhea Singha
b) Tanya Sharma
c) Mehak Dhingra
d) Amishi Kaushik
e) Manika Vishwakarma
Answer: e) Manika Vishwakarma
10. Which brand topped the TopBrand 2025 ‘Top 500 Global Brands List’ released by the TopBrand Union?
a) Apple
b) Amazon
c) Google
d) Microsoft
e) NVIDIA
Answer: d) Microsoft
11. What is the theme for World Humanitarian Day 2025, which is observed annually on August 19?
a) “The world needs more humanitarians”
b) “Humanitarian crisis”
c) “Strengthening global solidarity and empowering local communities”
d) “No matter what”
e) “Hope and support”
Answer: c) Strengthening global solidarity and empowering local communities
12. World Photography Day is observed on August 19 as a tribute to the invention of which of the following?
a) Calotype
b) Daguerreotype
c) Kodachrome
d) Digital camera
e) Pinhole camera
Answer: b) Daguerreotype
13. What is the name of the new scheme launched by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to support Bengali migrant workers returning to the state?
a) Karmashree
b) Utkarsh Bangla
c) Swastha Sathi
d) Shramshree
e) Bengal Rojgar Yojana
Answer: d) Shramshree
14. Under which Ministry does the National Statistics Office (NSO) operate, which released the Quarterly and Monthly Bulletins of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)?
a) Ministry of Finance
b) Ministry of Labour & Employment
c) Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
d) Ministry of Commerce and Industry
e) Ministry of Home Affairs
Answer: c) Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
15. What is the total budget outlay approved by the Union Cabinet for the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY)?
a) Rs 50,000 crore
b) Rs 99,446 crore
c) Rs 79,446 crore
d) Rs 35,000 crore
e) Rs 11,000 crore
Answer: b) Rs 99,446 crore
16. The two major National Highway (NH) projects in Delhi, the Delhi section of the Dwarka Expressway and the Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II), were inaugurated at which specific location?
a) New Delhi
b) Rohini
c) Dwarka
d) Bijwasan
e) Alipur
Answer: b) Rohini
17. The Technology Transfer Office (TTO), IIT-Madras, signed a licensing agreement with which company to commercialize India’s 1st indigenously developed silicon photonics-based QRNG technology?
a) DRDO
b) Society for Electronic Transactions and Security (SETS)
c) Indrarka Quantum Technologies Private Limited
d) Tata Consultancy Services
e) Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Answer: c) Indrarka Quantum Technologies Private Limited
18. What is the name of the portal launched by the Press Registrar General of India (PRGI) to simplify the registration process for newspapers and periodicals?
a) Press Connect
b) Press India
c) Press Sewa Portal
d) Media Mitra
e) Publisher Portal
Answer: c) Press Sewa Portal
19. Besides Nepal, which other country in the WHO SEAR has successfully eliminated rubella as a Public Health Problem?
a) India
b) Pakistan
c) Bhutan
d) Bangladesh
e) Afghanistan
Answer: c) Bhutan
20. Who is the current Chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)?
a) Ajay Tyagi
b) Madhabi Puri Buch
c) Tuhin Kanta Pandey
d) U.K. Sinha
e) G. Mahalingam
Answer: c) Tuhin Kanta Pandey
21. At the Miss Universe India 2025 finale, who was the 1st Runner-up?
a) Manika Vishwakarma
b) Mehak Dhingra
c) Amishi Kaushik
d) Tanya Sharma
e) Rhea Singha
Answer: d) Tanya Sharma
22. Bhavina Patel, who won top medals at ITTF World Para events, is currently ranked World No. 1 in which category?
a) Women’s Singles Class 4–5
b) Women’s Doubles Class 4–5
c) Women’s Singles Class 1–5
d) Men’s Singles Class 4–5
e) Women’s Singles Class 1–10
Answer: c) Women’s Singles Class 1–5
23. When was the first World Humanitarian Day (WHD) observed?
a) 19 August 2003
b) 11 December 2008
c) 19 August 2009
d) 19 August 2010
e) 19 August 2025
Answer: c) 19 August 2009
24. The West Bengal ‘Shramshree‘ scheme, which provides financial aid to returning migrant workers, is managed by which department?
a) Finance Department
b) Home Department
c) Labour Department
d) Social Welfare Department
e) Industry Department
Answer: c) Labour Department
25. Which of the following is NOT one of the benefits offered by the ‘Bank of Maharashtra SBI Card’?
a) Accelerated reward points
b) Fuel surcharge waiver
c) Discounts on travel, dining, and shopping
d) Utility bill payments
e) Free access to international airport lounges
Answer: e) Free access to international airport lounges
26. According to the highlights of the Monthly Bulletin July 2025, what was the Unemployment Rate (UR) for persons of age 15 years and above?
a) 5.4%
b) 5.6%
c) 5.2%
d) 54.9%
e) 54.2%
Answer: c) 5.2%
27. The Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) is a Central Sector Scheme (CSS) that is primarily focused on which sector?
a) Service sector
b) Agricultural sector
c) Manufacturing sector
d) Information technology sector
e) Healthcare sector
Answer: c) Manufacturing sector
28. The Delhi section of the Dwarka Expressway is how many kilometers long and has a project cost of how much?
a) 54.21 km, Rs 5,580 crore
b) 10.1 km, Rs 5,360 crore
c) 10.1 km, Rs 5,580 crore
d) 54.21 km, Rs 5,360 crore
e) 20.2 km, Rs 11,000 crore
Answer: b) 10.1 km, Rs 5,360 crore
29. What is the name of the initiative founded by Manika Vishwakarma, the Miss Universe India 2025, that promotes neurodivergence awareness?
a) Neuro-Aware
b) Neuronova
c) Brainwave
d) Neuro-Connect
e) Mindful Movement
Answer: b) Neuronova
30. Which ministry will implement the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) through the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO)?
a) Ministry of Finance
b) Ministry of Home Affairs
c) Ministry of Labour & Employment
d) Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
e) Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)
Answer: c) Ministry of Labour & Employment
31. The Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) was formally rolled out on which date?
a) August 18, 2025
b) August 15, 2025
c) August 1, 2025
d) July 2025
e) August 7, 2025
Answer: c) August 1, 2025
32. The World Photography Day is observed annually on August 19, in tribute to the invention of the daguerreotype. Who developed this process?
a) Sir John Herschel
b) Louis Daguerre
c) Nicéphore Niépce
d) George Eastman
e) William Henry Fox Talbot
Answer: b) Louis Daguerre
33. The announcement of the new ‘Press Sewa Portal’ was made at a workshop organized by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Hyderabad, in which state?
a) Telangana
b) Andhra Pradesh
c) Tamil Nadu
d) Karnataka
e) Kerala
Answer: a) Telangana
34. What is the amount of monthly financial aid that eligible workers will receive under the West Bengal’s ‘Shramshree’ scheme?
a) Rs. 10,000
b) Rs. 5,000
c) Rs. 7,500
d) Rs. 3,000
e) Rs. 2,000
Answer: b) Rs. 5,000
Current Affairs Today: 20 August 2025
National Affairs
- PLFS Quarterly (April–June 2025) and Monthly Bulletin (July 2025)
- Source: National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
- Quarterly Bulletin (April–June 2025):
- Surveyed 11,274 First Stage Units (FSUs) (6,213 rural, 5,061 urban).
- Unemployment Rate (UR): 5.4% for persons aged 15+ (Current Weekly Status, CWS).
- Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): 55.0% (57.1% rural, 50.6% urban).
- Worker Population Ratio (WPR): 52.0% nationally.
- Monthly Bulletin (July 2025):
- UR decreased to 5.2% from 5.6% in June 2025.
- LFPR increased to 54.9% from 54.2% in June 2025.
- WPR in rural areas rose to 54.4% from 53.3% in June 2025.
- Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) Portal
- Launch: August 18, 2025, by the Government of India (GoI).
- Portal: https://pmvbry.epfindia.gov.in/ or https://pmvbry.labour.gov.in/.
- Scheme Details:
- Approved in July 2025 with a budget of Rs 99,446 crore; rolled out on August 1, 2025.
- Announced by PM Narendra Modi on Independence Day (August 15, 2025).
- Aim: Boost employment across sectors, especially manufacturing, targeting 3.5 crore new jobs (1.92 crore first-time employees) by July 31, 2027.
- Components: Part-A (financial support for first-time employees) and Part-B (support for employers).
- Implementing Body: Ministry of Labour & Employment (MoL&E) via Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).
- PM Narendra Modi Inaugurates NH Projects in Delhi
- Date: August 2025, in Rohini, Delhi.
- Projects: Delhi section of Dwarka Expressway and Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II).
- Dwarka Expressway (Delhi Section):
- Cost: Rs 5,360 crore; 10.1 km long.
- Features multi-modal connectivity with Yashobhoomi, DMRC Blue/Orange lines, Bijwasan railway station, and Dwarka cluster Depot.
- UER-II:
- Cost: Rs 5,580 crore; 54.21 km from Alipur to Dichaon Kalan via Bawana, Rohini, Mundka, etc.
- Dwarka Expressway (Delhi Section):
- Purpose: Reduce traffic congestion, enhance connectivity, and lower pollution in the NCR.
- Ministry: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
- IIT-M Licenses Silicon Photonics-based QRNG
- Agreement: Signed in August 2025 between IIT-Madras (TTO) and Indrarka Quantum Technologies Pvt. Ltd. for Rs 1 crore.
- Technology: India’s first silicon photonics-based Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG).
- Developed by: Centre for Programmable Photonic Integrated Circuits and Systems (CPPICS), led by Prof. Bijoy Krishna Das.
- Applications: Defence, cryptography, scientific simulations, financial transactions.
- Previous Deployments: Prototypes delivered to DRDO’s Young Scientist Laboratory and SETS Chennai for quantum security.
- Assam Rifles and IIIT Manipur MoU for Drone Technology
- Date: August 18, 2025, signed at Mantripukhri, Manipur.
- Signatories: Maj. Gen. Ravroop Singh (Assam Rifles) and Prof. Krishnan Baskar (IIIT Manipur).
- Purpose: Promote drone technology for surveillance, reconnaissance, and logistics in challenging terrains.
- Initiative: Launched Advanced Drone Training and Refresher Course for Assam Rifles personnel, covering flight operations, maintenance, and DGCA-certified training.
- Press Sewa Portal by PRGI
- Announcement: August 2025, by Press Registrar General of India (PRGI) Yogesh Baweja at PIB’s ‘Vartalap’ workshop in Hyderabad, Telangana.
- Purpose: Simplify registration for newspapers and periodicals, enhancing transparency and ease of doing business.
- Additional Initiative: Dedicated helpline for publishers announced by Shruti Patil, ADG, PIB Hyderabad.
International Affairs
- WHO Declares Nepal Rubella-Free
- Announcement: August 2025, by WHO’s South East Asian Region (SEAR) office.
- Status: Nepal is the 6th SEAR country to eliminate rubella as a public health problem, following Bhutan, DPR Korea, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Timor-Leste.
- Reason: Over 95% vaccination coverage, nationwide immunization campaigns, and robust laboratory-based surveillance.
- About Rubella:
- Contagious viral infection (German Measles) causing mild fever and rashes.
- Dangerous for pregnant women, leading to miscarriage, stillbirth, or Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) with birth defects like deafness, cardiac issues, and cataracts.
Banking & Finance
- Bank of Maharashtra SBI Card
- Launch: August 18, 2025, by Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) and SBI Cards & Payment Services Ltd. (SBICPSL).
- Variants: ELITE, PRIME, SimplySAVE on Rupay and Visa platforms.
- Benefits: Reward points, fuel surcharge waivers, discounts on travel, dining, and shopping.
- Aim: Provide enhanced value and convenience to customers across India.
- SEBI Extends Margin Pledge Framework Deadline
- New Deadline: October 10, 2025 (originally September 1, 2025).
- Framework: Mandates margin obligations in equity and derivatives via depository pledge/re-pledge system.
- Features:
- Automated invocation of margin-pledged securities for early pay-in.
- ‘Pledge Release for Pay-in’ eliminates multiple instructions for un-pledging and delivery.
- Objective: Reduce misuse of securities by brokers and ensure a clear transaction trail.
- Authority: SEBI Act, 1992, and SEBI (Stock Brokers) Regulations, 1992.
Awards & Recognitions
- Manika Vishwakarma Crowned Miss Universe India 2025
- Date: August 18, 2025, in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
- Details:
- Manika Vishwakarma (Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan) crowned by Rhea Singha (2024 winner).
- Will represent India at the 74th Miss Universe pageant in Thailand, November 2025.
- Runners-up: Tanya Sharma (1st, UP), Mehak Dhingra (2nd, Haryana), Amishi Kaushik (3rd, Haryana).
- About Manika:
- Final-year Political Science and Economics student, New Delhi.
- Trained classical dancer, recognized by Lalit Kala Academy and JJ School of Arts.
- Founder of Neuronova, promoting neurodivergence awareness.
- Represented India at BIMSTEC Sewocon (MEA).
- TopBrand 2025 Global Brands List
- Release: August 7–11, 2025, at the 19th China Brand Festival, Shenzhen, China.
- Top Rank: Microsoft (USD 1,062.5 billion).
- Top 5 (all USA): Microsoft (1st), NVIDIA (2nd), Apple (3rd), Amazon (4th), Google (5th).
- Theme: “AI and Global Expansion.”
Sports
- Bhavina Patel’s Para Table Tennis Achievements
- Events: ITTF World Para Future (Silver) and ITTF World Para Elite (Gold), Spokane, USA, August 2025.
- Category: Women’s Singles Class 4–5.
- Ranking: World No. 1 in Women’s Singles Class 1–5.
- Designation: Assistant Director, ESIC, Ahmedabad.
Important Days
- World Humanitarian Day 2025 (August 19)
- Theme: “Strengthening global solidarity and empowering local communities.”
- Background: Marks the 22nd anniversary of the 2003 UN headquarters bombing in Baghdad.
- UN Proclamation: Declared by UNGA Resolution A/RES/63/139 in 2008; first observed in 2009.
- World Photography Day 2025 (August 19)
- Theme: “My Favourite Photo.”
- Significance: Celebrates the daguerreotype’s invention (1837) by Louis Daguerre, announced as a “gift free to the world” in 1839.
- Inception: First observed in 2010; World Photography Week: August 12–26, 2025.
State News
- West Bengal’s ‘Shramshree’ Scheme
- Launch: August 2025, by CM Mamata Banerjee.
- Purpose: Support returning Bengali migrant workers facing harassment elsewhere.
- Benefits:
- Financial aid: Rs 5,000/month for up to one year or until employment.
- Free training under Utkarsh Bangla.
- Job cards under Karmashree scheme.
- Access to ration and Swastha Sathi healthcare cards via Shramshree portal.
- Implementation: Managed by WB Labour Department.