1. Which ministry signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in August 2025 to combat global hunger?
A) Ministry of External Affairs
B) Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
C) Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
D) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
E) Ministry of Rural Development
Answer: C) Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
2. What is the total amount of fortified rice India committed to supply under the LoI with WFP over the next 5 years?
A) 100,000 metric tonnes
B) 150,000 metric tonnes
C) 200,000 metric tonnes
D) 250,000 metric tonnes
E) 300,000 metric tonnes
Answer: C) 200,000 metric tonnes
3. Where were the discussions for the LoI with WFP initiated before its signing in New Delhi in August 2025?
A) New York, USA
B) Rome, Italy
C) Geneva, Switzerland
D) Paris, France
E) Tokyo, Japan
Answer: B) Rome, Italy
4. What is the deadline for central government employees to switch from the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) to the National Pension System (NPS) under the one-time switch facility introduced in August 2025?
A) August 31, 2025
B) September 30, 2025
C) October 31, 2025
D) December 31, 2025
E) March 31, 2026
Answer: B) September 30, 2025
5. What happens to employees who opt to switch from UPS to NPS under the one-time switch facility?
A) They can revert to UPS later
B) They retain partial UPS benefits
C) They permanently forfeit UPS benefits
D) They receive a bonus contribution from the government
E) They are exempt from PFRDA regulations
Answer: C) They permanently forfeit UPS benefits
6. Which ministry released India’s first comprehensive guidelines for animal blood transfusion and blood banks in August 2025?
A) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
B) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
C) Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
D) Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
E) Ministry of Science and Technology
Answer: C) Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
7. Which organization collaborated with the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying to formulate the guidelines for veterinary blood transfusion?
A) World Health Organization
B) Veterinary Council of India
C) Indian Medical Association
D) World Animal Protection
E) National Dairy Development Board
Answer: B) Veterinary Council of India
8. What is a key requirement under the new guidelines for veterinary blood transfusion in India?
A) Mandatory use of imported blood
B) Blood typing and cross-matching
C) Use of synthetic blood substitutes
D) Restriction to emergency transfusions only
E) Exclusion of voluntary donations
Answer: B) Blood typing and cross-matching
9. Where were the key health welfare initiatives launched by Union Minister JP Nadda in August 2025?
A) Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
B) Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh
C) Indore, Madhya Pradesh
D) Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh
E) Raipur, Chhattisgarh
Answer: B) Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh
10. How many senior citizens in Madhya Pradesh are targeted for the distribution of Ayushman Bharat: Vay Vandana Cards (AB-VVC)?
A) 5 lakh
B) 6 lakh
C) 7 lakh
D) 8 lakh
E) 9 lakh
Answer: D) 8 lakh
11. Which digital health initiative was launched by JP Nadda in Madhya Pradesh in August 2025?
A) Health Buddy App
B) Ayushman Sakhi Smart Chatbot
C) Swasthya Yakrit Portal
D) Digital Health Card
E) E-Health Mission
Answer: B) Ayushman Sakhi Smart Chatbot
12. What is the funding amount committed by OpenAI to IIT-Madras for the Learning Accelerator initiative?
A) USD 250,000
B) USD 500,000
C) USD 750,000
D) USD 1,000,000
E) USD 1,500,000
Answer: B) USD 500,000
13. How many free ChatGPT licenses will OpenAI distribute to teachers and students in India as part of the Learning Accelerator initiative?
A) 2 lakh
B) 3 lakh
C) 4 lakh
D) 5 lakh
E) 6 lakh
Answer: D) 5 lakh
14. Who has been appointed as the Head of Education for India and Asia Pacific by OpenAI?
A) Sam Altman
B) Raghav Gupta
C) Sanjay Baru
D) Rajiv Ranjan
E) S.C. Jain
Answer: B) Raghav Gupta
15. Where will OpenAI establish its first office in India?
A) Bengaluru, Karnataka
B) Mumbai, Maharashtra
C) New Delhi, Delhi
D) Chennai, Tamil Nadu
E) Hyderabad, Telangana
Answer: C) New Delhi, Delhi
16. What is the name of the maritime hackathon launched by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways in August 2025?
A) Ocean Innovate 2025
B) MAR-a-THON 2025
C) Sagar Summit 2025
D) Maritime Challenge 2025
E) Blue Hackathon 2025
Answer: B) MAR-a-THON 2025
17. What is the maximum funding amount for the Tech Pilot Grant under the MAR-a-THON 2025 initiative?
A) Rs. 10 lakh
B) Rs. 20 lakh
C) Rs. 60 lakh
D) Rs. 1 crore
E) Rs. 2 crore
Answer: D) Rs. 1 crore
18. Which vision is the MAR-a-THON 2025 initiative aligned with?
A) Digital India
B) Maritime AmritKaal 2047
C) Atmanirbhar Bharat
D) Viksit Bharat
E) Sagarmala Vision 2030
Answer: B) Maritime AmritKaal 2047
19. Who chairs the High-Level Committees (HLCs) formed to commemorate the 150th birth anniversaries of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Birsa Munda, and the 100th birth anniversary of Atal Bihar Vajpayee?
A) President of India
B) Prime Minister Narendra Modi
C) Home Minister Amit Shah
D) Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar
E) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla
Answer: B) Prime Minister Narendra Modi
20. How many members are part of the High-Level Committee for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 150th birth anniversary?
A) 118
B) 120
C) 122
D) 124
E) 126
Answer: D) 124
21. Which global investment banking firm was appointed as the sole transaction advisor for the divestment of stakes in four Public Sector Banks in August 2025?
A) JPMorgan Chase
B) Goldman Sachs
C) Morgan Stanley
D) Citigroup
E) Barclays
Answer: B) Goldman Sachs
22. What is the SEBI deadline for Public Sector Banks to meet the 25% minimum public shareholding requirement?
A) August 1, 2025
B) August 1, 2026
C) December 31, 2025
D) March 31, 2026
E) July 1, 2026
Answer: B) August 1, 2026
23. Which Public Sector Bank is NOT included in the GoI’s stake divestment plan announced in August 2025?
A) Indian Overseas Bank
B) Central Bank of India
C) UCO Bank
D) Punjab National Bank
E) Punjab & Sind Bank
Answer: D) Punjab National Bank
24. What is the name of the health insurance plan launched by TATA AIA Life Insurance in August 2025?
A) Health Secure Plan
B) Health SIP Plan
C) Wellness Plus Plan
D) Life Health Plan
E) MediCare Plan
Answer: B) Health SIP Plan
25. How many medical specialties are covered by TATA AIA’s Health Buddy App?
A) 18+
B) 20+
C) 22+
D) 24+
E) 26+
Answer: D) 24+
26. Who was appointed with additional charge as Chairman and Managing Director of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) in August 2025?
A) Pradeep Gaur
B) S.C. Jain
C) Rajiv Ranjan
D) Raghav Gupta
E) Sanjay Baru
Answer: B) S.C. Jain
27. What is the term duration for Dr. Rajiv Ranjan’s appointment as Vice-President and Chief Risk Officer of the New Development Bank?
A) 3 years
B) 4 years
C) 5 years
D) 6 years
E) 7 years
Answer: C) 5 years
28. Where was the Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025 held?
A) Vembanad Lake, Kerala
B) Dal Lake, Srinagar
C) Chilika Lake, Odisha
D) Loktak Lake, Manipur
E) Wular Lake, Jammu & Kashmir
Answer: B) Dal Lake, Srinagar
29. Which state topped the medal tally at the Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025?
A) Odisha
B) Kerala
C) Madhya Pradesh
D) Maharashtra
E) Tamil Nadu
Answer: C) Madhya Pradesh
30. Who won the first gold medal at the Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025 in the 1000m Men’s Kayaking race?
A) Mohsin Ali
B) Vikram Singh
C) Arjun Patel
D) Rohan Sharma
E) Anil Kumar
Answer: A) Mohsin Ali
31. Where was the 19th World Youth Archery Championships 2025 held?
A) Lausanne, Switzerland
B) Winnipeg, Canada
C) Seoul, South Korea
D) New Delhi, India
E) Tokyo, Japan
Answer: B) Winnipeg, Canada
32. How many medals did India win at the World Youth Archery Championships 2025?
A) 6
B) 7
C) 8
D) 9
E) 10
Answer: C) 8
33. Which country topped the total medal tally at the World Youth Archery Championships 2025?
A) India
B) South Korea
C) USA
D) China
E) Japan
Answer: B) South Korea
34. What is the title of Sanjay Baru’s book released in August 2025?
A) The New India Dream
B) Secession of the Successful: The Flight Out of New India
C) India’s Migration Crisis
D) The Fourth Wave
E) Wealth and Power in New India
Answer: B) Secession of the Successful: The Flight Out of New India
35. How many Indians renounced their citizenship in 2022, as mentioned in Sanjay Baru’s book?
A) 1.75 lakh
B) 2.00 lakh
C) 2.25 lakh
D) 2.50 lakh
E) 2.75 lakh
Answer: C) 2.25 lakh
36. What does the acronym DOSTI stand for in the Delhi-Oslo Smart Transport Initiative?
A) Delhi-Oslo Sustainable Transport Innovation
B) Delhi-Oslo Smart Transport Initiative
C) Delhi-Oslo Strategic Transport Integration
D) Delhi-Oslo Shared Transport Initiative
E) Delhi-Oslo Smart Technology Integration
Answer: B) Delhi-Oslo Smart Transport Initiative
37. How many electric buses does Delhi aim to have in its fleet by February 2026 under the DOSTI initiative?
A) 5,000–6,000
B) 6,000–7,000
C) 7,000–8,000
D) 8,000–9,000
E) 9,000–10,000
Answer: C) 7,000–8,000
38. Who announced the Delhi-Oslo Smart Transport Initiative (DOSTI) at the 3rd India Clean Transportation Summit 2025?
A) Nitin Gadkari
B) Pankaj Kumar Singh
C) Anurag Thakur
D) Jyotiraditya Scindia
E) Hardeep Singh Puri
Answer: B) Pankaj Kumar Singh
39. Under which initiative is the MAR-a-THON 2025 organized?
A) Digital India Initiative
B) Sagarmala Start-up Innovation Initiative
C) Atmanirbhar Bharat Initiative
D) Maritime India Vision 2030
E) Startup India Program
Answer: B) Sagarmala Start-up Innovation Initiative
40. Which of the following is NOT a demonstration event at the Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025?
A) Shikara Race
B) Dragon Boat Race
C) Water Skiing
D) Rowing
E) None of the above
Answer: D) Rowing
Current Affairs Today: 27,28 August 2025
India’s Food Aid and Humanitarian Efforts
In August 2025, the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) of India and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to cooperate on global food security.1 India has committed to supplying up to 200,000 metric tonnes of fortified rice over the next five years to help address global hunger.2 This initiative highlights India’s transition from a food-scarce nation to a global supplier of humanitarian food aid.3
Pension Scheme Switch for Central Government Employees
The Ministry of Finance introduced a one-time, one-way switch facility for central government employees to move from the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) to the National Pension System (NPS).4 The option is available until September 30, 2025.5 Key conditions include:
- Employees must exercise this option at least one year before superannuation or three months before voluntary retirement.6
- The switch is permanent, and employees cannot revert to the UPS.7
- The government will credit its 4% differential contribution to the employee’s NPS corpus upon exit.8
India’s First National Guidelines for Animal Blood Transfusion
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) has released India’s first comprehensive national guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for animal blood transfusion and blood banks.9 The guidelines aim to address the previous lack of standards for donor screening, blood typing, and storage, which were often conducted only in emergency situations.10 The guidelines mandate blood typing and cross-matching to prevent adverse reactions and establish donor eligibility criteria.11 There are over 537 million livestock animals and more than 125 million companion animals in India, and this sector contributes 5.5% to the national GDP.12
Key Health Initiatives in Madhya Pradesh
Union Minister J.P. Nadda of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched several health welfare initiatives in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. These include the virtual inauguration of new Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) in Sheopur and Singrauli districts.13 Additionally, agreements were signed with private investors to establish new GMCs in four other districts: Betul, Panna, Dhar, and Katni.14 The event also saw the launch of the distribution of 8 lakh Ayushman Bharat: Vay Vandana Cards for senior citizens and the digital initiatives “Ayushman Sakhi” and “Asha Samvaad.”15 Under the state’s Swasthya Yakrit Mission, liver screening of 1 crore people has been completed.16
OpenAI’s Learning Accelerator in India
OpenAI launched India’s first Learning Accelerator in collaboration with IIT-Madras to empower educators and students with AI tools.17 As part of this initiative, OpenAI has committed $500,000 (approximately Rs. 4.5 crores) to IIT-Madras for long-term research on AI’s impact on education.18 The organization will also distribute approximately 5 lakh free ChatGPT licenses to teachers and students in government schools and AICTE-regulated institutions over six months.19 OpenAI’s first office in India will be located in New Delhi.20
‘MAR-a-THON 2025’ Maritime Hackathon
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), in partnership with IIT Madras, the National Maritime Complex (NMC), and the Chennai Port Authority (ChPA), launched ‘MAR-a-THON 2025.’ The maritime hackathon aims to promote research and entrepreneurship in the maritime sector.21 The application window for startups is open from August 25 to September 29, 2025, and the hackathon will take place from October 16 to 18, 2025.22 Selected startups can receive funding up to Rs. 10 lakhs for a Proof of Concept (PoC), Rs. 60 lakhs for seed funding, and Rs. 1 Crore for a tech pilot grant.
High-Level Committees to Commemorate National Icons
The Government of India has formed three High-Level Committees to commemorate the 150th birth anniversaries of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Birsa Munda, and the 100th birth centenary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.23 Each committee will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.24 The committee for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel has 124 members, the committee for Birsa Munda has 118 members, and the committee for Atal Bihari Vajpayee has 124 members.
Government Appoints Goldman Sachs for Bank Divestment
The Government of India has appointed Goldman Sachs as the sole transaction advisor for the divestment of stakes in four Public Sector Banks (PSBs): Indian Overseas Bank (IOB), Central Bank of India (CBI), UCO Bank, and Punjab & Sind Bank.25 The government holds over 90% equity in each of these banks and plans to divest up to 5% of its stake.26 This move is part of the strategy to comply with the Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (SEBI) 25% minimum public shareholding requirement by the August 1, 2026 deadline.
New Offerings from TATA AIA Life Insurance
TATA AIA Life Insurance has launched two new products: the ‘Health Systematic Investment Plan (SIP)’ and the ‘Health Buddy’ Application.27 The Health SIP is a non-participating Unit-Linked Health Insurance Plan that provides zero premium allocation charges and allows tax-free withdrawals from the 6th policy year.28 The plan covers critical illnesses with a maximum premium lock-in period of 30 years. The Health Buddy App is a 24/7 virtual health and wellness companion providing access to services across 24+ medical specialties.29
New Appointments in RVNL and NDB
- Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL): S.C. Jain, an Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE) officer, has been appointed to take on the additional charge of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of RVNL, a Navratna Public Sector Undertaking.30 He succeeds Pradeep Gaur, who superannuated on August 31, 2025.31
- New Development Bank (NDB): The Board of Governors of the NDB has appointed Dr. Rajiv Ranjan as its new Vice-President (VP) and Chief Risk Officer (CRO) for a five-year term.32 He previously served as an Executive Director and a member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).33
Inaugural Khelo India Water Sports Festival
The first-ever Khelo India Water Sports Festival (KIWSF) 2025 was held at Dal Lake in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, from August 21 to 23.34 Over 500 athletes from 28 States and Union Territories participated.35 Madhya Pradesh topped the medal tally with a total of 18 medals (10 golds, 3 silvers, and 5 bronzes).36 The event included 24 medal events in rowing, canoeing, and kayaking.
World Youth Archery Championships 2025
The 19th edition of the World Youth Archery Championships was held in Winnipeg, Canada, with 570 archers from 63 countries participating.37 India’s contingent of 24 members secured a total of 8 medals (4 golds, 2 silvers, and 2 bronzes), placing them second overall in the medal standings but tying for the most gold medals with the United States.38 South Korea topped the overall tally with 17 medals.
Book Release: “Secession of the Successful”
Political commentator Sanjay Baru’s book, “Secession of the Successful: The Flight Out of New India,” has been released.39 The book discusses a new wave of Indian migration, driven by wealth and privilege.40 According to the book, from 2011 to 2023, nearly 1.9 million Indians renounced their citizenship. In 2022, over 2.25 lakh Indians renounced citizenship, and in 2023, the number was 2.16 lakh.41 The author categorizes these migrants into four groups.
Delhi and Oslo Launch ‘DOSTI’ E-Mobility Initiative
Delhi and Oslo have launched a joint initiative called the Delhi-Oslo Smart Transport Initiative (DOSTI) to accelerate the adoption of urban e-mobility solutions.42 The partnership aims to increase Delhi’s electric bus fleet from the current 3,400 to approximately 6,000 by 2025 and further to 7,000–8,000 by February 2026.43 The collaboration will enable the cities to share expertise in areas such as electric bus deployment and charging infrastructure.44
Govt Forms Panels for 150th Birth Anniversaries of Patel & Birsa, Vajpayee