NATIONAL AFFAIRS
1. What is the total project outlay for the Lucknow Metro Rail Project Phase-1B approved by the Union Cabinet?
A) Rs. 3,500 crore
B) Rs. 4,200 crore
C) Rs. 5,801 crore
D) Rs. 6,500 crore
E) Rs. 7,200 crore
C) Rs. 5,801 crore
2. How many stations are included in the Lucknow Metro Rail Project Phase-1B?
A) 8
B) 10
C) 12
D) 14
E) 16
C) 12
3. What is the installed capacity of the Tato-II Hydro Electric Project in Shi Yomi District, Arunachal Pradesh?
A) 500 MW
B) 600 MW
C) 700 MW
D) 800 MW
E) 900 MW
C) 700 MW
4. What is the annual energy generation capacity of the Tato-II Hydro Electric Project?
A) 1,500 million Units
B) 2,738.06 million Units
C) 3,000 million Units
D) 3,500 million Units
E) 4,000 million Units
B) 2,738.06 million Units
5. How much insurance payout was digitally transferred to farmers under the PMFBY in August 2025?
A) Rs. 1,500 crore
B) Rs. 2,500 crore
C) Rs. 3,200 crore
D) Rs. 4,000 crore
E) Rs. 5,000 crore
C) Rs. 3,200 crore
6. Which state received the highest insurance payout under the PMFBY in August 2025?
A) Rajasthan
B) Madhya Pradesh
C) Chhattisgarh
D) Uttar Pradesh
E) Maharashtra
B) Madhya Pradesh
7. What is the primary objective of the SHRESTH Index launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare?
A) To improve healthcare infrastructure
B) To enhance state drug regulatory systems
C) To promote medical tourism
D) To develop new pharmaceutical products
E) To regulate hospital pricing
B) To enhance state drug regulatory systems
8. How many indices are included in the SHRESTH Index for Manufacturing States?
A) 20
B) 23
C) 25
D) 27
E) 30
D) 27
9. What is the purpose of the agreement between UIDAI and the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI)?
A) To develop new Aadhaar cards
B) To enhance the security and reliability of Aadhaar operations
C) To promote digital payments
D) To improve voter ID systems
E) To create a national statistical database
B) To enhance the security and reliability of Aadhaar operations
10. How long is the UIDAI-ISI agreement for joint R&D valid?
A) 3 years
B) 4 years
C) 5 years
D) 6 years
E) 7 years
C) 5 years
11. Under what condition can an OCI cardholder’s registration be canceled as per the new MHA rules?
A) Failure to renew the OCI card every 5 years
B) Conviction with imprisonment of 2 years or more
C) Residing outside India for more than 3 years
D) Non-compliance with tax regulations
E) Failure to register with local authorities
B) Conviction with imprisonment of 2 years or more
12. When was the OCI scheme introduced by the Government of India?
A) January 2000
B) August 2005
C) March 2010
D) July 2015
E) September 2020
B) August 2005
13. Where was India’s first AI-enabled drone-based cloud seeding experiment launched?
A) Udaipur, Rajasthan
B) Jamwa Ramgarh Dam, Rajasthan
C) Bhakra Nangal Dam, Punjab
D) Tehri Dam, Uttarakhand
E) Hirakud Dam, Odisha
B) Jamwa Ramgarh Dam, Rajasthan
14. Which chemical is used in the AI-enabled drone-based cloud seeding experiment in Rajasthan?
A) Silver Iodide
B) Sodium Chloride
C) Calcium Carbonate
D) Potassium Nitrate
E) Ammonium Sulfate
B) Sodium Chloride
15. Where was India’s first 2×25 kV electric traction substation commissioned under Mission Raftaar?
A) Mumbai-Pune section, Maharashtra
B) Nagda-Khachrod section, Madhya Pradesh
C) Chennai-Bengaluru section, Tamil Nadu
D) Delhi-Kanpur section, Uttar Pradesh
E) Kolkata-Howrah section, West Bengal
B) Nagda-Khachrod section, Madhya Pradesh
16. What is the purpose of Mission Raftaar introduced by Indian Railways?
A) To electrify all railway tracks
B) To increase the average speed of freight trains
C) To reduce railway accidents
D) To modernize railway stations
E) To introduce high-speed trains
B) To increase the average speed of freight trains
BANKING & FINANCE
17. What approval did Paytm Payments Services Limited (PPSL) receive from the RBI in August 2025?
A) Approval to operate as a bank
B) In-principle approval to operate as an Online Payment Aggregator
C) Approval to issue credit cards
D) Approval to launch a new digital wallet
E) Approval to operate as a stock exchange
B) In-principle approval to operate as an Online Payment Aggregator
18. What is the deadline for PPSL to submit the system audit report after receiving RBI’s in-principle approval?
A) 3 months
B) 6 months
C) 9 months
D) 12 months
E) 18 months
B) 6 months
19. What new investment option was allowed by the RBI for NRIs holding Special Rupee Vostro Accounts in August 2025?
A) Investment in mutual funds
B) Investment in Government Securities and Treasury Bills
C) Investment in real estate
D) Investment in cryptocurrency
E) Investment in corporate bonds
B) Investment in Government Securities and Treasury Bills
20. When were Special Rupee Vostro Accounts (SRVAs) introduced for international trade settlement?
A) July 2020
B) July 2021
C) July 2022
D) July 2023
E) July 2024
C) July 2022
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
21. What was India’s retail inflation rate in July 2025, as reported by the National Statistics Office?
A) 1.18%
B) 1.55%
C) 2.05%
D) 2.10%
E) 3.00%
B) 1.55%
22. What was the food inflation rate in July 2025?
A) 1.18%
B) 1.74%
C) 1.76%
D) 1.90%
E) 2.05%
C) 1.76%
23. What is the investment amount for the 700 MW wind energy project by Tata Power and Suzlon in Andhra Pradesh?
A) Rs. 4,000 crore
B) Rs. 5,000 crore
C) Rs. 6,000 crore
D) Rs. 7,000 crore
E) Rs. 8,000 crore
C) Rs. 6,000 crore
24. What is the annual energy generation capacity of the 700 MW wind energy project in Andhra Pradesh?
A) 1,200 million units
B) 1,840 million units
C) 2,000 million units
D) 2,500 million units
E) 3,000 million units
B) 1,840 million units
25. Which Indian company became the first to join the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) in August 2025?
A) Tata Steel
B) Hindustan Zinc Limited
C) Vedanta Limited
D) NMDC Limited
E) JSW Steel
B) Hindustan Zinc Limited
26. Where is the headquarters of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) located?
A) New York, USA
B) London, United Kingdom
C) Geneva, Switzerland
D) Paris, France
E) Sydney, Australia
B) London, United Kingdom
ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS
27. Which company is being acquired by ADSTL and Prime Aero through their joint venture, Horizon Solutions Limited?
A) Air Works
B) Indamer Technics Private Limited
C) GMR Aero Technic
D) HAL Aerospace
E) Bharat Dynamics Limited
B) Indamer Technics Private Limited
28. Where is the MRO facility of Indamer Technics Private Limited located?
A) Hyderabad, Telangana
B) Bengaluru, Karnataka
C) MIHAN SEZ, Nagpur, Maharashtra
D) Chennai, Tamil Nadu
E) Ahmedabad, Gujarat
C) MIHAN SEZ, Nagpur, Maharashtra
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
29. Which organization announced the selection of the PixxelSpace India-led consortium for India’s first indigenous EO satellite constellation?
A) ISRO
B) IN-SPACe
C) DRDO
D) BARC
E) CSIR
B) IN-SPACe
30. How many satellites are planned for India’s first indigenous commercial EO satellite constellation?
A) 8
B) 10
C) 12
D) 14
E) 16
C) 12
31. What is the total investment planned by the PixxelSpace India-led consortium for the EO satellite constellation?
A) Rs. 800 crore
B) Rs. 1,000 crore
C) Rs. 1,200 crore
D) Rs. 1,500 crore
E) Rs. 2,000 crore
C) Rs. 1,200 crore
32. Which satellite was launched by Arianespace’s Ariane 6 in August 2025?
A) CSO-3
B) Metop-SGA1
C) Sentinel-3
D) INSAT-3DR
E) EOS-08
B) Metop-SGA1
33. What is the altitude of the Sun-Synchronous Orbit where the Metop-SGA1 satellite was deployed?
A) 500 km
B) 600 km
C) 700 km
D) 800 km
E) 900 km
D) 800 km
IMPORTANT DAYS
34. What is the theme of World Organ Donation Day 2025?
A) Saving Lives Together
B) Answering the Call
C) Donate for a Better Tomorrow
D) Organ Donation for All
E) Unity in Giving
B) Answering the Call
35. When was the world’s first successful living donor kidney transplant performed?
A) 1950
B) 1954
C) 1960
D) 1965
E) 1970
B) 1954
36. Who initiated the International Left Handers Day?
A) Joseph E. Murray
B) Dean R. Campbell
C) Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis
D) Dereck Joubert
E) Patricia Sims
B) Dean R. Campbell
37. What is the rare gene variant linked to left-handedness?
A) BRCA1
B) TUBB4B
C) CFTR
D) APOE
E) HLA-B27
B) TUBB4B
STATE NEWS
38. What is the purpose of the Thayumanavar Thittam scheme launched by Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin?
A) To provide free healthcare to elderly citizens
B) To deliver essential ration items to elderly and disabled persons
C) To promote digital education in rural areas
D) To improve public transportation
E) To support women entrepreneurs
B) To deliver essential ration items to elderly and disabled persons
39. How many Fair Price Shops are involved in implementing the Thayumanavar Thittam scheme in Tamil Nadu?
A) 20,000
B) 25,000
C) 30,000
D) 34,809
E) 40,000
D) 34,809
40. What is the annual expenditure for the Thayumanavar Thittam scheme?
A) Rs. 20.16 crore
B) Rs. 25.50 crore
C) Rs. 30.16 crore
D) Rs. 35.00 crore
E) Rs. 40.00 crore
C) Rs. 30.16 crore
Current Affairs Today: 14 August 2025
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
- Cabinet Approvals on August 12, 2025
- Lucknow Metro Rail Project (Phase-1B):
- Approval: Phase-1B approved for 11.165 km (7 underground, 5 elevated stations) in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
- Outlay: Rs. 5,801 crore.
- Impact: Expands Lucknow’s metro network to 34 km upon completion; enhances urban mobility.
- Tato-II Hydro Electric Project (700 MW):
- Approval: CCEA approved Rs. 8,146.21 crore for 700 MW (4 x 175 MW) project in Shi Yomi, Arunachal Pradesh.
- Details: Implemented by NEEPCO-Arunachal Pradesh JV; 2,738.06 MU annual energy; completion in 72 months.
- Significance: Boosts clean energy, regional development in Northeast.
- Lucknow Metro Rail Project (Phase-1B):
- PMFBY: Rs. 3,200 Crore Disbursed to Farmers
- Event: August 2025; Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan (MoAFW) announced Rs. 3,200 crore DBT to 35 lakh farmers in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, marking 9 years of PMFBY.
- Details:
- Disbursal: First installment; Rs. 8,000 crore to follow.
- State-wise: Madhya Pradesh (Rs. 1,156 crore), Rajasthan (Rs. 1,121 crore), Chhattisgarh (Rs. 150 crore), others (Rs. 773 crore).
- Penalty: 12% penalty for delays by states/insurers from Kharif 2025.
- PMFBY: Launched February 18, 2016; protects against crop failure due to natural calamities, pests, diseases.
- Continuation: Approved till 2025-26 (Rs. 69,515.71 crore budget).
- Significance: Enhances farmer financial security, promotes agricultural resilience.
- SHRESTH Initiative Launched for Drug Quality
- Event: August 2025; MoHFW Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava launched ‘SHRESTH’ Index virtually in New Delhi.
- Details:
- Objective: Benchmark state drug regulatory systems; proposed by CDSCO.
- Indices: 27 for manufacturing states, 23 for PDS/UTs across human resources, infrastructure, licensing, surveillance, responsiveness.
- Timeline: States submit data by 25th monthly; scored by 1st of next month.
- Key Attendees: Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi (DCGI), Vijay Nehra, Nikhil Gajraj (Joint Secretaries, MoHFW).
- Significance: Ensures safe, effective drugs; drives digitization, regulatory excellence.
- UIDAI-ISI Agreement for Aadhaar R&D
- Event: August 12, 2025; 5-year MoU between UIDAI (MeitY) and ISI (MoSPI) for Aadhaar enhancement.
- Details:
- Signatories: Tanusree Deb Barma (UIDAI), Prof. B.S. Daya Sagar (ISI); witnessed by Bhuvnesh Kumar (UIDAI CEO), Puja Singh Mandol (MoSPI).
- Focus: Fraud/anomaly detection, biometric liveness tools, high-risk category identification, biometric matching improvements.
- Significance: Leverages ISI’s statistical expertise to enhance Aadhaar’s security, reliability; supports 1.3 billion+ Aadhaar holders.
- MHA Tightens OCI Card Rules
- Event: August 2025; MHA issued notification under Citizenship Act, 1955, and Citizenship Rules, 2009.
- Details:
- Revocation Criteria: OCI registration cancellable if cardholder is imprisoned for 2+ years or named in chargesheet for 7+ years imprisonment (India/abroad).
- OCI Scheme: Launched August 2005 for persons of Indian origin (citizens/eligible on January 26, 1950).
- Significance: Strengthens oversight, aligns with national security.
- Rajasthan’s AI-Enabled Drone Cloud Seeding
- Event: August 12, 2025; launched by Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena at Jamwa Ramgarh Dam, Rajasthan.
- Details:
- Purpose: Rejuvenate Ramgarh Lake, address water crisis.
- Tech: 60 AI-powered drones (GenX AI’s Hydro Trace platform); use sodium chloride (NaCl) for cloud seeding; real-time data, satellite imagery.
- Approvals: DGCA, IMD, district authorities, Agriculture Department.
- Significance: India’s first AI-driven cloud seeding; enhances water security, agricultural sustainability.
- Western Railway’s 2×25 kV Traction Substation
- Event: August 2025; India’s first 2×25 kV substation commissioned at Nagda-Khachrod (Ratlam, MP) under Mission Raftaar.
- Details:
- Specs: Two 100 MVA Scott-connected transformers for efficient OHE power supply.
- Execution: By WR’s Electrical Engineering, Construction, TRD teams, and BNC Power Projects.
- Mission Raftaar: Launched 2016-17 to increase freight train speeds.
- Significance: Enhances energy efficiency, traction power, train speeds.
BANKING & FINANCE
- PPSL Receives RBI Approval as Online PA
- Event: August 2025; Paytm Payments Services Limited (PPSL) gets ‘in-principle’ RBI approval under PSS Act, 2007.
- Details:
- Allows resumption of merchant onboarding.
- Conditions: System/cybersecurity audit within 6 months; prior approval for shareholding changes.
- Significance: Revives PPSL’s payment aggregator role; boosts digital payment ecosystem.
- RBI Allows NRIs to Invest SRVA Surplus in G-Secs/T-Bills
- Event: August 2025; effective immediately under FEMA, 1999 (Sections 10(4), 11(1)).
- Details:
- NRIs/foreign entities with SRVAs can invest surplus rupee balances in G-Secs, T-Bills.
- SRVA: Introduced July 2022 for INR trade settlement; reduces hard currency dependency.
- Master Direction: Updated RBI (Non-Resident Investment in Debt Instruments) Directions, 2025.
- AD Cat-I Banks: Directed to inform clients.
- Significance: Promotes rupee internationalization, financial stability.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
- India’s Retail Inflation at 8-Year Low
- Event: August 12, 2025; NSO (MoSPI) reported CPI inflation at 1.55% (July 2025), lowest since June 2017.
- Details:
- Down from 2.10% (June 2025); below RBI’s 4% target for 6th month.
- Food Inflation: 1.76% (lowest since January 2019); urban (1.74%), rural (1.90%).
- Headline Inflation: Rural (1.18%), urban (2.05%).
- Significance: Reflects stable prices, controlled food inflation; supports economic growth.
- Tata Power-Suzlon 700 MW Wind Project
- Event: August 2025; TPREL and Suzlon Energy signed Rs. 6,000 crore deal for 700 MW wind project in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh.
- Details:
- Part of March 2025 MoU (7 GW RE; Rs. 49,000 crore investment).
- Capacity: 1,840 MU annually; includes solar, wind, hybrid projects.
- Significance: First major wind project in AP since 2019; supports RE targets, local manufacturing, jobs.
- Hindustan Zinc Joins ICMM
- Event: August 2025; HZL becomes first Indian firm in ICMM, following Boliden (2021).
- Details:
- ICMM: 25 global mining firms; focuses on ESG, sustainability.
- Assessment: HZL cleared IERP review, approved by CEO Council.
- Commitment: Adheres to 40 ESG performance expectations.
- HZL: World’s largest integrated zinc producer; ranked most sustainable mining firm (S&P Global, 2024).
- Significance: Enhances India’s global mining profile, sustainability focus.
ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS
- ADSTL-Prime Aero to Acquire ITPL
- Event: August 2025; ADSTL and Prime Aero to acquire 100% stake in ITPL via Horizon Solutions (50:50 JV).
- Details:
- ITPL: MRO provider; 30-acre facility at MIHAN SEZ, Nagpur; 15 aircraft bays, 10 hangars.
- Plan: Integrate with Air Works to expand commercial/defence MRO services.
- Significance: Strengthens India’s MRO ecosystem, supports aviation growth.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
- IN-SPACe Selects Pixxel-Led Consortium for EO Constellation
- Event: August 2025; IN-SPACe selected PixxelSpace India-led consortium (Piersight, Satsure, Dhruva) for India’s first commercial EO satellite constellation.
- Details:
- Investment: Rs. 1,200 crore over 5 years; 12 satellites (panchromatic, multispectral, hyperspectral, SAR).
- PPP Model: GoI provides technical/policy support; consortium handles manufacturing, operations, data services.
- Applications: Climate monitoring, disaster management, agriculture, infrastructure, security, urban planning.
- Significance: Reduces foreign data dependency, ensures data sovereignty; targets USD 44B space economy by 2033.
- Ariane 6 Launches Metop-SGA1
- Event: August 2025; Arianespace’s Ariane 6 launched Metop-SGA1 from Kourou, French Guiana (2nd commercial mission).
- Details:
- Satellite: EUMETSAT’s weather/climate monitoring satellite; SSO at 800 km; built by Airbus Defence and Space.
- Features: Six instruments for optical, infrared, microwave observations; hosts ESA’s Sentinel-5 (Copernicus air quality/GHG monitoring).
- Significance: Enhances global weather forecasting, climate monitoring.
IMPORTANT DAYS
- World Organ Donation Day – August 13, 2025
- Theme: “Answering the Call.”
- Details:
- Commemorates first kidney transplant (1954, Dr. Joseph E. Murray, Boston).
- Nobel Prize: Murray and E. Donnall Thomas (1990, Physiology/Medicine).
- Significance: Promotes organ donation awareness, saves lives.
- International Left Handers Day – August 13, 2025
- Details:
- Celebrates 10% of population (left-handers); addresses design/education challenges.
- Origin: Initiated 1976 by Dean R. Campbell; globally recognized 1992 (Left Handers International).
- Genetics: TUBB4B gene (2.7x in left-handers); 25% heritability; right hemisphere dominance.
- Traits: Linked to schizophrenia, autism; sinistrophobia (fear of left-handedness).
- Significance: Promotes inclusivity for left-handers.
- Details:
STATE NEWS
- Tamil Nadu’s Thayumanavar Thittam
- Event: August 2025; CM M.K. Stalin launched scheme in Chepauk-Triplicane, Chennai.
- Details:
- Purpose: Doorstep delivery of ration items (rice, sugar, wheat, palmolein oil, toor dal) for 21.7 lakh elderly (70+) and disabled.
- Implementation: 34,809 FPS; 20.42 lakh elderly, 1.27 lakh disabled; delivered 2nd Saturday/Sunday monthly via Aadhaar-authenticated e-POS.
- Cost: Rs. 30.16 crore annually.
- Significance: Enhances accessibility, supports vulnerable populations.