Reading current affairs is only half the job — the real test is whether you can recall it under exam pressure, in MCQ form, months later. That’s exactly why this post is built as a practice set instead of a plain news list. Attempt each question first, then check the explanation, the static GK it connects to, and a related PYQ-style question to see how examiners have tested similar concepts before.

Daily Current Affairs MCQs 24 August 2026

Q1. The Supreme Court has banned all construction activity within how many metres of Rajasthan’s Jojari River?

A) 50 metres
B) 100 metres
C) 200 metres
D) 500 metres

Answer: B) 100 metres

Explanation: A Supreme Court bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta imposed an interim ban on all construction and development activity within 100 metres of the Jojari River’s edge in Rajasthan. As an added safeguard, any polluting or hazardous industrial activity has also been barred within 500 metres of the river’s flood line. The order will stay in force until scientific studies formally demarcate the river’s high flood line and ecological buffer zones. It comes out of an ongoing suo motu case concerning industrial contamination affecting nearly two million people across Jodhpur, Pali, and Barmer.

PYQ connection: Static GK papers frequently ask which rivers merge with which — for instance, “The Luni River drains into which body of water?” (Answer: the Rann of Kutch, since it’s an endorheic river that doesn’t reach the sea). Questions on river-merger geography like this are common in SSC and state PSC prelims.

Q2. National Space Day is observed every year in India on which date?

A) 15 August
B) 21 August
C) 23 August
D) 30 August

Answer: C) 23 August

Explanation: India observed National Space Day on 23 August 2026, marking the anniversary of Chandrayaan-3’s historic soft landing near the Moon’s south pole on 23 August 2023. Alongside this year’s observance, ISRO reaffirmed its pipeline of upcoming launch-vehicle and satellite missions.

PYQ connection: This is a recurring static-cum-current GK combo — expect questions like “Chandrayaan-3’s lander touched down near which lunar region?” (Answer: the Moon’s south polar region) alongside the National Space Day date itself.

Q3. External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar co-chaired which numbered session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission during his August 2026 visit?

A) 25th Session
B) 26th Session
C) 27th Session
D) 28th Session

Answer: C) 27th Session

Explanation: Jaishankar visited Russia from 23–24 August 2026 to co-chair the 27th Session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation, aimed at deepening bilateral ties.

PYQ connection: Bilateral commission/summit numbering questions (“Which session of the India-X commission was held recently?”) are a classic Prelims and SSC CGL Tier-1 pattern — always note the session number alongside the country involved.

Q4. INS Mangrol, recently received by the Indian Navy, is built by which shipyard?

A) Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders
B) Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers
C) Cochin Shipyard Limited
D) Goa Shipyard Limited

Answer: c) Cochin Shipyard Limited

Explanation: Mangrol, the Indian Navy’s third Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), was handed over by Cochin Shipyard Limited on 21 August 2026. The vessel has more than 80% indigenous content, reflecting India’s push toward self-reliance in defence shipbuilding.

PYQ connection: Questions linking naval vessels to their builder shipyards are a staple of defence-related current affairs — e.g., “Which shipyard built India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier?” is a frequently repeated question across SSC and state PSC exams.

Q5. The “Kanda Express,” launched on 24 August 2026, is a dedicated freight service to transport which commodity?

A) Wheat
B) Onions
C) Potatoes
D) Sugar

Answer: B) Onions

Explanation: The Union government launched the Kanda Express to transport onions from Nashik in Maharashtra to major consumption centres including Delhi, Chennai, and Kochi, aiming to stabilise supply chains and reduce price volatility.

PYQ connection: Agricultural-commodity and state-leader-production questions are common in economy-focused GK sections — e.g., “Which state is the largest producer of onions in India?” is a frequently repeated static GK question.

Q6. What is the total financial outlay of the PM Surya Sarovar Yojana approved by the Union Cabinet?

A) ₹3,070 crore
B) ₹4,500 crore
C) ₹5,070 crore
D) ₹6,200 crore

Answer: C) ₹5,070 crore

Explanation: The Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY) carries an outlay of ₹5,070 crore to develop 5,000 MW of floating solar photovoltaic capacity, paired with 10,000 MWh of co-located battery storage, on reservoirs and inland water bodies. It is expected to cut around 10 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually.

PYQ connection: Government scheme MCQs almost always test the “outlay figure + target figure” pair together — practising to recall both numbers as a set (₹5,070 crore ↔ 5,000 MW) makes recall far more reliable under exam pressure.

Q7. Exercise Udara Shakti 2026, which the IAF recently concluded, is a bilateral air combat exercise with which country?

A) Australia
B) Malaysia
C) Singapore
D) Indonesia

Answer: B) Malaysia

Explanation: The Indian Air Force concluded its participation in Exercise Udara Shakti 2026, a biennial tactical air combat exercise conducted jointly with the Royal Malaysian Air Force. This followed the IAF’s earlier deployment at Exercise Pitch Black 2026 in Australia.

PYQ connection: “Match the military exercise with its partner country” is one of the most repeated question formats in SSC and defence-related GK — keeping a running list of exercise-country pairs is the most efficient way to prepare for this.

Q8. Which body released the NEET PG 2026 admit card on 24 August 2026?

A) NTA (National Testing Agency)
B) NBEMS (National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences)
C) MCI (Medical Council of India)
D) UGC (University Grants Commission)

Answer: B) NBEMS (National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences)

Explanation: The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences released the NEET PG 2026 admit card on 24 August 2026. NEET PG is the national entrance exam for admission to postgraduate medical courses in India.

PYQ connection: “Which body conducts which exam” is a frequently tested static GK format — pairing NTA with UG-level exams and NBEMS with PG-level medical exams is a useful memory anchor.

Q9. ICAR registered 16 new indigenous breeds in 2026 through which of its bodies?

A) National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR)
B) National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR)
C) Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI)
D) Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT)

Answer: B) National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR)

Explanation: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), through its National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, registered 16 new indigenous livestock and dog breeds in 2026, supporting conservation of India’s native genetic diversity in animal breeds.

PYQ connection: Questions distinguishing ICAR’s various bureaus by their subject focus (plant vs animal vs fisheries) are a recurring agriculture-GK theme in SSC and state PSC exams.

Q10. India’s Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), whose first module has been approved, is targeted for completion by which year?

A) 2028
B) 2030
C) 2035
D) 2040

Answer: C) 2035

Explanation: India has approved the first module of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), its proposed indigenous space station, with full completion targeted by 2035. This builds on ISRO’s broader human spaceflight ambitions.

PYQ connection: Target-year questions on major national missions (space, energy, infrastructure) are a favourite examiner trick — always pair the mission name with its target completion year rather than memorising the year alone.

Quick Recap Table

These MCQs are compiled from verified government releases and news sources for exam practice. Bookmark this page and check back daily for fresh current affairs quizzes.