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Q 7. Ujjain was historically associated with which Mahajanapada?

Q 6. The blue-footed booby is particularly vulnerable to El Niño because El Niño can:

Q 5. The term “enervating” most closely means:

Q 4. The sinking of MSC Elsa 3 occurred off the coast of:

Q 3. Puli Kali, a traditional tiger dance, is primarily associated with which Indian state?

Q 2. Meghalaya's controversial traditional mining practice historically associated with coal extraction is known as:

Q 1. The Mahadayi River dispute primarily involves which states?

Now MCQ's based on today’s news👇

• Current Affairs: The term enervating disorder refers to conditions that severely drain physical or mental energy, highlighting the importance of identifying underlying causes of persistent fatigue. • Factual: “Enervating” means weakening, exhausting or reducing vitality. • Factual: Persistent fatigue can be associated with several underlying physiological, psychological or lifestyle-related factors and should not automatically be treated as a single disease. 18. CAG Flags Shortcomings in Green India Mission • Current Affairs: The CAG’s 2026 performance audit flagged major shortcomings in the Green India Mission, examining implementation across 16 States/UTs during 2015–16 to 2024–25. • Factual: Green India Mission is one of the eight missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). • Factual: Its objectives include increasing forest/tree cover, improving ecosystem services and enhancing carbon sequestration. 19. Railway Stations: CAG Finds Major Infrastructure Gaps • Current Affairs: A CAG audit found that around 89% of audited railway stations lacked minimum essential passenger amenities, while water-quality problems were also identified. • Factual: The audit covered 512 railway stations. • Factual: Samples from several stations showed contamination including E. coli/coliform bacteria, raising concerns over drinking-water safety. 20. FAST-DS: Foreign Assets Disclosure Scheme • Current Affairs: The Foreign Assets of Small Taxpayers–Disclosure Scheme (FAST-DS), 2026 was introduced to provide eligible taxpayers a limited opportunity to regularise previously undisclosed foreign assets/income. • Factual: FAST-DS is linked to the Finance Act, 2026 and the framework governing undisclosed foreign assets. • Factual: The broader legal framework for undisclosed foreign income and assets is provided by the Black Money Act, 2015. 21. India’s Space Launch Costs Remain High Per Kilogram • Current Affairs: A recent comparative study estimated India’s average cost of placing a kilogram into orbit at about $13,302/kg, higher than the corresponding estimates for the US, China, Russia, Japan and Europe. • Factual: India’s comparatively high figure is linked partly to low launch frequency and small rocket/payload sizes, which make fixed costs harder to spread across payload mass. • Factual: India is simultaneously seeking to reduce launch costs through higher payload capacity, reusable technologies and greater private-sector participation. 22. BCG Vaccine Offers Clues About Alzheimer’s Immunity • Current Affairs: A 2026 study found that BCG vaccination produced trained-immunity-like changes in immune cells in cerebrospinal fluid and altered Alzheimer’s-related biomarkers in older adults. • Factual: BCG stands for Bacillus Calmette–Guérin and is primarily used as a vaccine against tuberculosis. • Factual: The study involved small, open-label trials; researchers stressed that larger controlled studies are required before BCG can be considered an Alzheimer’s treatment or preventive measure. 23. Science Snapshots: Webb, Hibernation and EV Emissions • Current Affairs: Recent science developments include JWST observations of extremely distant black holes, research into memory preservation during animal hibernation, and studies assessing electric vehicles through lifecycle emissions rather than only tailpipe emissions. JWST has, for example, enabled astronomers to measure a dormant supermassive black hole around 10 billion light-years away. • Factual: The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) primarily observes the universe in infrared wavelengths, allowing it to study very distant and early cosmic objects. • Factual: EV environmental impact depends on the entire lifecycle—including electricity generation, battery/material production, vehicle manufacture, use and end-of-life—not merely the absence of tailpipe emissions.

• Current Affairs: The sinking of the Liberian-flagged MSC Elsa 3 off Kerala has triggered scrutiny over vessel stability, certification and regulatory oversight. A preliminary investigation highlighted serious stability-related concerns. • Factual: MSC Elsa 3 sank off the Kerala coast on 25 May 2025 while sailing from Vizhinjam towards Kochi. • Factual: The Indian Navy and Coast Guard participated in the rescue operation, while containers subsequently posed navigational and environmental hazards. 10. Hara Mangrove Forests and Coastal Ecology • Current Affairs: Hara mangrove forests have drawn attention in the context of mangrove conservation, coastal protection and the role of blue-carbon ecosystems. • Factual: Mangroves are salt-tolerant ecosystems found mainly in intertidal coastal zones. • Factual: Mangroves help reduce coastal erosion, storm-surge impacts and carbon emissions while providing nursery habitats for fish and other marine organisms. 11. Blue-footed Booby and El Niño • Current Affairs: The blue-footed booby is an important indicator of how El Niño-induced changes in marine productivity can affect seabirds and their food supply. • Factual: The blue-footed booby is a marine bird associated particularly with the eastern Pacific, including the Galápagos region. • Factual: During El Niño, warming of eastern/central Pacific waters can reduce nutrient-rich upwelling, affecting fish populations and consequently seabirds. 12. Puli Kali: Kerala’s Traditional Tiger Dance • Current Affairs: Puli Kali, Kerala’s traditional tiger dance, continues to represent the state’s distinctive folk-cultural heritage. • Factual: Puli Kali literally refers to a performance involving tiger-like painted performers and is especially associated with Thrissur. • Factual: It is traditionally performed during the Onam festival. 13. Ashoka-era Stupa at Ujjain • Current Affairs: Archaeological findings associated with an ancient Buddhist stupa at Ujjain have renewed interest in the city’s importance during the Mauryan and early Buddhist periods. • Factual: Ashoka was the Mauryan emperor who played a major role in the spread of Buddhism after the Kalinga War. • Factual: Ujjain was an important ancient urban centre and was associated with the Avanti Mahajanapada. 14. E10 Fuel and Ethanol Blending • Current Affairs: E10 represents the continuing expansion of ethanol blending in petrol as India seeks to reduce crude-oil imports and promote renewable fuels. • Factual: E10 contains up to 10% ethanol blended with petrol. • Factual: Ethanol blending can reduce dependence on imported petroleum and create additional demand for agricultural feedstocks. 15. India’s ‘Sweet Revolution’ and Beekeeping • Current Affairs: India’s Sweet Revolution seeks to expand beekeeping and honey production as a means of increasing farmer income and supporting agricultural productivity. • Factual: The National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) was launched to promote scientific beekeeping and the development of the honey sector. • Factual: Honeybees contribute to pollination, thereby improving the productivity of several crops besides producing honey and other hive products. 16. HPV Vaccination and Cervical Cancer Prevention • Current Affairs: India launched a nationwide HPV vaccination campaign on 28 February 2026, targeting approximately 1.2 crore eligible 14-year-old girls. • Factual: HPV, or human papillomavirus, is the major cause of cervical cancer. • Factual: HPV vaccination is primarily a preventive intervention and is most effective when administered before exposure to HPV. 17. Enervating Disorder and Persistent Fatigue

1. PM Modi’s 80th Independence Day Address • Current Affairs: In his 2026 Independence Day address, PM Modi highlighted national development, self-reliance, security, infrastructure and India’s long-term economic ambitions. • Factual: India’s Independence Day is observed on 15 August, commemorating independence from British rule in 1947. • Factual: The Prime Minister traditionally addresses the nation from the Red Fort in New Delhi. 2. Agniveer Scheme and India’s Military Recruitment • Current Affairs: The Agnipath system continues to remain significant in discussions on military recruitment, manpower structure and the future role of Agniveers in India’s armed forces. • Factual: The Agnipath scheme was introduced in 2022 for recruitment into the three armed forces. • Factual: Agniveers generally serve for four years, after which up to 25% of a batch may be retained for regular service, subject to requirements and selection. 3. J&K Reservation Policy and Representation • Current Affairs: Changes and debates surrounding Jammu & Kashmir’s reservation framework have renewed attention on representation of different social and regional groups. • Factual: Reservation in J&K is governed through provisions made under the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004, and subsequent amendments. • Factual: The Union Territory has reservation provisions covering categories including SCs, STs and socially/economically disadvantaged groups. 4. India–GCC Partnership and Employment Opportunities • Current Affairs: India–Gulf cooperation is increasingly focusing not only on trade and energy but also on employment, skills, mobility and human-resource partnerships, with projections of around 12 lakh additional GCC-related job opportunities by 2031. • Factual: GCC stands for Gulf Cooperation Council and comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. • Factual: The GCC is particularly important to India for energy security, remittances, trade and employment opportunities. 5. Fugitive Criminals and Extradition • Current Affairs: India continues to pursue stronger international cooperation for bringing fugitives accused of economic and other serious crimes back to the country. • Factual: Extradition is the formal process through which one country transfers a person accused or convicted of an offence to another country for prosecution or punishment. • Factual: India’s principal domestic legislation dealing with extradition is the Extradition Act, 1962. 6. Bashar al-Assad Sentenced to Death in Syria • Current Affairs: A Syrian court on 11 August 2026 sentenced former President Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia for killings, torture, arbitrary detention and crimes against humanity committed during the civil war. • Factual: Assad was overthrown in December 2024 and subsequently received asylum in Russia. • Factual: A sentence in absentia is delivered when the accused is not physically present before the court. 7. Mahadayi Water Dispute and Diversion Plans • Current Affairs: Karnataka’s plans involving diversion of Mahadayi waters remain contentious, particularly because of opposition from Goa over downstream water availability and ecological concerns. • Factual: The Mahadayi/Mhadei River originates in Karnataka and flows westward into Goa before entering the Arabian Sea. • Factual: The Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal was constituted in 2010 to adjudicate the interstate dispute among Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra. 8. Meghalaya’s Mining Policy and Mineral Regulation • Current Affairs: Meghalaya’s mining policy debate focuses on regulating mineral extraction while addressing environmental degradation, local livelihoods and revenue generation. • Factual: Meghalaya is particularly known for deposits of coal, limestone and uranium. • Factual: Coal mining in Meghalaya has historically been associated with the controversial practice of rat-hole mining, which has significant environmental implications. 9. MSC Elsa 3 Sinking and Maritime Safety

Important points related to these news👆 are given below👇

Here are top headlines (17th August 2026) from The Hindu and The Indian Express: 1. PM Modi's 80th Independence Day Address: Key Announcements and Priorities 2. Agniveer Scheme: Issues Surrounding Recruitment and Service Conditions 3. J&K Reservation Policy: Changes in Quotas and Representation 4. India–GCC Ties: 12 Lakh Jobs Expected by 2031 5. Fugitive Criminals: Challenges in Extradition and International Cooperation 6. Bashar al-Assad Sentenced to Death by a Syrian Court 7. Mahadayi Water Dispute: Karnataka's Diversion Plans and Goa's Concerns 8. Meghalaya's New Mining Policy: Balancing Regulation and Mineral Development 9. MSC Elsa 3 Sinks: Environmental and Maritime Implications 10. Hara Mangrove Forests: Importance of India's Coastal Ecosystems 11. Blue-footed Booby and El Niño: Linking Marine Birds with Climate Variability 12. Puli Kali: Kerala's Traditional Tiger Dance and Cultural Heritage 13. Ashoka-era Stupa Discovered in Ujjain: Archaeological Significance 14. E10 Fuel: Ethanol Blending and India's Energy Transition 15. India's 'Sweet Revolution': Boosting Beekeeping and Honey Production 16. HPV Vaccination: Strengthening India's Fight Against Cervical Cancer 17. Enervating Disorder: Understanding the Causes and Effects of Persistent Fatigue 18. Green India Mission: CAG Flags Major Implementation Failures 19. Railway Stations Audit: CAG Finds Basic Amenities Missing at 89% of Audited Stations 20. FAST-DS: Advancing India's High-Speed Data and Digital Infrastructure 21. India's Space Launch Economics: Study Finds Highest Per-Kg Cost Among Major Space Powers 22. BCG Vaccine and Alzheimer's: New Clues on Immune Protection Against the Disease 23. Science Snapshots: Webb's Black Hole, Hibernating Mice and EV Lifecycle Emissions

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Q 7. Manipur shares an international border with:

Q 6. China refers to Arunachal Pradesh as:

Q 5. The Parliament of India consists of:

Q 4. The Shompen tribe, recently in focus due to the Great Nicobar Project, is classified as a:

Q 3. A sharp rise in India’s merchandise exports would directly affect which of the following?