Introduction

Bank and government exam current affairs from 24–30 August 2026 covered India's first indigenous space station module BAS-01, the BWF World Championships 2026 medal tally, Miss Universe India 2026, and the devastating Nepal flash flood on the Bhote Koshi River — from National Space Day's Chandrayaan-3 legacy to UPI completing 10 years. This weekly current affairs Q&A is built specifically for SSC, UPSC, Banking and State PSC exam preparation: quick, accurate revision instead of another long video to sit through. This roundup covers 25 exam-important current affairs 2026 questions from 24–30 August 2026, each followed by four options, the correct answer, and a short explanation with the key facts you need.

National Affairs & Government Schemes

Q1. In the Work From Anywhere Index 2026, which is the only Indian city featured among the ranked 50 cities?

  • a) Bengaluru
  • b) Mumbai
  • c) Delhi
  • d) Hyderabad

Answer: b) Mumbai

The Work From Anywhere Index 2026, released by the International Workplace Group (IWG), ranked 50 cities worldwide on remote-work readiness factors like broadband speed and workspace quality, and Mumbai was the only Indian city on the Work From Anywhere Index 2026 list — placed last at rank 50. IWG, founded in 1989 and headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, topped the index with Bangkok (Thailand) at rank 1, followed by Tokyo (Japan) and Barcelona (Spain).

Q2. India's first Soil Texture Map has been developed by which organisation?

  • a) Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
  • b) National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS&LUP)
  • c) Geological Survey of India (GSI)
  • d) National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC)

Answer: b) National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS&LUP)

The National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS&LUP) has released India's first Soil Texture Map, prepared at a per-hectare level using field studies, satellite imagery, remote sensing, and AI. India's first Soil Texture Map identifies the proportion of sand, silt, and clay across regions, helping the government plan agriculture and helping farmers identify which crops suit their soil.

Q3. The annual Kausarnag Yatra, associated with Lord Shiva, is held in which Union Territory?

  • a) Ladakh
  • b) Jammu and Kashmir
  • c) Chandigarh
  • d) Puducherry

Answer: b) Jammu and Kashmir

The Kausarnag Yatra is an annual pilgrimage to Kausarnag Lake, a high-altitude lake in the Pir Panjal range of South Kashmir, closely linked to Lord Shiva. This year's Kausarnag Yatra 2026 began from Reasi in Jammu and Kashmir on 21 August 2026, with pilgrims taking a holy dip in the lake at the journey's final stage.

Q4. What is the name of the first module of India's planned space station?

  • a) ISRO-1
  • b) BAS-01
  • c) Gaganyaan-Alpha
  • d) Vyommitra-1

Answer: b) BAS-01

The first module of the Indian Space Station (Bharatiya Antariksh Station), named BAS-01, is being developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The full Indian Space Station will have five modules, expected to be completed by 2035, and will orbit in Low Earth Orbit at an altitude of 400–450 km, hosting 3–4 astronauts for stays of 3–6 months at an estimated cost of ₹1,763 crore.

Q5. The Supreme Court has imposed an interim ban on construction activities near which river?

  • a) Luni River
  • b) Jojari River
  • c) Banas River
  • d) Chambal River

Answer: b) Jojari River

The Supreme Court of India has placed an interim ban on construction and development activity within 100 metres of Rajasthan's Jojari River, and barred hazardous, polluting industries within 500 metres, to protect the river from pollution. The Jojari River, a tributary of the Luni River, flows for about 83 km through Jodhpur district in Rajasthan.

Q6. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched which AI chatbot to inform tribal communities about welfare schemes?

  • a) SEVA
  • b) JANGO
  • c) MITRA
  • d) SAHYOG

Answer: b) JANGO

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched JANGO, an official AI conversational assistant that helps tribal citizens access information about government welfare schemes and initiatives meant for them in their regional languages, improving last-mile awareness of tribal affairs programmes across India.

Q7. Gauri Mahotsav, an over 800-year-old festival organised by the Bhil community, is celebrated in which state?

  • a) Madhya Pradesh
  • b) Gujarat
  • c) Rajasthan
  • d) Maharashtra

Answer: c) Rajasthan

Gauri Mahotsav is celebrated by the Bhil community in the Mewar region of southern Rajasthan, depicting stories of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati through dance and drama. The Gauri Mahotsav festival, over 800 years old and traditionally performed only by Bhil men, begins after Raksha Bandhan and continues for 40 days during the Hindu months of Shravan and Bhadrapada.

Defence

Q8. The Indian Army's first Baaz Drone Battalion has been deployed in which city?

  • a) Amritsar
  • b) Jalandhar
  • c) Pathankot
  • d) Ferozepur

Answer: b) Jalandhar

The Indian Army's 11th Vajra Corps has deployed the country's first Baaz Drone Battalion at Jalandhar Cantonment in Punjab. The Baaz Drone Battalion is equipped with advanced surveillance and neutralisation drones tasked with monitoring the 500-km border with Pakistan.

Q9. What is the name of the second edition of the India-Vietnam joint coast guard exercise held in Chennai in August 2026?

  • a) Sahyog-Kaijin
  • b) Sahyog-Hoptac
  • c) Varuna
  • d) Malabar

Answer: b) Sahyog-Hoptac

The second edition of the India-Vietnam Coast Guard Joint Exercise Sahyog-Hoptac was conducted at sea near Chennai, Tamil Nadu, around 24–27 August 2026, alongside the 7th India-Vietnam Coast Guard High-Level Meeting between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG). The exercise, held under the 2015 MoU on Coast Guard Cooperation, focused on maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, and marine pollution response, with the first Sahyog-Hoptac edition held in 2018.

Banking, Finance & Economy

Q10. UPI (Unified Payment Interface) completed how many years in India as of 25 August 2026?

  • a) 5 years
  • b) 8 years
  • c) 10 years
  • d) 12 years

Answer: c) 10 years

The Unified Payment Interface (UPI), developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), was launched in India on 25 August 2016 and completed 10 years on 25 August 2026. UPI is now operational in 11 countries and, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), is the world's largest real-time retail fast payment system, accounting for about 49% of all real-time payment transactions globally, with ₹314 lakh crore transacted through UPI in FY 2025-26 alone.

Q11. Which state is India's largest sugar-producing state in 2026?

  • a) Uttar Pradesh
  • b) Maharashtra
  • c) Karnataka
  • d) Tamil Nadu

Answer: b) Maharashtra

Maharashtra is India's largest sugar-producing state in 2026 with 9.92 million tonnes, ahead of Uttar Pradesh's 8.92 million tonnes, even though Uttar Pradesh grows more sugarcane overall. India's total sugar production stands at 30.6 million tonnes, making India the world's second-largest sugar producer after Brazil, with Karnataka in third place.

Q12. Asia's largest soap factory, set up by Godrej Consumer Products, is located in which industrial area?

  • a) Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh
  • b) Malanpur, Madhya Pradesh
  • c) Mandideep, Madhya Pradesh
  • d) Dewas, Madhya Pradesh

Answer: b) Malanpur, Madhya Pradesh

Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL) has set up Asia's largest soap factory in the Malanpur industrial area of Madhya Pradesh's Bhind district, at a cost of over ₹450 crore and a capacity to produce 4,000 soaps per minute. Godrej's first soap factory in the same Malanpur region was established in 1991.

International Affairs

Q13. US Ambassador Sergio Gor visited which famous monastery in Ladakh, often called the "mini Potala of Ladakh"?

  • a) Hemis Monastery
  • b) Thiksey Monastery
  • c) Diskit Monastery
  • d) Alchi Monastery

Answer: b) Thiksey Monastery

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor visited Thiksey Monastery, the largest Buddhist monastery in central Ladakh, located about 19 km from Leh. Built in 1433 AD, Thiksey Monastery's architecture resembles Tibet's Potala Palace, earning it the nickname "mini Potala of Ladakh," and it hosts the annual Thiksey Gustor festival and traditional Cham dance.

Q14. What is the name of the US sanctions campaign launched against Iran on 24 August 2026?

  • a) Operation Economic Outcast
  • b) Operation Iron Curtain
  • c) Operation Desert Shield
  • d) Operation Maximum Pressure II

Answer: a) Operation Economic Outcast

The United States launched "Operation Economic Outcast" against Iran on 24 August 2026, imposing fresh economic sanctions and trade restrictions to pressure Iran's economy. The Operation Economic Outcast sanctions campaign is being led by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Q15. The India-Bangladesh Ganga Water Sharing Treaty (Farakka Treaty) was signed in which year?

  • a) 1986
  • b) 1996
  • c) 2001
  • d) 2006

Answer: b) 1996

The Ganga Water Sharing Treaty between India and Bangladesh, also known as the Farakka Treaty after the Farakka Dam in West Bengal, was signed on 12 December 1996 for a 30-year term. The India-Bangladesh Ganga Water Sharing Treaty is now in the news as it is due to expire on 12 December 2026, with both countries discussing renewal terms.

Q16. The devastating flash flood in Nepal on 26 August 2026 was mainly linked to which river?

  • a) Koshi River
  • b) Bhote Koshi River
  • c) Gandak River
  • d) Karnali River

Answer: b) Bhote Koshi River

A glacial lake outburst triggered a massive flash flood in Nepal's Bhote Koshi River on 26 August 2026, after floodwaters from a tributary, the Lende Khola, surged into it. The Bhote Koshi River originates in China and flows into Nepal; India placed its National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) on standby along the Bihar border as a precaution, with Nepal Police confirming 162 deaths as of 27 August.

Sports

Q17. Which country will host the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup?

  • a) Australia
  • b) Brazil
  • c) United States
  • d) South Africa

Answer: b) Brazil

FIFA has announced that Brazil will host the 10th edition of the FIFA Women's World Cup from 24 June to 25 July 2027, featuring 32 teams and 64 matches. The last FIFA Women's World Cup in 2023 was jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand, with Spain winning the title and England finishing runner-up.

Q18. India finished at which position in the medal tally of the BWF World Championships 2026 held in New Delhi?

  • a) 4th
  • b) 5th
  • c) 6th
  • d) 8th

Answer: c) 6th

India finished 6th in the medal tally of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Championships 2026, held in New Delhi from 17–23 August, winning a single bronze medal through Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand in women's doubles. India hosted the BWF World Championships after 17 years, having last done so in 2009, while South Korea topped the table with two golds, followed by France and China.

Q19. East Bengal FC won the 135th Durand Cup 2026 by defeating which team in the final?

  • a) Mohun Bagan Super Giant
  • b) NorthEast United FC
  • c) Bengaluru FC
  • d) Diamond Harbour FC

Answer: a) Mohun Bagan Super Giant

East Bengal FC defeated Mohun Bagan Super Giant to win the 135th edition of the Durand Cup 2026, Asia's oldest and the world's third-oldest football tournament, which began in 1888 in Shimla. The Durand Cup 2026 win was East Bengal's first title since 2004, taking their tally level with Mohun Bagan's at 17 titles each.

Q20. Ethiopian athlete Yomif Kejelcha set a new world record in which event on 23 August 2026?

  • a) Marathon
  • b) Half marathon
  • c) 10,000m
  • d) Steeplechase

Answer: b) Half marathon

Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha set a new half marathon world record of 56 minutes 51 seconds over the 21.0975 km distance at the Media Maratón Ciudad de Buenos Aires in Argentina on 23 August 2026, improving on Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo's previous record of 57:20 by 29 seconds. A faster 56:42 half marathon run by Kiplimo in Barcelona was not ratified as a world record by World Athletics due to course conditions not meeting official standards.

Awards, Recognition & Research

Q21. Who won the Miss Universe India 2026 title, becoming the first woman from Kerala to win it?

  • a) Vaishnavi Ganesh
  • b) Anushri Satavlekar
  • c) Kaziah Liz Mejo
  • d) Manika Vishwakarma

Answer: c) Kaziah Liz Mejo

Kaziah Liz Mejo, a 19-year-old law student from Kerala, won the Miss Universe India 2026 title — the pageant's third edition, held in Jaipur, Rajasthan, where she defeated 52 other contestants out of 53 total — becoming the first woman from Kerala to win Miss Universe India. She will represent India at the 75th Miss Universe pageant, scheduled to be held in Puerto Rico in November 2026.

Q22. Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary, recently identified as a key breeding site for the Black-necked Stork, is located in which state?

  • a) Rajasthan
  • b) Gujarat
  • c) Odisha
  • d) Assam

Answer: b) Gujarat

A study by the Gujarat Ecological Education and Research (GEER) Foundation found four active Black-necked Stork nests at Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary in Gujarat's Jamnagar district between July 2024 and March 2025, with a 100% breeding success rate. The Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary, spread over 605 hectares, has been a Ramsar site since 2022.

Q23. An 1800-year-old idol of Goddess Saraswati found in Madhya Pradesh depicts her playing which ancient instrument?

  • a) Rudra Veena
  • b) Vakra Veena
  • c) Sarangi
  • d) Been

Answer: b) Vakra Veena

An 1800-year-old black sandstone idol of Goddess Saraswati, dated to the 2nd century CE and linked to the Malwa era, was discovered in Mansa town in Madhya Pradesh's Neemuch district. The Saraswati idol depicts the goddess playing the Vakra Veena, an ancient curved stringed instrument.

Important Days

Q24. India observes National Space Day every year on which date?

  • a) 21 August
  • b) 23 August
  • c) 25 August
  • d) 29 August

Answer: b) 23 August

National Space Day is observed every year on 23 August to mark the anniversary of Chandrayaan-3's historic soft landing near the Moon's south pole in 2023, making ISRO and India the first to achieve this feat. First celebrated in 2024, the 2026 National Space Day — the third edition — carried the theme "Towards Viksit Bharat: Innovating, Collaborating, and Aspiring to Global Space Leadership."

Q25. National Sports Day is celebrated on 29 August every year to mark the birth anniversary of which hockey legend?

  • a) Balbir Singh Sr.
  • b) Major Dhyan Chand
  • c) Dhanraj Pillay
  • d) Sardar Singh

Answer: b) Major Dhyan Chand

National Sports Day is celebrated on 29 August, the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand, the "Wizard of Hockey," born in Allahabad (now Prayagraj) in 1905. Major Dhyan Chand was instrumental in India's hockey gold medals at the 1928 Amsterdam, 1932 Los Angeles, and 1936 Berlin Olympics and was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1956; National Sports Day has been observed since 2012 to promote physical fitness among the youth.

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Conclusion & Summary

This week's current affairs reflected India's growing space ambitions with the BAS-01 module, a decade of UPI's digital payments dominance, sporting highlights from the Durand Cup and BWF World Championships, and the Bhote Koshi flash flood's humanitarian impact in Nepal. Bookmark this weekly current affairs page for quick revision before your bank or government exam, and check back every Sunday for the next roundup.