Daily Current Affairs โ 15 July 2026
Daily Current Affairs ยท 15 July 2026
10 fully-analysed topics ยท 30 bilingual MCQs ยท 3 embedded videos ยท built for UPSC Prelims & Mains
๐ฏ 30 MCQs
๐ฌ 3 Videos
๐ฎ๐ณ Hindi + English
UPSC Current Affairs MCQ โ 15 July 2026
10 UPSC-standard bilingual MCQs covering today's top stories ยท 10-sec timer per question
Score yourself as you go. Get a feel for how UPSC-level questions are framed around the day's news.
Geography
Evaporation of Monsoon Rain
A study by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, revealed that nearly one-fourth of India's Southwest monsoon rain over the Western Ghats evaporates mid-air before reaching the ground.
- Quantitative Evaporation Rate: On average, 25% of the monsoon rain mass evaporates mid-air over the north Western Ghats during the Southwest monsoonโฆ
- Mechanism and Impact on Weather Systems: When raindrops evaporate below clouds
- For comparison, evaporation rates are roughly 40% over Zurich and 60% near Barbados (where air is drier and drops are smaller).
- When raindrops evaporate while falling, the lighter water molecules evaporate first, leaving behind a higher proportion of heavier isotopes in theโฆ
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- The IITM in Pune operates a nine-site rainwater-isotope network spanning from the Himalayas to the northeast and down to Port Blair in the Andamanโฆ
Which statement correctly describes Evaporation of Monsoon Rain?
โ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
โ Not quite โ that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
History
IMDโs New AI-Driven Weather Forecasting Systems
India Meteorological Department (IMD) unveiled two cutting-edge AI-based weather forecasting tools to provide high-precision
- These developments build upon the Bharat Forecasting System (BharatFS)
- AI-enabled Forecast of Monsoon Advance: It is India's first Artificial Intelligence-based monsoon forecasting system designed to forecast the advanceโฆ
- The system blends AI-based forecasting models, statistical techniques and global weather models using nearly a century of meteorological data
- The States covered fall within the monsoon core zone
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- The initiative marks a major step towards impact-based and decision-support weather forecasting in India.
- The forecasting model was developed using the Mithuna weather model
- The system integrates data from Automatic Rain Gauges
- It aims to support sectors such as agriculture
- About: IMD officially adopted the BharatFS in May 2025
- This marks a major upgrade from existing forecasting models such as the Coupled Forecasting System (CFS) and the Global Forecasting System (GFS)
Which statement correctly describes IMDโs New AI-Driven Weather Forecasting Systems?
โ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
โ Not quite โ that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Economy
States Bear Disproportionate Share of Indiaโs Welfare Spending
The Realising Rights: A Handbook of Welfare in India by Azim Premji University highlights that State governments are bearing a disproportionatelyโฆ
- States bear a disproportionately high share of India's welfare expenditure despite limited fiscal autonomy
- Strengthening cooperative fiscal federalism requires higher untied transfers
- State-Led Welfare (1950sโ1980s): Welfare was linked with planned economic development and poverty reduction through programmes such as the Communityโฆ
- Targeted Welfare (1990s): Following the 1991 economic reforms and growing fiscal constraints
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- Rights-Based Welfare (2000sโ2014): Welfare benefits were transformed into legally enforceable entitlements
- Technology-Driven Welfare (Present): The JAM Trinity and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) enabled targeted and technology-based delivery of welfareโฆ
- Expansion vs. Expenditure Gap: Despite significant coverage expansionโsuch as Anganwadi centres increasing to 14 lakh and subsidized food grainsโฆ
- Social Security Lag: Collective government spending (Union and States) on welfare accounts for roughly 7% of GDP and 21% of total public expenditure
- Disproportionate State Contribution: Combined allocations for selected welfare schemes and sectors stood at Rs 24.20 lakh crore or 6.77% of GDP in FYโฆ
- States account for around 75.2% of total school education expenditure, making them the primary financiers of public education.
Which statement correctly describes States Bear Disproportionate Share of Indiaโsโฆ?
โ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
โ Not quite โ that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Economy
Competitive and Cooperative Federalism
The government has emphasized various initiatives to foster competitive and cooperative federalism and its benefits.
- Competitive Federalism: It is a system of horizontal (state-state) and vertical (Centre-state) competition to attract investment
- State-Level Reforms: Examples of state-specific welfare schemes that operate alongside central schemes include: Rythu Bandhu (Telangana): A directโฆ
- KALIA (Odisha): A farmer assistance scheme complementing the central PM Kisan Yojana.
- Vibrant Gujarat Summit: Focused on attracting global investment.
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- FC's performance-based fund allocation encourages states to work in alignment with national SDGs
- The All India Services (IAS and IPS) enable a uniform governance structure across states.
- The States Reorganization Act, 1956 established five Zonal Councils for regional cooperation, facilitating discussions on inter-state issues.
- 7th Schedule: The Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution divides legislative powers between the Centre and states for effective governance.
- Full Faith and Credit Clause (Article 261): It ensures recognition of public acts
- Inter-State Council (ISC): The ISC, established under Article 263, resolves intergovernmental disputes and became a permanent body on 28th May 1990โฆ
Which statement correctly describes Competitive and Cooperative Federalism?
โ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
โ Not quite โ that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Economy
Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Programme
The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme has completed 50 years since its launch as a pilot in Karnataka
- About: The ICDS is a centrally sponsored flagship programme launched on 2nd October 1975
- Lay the foundation for psychological, physical, and social development.
- Reduce child mortality, morbidity, malnutrition, and school dropouts.
- Strengthen interdepartmental coordination for child development.
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- Significance: ICDS is vital for early childhood development as it tackles malnutrition, improves health outcomes
- By integrating nutrition, health, and education services at the community level, it strengthens human capital, reduces inter-generational povertyโฆ
- About: In FY 2021-22, Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0 was launched as India's flagship Integrated Nutrition Support Programme that integrates keyโฆ
- Supplementary Nutrition for children (6 monthsโ6 years)
- Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE) for children aged 3โ6, with early stimulation for ages 0โ3.
- Upgradation of Anganwadi Infrastructure, including modern Saksham Anganwadi centres.
Which statement correctly describes Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)โฆ?
โ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
โ Not quite โ that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
๐ Indian History MCQ Quiz ยท เคญเคพเคฐเคคเฅเคฏ เคเคคเคฟเคนเคพเคธ
10 bilingual MCQs ยท Indian History ยท Members Only on YouTube
Today's rotation: Indian History. Take this break between news topics to sharpen the core concept.
Economy
Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme
Most economists advocate the conversion of all agricultural subsidies into direct income support i.e., Direct Benefit Transfer to farmers.
- Aim: It has been visioned as an aid for simpler/faster flow of information and funds to the beneficiaries and to reduce the fraud in the deliveryโฆ
- Implementation: It is a mission or an initiative by the government of India started on 1st January 2013 as a way to reform the government deliveryโฆ
- Expanded the Coverage of Services: In a mission-mode approach
- Instant and Easy Money Transfer: It created the Aadhaar Payment Bridge to enable instant money transfers from the government to people's bank accounts
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- Lack of Accessibility: One of the most prominent issues faced by citizens attempting to enroll is the lack of accessibility/proximity to enrolmentโฆ
- Shortage of Facilities: Still there are many rural & tribal areas, which don't have banking facility and road connectivity
- Uncertainties: Delays in accepting and pushing the applications forward
- Disruption in the Process: In terms of receiving money in their bank accounts through DBT
- Systemising Innovation: Empowering innovation system are some of the aspects that would require continued focus
Which statement correctly describes Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme?
โ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
โ Not quite โ that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Economy
15th Finance Commission Recommendations: Resource Allocation
Recently, the government accepted the 15th Finance Commission's recommendation to maintain the States' share in the divisible pool of taxes to 41% for the five-year period starting 2021-22.
- The Commission's Report was tabled in the Parliament.
- The Finance Commission (FC) is a constitutional body
- Under Article 280 of the Constitution, the President of India is required to constitute a Finance Commission at an interval of five years or earlier.
- The 15th Finance Commission was constituted by the President of India in November 2017, under the chairmanship of NK Singh
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- Vertical Devolution (Devolution of Taxes of the Union to States): It has recommended maintaining the vertical devolution at 41% – the same as in itsโฆ
- For horizontal devolution, it has suggested 12.5% weightage to demographic performance, 45% to income, 15% each to population and area, 10% to forestโฆ
- Revenue deficit grants emanate from the requirement to meet the fiscal needs of the States on their revenue accounts that remain to be met
- Revenue Deficit is defined as the difference between revenue or current expenditure and revenue receipts, that includes tax and non-tax.
- It has recommended post-devolution revenue deficit grants amounting to about Rs. 3 trillion over the five-year period ending FY26
- These grants revolve around four main themes.
Which statement correctly describes 15th Finance Commission Recommendations:โฆ?
โ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
โ Not quite โ that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Economy
Viksit Bharat โ Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025
The Viksit Bharat โ Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act
- The VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 replaces MGNREGA with a restructured rural employment framework that expands guaranteed employment to 125 days, promotesโฆ
- While the Act modernises rural employment, it has raised concerns over the six-fold increase in states' financial burden, dilution of theโฆ
- About: The VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 provides a statutory guarantee of wage employment to eligible rural households
- Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Act, 1977 first introduced the statutory right to work, laying the foundation for MGNREGA, 2005, which provided aโฆ
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- Enhanced Income Security: The statutory legal entitlement is expanded from 100 days to 125 days of guaranteed wage employment per financial year forโฆ
- 60-Day Pause: To balance the rural economy, an aggregated 60-day no-work period (blackout) is instituted during peak sowing and harvesting seasons toโฆ
- Interim Minimum Wage Floor: For the first time
- Strict Wage Timelines: To enforce fiscal accountability and income stability
- New Identification: Workers will be issued Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards
- Revised Funding Ratio: Moving away from MGNREGA's 100% central wage coverage
Which statement correctly describes Viksit Bharat โ Guarantee for Rozgar andโฆ?
โ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
โ Not quite โ that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Economy
Welfare vs Development
There is growing concern over the blurring of welfare and development in political discourse, where short-term welfare schemes are increasingly projected as long-term development achievements.
- This has triggered debates on welfare populism
- The Welfare vs Development debate highlights the tension between welfare (short-term relief) and development (long-term capacity building)
- A balanced approach is essential, where targeted welfare supports human capital and demand, while maintaining fiscal discipline and prioritizingโฆ
- About: Welfare refers to the state's intervention to ensure a basic safety net for its vulnerable populations
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- About: Development goes beyond mere economic growth
- 'Crowding Out' of Capex: Under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act
- For instance, in some agricultural regions like Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana have ensured basicโฆ
- It shifts the political economy from a "productive state" to a "rent-seeking state," creating a permanent voter dependency rather than demographicโฆ
- This means the current generation consumes the welfare, but the future generation pays the debt, robbing them of their developmental potential.
- Builds Human Capital: Welfare measures like nutrition
Which statement correctly describes Welfare vs Development?
โ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
โ Not quite โ that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Economy
Political and Economic Reforms in 1991
As India gears up for the 2024 general election, it is important to reflect on the pivotal 1991 Indian general elections, which marked a significant turning point in the country's history.
- These elections led to profound political and economic changes
- Tirunellai Narayana Iyer Seshan (T N Seshan) was appointed the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) from 1990 to 1996 and spearheaded a series ofโฆ
- Key Reforms: Voter ID cards: Widely known as EPIC (Electors Photo Identity Card)
- Strict enforcement of MCC: The Model Code of Conduct (MCC), existing since 1960, outlines guidelines for political parties during elections
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- Curbing electoral malpractices: The Election Commission under Seshan's leadership listed 150 malpractices
- He also banned excessive spending and public displays during campaigns.
- The 1991 elections were conducted with unprecedented integrity and transparency, setting new standards for future elections.
- Despite the prevailing political instability, a turnout of 56.73% was recorded
- Transformed the Election Commission from a passive observer to an active enforcer of electoral laws.
- Strengthened the autonomy and integrity of the Election Commission, ensuring free and fair elections.
Which statement correctly describes Political and Economic Reforms in 1991?
โ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
โ Not quite โ that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Simple Current Affairs MCQ โ 15 July 2026
10 accessible MCQs covering the same topics ยท great for quick revision
End your study session with these simpler MCQs to lock in recall of today's current affairs.
