Daily Current Affairs โ 18 August 2026
Daily Current Affairs ยท 18 August 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 18 August 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.
History
Gallantry Awardsโฏ2026
On the occasion of India's 80th Independence Day (15th August 2026), President Droupadi Murmu approved 78 Gallantry Awards recognising acts of exceptional bravery, courage and self-sacrifice in the service of the nation.
- The awards included 9 Kirti Chakras (7 posthumous)
- Wartime Gallantry Awards (recognise acts of valour performed in the presence of the enemy) include the Param Vir Chakra (India's highest militaryโฆ
- Peacetime Gallantry Awards (conferred for acts of bravery
- After examination by the Central Honours and Awards Committee, the final list of gallantry awards is approved by the President of India
Which statement correctly describes Gallantry Awardsโฏ2026?
โ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
โ Not quite โ that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Polity
Gallantry Awards
The President of India conferred 51 Gallantry Awards at the Defence Investiture Ceremony 2026 (Phase-I)
- About: Gallantry Awards are among India's highest honours
- Wartime Gallantry Awards: Recognize acts of valour performed in the presence of the enemy
- The Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, and Vir Chakra were the first Gallantry Awards instituted by independent India.
- The Ashoka Chakra is the highest peacetime gallantry award, followed by the Kirti Chakra and the Shaurya Chakra.
Show 6 more facts
- Originally instituted in 1952, with retroactive effect from 15th August 1947, India's peacetime gallantry awards were initially designated as theโฆ
- Param Vir Chakra, the Maha Vir Chakra and the Vir Chakra: All ranks of the Naval, Military, Air, Reserve, and Territorial Forces, including medicalโฆ
- Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra & Shaurya Chakra: All ranks of the Armed Forces, Reserve and Territorial Forces, Nursing Services, Police, Centralโฆ
- After examination by the Central Honours and Awards Committee, the final list of gallantry awards is approved by the President of India
- However, the highest honors the Param Vir Chakra and the Ashoka Chakra are conferred by the President to the awardees (or their next of kin) duringโฆ
- Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards are titles under the Article 18(1) of the Constitution of India.
Which statement correctly describes Gallantry Awards?
โ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
โ Not quite โ that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
History
Republic Day 2026
Republic Day 2026 marked the 77th anniversary of the Constitution of India coming into force on 26th January 1950, and was celebrated around the theme "150 Years of Vande Mataram."
- The observance blended constitutional values with cultural expression and public participation
- The celebration also saw the parade debut of the newly raised Bhairav Battalion, a specialised assault infantry unit
- Republic Day 2026 marked the 77th anniversary of the Constitution under the theme "150 Years of Vande Mataram," celebrating India's constitutionalโฆ
- The occasion also highlighted national service and sacrifice through Padma Awards
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- The Purna Swaraj Resolution: In December 1929
- From 1930 to 1947, 26th January was celebrated as "Independence Day" or "Poorna Swaraj Day."
- On 15th August 1947, India achieved independence from colonial rule but continued as a British Dominion with King George VI as the head of stateโฆ
- The constitutional transition was completed on 26th November 1949
- On 26th January 1950, the Constitution of India came into force, deliberately chosen to honour the Purna Swaraj Declaration of 1930
- India formally became a Sovereign Democratic Republic.
3. What is the significance of Padma Awards announced on Republic Day? Padma Awards recognise exceptional civilian contributions across fields likeโฆ
Which statement correctly describes Republic Day 2026?
โ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
โ Not quite โ that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Economy
Major Announcements on Indiaโs 79th Independence Day
On India's 79th Independence Day, Prime Minister announced key initiatives to drive the nation toward developed status by 2047.
- PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana: It aims to create 3.5 crore jobs in two years
- Mission Sudarshan Chakra: Aims to develop an indigenous Iron Dome-like air defence system by 2035 to protect strategic and civilian sites
- Semiconductor: India to roll out its first Made-in-India semiconductor chip by the end of 2025.
- National Deep Water Exploration Mission: The planned mission termed as "Samudra Manthan' aims to explore offshore oil
Show 1 more facts
- GST and Task Force Reforms: Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms to be launched by October 2025
Which statement correctly describes Major Announcements on Indiaโs 79thโฆ?
โ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
โ Not quite โ that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Economy
Greenium and Sovereign Green Bonds
India's sovereign green bond market is gaining traction as strong investor demand has pushed green bonds to trade at a persistent greenium over comparable conventional government securities.
- The average greenium in the first half of FY27 reached its highest level since India began issuing sovereign green bonds in FY2022-23
- About: 'Greenium' (green premium) refers to the lower yield (interest rate) that investors are willing to accept on a green bond that financeโฆ
- Cost-Effective Climate Action: It lowers the overall cost of borrowing for the government
- Market Maturation: A consistent greenium spread demonstrates a maturing domestic green finance ecosystem and sustained investor confidence in theโฆ
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- Sovereign Green Bonds (SGrBs): The SGrBs are government debt instruments introduced in the Union Budget 2022-23 to finance projects that supportโฆ
- The SGrB Framework is aligned with the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) Green Bond Principles (2021)
- SGrBs are issued through a uniform price auction, are eligible for repo transactions, and can be traded in the secondary market.
- SGrBs are also eligible for Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) purposes
- To strengthen credibility, the framework was validated by Norway-based CICERO, which rated it 'Medium Green' with 'Good Governance', indicatingโฆ
- Management Sovereign Green Bonds: Proceeds from SGrBs are deposited into the Consolidated Fund of India and managed by the Public Debt Managementโฆ
The Educate Girls Development Impact Bond (DIB) was the world's first education Development Impact Bond, implemented in rural Rajasthan from 2015โ2018.
Which statement correctly describes Greenium and Sovereign Green Bonds?
โ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
โ Not quite โ that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
๐ฐ Indian Economy MCQ Quiz ยท เคญเคพเคฐเคคเฅเคฏ เค เคฐเฅเคฅเคตเฅเคฏเคตเคธเฅเคฅเคพ
10 bilingual MCQs ยท Indian Economy ยท Members Only on YouTube
Today's rotation: Indian Economy. Take this break between news topics to sharpen the core concept.
Environment
Sovereign Green Bonds
Recently, the Finance Minister in the Budget 2022 announced that the government proposes to issue sovereign green bonds to mobilise resources for green infrastructure.
- The proceeds will be deployed in public sector projects which help in reducing the carbon intensity of the economy.
- The announcement is in sync with India's commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070.
- Green bonds are issued by companies, countries and multilateral organisations to exclusively fund projects that have positive environmental orโฆ
- The projects can include renewable energy, clean transportation and green buildings, among others.
Show 6 more facts
- Proceeds from these bonds are earmarked for green projects
- The international green bond market has seen cumulative issuance worth more than USD 1 trillion since market inception in 2007.
- By the end of 2020, 24 national governments had issued Sovereign Green, Social and Sustainability bonds totalling a cumulative USD 111 billionโฆ
- Sovereign green issuance sends a powerful signal of intent around climate action and sustainable development to governments and regulators.
- It will catalyze domestic market development and provides impetus to institutional investors.
- It will provide benchmark pricing, liquidity and a demonstration effect for local issuers, helping to support the growth of a local market.
Which statement correctly describes Sovereign Green Bonds?
โ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
โ Not quite โ that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Economy
FIIs to Invest in India's Sovereign Green Bonds
The recent decision by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to allow Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) operating within the International Financialโฆ
- FIIs are institutional investors that invest in assets belonging to a different country than where the organizations are based.
- The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) regulates FII investments in the country
- About: In the Union Budget 2022-23, the FM announced the government's decision to issue SGrBs, a kind of government debt that specifically fundsโฆ
- Funds raised through SGrBs are earmarked exclusively for green projects, ensuring transparency and accountability in fund utilization.
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- SGrBs typically offer lower interest rates compared to Government-Securities (G-Secs)
- Issuance of SGrBs requires adherence to internationally recognised green standards and certification processes to ensure the credibility of fundedโฆ
- SGrBs are classified under the Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR), a liquidity rate set by the RBI for financial institutions
- As SGBs typically yield lower interest rates compared to conventional G-Secs
- The Finance Ministry released India's first SGrB Framework in 2022 detailing the kind of projects that would receive funding through this class ofโฆ
- Funding Projects: Funds will be directed towards nine green project categories: renewable energy
Which statement correctly describes FIIs to Invest in India's Sovereign Green Bonds?
โ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
โ Not quite โ that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Economy
Government Securities
The government has completed Government Securities (G-Sec) borrowing for the current fiscal 2023-24 and it expects a dividend from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in Financial Year 25 (FR 25), similar to FY 24.
- The government's approach to borrowing remains cautious, focusing on prudent fiscal management and ensuring borrowing aligns with the actual needs.
- The completion of G-Sec borrowing, coupled with expectations for dividend income from the RBI, reflects efforts to maintain fiscal stability and meetโฆ
- The RBI transfers its surplus to the government in accordance with Section 47 (Allocation of Surplus Profits) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934
- On the expenditure side, the RBI incurs costs such as printing of currency notes, payment of interest on deposits and borrowings, salaries andโฆ
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- About: A G-Sec is a tradable instrument issued by the Central Government or the State Governments.
- A G-Sec is a type of debt instrument issued by the government to borrow money from the public to finance its Fiscal Deficit
- Such securities are short-term (usually called treasury bills
- Gilt-edged securities are high-grade investment bonds offered by governments and large corporations as a means of borrowing funds.
- Treasury Bills (T-bills): Treasury bills are zero coupon securities and pay no interest
- In 2010, the Government of India, in consultation with RBI introduced a new short-term instrument, known as CMBs, to meet the temporary mismatches inโฆ
Which statement correctly describes Government Securities?
โ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
โ Not quite โ that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Environment
Net-Zero Emissions Target
According to the report by Getting India to Net Zero, India needs a massive USD 10.1 trillion investment from now on if India is to achieve its net-zero emissions target by 2070.
- Investment: The investment required by India would be USD 13.5 trillion if the net zero emission target is to be met by 2050.
- India's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets set in 2015 are likely to be met early within the next few years through current policies.
- India could peak in emissions as soon as 2030.
- Achieving net zero by 2070 would increase annual GDP by up to 4.7% by 2036. and create 15 million new jobs by 2047.
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- Suggested various policies to boost renewables and electrification could make net zero possible by mid-century
- It is referred to as carbon neutrality, which does not mean that a country would bring down its emissions to zero.
- Rather, it is a state in which a country's emissions are compensated by the absorption and removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere
- India's Renewable Energy Targets: India's renewable energy targets have steadily become more ambitious
- India has also announced the target of 50% installed power generation capacity from non-fossil energy sources by 2030
- There are EIGHT GOALS which are identified as follows: To put forward and further propagate a healthy and sustainable way of living based onโฆ
Which statement correctly describes Net-Zero Emissions Target?
โ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
โ Not quite โ that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Economy
ESG Oversight in India
A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance has recommended that the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) establish a dedicated ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) oversight body.
- About: ESG refers to standards for assessing an organisation's environmental and social impact.
- Importance of ESG for India: Climate: India is prone to floods
- Companies that prioritize social responsibility can drive positive societal change, creating a more inclusive economy.
- This body should have forensic experts to detect fraud
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- It proposes amending the Companies Act, 2013 to make ESG a core duty of directors, embedding sustainability into business strategy with strongerโฆ
- It also emphasized improving the transparency and effectiveness of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) oversight system.
- This framework aligns with global standards like the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB).
- About: Greenwashing refers to the deceptive practice where companies make false or exaggerated environmental claims about their products to create aโฆ
- It involves false advertising, vague labels, or confusing messaging regarding product recyclability, eco-friendly materials, and sustainabilityโฆ
- Rising Eco-Consumerism: Growing awareness about climate change and pollution
Which statement correctly describes ESG Oversight in India?
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 18 August 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.
