Daily Current Affairs — 14 August 2026
Daily Current Affairs · 14 August 2026
10 fully-analysed topics · 30 bilingual MCQs · 3 embedded videos · built for UPSC Prelims & Mains
🎯 30 MCQs
🎬 3 Videos
🇮🇳 Hindi + English
UPSC Current Affairs MCQ — 14 August 2026
10 UPSC-standard bilingual MCQs covering today's top stories · 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.
Economy
CBDC-Based DBT for Food Subsidies
Recently, the Government of India launched a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system for food subsidies under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).
- About: Chandigarh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli became the first Union Territories to provide food subsidy to all eligible PMGKAY beneficiaries through…
- Mechanism: Under the new model, eligible beneficiaries will receive the food subsidy directly in their CBDC wallets instead of through conventional…
- Background: The initiative builds on earlier CBDC-based welfare delivery pilots implemented in Puducherry and Gujarat and represents complete digital…
- Key Features: The system provides secure, real-time and end-to-end traceable digital transactions, enabling authorities to monitor subsidy transfers…
Show 2 more facts
- Objectives: The CBDC-based DBT seeks to reduce leakages
- Significance: The initiative can promote financial inclusion through simple wallet-based transactions and demonstrates the potential of the Digital…
Which statement correctly describes CBDC-Based DBT for Food Subsidies?
✅ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
❌ Not quite — that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Economy
Central Bank Digital Currency
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recommended placing a proposal to link BRICS countries' central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) on the agenda for the 2026 BRICS summit (host-India).
- The RBI's proposal builds on a 2025 declaration at a BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro
- About: A CBDC is a digital form of a country's fiat currency, issued and backed directly by its central bank
- Techniques include encryption for data protection and digital signatures to authorize transactions.
- Privacy-enhancing methods like zero-knowledge proofs balance anonymity with regulation.
Show 6 more facts
- Key Characteristics: Issuer and Backing: Issued exclusively by the central bank, ensuring full faith and credit of the government
- Digital Nature: Exists solely in electronic form, recorded on centralized ledgers, distributed ledger technology, or hybrid systems
- Purpose and Availability: Designed as a complement to (not a replacement for) physical cash and existing bank deposits
- While no BRICS member has fully launched a digital currency, all five are running pilot projects.
- The main national CBDCs are Brazil's Drex (advanced pilot)
- Digital Currency: Digital currency is a form of currency that exists only in electronic form
Which statement correctly describes Central Bank Digital Currency?
✅ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
❌ Not quite — that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
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 delivery…
- 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 delivery…
- 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
Show 5 more facts
- Lack of Accessibility: One of the most prominent issues faced by citizens attempting to enroll is the lack of accessibility/proximity to enrolment…
- 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?
✅ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
❌ Not quite — that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Economy
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)
Recently, The Central government announced an extension of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) for another three months until December 2022.
- About: PMGKAY is a part of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) to help the poor fight the battle against Covid-19.
- The scheme aimed at providing each person who is covered under the National Food Security Act 2013 with an additional 5 kg grains (wheat or rice) for…
- It was initially announced for a three-month period (April, May and June 2020), covering 80 crore ration cardholders
- Its nodal Ministry is the Ministry of Finance.
Show 5 more facts
- The benefit of the free ration can be availed through portability by any migrant labour or beneficiary under the One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC)…
- Expensive: It's very expensive for the government to sustain and increases the need for an abundant supply of cheap grains
- Increase Fiscal Deficit: It could pose a risk to the government's target to further narrow the fiscal deficit to 6.4% of gross domestic product.
- Inflation: The decision on the program could also affect inflation
- Integrated Schemes on Oilseeds, Pulses, Palm oil and Maize (ISOPOM)
Which statement correctly describes Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)?
✅ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
❌ Not quite — that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Economy
Government Adds 11 More International Ports for E-Visa Holders
Recently, the Government notified 11 additional international ports to allow foreign nationals holding valid e-Visas to enter India, further expanding the country's electronic visa network.
- About: The newly notified entry points included 9 land ports—Agartala
- Total E-Visa Entry Network: With the latest expansion
- Objective: The initiative aimed to liberalise
- Background: India introduced the e-Visa facility along with Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) in 2014 for nationals of 43 countries
Which statement correctly describes Government Adds 11 More International Ports…?
✅ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
❌ Not quite — that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
⚖️ Indian Polity MCQ Quiz · भारतीय राजव्यवस्था
10 bilingual MCQs · Indian Polity · Members Only on YouTube
Today's rotation: Indian Polity. Take this break between news topics to sharpen the core concept.
History
E-Visa Expansion at Seaports
The Ministry of Home Affairs has notified 14 additional seaports as Immigration Check Posts (ICPs) for foreign nationals holding e-visas.
- Immigration Infrastructure: India currently has 114 ICPs across air
- E-Visa Framework: India's e-visa facility is available to citizens of 207 countries (excluding China
- Purpose and Regulation: ICPs serve as critical entry points to ensure security screening
- Ports Requiring Regular Visa: Major ports such as Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva)
Show 1 more facts
- Significance: The expansion enhances maritime connectivity and ease of entry
Which statement correctly describes E-Visa Expansion at Seaports?
✅ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
❌ Not quite — that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Polity
Parliament Passes Bill to Rename Kerala as Keralam
Parliament has passed the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill
- The name 'Keralam' reflects the actual name of the state in the Malayalam language and honors the historical push for a united Malayalam-speaking…
- The Bill amends the First and Fourth Schedules of the Constitution
- Constitutional Procedure for Renaming a State: The alteration of a State's name is governed by Article 3 of the Constitution
- The views of the State Legislature are not binding on Parliament.
Show 4 more facts
- Article 4 provides that laws made under Article 3 are not deemed constitutional amendments under Article 368
- According to scholar Herman Gundert, "Keralam" evolved from "Cheram" or "Cheralam," with cher meaning "to join" and alam meaning "land or region."
- The idea of a unified Malayalam-speaking region gained momentum through the Aikya Kerala Movement in the 1920s.
- Following the States Reorganisation Commission (SRC)
Which statement correctly describes Parliament Passes Bill to Rename Kerala as…?
✅ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
❌ Not quite — that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Polity
Renaming Kerala to “Keralam”
The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal to change the name of the State of Kerala to "Keralam." A Bill titled Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 will be processed under Article 3 of the Constitution.
- Parliamentary Authority: Under Article 3 of the Constitution of India
- State Resolution: The process practically begins when a State Assembly passes a resolution for the name change and sends it to the Ministry of Home…
- Clearance and No Objection Certificates: The Ministry of Home Affairs examines the request and seeks No Objection Certificates from various…
- Parliament is not strictly bound by the views of the State Legislature; it may accept or reject them.
Show 6 more facts
- The First Schedule of the Indian Constitution lists the names and territorial boundaries of all States and Union Territories
- The Kerala Assembly specifically requested that the name be changed to "Keralam" not just in the First Schedule
- Epigraphic and Etymological Roots: The earliest epigraphic evidence of the region is found in the Rock Edict II of Emperor Ashoka (257 BCE)
- Linguistic Evolution: According to the renowned German scholar Herman Gundert (who compiled the first Malayalam-English dictionary)
- Thus, "Cheralam" or "Keralam" denoted the integrated land between Gokarnam and Kanyakumari.
- On 1st November 1956 (celebrated annually as Kerala Piravi Day)
Which statement correctly describes Renaming Kerala to “Keralam”?
✅ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
❌ Not quite — that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Polity
India’s Federal Design and J&K Statehood
The Supreme Court of India has sought a detailed response from the Centre on restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in the plea Zahoor Ahmed Bhat vs UT of J&K.
- It is argued that delaying the restoration of J&K's statehood infringes citizens' rights and undermines federalism
- Admission: A new State may be admitted into India if it has an organized political unit, guided by international law
- But there are certain considerations that brought about the scope for the creation of Union Territories.
- Article 1: India as a "Union of States," (explicitly including UTs).
Show 6 more facts
- The 7th Constitutional Amendment Act and the Section 6 of States Reorganisation Act (1956): Institutionalized the concept of UTs.
- Political & Administrative: Direct governance in sensitive regions (Delhi, Chandigarh).
- Cultural: Preservation of unique cultural identities (Puducherry).
- Strategic: Security in Strategic locations (Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep).
- Developmental: Focused growth in backward/tribal areas before statehood (Mizoram, Tripura).
- India's Federal Design: India is a Union of States, indivisible and without a right to secede (Article 1)
Which statement correctly describes India’s Federal Design and J&K Statehood?
✅ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
❌ Not quite — that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Polity
Simple Majority
Simple Current Affairs MCQ — 14 August 2026
10 accessible MCQs covering the same topics · great for quick revision
End your study session with these simpler MCQs to lock in recall of today's current affairs.
