Daily Current Affairs — 20 August 2026
Daily Current Affairs · 20 August 2026
10 fully-analysed topics · 30 bilingual MCQs · 3 embedded videos · built for UPSC Prelims & Mains
🎯 30 MCQs
🎬 3 Videos
🇮🇳 Hindi + English
Current Affairs 20 August 2026 — Full Video (Hinglish)
Every major story of the day explained in Hinglish · by Current Affair Daily
Watch the full day's current affairs explained end to end, then test yourself on the topics below.
Economy
India Under US Scrutiny Over Alleged Chinese Transshipment and Tariff Evasion
India has come under intense scrutiny from the US following a new White House report titled 'The Great Transhipment Scam,' which alleges that India
- Context of US-China Tariff War: The US imposed tariffs of up to 100% on Chinese goods under Section 301 of the Trade Act
- The report classifies India as a Tier 1 country (alongside Canada
- The report notes that the Chinese exporters exploit tariff differences between countries by using "screwdriver factories" for minimal assembly
- It arrives immediately after the US imposed a 10% tariff on India citing forced-labour compliance gaps and amid impending US legislation threatening…
Which statement correctly describes India Under US Scrutiny Over Alleged Chinese…?
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❌ Not quite — that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Economy
US-China Tariff Escalation 2025
China raised tariffs on US goods from 84% to 125% in retaliation for US President Donald Trump's hike on Chinese imports to 145%.
- Effect of Policies & Politics of Countries on India's Interests
- These retaliatory measures between the US and China have heightened concerns over global economic stability.
- US: A USD 295 billion US trade deficit with China in 2024 remains a major trigger behind US tariff hikes
- The US accuses China of intellectual property theft and forced technology transfers that distort fair competition
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- The US is reducing reliance on China, moves like the CHIPS Act and partnerships with India (India-US COMPACT Initiative) and Vietnam aim to de-risk…
- This has led to broader trade tensions beyond China, as the US seeks to prevent backdoor access to its markets through regional intermediaries.
- Recession Risks: The US and China jointly account for about 43% of global GDP (International Monetary Fund (IMF) 2024 estimate)
- Uncertainty around tariffs is also dampening investment and causing market volatility.
- A tariff-heavy regime risks pushing up the prices of everyday goods
- This could undercut local industries in regions like the EU
Which statement correctly describes US-China Tariff Escalation 2025?
✅ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
❌ Not quite — that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Economy
US Investigates India and 59 Others Over ‘Forced Labour’
The US has launched a trade investigation against India and 59 other economies under Section 301 of the Trade Act, 1974 to examine whether their supply chains include goods produced using forced labour.
- Effect of Policies & Politics of Countries on India's Interests
- The probe aims to address unfair trade advantages arising from lower production costs
- The investigation will examine products made using imported intermediate goods such as cotton and yarn in textiles
- Key sectors such as solar panels (using Chinese polysilicon)
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- Additionally, India is also facing a separate US investigation on "excess manufacturing capacity" in sectors like solar modules, petrochemicals, and…
- If the US finds violations, it may impose heavy tariffs or trade restrictions on imports from affected countries
Which statement correctly describes US Investigates India and 59 Others Over…?
✅ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
❌ Not quite — that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
S&T
Rotating Detonation Engines
India-based defence start-up D-Propulse successfully demonstrated India's first indigenous 5 kN air-breathing Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE)
- Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE): A RDE is advanced propulsion technology that uses continuous supersonic detonation waves
- Deflagration vs. Detonation: Conventional Combustors (Deflagration): The flame front travels at subsonic speeds (below the speed of sound) at…
- Detonation Engines (Detonation): The flame front propagates at supersonic speeds (above the speed of sound)
- Fuel and oxidizer are continuously injected into the annulus ahead of the traveling detonation wave
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- A 20% gain in thermodynamic efficiency translates to requiring roughly 17% less fuel
- Hypersonic Applications: RDE-based propulsion can potentially be used in hypersonic cruise missiles (BrahMos-II)
- Space Launch Vehicles & In-Space Thrusters: Enhances the payload-to-fuel mass ratio for orbital and deep-space missions.
- Demands ultra-precise microsecond fuel-injection timing and advanced high-speed computing to prevent combustion instability.
Which statement correctly describes Rotating Detonation Engines?
✅ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
❌ Not quite — that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Defence
Defence Research and Development Organisation
Recently, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has celebrated the 64th Foundation Day on 1st January, 2022.
- Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology
- About: DRDO is the R&D (Research and Development) wing of the Ministry of Defence with a vision to empower India with cutting-edge defence…
- Its pursuit of self-reliance and successful indigenous development and production of strategic systems and platforms such as Agni and Prithvi series…
- It was formed in 1958 from the amalgamation of the Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) of the Indian Army and the Directorate of Technical…
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- DRDO is a network of more than 50 laboratories which are deeply engaged in developing defence technologies covering various disciplines
- Integrated Guided-Missile Development Programme (IGMDP): It was one of Dr
- The missiles developed under IGMDP are: Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Akash, Nag.
- MARS is a smart robust robot to handle land mines and Inert Explosive Devices (IEDs) which helps the Indian Armed Forces to disarm them from far…
- With some add-ons, this system can even be used to dig the ground for the object and defuse the Improvised Explosive Device by various methods.
- DRDO's centre in Ladakh is at 17,600 feet above sea level at Changla near Pangong lake which is intended to serve as a natural cold storage unit for…
Which statement correctly describes Defence Research and Development Organisation?
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🗺️ Indian Geography MCQ Quiz · भारतीय भूगोल
10 bilingual MCQs · Indian Geography · Members Only on YouTube
Today's rotation: Indian Geography. Take this break between news topics to sharpen the core concept.
Economy
NITI Aayog Unveils TCRM Matrix Framework
NITI Aayog has introduced the Techno-Commercial Readiness and Market Maturity Matrix (TCRM Matrix) framework
- TCRM Matrix stands for Techno-Commercial Readiness and Market Maturity Matrix
- TCRM framework provides a robust analysis of the joint readiness of a project
- This framework was developed from the study of innovation from an economic perspective and looks at the increase in performance of a technology over…
- It finds that from the point of introduction of the technology by an innovator
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- It assess how a new technology could be commercially successful all the way through to commercial availability and wider acceptance within the target…
- This enables key barriers to be addressed to support the commercialization of a technology.
- It is intended to supplement the TRL scale by providing increased focus on a technology's preparedness for market launch and commercial success…
- It is used to assess how ready your product or service is to take to market as a commercial offering for a group of customers.
- It relies on extrinsic indicators like the awareness of extrinsic market indicators.
- It is intended to supplement the TRL and CRL by focusing on a technology's preparedness for the purpose of customer adoption and market success
Which statement correctly describes NITI Aayog Unveils TCRM Matrix Framework?
✅ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
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History
Air Independent Propulsion Technology
Recently, France's Naval Group declined the bid for the P-75I Project, citing it does not use AIP (Air-Independent Propulsion) Technology yet.
- Around 10 countries have developed or are close to building AIP technology, and almost 20 nations have AIP submarines.
- In June 1999, the Cabinet Committee on Security approved a 30-year plan for the Navy to indigenously build and induct 24 submarines by 2030.
- In the first phase, two lines of production were to be established — the first, P-75; the second, P-75I. Each line was to produce six submarines
- About: AIP is a technology for conventional non-nuclear submarines.
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- Submarines are essentially of two types: conventional and nuclear.
- The conventional submarines use diesel-electric engines, which require them to surface almost daily to get atmospheric oxygen for fuel combustion.
- If fitted with an AIP system, the submarine will need to take in oxygen only once a week.
- The indigenously developed AIP, which is one of the key missions of the Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL – DRDO), is considered one of the…
- In a fuel cell based AIP, an electrolytic fuel cell releases energy by combining hydrogen and oxygen, with only water as the waste product ensuring…
- The cells are highly efficient, and do not have moving parts, thus ensuring that the submarine has a low acoustic emission of sound.
Which statement correctly describes Air Independent Propulsion Technology?
✅ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
❌ Not quite — that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
History
Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet Technology
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted the test of the Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology
- Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology
- Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) Technology: SFDR technology is a missile propulsion system based on the concept of Ramjet Engine principle.
- The system utilises a solid fuelled air-breathing ramjet engine
- Successful demonstration of SFDR technology will enable DRDO to develop indigenous long range air-to-air missiles.
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- At present, such technology is available only with a handful of countries in the world.
- Air-to-air missiles which use SFDR technology can achieve longer ranges as they do not require oxidisers (take oxygen from the atmosphere).
- The missile based on SFDR fly at supersonic speeds and high manoeuvrability ensures the target aircraft cannot get away.
- Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) works under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
- It is working to establish a world class science and technology base for India and provides Defence Services decisive edge by equipping them with…
- It was established in 1958 after combining Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) of the Indian Army and the Directorate of Technical Development…
Which statement correctly describes Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet Technology?
✅ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
❌ Not quite — that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Economy
Debate on Alcohol Prohibition
Bihar's 2016 alcohol prohibition is in focus after the 'Macro Perspective of Bihar's Development Achievements
- The report's reliance on National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data is also debatable
- Alcohol prohibition in India is constitutionally supported by Article 47 and Entry 8 of the State List
- A sustainable approach should balance public health with fiscal and administrative realities through regulated availability
- Article 47 (Directive Principles of State Policy): Mandates that the State shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of…
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- This constitutional architecture allows for the current fragmented policy landscape where states enforce varying degrees of prohibition or…
- Khoday Distilleries Ltd. v. State of Karnataka (1994): The Supreme Court held that there is no fundamental right to trade or carry on business in…
- National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) 2021-22 under Nasha Mukta Bharat Abhiyan addresses prevention of alcoholism and substance…
- National Mental Health Policy (2014) links alcohol to mental illness.
- National Health Policy (2017) and National Suicide Prevention Strategy (NSPS) 2022 recommend control measures.
- National Action Plan and Monitoring Framework for Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NMAP) 2017-2022 advocates for a national…
Bihar's 2016 alcohol prohibition is in focus after the 'Macro Perspective of Bihar's Development Achievements
Which statement correctly describes Debate on Alcohol Prohibition?
✅ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
❌ Not quite — that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Polity
NCRB’s Crime in India 2024 Report
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) released the 'Crime in India – 2024' report.
- The NCRB also released the Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India (ADSI) 2024 report, according to which 1,70,746 suicides were recorded in 2024
- The NCRB 2024 report recorded a decline in overall cognisable crimes
- Cybercrime emerged as the biggest concern, increasing by 17% due to AI-enabled frauds, digital arrest scams, weak digital literacy, and organised…
- Total Cases: India recorded 58.85 lakh cognisable crimes in 2024, down from 62.41 lakh in 2023
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- Under the BNS, simple 'Hurt' was made a non-cognisable offence
- Murder and Kidnapping: Murder cases witnessed a marginal decline of 2.4%, with 'disputes' remaining the leading motive
- Property Offences: Traditional property offences like theft (down 9.8%) and robbery (down 13%) saw a noticeable decline
- Children: Crime against children increased by 5.9% in 2024
- Women: Crimes against women declined by 1.5%, with 4.41 lakh cases reported in 2024 compared to 4.48 in 2023
- Meanwhile, missing person cases increased by 7.3%, while missing children cases rose by 7.8%, highlighting persistent concerns over trafficking…
Which statement correctly describes NCRB’s Crime in India 2024 Report?
✅ Correct! That fact belongs to this topic.
❌ Not quite — that fact is from another headline. The green option is right.
Simple Current Affairs MCQ — 20 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.
