Current Affairs MCQs – August 19, 2026

Born in 1883 in Amritsar, this revolutionary belonged to an affluent family but later turned towards the revolutionary nationalist movement after moving to England for higher studies. He became associated with India House, worked with V.D. Savarkar, and was linked to the Abhinav Bharat Society. In 1909, he assassinated Sir William Hutt Curzon Wyllie in London and was subsequently executed.

Who among the following is being described in the above passage?

1. Madan Lal Dhingra
2. Shyamji Krishna Varma
3. V.D. Savarkar
4. Lala Har Dayal

Explanation

• India observed the martyrdom anniversary of Madan Lal Dhingra on August 17.
• Born in 1883 in Amritsar, Punjab, into an affluent, pro-British family, he aligned with revolutionary nationalists after moving to England in 1906 to study engineering at University College London.
• He joined India House, founded by Shyamji Krishna Varma, worked with V.D. Savarkar, and was associated with the Abhinav Bharat Society in London.
• In 1909, Dhingra killed Sir William Hutt Curzon Wyllie, a political aide to the Secretary of State for India, at London’s Imperial Institute and was hanged at Pentonville Prison on 17 August 1909, aged 25.

Answer: (a) Madan Lal Dhingra; Difficulty Level: Easy

With reference to the Thamirabarani River, consider the following statements:

1. It is the only major river in Tamil Nadu that flows entirely within the state and is fed by both the Southwest and Northeast Monsoons.
2. It originates in the Western Ghats and drains into the Gulf of Mannar.
3. In ancient Sangam literature, the river was referred to as Porunai.
4. The river hosts all three species of otters found in India.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. 1, 2 and 3 only
2. 1, 3 and 4 only
3. 2 and 4 only
4. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Thamirabarani is the only major river flowing entirely within Tamil Nadu and receives water from both the Southwest and Northeast Monsoons, giving it a perennial character.

Statement 2 is correct

• It originates near Agastyarkoodam Peak in the Pothigai Hills of the Western Ghats and ultimately drains into the Gulf of Mannar.

Statement 3 is correct

• The river is known as Porunai in ancient Sangam literature.

Statement 4 is correct

• The Thamirabarani river system is notable for supporting all three otter species found in India.

Answer: (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4; Difficulty Level: Hard

 With reference to the Miyawaki method, consider the following statements:

1. It primarily uses native species that are naturally suited to the local ecosystem.
2. It involves high-density plantation, generally with around 3–5 saplings per square metre.
3. It aims to develop a multi-layered forest structure resembling a natural forest.

How many of the statements given above are not correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Explanation

Option (d) is the correct answer

• Yakalaspura dumpsite in Raichur, Karnataka, has been transformed into a micro-forest project using the Miyawaki method under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0.
• Miyawaki method is an ultra-dense, rapid afforestation technique developed by Japanese botanist Dr. Akira Miyawaki in the 1970s to create self-sustaining native micro-forests.
• Core Principles: 1. Using only species that would naturally thrive; 2. High-density planting (3–5 saplings per square meter); 3. Multi-layered canopy; and 4. Completely random sapling arrangement.
• Miyawaki micro-forests transform small, degraded urban spaces into green lungs, reducing the urban heat island effect, filtering dust and pollution, and serving as a localized sound barrier.

Answer: (d) None; Difficulty Level: Easy

 With reference to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) and the PM CARES Fund, consider the following statements:

1. PMNRF was constituted in 1948 primarily to provide assistance to persons displaced from Pakistan.
2. Unlike PMNRF, the PM CARES Fund has the Prime Minister as its Chairperson, with the Defence, Home and Finance Ministers serving as ex-officio trustees.
3. PM CARES Fund accepts CSR contributions from Public Sector Undertakings, whereas PMNRF does not accept contributions from the balance sheets of PSUs.
4. The minimum contribution to PM CARES Fund is lower than that required for PMNRF.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All four
4. None

Explanation

All statements are correct

Answer: (c) All four; Difficulty Level: Medium

Consider the following statements:

1. Statement I: The share of private corporate investment in GDP declined in FY24 compared to FY23 and remained below its pre-Covid average.
2. Statement II: India’s gross research expenditure of around 0.60% of GDP, compared with China’s 2.4%, limits the domestic innovation capacity required for high-value private investment
3. Statement III: Stagnant real wages and elevated food inflation have constrained mass discretionary consumption, reducing demand visibility and thereby discouraging firms from undertaking fresh capacity expansion.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

1. Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I
2. Both Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I
3. Only one of the Statements II and II is correct and that explains Statement I
4. Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct

Explanation

Statement I is correct

• Private corporate investment in India declined from 12.3% of GDP in FY23 to 11.2% in FY24, and remained below its pre-Covid average of 11.8%. This indicates that the recovery in private investment has remained weaker than expected.

Statement II is correct and explains Statement I

• India’s gross expenditure on research and development is only about 0.64% of GDP, compared with around 2.4% in China. Low R&D spending limits the development and adoption of new technologies, products and processes. This weak domestic innovation ecosystem can discourage high-value, technology-intensive and productivity-enhancing private investment. Thus, inadequate innovation capacity acts as a structural constraint on corporate capital formation.

Statement III is correct and explains Statement I.

• Private firms generally undertake fresh capacity expansion when they have confidence that future demand will be strong enough to utilize the additional capacity. However, stagnant real wages and elevated food inflation can reduce households’ discretionary purchasing power. This weakens broad-based consumption demand and creates uncertainty about future sales. Consequently, firms may postpone capacity expansion and adopt a wait-and-watch approach, contributing to subdued private investment.

Answer: (a) Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I; Difficulty Level: Medium