Current Affairs MCQs – August 21, 2026

 Consider the following statements regarding the Global Digital Capacity Building Alliance (GDCBA):

1. It seeks to promote international cooperation in public-sector capacity building by bringing together governments, multilateral institutions and the digital public infrastructure ecosystem.
2. It was established as an institutional mechanism under the United Nations to coordinate global civil-service reforms.
3. Its objectives include fostering a global community of practice for governance and creating a repository of implementation knowledge and case studies.
4. The Capacity Building Commission, which is associated with GDCBA, is the custodian of Mission Karmayogi.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• GDCBA is a platform for international cooperation on public-sector capacity building involving governments, multilateral and development institutions, the DPI ecosystem and other stakeholders.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• GDCBA is an initiative of the Capacity Building Commission (CBC) and is not a United Nations-established mechanism.

Statement 3 is correct

• Among its goals are fostering a global community of practice for governance and building a repository of implementation knowledge, case studies and practical guidance.

Statement 4 is correct

• The Capacity Building Commission is the custodian of Mission Karmayogi, India’s National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building.

Answer: (a) 1, 3 and 4 only; Difficulty Level: Medium

Consider the following statements regarding the Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs (SEED):

1. SEED is a Central Sector Scheme launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to support De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic communities.
2. Under the scheme, eligible beneficiaries can receive health insurance coverage of ₹5 lakh per family per year through Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY.
3. Livelihood support under SEED is provided through community-level Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs (SEED) is a Central Sector Scheme launched in 2022 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for the socio-economic empowerment of De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic (DNT, NT and SNT) communities.

Statement 2 is correct

• Under SEED, eligible beneficiaries are provided health insurance coverage of ₹5 lakh per family per year through the Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).

Statement 3 is correct

• The scheme provides livelihood support by promoting income-generating activities through community-level Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

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

Which of the following bodies does not/do not find mention in the Constitution?

1. National Development Council
2. Planning Commission
3. Zonal Councils

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

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

Explanation

National Development Council is correct

• The National Development Council (NDC) was established in August 1952 by an executive resolution of the Government of India on the recommendation of the First Five Year Plan (draft outline).
• Like the erstwhile Planning Commission, it is neither a constitutional body nor a statutory body.

Planning Commission is correct

• The erstwhile Planning Commission was established in March 1950 by an executive resolution of the Government of India.

Zonal Councils is correct

• The Zonal Councils are the statutory (and not the constitutional) bodies.

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

Consider the following statements regarding the Coast Guard Global Summit (CGGS):

1. The Coast Guard Global Summit is a biennial summit established in 2017 to promote international cooperation on maritime safety, search and rescue, marine pollution response and combating transnational crimes.
2. The Indian Coast Guard was formally established under the Coast Guard Act, 1978, following recommendations of the Nag Committee and Rustamji Committee.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The Coast Guard Global Summit (CGGS) was founded in 2017 by the Japan Coast Guard and Nippon Foundation. It is held biennially and provides a platform for cooperation on maritime safety, search and rescue, marine pollution response and combating transnational maritime crimes.

Statement 2 is correct

• The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) was formally established under the Coast Guard Act, 1978. Its establishment followed recommendations of the Nag Committee (1970) and the Rustamji Committee (1974), particularly in the context of curbing maritime smuggling.

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2; Difficulty Level: Medium

 Consider the following statements regarding the Improvement of Crop Statistics (ICS) Scheme:

1. The Improvement of Crop Statistics (ICS) Scheme is a Central Sector Scheme launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare to directly collect crop statistics from farmers.
2. The scheme primarily focuses on soil quality assessment and agricultural input distribution, rather than crop-area enumeration and crop yield estimation.

Which of the statements given above is/are not correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• ICS is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the National Statistical Office (NSO), not a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Agriculture. It is designed to improve the quality of State-generated crop statistics.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• The scheme focuses on Area Enumeration and Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs) to improve the accuracy of crop-area and yield estimates.

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2; Difficulty Level: Medium