Current Affairs MCQs – August 22, 2026

 Consider the following statements regarding Bharat Taxi:

1. Bharat Taxi is India’s first cooperative-led ride-hailing platform and was formally established in 2025 by eight national-level cooperative institutions.
2. Bharat Taxi is registered under the Companies Act, 2013.

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

• Bharat Taxi is India’s first cooperative-led ride-hailing platform. It was formally established on 6 June 2025 by eight national-level cooperative institutions.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Bharat Taxi is registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, not the Companies Act, 2013.

Answer: (a) 1 only; Difficulty Level: Medium

With reference to the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), consider the following statements:

1. CBAM applies to certain carbon-intensive goods imported into the European Union and seeks to account for the carbon emissions generated during their production.
2. CBAM became operational in January 2026 and covers sectors such as iron and steel, aluminum, cement, fertilizers, hydrogen and electricity.
3. An exporter can be completely exempt from CBAM obligations merely by being located in a country that has any form of domestic carbon pricing mechanism.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Explanation

• BRICS condemned the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) as unilateral, discriminatory, and protectionist at the 12^th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi.

Statement 1 is correct

• CBAM applies to specified carbon-intensive goods entering the EU and is designed to reflect the carbon emissions embedded in their production.

Statement 2 is correct

• CBAM entered its definitive regime from January 2026 and covers iron and steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers, hydrogen and electricity.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• The exemption is not based merely on the existence of domestic carbon pricing. The treatment depends on whether a carbon price has already been paid in the exporting country and the relevant EU rules/conditions are satisfied.

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only; Difficulty Level: Easy

With reference to the Makhana sector in India, consider the following statements:

1. India is the world’s largest producer of makhana, with Bihar accounting for a major share of the country’s production.
2. The Mithila region has been accorded a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Mithila Makhana.
3. India exports nearly two-thirds of its total makhana production, with the United States being its largest export destination.
4. The Kosi basin of North Bihar is an important centre of makhana cultivation and production.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• India is the world’s largest makhana producer, and Bihar contributes around 75% of India’s production.

Statement 2 is correct

• Mithila Makhana has received a GI tag, giving geographical recognition to the traditional product of the Mithila region.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• India exports about 40%, not nearly two-thirds, of its makhana output. The US is the largest destination among the listed markets.

Statement 4 is correct

• The Kosi basin of North Bihar is a major region associated with makhana production.

Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 4 only; Difficulty Level: Medium

With reference to the resilience of India’s agriculture and allied sector, consider the following statements:

1. Rainfed agriculture accounts for more than half of India’s net sown area, making rainfall variability an important factor influencing agricultural resilience.
2. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana covers pre- and post-harvest crop losses to stabilize incomes for farmers.

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

• About 51% of India’s net sown area is rainfed. Such areas depend heavily on the amount and distribution of rainfall, making them particularly vulnerable to droughts, erratic monsoons and other weather variations.

Statement 2 is correct

• Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana covers pre- and post-harvest crop losses to stabilize incomes for 24.31 crore farmers.

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

With reference to Glyphosate, recently seen in the news in the context of Himachal Pradesh, which one of the following best describes it?

1. A selective systemic insecticide used primarily to control insect pests in horticultural crops.
2. A non-selective systemic herbicide used to control a wide range of grasses and broadleaf weeds.
3. A biological fungicide derived from naturally occurring soil microorganisms and used to control fungal diseases.
4. A plant-growth regulator used primarily to enhance flowering and fruit formation in temperate crops

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• Environmentalists have raised concerns over alleged glyphosate use to clear forest land for pea cultivation in parts of Himachal Pradesh.

• Glyphosate is a non-selective systemic herbicide used to control broadleaf weeds and grasses; WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies it as a probable carcinogen, while prolonged exposure may cause health and ecological risks.
• Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIBRC) permits its use only in tea plantations and adjacent non-plantation areas, with application applied only by certified Pest Control Operators (PCOs).

Answer: (b) A non-selective systemic herbicide used to control a wide range of grasses and broadleaf weeds; Difficulty Level: Medium