Daily Current Affairs
20 May 2026 · 10 questions
Indian Railways announced critical protection and rehabilitation works worth how much for the Jammu-Katra rail section?
Correct Answer: B. ₹238 crore
Indian Railways announced that the Jammu-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra rail section will undergo critical protection and rehabilitation works worth ₹238 crore. The project aims to strengthen passenger safety, improve operational reliability, and make the strategically important route more resilient against difficult terrain. The Katra station serves pilgrims visiting the Vaishno Devi shrine in the Trikuta hills of Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district.
Google partnered with which investment firm to launch a $5 billion AI cloud venture built around Google's TPUs?
Correct Answer: D. Blackstone
Google partnered with investment powerhouse Blackstone to launch a $5 billion AI cloud venture built around Google's custom AI chips — Tensor Processing Units (TPUs). The venture is a bold move in the global artificial intelligence race aimed at challenging Nvidia's dominance in AI hardware infrastructure. Blackstone is one of the world's largest alternative asset managers, headquartered in New York. TPUs are Google's proprietary chips designed for AI/ML workloads.
India has surpassed which country to become Bangladesh's second-largest trading partner?
Correct Answer: A. United States
India surpassed the United States to become Bangladesh's second-largest trading partner, according to the latest trade data. The development highlights India's growing economic influence in the region. However, China still remains Bangladesh's biggest trading partner. India-Bangladesh trade has grown rapidly through cross-border infrastructure, energy cooperation, and goods exports, including India's significant power supply to Bangladesh.
Bharat Forge signed an MoU with which state to set up India's first private-sector marine gas turbine facility?
Correct Answer: C. Andhra Pradesh
Bharat Forge signed an MoU with the State Government of Andhra Pradesh to establish India's first private-sector marine gas turbine facility in Visakhapatnam. The facility will reduce India's dependence on foreign marine propulsion servicing while strengthening the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision. Marine gas turbines power large naval vessels including destroyers and frigates. Bharat Forge is a Pune-based industrial conglomerate and one of India's largest forging companies.
Project Cheetah recorded major population growth — India's cheetah population has now risen to how many?
Correct Answer: B. 53
India's cheetah population under Project Cheetah has risen to 53 — including 33 cheetahs born in India. The cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952, and Project Cheetah was launched on September 17, 2022 (PM Modi's birthday) at Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh. The mission has involved cheetahs imported from Namibia, South Africa, and most recently Botswana. The growing population marks a remarkable conservation comeback.
ICRA cut India's FY27 GDP growth forecast to what percentage — down from its earlier estimate of 6.5%?
Correct Answer: D. 6.2%
Domestic rating agency ICRA cut India's FY27 GDP growth forecast to 6.2% — down from its earlier forecast of 6.5%. The downgrade comes amid rising crude oil prices, ongoing West Asia tensions, pressure on the Indian Rupee, inflation risks, and weakening exports. ICRA (Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency of India Limited) is one of India's leading credit rating agencies, founded in 1991. Its major shareholder is Moody's Corporation.
India notified new technical standards for petrol blended with up to what percentage of ethanol?
Correct Answer: A. 30% (E30)
India notified new technical standards for petrol blended with up to 30% ethanol (E30) — signalling the government's long-term roadmap beyond the current E20 ethanol blending target. India also notified standards for E22 and E25. E30 will not be launched immediately, but India is preparing for the next phase of biofuel adoption. The Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme aims to reduce crude oil imports and support farmer incomes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit India in September 2026 to attend which major international summit?
Correct Answer: C. BRICS Summit
Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to New Delhi in September 2026 to attend the BRICS Summit. The confirmation came from the Kremlin. The high-profile visit will attract global attention as the BRICS nations will discuss trade, geopolitics, and global cooperation. India holds the BRICS Chairship for 2026. BRICS expanded to 11 members in 2024 (originally Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa).
DRDO successfully tested the ULPGM-V3 missile. What kind of missile is this?
Correct Answer: B. UAV-launched precision-guided missile
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted development trials of the ULPGM-V3 — an indigenous UAV-launched precision-guided missile — in both air-to-ground and air-to-air modes. This boosts India's drone warfare capabilities and pushes the country towards self-reliance in defence technology. ULPGM stands for UAV-Launched Precision-Guided Munition. The system allows drones to hit targets with precision.
The Ayush Anudan Portal was launched to transform grant management. Who is the Union Minister of AYUSH?
Correct Answer: D. Prataprao Jadhav
The Ayush Anudan Portal was launched by Union AYUSH Minister Prataprao Jadhav as a major digital initiative to transform grant management in the AYUSH sector. The platform simplifies how institutions apply for, track, and receive funding under central schemes. It is designed under the broader Ayush Grid initiative. AYUSH stands for Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy. The Ministry of AYUSH was created in 2014.