Daily Current Affairs Quiz 20th August 2026 for Banking & Competitive Exams |

Daily Current Affairs: 20 August, 2026

Q1. The high-altitude trek ‘Aparajita 2026’ organized by the NCC traverses which pass to connect the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh with the Changthang region of Ladakh?

(a) Rohtang Pass

(b) Parang La Pass

(d) Zoji La Pass

(e) Shipki La Pass

Answer: b

Solution:

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh flagged off the All India Girls High Altitude Long Trek ‘Aparajita – Parang La 2026’, a flagship adventure activity of the National Cadet Corps (NCC), in New Delhi on 18 August 2026.
The trek will traverse the Parang La Pass, situated at an altitude of 5,578 metres (18,300 feet).
The route connects the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh with the Changthang region of Ladakh.
Parang La is regarded as one of India’s most challenging high-altitude trekking routes.

Q2. On which historic monument of Telangana did the Department of Posts release a special postal cover and stamp in August 2026?

(a) Golconda Fort

(b) Medak Fort

(d) Bhongir Fort

(e) Ramagiri Fort

Answer: b

Solution:

The Department of Posts recently issued a postal cover and postal stamp commemorating the historic Medak Fort in August 2026.

About Medak Fort

Medak Fort is a historic hill fort located in Medak town, Telangana.
The fort was built during the 12th century under the reign of Kakatiya ruler Pratapa Rudra.
It was initially known as ‘Methuku Durgam’ in Telugu.
The fort served as a command post of the Kakatiyas and was later used by the Qutub Shahis.

Q3. The Government of India approved the Incentive Scheme for Promotion of Domestic PNG Connections in August 2026. From which date will the scheme officially come into effect?

(a) 18 August 2026

(b) 1 October 2026

(d) 31 March 2027

(e) 1 September 2026

Answer: e

Solution:

The Government of India approved the Incentive Scheme for Promotion of Domestic PNG Connections on 18 August 2026.
The scheme will come into effect from 1 September 2026 and aims to accelerate the expansion of active Domestic Piped Natural Gas (D-PNG) connections across the country.
The initiative is intended to provide households with access to clean, safe and affordable piped cooking gas.

Scheme Structure

India currently has around 1.74 crore Domestic PNG connections.
The scheme will incentivise City Gas Distribution (CGD) companies to convert unbilled connections into active, billed gas connections and expand PNG networks into new areas.
Eligible CGD entities will receive an additional 200 SCM of domestically produced, lower-priced APM gas for every incremental billed Domestic PNG connection achieved above the Threshold Level determined for the respective Geographical Area (GA).
The scheme will be implemented in two tranches over a period of six months.
The additional allocation of domestic gas will substitute the costlier LNG currently procured by CGD entities for their Compressed Natural Gas (Transport) segment.
This substitution is expected to reduce the overall gas-sourcing cost of CGD entities.

Q4. Who among the following has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s youngest male Chartered Accountant after qualifying in Dubai at the age of 16?

(a) Chirag Gupta

(b) Nischal Narayanam

(d) Ramkumar Ramanathan

(e) Aditya Singhal

Answer: c

Solution:

Lakshmanan Meyyappan has been awarded the title of Chartered Accountant and recognised by the Guinness World Records as the world’s youngest male Chartered Accountant.
He achieved the record at the age of 16 years and 141 days in Dubai.

Q5. Who among the following was elected as the President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) for 2026-27?

(a) Senior Advocate Vikas Singh

(b) Senior Advocate Pradeep Rai

(d) Senior Advocate Adish C. Aggarwala

(e) Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave

Answer: b

Solution:

Senior Advocate Pradeep Rai has been elected as the President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) for 2026-27.

Q6. Which two portals were launched by SEBI in August 2026 during the Symposium on Cyber Defence to streamline incident reporting and cybersecurity information sharing?

(a) Cyber Kavach & Market Watch

(b) SEBI Incident Reporting & Cyber Suraksha

(d) SEC-Incident & Cyber Mitra

(e) DigiSuraksha & RegTech Portal

Answer: b

Solution:

In August 2026, SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey launched two new web portals — ‘SEBI Incident Reporting’ and ‘Cyber Suraksha’ — to strengthen cybersecurity, incident reporting and information sharing across the securities market ecosystem.
The portals were launched during SEBI’s Cyber Defence Symposium, held from 17–21 August 2026 in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

SEBI Incident Reporting Portal

The upgraded SEBI Incident Reporting Portal aims to make the reporting of cybersecurity incidents more structured, timely and actionable.
It is aligned with the Financial Stability Board (FSB)’s Format for Incident Reporting Exchange (FIRE), facilitating smoother exchange of incident-reporting information, including across borders.

Cyber Suraksha Portal

The Cyber Suraksha Portal will function as a central platform for sharing cybersecurity-related information across the securities market ecosystem.
It will facilitate the sharing of cybersecurity knowledge, vulnerability warnings, policy measures and incident insights.

NISM RegTech Lab

Tuhin Kanta Pandey also inaugurated the RegTech Lab at the National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM), Patalganga campus, Maharashtra.
The lab aims to promote technology-enabled and practical learning in regulatory compliance and securities-market regulation.

Q7. Who among the following will assume the role of Chairperson of Airtel Payments Bank with effect from October 1, 2026?

(a) Anusuya Roy

(b) Zarin Daruwala

(d) Shabnam Sinha

(e) Roshni Nadar

Answer: d

Solution:

Shabnam Sinha will take over as the Chairperson of Airtel Payments Bank from 1 October 2026.
She will succeed Sunil Bharti Mittal, who will step down from the position after serving as chairperson since 2016.
Sinha brings more than three decades of leadership and board-level experience to the role.
Airtel Payments Bank currently serves more than 121 million monthly active users across India.

Q8. Which state government launched the ‘Vidyarthi Sahayahasta’ scheme in August 2026 to provide horizontal reservation in professional courses for rural government school students?

(a) Telangana

(b) Tamil Nadu

(d) Andhra Pradesh

(e) Kerala

Answer: c

Solution:

Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced the ‘Vidyarthi Sahayahasta’ scheme during the Independence Day celebrations at Manekshaw Parade Grounds, Bengaluru.
The scheme aims to expand access to professional education for students from rural government schools.
Students who have completed their education from Class I to Class X in rural government schools will be eligible under the scheme.
Under the initiative, eligible students will receive 7.5% reservation within the existing 15% rural reservation for admission to professional courses.
The reservation will cover professional programmes including medical and engineering courses.

Q9. Which Indian Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) became the first in the country to secure the GE Aerospace S400 Independent and International Metallic Material Laboratory approval in August 2026?

(a) Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)

(b) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)

(d) Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)

(e) BEML Limited

Answer: c

Solution:

In August 2026, Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI) became the first Indian company to secure GE Aerospace’s S400 Independent and International Metallic Material Laboratory approval.
The approval covers a wide range of chemical, mechanical and metallurgical testing.

Q10. Which Union Territory became the first in India to provide a fixed 4% statutory horizontal reservation for outstanding sportspersons in direct recruitment to Group ‘C’ non-gazetted posts?

(a) Ladakh

(b) Jammu and Kashmir

(d) Puducherry

(e) Delhi

Answer: a

Solution:

Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena has approved 4% horizontal reservation for “Outstanding Sportspersons” in direct recruitment to Group ‘C’ (Non-Gazetted) posts under the Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh.
With this move, Ladakh becomes the first and only Union Territory in India to provide a fixed 4% reservation for sportspersons in government jobs, according to the provided information.
Following the approval, the Ladakh Administration notified the Union Territory of Ladakh Outstanding Sportspersons (Horizontal Reservation in Direct Recruitment to Group ‘C’ Non-Gazetted Posts) Rules, 2026.
The rules provide a structured framework for extending reservation benefits to meritorious sportspersons, subject to fulfilling prescribed eligibility conditions, including the recruitment examination.

Who Are Covered as “Outstanding Sportspersons”?

Sportspersons who have represented a State or India in recognised National or International competitions.
Medal winners in Senior or Junior National Championships.
Medal winners in Khelo India Youth Games above 18 years, Khelo India Winter Games, Khelo India Para Games and Khelo India University Games.
Eligible sportspersons who have represented their universities in recognised Inter-University competitions.
Eligible chess achievers are also covered in accordance with the prescribed DoPT provisions.