The Hindu Daily Quiz 16 August 2026: Test Your Current Affairs Knowledge
Preparing for UPSC, SSC, Banking or State PSC? The Hindu Daily Quiz 16 August 2026 converts today's key stories — Green India Mission audit, SC/ST creamy layer debate, BCG and Alzheimer's, FAST-DS scheme, India's space launch costs, Nihang Sikhs, Syrian transitional justice, women's reservation, JWST discovery and tribal school safety — into ten exam-standard MCQs across English, Hindi and Tamil.
Why This Daily Quiz Matters for Your Exam Prep
Today's Hindu covers NAPCC climate missions, Indra Sawhney and Davinder Singh reservation jurisprudence, BCG trained immunity, Black Money Act voluntary disclosure, IN-SPACe and private space, Khalsa history, in-absentia trial law, the 106th Amendment, JWST infrared astronomy and tribal Ashram school welfare. Each question is framed at government exam standard with balanced options and randomised answer positions.
Topics Covered in Today's Quiz
Green India Mission — NAPCC 2008, eight missions and CAG audit findings
BCG vaccine study — trained immunity, innate cells and Alzheimer's amyloid
FAST-DS scheme — Black Money Act 2015, CBDT and voluntary disclosure
India's space economy — IN-SPACe 2020, launch cost per kg and Skyroot
Nihang Sikhs — Khalsa Panth 1699, Guru Gobind Singh and Five Ks
Syria transitional justice — in-absentia trial, Rome Statute and war crimes
Women's reservation — 106th Amendment 2023, delimitation and Census link
JWST discovery — infrared astronomy, cosmic dawn and supermassive black holes
Tribal school safety — Ashram schools, snakebite mortality and anti-snake venom
How to Attempt This Quiz
Tap an option to check your answer. Each question opens a short explanation with exam-ready notes so every attempt doubles as revision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is the Green India Mission part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change?
Yes. The Green India Mission is one of the eight national missions under NAPCC (2008). It aims to improve forest quality, expand tree cover and enhance ecosystem services. A recent CAG audit flagged major shortfalls in funding and implementation across 16 States and Union Territories.
Q2. Does the creamy layer principle apply to SC/ST reservations in India?
No. The creamy layer exclusion was established for OBCs in the Indra Sawhney judgment (1992) and was expressly held not to apply to SC/STs. However, the 2024 Davinder Singh verdict allowing sub-categorisation within SC/ST lists has revived the debate, with the Union opposing any creamy layer for SCs and STs.
Q3. What is trained immunity and how is it linked to the BCG vaccine?
Trained immunity refers to the long-lasting functional reprogramming of innate immune cells so they respond faster even to unrelated threats. A recent small study suggested the BCG vaccine may activate such responses in brain-associated immune cells, potentially aiding early-stage Alzheimer's defence, though larger trials are needed.
Q4. What is the FAST-DS scheme for undisclosed foreign assets?
FAST-DS (Foreign Assets of Small Taxpayers Disclosure Scheme) is a voluntary disclosure window under the Black Money Act, 2015. Small taxpayers such as students, professionals and returning NRIs can declare foreign assets by paying an effective 60% tax without further penalty or prosecution. Declarations are open from August 17 to December 31, 2026.
Q5. When was IN-SPACe established and what does it do?
IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre) was established in 2020 following the liberalisation of India's space sector. It acts as the regulator and promoter for private space activity in India. Over 400 startups have registered with IN-SPACe since its creation, including Skyroot which launched India's first private orbital rocket in 2026.
Q6. Who founded the Khalsa Panth and when?
The Khalsa Panth was founded by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, on Baisakhi in 1699 at Anandpur Sahib. It established the collective identity of initiated Sikhs, marked by the Five Ks. The Nihang Sikhs are the historic armed warrior order associated with this Khalsa martial tradition.
Q7. What is an in-absentia trial and why is it controversial?
An in-absentia trial is conducted without the accused being physically present in court. While it allows justice proceedings to continue against fugitives, international human rights bodies such as Amnesty International have criticised it for potentially violating fair trial standards, particularly when a death sentence is imposed without the accused's participation.
Q8. What is the 106th Constitutional Amendment and when will it take effect?
The 106th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2023 (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) provides 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. It is not immediately operational — it will take effect only after the relevant Census is published and a delimitation exercise is completed based on that Census data.
Q9. Why does the James Webb Space Telescope observe in infrared?
JWST is designed primarily for infrared observation because the oldest light in the universe has been redshifted into infrared wavelengths due to cosmic expansion. Infrared also allows JWST to see through dust clouds that block visible light, enabling it to study the earliest galaxies formed during the cosmic dawn period.
Q10. What are Ashram schools and why were they in the news?
Ashram schools are government-aided residential schools primarily for Scheduled Tribe children in remote areas, providing education, food and shelter. They were in the news after three tribal girls died from a common krait snakebite at a school in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, exposing serious gaps in safety infrastructure, medical access and anti-snake venom availability.
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