Practice APSC Current Affairs MCQs for 21 August 2026 on Sootea Police Station, Terrier Cyber Quest 2026, PM-AASHA, PMJVM and Assam–Meghalaya border districts.
Question 1: Sootea Police Station – Quit India Movement, Tricolour Hoisting and Sootea Divas (Important APSC Current Affairs)
Consider the following statements regarding the historical significance of Sootea Police Station:
- It was associated with the hoisting of the Indian tricolour during the Quit India Movement.
- It was later granted the status of a historical heritage site.
- The site has been associated with the observance of “Sootea Divas”.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Correct Answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
Explanation: All three statements are correct.
- Sootea Police Station occupies an important place in the history of Assam’s participation in the Quit India Movement of 1942.
- On 20 August 1942, local freedom activists, students and teachers hoisted the Indian tricolour at the Sootea Police Station, demonstrating local resistance to British colonial rule during the nationwide movement.
- The site was subsequently granted the status of a historical heritage site in 2017, acknowledging its contribution to Assam’s freedom struggle.
- 20 August is observed as “Sootea Divas” to commemorate the historic flag-hoisting episode and honour the contribution made by the people of Sootea during India’s freedom movement.
- Why is Sootea Important for APSC? The episode illustrates how the Quit India Movement was not confined to major national political centres. It also generated significant mobilisation in different parts of Assam, involving local activists, students and ordinary citizens.
- For APSC preparation, the topic connects modern Indian history with Assam-specific developments, making it particularly relevant for both Prelims and Assam-oriented portions of the examination.
Key Facts for APSC: 20 August 1942 – Tricolour hoisted at Sootea Police Station; 2017 – historical heritage site status; 20 August – observed as Sootea Divas.
APSC Prelims Alert: Remember the association — Sootea Police Station → Quit India Movement → 20 August 1942 → Sootea Divas.
Question 2: Terrier Cyber Quest 2026 – Territorial Army, CyberPeace and AI Kavach
Consider the following statements regarding Terrier Cyber Quest 2026:
- Terrier Cyber Quest 2026 is organised by the Territorial Army in collaboration with CyberPeace.
- Its AI Kavach track focuses on AI/ML-based predictive threat intelligence, automated defence mechanisms and anomaly detection.
- The Creators Challenge focuses on identifying vulnerabilities in simulated critical infrastructure through a live sandbox.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Correct Answer: A — 1 and 2 only
Explanation: Statements 1 and 2 are correct, while Statement 3 is incorrect.
- Terrier Cyber Quest 2026 (TCQ 3.0) is the third edition of a national-level defence hackathon organised by the Territorial Army in collaboration with CyberPeace.
- The initiative focuses on emerging challenges in cyber security, artificial intelligence and digital threats.
- AI Kavach: The AI Kavach track focuses on the application of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to cyber defence.
- Its focus areas include predictive threat intelligence, automated defence mechanisms and anomaly detection.
- Such technologies can help security systems identify unusual patterns, predict emerging cyber threats and respond more rapidly to malicious activity.
- Why is Statement 3 Incorrect? Identifying vulnerabilities in simulated critical infrastructure through a live sandbox finale is associated with the Bug Hunting track, not the Creators Challenge.
- The Creators Challenge instead focuses on digital threats such as deepfakes, phishing, online scams and misinformation.
- Cyber Security Concepts to Remember: Predictive threat intelligence involves using data and analytical tools to anticipate possible cyber threats. Anomaly detection identifies activity that differs significantly from normal system behaviour. Deepfakes use AI-based techniques to create manipulated audio, video or visual content that can falsely portray individuals or events.
Key Facts for APSC & UPSC: Terrier Cyber Quest 2026 = TCQ 3.0; Organisers = Territorial Army + CyberPeace; AI Kavach = AI/ML-driven cyber defence; Bug Hunting = vulnerability identification; Creators Challenge = deepfakes, phishing, scams and misinformation.
Question 3: PM-AASHA – Price Support, Farmer Income and Procurement of Pulses, Oilseeds & Copra
Consider the following statements regarding the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA):
- PM-AASHA is a price-support framework aimed at ensuring remunerative prices for farmers and reducing distress sales.
- Under PM-AASHA, procurement of pulses, oilseeds and copra is undertaken through agencies such as NAFED and NCCF.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Explanation: Both statements are correct.
- PM-AASHA stands for Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan.
- The initiative is designed to strengthen mechanisms for providing remunerative prices to farmers and to reduce situations in which agricultural producers are forced to sell their produce below desirable prices because of market conditions.
- A major objective is therefore to address the problem of distress sales.
- Under the PM-AASHA framework, procurement of agricultural commodities such as pulses, oilseeds and copra is undertaken through agencies including NAFED and NCCF.
- NAFED stands for National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd.
- NCCF stands for National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Ltd.
- Why is PM-AASHA Important? Agricultural prices can fluctuate considerably because of changes in production, market demand and supply conditions. Effective price-support mechanisms can help provide farmers with greater income security when market prices fall.
- The scheme therefore connects with broader themes such as Minimum Support Price, agricultural marketing, farmers’ income, procurement and food security.
- Key Facts for APSC & UPSC: PM-AASHA = agricultural price-support framework; Objective = remunerative prices and reduction of distress sales; Important commodities = pulses, oilseeds and copra; Important agencies = NAFED and NCCF.
Question 4: Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM) – Van Dhan Vikas Kendras and Minor Forest Produce
Consider the following statements regarding the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM):
- PMJVM organises tribal communities into community-owned Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) to promote value addition and entrepreneurship in Minor Forest Produce (MFP).
- The mission provides direct cash assistance to tribal households for purchasing Minor Forest Produce.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer: A — Statement 1 Only
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct, while Statement 2 is incorrect.
- The Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM) seeks to strengthen the livelihoods of tribal communities by improving opportunities for value addition, entrepreneurship and market access, particularly in relation to Minor Forest Produce (MFP).
- An important component of the approach is the organisation of tribal communities into community-owned Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs).
- These centres can support activities such as collection, processing, value addition, packaging and marketing of forest-based products, thereby enabling tribal producers to capture a larger share of the value generated from Minor Forest Produce.
- Why is Statement 2 Incorrect? The information provided does not describe PMJVM as a scheme that gives tribal households direct cash assistance to purchase Minor Forest Produce.
- Instead, the framework emphasises procurement of MFP at a predetermined Minimum Support Price (MSP) along with enterprise development and value addition.
- What is Minor Forest Produce? Minor Forest Produce broadly refers to non-timber products obtained from forests that can play an important role in the livelihoods of forest-dependent and tribal communities.
- The subject is relevant to wider issues of tribal livelihoods, forest economy, sustainable utilisation of forest resources and rural entrepreneurship.
Question 5: Assam–Meghalaya Border – Which Assam District Does Not Share a Boundary with Meghalaya?
Which of the following districts of Assam does not share a border with Meghalaya?
A. Cachar
B. Goalpara
C. Kamrup
D. Nagaon
Correct Answer: D — Nagaon
Explanation: Nagaon does not share a border with Meghalaya.
- According to the information provided, Assam districts sharing a boundary with Meghalaya include:
- Cachar, Dima Hasao, West Karbi Anglong, Karbi Anglong, Kamrup Metropolitan, Kamrup, Goalpara and South Salmara-Mankachar.
- Among the four options given in the question, Cachar, Goalpara and Kamrup share a boundary with Meghalaya, whereas Nagaon does not.
- Why is this Important for APSC? Assam’s inter-State boundaries are frequently relevant for map-based questions, district geography and Assam-specific current affairs.
- The Assam–Meghalaya boundary is also important from the perspective of inter-State relations and territorial geography of Northeast India.
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