Practice APSC Current Affairs MCQs for 29 August 2026 on Kaziranga animal corridors, PMJDY, Gnani Artha AI stack, Lake Ontario and National Sports Day.
Question 1: Animal Corridors around Kaziranga – Functional vs Structural Corridors | Current Affairs MCQ
Consider the following statements regarding Animal Corridors:
- Functional corridors are identified based on recorded wildlife movement, while structural corridors are contiguous forested areas that connect fragmented habitats.
- The animal corridors identified around Kaziranga National Park are located entirely within Golaghat district of Assam.
Which of the statements given above is/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.
Functional corridors are areas where actual wildlife movement has been recorded. They are identified on the basis of observed movement patterns of animals across landscapes.
Structural corridors, on the other hand, are contiguous forested strips or habitat patches that physically connect otherwise fragmented habitats.
The distinction is important because an area may appear structurally connected on a map, but its actual use by wildlife determines whether it functions effectively as a movement corridor.
Statement 2 is incorrect because the nine identified animal corridors around Kaziranga are spread across Nagaon and Golaghat districts, not entirely within Golaghat.
Nagaon district: Amguri, Bagori, Chirang, Deosur, Harmati, Hatidandi and Kanchanjuri.
Golaghat district: Haldibari and Panbari.
Why are Wildlife Corridors Important? Wildlife corridors help animals move between fragmented habitats for:
Feeding, breeding, seasonal migration, dispersal and access to safer habitats.
They also help maintain gene flow between wildlife populations and can reduce the ecological impacts of habitat fragmentation.
Kaziranga Link: Corridors around Kaziranga are particularly important because seasonal flooding often causes wildlife to move towards adjoining higher grounds.
Question 2: Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana – Zero-Balance Accounts, RuPay & Overdraft Facility | Current Affairs MCQ
Consider the following statements regarding the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY):
- PMJDY was launched with the objective of promoting financial inclusion by providing affordable access to banking, credit, insurance and pension services.
- PMJDY accounts can be opened with zero balance, and account holders are provided with a RuPay debit card.
- The scheme provides an overdraft facility of up to ₹10,000 to one account per household, subject to the prescribed conditions.
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: D — 1, 2 and 3
Explanation: All three statements are correct.
The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) was launched on 28 August 2014 with the objective of promoting financial inclusion.
The scheme seeks to provide affordable access to:
Bank accounts, credit, remittance facilities, insurance and pension services.
A major feature of PMJDY is that accounts can be opened with zero balance, helping people who may otherwise remain outside the formal banking system.
Eligible account holders are also provided with a RuPay debit card.
The scheme additionally provides an overdraft facility of up to ₹10,000, subject to prescribed eligibility conditions.
Why is PMJDY Important? PMJDY has been central to expanding access to formal banking and can support:
Direct Benefit Transfer, savings mobilisation, access to credit, insurance coverage and greater financial inclusion.
Financial Inclusion Link: Financial inclusion refers to ensuring that individuals and households have affordable access to appropriate formal financial products and services.
Question 3: Gnani Artha – Sovereign AI Stack, Evon 3.3 & Plexus | Current Affairs MCQ
What best describes the recently launched ‘Gnani Artha’?
A. A parliamentary AI platform developed by Digital Sansad, developed by GNANI AI
B. A sovereign AI stack comprising Evon 3.3 and Plexus, developed by GNANI AI
C. A semiconductor manufacturing programme launched under the IndiaAI Mission
D. A government scheme for promoting AI-based startups in rural India
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: According to the provided material, Gnani Artha is a sovereign AI stack developed by GNANI AI.
It comprises two major components:
Evon 3.3 — a Large Language Model (LLM) that provides AI intelligence and language capabilities.
Plexus — a platform intended to connect AI intelligence with real-world work and institutions.
What is Sovereign AI? Sovereign AI broadly refers to a country’s or organisation’s capacity to develop and operate AI systems using domestic technological capabilities, data frameworks and infrastructure, reducing excessive dependence on external platforms.
The launch is therefore associated with wider themes such as:
Technological self-reliance, indigenous AI development, data sovereignty and strategic autonomy.
Why is this Important for India? As AI becomes increasingly important for governance, business, defence, education and public services, the ability to develop domestic AI capabilities can become strategically significant.
Question 4: Lake Ontario – Great Lakes, USA–Canada Border & North American Geography | Current Affairs MCQ
Consider the following statements regarding Lake Ontario:
- Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and is the easternmost of the Great Lakes.
- Lake Ontario is shared by the United States and Canada, with the international boundary passing through the lake.
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.
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America.
It is the easternmost of the Great Lakes and, according to the provided material, is also the smallest in surface area among them.
The lake is shared by the United States and Canada, with the international boundary passing through it.
The Five Great Lakes: Aspirants should remember:
Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario.
These lakes form one of the world’s most important freshwater systems.
International Geography Link: Except for Lake Michigan, which lies entirely within the United States, the Great Lakes form part of the broader United States–Canada boundary region.
Why is Lake Ontario Important? Questions on the Great Lakes can test:
Location, international boundaries, relative position, connecting rivers and map-based geography.
Question 5: National Sports Day – Major Dhyan Chand & India’s Olympic Hockey Golds | Current Affairs MCQ
Consider the following statements regarding National Sports Day:
- National Sports Day is observed on 29 August to commemorate the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand.
- Major Dhyan Chand represented India in the 1928, 1932 and 1936 Olympic Games, where India won gold medals in hockey.
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.
India observes National Sports Day on 29 August to commemorate the birth anniversary of legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand.
Dhyan Chand is widely remembered as one of the greatest figures in the history of Indian hockey.
He represented India in the:
1928 Amsterdam Olympics
1932 Los Angeles Olympics
1936 Berlin Olympics
India won the gold medal in men’s hockey in all three editions.
Why is Major Dhyan Chand Important? His career represents the period of India’s extraordinary dominance in international hockey during the early twentieth century.
National Sports Day Link: The observance promotes awareness about:
Sports culture, physical fitness, sporting excellence and the role of athletes in national life.
About Lucent IAS
Lucent IAS is a premier civil services coaching institute in Guwahati, focused on helping aspirants prepare systematically for the APSC Civil Services Examination. Our programmes combine Foundation preparation, advanced Mains guidance, Assam-centric learning and answer-writing practice with personalised mentoring and examination-oriented test series.
The objective is simple: help aspirants move beyond collecting information and develop the ability to understand, analyse and write effectively in the examination.
Publications From LUCENT IAS
- “The Assam Odyssey: The Complete Assam Centric Resource useful for APSC CCE and various other Departmental Examinations. Read More
- InExam PYQ Explained.Read More
- Mains Tattva: The Craft of Answer Writing (GS Paper PYQs). Read More
- Maanchitra – An Illustrative Colour-Coded Informative Map of Assam. Read More
- প্ৰাৰম্ভ (Prarambha). Read More
- অসম ওডিচী – The Assam Odyssey (Assamese Edition). Read More
Connect with Lucent IAS
- Website: LUCENT IAS
- Study Portal/Course Access: STUDY.LUCENTIAS
- YouTube: @LUCENTIAS
- Instagram: @LUCENT_IAS
- Facebook: @LUCENTIAS
- Official Telegram Channel: @LucentIAS
- Telegram Public Forum: @LUCENTIAS
Start your journey to success today. Visit us at lucentias.com or call +91-6913007777 for more details.
For course details and admissions, visit the Lucent IAS website or contact 6913007777.