1. In the first quarter of 2026, India's Green Hydrogen production cost dropped due to the SIGHT program. If the initial cost was $C$ and it reduced by $15\%$, and then an additional subsidy of $10\%$ on the new price was applied, what is the final cost?

A) $0.75C$

B) $0.775C$

C) $0.765C$

D) $0.855C$

Solution:
Step 1: First reduction of $15\%$ means $C_1 = C(1 - 0.15) = 0.85C$.
Step 2: Second reduction of $10\%$ on $C_1$ means $C_{final} = 0.85C(1 - 0.10)$.
$$C_{final} = 0.85C \times 0.9 = 0.765C$$ Hence, Option C is correct.

2. International News: The COP30 climate summit consensus established a Global Carbon Credit (GCC) value. If India holds $2.5 \times 10^6$ credits and each credit is valued at $\$40$, what is the total asset value in billions?

A) $\$1.0$ billion

B) $\$0.1$ billion

C) $\$10.0$ billion

D) $\$0.01$ billion

Solution:
Total Value = Credits $\times$ Price per credit.
$$V = (2.5 \times 10^6) \times 40 = 100 \times 10^6 = 10^8$$ Since $1$ billion = $10^9$, then $10^8 = 0.1$ billion.

3. Economy: The RBI's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) in April 2026 maintained the Repo Rate at $6.25\%$. If a bank borrows $\text{₹}500$ crores for $1$ day (overnight), what is the interest payable? (Assume 365 days a year)

A) $\approx \text{₹}8.56$ lakhs

B) $\approx \text{₹}12.4$ lakhs

C) $\approx \text{₹}5.21$ lakhs

D) $\approx \text{₹}1.71$ lakhs

Solution:
Interest = $\frac{P \times R \times T}{100}$.
$P = 500 \times 10^7$, $R = 6.25$, $T = \frac{1}{365}$.
$$I = \frac{500 \times 6.25 \times 1}{100 \times 365} \text{ crores} = \frac{31.25}{365} \text{ crores} \approx 0.08561 \text{ crores} = 8.56 \text{ lakhs}$$

4. National News: The 'Gaganyaan-3' mission launched in March 2026 carried a payload of $P$ kg. If the thrust-to-weight ratio needed for lift-off is $1.5$ and gravity $g = 9.8 \text{ m/s}^2$, what is the minimum thrust required for a total launch mass of $8000$ kg?

A) $80$ kN

B) $11.76$ kN

C) $11760$ N

D) $117.6$ kN

Solution:
Weight $W = m \times g = 8000 \times 9.8 = 78,400$ N.
Thrust $T = 1.5 \times W = 1.5 \times 78400 = 117,600$ N.
$117,600$ N = $117.6$ kN.

5. Economy: India's Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) broadcasting tech reached $40\%$ of the population by May 2026. If the target is to increase this by $25\%$ (percentage points) in one year, what will be the new coverage?

A) $50\%$

B) $65\%$

C) $45\%$

D) $70\%$

Solution:
Increase of $25$ percentage points means adding $25$ to the current $40$.
$$40\% + 25\% = 65\%$$

6. International: The BRICS-11 currency pool was valued at $1.2$ trillion units. If India contributes $18\%$ of this pool, calculate India's share in billions.

A) $180$ billion

B) $200$ billion

C) $216$ billion

D) $240$ billion

Solution:
Share = $18\%$ of $1.2$ trillion.
$$0.18 \times 1200 \text{ billion} = 216 \text{ billion}.$$

7. National: The length of the Ahmedabad-Mumbai Bullet Train track completed by May 2026 is $L$ km. If this is $70\%$ of the total $508$ km project, find $L$ (rounded).

A) $356$ km

B) $380$ km

C) $412$ km

D) $320$ km

Solution:
$$L = 0.70 \times 508 = 355.6 \approx 356 \text{ km}.$$

8. Economy: A new GST slab of $x\%$ was proposed for luxury EV batteries. If the price before tax is $\text{₹}2,00,000$ and the GST amount is $\text{₹}30,000$, find $x$.

A) $12\%$

B) $18\%$

C) $28\%$

D) $15\%$

Solution:
Tax Percentage $x = \frac{\text{Tax}}{\text{Base Price}} \times 100$.
$$x = \frac{30000}{200000} \times 100 = 15\%.$$

9. International News: The 2026 FIFA World Cup format involves $48$ teams. If they are divided into $12$ groups of $4$ teams each, how many total group stage matches will be played?

A) $48$

B) $72$

C) $96$

D) $64$

Solution:
Matches per group of $4$ teams = $\binom{4}{2} = 6$.
Total groups = $12$.
$$\text{Total Matches} = 12 \times 6 = 72.$$

10. Economy: India's Fiscal Deficit target for FY27 is projected at $4.5\%$. If the GDP is estimated at $\text{₹}350$ lakh crore, what is the allowable fiscal deficit in lakh crores?

A) $\text{₹}14.25$

B) $\text{₹}16.50$

C) $\text{₹}15.75$

D) $\text{₹}12.85$

Solution:
Deficit = $4.5\%$ of $350$.
$$\text{Deficit} = 350 \times 0.045 = 15.75 \text{ lakh crores}.$$

Current Affairs & Economy (Set 2)