APPOINTMENTS
Directors
Varsha Ashok Aglawe Becomes First Woman Director General of Geological Survey of India
Varsha Ashok Aglawe took office as the 54th Director General of the Geological Survey of India (GSI), succeeding Asit Saha.
Her appointment marks a historical milestone as she is the first woman to lead the institution in its 176-year existence.
The appointment highlights progressive institutional diversity within critical scientific and exploratory governmental bodies in India.
Her appointment marks a historical milestone as she is the first woman to lead the institution in its 176-year existence.
The appointment highlights progressive institutional diversity within critical scientific and exploratory governmental bodies in India.
Key Facts / Static GK
Geological Survey of India Formed: 4 March 1851
Geological Survey of India Headquarters: Kolkata, West Bengal
Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Mines
Geological Survey of India Headquarters: Kolkata, West Bengal
Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Mines
Practice Quiz — 3 August 2026
Q1. Who has assumed charge as the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (DCAS) of the Indian Air Force, replacing Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti?
Answer: (A) Air Marshal Tejpal Singh — Air Marshal Tejpal Singh assumed charge as the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (DCAS) of the Indian Air Force, succeeding Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti.
Q2. Who became the first woman to be appointed as the Director General of the Geological Survey of India (GSI) in its 176-year history?
Answer: (C) Varsha Ashok Aglawe — Varsha Ashok Aglawe assumed charge as the 54th Director General of the Geological Survey of India, becoming the first woman to head the organisation in its 176-year history.
Q3. Which of the following statements regarding Geographical Indication (GI) tags in India is correct?
Answer: (D) The GI Act came into force on 15 September 2003. — In India, GI is governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, which officially came into force on 15 September 2003. The registry is in Chennai, initial validity is 10 years, and Darjeeling Tea was the first product in 2004.
Q4. What was the total volume of transactions processed by India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in July 2026?
Answer: (B) 23.66 billion — India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) processed a record 23.66 billion transactions (2,366 crore transactions) in July 2026 with a total value of ₹29.88 lakh crore.
Q5. Shivalik Small Finance Bank acquired Delhi-based ManiBhavnam Home Finance India Private Limited in a transaction valued at approximately how much?
Answer: (A) ₹109 crore — Shivalik Small Finance Bank completed the merger and acquisition of Delhi-based ManiBhavnam Home Finance India Private Limited for approximately ₹109 crore.
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