18th August 2026

Explanation - Unlike an AI assistant, which mainly responds to prompts, an AI agent can independently take a series of actions using other software or tools to achieve a user-defined goal. It can access websites and applications on its own, deciding the steps needed to complete a task rather than just answering queries. Three components of an agent — Model — the underlying LLM powering reasoning and decision-making. Tools — external functions the agent can use to act. Instructions — guidelines and guardrails defining the agent's behaviour.

Explanation - National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission is a quasi-judicial commission set up in 1988 under the Consumer Protection Act of 1986. Mandate — To provide inexpensive, speedy, and summary redressal of consumer disputes. The Commission is headed by a sitting or a retired Judge of the Supreme Court of India or a sitting or a retired Chief Justice of High Court. Jurisdiction — It shall have jurisdiction to entertain a complaint valued more than two crore and also have appellate and revisional jurisdiction from the orders of State Commissions or the District fora as the case may be. The provisions of this act cover ‘goods’ as well as ‘services’. Appeal — Any person aggrieved by an order of NCDRC, may prefer an appeal against such an order to SC within a period of 30 days. Its head office is located in New Delhi. A complaint may be filed by the following — A consumer Any voluntary consumer association registered under the Companies Act 1956 The Central Government or any State Government One or more consumers where there are numerous consumers.

Explanation - SAARC was founded in 1985. Secretariat - Kathmandu, Nepal. BIMSTEC = SAARC - (Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan) + (Thailand and Myanmar)

Explanation - New Development Bank is a multilateral development bank jointly founded by the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) at the 6th BRICS Summit in Fortaleza, Brazil in 2014. The idea for setting up the bank was proposed by India at the 4th BRICS summit in 2012 held in Delhi. It was formed to support infrastructure and sustainable development efforts in BRICS and other underserved, emerging economies for faster development through innovation and cutting-edge technology. It is headquartered at Shanghai, China. In 2018, the NDB received observer status in the United Nations General Assembly, establishing a firm basis for active and fruitful cooperation with the UN. To fulfil its purpose, the Bank supports public or private projects through loans, guarantees, equity participation and other financial instruments. India is one of the founding members, holding 20% stake in the Bank. As of now, NDB’s approved loan proportion to India is 28%, the second highest after China amongst the BRICS countries.

Explanation - The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope or Roman Space Telescope (RST) is a NASA deep space infrared observatory. Though originally referred to as the Wide Field Infrared Space Telescope (WFIRST), NASA renamed the mission in 2020 after Nancy Grace Roman, NASA's first chief astronomer. Objective: RST will help answer essential astrophysics questions about dark energy, dark matter, exoplanets, and infrared astrophysics. It is set to launch around 2026 or 2027. The mission is projected to last for five years. RST will be situated at Lagrange point 2, a stable gravitational point between Earth and the sun located around 1 million miles (1.5 million kilometers) from our planet.