23 June 2026

Quiz — 23 June 2026

Every prelims question from this edition. Tap an option to check it; what you answer is remembered on this device.

Questions

1. According to the RBI data for April 2026, which of the following countries were among the top sources of FDI inflows into India?

   1. A France, Canada, and Australia
   2. B Japan, Singapore, and Mauritius
   3. C USA, UK, and Germany
   4. D China, UAE, and Saudi Arabia

2. According to the RBI Bulletin, which of the following factors is identified as a potential domestic risk to India's growth-inflation outlook?

   1. A Adverse south-west monsoon
   2. B Fiscal deficit expansion
   3. C Foreign exchange depletion
   4. D Current account deficit

3. Which of the following factors is primarily responsible for the decline in the share of Union tax devolution to developed states in recent Finance Commission cycles?

   1. A High weightage given to per capita income distance and population
   2. B Increase in the weightage of industrial output
   3. C Mandatory increase in state-level GST collection targets
   4. D Reduction in the total divisible pool of taxes

4. In the context of state fiscal health, what does the 'scissors effect' refer to?

   1. A The widening gap between revenue capacity and expenditure obligations due to demographic changes
   2. B The divergence between capital expenditure and revenue expenditure
   3. C The gap between tax revenue and non-tax revenue
   4. D The conflict between state welfare schemes and central government mandates

5. Which of the following sectors are included in the Index of Eight Core Industries?

   1. A Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement, Electricity
   2. B Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Textiles, Electricity
   3. C Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Chemicals, Steel, Cement, Electricity
   4. D Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement, Mining

6. Which ministry is responsible for releasing the data on the Index of Eight Core Industries?

   1. A Ministry of Commerce and Industry
   2. B Ministry of Heavy Industries
   3. C Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
   4. D Ministry of Finance

7. The Delhi (Right of Citizen to Time Bound Delivery of Services) Act was enacted in which year?

   1. A 2011
   2. B 2015
   3. C 2013
   4. D 2005

8. Which of the following best describes the 'diamond open access' model mentioned in the context of scholarly publishing?

   1. A A model where journals publish open-access papers without levying article processing charges (APCs), with costs borne by institutions.
   2. B A model where researchers pay high fees to ensure their work is published in top-tier journals.
   3. C A model where commercial publishers retain exclusive copyright over all publicly funded research.
   4. D A model where access to research is restricted to a select group of elite global universities.

9. What is the primary objective of China's current strategy in the scholarly publishing sector?

   1. A To outsource all peer-review processes to international commercial entities.
   2. B To increase the reliance of Chinese researchers on foreign high-impact journals.
   3. C To maximize the use of the 'impact factor' as the sole metric for research evaluation.
   4. D To build an integrated domestic ecosystem to redirect research prestige and revenue away from foreign publishers.

10. The Antarctic Treaty applies to all land and ice shelves south of which latitude?

    1. A 50 degrees South
    2. B 60 degrees South
    3. C 70 degrees South
    4. D 66.5 degrees South

11. Which event is widely recognized as providing the immediate impetus for the negotiation of the Antarctic Treaty?

    1. A The International Geophysical Year (1957-58)
    2. B The discovery of mineral resources in 1960
    3. C The First World War
    4. D The Cold War arms race

12. The Comprehensive Dam Safety Evaluation Committee (CDSEC) is primarily responsible for:

    1. A Managing the inter-state water distribution of the Mullaperiyar dam
    2. B Overseeing the construction of new hydroelectric power projects
    3. C Resolving legal disputes between states regarding water rights
    4. D Assessing the safety and structural integrity of dams

13. Which of the following best describes the scope of judicial review regarding the Supreme Court Collegium's recommendations for appointments to constitutional courts?

    1. A Mandatory judicial review for all appointments
    2. B Limited judicial review applicable only in exceptional circumstances
    3. C No judicial review is permitted under any circumstances
    4. D Unlimited judicial review based on merit

14. The 'Punjab Regulation of Fee of Un-aided Educational Institutions (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026' imposes a cap on annual fee hikes for private unaided schools at which of the following percentages?

    1. A 3%
    2. B 5%
    3. C 7%
    4. D 10%

15. Which of the following bodies is primarily responsible for the rehabilitation policy of jhuggi-jhopri (JJ) clusters in Delhi as mentioned in the context?

    1. A Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD)
    2. B Delhi Development Authority (DDA)
    3. C Land and Development Office (L&DO)
    4. D Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB)

16. Which of the following best describes the role of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) regarding the audit of private power distribution companies in India?

    1. A The CAG's audit reports on private companies are legally binding and can directly impose penalties.
    2. B The CAG has the automatic constitutional authority to audit all private companies in India.
    3. C The CAG can only audit private companies if specifically mandated by a statute or requested by the government under specific legal provisions.
    4. D The CAG is strictly prohibited from auditing any entity that is not a government department.

17. What is the primary role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the context of the recent U.S.-Iran negotiations?

    1. A To mediate the territorial disputes between Iran and its neighbors
    2. B To monitor and inspect nuclear sites to ensure non-proliferation
    3. C To manage the financial transactions of Iranian oil exports
    4. D To provide credit facilities for Iranian petroleum refineries

18. Which of the following factors makes Iranian crude oil economically advantageous for Indian refiners according to industry analysts?

    1. A Exemption from all global maritime insurance requirements
    2. B Higher quality of crude compared to Brent benchmark
    3. C Favorable credit periods and geographical proximity
    4. D Fixed pricing mechanism independent of global market fluctuations

19. The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) functions under the administrative control of which of the following?

    1. A Ministry of Home Affairs
    2. B Ministry of Finance
    3. C Ministry of Law and Justice
    4. D Ministry of Corporate Affairs

20. Which of the following departments or agencies is primarily responsible for the oversight of industrial safety and health standards in India?

    1. A Ministry of Commerce and Industry
    2. B Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
    3. C Directorate General of Factory Advice Service and Labour Institutes (DGFASLI)
    4. D National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)

21. Which of the following best describes the recent trend of mob violence in Odisha as reported?

    1. A Systemic failure of the judicial system in handling civil disputes
    2. B Ethnic conflict between indigenous and migrant populations
    3. C Organized political protests against state policies
    4. D Vigilante justice fueled by misinformation and suspicion

22. Which of the following is a primary challenge identified for fire safety in densely populated urban areas, as highlighted by recent incidents?

    1. A Inability of large fire tenders to access narrow lanes
    2. B Shortage of water supply in municipal zones
    3. C Lack of awareness among citizens
    4. D Absence of fire insurance for commercial buildings

23. Which of the following best describes the objective of the 'Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin)' mentioned in the recent state budget?

    1. A A national policy for industrial land acquisition
    2. B A central government scheme for urban infrastructure development
    3. C A credit guarantee scheme for small-scale agricultural enterprises
    4. D A state-led initiative for rural employment and livelihood support

24. In the context of recent advancements in strain engineering, what is the primary mechanism identified for inducing terahertz (THz) frequency vibrations in platinum-copper superlattices?

    1. A Absorption of infrared radiation by copper ions
    2. B Electron pressure exerted on the lattice
    3. C Magnetic spin-flip transitions
    4. D Thermal expansion of the atomic lattice

25. What is the significance of 'sputtering' in the manufacturing of thermoacoustic metamaterials?

    1. A It is a high-cost process reserved for quantum computing research
    2. B It is a laboratory-only technique used to isolate single atoms
    3. C It is a scalable industrial process used to coat materials like microchips
    4. D It is a method used to eliminate free electrons in metallic structures

26. The Ebola outbreak reported in the Ituri province is located in which of the following countries?

    1. A Rwanda
    2. B Uganda
    3. C Congo
    4. D South Sudan

27. In the context of international trade and export controls, what does the term 'dual-use' refer to?

    1. A Items that have both military and non-military applications.
    2. B Technology that requires both hardware and software components to function.
    3. C Goods that are produced by both state-owned and private enterprises.
    4. D Products that are manufactured in two different countries simultaneously.

28. The Ras Laffan Industrial City, recently in the news due to an industrial accident, is located in which country?

    1. A Kuwait
    2. B United Arab Emirates
    3. C Saudi Arabia
    4. D Qatar

29. The 'Leilac' technology, recently in the news in the context of the cement industry, is primarily designed for:

    1. A Desalination of seawater for industrial cooling processes
    2. B Increasing the compressive strength of high-grade concrete
    3. C Automated extraction of limestone from deep-cast mines
    4. D Carbon capture and hybrid electric heating for emission reduction

30. Which of the following statements is correct regarding the election of members to the State Legislative Council in India?

    1. A All members are directly elected by the people through universal adult suffrage.
    2. B A significant portion of members are elected by the members of the State Legislative Assembly.
    3. C The Governor nominates all members of the Legislative Council.
    4. D Members are elected based on a first-past-the-post system similar to the Lok Sabha.

31. Under the Indian legal system, which court has the primary jurisdiction to hear an appeal against a judgment passed by a Sessions Court?

    1. A High Court
    2. B Family Court
    3. C Supreme Court
    4. D District Magistrate Court

32. Under the current legal framework in India, which of the following is primarily responsible for granting sanction for the prosecution of a public servant for offences related to corruption?

    1. A The Competent Authority or the Government
    2. B The Comptroller and Auditor General
    3. C The Judiciary
    4. D The Central Vigilance Commission

33. Which authority is responsible for the verification of caste validity certificates for candidates contesting elections in reserved constituencies?

    1. A Municipal Commissioner
    2. B State Election Commission
    3. C District Caste Scrutiny Committee
    4. D Election Commission of India

34. Which of the following best describes the mandate of a Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs?

    1. A Assessing the internal law and order situation of any state or union territory.
    2. B Reviewing the functioning of passport offices and bilateral relations with neighboring countries.
    3. C Directly implementing foreign policy decisions in border regions.
    4. D Investigating criminal allegations against civil servants in Union Territories.

35. The Kheer Bhawani mela is primarily associated with which of the following regions in India?

    1. A Himachal Pradesh
    2. B Uttarakhand
    3. C Ladakh
    4. D Jammu and Kashmir

36. The Kheer Bhawani mela is celebrated on the occasion of which of the following?

    1. A Navratri
    2. B Shivratri
    3. C Baisakhi
    4. D Jyeshtha Ashtami

37. Which of the following factors is identified as a potential contributor to increased risk of kidney complications following surgical procedures in the context of the reported incidents?

    1. A Nutritional deficiency and dehydration
    2. B Diabetes and anaemia
    3. C High blood pressure and obesity
    4. D Advanced age and respiratory failure

38. Which department within the Municipal Corporation of Delhi is primarily responsible for the management and impounding of stray cattle?

    1. A Urban Development Department
    2. B Sanitation and Health Department
    3. C Public Works Department
    4. D Veterinary Department