15 July 2026

Quiz — 15 July 2026

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

Questions

1. Which of the following is a key feature of the recent railway freight policy reforms?

   1. A Abolition of all registration fees for container train operators
   2. B Transition to a per-tonne-per-kilometre rate structure for fertilizers and foodgrains
   3. C Centralisation of all wagon design processes under the Research Designs and Standards Organisation
   4. D Mandatory use of open wagons for all bulk commodities

2. Which body is designated as the scientific and technical lead under the proposed three-tier governance structure of the Draft National Health Research Policy 2026?

   1. A Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
   2. B Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
   3. C National Health Research Stewardship Committee
   4. D Department of Health Research

3. The Double Contribution Convention (DCC) signed between India and the U.K. primarily aims to:

   1. A Eliminate tariffs on all agricultural goods
   2. B Prevent double payment of social security contributions for workers
   3. C Standardize government procurement processes for SMEs
   4. D Facilitate the transfer of technology in the fintech sector

4. Which of the following is currently used as the base year for the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) in India according to the latest data?

   1. A 2020-21
   2. B 2017-18
   3. C 2011-12
   4. D 2022-23

5. Which of the following factors was specifically cited as a reason for the rise in food inflation in the recent WPI data?

   1. A Increase in minimum support prices
   2. B Rainfall deficit due to El Niño
   3. C Increased global demand for exports
   4. D Reduction in agricultural subsidies

6. Which of the following best describes the 'sphere-cone' configuration used in the Gaganyaan crew module?

   1. A It is used to eliminate the need for a heatshield during high-velocity re-entry.
   2. B It is designed solely to maximize internal volume for cargo storage.
   3. C It provides aerodynamic stability and lift during re-entry while managing frictional heat.
   4. D It is a monostable design that prevents any oscillation during atmospheric descent.

7. Under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 'trial in absentia' can be initiated for which category of offenders?

   1. A Proclaimed offenders accused of serious offences punishable by at least 10 years imprisonment, life imprisonment, or death.
   2. B Any person who fails to appear in court for a traffic violation.
   3. C Any person accused of a minor civil offence.
   4. D Only individuals accused of financial fraud exceeding a specific threshold.

8. Which of the following data sources is utilized for the compilation of the Index of Services Production (ISP)?

   1. A Annual Survey of Industries (ASI)
   2. B Reserve Bank of India (RBI) credit data
   3. C National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) consumption expenditure data
   4. D Goods and Services Tax (GST) data

9. What is the base year for the newly launched Index of Services Production (ISP)?

   1. A 2024-25
   2. B 2022-23
   3. C 2025-26
   4. D 2020-21

10. According to the data from the first half of 2026, which of the following statements regarding India-China trade is correct?

    1. A India's exports to China declined significantly compared to the previous year.
    2. B The bilateral trade deficit is on track to surpass the 2025 record figure.
    3. C China is no longer among India's top three trading partners.
    4. D India's imports from China decreased due to new trade restrictions.

11. The recent amendment to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, expands the definition of an 'acid attack victim' to include:

    1. A Only victims of acid-throwing incidents.
    2. B Victims of both external and internal injuries caused by acid or corrosive substances.
    3. C Only victims of acid-throwing who have suffered permanent physical disfigurement.
    4. D Victims of acid attacks occurring exclusively after the year 2026.

12. Under which Constitutional provision did the Supreme Court intervene to include survivors of forcible acid ingestion under the RPwD Act before the formal government amendment?

    1. A Article 142
    2. B Article 13
    3. C Article 226
    4. D Article 32

13. The definition of 'forced labour' in India's recent trade notification is derived from which international instrument?

    1. A Universal Declaration of Human Rights
    2. B WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights
    3. C ILO Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29)
    4. D UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime

14. Which authority is designated to conduct enquiries into the use of forced labour for imported goods under the new notification?

    1. A Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)
    2. B Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs
    3. C Ministry of Labour and Employment
    4. D Department of Commerce

15. Which of the following is the primary objective of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991?

    1. A To empower the Archaeological Survey of India to resolve all land disputes
    2. B To maintain the religious character of a place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947
    3. C To facilitate the conversion of religious sites into national monuments
    4. D To provide financial assistance for the renovation of ancient temples

16. Which article of the Indian Constitution empowers the Governor to suspend the chairperson or a member of a State Public Service Commission pending an inquiry?

    1. A Article 320
    2. B Article 316
    3. C Article 315
    4. D Article 317

17. Which of the following best describes the primary responsibility of state governments regarding public debt under the Indian Constitution?

    1. A States can borrow from international markets without any central oversight.
    2. B The Union Government has absolute authority to reject any state borrowing request.
    3. C Public debt management is exclusively a subject under the Union List.
    4. D States can borrow within the territory of India upon the security of the Consolidated Fund of the State, subject to limits set by the State Legislature.

18. What is the total length of the international border shared between West Bengal and Bangladesh?

    1. A 1,024.75 km
    2. B 172.6 km
    3. C 550 km
    4. D 2,216 km

19. The Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act, which has been cited in recent administrative actions regarding deportation, was enacted in which year?

    1. A 1985
    2. B 1947
    3. C 1962
    4. D 1950

20. The Calcutta High Court struck down the inclusion of 77 castes in the West Bengal OBC list primarily on which of the following grounds?

    1. A Religion being used as the sole criterion for classification
    2. B Violation of the 50% reservation ceiling limit
    3. C Failure to conduct a decadal census
    4. D Lack of adequate representation in government services

21. Which of the following best describes the constitutional rationale for the proposed SOP for urgent judicial access?

    1. A To allow the Supreme Court to directly oversee the administrative functions of High Courts.
    2. B To replace the existing system of vacation benches with a fully automated digital court.
    3. C To prevent the violation of fundamental rights during periods when courts are traditionally closed.
    4. D To ensure the administrative efficiency of the Supreme Court registry.

22. Under which legislation are sports federations in India required to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) to address harassment allegations?

    1. A The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005
    2. B The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013
    3. C The National Sports Development Code of India, 2011
    4. D The Sports Authority of India Act, 1984

23. In the context of Indian criminal jurisprudence, which of the following best describes the Supreme Court's stance on telephone call records as evidence for murder convictions?

    1. A Call records are inadmissible in court under the Indian Evidence Act.
    2. B Call records alone cannot substitute the substantive proof required to sustain a conviction.
    3. C Call records are considered primary evidence and are sufficient for conviction.
    4. D Call records are only admissible if corroborated by a confession from the accused.

24. Which of the following terms is explicitly used in the Constitution of India to describe languages, as noted by the Supreme Court in the context of the three-language scheme?

    1. A Scheduled language
    2. B Non-native language
    3. C Native language
    4. D Indigenous language

25. Which of the following statements regarding paraquat dichloride is correct?

    1. A It is a herbicide used for land clearing that lacks a known medical antidote.
    2. B It is a biological pesticide used to control soil-borne diseases.
    3. C It is a chemical fertilizer used to increase nitrogen content in the soil.
    4. D It is a growth regulator used exclusively in horticultural crops.

26. Which of the following best describes the strategic significance of the Strait of Hormuz in the context of global trade?

    1. A It is a critical maritime chokepoint for the transit of global oil and gas supplies.
    2. B It serves as the main gateway for trade between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic.
    3. C It is a landlocked region primarily used for agricultural exports.
    4. D It is the primary land route for trade between Europe and Asia.

27. The 'Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council' (Texprocil) is primarily associated with which of the following?

    1. A Regulating domestic cotton prices
    2. B Setting quality standards for organic cotton farming
    3. C Promoting the export of cotton textiles
    4. D Providing direct subsidies to cotton farmers

28. Which of the following factors was primarily cited for the decline in the Indian stock market indices (Sensex and Nifty) in the recent session?

    1. A Significant outflow of foreign institutional investment
    2. B Sharp surge in crude oil prices due to West Asia conflict
    3. C Increase in domestic interest rates by the RBI
    4. D Lower than expected quarterly corporate earnings

29. Which of the following best describes the strategic significance of the Chabahar Port for India?

    1. A It provides India with a gateway to Central Asia, bypassing land routes through Pakistan.
    2. B It serves as a primary naval base for the Indian Ocean Region.
    3. C It is the largest oil refinery hub developed by India in the Persian Gulf.
    4. D It acts as a joint military command center between India and the United States.

30. The issuance of passports to Indian citizens is primarily governed by which of the following legal frameworks?

    1. A The Citizenship Act, 1955
    2. B The Emigration Act, 1983
    3. C The Passports Act, 1967 and Passports Rules, 1980
    4. D The Foreigners Act, 1946

31. Which of the following bodies is responsible for the preparation and revision of electoral rolls in India?

    1. A Ministry of Law and Justice
    2. B State Election Commission
    3. C Chief Electoral Officer of the respective State
    4. D Election Commission of India

32. What is the primary objective of the 'Special Intensive Revision' (SIR) of electoral rolls conducted by the Election Commission?

    1. A To update and verify the accuracy of the electoral roll by identifying deceased, absent, or duplicate voters
    2. B To conduct a census of the total population of a state
    3. C To re-allocate parliamentary constituencies based on population density
    4. D To introduce electronic voting machines in rural areas

33. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint, connects which of the following bodies of water?

    1. A The Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman
    2. B The Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal
    3. C The Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden
    4. D The Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea

34. What is the primary function of an 'intron' in the context of the RNA processing described in the study?

    1. A It is a segment of RNA that is removed from a precursor molecule during editing.
    2. B It acts as a template for protein synthesis in the ribosome.
    3. C It is a permanent structural component of the cell nucleus.
    4. D It serves as a courier protein that facilitates viral gene transfer.

35. Which of the following best describes the phenomenon of 'horizontal gene transfer' as observed in the Max Planck Institute study?

    1. A The transfer of genetic material from parent to offspring through sexual reproduction.
    2. B The process by which archaea and bacteria exchange DNA exclusively through cell division.
    3. C The mutation of genes within a single organism due to environmental radiation.
    4. D The movement of genes between organisms without the assistance of a viral or external courier.

36. Which of the following molecules was recently discovered in a giant interstellar molecular cloud, marking the first time a complex sugar has been found in deep space?

    1. A Erythrulose
    2. B Ribose
    3. C Glycolaldehyde
    4. D Ethylene glycol

37. The Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft, which carried astronaut Anil Menon to the International Space Station, was launched from which of the following locations?

    1. A Baikonur cosmodrome
    2. B Kennedy Space Center
    3. C Satish Dhawan Space Centre
    4. D Vostochny Cosmodrome

38. The recent trend of corporate spending shifting from software to data-center infrastructure is primarily attributed to which of the following?

    1. A Stricter international regulations on software licensing
    2. B A decline in global demand for cloud computing services
    3. C A sudden increase in hardware manufacturing costs
    4. D The growing investment requirements for Artificial Intelligence infrastructure

39. WAPCOS Ltd., which provides engineering consultancy services, operates under the administrative control of which Union Ministry?

    1. A Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
    2. B Ministry of Heavy Industries
    3. C Ministry of Jal Shakti
    4. D Ministry of Power

40. The Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in India was enacted in which year?

    1. A 2002
    2. B 2005
    3. C 2000
    4. D 1998

41. Which of the following central armed police forces is primarily responsible for guarding the India-Nepal border?

    1. A Assam Rifles
    2. B Border Security Force (BSF)
    3. C Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)
    4. D Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)

42. According to tradition, which figure is considered an incarnation of Adi Sesha, the same manifestation attributed to Lakshmana?

    1. A Madhvacharya
    2. B Vallabhacharya
    3. C Ramanuja
    4. D Adi Shankara

43. Which sacred ritual is mentioned as being performed by the parents of both Lord Rama and Ramanuja prior to their births?

    1. A Putrakameshti Yaga
    2. B Vajapeya Yaga
    3. C Rajasuya Yaga
    4. D Ashvamedha Yaga

44. Which of the following rare disorders was specifically mentioned in the Supreme Court's directive regarding awareness and fundraising?

    1. A Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
    2. B Huntington's Disease
    3. C Cystic Fibrosis
    4. D Spinal Muscular Atrophy

45. In the context of the Indian judicial system, which of the following best describes the role of the Supreme Court when hearing appeals against the suspension of a sentence by a High Court?

    1. A The Supreme Court acts as the primary trial court for all corruption-related cases.
    2. B The Supreme Court exercises appellate jurisdiction to review the legality and appropriateness of the High Court's order.
    3. C The Supreme Court is mandated to transfer all such cases to special tribunals under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
    4. D The Supreme Court can directly revoke bail without considering the duration of time already served by the accused.

46. Which of the following bodies is primarily responsible for reviewing the cases of life convicts for premature release in Indian states?

    1. A National Crime Records Bureau
    2. B State Law Commission
    3. C State Sentence Review Board
    4. D State Human Rights Commission

47. Which of the following districts in Andhra Pradesh was the site of the recent seizure of 1,373 kg of ganja?

    1. A Alluri Sitharama Raju
    2. B Koraput
    3. C East Godavari
    4. D Visakhapatnam

48. The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) primarily functions under the jurisdiction of which of the following?

    1. A The Central Bureau of Investigation
    2. B The Lokpal
    3. C The Central Vigilance Commission
    4. D The State Government

49. Which of the following is the primary constitutional body responsible for the superintendence, direction, and control of elections to municipal bodies in India?

    1. A State Election Commission
    2. B Greater Bengaluru Authority
    3. C Election Commission of India
    4. D Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

50. Which of the following bodies is primarily responsible for the development and supervision of school textbooks at the state level in India?

    1. A National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)
    2. B University Grants Commission (UGC)
    3. C State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT)
    4. D National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA)

51. The process of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in India is conducted under the supervision of which constitutional body?

    1. A Ministry of Law and Justice
    2. B State Election Commission
    3. C Election Commission of India
    4. D Chief Electoral Officer of the State

52. The Delhi government's initiative to provide free bicycles to Class 9 girl students is primarily aimed at which of the following?

    1. A Providing employment opportunities in the bicycle manufacturing sector
    2. B Reducing the dropout rate and improving access to secondary education for girls
    3. C Implementing a national-level health and fitness campaign for adolescents
    4. D Promoting environmental sustainability through non-motorized transport

53. In the context of the Indian Constitution, what is the primary implication of a 'hung assembly'?

    1. A The Governor must dissolve the assembly immediately.
    2. B The judiciary appoints a caretaker government to manage state affairs.
    3. C The President of India assumes direct control of the state.
    4. D No single political party or pre-poll alliance secures an absolute majority of seats.

54. What is the primary objective of the structural audit exercise currently being undertaken by the Directorate of Education in Delhi?

    1. A To privatize the management of government schools
    2. B To implement a new digital curriculum across all government schools
    3. C To assess the structural stability and safety of school buildings for potential redevelopment
    4. D To increase the number of teaching staff in government schools

55. Under the Indian Penal Code, which section defines an 'unlawful assembly'?

    1. A Section 141
    2. B Section 153A
    3. C Section 302
    4. D Section 124A