24 July 2026

Quiz — 24 July 2026

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

Questions

1. Under the recent amendment to the FDI policy for e-commerce, which of the following is permitted for inventory-based e-commerce models?

   1. A Sale of domestically manufactured goods for export purposes
   2. B Direct retail sales to B2C customers within India
   3. C Sale of imported electronic goods to domestic consumers
   4. D Sale of multi-brand retail products to domestic consumers

2. Which of the following bodies is responsible for the delimitation of constituencies in India?

   1. A NITI Aayog
   2. B Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms
   3. C Delimitation Commission
   4. D Election Commission of India

3. Under the current constitutional framework, which article provides for the insulation of the Delimitation Commission's proposals from judicial scrutiny?

   1. A Article 370
   2. B Article 324
   3. C Article 329(a)
   4. D Article 326

4. Under the 10th Schedule of the Indian Constitution, what is the minimum proportion of members of a legislature party required to merge with another party to be exempted from disqualification?

   1. A Three-fourths
   2. B Two-thirds
   3. C One-half
   4. D One-third

5. Which of the following acts provides the legal framework for addressing unfair means in public examinations in India?

   1. A The National Testing Agency Act, 2018
   2. B The Information Technology Act, 2000
   3. C The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
   4. D The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024

6. Under the Indian Constitution, the right to assemble peacefully is guaranteed under which article?

   1. A Article 14
   2. B Article 32
   3. C Article 21
   4. D Article 19(1)(b)

7. According to the HelpAge India report, which of the following is identified as a key factor that reduces climate resilience among the elderly?

   1. A High digital literacy
   2. B Living in urban areas with high-rise buildings
   3. C Social isolation and living alone
   4. D Access to private health insurance

8. What is the projected size of India's elderly population by the year 2050 as mentioned in the report?

   1. A 250 million
   2. B 347 million
   3. C 149 million
   4. D 450 million

9. What is the price cap set by the European Union on Russian global crude oil exports under the recent sanctions agreement?

   1. A $44 per barrel
   2. B $75 per barrel
   3. C $60 per barrel
   4. D $30 per barrel

10. For what duration is the recently agreed price cap on Russian crude oil frozen?

    1. A 18 months
    2. B 24 months
    3. C 12 months
    4. D 6 months

11. What does the Credit-Deposit (CD) ratio primarily measure in the context of the Indian banking system?

    1. A The ratio of government securities held by banks to their total capital
    2. B The ratio of total foreign exchange reserves to total bank deposits
    3. C The percentage of non-performing assets relative to total credit
    4. D The proportion of deposits that banks use to extend loans

12. Which of the following is a mandatory requirement under the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, before a street vendor can be evicted?

    1. A A direct order from the Municipal Commissioner
    2. B A 48-hour notice period served to the vendor
    3. C Completion of a survey and issuance of a Certificate of Vending
    4. D Approval from the local police department

13. According to the Street Vendors Act, 2014, what is the minimum representation of street vendors required in a Town Vending Committee?

    1. A 30%
    2. B 20%
    3. C 50%
    4. D 40%

14. Which of the following sectors was recently added to the Index of Core Industries (ICI) in its updated series?

    1. A Fertilizers
    2. B Iron Ore
    3. C Crude Oil
    4. D Natural Gas

15. Which ministry is currently responsible for the management of the Index of Core Industries (ICI) and the Wholesale Price Index (WPI)?

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

16. The UMEED Central Portal-2025 is designed to manage the lifecycle of which of the following?

    1. A National Heritage sites
    2. B Waqf properties
    3. C Public Sector Undertaking assets
    4. D Tribal land records

17. Which of the following administrative processes is included in the lifecycle management of Waqf properties under the UMEED portal?

    1. A All of the above
    2. B Registration and verification
    3. C Survey by the Collector
    4. D Annual account audits

18. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait serves as a critical maritime link between which two bodies of water?

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

19. Which international legal framework governs the rights and obligations of states regarding the use of the world's oceans and maritime channels?

    1. A The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations
    2. B The Geneva Convention on the High Seas
    3. C United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
    4. D The Maritime Safety and Security Act

20. Which of the following best describes the regulatory restriction on cross-ownership between airport operators and airlines in India?

    1. A A complete ban on any entity owning both an airport and an airline.
    2. B A policy that allows unlimited cross-ownership to encourage foreign direct investment.
    3. C A mandatory requirement for all airport operators to divest from airline subsidiaries.
    4. D A restriction embedded in airport concession agreements limiting ownership stakes.

21. The Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) was established primarily to protect which monument from environmental pollution?

    1. A Agra Fort
    2. B Fatehpur Sikri
    3. C Itmad-ud-Daulah
    4. D Taj Mahal

22. Which of the following states/union territories are covered under the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ)?

    1. A Rajasthan and Haryana
    2. B Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan
    3. C Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh
    4. D Uttar Pradesh and Haryana

23. Under the National Security Act (NSA), which of the following authorities are empowered to order the detention of an individual?

    1. A Only the Union Home Ministry
    2. B Both the Central and State Governments
    3. C Only the State Police Commissioner
    4. D Only the District Magistrate

24. Under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), what is the stipulated consequence if a state government fails to complete irrigation projects within the prescribed timeline?

    1. A Conversion of the released central assistance into a loan to the state government
    2. B Immediate suspension of all future central grants to the state
    3. C Imposition of a penalty equivalent to double the released amount
    4. D Direct intervention by the Ministry of Jal Shakti to complete the projects

25. Which of the following constitutional provisions deals with the appointment and term of office of members of a State Public Service Commission?

    1. A Article 320
    2. B Article 315
    3. C Article 323
    4. D Article 316

26. Which of the following best describes the primary objective of the proposed 'Nutana Sakala' policy in Odisha?

    1. A To improve the conviction rate for agricultural land disputes
    2. B To provide financial subsidies to survivors of domestic violence
    3. C To curb human trafficking through community-based prevention and asset confiscation
    4. D To increase the number of arrests for cybercrime offenses

27. Which of the following judicial guidelines is primarily associated with preventing custodial torture in India?

    1. A Indira Jaising Guidelines
    2. B Maneka Gandhi Guidelines
    3. C D.K. Basu Guidelines
    4. D Vishaka Guidelines

28. With reference to the recent Kerala High Court ruling regarding Aadhaar authentication for Tatkal tickets, which of the following statements is correct?

    1. A The court declared Aadhaar authentication for Tatkal tickets as mandatory for all users.
    2. B The court observed that Aadhaar authentication for Tatkal tickets is optional for users.
    3. C The court held that Aadhaar authentication for Tatkal tickets violates the Right to Privacy.
    4. D The court prohibited the use of Aadhaar for any railway-related services.

29. Which of the following best describes the concept of 'blue prescriptions' in the context of social prescribing?

    1. A Recommendations for physical exercise in high-altitude mountain regions
    2. B A therapeutic approach involving the consumption of mineral-rich water for chronic diseases
    3. C Medical treatments focusing exclusively on respiratory health in urban parks
    4. D Structured activities involving time spent near water bodies like rivers, lakes, or the coast

30. What is the primary distinction between 'forest bathing' and 'green prescriptions'?

    1. A There is no distinction; both terms are used interchangeably in modern healthcare systems
    2. B Forest bathing is a clinical medical procedure, whereas green prescriptions are recreational
    3. C Forest bathing focuses on being present in a forest environment, while green prescriptions are professional recommendations for activities in green spaces
    4. D Green prescriptions are focused on being present in nature, while forest bathing is strictly exercise-based

31. The European Union recently imposed fines on Google for antitrust violations. Which of the following were the primary grounds for these fines?

    1. A Favouring own services in search results and restricting external app offers
    2. B Data privacy breaches and unauthorized surveillance
    3. C Monopolizing cloud computing infrastructure and hardware manufacturing
    4. D Tax evasion and failure to comply with GDPR regulations

32. Which of the following best describes the primary condition set by the United States for the implementation of the civilian nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia?

    1. A The withdrawal of all military forces from neighbouring conflict zones
    2. B The immediate cessation of all uranium enrichment activities in the region
    3. C The signing of a mutual defence pact with the United States
    4. D The formal normalisation of diplomatic relations with Israel

33. Under the recent proposals by SEBI for portfolio managers, what is the suggested limit for investment in investment-grade unlisted debt for discretionary portfolio management services?

    1. A 20% of client's AUM
    2. B 5% of client's AUM
    3. C 15% of client's AUM
    4. D 10% of client's AUM

34. Which of the following regions is identified as a critical chokepoint for global energy trade, the disruption of which has impacted India's crude oil procurement?

    1. A Suez Canal
    2. B Bab-el-Mandeb Strait
    3. C Strait of Malacca
    4. D Strait of Hormuz

35. Which judicial committee was constituted to recommend amendments to criminal laws following the 2012 Delhi incident?

    1. A Justice Nanavati Commission
    2. B Justice Punchhi Commission
    3. C Justice Liberhan Commission
    4. D Justice J.S. Verma Committee

36. What is the primary function of a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) in modern smartphones?

    1. A To perform mathematical operations required by neural networks
    2. B To increase the pixel count of the smartphone camera
    3. C To manage the device's battery life and power consumption
    4. D To provide high-speed internet connectivity for cloud processing

37. Which of the following is a key advantage of on-device AI over cloud-based AI?

    1. A It eliminates the need for any semiconductor hardware
    2. B It removes the need for machine learning algorithms
    3. C It enables AI functionality without an active internet connection
    4. D It allows for the processing of infinite datasets

38. What is the primary objective of the 'The Hague defence commitment' endorsed by NATO members at the 2026 Ankara Summit?

    1. A To establish a joint military command for the Indo-Pacific region
    2. B To allocate at least five per cent of GDP on defence by 2035
    3. C To reduce reliance on U.S. weapons systems by 2030
    4. D To limit the expansion of NATO to Eastern European nations

39. Which agency is primarily responsible for providing the official data on flood-affected districts and emergency operations in the state of Gujarat?

    1. A Central Water Commission (CWC)
    2. B National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
    3. C State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC)
    4. D India Meteorological Department (IMD)

40. Which of the following rivers were reported to be in spate during the recent Assam floods?

    1. A Buridihing, Dikhou, Disang, and Dhansiri
    2. B Pagladiya, Puthimari, and Manas
    3. C Barak, Kopili, and Jia Bharali
    4. D Brahmaputra, Manas, and Subansiri

41. Which of the following best describes the 'paradox of dryland farming' mentioned in the context of the Marathwada region?

    1. A High crop yields leading to lower market prices and low crop yields leading to higher market prices.
    2. B Government subsidies increasing the cost of production for small-scale farmers.
    3. C Excessive rainfall causing drought conditions due to poor soil drainage.
    4. D High investment in technology resulting in lower agricultural output.

42. In the context of the Delhi High Court's recent order regarding stray dog management, which entities have been directed to file a comprehensive compliance report?

    1. A The Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the Delhi Development Authority
    2. B The Animal Welfare Board of India and the Delhi Government
    3. C The Union Ministry of Environment and the Delhi Police
    4. D The Delhi Government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi

43. The Ken-Betwa river linking project involves the transfer of water from the Ken river to the Betwa river. Both rivers are tributaries of which of the following?

    1. A Narmada
    2. B Ganga
    3. C Chambal
    4. D Yamuna

44. Which of the following is the primary objective of restricting the power of elected representatives in issuing birth and death certificates in the context of recent administrative reforms?

    1. A To ensure greater accountability and reduce administrative irregularities
    2. B To increase the political influence of the state government
    3. C To transfer all powers to the central government
    4. D To abolish the panchayati raj system entirely

45. With reference to Picrorhiza kurroa (Kutki), consider the following statements: 1. It is native to the alpine and sub-alpine regions of the Himalayas. 2. It is listed in Appendix II of CITES. 3. The medicinal properties are found in the fibrous roots. Which of the statements given above are correct?

    1. A 1 and 3 only
    2. B 1, 2 and 3
    3. C 2 and 3 only
    4. D 1 and 2 only

46. The Taiwan Strait separates Taiwan from which Chinese province?

    1. A Guangdong
    2. B Fujian
    3. C Zhejiang
    4. D Jiangsu

47. According to recent reports regarding the heatwave in Japan, what is the significance of the 11,000 emergency care cases recorded over the past week?

    1. A It is the highest number recorded since 1990.
    2. B It is the highest number recorded since 1963.
    3. C It is the highest number recorded since 2000.
    4. D It is the highest number recorded since 2010.

48. Scarborough Shoal, a site of recent maritime tension, is located in which of the following bodies of water?

    1. A East China Sea
    2. B Philippine Sea
    3. C South China Sea
    4. D Bay of Bengal

49. Based on the Q1 financial results of Cipla, which of the following segments contributed to the revenue growth?

    1. A India business segment
    2. B European market exports
    3. C North American market sales
    4. D Government subsidy grants

50. Which of the following factors were cited as primary reasons for the decline in net profit for InterGlobe Aviation in the first quarter of the current fiscal year?

    1. A Reduction in total income and fleet size
    2. B Higher fuel prices and geopolitical conflict in West Asia
    3. C Increased competition from international carriers and regulatory fines
    4. D Decrease in passenger demand and government taxation

51. Which of the following brands were acquired by Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting from TTK Healthcare Ltd.?

    1. A Good Home and Health Plus
    2. B Good Home and Prestige
    3. C Eva and Prestige
    4. D Good Home and Eva

52. With reference to the recent financial performance of the Indian IT sector, what does the term 'constant currency' guidance typically imply?

    1. A Revenue growth calculated based on the gold standard
    2. B Revenue growth that remains fixed regardless of market demand
    3. C Revenue growth adjusted for the impact of fluctuating foreign exchange rates
    4. D Revenue growth that excludes all international service contracts

53. According to the German Medical Association, what is the primary reason for medical professionals from developing nations choosing to remain in industrialised countries?

    1. A Higher cost of living in their home countries
    2. B Training in industrialised nations is not oriented toward the specific needs of developing areas
    3. C Restrictive visa policies for returning doctors
    4. D Lack of medical infrastructure in developing nations

54. Which of the following best describes the primary objective of the security review meeting chaired by the Lieutenant-Governor in the context of the Amarnath Yatra?

    1. A To initiate a judicial inquiry into property demolitions
    2. B To negotiate a ceasefire with insurgent groups
    3. C To announce a new policy on urban planning in Anantnag
    4. D To ensure the safety and convenience of pilgrims through inter-agency coordination

55. The Tele MANAS initiative, often cited in the context of mental health support, is an initiative under which of the following?

    1. A Ministry of Home Affairs
    2. B Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
    3. C Ministry of Labour and Employment
    4. D Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

56. Under which rules are the disciplinary proceedings and suspension of All India Service officers, such as the Indian Police Service (IPS), primarily governed?

    1. A The Police Act, 1861
    2. B The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988
    3. C The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
    4. D The All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969

57. In the context of the recent recruitment of guest faculty in Bengaluru, which of the following best describes the administrative action taken against candidates found with invalid PhD certificates?

    1. A Temporary suspension for one academic year
    2. B Financial penalty equivalent to the salary received
    3. C Mandatory re-examination of credentials within six months
    4. D Permanent blacklisting from future recruitment

58. The 'Nethannala Sevalo' scheme, recently in the news, is primarily aimed at providing financial support to which of the following groups?

    1. A Farmers affected by drought
    2. B Small-scale industrial entrepreneurs
    3. C Handloom worker families below the poverty line
    4. D Migrant laborers in the construction sector

59. The Teesta Stage-VI Hydropower Project, which recently reported a tunnel accident, is located in which Indian state?

    1. A Uttarakhand
    2. B Himachal Pradesh
    3. C Arunachal Pradesh
    4. D Sikkim