26 July 2026

Quiz — 26 July 2026

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

Questions

1. The Ken-Betwa Link Project is a component of which of the following initiatives?

   1. A National Waterways Development Project
   2. B Peninsular River Basin Authority
   3. C National Perspective Plan
   4. D Integrated Ganga Conservation Mission

2. Which of the following protected areas is directly impacted by the Ken-Betwa Link Project?

   1. A Satpura Tiger Reserve
   2. B Kanha Tiger Reserve
   3. C Bandhavgarh National Park
   4. D Panna Tiger Reserve

3. Which of the following is a primary environmental concern associated with the proposed Great Nicobar Island Project?

   1. A Disruption of international bird flyways
   2. B Increased seismic activity in the Himalayan region
   3. C Depletion of groundwater in mainland coastal cities
   4. D Reduction in the population of Himalayan Tahr

4. The 'INS Baaz' is an existing naval facility located at:

   1. A Campbell Bay
   2. B Diglipur
   3. C Galathea Bay
   4. D Port Blair

5. Under the proposed Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, what is the mandatory deadline for the conclusion of investigations?

   1. A 90 days
   2. B 30 days
   3. C 120 days
   4. D 60 days

6. According to the proposed amendments, appeals against judgments in paper leak cases are to be adjudicated by:

   1. A A two-judge Division Bench of the High Court
   2. B A special tribunal
   3. C A single judge of the High Court
   4. D The Supreme Court of India

7. The 'Khaksar' movement, active in the pre-independence era, was primarily associated with which of the following objectives?

   1. A Promoting the industrialization of the Punjab region
   2. B Opposing the partition of the Indian subcontinent
   3. C Supporting the British colonial administration's divide-and-rule policy
   4. D Advocating for the establishment of a separate state based on religious identity

8. Which of the following reports or organizations is the primary source for the data stating that youth make up 80% of India's unemployed population?

   1. A India Employment Report 2024
   2. B Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)
   3. C National Sample Survey Office (NSSO)
   4. D Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship

9. Which of the following conditions in paddy fields is primarily responsible for the production of methane?

   1. A Low-oxygen conditions due to flooding
   2. B High rates of soil organic carbon sequestration
   3. C High-oxygen soil conditions
   4. D Excessive use of lime in acidic soil

10. The 'System for Rice Intensification' (SRI) is primarily promoted for which of the following purposes?

    1. A To encourage the expansion of paddy cultivation into non-traditional regions
    2. B To increase the use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers
    3. C To facilitate continuous flooding of fields
    4. D To reduce greenhouse gas emissions through precise seedling transplantation and controlled irrigation

11. Which of the following best describes the primary objective of the Central Know-Your-Customer (CKYC) 2.0 system?

    1. A To mandate the use of physical documents for all financial transactions.
    2. B To create a common identification process across banks and insurers to facilitate easier access to financial products.
    3. C To replace the existing Aadhaar-based authentication system entirely.
    4. D To restrict the entry of new capital market firms into the financial sector.

12. Which of the following best describes the 'Basic Structure' doctrine in the context of the Indian Constitution?

    1. A A fixed list of articles that cannot be amended under any circumstances.
    2. B A provision explicitly defined in the original text of the Constitution of India.
    3. C A judicially administered standard used to evaluate the validity of constitutional amendments.
    4. D A set of guidelines issued by the Union government to streamline legislative processes.

13. Which of the following bodies is the primary judicial forum in India for handling cases related to environmental protection and conservation of forests?

    1. A National Green Tribunal
    2. B High Court of the respective State
    3. C Pollution Control Board
    4. D Supreme Court of India

14. Under which Article of the Indian Constitution is the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India relating to the accounts of a State submitted to the Governor?

    1. A Article 151
    2. B Article 149
    3. C Article 150
    4. D Article 148

15. Which of the following categories of Indian exports to the U.S. is currently exempt from the newly announced 10% tariff?

    1. A Agricultural commodities
    2. B Textiles and apparel
    3. C Raw cotton and yarn
    4. D Generic pharmaceuticals and smartphones

16. What is the primary objective of the 'textile mechanism' introduced by the U.S. for select trading partners?

    1. A To eliminate all existing tariffs on textile goods from Southeast Asia
    2. B To reduce reliance on inputs potentially containing forced labour by encouraging U.S. cotton imports
    3. C To increase the import of Indian textile machinery
    4. D To establish a global standard for textile manufacturing wages

17. The H-1B visa is best described as:

    1. A A student visa allowing for part-time employment in the technology sector.
    2. B A temporary work permit exclusively for agricultural labourers.
    3. C A permanent residency permit for foreign nationals in the U.S.
    4. D A non-immigrant visa for highly skilled foreign workers in speciality occupations.

18. Under the recent IRDAI directive, what is the stipulated timeline for insurers to submit a self-contained note (SCN) after receiving notice from an Insurance Ombudsman?

    1. A 3 days
    2. B 15 days
    3. C 7 days
    4. D 30 days

19. According to the Insurance Ombudsman Rules, what is the mandated timeframe for an Ombudsman to finalize findings and pass awards after receiving all required information?

    1. A One month
    2. B Two months
    3. C Six months
    4. D Three months

20. Under the provisions of the Waqf Act, which of the following categories of members are required to be included in the State Waqf Board?

    1. A Representatives from the Ministry of Minority Affairs only
    2. B Only Sunni Muslim members
    3. C Exclusively members of the State Legislative Assembly
    4. D Two non-Muslim members and one Shia member

21. Under the current constitutional framework of India, what is the minimum age required to contest elections for the Lok Sabha?

    1. A 21 years
    2. B 25 years
    3. C 18 years
    4. D 30 years

22. The ancient Buddhist site of Sarnath was recently inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List during the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee held in:

    1. A Kyoto, Japan
    2. B Paris, France
    3. C New Delhi, India
    4. D Busan, South Korea

23. With the recent inscription of Sarnath, what is the total number of UNESCO World Heritage sites in India?

    1. A 48
    2. B 45
    3. C 40
    4. D 42

24. Which ministry is responsible for the approval of urban Metro Rail projects in India?

    1. A Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
    2. B Ministry of Railways
    3. C Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
    4. D Ministry of Finance

25. Which of the following best describes the primary objective of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026?

    1. A To regulate the functioning of private coaching centers across the country
    2. B To increase the number of government jobs available to youth
    3. C To prevent and curb unfair means in public examinations to ensure integrity
    4. D To provide financial compensation to students affected by exam cancellations

26. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which has been a point of contention in recent regional conflicts, connects which of the following bodies of water?

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

27. Which of the following best describes the 'gold standard' in civil nuclear cooperation agreements, as referenced in the context of the 2009 U.S.-UAE deal?

    1. A A commitment to provide the U.S. with exclusive rights to all oil exports.
    2. B A requirement to host a permanent U.S. military base on national soil.
    3. C A mandatory requirement for the host country to join the UN Security Council.
    4. D An agreement to forgo domestic uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing.

28. With reference to recent advancements in biotechnology, what is the primary function of the 'ContactSeek' tool?

    1. A To identify genetic mutations responsible for rare hereditary diseases
    2. B To sequence the entire human genome in under an hour
    3. C To enhance the precision of DNA base editing by predicting protein-DNA interactions
    4. D To synthesize artificial proteins for pharmaceutical drug delivery

29. According to recent studies on invasive species, which of the following factors is identified as a primary driver for the higher damage observed in the Global South?

    1. A Higher frequency of scientific reporting and monitoring
    2. B Greater reliance on indigenous agricultural practices
    3. C Lower baseline biodiversity levels
    4. D Rapid trade growth and poor environmental oversight

30. The 'Samudra Manthan' mission, recently in the news, is primarily associated with which of the following sectors?

    1. A Exploration of deep and ultra-deepwater hydrocarbon resources
    2. B Conservation of marine biodiversity in the Indian Ocean Region
    3. C Deep-sea mining of polymetallic nodules
    4. D Development of indigenous deep-sea submersible technology

31. Which district recorded the highest rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir during the heavy wet spell from July 19 to July 24?

    1. A Reasi
    2. B Kulgam
    3. C Anantnag
    4. D Pulwama

32. Which section of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) deals with the offense of promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, or language?

    1. A Section 355
    2. B Section 350
    3. C Section 360
    4. D Section 353(2)

33. Which body is responsible for examining proposals for the designation of new dry ports in India?

    1. A NITI Aayog
    2. B National Highways Authority of India
    3. C Inter-Ministerial Committee under Customs
    4. D Ministry of Commerce and Industry

34. Which of the following statements regarding the Chandipura virus (CHPV) is correct?

    1. A It is primarily transmitted through contaminated food and water sources.
    2. B It is a water-borne disease primarily affecting the elderly population.
    3. C It is a bacterial infection that can be treated with standard antibiotics.
    4. D It is a vector-borne pathogen known to cause acute encephalitis in children.

35. Operation Vijay, often referenced in the context of national security, refers to:

    1. A The 1965 conflict with Pakistan
    2. B The integration of princely states in 1947
    3. C The 1971 liberation of Bangladesh
    4. D The 1999 Kargil War

36. Which of the following agencies is primarily responsible for coordinating disaster response operations at the national level in India?

    1. A National Disaster Management Authority
    2. B National Disaster Response Force
    3. C State Disaster Management Authority
    4. D Indian Meteorological Department

37. Which of the following bacteria was identified by the study as being more abundant in urban populations and linked to obesity and hypertension?

    1. A Holdemanella
    2. B Lactobacillus
    3. C Megamonas
    4. D Bifidobacterium

38. Which of the following best describes the term 'Deepfake' in the context of emerging technologies?

    1. A A software tool used exclusively by government agencies to track illegal financial transactions.
    2. B A secure method of storing digital information using distributed ledger technology.
    3. C Synthetic media where a person in an existing image or video is replaced with someone else's likeness using AI.
    4. D A type of cyber-attack that encrypts user data for ransom.

39. Which of the following geological zones in Sikkim is noted for the presence of coal reserves, which can be associated with methane gas pockets?

    1. A Chungthang Tectonic Zone
    2. B Rangit Tectonic Window
    3. C Teesta Fault Belt
    4. D Sikkim Himalayan Foredeep

40. Why is the detection of methane gas in tunnel construction projects in the Himalayan region particularly challenging?

    1. A It is only present in deep-sea sediments.
    2. B It is only produced by modern industrial waste.
    3. C It is strictly confined to volcanic regions.
    4. D It is a colourless and odourless gas that cannot be detected by standard geotechnical surveys.

41. Which of the following is the primary nodal agency responsible for disaster management at the national level in India?

    1. A National Disaster Response Force
    2. B Indian Meteorological Department
    3. C Ministry of Home Affairs
    4. D National Disaster Management Authority

42. The Danube Delta, recently in the news regarding airspace violations, is located at the border of which two countries?

    1. A Ukraine and Poland
    2. B Ukraine and Romania
    3. C Ukraine and Moldova
    4. D Ukraine and Hungary

43. Who is the current UN High Commissioner for Human Rights whose mandate was recently extended by the UN General Assembly?

    1. A Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein
    2. B António Guterres
    3. C Michelle Bachelet
    4. D Volker Turk

44. Typhoon Noul, as reported in the context of southern China, is a weather phenomenon primarily associated with which of the following regions?

    1. A Mediterranean Sea
    2. B South China Sea
    3. C Bay of Bengal
    4. D Arabian Sea

45. Which international body is responsible for the prosecution of individuals for the gravest crimes of concern to the international community, such as genocide and war crimes?

    1. A Permanent Court of Arbitration
    2. B United Nations Security Council
    3. C International Court of Justice
    4. D International Criminal Court

46. Which of the following countries recently reported massive wildfire-related evacuations involving over 2,60,000 people in total?

    1. A France and Germany
    2. B Spain and Italy
    3. C Spain and France
    4. D Portugal and France

47. Recent genetic studies on ancient individuals found in a Kargil cave suggest that their ancestry is primarily a mix of which two groups?

    1. A North Indian and ancient Tibetan
    2. B South Indian and Central Asian
    3. C Indo-European and Southeast Asian
    4. D Steppe pastoralists and Dravidian

48. According to the study published in Science Advances, approximately how many years ago did the genetic union between the ancestral groups of the Kargil cave individuals occur?

    1. A 1,500 years ago
    2. B 4,000 years ago
    3. C 2,800 years ago
    4. D 2,100 years ago

49. Which method was primarily used by astronomers to detect the large body orbiting the brown dwarf CD-35 2722 B?

    1. A Radial velocity method
    2. B Transit photometry method
    3. C Direct imaging method
    4. D Gravitational microlensing

50. What is the term used to describe the practice of animals consuming soil or clay to alleviate pain or treat illness?

    1. A Geophagy
    2. B Zoopharmacognosy
    3. C Herbivory
    4. D Symbiosis

51. Which of the following best defines the concept of 'Zoopharmacognosy'?

    1. A The practice of animals using plants, roots, or fruits for self-medication
    2. B The study of how animals adapt to changing climatic conditions
    3. C The process by which animals mark their territory using chemical secretions
    4. D The study of how animals communicate through auditory signals

52. Following the acquisition of a 26% stake by BNP Paribas Cardif in IndiaFirst Life, which of the following entities holds the majority stake?

    1. A Union Bank of India
    2. B BNP Paribas Cardif
    3. C Bank of Baroda
    4. D Warburg Pincus

53. Bluevine, a digital business banking platform, is primarily targeting which segment of the Indian economy for its U.S. market expansion?

    1. A Government-backed infrastructure projects
    2. B Domestic retail banking customers
    3. C Indian small businesses establishing U.S. entities
    4. D Large-scale public sector undertakings

54. With reference to the financial performance of digital payment platforms in India, consider the following statements regarding the UPI Digital Incentive (DI) funds: 1. These funds are recognized as revenue only upon receipt or government release. 2. The incentive is a fixed annual grant provided to all fintech companies regardless of transaction volume. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A 2 only
    2. B 1 only
    3. C Neither 1 nor 2
    4. D Both 1 and 2

55. What are Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs) primarily used for by companies like NTPC?

    1. A To provide voting rights to the debenture holders
    2. B To raise long-term capital without diluting ownership
    3. C To facilitate short-term liquidity through public stock exchanges only
    4. D To convert debt into equity shares after a fixed period

56. According to IBEF projections, what is the expected valuation of India's pet-care industry by the calendar year 2032?

    1. A ₹30,434 crore
    2. B ₹10,000 crore
    3. C ₹50,000 crore
    4. D ₹2.1 lakh crore

57. Which of the following best describes the primary objective of the Consumer Protection Act in the context of service-based fraud?

    1. A To criminalize all forms of discount-based marketing in the hospitality industry.
    2. B To mandate that all private companies must register their marketing campaigns with the police.
    3. C To provide a mechanism for the redressal of consumer grievances against unfair trade practices.
    4. D To regulate the pricing of all luxury holiday packages in India.

58. In the context of recent technological advancements in the Indian plantation sector, which company successfully conducted trials for drone-based transport of tea leaves in Idukki, Kerala?

    1. A Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation
    2. B Kanan Devan Hills Plantations
    3. C Tata Consumer Products
    4. D Harrisons Malayalam Limited

59. The 'Punyam Poonkavanam' project, recently in the news, is primarily associated with:

    1. A Financial auditing of the Travancore Devaswom Board
    2. B Forest conservation in the Western Ghats
    3. C Digital documentation of temple architecture
    4. D Cleanliness and waste management in the Sabarimala pilgrimage zone

60. Which of the following agencies was primarily involved in the coordinated operation to dismantle the terror module in Assam?

    1. A Assam Police Special Task Force (STF)
    2. B Border Security Force (BSF)
    3. C Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
    4. D National Investigation Agency (NIA)

61. Which of the following best describes the primary objective of the 'Operation Nomad Hunt' as reported?

    1. A To conduct a joint military exercise with Indonesian authorities
    2. B To secure the deportation of a fugitive from a foreign country
    3. C To dismantle domestic drug trafficking networks in Punjab
    4. D To reform the administrative structure of the Anti-Gangster Task Force

62. Which of the following routes is currently being utilized for the Amarnath Yatra following the suspension caused by inclement weather?

    1. A Sonamarg Axis
    2. B Gulmarg Axis
    3. C Baltal Axis
    4. D Pahalgam Axis

63. The recent development projects in Bihar worth ₹11,464 crore cover which of the following sectors?

    1. A Exclusively rural electrification and digital connectivity
    2. B Roads, bridges, education, health, irrigation, industry, and drinking water
    3. C Only industrial corridors and urban infrastructure
    4. D Defense manufacturing and space research

64. Under which constitutional provision can an aggrieved party directly approach the Supreme Court for the enforcement of fundamental rights?

    1. A Article 32
    2. B Article 143
    3. C Article 226
    4. D Article 131

65. Which of the following is the primary objective of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls conducted by the Election Commission of India?

    1. A To facilitate the direct appointment of Booth Level Officers by political parties
    2. B To ensure the accuracy and purity of the electoral roll by updating data
    3. C To mandate the physical presence of all electors at the time of publication
    4. D To increase the total number of registered voters regardless of eligibility

66. Under which legislation did the Lucknow Development Authority issue notices regarding the illegal construction and subsequent demolition of the building?

    1. A The National Building Code of India, 2016
    2. B The Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973
    3. C The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016
    4. D The Disaster Management Act, 2005