29 July 2026

Quiz — 29 July 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 NHRC Manual on Human Rights for Police Officers, what is the prescribed approach for police when dealing with public assemblies?

   1. A Reliance on persuasion, advice, and warning, using only minimum force
   2. B Immediate use of maximum force to prevent disruption
   3. C Preventive detention of all participants before the assembly
   4. D Use of force based on the discretion of the officer on the ground

2. Which committee recommended that approximately 37% of the Western Ghats be designated as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA)?

   1. A M.S. Swaminathan Committee
   2. B K. Kasturirangan Committee
   3. C Madhav Gadgil Committee
   4. D Sunita Narain Committee

3. Which of the following states is NOT among the six states identified in the draft notification for the Western Ghats ESA?

   1. A Karnataka
   2. B Goa
   3. C Gujarat
   4. D Telangana

4. The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, proposes which of the following measures to ensure speedy justice?

   1. A Transfer of all examination-related cases to the Supreme Court
   2. B Establishment of Special Fast Track Courts for examination-related offences
   3. C Mandatory life imprisonment for all paper leak offences
   4. D Abolition of the National Testing Agency

5. Which of the following is the primary source of global lead consumption according to the recent CGD report?

   1. A Photovoltaic cell manufacturing
   2. B Construction and plumbing materials
   3. C Lead-acid battery production
   4. D Industrial paint manufacturing

6. What is the primary physiological mechanism by which lead acts as a neurotoxin in children?

   1. A It degrades myelin and hampers brain cell connections
   2. B It increases blood pressure by damaging the heart valves
   3. C It mimics calcium and accumulates in the liver
   4. D It inhibits the production of red blood cells

7. Which of the following best describes the recent trend in Indian space technology funding as reported by Tracxn?

   1. A A shift from late-stage funding to exclusively seed-stage investment.
   2. B A broad-based increase in deal activity across all 285 firms.
   3. C A rise in funding driven by a small number of large rounds and the emergence of late-stage investment.
   4. D A decline in domestic venture capital participation in favor of government-only grants.

8. What is the primary reason for the curtailment of solar power by grid operators in India?

   1. A International trade restrictions on solar panels
   2. B Maintenance of grid security and stability
   3. C Excessive cost of solar power production
   4. D Lack of demand for electricity

9. As of June 30, which category constitutes the largest share of India's total installed solar capacity?

   1. A Utility-scale projects
   2. B Floating solar projects
   3. C Rooftop solar projects
   4. D Off-grid projects

10. Which of the following statements is true regarding the history of the panchayati raj system in West Bengal?

    1. A West Bengal adopted the three-tier system only after the 73rd Constitutional Amendment of 1993.
    2. B Panchayat elections in West Bengal have historically been free of violence since their inception.
    3. C West Bengal passed a panchayat act in 1973, holding its first elections in 1978.
    4. D The three-tier system in West Bengal was established by the central government in 1973.

11. What is the primary objective of the 'Tigers Outside Tiger Reserves' (TOTR) initiative launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change?

    1. A To expand the number of designated Tiger Reserves by 50%
    2. B To establish a landscape-based framework for conserving tigers in non-protected areas while managing human-tiger conflict
    3. C To privatize the management of forest corridors to increase surveillance efficiency
    4. D To relocate all tigers living outside reserves into core protected areas

12. According to the All-India Tiger Estimation (2022), approximately what percentage of India's tiger population lives outside designated Tiger Reserves?

    1. A 35-40%
    2. B 50-60%
    3. C 10-15%
    4. D 20-25%

13. The Commission of Inquiry constituted in October 2022 to examine the issue of granting Scheduled Caste status to Dalit converts is headed by:

    1. A Justice Ranjan Gogoi
    2. B Justice U.U. Lalit
    3. C Justice K.G. Balakrishnan
    4. D Justice N.V. Ramana

14. What is the primary constitutional objective behind the process of delimitation in India?

    1. A To mandate the reservation of seats for specific religious minorities
    2. B To increase the total number of seats in the Rajya Sabha
    3. C To redraw the boundaries of international borders
    4. D To ensure equal representation for equal segments of the population

15. Which body is the apex authority responsible for monitoring the implementation of water release orders in the Cauvery basin?

    1. A Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal
    2. B Central Water Commission
    3. C Cauvery Water Regulation Committee
    4. D Cauvery Water Management Authority

16. Under the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which of the following is the primary subject matter of 'Police'?

    1. A Union List
    2. B Residuary Powers
    3. C Concurrent List
    4. D State List

17. Which of the following bodies is responsible for issuing guidelines on human rights for police officers regarding the use of force?

    1. A Central Vigilance Commission
    2. B National Human Rights Commission
    3. C National Investigation Agency
    4. D Bureau of Police Research and Development

18. Which organization is responsible for releasing the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) data in India?

    1. A Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
    2. B Ministry of Finance
    3. C Reserve Bank of India
    4. D NITI Aayog

19. Under which legislative framework is the official liquidator of a banking company primarily empowered to act in India?

    1. A Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and Companies Act, 2013
    2. B Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 only
    3. C Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 only
    4. D Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002

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

    1. A It is entirely unregulated and left to the discretion of the airport operators.
    2. B It is regulated through specific provisions in individual airport concession agreements.
    3. C It is strictly prohibited by the Aircraft Act, 1934.
    4. D It is governed by the Airports Authority of India (Amendment) Act, 2021.

21. Based on the recent ICMR-VRDL surveillance study, which of the following statements regarding dengue in India is correct?

    1. A Dengue vaccines are currently included in India's Universal Immunisation Programme.
    2. B Approximately 7% of patients were found to be infected with more than one dengue serotype concurrently.
    3. C DENV-1 is the predominant serotype across all Indian states.
    4. D The study found that no state in India currently has all four dengue serotypes circulating simultaneously.

22. Under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, teachers are permitted to be deployed for which of the following duties?

    1. A Decennial population census
    2. B Private tutoring during school hours
    3. C Any administrative task assigned by the state government
    4. D Routine clerical work in government offices

23. Which of the following best describes the 'two-fold' bar under Section 15 of the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971?

    1. A It mandates that all eviction cases must be heard by a special tribunal and limits the right to legal representation.
    2. B It excludes civil courts from eviction proceedings and prohibits the granting of injunctions against the Estate Officer's actions.
    3. C It prevents the Estate Officer from acting without prior approval from the Supreme Court and the High Court.
    4. D It requires the government to provide alternate land before eviction and restricts the power of the Estate Officer to issue notices.

24. Which of the following is an exclusion criterion for the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana?

    1. A Families with annual electricity consumption exceeding 2,400 units
    2. B Women who are currently enrolled in higher education
    3. C Women who are members of self-help groups
    4. D Families residing in unauthorized colonies

25. The proposed management model for the Strait of Hormuz, which involves voluntary contributions for navigation and environmental safety, is modeled after the system currently in place at which of the following locations?

    1. A Strait of Malacca
    2. B Strait of Gibraltar
    3. C Suez Canal
    4. D Panama Canal

26. Which of the following best describes the 'Realist' school of thought in International Relations as discussed in the text?

    1. A The prioritization of humanitarian aid over military security.
    2. B The belief that states act primarily to pursue national interests in an anarchic system.
    3. C A focus on international cooperation through global institutions.
    4. D The rejection of power as a factor in international diplomacy.

27. The concept of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' is associated with which of the following perspectives in Indian foreign policy?

    1. A A civilisational philosophy emphasizing the world as one family.
    2. B A purely military-centric approach to regional security.
    3. C A strategy of isolationism from global economic affairs.
    4. D A policy focused exclusively on the interests of the Global North.

28. Which of the following best describes Iran's current official diplomatic stance toward the Taliban government in Afghanistan?

    1. A Full diplomatic recognition and formal alliance
    2. B Complete isolation and refusal of any contact
    3. C Strategic engagement without official diplomatic recognition
    4. D Support for the Taliban as the sole legitimate representative of the Afghan people

29. Who currently leads the Quds Force, the elite external operations branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)?

    1. A Qasem Soleimani
    2. B Esmail Qaani
    3. C Ahmed Massoud
    4. D Amir Khan Muttaqi

30. Which of the following is a primary factor contributing to the 'accountability vacuum' in Indian urban governance as highlighted in recent reports?

    1. A Excessive power vested in elected municipal representatives
    2. B Fragmentation of responsibilities across multiple agencies like development authorities and municipal corporations
    3. C Absence of fire safety legislation at the national level
    4. D Lack of technological infrastructure for monitoring urban growth

31. Which of the following best describes the legal status of social media platforms as intermediaries under the Information Technology Act, 2000 in the context of user-generated content?

    1. A They are entitled to 'safe harbour' protection provided they comply with due diligence requirements.
    2. B They enjoy absolute immunity regardless of the nature of the content.
    3. C They are strictly liable for all content posted by users on their platforms.
    4. D They are considered government agencies and are directly responsible for content moderation.

32. Which of the following best describes the current mechanism of diplomatic engagement between India and Nepal as highlighted in recent official communications?

    1. A Direct intervention in domestic legislative processes
    2. B Formal invitations for high-level bilateral visits to discuss strategic cooperation
    3. C Unilateral imposition of trade tariffs
    4. D Establishment of a joint military command structure

33. Which of the following factors is primarily responsible for urban flooding in Indian metropolitan cities during the monsoon season?

    1. A Increased seismic activity in urban zones
    2. B Reduction in the frequency of monsoon rainfall
    3. C Excessive reliance on groundwater extraction
    4. D Inadequate drainage infrastructure and unplanned urbanization

34. According to recent UN reporting on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border situation, what is the approximate number of civilian casualties recorded between October and June?

    1. A 1,000 killed and 500 wounded
    2. B 500 killed and over 1,000 wounded
    3. C 200 killed and 500 wounded
    4. D 100 killed and 200 wounded

35. Which of the following best describes the current status of the U.S.-Iran conflict as reported in recent developments?

    1. A A permanent peace treaty has been signed between the two nations.
    2. B The April ceasefire remains the primary framework for de-escalation.
    3. C Israel has officially joined the U.S. in all recent military operations against Iran.
    4. D Hostilities have been paused following a period of sustained U.S. strikes.

36. The 'Patriot' system, often discussed in the context of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, is primarily known as:

    1. A A naval submarine detection network
    2. B A surface-to-air guided missile system
    3. C A satellite-based communication relay
    4. D A long-range ballistic missile system

37. The 'Shindo' scale, often used in the context of Japanese earthquakes, measures which of the following?

    1. A The probability of a subsequent tsunami
    2. B The degree of shaking at a specific location
    3. C The depth of the seismic focus below the surface
    4. D The total energy released at the earthquake's epicenter

38. Which of the following best describes the primary objective of the partnership between Ampere and Muthoot Capital Services?

    1. A To develop charging infrastructure across rural India.
    2. B To provide financial solutions to make electric two-wheelers more affordable.
    3. C To conduct research on renewable energy storage technologies.
    4. D To establish new manufacturing units for electric vehicle batteries.

39. With reference to the financial performance of City Union Bank in Q1, which of the following statements is correct?

    1. A Other income grew significantly faster than interest income.
    2. B Interest expenses grew at a higher rate than interest income.
    3. C Total business of the bank declined compared to the previous year.
    4. D Retail, agriculture, and MSME sectors constitute 80% of the bank's total advances.

40. What is the primary purpose of the $500 million Parent Company Guarantee (PCG) approved by ONGC for MRPL?

    1. A To facilitate the import of crude oil from Saudi Aramco
    2. B To fund the expansion of MRPL's refinery capacity
    3. C To settle outstanding debt obligations of MRPL
    4. D To invest in renewable energy projects in Saudi Arabia

41. For what duration is the Parent Company Guarantee (PCG) provided by ONGC to Saudi Aramco valid?

    1. A Two years
    2. B One year
    3. C Three years
    4. D Five years

42. Which of the following are the four campaign themes unveiled by the German National Tourist Office (GNTO) for 2026?

    1. A History, Technology, Cuisine, and Nature
    2. B Culture, Education, Infrastructure, and City life
    3. C Culture, City life, Cuisine, and Nature
    4. D Heritage, Business, Nature, and Wildlife

43. Which of the following factors was explicitly cited as a reason for the decline in Air India's revenue during FY26?

    1. A Scaled down operations due to geopolitical developments
    2. B Reduction in domestic passenger demand
    3. C Increased competition from low-cost carriers
    4. D Divestment of international routes

44. What does the term 'Underlying Sales Growth' (USG) exclude when calculating a company's turnover growth?

    1. A Acquisitions and disposals
    2. B One-off tax credit gains
    3. C Inflationary price increases
    4. D Operating margin fluctuations

45. Which of the following regions in India are identified as natural habitats for the King Cobra?

    1. A Chota Nagpur Plateau, Nilgiri Hills, and Andaman Islands
    2. B Thar Desert, Rann of Kutch, and Aravalli Range
    3. C Eastern Himalayas, Gangetic Plains, and Deccan Plateau
    4. D Sunderbans, Bhitarkanika, and Western Ghats

46. Regarding the biological classification of the King Cobra, which statement is correct?

    1. A It is not a true cobra despite its name.
    2. B It is a non-venomous snake species.
    3. C It is exclusively found in mangrove swamps.
    4. D It belongs to the same genus as the common cobra.

47. Which of the following ports in Ukraine was reported as the location where 13 Indian seafarers are currently trapped?

    1. A Mykolaiv
    2. B Mariupol
    3. C Odesa
    4. D Chornomorsk

48. Who is the author of the work 'Chatushloki'?

    1. A Swami Alavandar
    2. B Swami Vedanta Desika
    3. C Tirukudanthai Dr. Venkatesh
    4. D Periyavachan Pillai

49. Which of the following is NOT part of the 'Rahasya Trayam' mentioned in the Sri Vaishnava tradition?

    1. A Dvaya Mantra
    2. B Charama Sloka
    3. C Thirumantra
    4. D Varaha Charama sloka

50. Which of the following factors is identified as a significant trend transforming India's current urban landscape?

    1. A Expansion of Global Capability Centres (GCCs)
    2. B Decline in luxury housing demand
    3. C Reduction in integrated community developments
    4. D Stagnation of investment corridors

51. Which of the following best describes the primary mechanism reported for the erroneous removal of content by social media platforms in the recent incident?

    1. A Manual review by government-appointed censors
    2. B Algorithmic bias triggered by user-reported complaints
    3. C Direct intervention by the judiciary under the IT Act
    4. D Automated moderation tools designed to filter AI-generated content

52. Amoebic meningoencephalitis is primarily characterized as which of the following?

    1. A A viral infection of the respiratory system
    2. B A genetic disorder affecting the central nervous system
    3. C A bacterial disease spread through contaminated food
    4. D A rare but life-threatening brain infection

53. In which district of Manipur did the incident involving the burning of postal bags on National Highway-202 occur?

    1. A Senapati
    2. B Churachandpur
    3. C Ukhrul
    4. D Imphal West

54. The recently announced dog shelter project in Dwarka, Delhi, is being developed in compliance with a directive from which constitutional authority?

    1. A National Green Tribunal
    2. B Animal Welfare Board of India
    3. C Delhi High Court
    4. D Supreme Court of India