3 August 2026

Quiz — 3 August 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 forces are classified as Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs)?

   1. A CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CISF, and National Security Guard
   2. B BSF, ITBP, SSB, CISF, and Special Protection Group
   3. C CRPF, BSF, ITBP, SSB, and CISF
   4. D CRPF, BSF, ITBP, SSB, and Assam Rifles

2. Which of the following landmark judgments held that the livestreaming of court proceedings expands the courtroom and promotes transparency and good governance?

   1. A Central Public Information Officer v. Subhash Chandra Agarwal
   2. B Swapnil Tripathi v. Supreme Court of India
   3. C S.P. Gupta v. Union of India
   4. D Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala

3. Under the current fiscal arrangement, what percentage of the taxes collected by the Union government is devolved to the States?

   1. A 32%
   2. B 42%
   3. C 50%
   4. D 41%

4. How many instalments of tax devolution are currently scheduled for distribution to States during a single fiscal year?

   1. A 10
   2. B 12
   3. C 16
   4. D 14

5. According to recent data from Grid-India, what was the share of renewable power in India's power-generation mix in July?

   1. A 20%
   2. B 15%
   3. C 10%
   4. D 25%

6. Which of the following energy sources reached a milestone of exceeding 100 gigawatts of output for the first time in India?

   1. A Nuclear and Biomass
   2. B Solar and Wind
   3. C Coal and Hydro
   4. D Thermal and Geothermal

7. The RBI's concessional swap facility introduced in June was aimed at encouraging inflows through which of the following instruments?

   1. A Masala Bonds and Masala Loans
   2. B FCNR(B) deposits, OFCB, and ECB
   3. C Foreign Direct Investment and Portfolio Investment
   4. D Sovereign Gold Bonds and Treasury Bills

8. Which body is primarily responsible for investigating dumping and recommending anti-dumping duties to the Ministry of Finance in India?

   1. A Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGTR)
   2. B NITI Aayog
   3. C Reserve Bank of India
   4. D Competition Commission of India

9. What was the primary change introduced in India's FDI policy in 2020 regarding investments from countries sharing a land border?

   1. A Automatic approval for investments up to 50%
   2. B Mandatory government approval for all investments
   3. C A complete ban on all investments
   4. D Exemption from all sectoral caps

10. Under the Constitution of India, which body is empowered to conduct the delimitation of constituencies?

    1. A The Parliament of India
    2. B The Election Commission of India
    3. C The Ministry of Law and Justice
    4. D The Delimitation Commission

11. Which of the following bodies is responsible for overseeing the technical aspects of the Mahanadi river water dispute under the current tribunal framework?

    1. A Inter-State Council
    2. B NITI Aayog
    3. C Central Water Commission
    4. D National Green Tribunal

12. Under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, what is the stipulated timeline for the completion of investigations into paper leak cases?

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

13. Which of the following is a noted limitation of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, according to analysis by PRS Legislative Research?

    1. A Absence of accountability mechanisms for missing investigation timelines
    2. B Inability to transfer existing cases to fast-track courts
    3. C Failure to increase fines for service providers
    4. D Lack of provision for special public prosecutors

14. Which of the following best describes the primary function of the National Testing Agency (NTA) in the Indian education system?

    1. A Regulating the curriculum of state-run universities
    2. B Conducting entrance examinations for higher educational institutions
    3. C Providing financial aid to underprivileged students
    4. D Formulating national education policy for primary schools

15. Which of the following best describes the nature of the PM SHRI scheme in the context of Indian federalism?

    1. A A mandatory scheme that States cannot opt out of once initiated
    2. B A scheme exclusively managed by local self-government institutions
    3. C A purely State-funded initiative with minimal Union oversight
    4. D A centrally sponsored scheme requiring an MoU between the Union and State governments

16. The Biligundlu inter-State contact point is associated with the water-sharing dispute of which of the following rivers?

    1. A Mahanadi
    2. B Godavari
    3. C Cauvery
    4. D Krishna

17. What was the growth rate of gross GST collections in July compared to the same period in the previous year?

    1. A 29.0%
    2. B 10.1%
    3. C 15.4%
    4. D 13.1%

18. Which component of GST revenue saw the highest percentage growth in July?

    1. A Central GST (CGST)
    2. B Imports
    3. C State GST (SGST)
    4. D Domestic transactions

19. Which of the following systems of medicine are regulated under the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) Act, 2020?

    1. A Allopathy, Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha
    2. B Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy
    3. C Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Naturopathy
    4. D Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Sowa-Rigpa

20. Under the Indian Constitution, which level of government is primarily responsible for identifying and taking action against unqualified medical practitioners?

    1. A The National Medical Commission
    2. B State governments and State Medical Councils
    3. C The Supreme Court of India
    4. D The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

21. Which of the following best describes the recent trend in Japanese investment in India as per current economic assessments?

    1. A A decline in interest due to India's volatile equity markets
    2. B A shift from services toward exclusive focus on heavy manufacturing
    3. C A total withdrawal of capital due to Japan's domestic economic stagnation
    4. D A diversification into financial services, technology, and startups

22. Which of the following statements regarding the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) is correct based on recent government actions?

    1. A The Union Home Minister has the authority to unilaterally reallocate SDRF funds between states without guidelines.
    2. B The Union government can relax documentary requirements to expedite the release of SDRF funds during emergencies.
    3. C The SDRF is funded entirely by the respective State governments without any Central share.
    4. D SDRF funds can only be released after the completion of the financial year.

23. Which body provided the basic guidelines for the voluntary drug testing program in centrally-funded higher education institutions?

    1. A National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS)
    2. B Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)
    3. C National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre at AIIMS
    4. D University Grants Commission (UGC)

24. Which of the following constitutional amendments was responsible for the abolition of privy purses and royal privileges in India?

    1. A 25th Amendment
    2. B 24th Amendment
    3. C 27th Amendment
    4. D 26th Amendment

25. Section 5(ii) of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, pertains to which of the following?

    1. A Exclusion of certain estates of former royal families from partition
    2. B Succession rights of daughters in ancestral property
    3. C Rights of illegitimate children in Hindu succession
    4. D Provisions for the partition of agricultural land

26. The Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport, recently inaugurated in Andhra Pradesh, is built under which model of development?

    1. A Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM)
    2. B Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC)
    3. C Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT)
    4. D Public-Private Partnership

27. What is the primary function of an OSAT facility in the semiconductor industry?

    1. A Wafer fabrication and lithography
    2. B Design and intellectual property development
    3. C Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test
    4. D Raw silicon purification and extraction

28. What is the statutory time limit for filing an election petition challenging the victory of a candidate in an Assembly election?

    1. A 90 days
    2. B 30 days
    3. C 45 days
    4. D 60 days

29. Which of the following meteorological phenomena is often associated with the potential for enhanced rainfall during the Northeast monsoon in Chennai?

    1. A Madden-Julian Oscillation
    2. B La Nina
    3. C El Nino
    4. D Negative Indian Ocean Dipole

30. The Bab el-Mandeb strait serves as a vital maritime connection between which of the following bodies of water?

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

31. The Scarborough Shoal, recently in the news for military drills, is also known by which of the following names?

    1. A Huangyan Island
    2. B Natuna Island
    3. C Spratly Island
    4. D Paracel Island

32. The 'Pax Silica' initiative, as mentioned in recent diplomatic discussions, primarily aims to:

    1. A Reduce global reliance on Chinese technology dominance
    2. B Establish a new multilateral trade bloc for agricultural goods
    3. C Facilitate humanitarian aid and disaster management in the Indo-Pacific
    4. D Promote regional military integration in South Asia

33. Which of the following best describes the 'open-weight' strategy adopted by certain AI companies?

    1. A Releasing the full source code of the AI model for public modification
    2. B Providing access to model weights for local hosting and fine-tuning by third parties
    3. C Selling the hardware required to run large-scale AI models
    4. D Restricting model access to a select group of enterprise partners

34. What is the primary objective of China's recent national plan regarding AI data centres?

    1. A To mandate the use of open-source software exclusively
    2. B To achieve 100% reliance on imported Nvidia chips
    3. C To ban the development of frontier-level reasoning models
    4. D To ensure at least 80% domestic sourcing of components

35. Which of the following best describes the primary mandate of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) regarding corporate governance?

    1. A To protect the interests of investors in securities and to promote the development of the securities market.
    2. B To act as the final appellate authority for all civil disputes involving corporate entities.
    3. C To provide financial bailouts to companies facing liquidity crises.
    4. D To manage the daily operational activities of listed companies.

36. According to the Committee on Cotton Production and Consumption, what is the estimated cotton production for the 2025-2026 marketing season?

    1. A 297.24 lakh bales
    2. B 290.24 lakh bales
    3. C 306 lakh bales
    4. D 320 lakh bales

37. Which of the following best describes the legal concept of 'personality rights' as recently addressed by the judiciary in the context of digital technology?

    1. A The constitutional right to privacy that prohibits any media coverage of public personalities.
    2. B The right of the state to regulate all digital content generated by public figures.
    3. C The right of an individual to control the commercial use of their identity, including name, image, and voice.
    4. D The absolute right of public figures to censor any criticism appearing on social media platforms.

38. Which of the following bodies is responsible for the administration and management of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO)?

    1. A Ministry of Finance
    2. B Securities and Exchange Board of India
    3. C Ministry of Labour & Employment
    4. D Reserve Bank of India

39. Shipki La, a mountain pass that serves as a border trade point between India and China, is located in which Indian state?

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

40. What does the term 'E20' refer to in the context of automotive fuel in India?

    1. A A synthetic fuel with 20% higher efficiency than standard petrol
    2. B A fuel blend containing 20% ethanol and 80% petrol
    3. C A fuel blend containing 20% petrol and 80% ethanol
    4. D A fuel standard requiring 20% reduction in carbon emissions

41. Which of the following measures has been directed by the J&K administration to enhance the security of non-local labourers?

    1. A Mandatory relocation of all migrant workers to government-run camps
    2. B Registration of worker details with local police and district authorities
    3. C Direct recruitment of migrant workers into the local security forces
    4. D Complete ban on the employment of non-local labour in brick kilns

42. Which of the following is a primary objective of the proposed policy framework to grant industry status to the Malayalam film sector?

    1. A Direct government funding for all film productions
    2. B Total exemption from state labour laws for film production units
    3. C Implementation of a single-window clearance system for shooting permits
    4. D Mandatory state ownership of all cinema halls

43. Which of the following tribes are primarily affected by the recent flooding in the Godavari Valley as mentioned in the report?

    1. A Lambada and Yerukula
    2. B Chenchu and Yanadi
    3. C Koya and Konda Reddi
    4. D Gond and Kolam

44. Which of the following mechanisms is typically used by urban local bodies to address short-term cash-flow mismatches?

    1. A Revenue Deficit Loan
    2. B Municipal Bond Issuance
    3. C Capital Expenditure Grant
    4. D Ways and Means Advance

45. Which document is used by the Election Commission to verify the total number of votes polled in an EVM during the post-election verification process?

    1. A Form 20
    2. B Form 12A
    3. C Form 13
    4. D Form 17C

46. The RCS-UDAN scheme is primarily aimed at:

    1. A Enhancing regional air connectivity and making air travel affordable
    2. B Developing exclusive military airfields for civilian use
    3. C Privatizing all existing state-run airports
    4. D Expanding international cargo hubs

47. Which agency is responsible for issuing weather alerts such as red and orange warnings in India?

    1. A National Disaster Management Authority
    2. B Central Water Commission
    3. C India Meteorological Department
    4. D Geological Survey of India

48. Which of the following cities hosted U.S. embassies that issued recent security alerts regarding the situation in West Asia?

    1. A Tehran, Amman, and Beirut
    2. B Amman, Cairo, and Baghdad
    3. C Amman, Jerusalem, and Baghdad
    4. D Baghdad, Damascus, and Jerusalem

49. With reference to the newly developed 'BioCCS' material, consider the following statements: 1. It utilizes microscopic grooves to facilitate rapid liquid distribution. 2. It incorporates nanowires to weaken water molecule bonds and enhance evaporation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

50. With reference to the impact of plant-based diets on gut health, consider the following statements: 1. Plant proteins are largely absorbed before reaching the colon. 2. Gut bacteria metabolize plant proteins into beneficial compounds like hippuric acid. 3. Soluble fibre prevents bacteria from consuming the protective mucus layer of the gut. Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

51. In the context of wildfire management, how do donkeys contribute to reducing the intensity of forest fires?

    1. A By consuming dry grass and scrubland, thereby reducing flammable vegetation
    2. B By acting as early warning sensors for smoke detection
    3. C By physically creating firebreaks through the use of machinery
    4. D By releasing moisture into the soil to prevent ignition

52. The 'composite fermion' theory, for which Jainendra K. Jain was awarded the Wolf Prize, is primarily associated with which field of physics?

    1. A Quantum Chromodynamics
    2. B High-Energy Particle Physics
    3. C Condensed Matter Physics
    4. D Astrophysics and Cosmology

53. Which of the following best describes the stated objective of the Lodha Theoretical Physics Institute (LTPI) in the context of Indian scientific research?

    1. A To replace public-funded research institutions with private alternatives.
    2. B To focus on applied engineering and commercial technology development.
    3. C To provide a large-scale doctoral programme for physics students.
    4. D To complement the public system by providing a focused environment for theoretical research.

54. In the context of telecommunications in India, what is the primary purpose of 'minimum rollout obligations' imposed by the Department of Telecommunications?

    1. A To ensure the timely deployment of network infrastructure using allocated spectrum
    2. B To regulate the retail pricing of data services for consumers
    3. C To mandate the mandatory merger of loss-making telecom service providers
    4. D To determine the annual license fee payable by private operators

55. Which of the following segments in the Indian passenger vehicle market showed a 49% YoY growth in July as per the reported data?

    1. A Utility vehicles
    2. B Commercial vehicles
    3. C Passenger cars
    4. D Electric vehicles

56. Which of the following factors is identified as a primary driver of developmental stagnation in the context of climate vulnerability in Tamil Nadu?

    1. A Lack of industrial investment
    2. B Declining groundwater levels and changing weather patterns
    3. C Over-reliance on service sector exports
    4. D Inadequate digital infrastructure

57. In which district of Rajasthan was the recent racket involving the seizure of counterfeit military combat cloth uncovered?

    1. A Bikaner
    2. B Jaisalmer
    3. C Jodhpur
    4. D Sriganganagar

58. What is the primary purpose of a 'zero FIR' in the Indian legal system?

    1. A To allow police to arrest suspects without a warrant for minor offences
    2. B To provide legal immunity to social media influencers
    3. C To enable the registration of an FIR at any police station regardless of jurisdiction
    4. D To bypass the requirement of a written complaint in cybercrime cases

59. Consider the following statements regarding the Geological Survey of India (GSI): 1. It is the premier geoscientific organisation of India. 2. It functions under the Ministry of Mines. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

60. Which of the following measures has been introduced for the NEET-PG examination to enhance the integrity and verification process?

    1. A Aadhaar-based authentication
    2. B Biometric iris scanning only
    3. C Mandatory state-level domicile certification
    4. D Physical document verification at the centre

61. Which of the following agencies is primarily responsible for investigating specialized terror-related cases in West Bengal as per the provided report?

    1. A Intelligence Bureau (IB)
    2. B Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
    3. C National Investigation Agency (NIA)
    4. D Special Task Force (STF)

62. The Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) in India is primarily associated with which of the following?

    1. A Agricultural export management
    2. B Inter-state water dispute resolution
    3. C Economic policy coordination
    4. D Internal security and intelligence sharing

63. Operation Sindhu, recently mentioned in the context of humanitarian assistance, refers to:

    1. A A bilateral trade agreement with Iran
    2. B The evacuation of Indian citizens from the West Asia crisis
    3. C A naval exercise in the Indian Ocean
    4. D A cultural exchange program with Central Asian nations

64. Which Article of the Indian Constitution primarily guarantees the freedom of speech and expression?

    1. A Article 19
    2. B Article 21
    3. C Article 25
    4. D Article 14

65. The 'panns' mentioned in the context of Saiva Tirumurais are most closely associated with which of the following?

    1. A Methods of palm-leaf manuscript preservation
    2. B Administrative divisions in the Chola Empire
    3. C Musical structures in devotional hymns
    4. D Ancient Tamil architectural styles

66. Which of the following literary works is known for chronicling the conversion of King Mahendra Pallava to Saivism?

    1. A Thiruchendur Sthala Puranam
    2. B Periyapuranam
    3. C Thiruvasagam
    4. D Thevaram

67. Which of the following is considered the second-largest electronics market in India, as mentioned in recent reports regarding trade disruptions?

    1. A Chandni Chowk, Delhi
    2. B Nehru Palace, New Delhi
    3. C Lamington Road, Mumbai
    4. D Ritchie Street, Chennai

68. According to the Regional Meteorological Centre's outlook for August, which region of Tamil Nadu is expected to experience a rainfall deficit?

    1. A Coastal Tamil Nadu
    2. B Interior Tamil Nadu
    3. C Districts along the Western Ghats
    4. D Puducherry

69. The Cancer Institute (WIA) was founded by which of the following individuals, known for advocating equitable healthcare access?

    1. A Sarojini Naidu
    2. B Amrit Kaur
    3. C Muthulakshmi Reddy
    4. D V. Shanta

70. Which of the following is a government-led national initiative for mental health support in India?

    1. A Sneha Helpline
    2. B Police Wellness Portal
    3. C Kilpauk Medical Support
    4. D Tele-MANAS

71. Under the Maritime Zones of India Act, which of the following typically defines the zone reserved exclusively for traditional or small-scale fishing craft in many coastal states?

    1. A Up to 3 nautical miles
    2. B Up to 12 nautical miles
    3. C Up to 24 nautical miles
    4. D Up to 5 nautical miles

72. Which of the following best describes the recent trend in the pricing of 19-kg commercial LPG cylinders in India?

    1. A A decrease of ₹200 followed by an increase of ₹200
    2. B A cumulative increase of ₹380 per cylinder
    3. C No change in price over the last two revisions
    4. D A cumulative decrease of about ₹380 per cylinder