5 August 2026

Quiz — 5 August 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 DST Research and Development Statistics 2025-26, which sector emerged as the largest corporate R&D investor in India in 2023-24?

   1. A Biotechnology
   2. B Pharmaceuticals
   3. C Information Technology
   4. D Transportation

2. What was India's R&D expenditure as a percentage of GDP in 2021-22?

   1. A 0.65%
   2. B 0.75%
   3. C 0.83%
   4. D 0.90%

3. Which of the following best describes the 'demand-side' problem in the context of Indian youth unemployment?

   1. A The inability of the economy to generate sufficient jobs for the available educated workforce.
   2. B A lack of qualified candidates for specialized technical roles.
   3. C The mismatch between vocational training and industrial requirements.
   4. D A decline in the number of students enrolling in higher education institutions.

4. According to the provided text, which of the following is considered a vulnerability in the lifecycle of high-stakes examinations beyond the physical leakage of printed papers?

   1. A The transition to offline examination centers.
   2. B The use of OMR sheets for evaluation.
   3. C The increase in the number of students appearing for competitive exams.
   4. D Unauthorized access to question banks, examiner identities, and digital data.

5. Under the 2024 Transaction of Business Rules in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which authority holds primary control over the administration, police, and government prosecutors?

   1. A The Lieutenant-Governor
   2. B The State Legislative Assembly
   3. C The Chief Minister
   4. D The Union Home Minister

6. The Supreme Court recently mandated a 10-km mining buffer zone for wetland reserves. Which of the following best describes the rationale provided by the Court?

   1. A To promote industrial growth in the Himalayan region
   2. B To ensure parity in environmental protection standards across all states
   3. C To prioritize mining activities over ecological conservation
   4. D To restrict the jurisdiction of state-level expert committees

7. In the context of the Population Census 2027, what is the primary distinction regarding caste enumeration compared to previous census exercises?

   1. A Caste data will be collected for all residents, moving beyond only SC and ST categories.
   2. B Caste data will be collected only for rural residents.
   3. C Caste data will be excluded from the 2027 Census to ensure social uniformity.
   4. D Caste data will be collected exclusively through digital self-enumeration portals.

8. The Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 proposes to amend which of the following legislations?

   1. A Income-Tax Act, 1961 only
   2. B Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, Income-Tax Act, 2025, and Finance Act, 2026
   3. C Companies Act, 2013 and Finance Act, 2026
   4. D Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 and Income-Tax Act, 2025

9. What is the primary objective of the proposed changes regarding REITs and InvITs in the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026?

   1. A To mandate that all REITs must follow the new tax regime
   2. B To increase the tax rate on dividends paid to investors
   3. C To prohibit foreign investors from participating in Indian InvITs
   4. D To restore tax exemptions for dividends paid by REITs and InvITs regardless of the tax regime of the operating company

10. Which of the following regulations governs the use of '100% pure' or similar claims on food products in India?

    1. A Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2011
    2. B Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016
    3. C Consumer Protection Act, 2019
    4. D FSS (Advertising & Claims) Regulations, 2018

11. The 'Jaivik Bharat' logo is associated with which of the following categories of food products?

    1. A Fortified foods
    2. B Ayurvedic health supplements
    3. C Genetically modified foods
    4. D Organic foods

12. What is the primary objective of the new phase of the Khelo India Scheme as mentioned in the context of the 2036 Olympic bid?

    1. A To provide direct financial subsidies to professional athletes only
    2. B To host the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad
    3. C To replace the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) entirely
    4. D To increase the number of sports centres and expand the talent pool for early identification

13. What is the current monthly wage ceiling for an employee to qualify for benefits under the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) scheme?

    1. A ₹21,000
    2. B ₹25,000
    3. C ₹30,000
    4. D ₹15,000

14. The hexavalent vaccine, recently discussed in the context of India's Universal Immunisation Programme, provides protection against which of the following diseases?

    1. A Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hepatitis B, Polio, and Tuberculosis
    2. B Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hepatitis A, Polio, and Hib
    3. C Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hepatitis B, Polio, and Hib
    4. D Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hepatitis B, Measles, and Hib

15. The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, primarily seeks to amend which section of the existing Act?

    1. A Section 10
    2. B Section 15
    3. C Section 20
    4. D Section 13

16. Which of the following bodies is primarily responsible for providing recommendations on the structural changes to the NEET-UG examination as per the recent government affidavit?

    1. A A task force chaired by Nandan Nilekani
    2. B The Union Public Service Commission
    3. C The Supreme Court Registry
    4. D The National Medical Commission

17. Under the Central Armed Police Force (General Administration) Act, 2026, what percentage of Inspector-General (IG) posts are reserved for IPS officers on deputation?

    1. A 50%
    2. B 67%
    3. C 100%
    4. D 33%

18. Which section of the CAPF Act, 2026, grants the Union government the power to amend the First and Second Schedules of the Act through a notification?

    1. A Section 3
    2. B Section 1
    3. C Section 2
    4. D Section 4

19. Which of the following best describes the primary function of the National Testing Agency (NTA) in India?

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

20. Under the Tenth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which authority is primarily responsible for deciding the disqualification of a member of a State Legislative Assembly?

    1. A The Governor of the State
    2. B The Election Commission of India
    3. C The High Court of the respective state
    4. D The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly

21. Under the Indian Constitution, the Uniform Civil Code is mentioned in which of the following?

    1. A Article 44
    2. B Article 51A
    3. C Article 48
    4. D Article 37

22. Which body is responsible for submitting status reports on cybercrime trends, including 'digital arrest' scams, to the Supreme Court?

    1. A Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)
    2. B Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
    3. C Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
    4. D Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)

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

    1. A A high-octane fuel grade with 20% additives
    2. B A fuel blend containing 20% methanol and 80% petrol
    3. C A synthetic fuel standard for heavy-duty vehicles
    4. D A fuel blend containing 20% ethanol and 80% petrol

24. Which of the following medicines has been classified as 'carcinogenic to humans' (Group 1) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)?

    1. A Paracetamol
    2. B Metformin
    3. C Hydrochlorothiazide
    4. D Amoxicillin

25. Following the recent Supreme Court directive, what is the new mandatory third-party insurance period for new cars?

    1. A Four years
    2. B Three years
    3. C Five years
    4. D Six years

26. Which of the following databases is to be integrated with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras for real-time insurance verification?

    1. A VAHAN portal
    2. B e-Courts portal
    3. C SARATHI portal
    4. D DigiLocker

27. According to the recent Union Home Ministry report, what is the core three-pronged strategy adopted by the government for dealing with fugitive offenders?

    1. A Global outreach, strong coordination, and smart diplomacy
    2. B Intelligence-led operations, legislative amendments, and international sanctions
    3. C Bilateral treaties, judicial intervention, and police reform
    4. D Technology-driven tracking, extradition treaties, and diplomatic isolation

28. Which of the following is identified as a primary strategy by the Kerala government to mitigate the impact of recurring floods in the long term?

    1. A Construction of large-scale dams in forest areas
    2. B Implementation of a total ban on all agricultural activities
    3. C De-silting of rivers to restore carrying capacity
    4. D Complete relocation of populations from river basins

29. Which state government has proposed a new health insurance scheme aiming to provide coverage of up to ₹10 lakh to approximately 10 lakh families?

    1. A Haryana
    2. B Himachal Pradesh
    3. C Punjab
    4. D Uttarakhand

30. Which of the following factors is primarily cited as a potential cause for the recent unprecedented flooding in the Sivasagar, Charaideo, and Jorhat districts of Assam?

    1. A Cyclonic activity originating from the Bay of Bengal
    2. B Failure of the Brahmaputra river embankment system
    3. C Obstruction of natural water flow by highway infrastructure and mining activities
    4. D Excessive glacial melt in the Himalayas

31. Which article of the Indian Constitution provides for the establishment of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes?

    1. A Article 340
    2. B Article 338
    3. C Article 330
    4. D Article 350

32. Under the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana, which of the following is an eligibility criterion for applicants?

    1. A Employment in the government sector
    2. B Age between 21 and 60 years
    3. C Annual family income up to ₹5 lakh
    4. D Ownership of a four-wheeler

33. Which of the following factors is identified as a contributor to the recent acceleration in global warming due to the reduction of its historical 'cooling effect'?

    1. A Solar activity
    2. B Atmospheric aerosols
    3. C Greenhouse gas emissions
    4. D Volcanic eruptions

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

    1. A It acts as the sole maritime boundary between the African and Asian continents.
    2. B It is the primary route for land-based trade between Europe and Asia.
    3. C It serves as a critical conduit for a significant portion of global oil and gas supplies.
    4. D It is a landlocked passage connecting the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean.

35. Which of the following best describes the 'Offer for Sale' (OFS) mechanism used by the government for disinvestment?

    1. A A method to issue new equity shares to the public to raise fresh capital for the company.
    2. B A mandatory buyback scheme where the government purchases shares from retail investors.
    3. C A process where shares are sold exclusively to institutional investors through a private placement.
    4. D A transparent mechanism to sell shares of listed companies through the stock exchange platform.

36. What is the primary reason cited by the wind turbine industry for the necessity of government-backed export incentives?

    1. A Mandatory requirement to use only domestically produced raw materials
    2. B Lack of cost competitiveness compared to established global manufacturing ecosystems like China
    3. C High cost of land acquisition for wind farms
    4. D Excessive taxation on renewable energy equipment imports

37. In the context of power generation, what does the term 'curtailment' refer to?

    1. A The limitation of output from generating sources by grid operators to maintain grid stability
    2. B The reduction of electricity production costs through subsidies
    3. C The mandatory blending of wind energy with coal-powered electricity
    4. D The process of decommissioning old wind turbines

38. Under the existing constitutional framework of India, the delimitation of constituencies can be initiated only after:

    1. A The Election Commission of India issues a notification without external data
    2. B A simple majority vote in the State Legislative Assembly
    3. C A direct recommendation from the Union Cabinet
    4. D The publication of the latest Census data

39. What is the primary objective of the current strategic transformation within NATO as described in the 2025 U.S. National Security Strategy?

    1. A To replace the nuclear umbrella with conventional long-range precision strike capabilities
    2. B To increase the number of U.S. troops stationed in Germany and Poland
    3. C To enable Europe to assume primary responsibility for its conventional defence
    4. D To dissolve the transatlantic alliance and focus solely on the Indo-Pacific

40. According to the article, what is the core dilemma facing European nations in the context of NATO's 'third phase'?

    1. A The inability to reach a consensus on the definition of Article 5
    2. B The challenge of replacing the American military ecosystem, including intelligence and strategic airlift capabilities
    3. C The refusal of Eastern European members to cooperate with Western European defence initiatives
    4. D The lack of political will to increase defence spending beyond 1% of GDP

41. Which of the following best describes the official position of the Indian government regarding the recent attack on the merchant vessel in the Red Sea?

    1. A India has called for the restoration of free and unimpeded navigation in international waterways in accordance with international law.
    2. B India has requested the complete withdrawal of all merchant vessels from the Arabian Sea region.
    3. C India has demanded immediate military intervention by the United Nations in Yemeni waters.
    4. D India has declared a formal blockade of the Red Sea to protect its commercial interests.

42. Which constitutional amendment reduced the voting age in India from 21 to 18 years?

    1. A 73rd Amendment Act
    2. B 61st Amendment Act
    3. C 42nd Amendment Act
    4. D 86th Amendment Act

43. The Krishnagiri district, often in the news for human-wildlife conflict, shares its borders with which of the following states?

    1. A Karnataka and Kerala
    2. B Kerala and Andhra Pradesh
    3. C Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka
    4. D Telangana and Karnataka

44. 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 ensure the accuracy and integrity of the electoral database by removing dead, duplicate, and shifted entries
    2. B To conduct direct elections for local municipal bodies
    3. C To redraw the boundaries of Assembly constituencies based on population density
    4. D To increase the number of political parties in the state

45. Which of the following best describes the nature of 'Criminal Contempt' under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971?

    1. A Breach of a civil contract involving a judicial officer.
    2. B Publication of matter that scandalizes or lowers the authority of any court.
    3. C Willful disobedience to any judgment or decree of a court.
    4. D Failure to comply with an undertaking given to a court.

46. Which of the following best describes the status of lunar landing sites under the current international legal framework?

    1. A Landing sites are protected as sovereign territory of the nation that performed the landing.
    2. B The Outer Space Treaty does not recognize sovereignty in outer space, leaving sites without specific legal protection.
    3. C Private companies have exclusive property rights over any lunar site where they have successfully landed.
    4. D The UN Action Team on Lunar Activity Consultation (ATLAC) provides binding legal protection for all historic lunar sites.

47. What is the primary scientific value of 'controlled source events' such as the intentional impact of a rocket stage on the Moon?

    1. A They allow for the testing of new lunar mining technologies in real-time.
    2. B They are used to demonstrate the military capabilities of spacefaring nations.
    3. C They provide a way to dispose of hazardous waste from Earth in deep space.
    4. D They enable scientists to study lunar dust, seismic activity, and impact consequences with known mass and velocity data.

48. What is the primary factor identified for the significant increase in ONGC's net profit in the June-ended quarter?

    1. A A reduction in operational and administrative costs
    2. B The discovery of new natural gas reserves
    3. C A substantial increase in the volume of crude oil production
    4. D A significant rise in net crude oil price realisations

49. Which of the following entities has been suggested as a potential intermediary for the government to procure gold from the International Monetary Fund's Trust Fund?

    1. A State Trading Corporation
    2. B National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
    3. C Securities and Exchange Board of India
    4. D Reserve Bank of India

50. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) functions under the administrative control of which of the following?

    1. A Ministry of Home Affairs
    2. B Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
    3. C National Security Council Secretariat
    4. D Ministry of Defence

51. Which of the following organizations is primarily responsible for investigating civil aviation incidents in India?

    1. A Ministry of Home Affairs
    2. B Airports Authority of India
    3. C Directorate General of Civil Aviation
    4. D Bureau of Civil Aviation Security

52. Which ministry is responsible for the implementation of policies related to youth employment and sports development in India?

    1. A Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
    2. B Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
    3. C Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
    4. D Ministry of Human Resource Development

53. The phrase 'Union of States' is mentioned in which Article of the Indian Constitution?

    1. A Article 3
    2. B Article 4
    3. C Article 2
    4. D Article 1

54. Which ministry is the primary body responsible for articulating the official position of the Government of India on matters concerning international relations and foreign policy?

    1. A Ministry of Home Affairs
    2. B Ministry of External Affairs
    3. C Cabinet Secretariat
    4. D Ministry of Defence

55. The T-Fiber initiative, recently in the news, is primarily associated with which of the following objectives?

    1. A Developing rural agricultural supply chains
    2. B Providing high-speed Internet connectivity to government offices
    3. C Regulating private telecommunication service providers
    4. D Establishing a national-level cybersecurity framework

56. According to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) data for the period between June 1 and August 4, what was the cumulative rainfall departure for the state?

    1. A +39%
    2. B -42%
    3. C -29%
    4. D -28%

57. In the context of medico-legal cases involving injuries from projectiles, what is the standard procedure for handling recovered foreign objects?

    1. A Handing over to the police in a sealed container
    2. B Returning them to the patient for personal records
    3. C Disposal as bio-hazardous waste
    4. D Immediate destruction to prevent infection

58. Which of the following best describes the legal nature of 'parole' in the Indian criminal justice system?

    1. A A judicial acquittal based on the duration of incarceration.
    2. B A permanent remission of sentence granted by the President of India.
    3. C A temporary release of a prisoner from jail for specified reasons, subject to conditions.
    4. D An absolute right of every prisoner after serving half of their sentence.

59. Which of the following is the primary responsibility of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?

    1. A Digitising all state-level land records
    2. B Distributing enumeration forms and verifying voter details at the household level
    3. C Conducting the actual polling on election day
    4. D Finalising the delimitation of constituencies