10 August 2026

Quiz — 10 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 body is responsible for coordinating operational issues between the proposed theatre commands and the three Service headquarters?

   1. A HQ Integrated Defence Staff (IDS)
   2. B The Ministry of Defence
   3. C The National Security Council
   4. D The Chief of Defence Staff

2. Under the proposed Shield Bill, 2025, what is the mandatory timeframe for an intermediary to remove content involving child sexual material after it has been reported?

   1. A 24 hours
   2. B 12 hours
   3. C 36 hours
   4. D 48 hours

3. Which section of the Information Technology Act, 2000, is cited for the potential blocking of intermediaries that fail to comply with safety regulations?

   1. A Section 69A
   2. B Section 79
   3. C Section 72A
   4. D Section 66A

4. Under the current constitutional framework, which of the following triggers the process of delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies?

   1. A A mandatory decadal review by the Election Commission
   2. B The publication of data from the first Census conducted after 2026
   3. C A recommendation by the Finance Commission
   4. D A simple majority vote in the Lok Sabha every 15 years

5. What is the primary objective of the practice known as 'cracking' in the context of electoral boundary delimitation?

   1. A To concentrate opposition voters into a single constituency to minimize their influence elsewhere
   2. B To ensure that every constituency has an equal number of voters
   3. C To spread opposition voters thinly across multiple constituencies to prevent them from winning a majority
   4. D To reserve specific seats for marginalized communities

6. Under the revised PFRDA rules for the National Pension System (NPS), what is the maximum corpus limit for which a subscriber can withdraw the entire amount without purchasing an annuity?

   1. A ₹8 lakh
   2. B ₹5 lakh
   3. C ₹10 lakh
   4. D ₹2 lakh

7. What is a primary tax-related advantage of purchasing an annuity through the National Pension System (NPS) compared to purchasing it outside the system?

   1. A Exemption from Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the purchase
   2. B Higher interest rates guaranteed by the government
   3. C Exemption from Income Tax on the pension received
   4. D Direct deduction from the subscriber's taxable salary

8. Under which section of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, can a State Government complain to the Union Government regarding a river water dispute?

   1. A Section 2
   2. B Section 10
   3. C Section 3
   4. D Section 5

9. Zonal Councils in India are established under which of the following?

   1. A The Seventh Schedule of the Constitution
   2. B The Inter-State Council Act, 1990
   3. C Article 263 of the Constitution
   4. D The States Reorganisation Act, 1956

10. According to the 16th Finance Commission report, what percentage of State expenditure is typically tied up in committed liabilities such as interest payments, pensions, and salaries?

    1. A Approximately 55%
    2. B Approximately 25%
    3. C Approximately 33%
    4. D Approximately 44%

11. The Nurses Registration and Tracking System (NRTS) is an initiative of which of the following bodies?

    1. A National Medical Commission and Ministry of Electronics and IT
    2. B Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and NITI Aayog
    3. C Indian Nursing Council and World Health Organization
    4. D Indian Nursing Council and National Informatics Centre

12. Which of the following best describes the primary objective of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) in India?

    1. A To mandate the registration of all religious institutions with the Ministry of External Affairs
    2. B To promote foreign direct investment in the social sector
    3. C To provide tax exemptions for all non-governmental organisations
    4. D To regulate the acceptance and utilisation of foreign contribution by certain individuals or associations

13. Which of the following technologies was specifically mentioned as being used to investigate the inaccessible crown of the 2024 Wayanad landslide?

    1. A Seismic refraction tomography
    2. B Satellite-based Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)
    3. C Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
    4. D Drone-mounted LiDAR

14. Which authority is responsible for notifying the questionnaire and conducting the Census of India?

    1. A Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India
    2. B Ministry of Home Affairs
    3. C National Statistical Office
    4. D NITI Aayog

15. Why is the Census enumeration in Ladakh being conducted using paper schedules instead of the standard digital mobile application?

    1. A Lack of internet connectivity in the region
    2. B Incompatibility of the mobile app with local languages
    3. C Preference of the local administration for traditional methods
    4. D Security concerns regarding the geo-tagging of defence structures

16. Which Article of the Indian Constitution provides the fundamental right to peaceful assembly?

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

17. Which of the following tools is primarily associated with streamlining workflows and improving accuracy in modern civil engineering project planning?

    1. A Earned Value Analysis
    2. B FIDIC contract standards
    3. C Building Information Modelling (BIM)
    4. D Critical Path Methodology

18. According to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation data cited, what is the primary challenge identified in the execution of central sector infrastructure projects?

    1. A Lack of skilled labor
    2. B Absence of international funding
    3. C Technological obsolescence
    4. D Cost overruns and project delays

19. Which of the following tools is recommended for identifying internal heat recovery opportunities in industrial processes before electrification?

    1. A Life cycle assessment
    2. B Environmental impact assessment
    3. C Carbon footprinting
    4. D Pinch analysis

20. What is the primary purpose of thermal energy storage in the context of industrial heat electrification?

    1. A To act as a thermal buffer to manage renewable energy variability
    2. B To eliminate the need for engineering assessments
    3. C To increase the cost of electricity for industrial consumers
    4. D To replace the need for electric boilers entirely

21. Which of the following countries are signatories to the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA) signed in August 2026?

    1. A Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan
    2. B Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Pakistan
    3. C Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Türkiye
    4. D Türkiye, Pakistan, and Qatar

22. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) is responsible for the appointment of which of the following?

    1. A Chief Justice of India
    2. B Director of the Enforcement Directorate
    3. C Governor of a State
    4. D Speaker of the Lok Sabha

23. Under which legislation has the fresh investigation into the R.G. Kar Medical College case been initiated?

    1. A The Indian Penal Code, 1860
    2. B The Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952
    3. C The Disaster Management Act, 2005
    4. D The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

24. Which of the following best describes the purpose of the Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDAs) in the context of Indian governance?

    1. A To provide direct financial subsidies to tribal households without any focus on infrastructure.
    2. B To act as a judicial body for settling land disputes between tribal and non-tribal communities.
    3. C To exclusively manage forest land rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
    4. D To implement comprehensive development programs focusing on infrastructure, livelihoods, and skill development for tribal populations.

25. According to the 2011 Census, approximately what percentage of the population in Jharkhand belongs to Scheduled Tribes?

    1. A 35%
    2. B 15%
    3. C 26%
    4. D 42%

26. According to the provided text, what is the primary objective of 'AI-ready' campuses in the context of higher education?

    1. A To promote guided use of AI while emphasizing verification, ethics, and human judgment.
    2. B To mandate that all student submissions must be generated exclusively by AI tools.
    3. C To ban the use of AI tools to protect the sanctity of traditional examination methods.
    4. D To completely replace human faculty with AI-driven automated assessment systems.

27. According to the Internet in India Report 2025, what is the daily time range spent by the 15-24 age group on digital platforms?

    1. A 1 to 3 hours
    2. B 8 to 10 hours
    3. C 5 to 9 hours
    4. D 3 to 7 hours

28. Which of the following countries is currently negotiating with Iran regarding the definition of new shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz?

    1. A Oman
    2. B United Arab Emirates
    3. C Qatar
    4. D Saudi Arabia

29. The 'NEERI-ZAR' water purification system, recently deployed in Assam, is characterized by which of the following features?

    1. A It requires high-voltage electricity for microbial filtration.
    2. B It relies on chemical additives to remove turbidity from water.
    3. C It is a gravity-based system that requires no electricity to operate.
    4. D It is designed exclusively for industrial-scale water desalination.

30. Which body is responsible for the recommendation of Chief Justices of High Courts in India?

    1. A The High Court Selection Committee
    2. B The Supreme Court Collegium
    3. C The President of India in consultation with the Governor
    4. D The Union Ministry of Law and Justice

31. Which of the following writs is specifically designed to protect an individual from unlawful detention by the state?

    1. A Mandamus
    2. B Quo Warranto
    3. C Habeas Corpus
    4. D Certiorari

32. What is the primary objective of the 'TG-VEER' portal recently launched by the Telangana government?

    1. A To provide online training modules for police personnel on counter-insurgency tactics
    2. B To provide a digital platform for grievance redressal for families of police martyrs
    3. C To monitor the real-time deployment of police forces in sensitive regions
    4. D To facilitate recruitment of new police personnel in naxal-affected districts

33. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) was established primarily to:

    1. A Investigate crimes related to the violation of the Explosives Act only
    2. B Monitor the internal security of state police forces
    3. C Combat terror-related offences and ensure national security
    4. D Regulate the interstate trade of hazardous industrial chemicals

34. What is the primary function of a 'mule account' in the context of cybercrime?

    1. A To receive, transfer, or withdraw money obtained through fraudulent activities.
    2. B To facilitate legal international remittances for small businesses.
    3. C To store encrypted data for government intelligence agencies.
    4. D To provide secure digital identity verification for banking customers.

35. The 'Pratibimb' portal, used for profiling cyber criminals, is associated with which of the following organizations?

    1. A Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C)
    2. B Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
    3. C Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
    4. D Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)

36. Which High Court in India currently holds the record for the highest number of women judges?

    1. A Bombay High Court
    2. B Delhi High Court
    3. C Allahabad High Court
    4. D Madras High Court

37. The 'Beyond Labels' textbook series, recently in the news, is designed to support which of the following groups?

    1. A Neurodivergent children including those with autism and Down syndrome
    2. B Gifted children in mainstream schools
    3. C Adults with physical disabilities in rural areas
    4. D Students preparing for competitive vocational examinations

38. Which of the following technologies are highlighted as key components of 'smart tourism ecosystems' in the context of modern travel and hospitality?

    1. A Legacy mainframe systems and manual data entry
    2. B Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, and Big Data
    3. C Traditional front-office management and paper-based ticketing
    4. D Blockchain, Quantum Computing, and Satellite Radio

39. According to the concept of 'attention residue' mentioned in the context of cognitive psychology, how long does it typically take to recover deep focus after a single interruption?

    1. A 10 minutes
    2. B 23 minutes
    3. C 45 minutes
    4. D 5 minutes

40. What is the primary function of DNA methylation in the context of gene expression?

    1. A It facilitates the rapid mutation of genes during meiosis.
    2. B It permanently alters the underlying DNA sequence of the gene.
    3. C It accelerates the translation of mRNA into proteins.
    4. D It typically silences gene expression by attaching a methyl group to cytosine.

41. Which phenomenon describes the process where the methylation status of one gene copy is transferred to the other copy, persisting across generations?

    1. A Nanopore sequencing
    2. B Paramutation
    3. C Genetic mutation
    4. D Genomic imprinting

42. Which of the following particles is the force carrier for the strong nuclear force?

    1. A Gluon
    2. B Neutrino
    3. C Boson
    4. D Photon

43. What distinguishes gluons from photons in the context of fundamental forces?

    1. A Gluons do not exist in composite particles.
    2. B Photons are responsible for the strong force while gluons mediate electromagnetism.
    3. C Gluons carry a charge that allows them to attract each other.
    4. D Gluons have mass while photons are massless.

44. Which of the following best describes the primary distinction between language proficiency and the study of literature as discussed in the context of higher education?

    1. A Literature is primarily concerned with employability skills, while language proficiency is concerned with cultural nuances.
    2. B Language proficiency focuses on emotional quotient, while literature focuses on grammatical syntax.
    3. C There is no functional distinction between language proficiency and the study of literature in academic settings.
    4. D Language proficiency deals with structural aspects like grammar and syntax, while literature focuses on ideas, experiences, and critical analysis.

45. Which Canadian province recently declared a state of emergency due to widespread wildfires?

    1. A Ontario
    2. B British Columbia
    3. C Quebec
    4. D Alberta

46. Which air defense system is currently identified as the sole weapon in Ukraine's arsenal capable of intercepting ballistic missiles?

    1. A S-400 Triumf
    2. B Patriot system
    3. C Iron Dome
    4. D NASAMS

47. Which of the following best describes the primary advantage of Multi-asset allocation funds (MAFs) as discussed in the context of portfolio management?

    1. A They are specifically designed for corporate treasury parking.
    2. B They provide automatic rebalancing across asset classes without triggering immediate tax liabilities for the investor.
    3. C They guarantee higher returns than pure equity funds.
    4. D They allow investors to avoid capital gains tax on all redemptions.

48. What is the primary reason for the decline in inflows into Equity Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS) in recent periods?

    1. A Regulatory caps placed by SEBI on tax-saving mutual funds.
    2. B High management fees charged by AMCs for ELSS products.
    3. C The shift of taxpayers to the New Tax Regime, reducing the relevance of Section 123 deductions.
    4. D Poor performance of underlying equity assets.

49. Based on the report, which of the following locations recorded a decline in water levels?

    1. A Konakarai
    2. B Trichinopoly bridge
    3. C Upper Anicut
    4. D Dhanagiri

50. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) operates under the administrative control of which of the following ministries?

    1. A Ministry of Finance
    2. B Ministry of Home Affairs
    3. C Ministry of Law and Justice
    4. D Ministry of Corporate Affairs

51. The Varkari tradition is primarily associated with the worship of which deity?

    1. A Lord Krishna (as Dwarkadhish)
    2. B Lord Shiva
    3. C Lord Panduranga
    4. D Lord Rama

52. Which of the following landmark Supreme Court judgments laid down specific guidelines to be followed by the police during arrest and detention to prevent custodial violence?

    1. A Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala
    2. B D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal
    3. C Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India
    4. D Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan

53. Which of the following international bodies is primarily responsible for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships?

    1. A International Maritime Organization (IMO)
    2. B World Shipping Council (WSC)
    3. C United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
    4. D International Labour Organization (ILO)

54. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was enacted in which year?

    1. A 2012
    2. B 2015
    3. C 2010
    4. D 2005

55. In the context of wildlife management in India, which of the following measures is primarily used by the Forest Department to identify a specific predator involved in a human-wildlife conflict?

    1. A Public consultation and local protest mediation
    2. B Mandatory relocation of all wildlife in the forest range
    3. C Installation of camera traps and drone surveillance
    4. D Immediate culling of the suspected animal

56. When was the Tamil Thai Vazhthu officially recognized as the State Song of Tamil Nadu?

    1. A January 28, 2021
    2. B July 9, 2021
    3. C December 12, 2021
    4. D November 23, 1970

57. Which of the following best describes the composition of the reconstituted Tamil Nadu State Law Commission?

    1. A It includes a mix of former High Court judges, retired bureaucrats, and legal experts.
    2. B It is an elected body with members representing various districts of the state.
    3. C It consists exclusively of retired Supreme Court judges.
    4. D It is composed entirely of serving government officials from the Law Department.

58. Which department is responsible for the administration and regulation of temples and their properties in Tamil Nadu?

    1. A State Revenue Board
    2. B Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department
    3. C Ministry of Culture
    4. D Archaeological Survey of India

59. Which of the following best describes the primary constraint faced by small-scale salt producers on state-owned land in Tamil Nadu as per recent reports?

    1. A Severe water scarcity affecting saline concentration
    2. B High taxation on the export of raw salt
    3. C Delayed renewal of land lease licences by local authorities
    4. D Lack of access to modern salt processing technology

60. The theme 'Save Limbs – To Save Life' is primarily associated with raising awareness about which category of health issues?

    1. A Neurological disorders
    2. B Cardiovascular fitness
    3. C Respiratory ailments
    4. D Vascular diseases

61. Which of the following factors contributed to the traffic congestion and safety concerns during the Velachery incident?

    1. A Advance traffic advisories issued by the municipal corporation
    2. B Strict enforcement of crowd limits by the mall management
    3. C Lack of prior coordination with traffic police for a large-scale event
    4. D The event being held on an open ground with adequate parking

62. Which of the following measures is primarily aimed at mitigating urban flooding during the monsoon season as per the recent Greater Chennai Corporation directives?

    1. A Construction of gig worker resting facilities
    2. B Restoration of ponds and desilting of stormwater drains
    3. C Development of modern bus shelters
    4. D Expansion of urban primary health centres

63. Which of the following is a primary factor cited for the delays in the tunneling operations of the Chennai Metro Phase II project?

    1. A Lack of funding from the central government
    2. B Cancellation of tenders for underground stations and utility relocation issues
    3. C Shortage of skilled labor for operating TBMs
    4. D Geological instability across all three corridors

64. The national women's helpline number, which serves as a critical resource for women's safety in India, is:

    1. A 1091
    2. B 181
    3. C 1098
    4. D 112

65. The Jazan oil facility, which was recently targeted by drone strikes, is located in which country?

    1. A Oman
    2. B United Arab Emirates
    3. C Saudi Arabia
    4. D Yemen

66. Which of the following ports is currently under the control of the internationally recognised Yemeni government and serves as an alternative to the Houthi-held port of Hodeida?

    1. A Aden
    2. B Salalah
    3. C Mukalla
    4. D Mokha