15 August 2026

Quiz — 15 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 best describes the core objective of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)?

   1. A Providing free healthcare services to senior citizens
   2. B Ensuring universal access to banking, credit, and insurance services
   3. C Promoting industrial growth in rural areas through tax incentives
   4. D Providing subsidized food grains to BPL families

2. The 'JAM' trinity, which has been instrumental in India's digital financial transformation, consists of which of the following?

   1. A Jan Dhan, Aadhar, and Micro-insurance
   2. B Jan Dhan, Agriculture, and Market
   3. C Jan Dhan, Ayushman, and Micro-credit
   4. D Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile

3. Which of the following is a key objective of the Utility-Led Aggregation Model (ULA) under the Pradhan Mantri – Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojna?

   1. A Providing free storage batteries to all participating households
   2. B Mandating the installation of solar panels on all government buildings
   3. C Replacing the national grid with decentralized solar micro-grids
   4. D Shifting state expenditure from recurring electricity subsidies to one-time capital investment for rooftop solar

4. Which of the following statements regarding the Census 2027 notification is correct?

   1. A The reference date for the population count is uniform across all states and union territories.
   2. B The 2011 Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC) was conducted under the Census Act, 1948.
   3. C The Census 2027 exercise excludes the collection of digital identity documents like Aadhaar.
   4. D The Census 2027 questionnaire contains 40 questions, including 13 new data fields.

5. Under the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which entry primarily deals with land?

   1. A Entry 18 of the State List
   2. B Entry 1 of the Union List
   3. C Entry 25 of the Concurrent List
   4. D Entry 54 of the Union List

6. What is the primary definition of Floor Area Ratio (FAR) in the context of urban planning?

   1. A The ratio of a building’s total built-up area to the total area of the plot
   2. B The percentage of land reserved for public green spaces in a residential project
   3. C The ratio of commercial floor space to residential floor space in a mixed-use zone
   4. D The ratio of the total population to the total land area of a city

7. According to the RBI's preliminary data for June 2026, what was the primary driver of the widening current account deficit?

   1. A A decrease in foreign direct investment
   2. B A surplus in the capital account
   3. C A widening merchandise trade deficit
   4. D A decline in merchandise exports

8. What is the primary objective of the proposed 'coal exchange' in India?

   1. A To mandate a reduction in domestic coal production
   2. B To replace coal with renewable energy sources by 2030
   3. C To increase the state-run monopoly of Coal India
   4. D To facilitate transparent, market-driven price discovery for coal

9. According to recent government projections, what is the estimated annual coal demand for India by 2030?

   1. A 1.6 billion tonnes
   2. B 2.0 billion tonnes
   3. C 1.0 billion tonnes
   4. D 1.2 billion tonnes

10. What does the term 'greenium' signify in the context of sovereign green bonds?

    1. A The lower yield investors accept for green bonds compared to conventional government securities
    2. B The higher yield offered to compensate for the long-term nature of green projects
    3. C The tax exemption provided on interest earned from green bonds
    4. D The additional subsidy provided by the government to green bond issuers

11. Under the Information Technology Act, 2000, which section provides the legal framework for intermediaries to remove content upon receiving notification of its illegality?

    1. A Section 66A
    2. B Section 79(3)(b)
    3. C Section 80
    4. D Section 69A

12. The proposed 'Green AI/Data Centre' project in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands emphasizes which of the following cooling mechanisms?

    1. A Geothermal heat exchange systems
    2. B Seawater-based or innovative cooling systems
    3. C Freshwater-based evaporative cooling
    4. D Traditional air-conditioning systems

13. In the context of Indian judicial precedents, what was the primary significance of the 'Union of India v K.A. Najeeb' (2021) judgment?

    1. A It established that bail is mandatory for all individuals detained for more than three years.
    2. B It declared the UAPA unconstitutional in its entirety.
    3. C It mandated that all UAPA cases must be transferred to the Supreme Court for bail hearings.
    4. D It held that prolonged incarceration can violate the fundamental right to a speedy trial under Article 21.

14. Under which U.S. legislation were tariffs initially imposed on Chinese goods in 2018 for unfair trade and technology practices?

    1. A Trade Expansion Act of 1962
    2. B Trade Act of 1974
    3. C Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act
    4. D Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act

15. According to the U.S. report 'The Great Transshipment Scam', what is the primary economic driver behind the transshipment of goods?

    1. A Export subsidies
    2. B Currency devaluation
    3. C Preferential trade agreements
    4. D Tariff arbitrage

16. What percentage of India's population is estimated to be under the age of 35 according to recent government data?

    1. A 75%
    2. B 55%
    3. C 45%
    4. D 65%

17. Which of the following components contributed to the softening of WPI inflation in July?

    1. A Services sector
    2. B Manufactured products
    3. C Primary articles
    4. D Fuel and power

18. The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, for which a new indigenous engine is being developed, is a project primarily associated with which of the following?

    1. A Indian Space Research Organisation
    2. B Indian Navy
    3. C Indian Air Force
    4. D Indian Army

19. Which species of willow is primarily used for manufacturing cricket bats in the Kashmir Valley?

    1. A Salix nigra
    2. B Salix babylonica
    3. C Salix caprea
    4. D Salix alba

20. What is the primary objective of the Jammu and Kashmir Willow (Prohibition on Export and Movement) Act, 2000?

    1. A To promote the export of finished bats to international markets
    2. B To curb the smuggling of willow clefts out of the region
    3. C To mandate the use of organic fertilizers in willow plantations
    4. D To regulate the price of willow wood in the domestic market

21. Which section of the Advocates Act, 1961, provides the Bar Council of India with the power to issue directions to State Bar Councils?

    1. A Section 24A
    2. B Section 6(1)(a)
    3. C Section 24
    4. D Section 48B

22. According to the Supreme Court judgment in Indian Council of Legal Aid & Advice v. Bar Council of India (1995), what is the primary limitation on the BCI's rule-making power?

    1. A It cannot create additional disqualifications for enrolment not specified in the Advocates Act.
    2. B It cannot hold its own elections for office bearers.
    3. C It cannot regulate the curriculum of law universities.
    4. D It cannot communicate directly with State Bar Councils.

23. Under which provision of the Code of Criminal Procedure is prior government sanction required for a court to take cognisance of offences related to promoting disharmony and hate speech?

    1. A Section 353
    2. B Section 202
    3. C Section 196
    4. D Section 144

24. The guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court in the D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal case primarily pertain to:

    1. A Regulation of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act
    2. B Protection of tribal land rights in scheduled areas
    3. C Environmental impact assessment of mining projects
    4. D Rights of arrested persons and police procedures during arrest

25. Under the Indian Constitution, the extent of the executive power of the State is primarily defined by which of the following articles?

    1. A Article 154
    2. B Article 256
    3. C Article 166
    4. D Article 162

26. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime chokepoint connecting which of the following bodies of water?

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

27. As of the reporting week ended August 7, what was the total value of India's foreign exchange reserves?

    1. A $714.136 billion
    2. B $692.866 billion
    3. C $707.002 billion
    4. D $728.494 billion

28. Which Ministry is responsible for the regulation of advertisement duration caps on television channels in India?

    1. A Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
    2. B Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
    3. C Ministry of Commerce and Industry
    4. D Ministry of Communications

29. Which of the following best describes the objective of 'Operation Global-Hunt' mentioned in recent reports?

    1. A To regulate the pharmaceutical industry for controlled substances
    2. B To provide financial aid to victims of drug abuse
    3. C To conduct awareness campaigns against synthetic drug usage
    4. D To track and apprehend drug traffickers hiding in foreign jurisdictions

30. The Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement, often cited in the context of security in Manipur, involves which of the following?

    1. A The Ministry of External Affairs and neighboring countries
    2. B The Indian Army and foreign insurgent groups
    3. C Armed groups, the State Government, and the Central Government
    4. D Armed groups and the State Government only

31. Which of the following fundamental rights is most directly invoked when discussing the freedom to refrain from participating in state-mandated patriotic expressions based on religious belief?

    1. A Article 25: Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion
    2. B Article 29: Protection of interests of minorities
    3. C Article 19: Freedom of speech and expression
    4. D Article 14: Equality before law

32. Under the current reservation policy in Jammu and Kashmir mentioned in the report, what is the percentage allocated to the open category?

    1. A 50%
    2. B 30%
    3. C 60%
    4. D 40%

33. Partition Horrors Remembrance Day is observed in India to commemorate the victims and the displacement caused by the events of:

    1. A 1947
    2. B 1945
    3. C 1948
    4. D 1946

34. Which of the following agencies are typically involved in disaster response operations in India during large-scale industrial accidents?

    1. A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
    2. B State Disaster Response Force (SDRF)
    3. C Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
    4. D All of the above

35. Which of the following features in the Pixel 11 series utilizes on-device Gemini models to extract stills from video bursts?

    1. A Magic Capture
    2. B Rambler
    3. C Camera Looks
    4. D HiLight

36. The Pixel Watch 5 provides trend summaries for which of the following health metrics based on passive data?

    1. A Blood pressure and insulin resistance
    2. B Blood glucose levels and heart rate variability
    3. C Oxygen saturation and sleep cycles
    4. D Body temperature and hydration levels

37. The Strait of Hormuz connects which of the following bodies of water?

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

38. Which of the following best describes the 'Official Action Indicated' (OAI) status issued by the U.S. FDA to a manufacturing facility?

    1. A A certification that the facility meets all international Good Manufacturing Practices.
    2. B A classification indicating that regulatory or administrative actions are necessary based on inspection findings.
    3. C A voluntary closure notice issued by the company to upgrade its infrastructure.
    4. D A final clearance granted after all previous inspection observations have been resolved.

39. Ashok Leyland reported its consolidated net profit for the first quarter ended June 30. What was the percentage increase in net profit compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year?

    1. A 1.2%
    2. B 2.1%
    3. C 1.8%
    4. D 1.5%

40. Which authority is responsible for the regulatory oversight of public charitable trusts in the state of Maharashtra?

    1. A Ministry of Corporate Affairs
    2. B Registrar of Companies
    3. C Charity Commissioner
    4. D Securities and Exchange Board of India

41. In the context of the internal security of Jammu and Kashmir, what is the primary mandate of the Village Defence Guards (VDGs)?

    1. A To provide local security and combat terrorist activities in their respective areas
    2. B To conduct counter-insurgency operations alongside the Indian Army
    3. C To manage border infrastructure development in remote districts
    4. D To assist the Election Commission in conducting peaceful polling

42. Which of the following statements regarding the Teej festival is correct?

    1. A Haryali Teej is celebrated during the dark fortnight of the month of Shravan.
    2. B Hartalika Teej commemorates the wedding of Lord Siva and Goddess Parvati.
    3. C The festival is exclusively celebrated in the southern states of India.
    4. D Kajri Teej is also known as Badi Teej and occurs 15 days after Haryali Teej.

43. In the context of aircraft flight control, what is the primary function of the 'elevator' surface?

    1. A Managing the aircraft's yaw movement
    2. B Regulating the speed of the engines
    3. C Controlling the aircraft's roll or tilt
    4. D Controlling the aircraft's nose-up and nose-down pitch

44. The pilot project for the procurement of cow urine, as a means to support rural economy and organic farming, was recently initiated in which district of Uttar Pradesh?

    1. A Bulandshahr
    2. B Gorakhpur
    3. C Lucknow
    4. D Varanasi

45. Which of the following bodies is primarily responsible for the recruitment of candidates to various subordinate services in the state of Uttar Pradesh?

    1. A National Recruitment Agency
    2. B Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission
    3. C Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Service Selection Commission
    4. D Staff Selection Commission

46. The standardization of pay for Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) primarily addresses which of the following issues?

    1. A Compliance with the 7th Central Pay Commission recommendations for private contractors
    2. B Reduction of the total number of administrative zones in the corporation
    3. C Implementation of a new national minimum wage policy
    4. D Elimination of inter-zonal pay disparities within the civic body

47. Which of the following forces received the maximum number of gallantry and service medals among the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day?

    1. A Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
    2. B Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
    3. C Border Security Force (BSF)
    4. D Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)