17 August 2026

Quiz — 17 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 constitutional amendment extended the freeze on the number of Lok Sabha seats based on the 1971 census until the year 2026?

   1. A 84th Amendment Act
   2. B 106th Amendment Act
   3. C 101st Amendment Act
   4. D 42nd Amendment Act

2. What is the primary constitutional principle cited in Article 81(2) regarding the distribution of Lok Sabha seats among States?

   1. A Proportional representation based on the most recent census data
   2. B Reservation of seats based on the historical contribution of a State to the Union
   3. C The ratio between the number of seats and the population of a State shall be as far as practicable the same for all States
   4. D Equal number of seats for every State regardless of population

3. Which of the following best describes the relationship between the executive and the legislature in a parliamentary system as discussed in the context of electoral cycles?

   1. A The legislature is dissolved automatically at the end of every fiscal year.
   2. B The executive is elected for a fixed, unalterable term independent of the legislature.
   3. C The executive derives legitimacy from and remains continuously accountable to the legislative majority.
   4. D The executive is immune to motions of no confidence during its term.

4. What is the primary function of the Model Code of Conduct during the election period?

   1. A To regulate the total amount of public funds spent by the Election Commission.
   2. B To mandate the dissolution of state assemblies whenever the national parliament is dissolved.
   3. C To prevent the ruling executive from making opportunistic financial announcements or politically-motivated transfers.
   4. D To freeze all government administrative activities and public works.

5. According to the AISHE 2023-24 report, what has been the trend in the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) for the 18-23 age group since 2014-15?

   1. A It doubled from 15 to 30
   2. B It decreased from 30 to 23.7
   3. C It remained stagnant at 23.7
   4. D It increased from 23.7 to 30

6. Which of the following mechanisms is specifically designed to make academic and vocational learning portable across different institutions in India?

   1. A University-Industry Regional Cluster
   2. B All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE)
   3. C National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF)
   4. D Academic Bank of Credits

7. According to the India Time Use Survey (2025), what is the primary reason cited by women for remaining outside the labour force?

   1. A Childcare and domestic responsibilities
   2. B Preference for self-employment
   3. C Lack of safe transport infrastructure
   4. D Lack of educational qualifications

8. Which of the following activities shows the highest gender disparity in participation among adolescents aged 15-17 years?

   1. A Cooking
   2. B Shopping
   3. C Farm work
   4. D School attendance

9. Which of the following statements regarding the Census 2027 enumeration process is correct?

   1. A Identity documents like Aadhaar and passport are mandatory for all respondents to provide.
   2. B The Census 2027 questionnaire contains the same number of questions as the 2011 Census.
   3. C The Census 2027 follows an extended de facto pattern of counting individuals present at a location.
   4. D Self-enumeration is available to all citizens across India via a web portal.

10. What is the percentage of constable vacancies reserved for ex-Agniveers in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs)?

    1. A 10%
    2. B 25%
    3. C 75%
    4. D 50%

11. Which of the following exemptions are granted to ex-Agniveers during the recruitment process for CAPFs?

    1. A Exemption from age limit only
    2. B Exemption from medical examination only
    3. C Exemption from background verification
    4. D Exemption from written exams, physical standard tests, and physical efficiency tests

12. With reference to the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), what is the primary objective of the 'Scan and Share' service?

    1. A To facilitate the direct transfer of medicine to patients' homes
    2. B To provide direct financial subsidies for surgical procedures
    3. C To automate the diagnosis of chronic diseases using AI
    4. D To reduce outpatient registration wait times at hospitals

13. The government's recent proposal to provide free online coaching for competitive examinations is primarily aimed at:

    1. A Privatizing the coaching industry through public-private partnerships
    2. B Replacing traditional classroom-based education systems entirely
    3. C Mandating participation for all government job aspirants
    4. D Reducing the burden on families and improving access to opportunities

14. Which of the following countries are members of the I2U2 grouping?

    1. A India, Israel, UAE, USA
    2. B India, Iran, UAE, USA
    3. C India, Iraq, UAE, USA
    4. D India, Israel, Saudi Arabia, USA

15. Which of the following best describes the 'rat-hole' mining technique as practiced in Meghalaya?

    1. A Hydraulic mining using high-pressure water jets to dislodge coal from mountain slopes.
    2. B Open-cast mining using heavy machinery to extract coal from surface seams.
    3. C Horizontal tunnels branching out from a deep pit, large enough for an adult to crawl through.
    4. D Deep shaft mining involving vertical tunnels reaching several kilometers underground.

16. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposed a ban on rat-hole coal mining in Meghalaya in which year?

    1. A 2014
    2. B 2016
    3. C 2010
    4. D 2012

17. Which of the following is a primary demand raised by the farmers in the recent 'Kisan Bachao Padyatra'?

    1. A Complete privatization of agricultural land
    2. B Legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP)
    3. C Mandatory export of all food grains
    4. D Removal of all agricultural subsidies

18. The Kalasa Nala Diversion Scheme, often in the news, is associated with the basin of which of the following rivers?

    1. A Krishna
    2. B Cauvery
    3. C Tungabhadra
    4. D Mahadayi

19. Which body is primarily responsible for issuing directions regarding water-sharing arrangements during periods of distress in the Cauvery basin?

    1. A Cauvery Water Management Authority
    2. B Inter-State Council
    3. C National Water Development Agency
    4. D Central Water Commission

20. Which of the following statements regarding Hexavalent Chromium (Chromium VI) is correct?

    1. A It is a naturally occurring, non-reactive metal found in all soil types.
    2. B It is colourless and odourless, making it impossible to detect in groundwater.
    3. C It is classified as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
    4. D It is primarily used in the agricultural sector as a nitrogen-fixing fertilizer.

21. Which of the following principles is explicitly mentioned as a guiding pillar of Bangladesh's foreign policy in the context of its relations with neighbors?

    1. A Mandatory participation in regional security pacts
    2. B Economic integration through a common currency
    3. C Non-interference in internal affairs
    4. D Unilateral military alignment

22. Which of the following best describes the 'DBFT' model mentioned in the context of urban redevelopment in Andhra Pradesh?

    1. A Design, Build, Finance and Transfer
    2. B Design, Budget, Finance and Tender
    3. C Develop, Build, Fund and Transform
    4. D Direct, Build, Finance and Transfer

23. What is the primary objective of the 'Reuse of Treated Used Water Policy, 2026' introduced in Andhra Pradesh?

    1. A To increase the cost of freshwater supply
    2. B To promote a circular water economy and reduce freshwater dependence
    3. C To mandate the use of treated water for agricultural purposes only
    4. D To replace all existing sewage treatment plants with new technology

24. The 'Special Intensive Revision' (SIR) of electoral rolls is an initiative primarily associated with which of the following constitutional bodies?

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

25. Which organization conducted the environmental impact assessment regarding the sinking of the vessel MSC Elsa 3?

    1. A National Institute of Oceanography (NIO)
    2. B Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI)
    3. C Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS)
    4. D National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM)

26. The UGC-NET examination is conducted for which of the following purposes?

    1. A Recruitment of Assistant Professors only
    2. B Recruitment of Assistant Professors, Junior Research Fellowships, and Ph.D. admissions
    3. C Junior Research Fellowships and Ph.D. admissions only
    4. D Direct recruitment to the Indian Administrative Service

27. Which of the following international competitions is primarily recognized for testing algorithmic reasoning and mathematical intuition in the context of identifying technical talent?

    1. A International Mathematics Competition (IMC)
    2. B International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC)
    3. C International Physics Olympiad (IPhO)
    4. D International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)

28. Which of the following are considered the three founding pillars of modern astronomy research?

    1. A Orbital mechanics, stellar evolution, and spectroscopy
    2. B Observations, computation, and data analysis
    3. C Telescope manufacturing, satellite launching, and space policy
    4. D Theoretical physics, quantum mechanics, and solid-state physics

29. Which of the following best describes the primary objective of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 regarding academic pathways?

    1. A Mandatory vocational training for all school students
    2. B Standardization of all undergraduate curricula
    3. C Encouragement of multidisciplinary learning and flexibility
    4. D Centralization of university admissions processes

30. Which of the following best describes the primary objective of Anthropic's new watermarking policy for Claude AI?

    1. A To comply with the transparency requirements of the EU AI Act
    2. B To block access to AI models via third-party cloud providers
    3. C To prevent users from copying and pasting AI-generated text
    4. D To eliminate the need for human editors in professional workflows

31. Which body is primarily responsible for investigating serious aircraft incidents in India, as mentioned in the context of the Air India AI 2379 incident?

    1. A Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA)
    2. B Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB)
    3. C Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
    4. D Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS)

32. According to the DGCA Medical Circular No. 02 of 2021, what is the primary concern regarding the use of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs by flight crew?

    1. A Violation of international travel laws
    2. B Increased fuel consumption during flight
    3. C Financial implications for airlines
    4. D Impairment of cognitive and psychomotor skills

33. In the context of Hindu philosophy, what is the primary distinction between Saguna Upasana and Nirguna Upasana?

    1. A Saguna refers to devotion with attributes or personal form, while Nirguna refers to formless devotion without attributes.
    2. B Saguna refers to the worship of nature, while Nirguna refers to the worship of human idols.
    3. C Saguna refers to the path of knowledge (Jnana), while Nirguna refers to the path of action (Karma).
    4. D Saguna refers to the worship of the soul, while Nirguna refers to the worship of the physical body.

34. Under which legal framework does the state government typically regulate the advertisement and promotion of tobacco and related products to protect public health?

    1. A The Indian Penal Code, 1860
    2. B The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
    3. C The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003
    4. D The Consumer Protection Act, 2019

35. The 'Gau Mitra' training program, recently in the news, is primarily aimed at:

    1. A Exporting cattle products to international markets
    2. B Sensitizing the younger generation towards cow protection and its socio-economic significance
    3. C Increasing milk production through advanced veterinary technology
    4. D Providing direct financial subsidies to dairy farmers

36. What is the primary function of the Bihar Medical Services and Infrastructure Corporation Limited (BMSICL) as implied by its involvement in hospital procurement?

    1. A Conducting clinical research on medical waste management
    2. B Managing infrastructure and medical supply procurement for state hospitals
    3. C Regulating private medical practitioners in the state
    4. D Formulating national health policy

37. The Kosasthalaiyar river, recently in the news for mass fish deaths, is located in which state?

    1. A Karnataka
    2. B Andhra Pradesh
    3. C Tamil Nadu
    4. D Kerala

38. Which of the following districts are identified as major apple-exporting hubs in South Kashmir?

    1. A Baramulla, Kupwara, and Bandipora
    2. B Shopian, Kulgam, and Pulwama
    3. C Srinagar, Budgam, and Ganderbal
    4. D Anantnag, Leh, and Kargil

39. What is the primary purpose of the 'claims and objections' period during the revision of electoral rolls by the Election Commission?

    1. A To challenge the constitutional validity of the Representation of the People Act
    2. B To enable electors to rectify errors or seek inclusion in the final electoral roll
    3. C To allow political parties to campaign in specific constituencies
    4. D To audit the financial expenditure of the Chief Electoral Officer's office

40. The concept of 'Antyodaya', often cited in the context of social welfare schemes, refers to:

    1. A The promotion of large-scale industrial urbanization
    2. B The digitization of all government cabinet records
    3. C The provision of free education to urban slum dwellers
    4. D The upliftment of the person standing at the last mile of society

41. What is the primary focus of the European Girls’ Olympiad in Informatics (EGOI)?

    1. A Cybersecurity policy and network administration
    2. B Algorithmic problem-solving and logical thinking
    3. C Software development for commercial applications
    4. D Hardware engineering and circuit design

42. Which of the following is an eligibility criterion for the Nikon Scholarship?

    1. A Enrolment in a doctoral programme
    2. B Minimum 60% aggregate in graduation
    3. C Minimum age of 21 years
    4. D Annual parental income not exceeding ₹600,000

43. The IIRS External Student Internship Programme requires applicants to have a degree in which field?

    1. A Science or Technology
    2. B Arts or Humanities
    3. C Law or Public Policy
    4. D Commerce or Management

44. Which of the following best describes the ecological significance of the Hara mangrove forests in the Persian Gulf?

    1. A They serve as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and act as a vital nursery for marine life.
    2. B They are artificial structures designed to facilitate deep-sea shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
    3. C They are primarily terrestrial forests that prevent desertification in the region.
    4. D They are the only known habitat for the great stone-curlew in the Southern Hemisphere.

45. The 'Avicennia marina' species, found in the Hara forests, is notable for which adaptation?

    1. A A unique capacity to fix nitrogen directly from the atmosphere without soil.
    2. B A rapid growth rate that makes it the primary source of timber in the Persian Gulf.
    3. C Ability to thrive in high-altitude freshwater environments.
    4. D A specialized root filtration system that allows survival in saline conditions.

46. Which of the following best describes the genetic cause of Friedreich’s ataxia?

    1. A A point mutation in the mitochondrial DNA sequence
    2. B A deletion of the FXN gene leading to total protein absence
    3. C An expansion of DNA repeats in the intron of the FXN gene
    4. D An over-expression of the frataxin protein in the nucleus

47. What is the primary function of the frataxin protein in human cells?

    1. A Supporting mitochondrial function and ATP production
    2. B Regulating DNA replication in the nucleus
    3. C Facilitating protein synthesis in the ribosomes
    4. D Maintaining the structural integrity of the cell membrane

48. Which of the following best describes the recent seismic event in eastern Indonesia as reported?

    1. A A magnitude-7.7 earthquake resulting in at least 53 deaths
    2. B A magnitude-6.5 earthquake with 10,000 evacuations
    3. C A magnitude-5.9 earthquake with no reported casualties
    4. D A magnitude-8.2 earthquake causing widespread tsunamis

49. With reference to Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), consider the following statements: 1. They allow investors to earn rental income without buying physical property. 2. They are immune to stock market volatility. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

50. Under the guidelines of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), which of the following is true regarding the renewal of standard hospitalisation insurance policies?

    1. A Insurers can refuse renewal if the policyholder develops a chronic health condition after the policy inception.
    2. B Lifelong renewability is mandatory, provided the policyholder has paid premiums on time and there is no evidence of fraud.
    3. C Insurers can hike premiums based on the number of claims filed by the policyholder.
    4. D Policyholders must undergo fresh medical tests every three years to remain eligible for renewal.

51. According to the report, since which year have records been maintained for drought conditions in the U.K.?

    1. A 1727
    2. B 1700
    3. C 1927
    4. D 1827

52. The Swadeshi Movement in Bengal was significantly influenced by which international event, according to historical analysis?

    1. A The Russo-Japanese War
    2. B The First World War
    3. C The Meiji Restoration
    4. D The French Revolution

53. Which agency is primarily responsible for the investigation of the recent espionage-related arrests in West Bengal?

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

54. The Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary is located in which Indian state?

    1. A Tamil Nadu
    2. B Karnataka
    3. C Andhra Pradesh
    4. D Kerala

55. Which of the following bodies is primarily responsible for the enforcement of food safety regulations in the state of Maharashtra?

    1. A Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
    2. B Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
    3. C Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
    4. D Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai

56. Which of the following acts provides the legal framework for the establishment and functioning of the National Investigation Agency (NIA)?

    1. A National Investigation Agency Act, 2008
    2. B Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967
    3. C National Security Act, 1980
    4. D Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002

57. Under the Code of Criminal Procedure, which court possesses the power of revision to examine the correctness, legality, or propriety of any finding or order recorded by an inferior criminal court?

    1. A Only the District Magistrate
    2. B The High Court or the Court of Session
    3. C Only the Supreme Court of India
    4. D The State Home Ministry

58. Which body is primarily responsible for setting the regulations and standards for the appointment of faculty members in Indian universities?

    1. A Association of Indian Universities (AIU)
    2. B University Grants Commission (UGC)
    3. C National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC)
    4. D Ministry of Education