21 August 2026

Quiz — 21 August 2026

Every prelims question from this edition. Tap an option to check it; what you answer is remembered on this device.

Questions

1. The NAMASTE scheme, recently in the news, is primarily aimed at which of the following objectives?

   1. A Promoting the use of renewable energy in rural sanitation infrastructure
   2. B Eradicating deaths resulting from hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks
   3. C Providing universal health insurance to urban slum dwellers
   4. D Digitizing the records of all municipal waste management workers

2. What are the minimum technical specifications required for mobile devices used by enumerators for the Census 2027 exercise?

   1. A 4 GB RAM and Android 11
   2. B 6 GB RAM and Android 12
   3. C 12 GB RAM and Android 14
   4. D 8 GB RAM and Android 13

3. Under the Indian Constitution, which list does the subject of 'Citizenship' fall under?

   1. A Residuary Powers
   2. B State List
   3. C Union List
   4. D Concurrent List

4. Which authority is now primarily responsible for processing citizenship applications under the Citizenship (Third Amendment) Rules, 2026, in the specified jurisdictions?

   1. A Empowered Committees
   2. B Intelligence Bureau
   3. C State Home Ministry
   4. D District Collectors

5. Which of the following was NOT a component of the 'triple test' established in the 1978 Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board v. R. Rajappa case?

   1. A Employer-employee cooperation
   2. B Systematic or organised activity
   3. C Mandatory registration under the Companies Act
   4. D Production of goods and services to satisfy human wants

6. Which of the following best describes an 'ablative' thermal protection system used in space modules?

   1. A It relies on high-conductivity materials like copper to dissipate heat into the atmosphere.
   2. B It protects the module by absorbing heat like a giant sponge without changing its phase.
   3. C It absorbs heat and releases it back into space as electromagnetic radiation.
   4. D It removes heat by sacrificing its layers through chemical decomposition and outgassing.

7. Under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, what is the significance of the Supreme Court's recent observation regarding environmental violation cases?

   1. A The Court declared that the central government has no power to frame any future regularisation schemes.
   2. B The Court held that administrative office memorandums cannot override the statutory requirement of prior EC.
   3. C The Court has permanently banned all projects that commenced without prior Environmental Clearance.
   4. D The Court mandated that all violation projects must be demolished immediately.

8. Which authority is responsible for the establishment of a High Court Bench in a Union Territory?

   1. A The Parliament of India
   2. B The Union Cabinet
   3. C The President of India
   4. D The Supreme Court of India

9. The India-Bangladesh Ganga Water Treaty, which is currently subject to renewal discussions, was originally signed in which year?

   1. A 1985
   2. B 1996
   3. C 2005
   4. D 1971

10. The 'Japan-India Special Strategic and Global Partnership' aims to enhance cooperation in which of the following areas?

    1. A Cross-border digital currency regulation
    2. B Maritime Domain Awareness and naval logistics
    3. C Agricultural technology transfer
    4. D Joint space exploration missions

11. Which of the following is a planned air exercise between India and Japan?

    1. A Dharma Guardian
    2. B JAIMEX
    3. C Malabar
    4. D Veer Guardian 26

12. The National Register of Citizens (NRC) is primarily governed by which of the following legislative frameworks in India?

    1. A The Census Act, 1948
    2. B The Foreigners Act, 1946
    3. C The Representation of the People Act, 1951
    4. D The Citizenship Act, 1955

13. Which section of the MMDR Amendment Act, 2026, empowers the Central government to streamline levies on mineral-bearing lands?

    1. A Section 9B
    2. B Section 9D
    3. C Section 9C
    4. D Section 9A

14. Which of the following statements regarding Zonal Councils is correct?

    1. A Their recommendations are binding on the state governments involved.
    2. B The Prime Minister of India serves as the ex-officio Chairman of all Zonal Councils.
    3. C They are constitutional bodies established under Article 263 of the Constitution.
    4. D They are statutory bodies established under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.

15. Which of the following sectors has recorded a continuous contraction for 14 consecutive months as per the July 2026 Index of Core Industries (ICE) data?

    1. A Cement and Steel
    2. B Natural Gas and Crude Oil
    3. C Fertilizers and Iron Ore
    4. D Electricity and Refinery Products

16. The High-Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC) constituted by the Supreme Court to probe the NEET-UG protest violence is headed by:

    1. A Justice Ravi Shankar Jha
    2. B Justice R. Subhash Reddy
    3. C Justice Shalinder Kaur
    4. D Rishi Kumar Shukla

17. The 'dual fuel' strategy for human brain expansion, as proposed in recent research, emphasizes the role of which two primary dietary components?

    1. A Complex carbohydrates and minerals
    2. B Animal fats and leafy greens
    3. C Proteins and fermented dairy
    4. D Meat and natural sugars/starches

18. Which of the following factors contributes to the high genetic diversity observed within the South Asian population?

    1. A Endogamy and consanguineous marriages
    2. B Uniform dietary habits across the region
    3. C Homogeneous environmental exposure across all sub-regions
    4. D High rates of migration and lack of social stratification

19. With reference to the judicial approach toward policy matters in India, which of the following best describes the stance taken by the Delhi High Court regarding the regulation of children's social media use?

    1. A The Court declared that the regulation of social media for children falls within the policy domain of the Central government.
    2. B The Court issued a stay order on social media access for children under the age of 16.
    3. C The Court mandated the immediate implementation of age-verification software by all social media platforms.
    4. D The Court transferred the responsibility of content regulation entirely to the State governments.

20. Which of the following measures has the government recently adopted to control the domestic price of sugar?

    1. A Banning the production of ethanol from sugarcane
    2. B Imposing stockholding limits on bulk consumers
    3. C Providing direct cash subsidies to sugar mills
    4. D Increasing the export duty on raw sugar

21. Under the A.P. Higher Education Regulatory and Monitoring Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2026, who is designated to chair the new committee?

    1. A The Chairperson of the University Grants Commission
    2. B The Minister for Human Resources Development
    3. C A retired High Court judge
    4. D The Higher Education Commissioner

22. According to the Supreme Court directive mentioned in the context, what is the prohibited distance for commercial construction from the midpoint of a National Highway?

    1. A 75 metres
    2. B 100 metres
    3. C 40 metres
    4. D 50 metres

23. Which of the following is considered a 'logical discrepancy' by the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka, during the electoral roll revision process?

    1. A A gap of less than nine months between siblings.
    2. B Mapping of exactly five progenies to a single parent.
    3. C A gap of more than 30 years between a voter and grandparent.
    4. D A gap of exactly 20 years between a parent and progeny.

24. Which statutory body is primarily responsible for the implementation of the Tiger Conservation Plan and the protection of tiger corridors in India?

    1. A National Board for Wildlife
    2. B National Tiger Conservation Authority
    3. C Forest Survey of India
    4. D Wildlife Crime Control Bureau

25. The Satkosia Tiger Reserve is located in which of the following Indian states?

    1. A Odisha
    2. B Chhattisgarh
    3. C Jharkhand
    4. D West Bengal

26. Which of the following acts is primarily responsible for the legal framework governing the relocation of villages from tiger reserves in India?

    1. A Biological Diversity Act, 2002
    2. B The Indian Forest Act, 1927
    3. C Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
    4. D Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

27. The Bar Council of India is a statutory body established under which of the following acts?

    1. A The Advocates Act, 1961
    2. B The Legal Practitioners Act, 1879
    3. C The Constitution of India
    4. D The Bar Councils Act, 1926

28. Under the Master Plan for Delhi-2047, what is the mandated minimum right of way for arterial roads in land-pooling and low-density areas?

    1. A 15 metres
    2. B 45 metres
    3. C 30 metres
    4. D 20 metres

29. Which of the following legal principles is primarily invoked when a court reviews the arbitrary termination of a permanent government employee?

    1. A Principles of Natural Justice
    2. B Doctrine of Separation of Powers
    3. C Rule of Absolute Liability
    4. D Doctrine of Sovereign Immunity

30. Which of the following institutions is responsible for regulating the 'Expenses of Management' (EoM) limits for insurance companies in India?

    1. A Ministry of Finance
    2. B Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India
    3. C Reserve Bank of India
    4. D Securities and Exchange Board of India

31. What is the primary objective of the 'permitted-to-trade' framework in the context of Indian stock exchanges?

    1. A To allow foreign investors to trade directly on domestic exchanges
    2. B To permit the trading of unlisted securities on public platforms
    3. C To allow trading of shares listed on one recognized exchange on another exchange
    4. D To facilitate the merger of two competing stock exchanges

32. Which of the following is the primary mandate of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) regarding school education?

    1. A To prepare and publish model textbooks and supplementary material for school education
    2. B To directly appoint teachers for all government-aided schools
    3. C To regulate the funding of private educational institutions
    4. D To conduct the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for medical admissions

33. Which of the following best describes the current status of English under the Indian Constitution as discussed in the context of language policy debates?

    1. A It is recognized as a native language.
    2. B It is classified as a foreign language.
    3. C It is an official language.
    4. D It is excluded from the three-language formula.

34. According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023–24, what is the reported female literacy rate in India for individuals aged 7 and above?

    1. A 74.9%
    2. B 70.2%
    3. C 65.4%
    4. D 81.5%

35. Under which Article of the Indian Constitution can a citizen approach a High Court for the issuance of writs?

    1. A Article 142
    2. B Article 136
    3. C Article 226
    4. D Article 32

36. The 'Siliguri Corridor', which connects the northeastern states with the rest of India, is also commonly referred to as:

    1. A The Himalayan Pass
    2. B The Strategic Bridge
    3. C The Chicken's Neck
    4. D The Gateway of the East

37. Which of the following Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) is primarily responsible for guarding the borders with Nepal and Bhutan?

    1. A Assam Rifles
    2. B Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
    3. C Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)
    4. D Border Security Force (BSF)

38. Which of the following best describes the status of the former extremists represented by the JARC and JAC in Tripura?

    1. A They have been fully integrated into state-sponsored welfare schemes for the last 30 years.
    2. B They are currently active members of outlawed organizations seeking a separate tribal homeland.
    3. C They surrendered without preconditions and were not covered by formal MHA rehabilitation packages.
    4. D They surrendered under a formal peace agreement signed with the Ministry of Home Affairs.

39. Which constitutional provision empowers the President to establish an Inter-State Council to facilitate coordination between states?

    1. A Article 262
    2. B Article 263
    3. C Article 280
    4. D Article 356

40. Which of the following commissions was tasked with investigating the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and recommended the reopening of closed cases?

    1. A Punchhi Commission
    2. B Sarkaria Commission
    3. C Nanavati Commission
    4. D Liberhan Commission

41. Which of the following best describes the recent administrative action regarding the data centre project in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands?

    1. A The project was approved with modifications to the master plan.
    2. B The project was fast-tracked following public consultation.
    3. C The Expression of Interest (EoI) was withdrawn citing administrative reasons.
    4. D The project was transferred to a central government agency for implementation.

42. The Strait of Hormuz, currently a focal point of geopolitical tension, connects which two bodies of water?

    1. A The Black Sea and the Sea of Azov
    2. B The Mediterranean Sea and the Aegean Sea
    3. C The Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman
    4. D The Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden

43. Ladakh was formally established as a Union Territory of India in which year?

    1. A 2020
    2. B 2018
    3. C 2019
    4. D 2017

44. Which of the following best describes the legal status of alcohol in Gujarat?

    1. A Permitted only for medicinal purposes under state license
    2. B Regulated sale with high excise duties
    3. C Complete prohibition on manufacturing, sale, and consumption
    4. D Decentralized regulation under local municipal bodies

45. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) is currently exploring the use of which technology to enhance wildlife surveillance and devotee safety in forest areas?

    1. A Satellite-based motion sensors
    2. B Drones equipped with thermal imaging
    3. C AI-integrated biometric facial recognition
    4. D Quadruped robotic dogs

46. In the context of Indian administrative law, which of the following best describes the purpose of a magisterial inquiry following a death in state custody or during an encounter?

    1. A To grant immediate compensation to the families of the deceased
    2. B To provide a judicial verdict on the guilt of the accused officers
    3. C To conduct an independent fact-finding investigation into the circumstances of the death
    4. D To bypass the need for a First Information Report (FIR) by the police

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

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

48. Which of the following best describes the principle of 'suo motu' action by the judiciary in the context of administrative governance?

    1. A Action taken by the court based on the recommendation of a private NGO
    2. B Action taken by the court only after a legislative resolution is passed
    3. C Action taken by the court on the request of the central government
    4. D Action initiated by the court on its own motion without a formal petition

49. Under which legal framework has the case regarding the recent corporal punishment incident in Visakhapatnam been registered by the police?

    1. A Right to Education Act (RTE)
    2. B Juvenile Justice Act
    3. C Indian Penal Code (IPC)
    4. D Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS)