24 August 2026

Quiz — 24 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 PLFS 2025, which of the following statements accurately describes the trend in India's Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) between 2019-20 and 2025?

   1. A The AAPP is the only reliable metric for assessing female labour participation regardless of baseline levels.
   2. B The overall FLFPR for those aged 15 and above increased from 30% to 40%.
   3. C The rural FLFPR remained stagnant while urban participation declined.
   4. D The urban FLFPR increased at a faster rate than the rural FLFPR.

2. According to the proposal discussed in April 2026, to what number would the Lok Sabha seats be increased upon the implementation of the delimitation process?

   1. A 543
   2. B 850
   3. C 1000
   4. D 600

3. Which of the following conditions is NOT part of the 'Triple Test' established in the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) case to define an 'industry'?

   1. A Production or distribution of goods and services
   2. B Systematic activity
   3. C Employer-employee cooperation
   4. D Mandatory profit-making motive

4. According to the new IN-SPACe guidelines, what is the maximum acceptable expected casualty risk for a planned re-entry of a space object?

   1. A 1 in 100,000
   2. B 1 in 1,000
   3. C 1 in 5,000
   4. D 1 in 10,000

5. Under the new IN-SPACe guidelines, which of the following is true regarding the liability of private operators for planned re-entry?

   1. A Liability is waived if the operator follows international soft law guidelines.
   2. B Liability is limited only to damages occurring within Indian territorial waters.
   3. C The Government of India assumes all liability for third-party damages.
   4. D Operators are liable for third-party damage and must indemnify the Government of India.

6. Which of the following best describes the 'guru-shishya' tradition as mentioned in the context of modern digital challenges?

   1. A A purely technological framework for software development
   2. B A legal doctrine used to restrict internet access for minors
   3. C A mechanism to transmit values, wisdom, and social responsibility across generations
   4. D A government-mandated policy for regulating social media platforms

7. Which of the following best describes the 'public rail, private engines' model proposed for the education sector?

   1. A Private firms build the digital infrastructure while the government regulates the pricing of all courses.
   2. B The government provides digital infrastructure and aggregates demand, while private entities supply content and mentoring.
   3. C The government produces all educational content while private firms handle marketing.
   4. D The government nationalizes all private coaching centers to ensure uniform standards.

8. What is the primary objective of using the DEPA/Account Aggregator pattern in the proposed educational platform?

   1. A To ensure the government has full control over student academic records.
   2. B To allow ed-tech firms to monetize student data.
   3. C To enable student ownership of their learning data and progress records.
   4. D To prevent students from switching between different educational providers.

9. Which of the following sectors recorded the highest growth rate within the Index of Core Industries (ICI) in July as per the report?

   1. A Cement
   2. B Refinery products
   3. C Steel
   4. D Coal

10. What has been a consistent trend for the domestic crude oil and natural gas sectors in the recent ICI data?

    1. A Rapid recovery due to ethanol-blending policies
    2. B Fluctuating growth based on seasonal demand
    3. C Consistent double-digit growth
    4. D Continuous contraction for at least 14 months

11. National Space Day in India is observed on which date to commemorate the Chandrayaan-3 mission?

    1. A September 2
    2. B August 23
    3. C July 18
    4. D August 15

12. Which of the following bodies is responsible for administering the Karbi Anglong district, which forms the southern boundary of Kaziranga National Park?

    1. A Assam State Biodiversity Board
    2. B North Eastern Council
    3. C Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council
    4. D National Board for Wildlife

13. The Supreme Court order of 2019 regarding Kaziranga National Park prohibits mining and construction activities in which of the following areas?

    1. A Only in the designated Eco-Sensitive Zone of the park
    2. B Throughout the catchments of rivers and streams originating in the Karbi Anglong hills
    3. C Only within the core zone of the National Park
    4. D Across the entire state of Assam

14. Under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, what is the statutory time limit prescribed for the completion of an investigation?

    1. A 60 days
    2. B 90 days
    3. C 30 days
    4. D 120 days

15. Which of the following best describes the primary function of a Waqf Board in India?

    1. A To collect taxes from religious institutions for state development
    2. B To manage and administer properties dedicated to religious or charitable purposes under Islamic law
    3. C To provide legal aid to minority communities in civil disputes
    4. D To oversee the appointment of religious leaders in all mosques

16. Which of the following statements regarding the legal status of Vande Mataram in India is correct?

    1. A The Supreme Court in Bijoe Emmanuel v. State of Kerala held that fundamental duties can override fundamental rights.
    2. B The current legal framework protects the act of singing the song from intentional disturbance but does not mandate participation.
    3. C It is explicitly defined as the 'National Song' in the Constitution of India.
    4. D The 2026 Amendment mandates the singing of all six stanzas of the song at all official functions.

17. The 'Special Representatives' (SR) mechanism between India and China is primarily tasked with addressing which of the following issues?

    1. A Maritime security in the Indian Ocean
    2. B The boundary question
    3. C Climate change cooperation
    4. D Trade and tariff negotiations

18. Which of the following organizations is primarily involved in the expansion of indigenous metallurgical and precision manufacturing capabilities as per recent government initiatives?

    1. A Yantra India Ltd. (YIL)
    2. B Hindustan Shipyard Limited
    3. C Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE)
    4. D Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited

19. Which of the following best describes the legal concept of 'suo motu' proceedings as exercised by the High Court in the context of public interest?

    1. A A mandatory arbitration process between pharmaceutical companies and the Ministry of Health
    2. B An appeal filed by a third party to challenge the validity of a drug patent
    3. C A petition filed by the government to seek judicial review of a patent law
    4. D Proceedings initiated by the court on its own motion without a formal petition from an aggrieved party

20. Which of the following measures has been suggested to enhance the credibility and public trust in the media industry?

    1. A Complete government control over all news outlets
    2. B A total ban on print media in favor of digital platforms
    3. C Mandatory state funding for all private media organizations
    4. D Implementation of transparent codes of conduct and independent self-regulation

21. In the context of the Indian parliamentary system, the principle of 'collective responsibility' implies that:

    1. A The Chief Secretary is the final authority for all law and order decisions.
    2. B The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Legislative Assembly or Lok Sabha.
    3. C Students and youth are legally required to inform the government before participating in any protest.
    4. D The bureaucracy is solely responsible for all administrative decisions.

22. Under which Article of the Constitution of India does the President have the power to prorogue the Houses of Parliament?

    1. A Article 85
    2. B Article 108
    3. C Article 83
    4. D Article 87

23. Which of the following statements regarding the prorogation of the Lok Sabha is correct?

    1. A Prorogation is a power exercised by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
    2. B Prorogation terminates the life of the House.
    3. C Prorogation can only be done after the House is adjourned sine die.
    4. D The President acts on the advice of the Prime Minister to prorogue the House.

24. What does the 'barren-land fallacy' primarily refer to in the context of ecology?

    1. A The belief that all land without trees is ecologically deficient and requires forestation
    2. B The process of desertification caused by excessive grazing in arid regions
    3. C The failure of government policies to protect existing forest cover from encroachment
    4. D The inability of native flora to survive in highly degraded soil conditions

25. Which of the following is a critical maritime chokepoint mentioned in the context of recent regional tensions involving Iran?

    1. A Strait of Hormuz
    2. B Suez Canal
    3. C Bab-el-Mandeb Strait
    4. D Strait of Malacca

26. Which of the following factors is identified as the most influential feature for consumers when comparing term insurance policies?

    1. A Claim settlement ratios
    2. B Digital interface of the platform
    3. C Availability of optional riders
    4. D Brand reputation of the insurer

27. According to the provided data, what is the average premium reduction observed for customers who compare insurance policies before purchasing?

    1. A At least 15 percent
    2. B At least 20 percent
    3. C At least 10 percent
    4. D At least 25 percent

28. What is the primary function of bacteriophages in the context of biological research?

    1. A They are synthetic viruses used to store digital data.
    2. B They are artificial cells designed to deliver vaccines to the human immune system.
    3. C They are viruses that specifically infect and kill bacteria.
    4. D They are specialized proteins used to repair damaged DNA in humans.

29. Which of the following best describes the 'capability amplification' risk associated with AI in biotechnology?

    1. A AI models can autonomously manufacture viruses without human intervention.
    2. B AI eliminates the need for DNA-synthesis screening by identifying non-pathogenic sequences.
    3. C AI reduces the need for laboratory testing by predicting all biological outcomes with 100% accuracy.
    4. D AI accelerates the research cycle by integrating vast amounts of data to design complex biological systems more efficiently than manual methods.

30. The 'DBLOTT' model, recently mentioned in the context of state-led satellite projects, stands for:

    1. A Design, Build, Launch, Operate, Train and Transfer
    2. B Design, Budget, Launch, Organize, Train and Transport
    3. C Develop, Build, Launch, Oversee, Test and Transmit
    4. D Deploy, Build, Launch, Operate, Track and Transfer

31. Which of the following is cited by the Ranchi administration as a primary justification for requiring prior permission for public protests?

    1. A To prevent political parties from organising rallies
    2. B To identify individuals participating in democratic movements
    3. C To restrict the number of participants in public gatherings
    4. D To ensure law and order, public safety, and traffic management

32. Which of the following central agencies is primarily responsible for investigating money laundering and financial irregularities in India?

    1. A Serious Fraud Investigation Office
    2. B Central Bureau of Investigation
    3. C National Investigation Agency
    4. D Enforcement Directorate

33. What is the primary purpose of 'viability gap funding' in infrastructure projects?

    1. A To cover the entire cost of construction for private contractors
    2. B To support projects that are economically justified but not financially viable
    3. C To provide full government ownership of the project assets
    4. D To eliminate the need for private sector participation in public works

34. Water hyacinth is often considered an indicator of which of the following conditions in a water body?

    1. A Low salinity levels
    2. B Eutrophication or nutrient enrichment
    3. C Presence of heavy metals only
    4. D High dissolved oxygen levels

35. The phenomenon of 'El Niño', often associated with increased forest fires in Southeast Asia, is primarily characterized by:

    1. A A cooling of the surface waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
    2. B A warming of the surface waters in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean.
    3. C Increased rainfall across the entire Indonesian archipelago.
    4. D A sudden decrease in global atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.

36. In the context of recent developments in robotics, what was the standing high jump record achieved by a humanoid robot at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing?

    1. A 9.39 metres
    2. B 9.58 metres
    3. C 2.88 metres
    4. D 2.45 metres

37. In the context of financial markets, what does the term 'Alpha' represent?

    1. A The excess returns generated by a portfolio over its benchmark
    2. B The total market capitalization of a fund
    3. C The risk-free rate of return on government securities
    4. D The commission charged by portfolio managers

38. According to the SPIVA report, what is the primary reason cited for the difficulty of active funds to consistently beat their benchmarks?

    1. A Government regulations on equity investments
    2. B The role of luck and the efficiently inefficient nature of markets
    3. C Lack of computational power among fund managers
    4. D High taxation on capital gains

39. Which of the following best describes the primary objective of the 'bond laddering' strategy?

    1. A To maximize short-term capital gains through market speculation
    2. B To stagger maturity dates to manage cash flow and interest-rate risk
    3. C To ensure all bonds mature simultaneously for a lump-sum payout
    4. D To eliminate the risk of default by the bond issuer

40. In the context of bond laddering, what does 'time diversification' refer to?

    1. A Spreading bond maturities over several years to avoid reinvesting the entire principal at once
    2. B Buying bonds only when interest rates are at their historical peak
    3. C Diversifying the portfolio by purchasing bonds from different sectors of the economy
    4. D Investing in bonds issued by different countries at the same time

41. Which of the following best describes the phenomenon of 'scroll fatigue' as discussed in contemporary digital discourse?

    1. A A clinical sleep disorder caused by exposure to blue light from electronic devices at night.
    2. B Physical exhaustion caused by repetitive motion of the fingers on touchscreens.
    3. C The loss of motor skills due to excessive reliance on digital navigation tools.
    4. D A mental state of strain resulting from rapid information processing and continuous decision-making during digital content consumption.

42. The 'Modi script', historically associated with Maratha administrative records, was primarily used for which of the following languages?

    1. A Marathi
    2. B Sanskrit
    3. C Kannada
    4. D Persian

43. Which of the following military strategies is Bajirao I most famously associated with for his campaigns against the Mughal Empire?

    1. A Guerrilla warfare
    2. B Manoeuvre warfare
    3. C Siege warfare
    4. D Trench warfare

44. According to Giorgio Agamben, what is the primary function of 'profanation'?

    1. A The transfer of objects from a restricted sphere to common use
    2. B The formalization of informal political movements
    3. C The creation of new state-sanctioned ideologies
    4. D The destruction of sacred religious symbols

45. In the context of the discourse on Surya, which of the following terms is used to describe the sun as the originator of the Vedas?

    1. A Tvashta
    2. B Bhutapathi
    3. C Lokadhyaksha
    4. D Vedakarta

46. Which of the following best describes the role of local legislators in the management of government-aided colleges in many Indian states?

    1. A They are responsible for the direct recruitment of academic staff
    2. B They are mandated by the Constitution to act as chancellors of state colleges
    3. C They serve as ex-officio members of the college management committees
    4. D They hold permanent veto power over the university curriculum

47. Which of the following is the primary regulatory body responsible for the oversight of civil aviation in India?

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

48. Which toxic substance was identified as the primary cause of death in the recent Gujarat hooch tragedy?

    1. A Ethanol
    2. B Formaldehyde
    3. C Methanol
    4. D Isopropyl alcohol

49. What is the monthly pension amount provided under the welfare scheme for Keralites working abroad?

    1. A ₹4,000
    2. B ₹3,500
    3. C ₹2,500
    4. D ₹3,000

50. The 'PRISM-X' framework, recently discussed in the context of academic assessment, primarily aims to:

    1. A Evaluate student work that incorporates AI-generated content
    2. B Eliminate the use of Artificial Intelligence in university examinations
    3. C Standardise grading systems across all Indian universities
    4. D Restrict the commercialisation of student research projects

51. Which of the following eligibility criteria is common to the SBI Platinum Jubilee Asha Scholarship, HDFC Parivartan ECSS Programme, and Mahindra All India Talent Scholarship?

    1. A Mandatory requirement of 75% marks in the last qualifying examination.
    2. B Exclusively for students pursuing professional postgraduate degrees.
    3. C Annual family income limit of exactly ₹250,000.
    4. D Restriction to Indian nationals only.

52. The M-STrIPEs platform, often used by the Forest Department for tiger identification, is an initiative of which of the following bodies?

    1. A Bombay Natural History Society
    2. B Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
    3. C National Tiger Conservation Authority
    4. D Wildlife Institute of India

53. The hero stone inscription recently unearthed in Tenkasi district features a script representing a transitional stage between which two scripts?

    1. A Brahmi and Kharosthi
    2. B Tamil-Brahmi and Grantha
    3. C Vattezhuthu and Devanagari
    4. D Tamil-Brahmi and Vattezhuthu

54. The 'Iyal Award', recently in the news, is associated with which of the following fields?

    1. A Scientific Research
    2. B International Diplomacy
    3. C Tamil Literature
    4. D Prison Reform Advocacy

55. Which of the following meteorological phenomena is primarily responsible for the recent rainfall activity in Chennai as reported by the Regional Meteorological Centre?

    1. A Western disturbances
    2. B Cyclonic circulation
    3. C Orographic lifting
    4. D Convective activity

56. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital waterway connecting which of the following bodies of water?

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

57. Which of the following bodies is primarily responsible for granting 'in-principle' approval for the establishment of new greenfield airports in India?

    1. A Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA)
    2. B Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
    3. C Airports Authority of India (AAI)
    4. D Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS)