25 August 2026

Quiz — 25 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 Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2025, what percentage of tertiary-educated youth in India are classified as NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training)?

   1. A 14.8%
   2. B 74.7%
   3. C 40.1%
   4. D 29.4%

2. Which of the following is a primary argument cited by proponents for the implementation of simultaneous elections in India?

   1. A To increase the frequency of state-level legislative sessions
   2. B To eliminate the requirement for President's Rule in states
   3. C To reduce the impact of the Model Code of Conduct on development projects
   4. D To centralise all election-related expenditure under the Union government

3. Which organization is responsible for the development and management of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in India?

   1. A NITI Aayog
   2. B National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)
   3. C Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
   4. D Ministry of Finance

4. When was the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) officially launched in India?

   1. A August 2017
   2. B August 2015
   3. C August 2014
   4. D August 2016

5. Under the March 2026 relaxation of Press Note 3, which of the following conditions allows an entity from a land-border sharing country to invest in India via the automatic route?

   1. A If the entity has a stake of less than 10%
   2. B If the entity has a stake of less than 50%
   3. C If the entity has a stake of less than 25%
   4. D If the entity has a stake of less than 5%

6. Press Note 3, issued in April 2020, was primarily aimed at:

   1. A Promoting regional trade agreements
   2. B Addressing border clashes with neighboring countries
   3. C Preventing hostile takeovers of Indian companies during the pandemic
   4. D Restricting all forms of foreign investment from neighboring countries

7. Which of the following best describes the 'Triple Test' established in the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) vs A. Rajappa (1978) case?

   1. A A test to classify systematic operations as an 'industry' based on employer-employee cooperation.
   2. B A test to determine the eligibility of private companies for government subsidies.
   3. C A test to evaluate the sovereign functions of the judiciary and defense sectors.
   4. D A test to determine the minimum wage requirements for industrial workers.

8. What is the current legal status of the Industrial Disputes (ID) Act, 1947, following the enactment of the Industrial Relations Code (IRC), 2020?

   1. A The ID Act, 1947 is currently suspended pending further judicial review.
   2. B The ID Act, 1947 has been amended to incorporate the provisions of the IRC, 2020.
   3. C The ID Act, 1947 remains the primary legislation governing industrial disputes.
   4. D The ID Act, 1947 has been repealed by the IRC, 2020.

9. Which of the following is the primary objective of the government's current space sector strategy regarding ISRO's future role?

   1. A Scaling back space exploration to reduce fiscal deficit
   2. B Transferring all satellite-related assets to foreign private companies
   3. C Focusing ISRO on frontier missions while industry handles manufacturing at scale
   4. D Complete privatization of all ISRO assets and research facilities

10. What is the primary purpose of the new spaceport being developed at Kulasekarapattinam?

    1. A To provide additional capacity for the growing small-launch sector
    2. B To serve as a dedicated facility for foreign satellite launches only
    3. C To replace the Sriharikota spaceport entirely
    4. D To act as a private-only research center for deep space exploration

11. Which of the following best describes the trigger for an El Niño weather event?

    1. A A cooling of sea surface temperatures in the western Atlantic Ocean.
    2. B Warming sea surface temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific.
    3. C A sudden shift in the Earth's magnetic poles affecting ocean currents.
    4. D Increased volcanic activity on the ocean floor in the Indian Ocean.

12. According to meteorological standards, what is the minimum temperature rise above the baseline required to classify a phenomenon as an El Niño event?

    1. A 1.0 degree Celsius
    2. B 0.2 degree Celsius
    3. C 2.0 degrees Celsius
    4. D 0.5 degree Celsius

13. The Information Technology Resilience Index (ITRI) has been introduced by which of the following regulatory bodies?

    1. A Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)
    2. B Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
    3. C Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
    4. D Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA)

14. Which of the following entities are covered under the scope of SEBI's IT Resilience Index (ITRI)?

    1. A All listed companies on the stock exchange
    2. B Only retail brokerage firms
    3. C Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs) such as stock exchanges and depositories
    4. D All commercial banks operating in India

15. Which body is responsible for granting in-principle approval for the privatisation of airports under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model?

    1. A Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
    2. B Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC)
    3. C NITI Aayog
    4. D Ministry of Finance

16. The People’s Plan Campaign (PPC) in Kerala draws its constitutional legitimacy primarily from which of the following?

    1. A 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts
    2. B Article 370 of the Constitution
    3. C 75th and 76th Constitutional Amendment Acts
    4. D 71st and 72nd Constitutional Amendment Acts

17. Which of the following best describes the 'reasonable expectation of privacy' as established by the Supreme Court of India?

    1. A A fundamental right recognized under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
    2. B A right applicable only to private spaces and not in any public domain.
    3. C A statutory right granted exclusively under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
    4. D A directive principle of state policy that is not enforceable by courts.

18. Which form is used under the registration of electors rules to object to an entry in the electoral roll or to request the deletion of a name?

    1. A Form 12
    2. B Form 6
    3. C Form 8
    4. D Form 7

19. According to the ECI's current guidelines to prevent the misuse of objection filings, a mandatory review by the Electoral Registration Officer is triggered if an individual files more than how many objections?

    1. A Five
    2. B Ten
    3. C Three
    4. D Two

20. When was the initial ban on wheat exports imposed by the Government of India to control rising domestic prices?

    1. A January 2023
    2. B March 2022
    3. C December 2021
    4. D May 2022

21. The report 'Reimagining skilling for Viksit Bharat@2047' was published by which of the following organizations?

    1. A Ministry of Labour and Employment
    2. B Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
    3. C National Sample Survey Office
    4. D NITI Aayog

22. Which of the following bodies is primarily responsible for the conduct of elections to the Parliament and State Legislatures in India?

    1. A Parliamentary Committee on Elections
    2. B Election Commission of India
    3. C State Election Commission
    4. D Ministry of Law and Justice

23. What is the primary function of the Special Representatives (SRs) mechanism between India and China?

    1. A To oversee the implementation of trade agreements
    2. B To manage maritime security in the Indian Ocean
    3. C To serve as the main channel for negotiations on the boundary question
    4. D To finalize the demarcation of the international border

24. Which of the following statements regarding the Population Census in India is correct?

    1. A The Census is an exercise primarily designed to determine the citizenship status of individuals.
    2. B The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India functions under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
    3. C The House Listing and Housing Census (HLO) is the first phase of the decennial population enumeration process.
    4. D The Census data is legally mandated to be used for the immediate delimitation of all local government bodies.

25. The 'Multi Agency Centre' (MAC) in India is primarily associated with which of the following functions?

    1. A Monitoring of international trade and customs compliance
    2. B Fusion and operationalisation of intelligence for national security
    3. C Regulation of digital financial transactions and cyber-banking
    4. D Coordination of disaster management and relief operations

26. Which of the following reservoirs are managed by the Krishna River Management Board as per the recent reports?

    1. A Nagarjunasagar and Almatti
    2. B Tungabhadra and Srisailam
    3. C Almatti and Narayanpur
    4. D Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar

27. What is the stated goal of 'Mission 500' in the context of U.S.-India bilateral relations?

    1. A To reach $500 billion in bilateral trade by 2030
    2. B To establish 500 joint research centers by 2030
    3. C To increase defense exports to $500 billion by 2030
    4. D To secure 500 critical mineral supply chains by 2030

28. Which of the following best describes the role of 'natural-history studies' in the context of rare disease research?

    1. A They are exclusively conducted by pharmaceutical companies to maximize profits.
    2. B They focus on the environmental impact of rare disease treatments.
    3. C They provide real-world data to serve as external controls in clinical trials.
    4. D They replace the need for regulatory approval of new drugs.

29. The 'Patient Data Collective' (PDC) model proposed for India draws inspiration from which organizational structure?

    1. A Dairy cooperative model
    2. B Government-mandated regulatory agency
    3. C Public-Private Partnership (PPP)
    4. D Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives

30. What is the current annual cap for H-1B visas for workers holding a Master’s degree or higher from a U.S. college?

    1. A 65,000
    2. B 20,000
    3. C 103,265
    4. D 85,000

31. Based on the 2025-26 sugar season projections, what is the estimated domestic sugar consumption in India?

    1. A 300-305 LMT
    2. B 279 LMT
    3. C 280-285 LMT
    4. D 250-255 LMT

32. The national permit scheme for goods transport in India is primarily designed to:

    1. A Mandate the use of electric vehicles for goods transport
    2. B Limit the number of goods vehicles on national highways
    3. C Increase the tax revenue from commercial vehicles
    4. D Remove hurdles in the free movement of vehicles

33. Which of the following agencies is currently mandated to investigate the alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Combined Civil Services Preliminary Examination, as per the reported petition?

    1. A National Investigation Agency (NIA)
    2. B Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
    3. C State Criminal Investigation Department (CID)
    4. D Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO)

34. Under the proposed amendments to the Medical Devices Rules, 2017, which of the following is true regarding outsourced sterilisation?

    1. A The requirement for a separate loan licence for outsourced sterilisation is removed, provided the facility is licensed.
    2. B Outsourced sterilisation is now prohibited to ensure better quality control.
    3. C Manufacturers must obtain a separate loan licence for every outsourced sterilisation batch.
    4. D Manufacturers are exempt from mentioning the sterilisation facility's licence number on the label.

35. Which of the following regions was recently added to the list of jurisdictions recognised for waiving clinical investigation requirements for medical devices in India?

    1. A European Union
    2. B Association of Southeast Asian Nations
    3. C BRICS nations
    4. D Gulf Cooperation Council

36. The 27th India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation was co-chaired by the External Affairs Minister and which Russian official?

    1. A Vladimir Putin
    2. B Sergey Lavrov
    3. C Mikhail Mishustin
    4. D Denis Manturov

37. What is the stated target for bilateral trade between India and Russia by the year 2030?

    1. A $75 billion
    2. B $100 billion
    3. C $150 billion
    4. D $50 billion

38. The free breakfast scheme for government school students in Telangana aims to achieve which of the following primary objectives?

    1. A To increase the enrollment rate of students in private schools.
    2. B To provide direct cash transfers to the families of school-going children.
    3. C To improve physical growth and concentration for better learning outcomes.
    4. D To replace the existing Mid-Day Meal scheme with a new nutritional framework.

39. The Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, allows for the alienation of what percentage of park and garden land for public utility projects?

    1. A 5%
    2. B 15%
    3. C 10%
    4. D 2%

40. Under the Annapoorani Super Six Scheme, what is the primary mechanism for delivering the subsidy to eligible beneficiaries?

    1. A Tax rebates for eligible households
    2. B Direct credit to beneficiary bank accounts
    3. C Point-of-sale discounts at LPG distribution centers
    4. D Issuance of physical food coupons

41. Which of the following best describes the recent observation of the Telangana High Court regarding the distribution of welfare scheme benefits?

    1. A Financial assistance can only be distributed through digital direct benefit transfers.
    2. B The distribution should be handled by administrative authorities rather than legislators.
    3. C The schemes are unconstitutional and must be immediately terminated.
    4. D Legislators must personally oversee the distribution to ensure transparency.

42. The Right to Education (RTE) Act, which operationalises Article 21A of the Indian Constitution, mandates which of the following regarding school infrastructure?

    1. A Schools must maintain specific norms and standards for infrastructure, including classrooms and toilets.
    2. B Infrastructure standards are only applicable to private unaided schools.
    3. C The state government is exempt from providing infrastructure if community buildings are available.
    4. D It is the responsibility of the central government to provide all physical infrastructure.

43. The Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE) was created by merging which two departments?

    1. A Food Safety and Drugs Control Administration
    2. B Public Health and Municipal Administration
    3. C Home Affairs and Food Safety
    4. D Consumer Affairs and Agriculture

44. Which of the following categories is commonly used by the Election Commission to identify names for removal from electoral rolls during a revision process?

    1. A EPIC (Elector Photo Identity Card)
    2. B VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail)
    3. C ASDDO (Absent, Shifted, Duplicate, Dead, and Others)
    4. D ERO (Electoral Registration Officer)

45. Which of the following sectors are specifically targeted by the expanded U.S. secondary sanctions against Iran as per recent reports?

    1. A Agriculture, textiles, and pharmaceuticals
    2. B Banking, telecommunications, and heavy machinery
    3. C Digital assets, technology, gold, aviation, and shipping
    4. D Renewable energy, tourism, and education

46. What is the primary business model of the surveillance firm Flock as described in the report?

    1. A Public-private partnership funded solely by government grants
    2. B Data brokerage and advertising services
    3. C Direct sale of hardware only
    4. D Surveillance-as-a-service subscriptions and hardware sales

47. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) functions under the administrative control of which of the following?

    1. A Ministry of Education
    2. B University Grants Commission
    3. C Ministry of Science and Technology
    4. D National Council of Educational Research and Training

48. In the context of judicial oversight of police conduct, what is the primary role of a nodal officer appointed by a High Powered Enquiry Committee?

    1. A To conduct independent forensic investigations of crime scenes
    2. B To represent the police department in court proceedings
    3. C To draft new legislation regarding protest management
    4. D To receive and process complaints of misconduct directly from affected individuals

49. Which of the following factors is primarily responsible for the recurring issue of urban flooding in the Delhi-NCR region during heavy rainfall events?

    1. A Inadequate drainage infrastructure and unplanned urban expansion
    2. B Excessive groundwater extraction leading to land subsidence
    3. C High seismic activity in the Indo-Gangetic plain
    4. D Lack of meteorological forecasting technology

50. In the context of the recent ICMR-NIN study, what is the primary function of lysosomes within nerve cells?

    1. A Acting as a waste-disposal and recycling system for damaged proteins
    2. B Regulating the electrical potential of the cell membrane
    3. C Synthesizing neurotransmitters for signal transmission
    4. D Producing energy in the form of ATP for cellular activities

51. The Hilsa Fishery Advisory (HiFA) system, recently in the news, is developed by which of the following organisations?

    1. A National Institute of Oceanography (NIO)
    2. B Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS)
    3. C Fishery Survey of India (FSI)
    4. D Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI)

52. Which of the following environmental factors significantly influence the migration and aggregation of Hilsa fish in the Bay of Bengal?

    1. A Increase in oceanic pH levels
    2. B Deep-sea volcanic activity
    3. C Changes in atmospheric pressure alone
    4. D Salinity gradients and nutrient influx from river discharge

53. Section 22A of the Registration Act, as frequently cited in land administration, primarily deals with:

    1. A The prohibition of registration for specific categories of land to prevent illegal transfers
    2. B The mandatory registration of all agricultural land transfers
    3. C The process of land acquisition for public infrastructure projects
    4. D The taxation framework for urban residential properties

54. The 'Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN)' initiative is primarily associated with which of the following schemes?

    1. A Mid-Day Meal Scheme
    2. B Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
    3. C Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan
    4. D Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan

55. Which of the following entities are responsible for the implementation of the e-KYC mandate for domestic LPG consumers in India?

    1. A Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
    2. B Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) like Indian Oil, HPCL, and BPCL
    3. C Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board
    4. D Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology

56. Which of the following is the primary regulatory body responsible for the accreditation of technical and engineering education in India?

    1. A University Grants Commission (UGC)
    2. B State Board of Technical Education and Training (SBTET)
    3. C National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET)
    4. D All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)

57. The digital mathematics and science programme for Grades 6-12 in Telangana was implemented in collaboration with which of the following?

    1. A National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)
    2. B Khan Academy
    3. C NITI Aayog
    4. D Ministry of Education

58. National Highway 2, which was recently in the news due to security concerns in Manipur, connects which two major cities?

    1. A Imphal and Kohima
    2. B Guwahati and Shillong
    3. C Imphal and Dimapur
    4. D Dimapur and Itanagar

59. What is the primary objective of the proposed Terminal 5 development at the Chennai airport?

    1. A To reduce the number of flights to minimize noise pollution
    2. B To facilitate international cargo operations only
    3. C To replace the existing airport entirely
    4. D To increase passenger handling capacity to 55 million per annum

60. In the context of hospital safety in India, which of the following systems are mandatory components of fire safety infrastructure in modern healthcare buildings?

    1. A Fire alarms, automatic sprinkler systems, and smoke detection systems
    2. B Centralized air conditioning and ventilation monitoring
    3. C Only fire extinguishers and emergency exits
    4. D Only specialized medical gas pipeline certification

61. The SCALP missile system, recently in the news regarding technology transfer, is a variant of which of the following missile systems?

    1. A BrahMos
    2. B Exocet
    3. C Storm Shadow
    4. D Tomahawk

62. What is the approximate operational range of the Storm Shadow/SCALP air-launched missile system?

    1. A More than 1000 kilometers
    2. B More than 250 kilometers
    3. C More than 100 kilometers
    4. D More than 500 kilometers

63. The city of Yanbu, mentioned in the context of recent maritime security incidents, is located on the coast of which sea?

    1. A Mediterranean Sea
    2. B Red Sea
    3. C Persian Gulf
    4. D Arabian Sea

64. Which of the following best describes the primary objective of the Sri Lankan government's recent push for renewable energy projects in the Mannar region?

    1. A To increase the total installed capacity to 10,000 MW
    2. B To replace all existing hydropower plants with wind energy
    3. C To reduce dependence on imported fuel and conserve foreign reserves
    4. D To export electricity to neighboring countries

65. The Gangwal School of Medical Sciences and Technology is being developed at which of the following institutions?

    1. A IIT Kanpur
    2. B IIT Delhi
    3. C IIT Madras
    4. D IIT Bombay

66. Which of the following best describes the primary focus of the partnership between TCS and Porsche AG?

    1. A Outsourcing of Porsche's entire global human resources management
    2. B Deployment of AI-driven solutions across the mobility value chain
    3. C Expansion of retail automotive sales in the Indian market
    4. D Development of electric vehicle battery manufacturing plants in Germany

67. Which of the following best describes the primary objective of the recent funding raised by Third Wave Coffee as reported?

    1. A Acquisition of international coffee plantation assets
    2. B Diversification into manufacturing of coffee processing machinery
    3. C Debt restructuring and repayment of existing bank loans
    4. D Geographic expansion and increasing market density in high-potential cities

68. Which of the following best describes the primary focus of the recent investment commitment by Godrej Industries Group in Haryana?

    1. A Expansion of agricultural processing units in rural districts
    2. B Investment in renewable energy and green hydrogen projects
    3. C Development of residential and Grade A+ office infrastructure
    4. D Establishment of heavy manufacturing and automobile hubs

69. Which of the following best describes the projected growth of the Indian coaching industry by 2030, as per sector estimates?

    1. A $52 billion
    2. B $19 billion
    3. C $32 billion
    4. D $3,800 crore

70. In the context of English grammar, which of the following collective nouns can function with either a singular or plural verb depending on the context?

    1. A All of the above
    2. B Government
    3. C Committee
    4. D Jury

71. The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) is an umbrella body consisting of how many bank employees' and officers' unions?

    1. A Nine
    2. B Ten
    3. C Eight
    4. D Seven

72. Which of the following agencies is primarily responsible for providing specialized response during industrial chemical disasters in India?

    1. A State Pollution Control Board
    2. B National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM)
    3. C Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
    4. D National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)

73. With reference to the deportation of fugitives, which of the following best describes the role of Indian agencies in recent operations as reported by the Union Home Ministry?

    1. A Facilitating apprehension and deportation through international coordination.
    2. B Utilizing Interpol Red Corner Notices as the sole legal mechanism for all deportations.
    3. C Issuing international arrest warrants that automatically trigger immediate extradition.
    4. D Directly conducting police operations within foreign sovereign territories.

74. Which of the following organizations is primarily responsible for setting the procurement and quality requirements for food grains in India?

    1. A Food Corporation of India (FCI)
    2. B National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)
    3. C Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)
    4. D Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)

75. With reference to the Indiramma Housing project in Hyderabad, which of the following statements is correct?

    1. A Beneficiary selection for the housing units is determined through a lottery system.
    2. B Application data is managed by the central Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
    3. C The total number of flats remains fixed at the initial target of 7,680.
    4. D The project is exclusively for rural development outside the Outer Ring Road.

76. Which of the following categories of under-construction buildings are specifically targeted for demolition by the Cyberabad Municipal Corporation as per recent enforcement guidelines?

    1. A Only buildings constructed on government-owned land without prior approval.
    2. B Buildings that have completed construction but lack occupancy certificates.
    3. C Buildings on plots below 75 sq yards exceeding 7 metres in height and buildings on plots above 75 sq yards without permission.
    4. D All buildings exceeding 10 metres in height regardless of plot size.

77. Which of the following best describes the medical procedure 'pyeloplasty' as mentioned in recent clinical reports?

    1. A A non-invasive method to treat chronic childhood seizures
    2. B A robotic technique used exclusively for cardiac surgery in infants
    3. C A surgical reconstruction of the renal pelvis to treat ureteropelvic junction obstruction
    4. D A procedure to remove a brain lesion causing epilepsy

78. Which of the following organizations is responsible for issuing weather forecasts and bulletins for thunderstorm activity in India?

    1. A Central Water Commission
    2. B National Disaster Management Authority
    3. C India Meteorological Department
    4. D Telangana Development Planning Society