26 August 2026

Quiz — 26 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 primary objective of the GOBARdhan scheme?

   1. A To promote the production of Compressed Biogas and manage organic waste for sustainable energy.
   2. B To incentivize the export of agricultural residues to international markets.
   3. C To mandate the use of solar power in all rural sugar mills.
   4. D To provide direct cash subsidies to farmers for purchasing chemical fertilizers.

2. Regarding the feedstock used for Compressed Biogas (CBG) production, which statement is correct?

   1. A Agricultural residues like paddy straw generally yield 10% or more gas.
   2. B Cattle dung is the most easily transported feedstock due to its low moisture content.
   3. C Press mud is a non-perishable feedstock that can be stored for years.
   4. D Paddy straw has a lower gas yield compared to cattle dung.

3. Which of the following Supreme Court cases established the current five-member collegium system for judicial appointments?

   1. A First Judges Case (1981)
   2. B Secretary, State of Karnataka vs Umadevi (2006)
   3. C Second Judges Case (1993)
   4. D Third Judges Case (1998)

4. In the context of judicial transparency, what was the significance of the 2019 Supreme Court judgment in 'CPIO vs Subhash Chandra Agarwal'?

   1. A It held that the office of the Chief Justice of India falls within the ambit of the Right to Information Act.
   2. B It established a new eligibility matrix for judicial candidates.
   3. C It mandated televised interviews for all High Court judges.
   4. D It declared the collegium system unconstitutional.

5. The 'Detect, Disrupt and Destroy' framework mentioned in the context of Indian security policy is primarily associated with which of the following?

   1. A Cyber misinformation campaigns
   2. B Left-wing extremism
   3. C Border infrastructure development
   4. D Narcotics control

6. Which organization is responsible for the development of conventional missile systems in India, whose technology is now being transferred to the private sector?

   1. A Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
   2. B Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
   3. C Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
   4. D Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)

7. Which of the following constitutional provisions is most frequently cited by critics when challenging the validity of state-level anti-conversion laws?

   1. A Article 370 and Article 371
   2. B Article 356 and Article 360
   3. C Article 14 and Article 21
   4. D Article 324 and Article 326

8. The 'creamy layer' concept in the context of OBC reservation was primarily introduced to ensure that:

   1. A Reservation benefits are restricted to candidates with no parental income
   2. B Government employees are excluded from all forms of affirmative action
   3. C The benefits of reservation reach the truly needy within the backward classes
   4. D Only the most economically disadvantaged sections receive reservation benefits

9. Which of the following documents serves as a foundational framework for the India-China boundary negotiations as reaffirmed in recent talks?

   1. A The 1954 Panchsheel Treaty
   2. B The 2005 Political Guiding Principles
   3. C The 1993 Agreement on the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility
   4. D The 2013 Border Defence Cooperation Agreement

10. According to the MoSPI report for July 2026, what percentage of the revised project cost has been incurred as cumulative expenditure for the monitored infrastructure projects?

    1. A 17.00%
    2. B 51.91%
    3. C 38.00%
    4. D 67.50%

11. According to the RBI's August bulletin, which factor was primarily responsible for the marginal increase in headline CPI inflation in July 2026?

    1. A Supply-side pressures in food and beverages
    2. B Decrease in merchandise exports
    3. C Increase in core inflation
    4. D Sharp rise in fuel prices

12. Which of the following factors primarily determines the frequency of launch windows for a lunar mission?

    1. A The alignment of the Earth, the satellite, and the target body
    2. B The distance between the Sun and the Moon
    3. C The rotation speed of the Earth on its axis
    4. D The atmospheric density at the launch site

13. What is the primary reason for the complexity of launching a spacecraft to the moon's south pole?

    1. A The lack of communication satellites near the lunar poles
    2. B The extreme distance compared to the lunar equator
    3. C The high gravitational pull of the lunar poles
    4. D The need for specific north-south orbital planes and solar lighting conditions

14. According to the All India Survey on Higher Education, what trend was observed in undergraduate enrolment in India for the year 2023-24?

    1. A A record increase in enrolment
    2. B Stagnant growth across all states
    3. C A sharp increase in female enrolment only
    4. D A decline of 93,322

15. Which of the following best describes the trend in corporate investment as a percentage of GDP between 2007-08 and 2024-25?

    1. A Fluctuated without a clear trend
    2. B Decreased from 17.3% to 10.3%
    3. C Increased from 10.3% to 17.3%
    4. D Remained constant at 17.3%

16. Which of the following factors is identified as a primary challenge for the Indian Air Force in a potential conflict with China compared to Pakistan?

    1. A Geographical constraints and limited airbase infrastructure
    2. B Reliance on outdated communication technology
    3. C Lack of advanced fighter aircraft
    4. D Total absence of integrated air defence systems

17. What is the primary argument used by the Indian Air Force to support its current model of operational flexibility over fixed theatre commands?

    1. A Fixed commands are prohibited by international military treaties
    2. B The model has been proven effective in past conflicts like Balakot
    3. C The model is mandated by the Constitution of India
    4. D The model is the only way to reduce the cost of interceptors

18. Which of the following bodies is responsible for the implementation of the Cauvery water-sharing arrangements between the basin states?

    1. A Inter-State River Water Disputes Tribunal
    2. B Central Water Commission
    3. C Cauvery Water Regulation Committee
    4. D Cauvery Water Management Authority

19. Which of the following bodies is empowered to adjudicate disputes related to environmental protection and the conservation of forests and other natural resources in India?

    1. A Ministry of Jal Shakti
    2. B Supreme Court of India
    3. C Central Pollution Control Board
    4. D National Green Tribunal

20. Which statutory body is responsible for regulating food safety and standards in India, including the monitoring of health claims on food products?

    1. A Consumer Protection Authority
    2. B Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
    3. C Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
    4. D Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

21. Which of the following best describes the proposed scope for a comprehensive study of the Aravali range as suggested by environmental experts?

    1. A A study limited to the Delhi-NCR region
    2. B A cumulative Environmental and Social Impact Study spanning all 64 Aravali districts
    3. C An assessment focused exclusively on mining activities in Rajasthan
    4. D A report restricted to the biodiversity of the central Aravali range

22. Which of the following is the only legally binding international agreement that links environmental management directly to sustainable land stewardship?

    1. A UNFCCC
    2. B Kyoto Protocol
    3. C CBD
    4. D UNCCD

23. The UNCCD was adopted as a result of which international summit?

    1. A Stockholm Conference 1972
    2. B Rio Earth Summit 1992
    3. C Johannesburg Summit 2002
    4. D Paris Agreement 2015

24. What is the primary objective of the National Shipping Board's proposed roadmap to add 100 vessels to India's merchant fleet?

    1. A To reduce dependence on foreign shipping lines for critical cargo
    2. B To establish new naval bases in the Indian Ocean Region
    3. C To increase the export of finished manufactured goods
    4. D To privatize all major ports under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways

25. Approximately how much does India spend annually on freight charges paid to foreign shipping lines according to the National Shipping Board?

    1. A $25 billion
    2. B $100 billion
    3. C $50 billion
    4. D $75 billion

26. Which of the following bodies or sources has been suggested as a reference for preparing a standardized caste list to ensure accurate enumeration?

    1. A National Commission for Scheduled Tribes
    2. B NITI Aayog
    3. C Election Commission of India
    4. D Anthropological Survey of India

27. Which of the following multilateral groupings were explicitly mentioned as platforms for close coordination between India and Russia in recent bilateral talks?

    1. A UN, G7, BRICS, and SCO
    2. B BRICS, G20, SAARC, and UN
    3. C UN, SCO, BRICS, and G20
    4. D G20, ASEAN, SCO, and UN

28. Which of the following best describes the 'essential religious practice' test as applied by Indian courts?

    1. A A test to mandate uniform dress codes in all private institutions.
    2. B A test to allow the state to regulate all religious activities.
    3. C A test to determine if a practice is mandatory for the survival of a religion.
    4. D A test to ensure all religious practices are protected under Article 25.

29. Under which Article of the Constitution of India can the President or Governor suspend a Chairman or member of a Public Service Commission pending an inquiry?

    1. A Article 323
    2. B Article 317
    3. C Article 315
    4. D Article 320

30. What is the primary stated objective of the U.S. administration regarding the proposed increase in H-1B visa fees?

    1. A To permanently terminate the H-1B visa program for Indian nationals
    2. B To recover immigration system costs and encourage the hiring of American workers
    3. C To restrict all foreign investment in the U.S. technology sector
    4. D To subsidize the expansion of Indian technology firms in the U.S.

31. According to the IMF’s Government Finance Statistics Manual (GFSM 2014), which of the following is considered 'government revenue'?

    1. A Off-budget borrowings
    2. B Royalties and dividends from public assets
    3. C Market loans and bonds
    4. D Proceeds from the sale of public land

32. What is the primary objective of improving 'tax buoyancy' in the context of state fiscal policy?

    1. A To shift the tax burden from direct to indirect taxes
    2. B To reduce the state's reliance on central government grants
    3. C To ensure tax revenue grows at a rate higher than the growth of the economy
    4. D To increase tax rates on all citizens

33. Which of the following organizations are involved in the proposed collaborative research project on Ayurvedic treatment for rheumatism?

    1. A WHO, ICMR, and the Ayurvedic Trust
    2. B ICMR, Ayurvedic Trust, and the Regional Advisory Committee
    3. C WHO, Ayurvedic Trust, and the Ministry of Health
    4. D WHO, Ministry of AYUSH, and ICMR

34. Which constitutional body is primarily responsible for the superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls in India?

    1. A State Election Commission
    2. B Chief Electoral Officer of the State
    3. C Election Commission of India
    4. D Ministry of Law and Justice

35. The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (UNCERD) is a body established under which of the following?

    1. A International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
    2. B UN Human Rights Council Charter
    3. C International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
    4. D Universal Declaration of Human Rights

36. Which of the following best describes the role of a Parliamentary Standing Committee in the Indian legislative process?

    1. A To pass final judgments on criminal cases referred by the Supreme Court
    2. B To act as a judicial body for resolving inter-state political disputes
    3. C To provide detailed scrutiny of government policies and departmental functioning
    4. D To replace the executive branch in the implementation of law and order

37. The Census in India is conducted under the provisions of which of the following acts?

    1. A The Census Act, 1948
    2. B The Citizenship Act, 1955
    3. C The Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969
    4. D The National Population Register Act, 2003

38. Which legislation governs the regulation of assisted reproductive technology clinics and banks in India?

    1. A Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021
    2. B Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021
    3. C Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994
    4. D Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2020

39. Which articles of the Indian Constitution are primarily cited by petitioners challenging state-imposed language mandates for professional licenses in the context of freedom of movement and residence?

    1. A Articles 21 and 22
    2. B Articles 19(1)(d) and 19(1)(e)
    3. C Articles 25 and 26
    4. D Articles 14 and 15

40. Which body is primarily responsible for the management of disaster relief operations at the state level in India?

    1. A Ministry of Home Affairs
    2. B State Disaster Management Authority
    3. C National Disaster Management Authority
    4. D District Planning Committee

41. Under which legislation was the eviction order for the Delhi Race Club premises passed by the Estate Officer?

    1. A The Land Acquisition Act, 2013
    2. B The Delhi Development Act, 1957
    3. C The Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976
    4. D The Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971

42. Which of the following is a primary strategy mentioned for immediate mitigation of urban waterlogging in Delhi?

    1. A Construction of new underground dams
    2. B Complete overhaul of the city's sewage treatment plants
    3. C Desilting and deployment of temporary pumping arrangements
    4. D Mandatory rainwater harvesting for all residential buildings

43. Which of the following best describes the primary objective of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?

    1. A To conduct direct elections for municipal bodies
    2. B To redraw the boundaries of parliamentary constituencies
    3. C To register political parties for state-level contests
    4. D To update and verify the accuracy of voter registration data

44. What is the primary operational characteristic of a loitering munition as described in the context of military strikes?

    1. A It is a satellite-guided naval projectile used for maritime surveillance.
    2. B It is a long-range ballistic missile designed for high-altitude interception.
    3. C It is a ground-based radar system used for early warning detection.
    4. D It is an unmanned aerial system capable of searching for targets over a specific duration before striking.

45. Which of the following best describes the current capability of climate models regarding the Indian Monsoon?

    1. A Models show higher skill in predicting El Niño compared to All-Indian Monsoon Rainfall (AIMR).
    2. B Models have fully mapped the mechanistic drivers of active-break monsoon cycles.
    3. C Models are highly effective at predicting subseasonal extreme weather events at the local farm scale.
    4. D Models can predict monsoon onset and spatial evolution with 90% accuracy.

46. Which of the following countries border the Strait of Hormuz?

    1. A Iran and Oman
    2. B Iran and Saudi Arabia
    3. C Oman and United Arab Emirates
    4. D Iran and Iraq

47. The Rohingya refugee crisis, which has led to the displacement of over one million people into Bangladesh, is primarily linked to instability in which region of Myanmar?

    1. A Shan State
    2. B Kayin State
    3. C Rakhine State
    4. D Kachin State

48. The term 'sovereign AI,' as referenced in the context of emerging data center investments, primarily refers to:

    1. A A nation's capability to produce and control its own AI infrastructure, data, and computing resources.
    2. B The development of AI models exclusively by government-owned public sector undertakings.
    3. C The use of AI to automate the administrative functions of the sovereign state.
    4. D The mandatory requirement for all AI companies to store data within physical borders.

49. Under which section of the Indian Penal Code is the offence of 'attempt to murder' defined?

    1. A Section 307
    2. B Section 498A
    3. C Section 302
    4. D Section 320

50. Which of the following courts issued the directive regarding the relocation of the Hathras victim's family?

    1. A Delhi High Court
    2. B Allahabad High Court
    3. C Lucknow District Court
    4. D Supreme Court of India

51. Which of the following best describes the current status of the H1N1 pdm09 strain in India according to the ICMR?

    1. A It is currently being replaced by the H3N2 strain as the dominant subtype.
    2. B It is a newly emerged, highly dangerous strain requiring emergency vaccination.
    3. C It has transitioned into a seasonal influenza virus since the 2009 pandemic.
    4. D It is no longer considered a public health concern in India.

52. What is the primary mechanism used by India for tracking influenza and other respiratory viruses?

    1. A A network of 73 sentinel hospitals.
    2. B Mandatory universal testing for all citizens.
    3. C Randomized household surveys conducted by the Ministry of Education.
    4. D Compulsory reporting by private pharmacies only.

53. Which organization is responsible for the procurement and distribution of essential commodities like onions and sugar to stabilize market prices in India?

    1. A National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd.
    2. B Small Farmers Agri-Business Consortium
    3. C Food Corporation of India
    4. D Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority

54. Which of the following best describes the stated objective of the U.S.-led 'Operation Economic Outcast'?

    1. A To promote renewable energy adoption in the Middle East
    2. B To block potential sources of revenue for Iran
    3. C To regulate global petroleum pricing mechanisms
    4. D To facilitate trade agreements between India and Iran

55. Which of the following best describes the core area of research for the biotechnology company eGenesis?

    1. A Production of affordable generic vaccines for developing nations
    2. B Genetically engineered, human-compatible organs for transplantation
    3. C Advancement of gene-editing techniques for agricultural crop resilience
    4. D Development of synthetic pharmaceutical drugs for chronic diseases

56. Which body is responsible for the determination of User Development Fees (UDF) at major airports in India?

    1. A Ministry of Civil Aviation
    2. B Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA)
    3. C Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
    4. D Airports Authority of India (AAI)

57. Which of the following factors has been identified as a primary reason for the potential weakening of earnings momentum for Indian listed firms in Q2 FY27?

    1. A A reduction in consumer price inflation to historic lows
    2. B A significant increase in foreign direct investment
    3. C Elevated commodity prices and fading inventory gains
    4. D A decline in corporate tax rates

58. What is the primary motivation for AI companies to engage in 'destructive scanning' of physical books?

    1. A To create high-quality, original datasets for training AI models
    2. B To facilitate the public distribution of rare literary works
    3. C To comply with international copyright laws regarding digital archiving
    4. D To reduce the storage costs of physical libraries

59. The festival of Onam is traditionally celebrated to commemorate the annual visit of which legendary figure?

    1. A King Mahabali
    2. B Lord Krishna
    3. C Parashurama
    4. D Lord Rama

60. According to the recent report on recruitment scams in India, which of the following groups is identified as being most vulnerable to fraudulent job opportunities?

    1. A Mid-career professionals with 5-10 years of experience
    2. B Early-career professionals with 0-2 years of experience
    3. C Government sector job aspirants
    4. D Senior management and executive level applicants

61. The 'Talent Accelerator' programme, recently in the news, is an initiative primarily aimed at:

    1. A Upskilling government employees in digital governance
    2. B Facilitating research collaborations between STEM and non-STEM universities
    3. C Onboarding and integrating new graduates into a corporate environment
    4. D Providing vocational training to rural youth under Skill India

62. Which of the following bodies is primarily responsible for the protection and welfare of children in need of care and protection under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015?

    1. A National Human Rights Commission
    2. B State Commission for Women
    3. C Child Welfare Committee
    4. D National Commission for Protection of Child Rights

63. Which organization is primarily responsible for coordinating maritime search and rescue operations in the Indian Search and Rescue Region?

    1. A Indian Navy
    2. B Indian Coast Guard
    3. C Directorate General of Shipping
    4. D National Disaster Management Authority

64. The 'Mission Rozgar' initiative, as mentioned in recent state government reports, is primarily associated with which of the following objectives?

    1. A Promotion of private sector entrepreneurship
    2. B Skill development for the informal sector
    3. C Facilitating government job recruitment
    4. D Providing unemployment allowance to graduates

65. The Shivaji Stadium metro station is being developed as an interchange between which two lines?

    1. A Magenta Line and Airport Express Line
    2. B Yellow Line and Blue Line
    3. C Pink Line and Airport Express Line
    4. D Violet Line and Red Line

66. Tele MANAS, often cited in the context of mental health support, stands for:

    1. A Technical Mental Health Assessment and Network for All Students
    2. B Tele Mental Health Awareness and National Action System
    3. C Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States
    4. D Tele Mental Health Advocacy and National Academic Support