31 August 2026

Quiz — 31 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 was explicitly excluded from the income/wealth test criteria for the OBC creamy layer under the 1993 DoPT Office Memorandum?

   1. A Income from urban property and buildings
   2. B Income from business and trade
   3. C Income from salaries and agricultural land
   4. D Income from capital gains

2. The 'creamy layer' concept for OBCs was first introduced following which landmark Supreme Court judgment?

   1. A Indra Sawhney case
   2. B Jarnail Singh case
   3. C M. Nagaraj case
   4. D Kesavananda Bharati case

3. Which of the following best describes the 'creamy layer' concept in the context of Indian reservation policy?

   1. A A criteria used to exclude the socially and economically advanced members of a reserved category from reservation benefits.
   2. B A policy mandating the reservation of seats in the private sector for backward classes.
   3. C A legal framework for the horizontal reservation of women in public employment.
   4. D A mechanism to provide additional reservation to the most marginalized sections of society.

4. Which of the following projects is explicitly mentioned as part of the ongoing bilateral discussions between China and Bangladesh?

   1. A Dhaka-Chittagong High-Speed Rail Link
   2. B Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta Development Initiative
   3. C Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project
   4. D Bay of Bengal Maritime Security Pact

5. Which regional body is responsible for nominating candidates for the Asian seats on the United Nations Security Council?

   1. A The UN General Assembly
   2. B The Asian Group
   3. C The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
   4. D The Security Council Secretariat

6. Which of the following best describes the core objective of the National Framework on Safe Reuse of Treated Water (SRTW), 2022?

   1. A To provide a national vision while empowering states to develop localized reuse policies.
   2. B To centralize the management of all urban water bodies under a single national authority.
   3. C To mandate the privatization of all sewage treatment plants in India.
   4. D To replace freshwater reserves entirely with treated wastewater for all domestic purposes.

7. The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) was ratified by India in which year?

   1. A 1948
   2. B 1975
   3. C 1992
   4. D 1968

8. Which of the following payloads on the Aditya-L1 mission is specifically designed to observe the sun in near-ultraviolet (NUV) filters?

   1. A SUIT
   2. B SoLEXS
   3. C None of the above
   4. D HEL1OS

9. According to recent research, what is the primary mechanism identified as a precursor to major solar flares?

   1. A Sudden cooling of the solar corona
   2. B Decrease in X-ray emissions from active regions
   3. C Repeated small-scale energy releases that destabilize magnetic fields
   4. D Rapid expansion of the solar photosphere

10. Which article of the Indian Constitution provides for the appointment of a 'distinguished jurist' as a judge of the Supreme Court?

    1. A Article 121
    2. B Article 143
    3. C Article 124(3)
    4. D Article 126

11. Which of the following best describes the current status of the India-Chile trade relationship as of August 2025?

    1. A Negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) are ongoing.
    2. B India and Chile have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to eliminate all import tariffs.
    3. C Trade relations have been suspended due to a significant trade deficit.
    4. D A fully implemented Free Trade Agreement is currently in force.

12. Which of the following locations serves as the designated border point for measuring water flows between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in the Cauvery river dispute?

    1. A Billigundulu
    2. B Mettur
    3. C Kabini
    4. D Krishnarajasagara

13. Which of the following is the primary intended use for inert material generated during the processing of legacy waste at landfill sites?

    1. A Generation of electricity in waste-to-energy plants
    2. B Road construction and filling low-lying areas
    3. C Composting for agricultural use
    4. D Manufacturing of plastic polymers

14. Which of the following best describes the primary cause of the recent flash floods in the Nepal-China border region?

    1. A Tectonic plate subduction
    2. B Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF)
    3. C Monsoon-induced cloudburst
    4. D Dam failure in the Trishuli river

15. According to the UN Development Program, how many GLOF events has Nepal experienced since the 1970s?

    1. A 16
    2. B 546
    3. C 20
    4. D 26

16. With reference to the recent migration of MGNREGA workers to the VB-G RAM G, which of the following statements is correct?

    1. A Pending e-KYC does not prevent a worker from demanding or receiving employment.
    2. B Only workers who have completed their e-KYC have been migrated to the new mission.
    3. C e-KYC is a mandatory precondition for demanding work under the scheme.
    4. D The responsibility for conducting e-KYC lies with the Union Ministry of Rural Development directly.

17. Which of the following best describes the recent upgrade in India-Uzbekistan bilateral relations?

    1. A Economic Cooperation Agreement to Comprehensive Economic Partnership
    2. B Strategic Partnership to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
    3. C Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to Special Privileged Strategic Partnership
    4. D Preferential Trade Agreement to Free Trade Agreement

18. What is the primary objective of the agreement between NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL) and Uzbekistan’s National Interbank Processing Centre JSC?

    1. A To establish a joint central bank for Central Asia
    2. B To create a common digital currency for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
    3. C To facilitate the transfer of Indian currency to Uzbek banks
    4. D To enable Indian UPI apps to scan Uzbekistan’s national QR (UZQR) for payments

19. Which legal principle, established in the case of Anwar Ali Sarkar v. State of West Bengal (1952), is cited to justify regulatory distinctions in educational qualifications?

    1. A Intelligible differentia
    2. B Separation of powers
    3. C Due process of law
    4. D Basic Structure Doctrine

20. Which of the following factors were cited as reasons for the recent increase in Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) inflows into Indian equities?

    1. A Improving corporate earnings and resilient economic activity
    2. B Rising geopolitical tensions and high inflation
    3. C Restrictive monetary policy and reduced domestic consumption
    4. D Sharp depreciation of the Indian rupee and increased trade deficit

21. Which Ministry is responsible for notifying the Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2026?

    1. A Ministry of Science and Technology
    2. B Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
    3. C Ministry of Home Affairs
    4. D Ministry of Consumer Affairs

22. What is the compliance period provided in the Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2026, before they come into force?

    1. A 30 days
    2. B 180 days
    3. C 365 days
    4. D 90 days

23. Which of the following best describes the primary demand of the ongoing Maratha quota agitation in Maharashtra?

    1. A Direct inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes category
    2. B A separate statehood for the Marathwada region
    3. C A 50% reservation quota in all state government jobs
    4. D Issuance of Kunbi caste certificates for the Maratha community

24. Which of the following is the primary objective of the PM SVANidhi Yojana?

    1. A Providing direct cash transfers to unemployed youth
    2. B Providing housing subsidies to rural women
    3. C Offering collateral-free working capital loans to urban street vendors
    4. D Promoting space technology education for girls

25. What is the primary focus of the 'Mission ShaktiSAT' initiative?

    1. A Enhancing satellite technology skills among female students globally
    2. B Providing scholarships for higher education in medicine
    3. C Providing vocational training to rural artisans
    4. D Cleaning urban water bodies through student participation

26. Which of the following authorities has the power to prorogue the Houses of Parliament?

    1. A The Prime Minister
    2. B The President of India
    3. C The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
    4. D The Speaker of the Lok Sabha

27. What is the current total strength of the Lok Sabha as mentioned in the context?

    1. A 550
    2. B 545
    3. C 540
    4. D 543

28. Which of the following bodies is primarily responsible for conducting civil services and staff selection examinations in Indian states, as referenced in the context of recruitment reforms?

    1. A State Public Service Commission
    2. B Staff Selection Commission
    3. C Union Public Service Commission
    4. D National Testing Agency

29. Under the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana, what is the specified monthly financial assistance provided to eligible women?

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

30. Which of the following documents is NOT explicitly mentioned as an acceptable alternative to an Aadhaar card for registration under the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana?

    1. A PAN card
    2. B Ration card
    3. C Voter ID card
    4. D Driving License

31. Which organization is primarily responsible for the formulation and implementation of the Master Plan for Delhi-2047?

    1. A National Capital Region Planning Board
    2. B Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
    3. C Delhi Development Authority
    4. D Municipal Corporation of Delhi

32. Which body is responsible for conducting the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET)-PG?

    1. A National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS)
    2. B Medical Council of India (MCI)
    3. C National Testing Agency (NTA)
    4. D Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

33. According to the provided text, what is the primary risk associated with the unexamined reliance on AI for career guidance?

    1. A The creation of an illusion of clarity without deep understanding
    2. B The total replacement of human teachers by automated systems
    3. C The lack of access to global university data
    4. D The high financial cost of AI tools for students

34. Which of the following features is NOT part of the new safety controls introduced by Meta for teen users?

    1. A Restriction on 'extreme makeup filters'
    2. B Automatic blocking of all direct messages (DMs) during school hours
    3. C Ability to choose a non-algorithmic feed
    4. D Default two-hour daily time limit

35. In which year did the government of Bihar impose a total ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol?

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

36. According to the acceptable limits for drinking water quality, what is the standard threshold for Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in mg/L?

    1. A 1000 mg/L
    2. B 1500 mg/L
    3. C 500 mg/L
    4. D 200 mg/L

37. What is the primary objective of 'reverse mentorship' in an educational context?

    1. A To replace traditional faculty with student-led instruction
    2. B To foster mutual learning and collaboration between educators and students
    3. C To eliminate the need for formal academic assessments
    4. D To prioritize social media usage over traditional textbooks

38. According to Quantum Electrodynamics (QED), what is the primary reason the vacuum of space exhibits birefringence in the presence of a strong magnetic field?

    1. A The presence of dark matter particles interacting with light.
    2. B The interaction of light with virtual electron-positron pairs.
    3. C The gravitational lensing effect caused by the magnetar's mass.
    4. D The scattering of light by ionized plasma on the surface of the star.

39. What is a 'magnetar' in the context of astrophysics?

    1. A A star that has exhausted its nuclear fuel and collapsed into a dense object with an extreme magnetic field.
    2. B A theoretical particle that mediates the force of magnetism in a vacuum.
    3. C A type of black hole that emits high-energy radio pulses.
    4. D A satellite instrument designed to measure the polarisation of cosmic microwave background radiation.

40. Which of the following best describes the distinction between 'literacy' and 'education' as discussed in the context of modern pedagogical challenges?

    1. A Literacy is the ability to read, while education is the ability to pass competitive examinations.
    2. B Literacy provides access to knowledge, whereas education involves the responsible and humble application of that knowledge.
    3. C Literacy is limited to primary schooling, while education is exclusively reserved for higher professional degrees.
    4. D Literacy is a formal certification, while education is an informal process of skill acquisition.

41. The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is designed to be positioned at which of the following locations?

    1. A Low Earth Orbit
    2. B Lagrange point 1
    3. C Geostationary Transfer Orbit
    4. D Lagrange point 2

42. Who was the namesake of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope?

    1. A The lead engineer of the Hubble Space Telescope
    2. B The first female NASA administrator
    3. C NASA’s first chief astronomer
    4. D A pioneer in dark energy research

43. Which of the following countries are signatories to the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement?

    1. A Pakistan, Iran, and Saudi Arabia
    2. B Turkiye, Pakistan, and Qatar
    3. C Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan
    4. D Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Iran

44. Under current Indian tax regulations, how is dividend income typically taxed for an individual investor?

    1. A It is exempt from all income tax
    2. B At the investor's marginal tax rate
    3. C As a long-term capital gain at 12.5%
    4. D At a flat rate of 10%

45. Which of the following best describes the 'growth option' in a mutual fund scheme regarding dividends?

    1. A Dividends are taxed at a lower concessional rate
    2. B Dividends are paid out periodically to the investor
    3. C Dividends are reinvested and realized as capital appreciation
    4. D Dividends are converted into additional units of the same fund

46. As per the February 2026 NSE Indices Riskometer assessment, which of the following indices recorded the highest risk score?

    1. A Nifty 50
    2. B Nifty 500
    3. C Nifty Next 50
    4. D Nifty 100

47. Which index is primarily composed of the 50 companies that follow the Nifty 50 in terms of market capitalization?

    1. A Nifty 500
    2. B Nifty Midcap 50
    3. C Nifty Next 50
    4. D Nifty Largecap 50

48. Which of the following statements best describes Electronic Gold Receipts (EGRs) in the Indian financial market?

    1. A They are tax-free bonds issued exclusively for retail investors to hedge against inflation.
    2. B They are derivative contracts that do not allow for the conversion into physical gold.
    3. C They are SEBI-regulated securities representing direct ownership of physical gold held in accredited vaults.
    4. D They are debt instruments issued by the Reserve Bank of India to manage liquidity.

49. What is the primary reason gold is considered an effective diversifier in an investment portfolio?

    1. A It typically exhibits low correlation with equity and fixed income, helping to reduce portfolio volatility.
    2. B It provides a fixed annual interest rate that is higher than government securities.
    3. C It consistently outperforms equity markets during periods of economic expansion.
    4. D Its price movements are perfectly synchronized with fixed income assets.

50. Which of the following historical movements successfully transitioned into a political party that subsequently formed a state government?

    1. A The 2011 anti-corruption movement
    2. B The Uttarakhand statehood movement
    3. C The 1979 student’s agitation in Assam
    4. D The 1977 anti-emergency movement

51. Which of the following legislations provides the legal framework for organizing civilians for non-combat roles during emergencies in India?

    1. A The Disaster Management Act, 2005
    2. B The National Security Act, 1980
    3. C The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967
    4. D The Civil Defence Act, 1968

52. Which of the following statements regarding the establishment of National Law Universities (NLUs) in India is correct?

    1. A National Law Universities are established under the direct jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of India.
    2. B The Uttarakhand High Court directed the state government to initiate academic sessions even before the completion of a permanent campus.
    3. C The establishment of NLUs is exclusively governed by a single central legislation applicable to all states.
    4. D All states created in November 2000 have successfully operationalized their respective National Law Universities within five years of their formation.

53. Which agency is primarily responsible for investigating terror-related cases like the Al-Hind ISIS module conspiracy in India?

    1. A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
    2. B Intelligence Bureau (IB)
    3. C Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)
    4. D National Investigation Agency (NIA)

54. Which of the following is the national tele-mental health service launched by the Government of India to provide 24/7 free mental health support?

    1. A MANODARPAN
    2. B Tele MANAS
    3. C SAHAYOG
    4. D KIRAN

55. Which of the following services is classified as an 'All India Service' under the Constitution of India?

    1. A Indian Audit and Accounts Service
    2. B Indian Administrative Service
    3. C Indian Revenue Service
    4. D Indian Foreign Service

56. Rani Avanti Bai Lodhi is historically recognized for her role in which of the following events?

    1. A The Quit India Movement
    2. B The Non-Cooperation Movement
    3. C The Civil Disobedience Movement
    4. D The Revolt of 1857

57. Which of the following is a primary challenge faced by emergency services in densely populated urban clusters like Gandhi Nagar during fire incidents?

    1. A Lack of water supply in the city
    2. B Absence of fire safety regulations
    3. C Congested lanes restricting access for fire tenders
    4. D Lack of coordination between state and central agencies

58. Under which of the following acts is the 'Protection of Children from Sexual Offences' (POCSO) primarily governed in India?

    1. A Right to Education Act, 2009
    2. B Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
    3. C Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015
    4. D Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012