8 September 2026

Quiz — 8 September 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 'BF-BOF' method of steel production?

   1. A A process using electricity to melt scrap steel in an electric arc furnace.
   2. B A carbon-intensive process using coal in a blast furnace to smelt iron ore.
   3. C A method using green hydrogen to reduce iron ore in a direct reduction unit.
   4. D A process utilizing electromagnetic fields to process small batches of steel.

2. What is the primary objective of the National Mission on Green Steel in India?

   1. A To increase the share of electric induction furnaces to 70%.
   2. B To phase out all coal-based steel production by 2030.
   3. C To mandate the use of 100% green hydrogen in all steel plants.
   4. D To lower steelmaking emissions intensity to 2.2 tCO2e per tonne by 2029-30.

3. Which of the following pillars is NOT part of the theme for India's 2026 BRICS chairship?

   1. A Security
   2. B Sustainability
   3. C Innovation
   4. D Resilience

4. The Strait of Hormuz connects which of the following bodies of water?

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

5. Which of the following best describes the 'double deflation' method in the context of GDP estimation?

   1. A A technique to estimate value added by deflating output and intermediate consumption separately.
   2. B A method to adjust for both consumer and producer price inflation simultaneously.
   3. C A statistical tool used to reconcile the difference between nominal and real GDP growth.
   4. D A process of adjusting GDP for both population growth and currency depreciation.

6. The Yarlung Tsangpo river, which originates in Tibet, is known as which of the following rivers after it enters India?

   1. A Sutlej
   2. B Brahmaputra
   3. C Ganga
   4. D Indus

7. According to the recent FATF report, what percentage of surveyed jurisdictions have reported the integration of new technologies into hawala-style underground banking networks?

   1. A Approximately 70%
   2. B Approximately 60%
   3. C Approximately 50%
   4. D Approximately 80%

8. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), which approves major procurement proposals for the Indian Armed Forces, is chaired by whom?

   1. A The Chief of Defence Staff
   2. B The President of India
   3. C The Defence Minister
   4. D The Prime Minister of India

9. What is the primary objective of the newly approved DEFSAC system for the Indian Defence Forces?

   1. A To manage the logistics of ammunition supply chains
   2. B To provide real-time tracking of naval vessels
   3. C To replace paper-based identity cards with RFI-based smart cards
   4. D To provide secure satellite communication for frontline troops

10. Which year has been proposed by the Manipur government as the base year for the update of the National Register of Citizens (NRC)?

    1. A 1985
    2. B 1947
    3. C 1951
    4. D 1971

11. With reference to the recent ethnic conflict in Manipur, which of the following statements regarding the 'village volunteers' is correct?

    1. A They are armed civilian groups that emerged following the ethnic conflict starting in May 2023.
    2. B They are officially recognised as state-sponsored security auxiliaries.
    3. C They are banned organisations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
    4. D They are exclusively composed of retired paramilitary personnel.

12. The Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) is primarily focused on the development of which of the following?

    1. A Small and marginal farmers
    2. B Migrant laborers in industrial corridors
    3. C Urban slum dwellers
    4. D Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)

13. Which of the following writs is typically invoked to challenge the legality of a person's detention by the state?

    1. A Mandamus
    2. B Habeas Corpus
    3. C Quo Warranto
    4. D Certiorari

14. Which of the following best describes the legal principle of 'malice in law' as observed by the judiciary in administrative proceedings?

    1. A A criminal conspiracy between two government departments to subvert the law.
    2. B A deliberate act of corruption by a public official for personal gain.
    3. C The failure of a government official to attend a court hearing.
    4. D An intentional misuse of power or authority without legal justification, even if done without personal ill-will.

15. Which of the following best describes the primary objective of a Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR) auction conducted by the RBI?

    1. A To absorb excess liquidity from the banking system
    2. B To inject long-term capital into the infrastructure sector
    3. C To regulate the foreign exchange reserves of the country
    4. D To provide emergency credit to non-banking financial companies

16. Under which of the following categories are tobacco-free oral nicotine pouches currently classified in the Harmonized System (HS) for import purposes?

    1. A 2404 91 30
    2. B 2403 11 00
    3. C 2404 91 90
    4. D 2402 20 00

17. Which legislation is primarily responsible for the prohibition of electronic cigarettes in India?

    1. A Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003
    2. B Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019
    3. C Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940
    4. D Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006

18. Which of the following sectors accounts for the highest concentration of research and development effort in India?

    1. A Organic chemicals and machinery
    2. B Pharmaceuticals and automobiles
    3. C Base metals and plastics
    4. D Textiles and leather

19. What is the primary objective of the government's ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation scheme?

    1. A To offer low-cost capital for sunrise and strategic technology areas
    2. B To provide direct subsidies to steel and chemical manufacturers
    3. C To fund routine testing and quality control in the leather industry
    4. D To eliminate all reciprocal tariffs on US imports

20. The Supreme Court recently directed States and Union Territories to submit status reports regarding which of the following?

    1. A Healthcare insurance coverage for citizens above 70
    2. B Availability and facilities of old-age homes
    3. C Digital literacy programs for the elderly
    4. D Implementation of the National Pension Scheme

21. The ceasefire agreement between the Centre and the NSCN-K (Niki) faction is governed by:

    1. A A mandate issued by the Supreme Court of India
    2. B Mutually agreed-upon ceasefire ground rules
    3. C A unilateral declaration by the Ministry of Home Affairs
    4. D The provisions of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA)

22. Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) are designed to provide which of the following services?

    1. A Management of medical education and research
    2. B Tertiary care for complex surgical procedures
    3. C Exclusive focus on emergency trauma care
    4. D Maternal and child healthcare and non-communicable disease screening

23. Which of the following phenomena is primarily associated with the sudden release of water from a glacial lake, often leading to catastrophic flooding in downstream areas?

    1. A Cyclonic storm
    2. B Cloudburst
    3. C Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF)
    4. D Tsunami

24. Which organization is responsible for maintaining data regarding the stock levels of domestic coal-fired power plants in India?

    1. A Coal India Limited
    2. B Ministry of Coal
    3. C Central Electricity Authority
    4. D Ministry of Power

25. According to the FADA data for August 2026, which fuel type accounted for the largest share of the passenger vehicle market in India?

    1. A Electric
    2. B Hybrid
    3. C CNG
    4. D Petrol

26. What is the FADA-recommended benchmark for passenger vehicle inventory levels in days?

    1. A 15 days
    2. B 21 days
    3. C 40 days
    4. D 30 days

27. Which of the following cooling technologies for data centres involves immersing electronics in a non-conductive liquid?

    1. A Dry-cooling
    2. B Evaporative cooling
    3. C Rear-door heat exchanger
    4. D Immersion cooling

28. What is the primary reason liquid-cooling is often considered more effective than air-cooling for high-density data centres?

    1. A Liquids have a higher heat capacity than air for the same volume.
    2. B Air-cooling is prohibited by environmental regulations in most regions.
    3. C Liquids are cheaper to maintain than air-based systems.
    4. D Liquid-cooling systems do not require electricity to operate.

29. Which of the following best describes the scientific understanding of the relationship between caste and human biology as discussed in recent studies?

    1. A Genetic diversity in India is solely the result of recent migration patterns.
    2. B Caste is a biological reality determined by inherited genetic traits.
    3. C Caste-based discrimination creates environments that influence gene regulation and biological development.
    4. D The human nervous system is fixed at birth, validating the caste-based division of labour.

30. Which of the following sectors currently accounts for approximately one-third of the total bilateral trade between India and Belgium?

    1. A Defence and aerospace equipment
    2. B Renewable energy technology
    3. C Pharmaceuticals and chemicals
    4. D Diamond trading and processing

31. What is the primary objective of the IN-SPACe organization established by the Government of India?

    1. A To manage the budget of the Department of Space
    2. B To replace ISRO as the primary satellite launch provider
    3. C To oversee the recruitment of civil servants for space missions
    4. D To facilitate private sector participation in the space industry

32. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is a process primarily overseen by which of the following bodies?

    1. A Election Commission of India
    2. B Ministry of Home Affairs
    3. C State Legislative Assembly
    4. D District Magistrate's Office exclusively

33. Which of the following factors has primarily contributed to the diversification of India's LPG import basket in recent years?

    1. A Mandatory transition of all industrial units to Piped Natural Gas
    2. B A significant increase in imports from the European Union
    3. C Increased reliance on domestic shale gas production
    4. D Blockade of the Strait of Hormuz due to regional conflict

34. What is the primary objective of the 'under-recovery' mechanism in the context of India's oil marketing companies?

    1. A To incentivize the export of surplus LPG to neighboring countries
    2. B To manage the difference between the cost of production/distribution and the actual sale price to consumers
    3. C To fund the infrastructure development of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board
    4. D To tax excess profits generated by private petroleum refineries

35. Which of the following best describes the legal status of the 2014 regularisation policies in Haryana following the recent Supreme Court judgment?

    1. A Both the three-year and 10-year policies were upheld.
    2. B Both policies were declared unconstitutional.
    3. C The 10-year policy was upheld, while the three-year policy was quashed.
    4. D The three-year policy was upheld, while the 10-year policy was quashed.

36. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) ADSI reports, which of the following categories is included in the data for deaths due to the collapse of structures?

    1. A Collapse of Underground Mining Tunnels
    2. B Collapse of Dwelling House/Residential Building
    3. C Collapse of Public Transport Infrastructure
    4. D Collapse of Industrial Manufacturing Plant

37. Which of the following factors is primarily cited as a driver for the recent surge in global copper prices?

    1. A Increased production capacity in the United States
    2. B Anticipated supply shortages outside the United States
    3. C Reduced global demand for industrial metals
    4. D A significant strengthening of the U.S. dollar

38. The 'Regulation S' of the US Securities Act, 1933, is often cited in the context of Indian banks raising capital. What is its primary purpose?

    1. A To regulate domestic retail banking operations in India
    2. B To provide a safe harbor for offshore securities offerings to non-US persons
    3. C To mandate the disclosure of non-performing assets to the US Federal Reserve
    4. D To restrict foreign direct investment in the Indian banking sector

39. The 'Growth Reimagined' strategy, as mentioned in the context of JLR, primarily focuses on which of the following objectives?

    1. A Expansion of direct manufacturing workforce globally
    2. B Immediate cessation of all internal combustion engine production
    3. C Achieving £1.7 billion in savings to reduce break-even points
    4. D Diversification into the aerospace and defense sectors

40. The Kohinoor diamond came into British possession in 1849 following which historical event?

    1. A The Third Anglo-Maratha War
    2. B The Treaty of Allahabad
    3. C The Battle of Plassey
    4. D The annexation of Punjab

41. In the context of adolescent development and media usage, what does the 'race car' analogy refer to?

    1. A The competitive nature of social media platforms that forces teens to switch between apps
    2. B The tendency of teens to ignore parental advice in favour of peer-driven social trends
    3. C The rapid speed at which teens process information compared to adults
    4. D The combination of high learning capacity and sensitivity to rewards alongside an underdeveloped ability to plan and prioritise

42. Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which section specifically addresses murder committed by a group of five or more persons on the grounds of race, caste, or community?

    1. A Section 110
    2. B Section 103(2)
    3. C Section 3(5)
    4. D Section 105

43. Which of the following is a primary objective of the 75-km Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II) in Delhi?

    1. A To provide exclusive lanes for public transport buses
    2. B To connect Delhi with international border checkpoints
    3. C To serve as an industrial corridor for heavy manufacturing units
    4. D To divert heavy traffic away from central Delhi

44. Which of the following bodies is primarily responsible for the development, maintenance, and management of the National Highways in India?

    1. A Central Public Works Department (CPWD)
    2. B Ministry of Home Affairs
    3. C National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
    4. D Border Roads Organisation (BRO)

45. Under the Consumer Protection Act, which of the following best describes the failure of a service provider to adhere to a specific protocol for which a fee has been charged?

    1. A Unfair trade practice
    2. B Restrictive trade practice
    3. C Deficiency of service
    4. D Breach of contract only

46. The 'MatsyaMetri' application, recently in the news, is associated with which of the following institutions?

    1. A National Institute of Fisheries Post Harvest Technology and Training
    2. B National Institute of Oceanography
    3. C Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute
    4. D Fishery Survey of India

47. Under the Representation of the People Act, which of the following conditions prevents the Election Commission from notifying a by-election for a vacant legislative assembly seat?

    1. A The pendency of an election petition challenging the result of the seat
    2. B The lack of a request from the state government
    3. C The proximity to the next general election
    4. D The resignation of the incumbent member