UPSC Current Affairs Quiz — 14 May 2026

1.

Cacti, in the news for their unexpectedly rapid diversification, are naturally distributed almost entirely in:

Australia and New Guinea sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar the Americas the Mediterranean basin

From: Cacti Evolution: Rapid Diversification & Flower Shape Open full article →

2.

Qom, recently in the news as a centre of Shia scholarship and pilgrimage, is a city in:

Iraq Iran Azerbaijan Lebanon

From: Qom City: Shia Islam Pilgrimage, Iran & Indian Connection Open full article →

3.

Psechrus ntu and Psechrus phenshunyu, named after two villages in Nagaland, are newly described species of:

spiders cave fish bamboo orchids tree frogs

From: Psechrus ntu & phenshunyu: New Spider Species in Nagaland Open full article →

4.

The National Sports Development Fund has been constituted under which one of the following?

Societies Registration Act, 1860 Indian Trusts Act, 1882 National Sports Development Code Charitable Endowments Act, 1890

From: NSDF: National Sports Development Fund, Contributions & CSR Open full article →

5.

The 'IP Catalyst' platform, launched recently to support innovators and start-ups, is an initiative of which one of the following ministries?

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Ministry of Commerce and Industry Ministry of Science and Technology Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

From: IP Catalyst: MeitY Initiative, Patents & Technology Transfer Open full article →

6.

Lake Tahoe, in the news over the diversion of its power supply to data centres, lies on the boundary between:

Oregon and Idaho Utah and Arizona Michigan and Ontario California and Nevada

From: Lake Tahoe: AI Data Centres, Energy Demand & Power Cut Open full article →

7.

Which one of the following statements about the Directorate General of Foreign Trade is correct?

It administers India's Foreign Trade Policy under the commerce ministry. It collects customs duties on imports for the finance ministry. It regulates foreign exchange dealings as a wing of the Reserve Bank. It argues India's disputes before the World Trade Organization.

From: Digital Trade Facilitation Bill: DGFT, Bharat Trade Net & Draft Open full article →

8.

The Thadou, whose leaders recently issued a declaration asserting a distinct identity, are a community of:

the Nilgiri hills the Andaman islands the hills of Manipur the Aravalli region

From: Thadou Tribe: Distinct Ethnic Identity, Manipur & ST Demand Open full article →

9.

Syngas, the intended product of the coal gasification scheme approved by the Union Cabinet, is essentially a mixture of:

methane and carbon dioxide nitrogen and hydrogen ethane and propane carbon monoxide and hydrogen

From: Coal Gasification Scheme: Syngas, Lignite & Import Reduction Open full article →

10.

Palamu Tiger Reserve, proposed as the site of a human-elephant conflict research centre, is in:

Jharkhand Chhattisgarh Odisha West Bengal

From: Palamu Tiger Reserve: Human-Elephant Conflict & AI Centre Open full article →