UPSC Current Affairs Quiz — 17 May 2026

1.

With reference to the Committee on Empowerment of Women, consider the following statements:

1.It is a joint committee drawing members from both Houses of Parliament.

2.Its chairperson is chosen from among the Rajya Sabha members of the committee.

3.It examines the reports of the National Commission for Women.

Select the answer using the code given below:

1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3

From: Committee on Empowerment of Women: Composition & Functions Open full article →

2.

Captagon, seized in India for the first time recently, is:

a synthetic stimulant of the amphetamine type a plant-derived opioid painkiller a synthetic cannabinoid sprayed on herbal material a hallucinogen extracted from a desert cactus

From: Captagon: Operation Ragepill, NCB & Synthetic Drugs Open full article →

3.

Sonerila roxburghii, recently in the news, is:

a newly described orchid from the Eastern Himalaya a fungus described from the Nilgiri hills a freshwater fish described from a Kerala river a newly described flowering herb of the Western Ghats

From: Sonerila roxburghii: New Western Ghats Plant & William Roxburgh Open full article →

4.

The barn swallow, recently reported to be breeding year-round in Manipur, is:

a wader that winters in the Loktak wetlands a large raptor of the eastern Himalayan foothills a small passerine bird that migrates long distances a duck that breeds in the Central Asian steppe

From: Barn Swallow: Resident Bird in Manipur, Imphal Valley Open full article →

5.

Rottnest Island, recently in the news, lies off the coast of:

Western Australia, in the Indian Ocean Queensland, in the Coral Sea Tasmania, in the Bass Strait New Zealand, in the Tasman Sea

From: Rottnest Island: Western Australia, Indian Ocean & Quokkas Open full article →

6.

The Global Forest Goals, assessed by the Global Forest Goals Report 2026, form part of the:

United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2030 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Paris Agreement on climate change United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification

From: UNFF: Global Forest Goals Report 2026 & UN Forum on Forests Open full article →

7.

Eublepharis jhuma, recently described by Indian researchers, is a:

cave fish from the Kaimur hills leopard gecko recorded from Bihar burrowing frog of the Chota Nagpur plateau freshwater turtle of the Son river

From: Eublepharis jhuma: New Leopard Gecko in Kaimur Plateau, Bihar Open full article →

8.

Semaglutide, frequently in the news, belongs to which class of medicines?

GLP-1 receptor agonists sulfonylureas statins beta blockers

From: Semaglutide: GLP-1, Type 2 Diabetes & Weight Loss Drug Open full article →

9.

Latvia shares a land border with which of the following countries?

1.Estonia

2.Poland

3.Belarus

Select the answer using the code given below:

1 and 2 2 only 1 and 3 3 only

From: Latvia: Baltic Country, Geography, Russia Border & Resignation Open full article →

10.

The Western Hoolock Gibbon is notable as:

the only nocturnal primate found in India the only ape species found in India the only primate found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands the only primate endemic to the Western Ghats

From: Western Hoolock Gibbon: Canopy Bridges & Hollongapar Sanctuary Open full article →