UPSC Current Affairs Quiz — 26 May 2026

1.

The Thanneermukkom barrage, built across Vembanad Lake in Kerala, was constructed primarily to:

generate hydroelectric power for the central Kerala grid create a deep-water navigation channel for tourist houseboats prevent the intrusion of saline water into paddy fields regulate seasonal floods in the Periyar river basin

From: Vembanad Lake: Pollution, Kerala Ecology & Houseboats Open full article →

2.

Ferrocene, the compound that gave organometallic chemistry its classic sandwich structure, has an iron atom held between two:

benzene rings cyclohexane rings cyclopentadienyl rings pentaborane clusters

From: Ferrocene Analogue: Carbon-free Organometallic Chemistry Open full article →

3.

Microeledone galapagensis, a species formally described in May 2026, is a:

cold-water reef-building coral hydrothermal vent shrimp deep-sea anglerfish deep-sea octopus

From: Microeledone galapagensis: Deep-sea Octopus & Galapagos Open full article →

4.

The Digital Markets Act, cited in debates over AI-driven search agents, is a law enacted by:

the European Union the United States the United Kingdom Japan

From: Google Information Agents: Generative AI & Web Privacy Open full article →

5.

The Hawaiian island chain in the central Pacific Ocean owes its origin to:

subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath an island arc sea-floor spreading along a mid-ocean ridge crest a mantle hot spot beneath the moving Pacific Plate collision between the Pacific and Australian plates

From: Big Island Hawaii: Earthquake, Volcanoes & Geography Open full article →

6.

A Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, of the kind India and Canada are negotiating, differs from a conventional free trade agreement chiefly in that it:

extends beyond goods to services, investment and related areas is confined to reducing tariffs on trade in goods requires the partners to adopt a common external tariff on imports obliges the partners to allow free movement of labour

From: India-Canada Trade Mission: CEPA, Bilateral Ties & Economy Open full article →

7.

Conocarpus, whose planting an expert panel has recommended banning in Indian cities, is:

a floating aquatic weed of urban water bodies a fast-growing ornamental tree introduced from abroad a native mangrove species of the Sundarbans a shrub cultivated commercially for its medicinal oil

From: Conocarpus Tree: Invasive Species & Environmental Impact Open full article →

8.

The Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY) is implemented by which one of the following Union ministries?

Ministry of Tribal Affairs Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry of Rural Development Ministry of Panchayati Raj

From: PM-AJAY Scheme: Scheduled Caste Upliftment & Social Justice Open full article →

9.

Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary forms a part of which one of the following tiger reserves?

Pilibhit Tiger Reserve Dudhwa Tiger Reserve Valmiki Tiger Reserve Corbett Tiger Reserve

From: Katarniaghat Sanctuary: Dudhwa Tiger Reserve & Biodiversity Open full article →

10.

The Koraga, a community cited in the World Cities Report 2026, live mainly in:

coastal Karnataka and adjoining northern Kerala the Nilgiri hills of western Tamil Nadu the Bastar plateau of southern Chhattisgarh the Andaman group of islands in the Bay of Bengal

From: Koraga Tribe: PVTG, Housing Inequality & Human Rights Open full article →