UPSC Current Affairs Quiz — 8 July 2026

1.

The Himalayan pangolin (Manis aurita), recently confirmed by genomic study as a species distinct from the Chinese pangolin, occurs naturally in which one of the following regions?

The Western Ghats and the plains of Sri Lanka The Sundarbans and the lower Gangetic delta The southern Himalayan foothills of Nepal and north-east India The Aravalli range and the margins of the Thar desert

From: Himalayan Pangolin: Distinct Species, DNA Confirmation & Threats Open full article →

2.

The Norwegian Sea lies between Norway and which one of the following?

Iceland Greenland Denmark Scotland

From: Norwegian Sea: Geography, Location & UK-Russia Jet Interception Open full article →

3.

The Bintang Adipurna, conferred on the Prime Minister of India in July 2026, is Indonesia's highest honour. Indian territory is separated from the nearest Indonesian island by which one of the following?

Ten Degree Channel Six Degree Channel Duncan Passage Palk Strait

From: Bintang Adipurna: Indonesia's Highest Honour Awarded to PM Modi Open full article →

4.

The Guwahati Declaration of July 2026, aimed at countering illicit drug trafficking, was adopted by which one of the following groupings?

ASEAN Regional Forum Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Colombo Security Conclave BRICS

From: Guwahati Declaration 2026: BRICS Anti-Drug Trafficking Meeting Open full article →

5.

The Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), reported to be disappearing from the Rayalaseema region, is placed in which one of the following IUCN Red List categories?

Least Concern Vulnerable Endangered Extinct in the Wild

From: Egyptian Vulture: Extinction Risk, Habitat Loss & Rayalaseema Open full article →

6.

Vihar Lake, which supplies part of Mumbai's drinking water, lies on which one of the following rivers?

Ulhas Mithi Vaitarna Patalganga

From: Vihar Lake: Mumbai's First Piped Water Supply & Mithi River Open full article →

7.

The Blue Nile and the White Nile join to form the main Nile at which one of the following cities?

Khartoum Atbara Aswan Juba

From: Sudan Geography: Location, Borders, Climate & Nile Rivers Open full article →

8.

The Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0 for school education is released by which one of the following?

NITI Aayog Ministry of Education National Statistical Office National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration

From: Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0: School Education Report Open full article →

9.

The Kwar hydroelectric project, under construction in Jammu and Kashmir, is being built on which one of the following rivers?

Jhelum Ravi Chenab Indus

From: Kwar Hydroelectric Project: Chenab River, J&K & Indus Treaty Open full article →

10.

Leucine, an amino acid recently studied for its effect on mitochondrial stability, is described as an essential amino acid because:

it is required in far larger amounts than the others it cannot be synthesised by the body and must come from food it is the only amino acid present in every human protein it can be converted in the liver into any other amino acid

From: Leucine Amino Acid: Mitochondrial Health & Cellular Energy Open full article →