UPSC Current Affairs Quiz — 21 August 2026

1.

With reference to RK-251, an experimental cancer drug candidate developed in India, consider the following statements:

1.It is a prodrug that becomes active in environments rich in reactive oxygen species.

2.It produces a fluorescent signal when it activates.

3.It has been approved as a replacement for chemotherapy in India.

Select the answer using the code given below:

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

From: RK-251 offers a laboratory route towards more selective cancer treatment Open full article →

2.

Parichha Dam, recently selected as a World Heritage Irrigation Structure, stands across which river?

Ken Chambal Betwa Son

From: Parichha Dam receives international irrigation-heritage recognition Open full article →

3.

With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission, consider the following statements:

1.It is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

2.The Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) implements key components of it.

3.It supports value addition and marketing of minor forest produce through Van Dhan Vikas Kendras.

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: Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission expands the Van Dhan network Open full article →

4.

A 'loitering munition' is best described as:

A reusable surveillance drone that always returns to base A guided artillery shell fired from a howitzer An unmanned aircraft that can wait over an area and then destroy itself by striking a chosen target A balloon used for weather observation

From: Divyastra Mk3 completes a company-reported maiden flight Open full article →

5.

Christmas Island, in the news in connection with a spacecraft recovery, is:

An Indian island in the Bay of Bengal An Australian external territory in the eastern Indian Ocean, lying closer to Indonesia than to mainland Australia A Pacific island belonging to New Zealand An uninhabited atoll in the Arabian Sea

From: SpaceX moves an intact Starship near Christmas Island Open full article →

6.

Researchers at IIT Mandi developed a spiky nanoscale coating for printed bone scaffolds. The coating kills bacteria mainly by:

Slowly releasing antibiotics into the tissue Physically damaging bacterial membranes with sharp nano-projections Heating the implant surface Releasing silver ions continuously

From: A sea-urchin-inspired coating may improve printed bone implants Open full article →

7.

AIKosh, recently in the news, is best described as:

A supercomputer built for weather forecasting India's national platform for datasets, models and toolkits under the IndiaAI Mission A new tax portal of the Ministry of Finance A satellite navigation system

From: An AIKosh workshop examines India's shared data ecosystem Open full article →

8.

In geology, a 'craton' refers to:

An old and stable core of continental crust that preserves very ancient rocks A young volcanic island arc A deep ocean trench A glacier-carved valley

From: A Singhbhum rock may preserve evidence of very early life Open full article →

9.

With reference to the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), consider the following statements:

1.It is headquartered in Goa.

2.It functions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

3.It coordinates India's Antarctic and Arctic research programmes.

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: National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research hosts an international science meeting Open full article →

10.

Zambia, whose presidential election was recently in the news, is:

A coastal country on the Atlantic Ocean A landlocked country in south-central Africa sharing borders with eight countries An island nation in the Indian Ocean A North African country on the Mediterranean Sea

From: Hakainde Hichilema wins re-election in Zambia Open full article →