UPSC Current Affairs Quiz — 12 September 2026

1.

Free-ranging mustangs of North America are described as feral, while Przewalski's horse is not. The distinction is that:

Feral animals live in reserves while Przewalski's horses live in zoos Feral horses descend from domestic animals, whereas Przewalski's horse is a distinct surviving lineage Feral horses are a protected species and Przewalski's horse is not Feral horses are found only in Asia

From: Przewalski's Horse: Two Foals Born at Kazakhstan's Altyn Dala Open full article →

2.

Consider the following statements about the conservation history of Przewalski's horse:

1.Wild populations disappeared during the twentieth century, with the last sightings in Mongolia in the 1960s.

2.The species became extinct everywhere when it vanished from the wild.

3.Captive breeding allowed later reintroductions to parts of Asia.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Przewalski's Horse: Two Foals Born at Kazakhstan's Altyn Dala Open full article →

3.

Consider the following statements about Kazakhstan:

1.It lies mainly in Central Asia, with the land west of the Ural River conventionally placed in Europe.

2.It has a Caspian coastline but no direct access to the open ocean.

3.It shares a land border with Mongolia.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Przewalski's Horse: Two Foals Born at Kazakhstan's Altyn Dala Open full article →

4.

The Altyn Dala landscape where the foals were born is described as steppe. Steppe is best described as:

Dense temperate forest Tropical savanna with scattered trees Frozen tundra above the treeline Predominantly open grassland

From: Przewalski's Horse: Two Foals Born at Kazakhstan's Altyn Dala Open full article →

5.

Which one of the following would best demonstrate that a reintroduced population has become self-sustaining?

Locally born animals surviving, maturing and eventually reproducing A steady increase in the number of animals imported each year The animals remaining permanently inside an acclimatisation enclosure Completion of the transport of the founding group

From: Przewalski's Horse: Two Foals Born at Kazakhstan's Altyn Dala Open full article →

6.

The S-71K Kovyor is described as an air-launched cruise missile. This means that it:

Is dropped without propulsion and falls to its target Is designed primarily to shoot down other aircraft Is carried and released by an aircraft and then flies under its own power to a ground target Is fired from a ship at aircraft

From: S-71K Kovyor: Russia's Su-57E Cruise Missile at El Alamein Open full article →

7.

Consider the following statements about missile terminology:

1.A cruise missile flies aerodynamically through the atmosphere using propulsion for much of its journey.

2.A ballistic missile includes a substantial ballistic phase after powered acceleration.

3.The word cruise describes flight behaviour and does not by itself indicate range, accuracy or stealth.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: S-71K Kovyor: Russia's Su-57E Cruise Missile at El Alamein Open full article →

8.

The Ukrainian assessment credits the Kovyor with an inertial navigation system. Inertial navigation differs from a terminal seeker in that it:

Recognises and tracks the target near impact Estimates the missile's movement using onboard sensors without recognising the target Requires continuous radio commands from the launching aircraft Uses satellite images downloaded during flight

From: S-71K Kovyor: Russia's Su-57E Cruise Missile at El Alamein Open full article →

9.

Consider the following statements about the September 2026 display:

1.The El Alamein International Airshow was held on Egypt's Mediterranean coast, west of Alexandria.

2.Public exhibition of a weapon is different from its first development, first combat use or an export agreement.

3.The display confirms that India has signed a contract for the missile.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: S-71K Kovyor: Russia's Su-57E Cruise Missile at El Alamein Open full article →

10.

Consider the following statements about the Thirukkural:

1.It is a classical Tamil work traditionally attributed to Thiruvalluvar.

2.It contains 1,330 couplets arranged in 133 chapters of ten couplets each.

3.Its three main divisions are Aram, Porul and Inbam.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Thirukkural: Modi Gifts Putin a Russian Translation Open full article →

11.

In the Thirukkural, the division called Porul deals mainly with:

Love and the experience of lovers Personal virtue and ethical life Wealth, social relationships and public affairs, including the conduct of rulers Religious ritual and worship

From: Thirukkural: Modi Gifts Putin a Russian Translation Open full article →

12.

The poetic form of each Thirukkural couplet, the kural venba, is defined by:

Two lines of exactly seven words A first line of four metrical feet and a second line of three Rhyming end-words in every line A fixed count of syllables in each line

From: Thirukkural: Modi Gifts Putin a Russian Translation Open full article →

13.

Consider the following statements about the historical setting of the Thirukkural:

1.The author's precise dates and biography remain debated.

2.Readers from different religious and philosophical traditions have interpreted the work.

3.Its year of composition is securely established.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Thirukkural: Modi Gifts Putin a Russian Translation Open full article →

14.

Which one of the following is NOT one of the three main divisions of the Thirukkural?

Aram Porul Inbam Moksha

From: Thirukkural: Modi Gifts Putin a Russian Translation Open full article →

15.

Consider the following statements about the Tawang fish record:

1.It is a reported extension of a known species' range, based on specimens identified in July.

2.It is the discovery of a species new to science.

3.The type locality of the species, Yamdok Lake in Tibet, is the place linked to its original description and does not mean the fish occurs nowhere else.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Schizopygopsis waddellii: Tibetan Fish Recorded in Tawang Lake Open full article →

16.

Consider the following statements about the classification of the fish:

1.It belongs to Cyprinidae, the carp family.

2.It was originally described in 1905 under the name Gymnocypris waddellii.

3.The later change of genus means it is now regarded as a different species.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Schizopygopsis waddellii: Tibetan Fish Recorded in Tawang Lake Open full article →

17.

Consider the following statements about Tawang district:

1.It lies in northwestern Arunachal Pradesh within the Eastern Himalayas.

2.Tibet, administered by China, lies to its north.

3.Bhutan borders it on the western and southwestern side.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Schizopygopsis waddellii: Tibetan Fish Recorded in Tawang Lake Open full article →

18.

The specimens were identified by the Central Institute of Coldwater Fisheries Research, which is located at:

Kochi Bhimtal Barrackpore Mumbai

From: Schizopygopsis waddellii: Tibetan Fish Recorded in Tawang Lake Open full article →

19.

Pangkang Teng Tso, where the fish was recorded, should not be confused with which other Tawang lake?

Sangetsar Lake, popularly called Madhuri Lake Pangong Tso Tsomgo Lake Dal Lake

From: Schizopygopsis waddellii: Tibetan Fish Recorded in Tawang Lake Open full article →

20.

Consider the following statements about the Solani river, as described in the state's filing:

1.It rises in the Himalayan foothills near Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

2.It flows through Bijnor district.

3.It outfalls into the Banganga upstream of Shukratal, within the wider Ganga drainage system.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Solani River: Floodplain Demarcation Report Before the NGT Open full article →

21.

Consider the following statements about a 100-year flood:

1.It has a one per cent chance of being equalled or exceeded in any given year.

2.Two such floods can occur in consecutive years.

3.Over 30 years the chance of at least one such flood is roughly one in four.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Solani River: Floodplain Demarcation Report Before the NGT Open full article →

22.

The Solani Aqueduct at Roorkee is best described as a structure that:

Dams the Solani to store water for irrigation Carries the Upper Ganga Canal across the river so that canal and river cross without mixing Diverts the Solani into the Upper Ganga Canal Generates hydroelectric power from the river

From: Solani River: Floodplain Demarcation Report Before the NGT Open full article →

23.

In floodplain mapping, a one-metre contour interval means that:

Successive contour lines represent ground elevations one metre apart Floodwater is expected to be one metre deep Survey points are spaced one metre apart on the ground The floodplain extends one metre beyond the riverbank

From: Solani River: Floodplain Demarcation Report Before the NGT Open full article →

24.

Drawing a floodplain boundary on a map involves which sequence of steps?

Marking pillars first, then estimating river flow Estimating flow, comparing it with rainfall totals, then surveying land ownership Estimating flow, modelling the water levels it produces, then comparing those levels with the terrain Photographing the river during a flood and tracing the waterline

From: Solani River: Floodplain Demarcation Report Before the NGT Open full article →

25.

Consider the following statements about the proteome:

1.It is the set of proteins associated with an organism, tissue, cell or defined biological context.

2.A gene can be present in a cell without its protein being abundant.

3.Protein abundance can change with age, nutrition, illness and treatment.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Childhood Proteome: Protein Signatures and Adult Disease Risk Open full article →

26.

Adding a phosphate group to a protein after it has been made is an example of:

Gene mutation Post-translational modification Transcription Protein breakdown

From: Childhood Proteome: Protein Signatures and Adult Disease Risk Open full article →

27.

Consider the following statements about the Nature Metabolism study:

1.It compared childhood protein patterns with disease-related findings in separate adult groups, including United Kingdom Biobank participants.

2.A predictive association found in such a study is not automatically a causal relationship.

3.The children were followed for decades until they developed adult disease.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Childhood Proteome: Protein Signatures and Adult Disease Risk Open full article →

28.

Mass spectrometry and affinity-based methods are two ways of measuring proteins. The difference is that:

Only mass spectrometry can be used on blood samples Affinity-based methods measure DNA rather than proteins Mass spectrometry identifies molecules by mass-related properties, while affinity methods use recognising molecules such as antibodies Affinity-based methods measure every protein in the body at once

From: Childhood Proteome: Protein Signatures and Adult Disease Risk Open full article →

29.

Consider the following statements about copper:

1.It conducts electricity and heat well and can be drawn into wire, a property called ductility.

2.Brass is an alloy of copper and tin.

3.An alloy is not the same product as pure copper even when copper is its principal ingredient.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Copper: LME Rally to US$14,708 and Where the Metal Comes From Open full article →

30.

Consider the following statements about the geography of copper production:

1.Chile leads the world in mine output of copper.

2.China leads the world in refined copper production while mining far less than it refines.

3.China also leads the world in mine output of copper.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Copper: LME Rally to US$14,708 and Where the Metal Comes From Open full article →

31.

Khetri, one of Hindustan Copper's major mining centres, is located in which state?

Madhya Pradesh Rajasthan Jharkhand Odisha

From: Copper: LME Rally to US$14,708 and Where the Metal Comes From Open full article →

32.

Which one of the following statements about copper resources and reserves is correct?

Reserves are the total copper thought to exist underground A deposit's estimated copper content equals the amount produced in a year Higher prices physically create new copper underground Reserves depend on whether extraction is economically feasible under defined conditions

From: Copper: LME Rally to US$14,708 and Where the Metal Comes From Open full article →

33.

Copper prices rose in September 2026 partly because metal was moved towards the United States ahead of possible tariffs. This affected prices mainly because:

The moved copper was consumed and disappeared from the market Tariffs were already being collected on every shipment The London Metal Exchange stopped trading copper Stockpiling shifted where the metal was held, tightening availability in other trading locations

From: Copper: LME Rally to US$14,708 and Where the Metal Comes From Open full article →

34.

Consider the following statements about Market Infrastructure Institutions:

1.A stock exchange brings trading interests together under its rules.

2.A clearing corporation calculates obligations and manages settlement risk.

3.A depository maintains securities in electronic form and enables their transfer.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: SEBI Consultation: Cyber Rules for MII Subsidiaries Open full article →

35.

A depository participant differs from a depository in that the participant:

Issues the securities that the depository holds Regulates the depository on behalf of SEBI Provides the interface through which customers access the depository's services Handles the money accounts of investors

From: SEBI Consultation: Cyber Rules for MII Subsidiaries Open full article →

36.

Consider the following statements about SEBI's September 2026 consultation paper:

1.A subsidiary would be covered only if it meets all three proposed conditions together.

2.The three conditions concern performing an activity in the parent's domain, handling the parent's data, or sharing the parent's infrastructure.

3.The paper is a proposal open for comment, not a final rule already imposed.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: SEBI Consultation: Cyber Rules for MII Subsidiaries Open full article →

37.

In a market institution, cyber resilience adds something to cybersecurity. That addition is:

The ability to withstand incidents and restore essential services when prevention fails A guarantee that no attack will ever succeed The replacement of technology committees with outside auditors The removal of the need for data backups

From: SEBI Consultation: Cyber Rules for MII Subsidiaries Open full article →

38.

Consider the following statements about the land records modernisation programme:

1.The National Land Records Modernization Programme began in 2008 and was renamed and restructured as DILRMP in 2016.

2.From 1 April 2016 it has operated as a Central Sector Scheme with full central financial assistance.

3.It is administered by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: DILRMP 3.0: Rs 565.50 Crore to Link Maps, Records and Registration Open full article →

39.

Consider the following statements about Bhu-Aadhaar:

1.It is the Unique Land Parcel Identification Number, a 14-character alphanumeric code for a parcel of land.

2.It is issued to landowners as a personal identity number.

3.Its generation depends on surveyed, georeferenced parcel coordinates.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: DILRMP 3.0: Rs 565.50 Crore to Link Maps, Records and Registration Open full article →

40.

Under the Constitution of India, land and land revenue fall mainly within the State List, while registration of documents falls within:

The Union List The Concurrent List The State List as well None of the three lists

From: DILRMP 3.0: Rs 565.50 Crore to Link Maps, Records and Registration Open full article →

41.

The Supreme Court has held that a mutation entry in revenue records:

Conclusively decides ownership of the land Transfers title from seller to buyer Cannot be challenged once digitised Serves a revenue-record purpose and does not by itself confer title

From: DILRMP 3.0: Rs 565.50 Crore to Link Maps, Records and Registration Open full article →

42.

In land administration, a cadastral map is a record that:

Lists the transactions registered on a property Represents land parcels and their boundaries Records the taxes paid on a holding Contains the court's decision in a boundary dispute

From: DILRMP 3.0: Rs 565.50 Crore to Link Maps, Records and Registration Open full article →

43.

Consider the following statements about the Lipulekh pass:

1.It lies on the route from Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand towards Tibet.

2.The Indian approach runs through the Kumaon region and the upper Kali valley.

3.Taklakot, also known as Purang, is the market town on the Tibetan side.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Lipulekh Pass: Border Trade Resumes Amid the Nepal Boundary Dispute Open full article →

44.

Consider the following statements about Nepal's position:

1.Nepal cites the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli and claims the territory east of the Mahakali river.

2.Nepal's claim covers Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani.

3.Nepal's claim rests on the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Lipulekh Pass: Border Trade Resumes Amid the Nepal Boundary Dispute Open full article →

45.

Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura are best described as:

Two names for the same pass A pass and the river that flows through it Two different places, one in the Kali valley and the other in the Kuti valley The Indian and Nepali names for Kalapani

From: Lipulekh Pass: Border Trade Resumes Amid the Nepal Boundary Dispute Open full article →

46.

Consider the following statements about the trade route's history:

1.The route has remained closed continuously since the 1962 India-China war.

2.It was reopened for regulated trade in 1992.

3.Pandemic-era restrictions caused a more recent interruption.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Lipulekh Pass: Border Trade Resumes Amid the Nepal Boundary Dispute Open full article →

47.

Lipulekh also serves the Kailash Manasarovar pilgrimage. Permission for pilgrims to use the route:

Automatically allows merchants to trade through it Is a separate arrangement from commercial clearance for traders Settles the boundary dispute with Nepal Restores unrestricted trade across the whole India-China frontier

From: Lipulekh Pass: Border Trade Resumes Amid the Nepal Boundary Dispute Open full article →