UPSC Current Affairs Quiz — 17 September 2026

1.

Consider the following statements about the Sankh River:

1.It joins the Mahanadi near Cuttack.

2.It rises in the uplands of Gumla district in Jharkhand.

3.It belongs to the Brahmani drainage system, which carries water eastwards to the Bay of Bengal.

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: Sankh River: Three Girls Drown at Salangabahal in Sundargarh Open full article →

2.

The Brahmani River is formed by the confluence of:

The Sankh and the South Koel near Vedavyas, close to Rourkela The Sankh and the North Koel near Ranchi The Baitarani and the Sankh near Jajpur The Mandira and the Lawa in Chhattisgarh

From: Sankh River: Three Girls Drown at Salangabahal in Sundargarh Open full article →

3.

In river geography, the term 'catchment' refers to:

The stretch of a river between two reservoirs The land area from which runoff drains towards a river or other water body The volume of water stored behind a dam The point at which two rivers meet

From: Sankh River: Three Girls Drown at Salangabahal in Sundargarh Open full article →

4.

Consider the following statements about reservoirs in the Sankh-Brahmani system:

1.The Mandira reservoir is on the Sankh and is associated with water supply to the Rourkela steel plant.

2.The Rengali project lies on the Brahmani, farther downstream, and serves flood moderation, hydropower and irrigation.

3.Both reservoirs lie on the same stretch of the Sankh above its confluence with the South Koel.

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: Sankh River: Three Girls Drown at Salangabahal in Sundargarh Open full article →

5.

Consider the following statements about the Taklamakan Desert:

1.It occupies much of the Tarim Basin in Xinjiang, in north-western China.

2.The Tien Shan lie to its north and the Kunlun Mountains to its south.

3.It is another name for the Gobi Desert.

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: Taklamakan Desert: Greening, Carbon Uptake and the Water Limit Open full article →

6.

Which one of the following best explains why the Taklamakan Desert is so dry?

Cold ocean currents along an adjacent coastline A permanent high-pressure cell over the Bay of Bengal Twentieth-century deforestation of the basin floor Its inland position far from oceanic moisture, combined with surrounding mountains that strip moisture from air before it reaches the interior

From: Taklamakan Desert: Greening, Carbon Uptake and the Water Limit Open full article →

7.

China's Three-North Shelterbelt Programme, begun in 1978, is best described as:

A scheme to convert the entire Taklamakan into irrigated farmland A hydroelectric project on the Tarim River A planting programme against wind erosion and land degradation in which vegetation slows wind near the ground and holds soil or sand in place A programme to relocate oasis settlements away from the desert

From: Taklamakan Desert: Greening, Carbon Uptake and the Water Limit Open full article →

8.

Consider the following statements about carbon sinks:

1.A carbon sink takes up more carbon than it releases over the period being measured.

2.Visible greening alone is a complete measure of a region's carbon balance.

3.A seasonal fall in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration is not the same as a measured long-term increase in local carbon storage.

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: Taklamakan Desert: Greening, Carbon Uptake and the Water Limit Open full article →

9.

The scientific disagreement over the January 2026 Taklamakan greening study mainly concerned:

Whether carbon uptake observed at the vegetated margins justifies treating the whole desert as an easily expandable carbon sink Whether trees can grow anywhere in Xinjiang Whether the Gobi should be administratively merged with the Taklamakan Whether the Tarim River should be dammed

From: Taklamakan Desert: Greening, Carbon Uptake and the Water Limit Open full article →

10.

When scientists describe a 'new species' such as the conger eel Ariosoma cmfriense, the word 'new' means that:

The species evolved during the year of publication The species has been newly distinguished and formally named in the scientific record, although it existed in nature before The species arrived in Indian waters that year from elsewhere The species has been bred in captivity for the first time

From: Ariosoma cmfriense: New Conger Eel from 300 m off Kollam Open full article →

11.

Consider the following statements about Ariosoma cmfriense:

1.The specimen was collected from the Bay of Bengal off Kollam.

2.The eel belongs to the family Congridae within the order Anguilliformes.

3.Eels are fish despite their long, snake-like bodies.

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: Ariosoma cmfriense: New Conger Eel from 300 m off Kollam Open full article →

12.

In taxonomy, a 'holotype' is:

An average body plan calculated from the whole population The largest individual of a species ever recorded A living specimen kept in an aquarium for breeding A single preserved specimen to which a scientific name is formally anchored, kept for future comparison

From: Ariosoma cmfriense: New Conger Eel from 300 m off Kollam Open full article →

13.

Consider the following statements about the evidence used to describe the new eel:

1.The COI gene segment is a genetic marker used in species identification.

2.A seven per cent difference in the COI marker means the two eels differ by seven per cent across their whole genomes.

3.Combining anatomy with genetic comparison is more informative than relying on colour or one measurement.

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: Ariosoma cmfriense: New Conger Eel from 300 m off Kollam Open full article →

14.

Which one of the following is a correct inference from a species description based on a single collected specimen?

It proves that the species is threatened It shows that the species is abundant enough for commercial harvesting It establishes a documented taxonomic distinction but not the species' abundance, depth range or wider distribution It fixes the collection depth as the species' maximum depth

From: Ariosoma cmfriense: New Conger Eel from 300 m off Kollam Open full article →

15.

A monolithic microwave integrated circuit, or MMIC, is:

A single semiconductor chip on which connected circuit elements amplify, switch or otherwise control high-frequency radio signals A general-purpose computer processor used to run radar software A ceramic antenna used to receive satellite television A battery-management chip for electric vehicles

From: GaN MMICs: DRDO's Indigenous Chips for Radars and Electronic Warfare Open full article →

16.

Consider the following statements about gallium nitride (GaN):

1.It is a wide-bandgap semiconductor compound of gallium and nitrogen.

2.A wide bandgap helps devices operate at higher voltages, temperatures and frequencies than conventional silicon devices.

3.India's GaN devices are built on a silicon carbide substrate, a different material that supports the active layer.

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: GaN MMICs: DRDO's Indigenous Chips for Radars and Electronic Warfare Open full article →

17.

In a radar, why does the receiving side need a low-noise amplifier rather than only a power amplifier?

Because the receiving antenna must transmit at higher power than the transmitter Because the returning echo is much weaker than the transmitted signal and must be strengthened without adding much electrical noise Because low-noise amplifiers convert radio waves into visible light Because the echo must be slowed down before it is processed

From: GaN MMICs: DRDO's Indigenous Chips for Radars and Electronic Warfare Open full article →

18.

Consider the following statements about the stages of India's GaN technology:

1.Making GaN devices on four-inch silicon carbide wafers proves that every Indian radar already contains them.

2.A technology-transfer offer is a route for industry to take up a laboratory's processes and designs.

3.Dependable production needs control over material quality and manufacturing variation, not a few good samples.

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: GaN MMICs: DRDO's Indigenous Chips for Radars and Electronic Warfare Open full article →

19.

Which one of the following best states the strategic significance of an indigenous GaN MMIC capability?

Proof that every upstream material and production tool is now made in India A guarantee that Indian radars are hundreds of times faster than foreign ones The end of any need to transfer technology to industry Greater control over a critical component and less dependence on an outside supplier, while the supply chain of materials and tools still needs separate examination

From: GaN MMICs: DRDO's Indigenous Chips for Radars and Electronic Warfare Open full article →

20.

Consider the following statements about the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA):

1.It was established in 1943 as a non-official, non-political and non-profit body to study world affairs.

2.Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru was its founder-president, and Nehru inaugurated its headquarters, Sapru House, in 1955.

3.It was created after independence as a department of the Ministry of External 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: ICWA: 25 Years as an Institution of National Importance Open full article →

21.

The Indian Council of World Affairs Act, 2001:

Merged the Council into the Ministry of External Affairs Founded the Council for the first time Declared the Council an institution of national importance and gave it a statutory basis, with the Vice-President of India as its ex-officio president Gave the Council the power to negotiate treaties on India's behalf

From: ICWA: 25 Years as an Institution of National Importance Open full article →

22.

The Vice-President of India is the 'ex-officio' president of the ICWA. This means that:

The office is held by virtue of holding the constitutional post of Vice-President, not through a separate election or appointment The Vice-President is elected to the post by the Council's members The post rotates among the Council's members every year The President of India nominates the Council's president

From: ICWA: 25 Years as an Institution of National Importance Open full article →

23.

Consider the following statements about the priorities outlined at the ICWA anniversary:

1.The neighbourhood, Act East, the Global South and the Indo-Pacific were named as overlapping research areas, not treaty organisations.

2.The Global South is a literal grouping of countries lying south of the Equator.

3.Its journal, India Quarterly, distinguishes authors' opinions from the Council's own outlook.

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: ICWA: 25 Years as an Institution of National Importance Open full article →

24.

Consider the following statements about Changthang:

1.It lies in the high-elevation landscape of eastern Ladakh, adjoining the wider Tibetan Plateau.

2.Ladakh is a Union Territory, separate from the present Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

3.'Cold desert' describes a dry environment with severe cold in which water and vegetation are concentrated unevenly in meadows, streams and lake margins.

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: Changthang Sanctuary: Ladakh Resumes the Rights Inquiry Open full article →

25.

Consider the following statements about the Tso Kar Wetland Complex:

1.Its Ramsar area of 9,577 hectares is the total area of the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary.

2.It is a Ramsar site that supports breeding and migratory birds, including the black-necked crane.

3.Startsapuk Tso to the south is freshwater, while Tso Kar to the north is highly saline, with salt visible around its edges.

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: Changthang Sanctuary: Ladakh Resumes the Rights Inquiry Open full article →

26.

The proceedings resumed by the Ladakh administration in the Changthang sanctuary in September 2026 are best described as:

An order abolishing the sanctuary An inquiry to determine existing rights through claims, surveys and hearings, under the sanctuary's notification under the Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1978 A decision accepting all pending land claims An eviction order directing residents to leave

From: Changthang Sanctuary: Ladakh Resumes the Rights Inquiry Open full article →

27.

Which one of the following statements about the use of GIS and satellite imagery in the Changthang rights inquiry is correct?

Satellite imagery alone conclusively proves ownership of land GIS layers remove the need for public notices and claims GPS measurements settle customary grazing rights automatically A map can show where a pasture, path or building lies, but ownership or a customary right is determined through documentary evidence and hearings

From: Changthang Sanctuary: Ladakh Resumes the Rights Inquiry Open full article →

28.

The Dadasaheb Phalke Award differs from a Best Actor award in that it:

Is given only to directors of Hindi films Is decided by box-office collections Recognises an individual's sustained contribution to the development of Indian cinema over a career rather than one performance in an award cycle Is awarded every year to the Best Film

From: Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2024: Anant Nag Selected Open full article →

29.

Consider the following statements about the Dadasaheb Phalke Award:

1.The Government instituted it in 1969, and actor Devika Rani was its first recipient.

2.It commemorates Dadasaheb Phalke, whose 1913 Raja Harishchandra is recognised as India's first full-length feature film.

3.Anant Nag's 2024 award is to be presented at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony at Kevadia, Gujarat.

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: Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2024: Anant Nag Selected Open full article →

30.

Consider the following statements about Anant Nag's career:

1.He made his Kannada film debut in Sankalpa in 1973 and his Hindi debut in Shyam Benegal's Ankur.

2.Malgudi Days, directed by his brother Shankar Nag, was a feature film.

3.His Padma Bhushan in 2025 is a separate civilian honour, not an earlier version of the Phalke Award.

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: Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2024: Anant Nag Selected Open full article →

31.

Which one of the following correctly describes the timing of Anant Nag's Dadasaheb Phalke Award?

The award year is 2024, the selection was announced in September 2026 and the ceremony is scheduled for 22 September 2026 The award, its announcement and its ceremony all belong to 2024 The award was presented in 2024 and announced in 2026 The award year is 2026 and the ceremony was held in 2024

From: Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2024: Anant Nag Selected Open full article →

32.

Consider the following statements about the India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI) 2025:

1.NITI Aayog prepared it with WRI India, comparing all 36 States and Union Territories.

2.It combines 16 indicators on adoption, charging readiness and innovation into a score out of 100.

3.A State's overall score equals the percentage of its vehicle fleet that is electric.

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: India Electric Mobility Index 2025: Delhi Leads with 84 Open full article →

33.

Which theme carries the largest weight in the IEMI 2025, and what does that weighting imply?

Research and innovation carries half the weight, reflecting shares of public expenditure Transport electrification carries half the total weight, so equal improvements in different themes need not change the overall score equally All three themes carry equal weight, so any improvement changes the score identically Charging readiness carries half the weight because chargers are counted twice

From: India Electric Mobility Index 2025: Delhi Leads with 84 Open full article →

34.

Consider the following statements about the IEMI 2025 results:

1.Delhi leads the overall ranking, followed by Maharashtra and Karnataka.

2.Karnataka leads the charging-readiness theme, while Delhi leads research and innovation.

3.The list of strongest overall performers is identical to the list of top performers in the transport-electrification theme.

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: India Electric Mobility Index 2025: Delhi Leads with 84 Open full article →

35.

Madhya Pradesh's overall rank rose from twenty-third to seventh between editions of the index. Which one of the following is the most careful reading of this change?

It proves that a single State subsidy caused the entire improvement It shows that Madhya Pradesh now has more electric vehicles than Delhi It means the methodology stayed identical between editions The rise reflects some mix of improved performance, movement by other jurisdictions and changes in methodology, so it does not by itself prove that one policy caused the improvement

From: India Electric Mobility Index 2025: Delhi Leads with 84 Open full article →

36.

Consider the following statements about building a usable charging network:

1.A charger count alone shows whether chargers are working, accessible and compatible with a vehicle.

2.Charging links transport planning with electricity planning, so transport departments and utilities need a shared plan.

3.Where charging times are flexible, managing when vehicles draw power can help the electricity 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: India Electric Mobility Index 2025: Delhi Leads with 84 Open full article →

37.

Consider the following statements about the black-headed ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus):

1.An adult has a largely white body, a bare black head and neck, and a long down-curved black bill.

2.It feeds by probing mud and shallow water, so wet, freshly ploughed paddy fields offer food.

3.Cornell's eBird account records its use of marshes, lake margins and agricultural fields.

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: Black-headed Ibis: Feeding Flocks Return to Pallar Fields Open full article →

38.

The State of India's Birds classifies the black-headed ibis as 'resident'. A newly visible flock in a Kerala paddy field therefore:

Proves that the birds migrated from Central Asia Means every individual stays in that one field throughout the year Does not establish arrival from another country, since resident birds move locally or regionally as water and food availability change Shows that the national population has doubled

From: Black-headed Ibis: Feeding Flocks Return to Pallar Fields Open full article →

39.

Consider the following statements about the conservation status of the black-headed ibis:

1.Its global category is Least Concern, with a long-term increase and a stable current trend in India.

2.A Least Concern global category certifies that every local breeding site is secure.

3.Older descriptions calling it Near Threatened predate the recommendation to move it to Least Concern.

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: Black-headed Ibis: Feeding Flocks Return to Pallar Fields Open full article →

40.

Local observers at Tirunavaya report that nesting first recorded in 2022 grew to more than 50 nests in 2024, but that nesting sites were destroyed in 2025 and no nests have been seen since. Which one of the following is the correct inference?

A visible feeding flock is encouraging but does not by itself show that the nesting colony has recovered; feeding, movement and breeding need separate observation The feeding flock proves that the colony has fully recovered The species is now globally endangered The birds have permanently abandoned Kerala

From: Black-headed Ibis: Feeding Flocks Return to Pallar Fields Open full article →

41.

Consider the following statements about the MQ-9 Reaper:

1.It is built by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, developed from the Predator family, and is larger and more powerful than the earlier MQ-1.

2.It is fully autonomous, with no human crew involved in its operation.

3.Its primary role is collecting intelligence, with the ability to carry weapons for additional missions.

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: MQ-9 Reaper: Iran's Unverified Shoot-Down Claim near Qeshm Open full article →

42.

In the abbreviation ISR, how do surveillance, reconnaissance and intelligence differ?

They are three names for the same sensor Surveillance watches an area or activity, reconnaissance gathers information for a particular purpose, and intelligence emerges when collected information is assessed and interpreted Surveillance is done only by satellites, reconnaissance only by ships and intelligence only by aircraft Intelligence is raw camera footage, while surveillance is its interpretation

From: MQ-9 Reaper: Iran's Unverified Shoot-Down Claim near Qeshm Open full article →

43.

The MQ-9 is described as 'remotely piloted'. Which one of the following follows from this?

The aircraft makes every mission decision by itself No maintenance personnel or communication links are needed A pilot sits inside the aircraft but is directed from the ground A ground-based crew flies it, so remote control separates the crew's location from the aircraft without removing human responsibility for decisions on the use of force

From: MQ-9 Reaper: Iran's Unverified Shoot-Down Claim near Qeshm Open full article →

44.

Consider the following statements about the geography of the reported incident:

1.Qeshm Island lies off Iran's southern coast at the Strait of Hormuz.

2.The Strait of Hormuz lies between Iran and Oman and connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman.

3.Beyond the Gulf of Oman lies the Arabian Sea.

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: MQ-9 Reaper: Iran's Unverified Shoot-Down Claim near Qeshm Open full article →

45.

Iran's claim to have shot down an MQ-9 near Qeshm was carried with attribution to the Tasnim news agency and without independent verification. Which one of the following is the correct treatment of such a report?

Report the claim with clear attribution while keeping its unverified status explicit, since neither published aircraft specifications nor the absence of United States confirmation settles what happened Treat the claim as confirmed because a news agency carried it Treat the claim as false because the United States did not immediately confirm it Use the aircraft's factsheet as proof that it cannot be shot down

From: MQ-9 Reaper: Iran's Unverified Shoot-Down Claim near Qeshm Open full article →