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.

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 →

3.

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 →

4.

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 →

5.

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 →

6.

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 →

7.

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 →

8.

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 →

9.

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 →

10.

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 →