UPSC Current Affairs Quiz — 20 September 2026

1.

A battery energy storage system (BESS) contributes to a power grid mainly by:

Generating additional electricity from chemical fuel Increasing the output of a thermal power station Reducing the need for transmission lines entirely Storing electricity when it is available and releasing it later, changing when supply can be used rather than creating a new primary energy source

From: Battery Energy Storage: NTPC Ends the 400 MWh Mouda Contract Open full article →

2.

Consider the following statements about power and energy ratings:

1.A 400 megawatt-hour battery therefore has a 400 megawatt generating capacity.

2.Megawatts measure power, that is how quickly electricity can be supplied.

3.Megawatt-hours measure energy, that is how much can be supplied over time.

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: Battery Energy Storage: NTPC Ends the 400 MWh Mouda Contract Open full article →

3.

Consider the following statements about the Mouda battery-storage dispute of September 2026:

1.NTPC terminated the contract citing delays and contractual default by GR Infraprojects Limited.

2.NTPC has abandoned the storage project at Mouda.

3.The contractor's exchange filing cited force majeure, war risk and contractual issues, and said it had itself issued a termination notice.

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: Battery Energy Storage: NTPC Ends the 400 MWh Mouda Contract Open full article →

4.

Which one of the following correctly describes what a utility-scale battery installation needs besides the cells themselves?

Only a shed large enough to house household-sized batteries Power-conversion equipment to link direct-current storage with an alternating-current grid, controls for charging and discharging, protection and temperature management A dedicated coal supply for backup generation A separate transmission licence for every battery module

From: Battery Energy Storage: NTPC Ends the 400 MWh Mouda Contract Open full article →

5.

Consider the following statements about the Global Business Climate Survey 2026:

1.Business Sweden produces it with Swedish chambers, embassies and consulates, recording how Swedish firms assess their markets.

2.It ranks every country's economy as a whole, including all domestic firms' views.

3.The 2026 edition covers 41 markets with more than 2,250 senior company representatives.

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: Global Business Climate Survey 2026: India Tops 41 Markets Open full article →

6.

India's position in the 2026 survey is best described as:

First among the surveyed markets, followed by Ireland and Vietnam, based on respondents' overall business-climate assessment First in the world for ease of doing business as measured by an official index The largest recipient of Swedish investment in absolute terms The fastest-growing economy among the 41 markets

From: Global Business Climate Survey 2026: India Tops 41 Markets Open full article →

7.

Consider the following statements about the India component of the survey:

1.Team Sweden approached 263 companies and received 213 responses, an 81 per cent rate, in February-March 2026.

2.The 61 per cent figure represents money already invested during 2026.

3.73 per cent viewed the business climate positively, 83 per cent expected turnover to rise and 61 per cent planned higher investment.

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: Global Business Climate Survey 2026: India Tops 41 Markets Open full article →

8.

The India report rates suppliers and distributors well but customs, licences and infrastructure less well. What does this contrast illustrate?

That the survey's overall ranking must be wrong That Swedish firms do not actually operate in India That customs procedures are the only factor measured Confidence in commercial opportunity can coexist with operational friction, so the headline rank alone is less useful for policy than the separate indicators

From: Global Business Climate Survey 2026: India Tops 41 Markets Open full article →

9.

Why does the global survey apply regional weights to its results?

Because some countries refused to participate Because the survey covers only European markets Because respondents answer different questionnaires in each region Because respondent numbers do not mirror the distribution of Swedish business activity, so weights based on subsidiaries' turnover across regions are applied

From: Global Business Climate Survey 2026: India Tops 41 Markets Open full article →

10.

Consider the following statements about Bidriware:

1.It takes its name from Bidar in northern Karnataka and is associated with the Bahmani period and Persian influences.

2.The silver pattern is painted onto an already black surface.

3.Its body is a zinc-rich alloy containing copper, into which silver is inlaid before the surface is darkened by patination.

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: Bidriware: Costlier Silver and Weak Demand Squeeze Bidar's Craft Open full article →

11.

Traditional accounts describe soil associated with Bidar Fort being used in Bidriware. Its role is:

Covering the vessel with ordinary dirt for storage A specialised treatment in the blackening process that helps produce the characteristic dark surface against the silver inlay Polishing the silver inlay to a bright finish Casting the alloy body in a mould

From: Bidriware: Costlier Silver and Weak Demand Squeeze Bidar's Craft Open full article →

12.

A geographical indication (GI), such as the one covering Bidriware, primarily:

Guarantees that every registered producer earns a profit Fixes the retail price of the protected product Links a product's reputation, qualities or characteristics to its place of origin and protects the registered name against unauthorised use Prohibits any new designs in the craft

From: Bidriware: Costlier Silver and Weak Demand Squeeze Bidar's Craft Open full article →

13.

Consider the following statements about the difficulty reported by Bidriware artisans in September 2026:

1.Rising silver, copper and zinc prices tie up more money in unfinished work while customers resist higher prices.

2.The newspaper's interviews are a complete statistical census of the industry.

3.Because each piece needs careful handwork, producing more items is not an easy solution.

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: Bidriware: Costlier Silver and Weak Demand Squeeze Bidar's Craft Open full article →

14.

Kavach is best described as:

An automatic train protection system that supervises permitted movement and speed and can apply brakes, supplementing the driver rather than replacing them A system that makes trains driverless A track-laying technology for high-speed corridors A ticketing and passenger-information platform

From: Kavach 4.0: Over 600 Route Km Approved in Lucknow Division Open full article →

15.

Consider the following statements about how Kavach works:

1.Radio-frequency identification tags placed along the track give the locomotive equipment its location references.

2.Station equipment interfaces with signalling and a radio network exchanges information with locomotives.

3.The onboard equipment only sounds an advisory warning and cannot act on the brakes.

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: Kavach 4.0: Over 600 Route Km Approved in Lucknow Division Open full article →

16.

Consider the following statements about the September 2026 Kavach announcement:

1.Approval means those sections already have working equipment.

2.Kavach 4.0 was approved for over 600 route km in North Eastern Railway's Lucknow Division, costing above Rs 250 crore.

3.RDSO approved the Version 4.0 specification on 16 July 2024, and it was commissioned on the Mathura-Kota section in July 2025.

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: Kavach 4.0: Over 600 Route Km Approved in Lucknow Division Open full article →

17.

Why is the Lucknow Division figure quoted in 'route kilometres' rather than track kilometres?

Route kilometres count each parallel track separately The two measures are identical in Indian Railways usage Track kilometres apply only to electrified sections Route kilometres measure the length of railway routes covered, whereas a double-track route has more track kilometres than route kilometres

From: Kavach 4.0: Over 600 Route Km Approved in Lucknow Division Open full article →

18.

Kavach is designed to Safety Integrity Level 4. This means that:

No accident can occur on a route where it is installed Its safety functions must meet a demanding reliability requirement, which strengthens one layer of defence without promising zero accidents Every train on the route becomes automatically driverless Track maintenance is no longer required

From: Kavach 4.0: Over 600 Route Km Approved in Lucknow Division Open full article →

19.

Rat lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis) reaches people through which one of the following routes?

Touching a snail shell in a garden Breathing air near an infested plantation Eating infected raw or undercooked snails or slugs, including fragments accidentally present on raw produce Drinking treated tap water

From: Giant African Snail: Kerala Drive to Clear Bison Valley Farms Open full article →

20.

Consider the following statements about the giant African snail:

1.The species usually discussed is Lissachatina fulica, formerly called Achatina fulica, a land-dwelling mollusc native to East Africa.

2.The United States Department of Agriculture treats it as a serious plant pest able to feed on hundreds of plant species.

3.It feeds only on rotting waste and does not damage living crops.

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: Giant African Snail: Kerala Drive to Clear Bison Valley Farms Open full article →

21.

Why do Bison Valley's plantations in Idukki district favour this snail?

Because the area is arid and open Because the snail needs urban rubbish to survive Damp shade in cardamom-growing areas provides shelter and reduces drying, while feeding and hiding places spread across adjoining properties Because the Western Ghats lack native molluscs

From: Giant African Snail: Kerala Drive to Clear Bison Valley Farms Open full article →

22.

Consider the following statements about the Kerala Agricultural University programme begun in Bison Valley:

1.Its reported aim is eradication over two to three years, with awareness activities and ward-level monitoring.

2.A stated eradication objective is the same as an achieved result.

3.Eradication needs evidence that the population is gone from a defined area, with continued surveillance.

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: Giant African Snail: Kerala Drive to Clear Bison Valley Farms Open full article →

23.

Which one of the following is the correct public-health guidance where giant African snails are present?

Spray any available pesticide across the whole area immediately Assume every snail seen near a house has infected the residents Collect and eat the snails after brief rinsing Wash produce, avoid eating raw snails, wear gloves when handling molluscs and report suspected infestations to agricultural authorities

From: Giant African Snail: Kerala Drive to Clear Bison Valley Farms Open full article →

24.

Consider the following statements about INS Trishul's September 2026 visit:

1.The guided-missile frigate visited Alexandria, Egypt, from 14 to 17 September and was escorted on arrival by the Egyptian ship Al Qadeer.

2.It conducted a passage exercise, or PASSEX, with the Egyptian naval ship Bernees.

3.The visit established a new Indian naval base in Egypt.

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: INS Trishul: Alexandria Port Call and a Passage Exercise Open full article →

25.

A warship's displacement, given for Trishul as about 3,700 tonnes, measures:

The weight of water the floating ship displaces, corresponding to the ship's own weight in that condition The weight of cargo the ship can carry The maximum weight of fuel in its tanks The combined weight of its weapons and sensors

From: INS Trishul: Alexandria Port Call and a Passage Exercise Open full article →

26.

Consider the following statements about the geography of the visit:

1.Alexandria is the northern entrance to the Suez Canal.

2.Alexandria lies on Egypt's northern Mediterranean coast, west of the Nile Delta.

3.The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea, offering ships an alternative to the longer passage around southern Africa.

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: INS Trishul: Alexandria Port Call and a Passage Exercise Open full article →

27.

Which one of the following correctly describes Egypt's location and borders?

It lies entirely within Asia and borders Saudi Arabia by land It borders Ethiopia to the south and Turkey to the north It is an island state in the Mediterranean It occupies north-eastern Africa with the Sinai Peninsula extending into Asia, bordering Libya to the west, Sudan to the south, and Israel and the Gaza Strip to the north-east

From: INS Trishul: Alexandria Port Call and a Passage Exercise Open full article →

28.

Consider the following statements about India-Egypt defence relations:

1.The two countries elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership during the Indian Prime Minister's June 2023 visit.

2.Defence cooperation also rests on earlier exchanges and a September 2022 cooperation agreement.

3.A strategic partnership carries the same binding obligations as a formal military alliance.

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: INS Trishul: Alexandria Port Call and a Passage Exercise Open full article →

29.

Consider the following statements about Naegleria fowleri:

1.It normally seeks human beings as its food source, which is why it is called the brain-eating amoeba.

2.It is a single-celled amoeba of warm freshwater and soil that normally feeds on bacteria.

3.Human infection is an exceptional event rather than a necessary stage of its life cycle.

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: Naegleria fowleri: Why the Amoeba Seeks Out Narrow Channels Open full article →

30.

How does Naegleria fowleri reach the brain?

It is swallowed in drinking water and absorbed through the stomach Water containing it enters the nose, and it travels along olfactory nerve fibres passing through openings in the cribriform plate It spreads from an infected person through coughing It enters through cuts in the skin during swimming

From: Naegleria fowleri: Why the Amoeba Seeks Out Narrow Channels Open full article →

31.

Consider the following statements about the study published on 10 September 2026 in PNAS:

1.It studied Naegleria gruberi, a non-pathogenic relative, as a model rather than the pathogenic species in a person.

2.In narrow channels the amoebae used bleb-based movement and travelled persistently in one direction.

3.It demonstrated a new diagnostic test and an effective medicine.

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: Naegleria fowleri: Why the Amoeba Seeks Out Narrow Channels Open full article →

32.

What does the CDC advise for people who rinse their nose at home?

Use untreated water from a nearby lake Avoid all contact with any freshwater Use distilled, sterile, or appropriately boiled and cooled water, since the aim is to prevent warm freshwater entering the nose Take antibiotics before rinsing

From: Naegleria fowleri: Why the Amoeba Seeks Out Narrow Channels Open full article →

33.

Consider the following statements about the Geran-2:

1.It is the Russian designation associated with the Iranian-designed Shahed-136 and its domestically produced adaptations.

2.It is a one-way attack drone, intended to strike a target rather than return for reuse.

3.It is a multi-rotor aircraft held aloft by several lifting rotors.

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: Geran-2: Satellite Images Point to Alabuga's Buried Workshops Open full article →

34.

Conflict Armament Research examined the remains of two Geran-2 aircraft used in Ukraine in July 2023. What did that work establish?

That every component was manufactured in Iran That the drones were never used in Ukraine That the Alabuga site had closed Evidence from recovered hardware that Russia had begun fielding a domestically produced Shahed-136 variant

From: Geran-2: Satellite Images Point to Alabuga's Buried Workshops Open full article →

35.

Consider the following statements about Alabuga:

1.It is a special economic zone in Tatarstan, a republic within the Russian Federation.

2.In February 2024 the United States Treasury identified Alabuga and associated figures in connection with Iranian-designed drone production.

3.A sanctions designation is the same thing as independent verification of production figures.

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: Geran-2: Satellite Images Point to Alabuga's Buried Workshops Open full article →

36.

What can satellite imagery of new construction at a weapons plant establish, and what can it not?

It can measure exact output of finished drones each month It can show excavation, structural change or new buildings, but not what underground rooms contain or how many production lines are working It can confirm the nationality of every component used It can prove the purpose of a facility without other evidence

From: Geran-2: Satellite Images Point to Alabuga's Buried Workshops Open full article →

37.

Consider the following statements about Biligiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve:

1.It lies in the Biligiri hills of Chamarajanagar district in southern Karnataka, near Tamil Nadu.

2.Its position links the Western Ghats with the Eastern Ghats.

3.The National Tiger Conservation Authority lists a total area of 574.82 sq km, comprising 359.10 sq km of core and 215.72 sq km of buffer.

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: BRT Tiger Reserve: Fallow Plots Flagged as Conflict Hotspots Open full article →

38.

Why did BRT officials flag long-fallow plots and abandoned quarries near villages in September 2026?

Because fallow land is always more dangerous than forest Because the reserve plans to acquire the plots for its core area Dense growth can provide concealment and water-filled pits can attract animals, so such sites near livestock or paths raise the chance of encounters Because quarrying is banned inside tiger reserves

From: BRT Tiger Reserve: Fallow Plots Flagged as Conflict Hotspots Open full article →

39.

Consider the following statements about responding to a tiger moving outside a reserve:

1.NTCA procedures call for identifying the animal, assessing recent incidents and coordinating technical and local officials.

2.Camera-trap images help distinguish individual tigers rather than attributing every sighting to one animal.

3.Emergency capture substitutes for managing the wider landscape.

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: BRT Tiger Reserve: Fallow Plots Flagged as Conflict Hotspots Open full article →

40.

What role does the Soliga community have in the BRT landscape?

No recognised rights within the sanctuary Ownership of the tiger reserve's core area A ban on their entry into the reserve since 2011 A long association with it, including community forest rights recognised for Soliga communities from 25 village assemblies in the sanctuary, documented by ATREE in October 2011

From: BRT Tiger Reserve: Fallow Plots Flagged as Conflict Hotspots Open full article →

41.

Why can a tiger's movement outside a reserve be both ecologically useful and a management problem?

Because tigers outside reserves are always sick Because reserves are legally required to be fenced Because such movement always means the core habitat has failed Movement supports connections between populations, yet it can also bring animals into contact with farms, livestock and people living in the same landscape

From: BRT Tiger Reserve: Fallow Plots Flagged as Conflict Hotspots Open full article →

42.

Consider the following statements about the Vallur Thermal Power Project:

1.The September 2026 case concerns approval for a newly proposed plant.

2.Three units of 500 MW each give it 1,500 MW of capacity in Tiruvallur district, north of Chennai.

3.NTPC Tamil Nadu Energy Company Limited, a joint venture of NTPC and TANGEDCO's generation arm, operates it.

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: Vallur Thermal Plant: NGT Notice on Hot Effluent Discharge Open full article →

43.

Why does a coal-fired station need a cooling-water system?

To wash coal before it is burned Steam leaving the turbine must be condensed so the water can be reused, and cooling removes that heat To cool the transmission lines leaving the plant To generate additional electricity from waste heat

From: Vallur Thermal Plant: NGT Notice on Hot Effluent Discharge Open full article →

44.

The 2007 environmental clearance specified a discharge temperature no more than 5 degrees Celsius above the ambient temperature of the receiving lagoon or sea. This condition means:

That discharged water must be cooled to 5 degrees Celsius That discharge is allowed only when the sea is below 5 degrees Celsius That temperature need not be monitored at all A limit on the temperature difference between the discharge and the receiving water, not a maximum water temperature of 5 degrees Celsius

From: Vallur Thermal Plant: NGT Notice on Hot Effluent Discharge Open full article →

45.

Consider the following statements about excess heat in a receiving water body:

1.Warmer water generally holds less dissolved oxygen than colder water.

2.Fish and other aquatic organisms depend on dissolved oxygen, so added heat can be an environmental stress even without visible pollution.

3.A single temperature measurement settles the question of responsibility for a fish kill.

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: Vallur Thermal Plant: NGT Notice on Hot Effluent Discharge Open full article →