UPSC Current Affairs Quiz — 23 September 2026

1.

Consider the following statements about Oxyserphus narendrani, a wasp recently described from Assam:

1.It is the first parasitoid wasp to be formally described from the Oriental biogeographic region.

2.It is the first confirmed record of its genus, Oxyserphus, from India.

3.Its species name honours T. C. Narendran, an Indian specialist in parasitoid-wasp taxonomy.

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: Oxyserphus narendrani: New Parasitoid Wasp from Dibru-Saikhowa Open full article →

2.

Oxyserphus narendrani, recently described from Assam, is a parasitoid wasp. Which one of the following best describes a parasitoid?

An organism that lives on a host for long periods without normally killing it An organism that kills and eats many prey animals during its lifetime An organism that benefits from a host without harming or helping it An organism whose young develop in or on a host and eventually kill it

From: Oxyserphus narendrani: New Parasitoid Wasp from Dibru-Saikhowa Open full article →

3.

Consider the following statements in the context of describing the wasp Oxyserphus narendrani:

1.A holotype is the single specimen designated as the name-bearing type when a species is described.

2.The Zoological Survey of India, which keeps the National Zoological Collections, is headquartered in Kolkata.

3.The Wallace Line separates the Oriental and Palaearctic faunal regions along the Himalaya.

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: Oxyserphus narendrani: New Parasitoid Wasp from Dibru-Saikhowa Open full article →

4.

Consider the following statements about Dibru-Saikhowa in Assam, where Oxyserphus narendrani was collected:

1.It lies in upper Assam, with the Brahmaputra and the Lohit to its north and the Dibru to its south.

2.The national park and the biosphere reserve of this name share identical boundaries.

3.The national park is known for its population of feral horses.

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: Oxyserphus narendrani: New Parasitoid Wasp from Dibru-Saikhowa Open full article →

5.

Oxyserphus narendrani belongs to the insect order Hymenoptera. With reference to this order, consider the following statements:

1.It includes wasps, bees and ants as well as termites.

2.In honey bees, males develop from unfertilised eggs and are haploid.

3.The sting of a worker honey bee is a modified ovipositor, so male honey bees cannot sting.

4.All worker honey bees are female.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

2 and 3 only 2, 3 and 4 only 1, 2 and 4 only 1, 2, 3 and 4

From: Oxyserphus narendrani: New Parasitoid Wasp from Dibru-Saikhowa Open full article →

6.

Consider the following statements about the Garamantes, an ancient society of the central Sahara:

1.Their heartland lay in the Fezzan region of south-western Libya.

2.They were Roman settlers who moved into the Sahara from the Mediterranean coast.

3.Many of their fortified farms and villages date from the first to fifth centuries of the Common Era.

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: Garamantes: Irrigation and Trade Behind a Saharan Civilisation Open full article →

7.

Consider the following statements about the foggara, the Garamantian irrigation channel:

Statement-I: A foggara dries up if the water table falls below the level of its underground collecting channel.

Statement-II: A foggara moves water by gravity alone, without any lifting device.

Statement-III: Most of a foggara's route runs underground, which reduces evaporation losses.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Both Statement-II and Statement-III are correct and both of them explain Statement-I Both Statement-II and Statement-III are correct, but only one of them explains Statement-I Only one of Statement-II and Statement-III is correct and that is the explanation of Statement-I Neither Statement-II nor Statement-III is correct

From: Garamantes: Irrigation and Trade Behind a Saharan Civilisation Open full article →

8.

Consider the following statements about the Garamantes:

1.Satellite images revealed over 100 fortified farms and villages, later examined in the field.

2.Their craftspeople reworked imported Mediterranean glass and metal into new objects.

3.Long-distance exchange across the Sahara began only after Islam spread in North 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: Garamantes: Irrigation and Trade Behind a Saharan Civilisation Open full article →

9.

The groundwater that sustained Garamantian foggara irrigation in the Libyan Sahara is best described as:

Nile floodwater that seeped westward through desert wadis every season Rainwater gathered every year in open surface tanks and cisterns Groundwater stored in earlier wetter climates and recharged more slowly than it was used Meltwater from permanent snowfields on the nearby Tibesti mountains

From: Garamantes: Irrigation and Trade Behind a Saharan Civilisation Open full article →

10.

Consider the following statements about the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI):

1.The first eight of its 15 digits form the Type Allocation Code (TAC), which identifies the device type.

2.Its last digit is a check digit that certifies the handset as genuine.

3.A global mobile-industry body oversees type allocation, while manufacturers assign individual numbers.

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: IMEI: Why Tampering With a Handset's Identity Is an Offence Open full article →

11.

Consider the following statements:

1.A Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) carries credentials that authenticate a mobile subscription.

2.Inserting a different SIM into a handset changes its International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI).

3.A dual-SIM handset can legitimately carry two IMEIs.

4.A handset's IMEI is distinct from the manufacturer's inventory serial number on its box.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1 and 3 only 2 and 4 only 1, 2 and 3 only 1, 3 and 4 only

From: IMEI: Why Tampering With a Handset's Identity Is an Offence Open full article →

12.

Consider the following statements:

1.Tampering with an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) is an offence under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.

2.The Act sets a mandatory minimum jail term of three years for it.

3.Telecom cyber security rules of 2024 require registering IMEIs of India-made handsets before first sale.

4.Handsets imported only for testing need no IMEI registration.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1 and 2 only 1 and 3 only 2, 3 and 4 only 1, 3 and 4 only

From: IMEI: Why Tampering With a Handset's Identity Is an Offence Open full article →

13.

Blocking a reported lost or stolen handset through the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) does NOT do which one of the following?

Remotely erase the personal data stored on the handset Stop the handset working on Indian networks even with a new subscriber card Link the blocking request to the handset's equipment identifier Allow unblocking through a separate process once the handset is recovered

From: IMEI: Why Tampering With a Handset's Identity Is an Offence Open full article →

14.

Consider the following statements about checking a mobile handset before purchase in India:

1.The government's Sanchar Saathi services let a buyer check a handset's International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) before buying it.

2.If the IMEI shown by a handset matches its box and invoice, this conclusively proves the handset is neither counterfeit nor stolen.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2

From: IMEI: Why Tampering With a Handset's Identity Is an Offence Open full article →

15.

A nearly white great cormorant was recently reported at Ameenpur Lake near Hyderabad. Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: A leucistic bird can have white feathers while its eyes keep their usual colour.

Statement-II: Leucism results from a complete failure of the body to produce melanin.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is not correct Statement-I is not correct, but Statement-II is correct

From: Great Cormorant: Leucistic Bird Spotted at Ameenpur Lake Open full article →

16.

Consider the following statements about the great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo):

1.It feeds by picking prey from the water surface without diving.

2.Its plumage gets wetter than a duck's, and it often perches with wings spread after feeding.

3.It breeds in colonies, nesting on trees, cliffs or rocky ground.

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: Great Cormorant: Leucistic Bird Spotted at Ameenpur Lake Open full article →

17.

Consider the following statements about the great cormorant:

1.It is assessed as Least Concern on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

2.Being a Least Concern species, it is not listed in any Schedule of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2

From: Great Cormorant: Leucistic Bird Spotted at Ameenpur Lake Open full article →

18.

Consider the following statements about Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS):

1.The State Government notifies them on the State Biodiversity Board's recommendation.

2.Ameenpur Lake in Telangana is recognised as a BHS.

3.Notification automatically bans all prevailing uses of the area by local communities.

4.The State must frame schemes to compensate people economically affected by a notification.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1 and 2 only 2, 3 and 4 only 1, 2, 3 and 4 1, 2 and 4 only

From: Great Cormorant: Leucistic Bird Spotted at Ameenpur Lake Open full article →

19.

Consider the following statements about Emi Koussi:

1.It is the highest peak of the Sahara as well as the highest volcano in Africa.

2.It is a volcano in the Tibesti mountains of northern Chad.

3.Dry channels on its slopes show that running water has eroded it despite very low present rainfall.

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: Emi Koussi: Salt, Not Snow, Tops the Sahara's Highest Peak Open full article →

20.

Match List I (volcanic landform) with List II (how it forms):

List I:

A. Caldera

B. Maar

C. Cinder cone

D. Shield volcano

List II:

1.Explosive interaction between magma and water

2.Ground subsidence after magma is withdrawn from below

3.Repeated eruptions of fluid lava spreading over a broad area

4.Accumulation of erupted fragments around a vent

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

A-1, B-2, C-4, D-3 A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4 A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4 A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3

From: Emi Koussi: Salt, Not Snow, Tops the Sahara's Highest Peak Open full article →

21.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: A white salt crust covers the floor of a small dry lake inside the summit depression of Emi Koussi.

Statement-II: Water collecting in a closed depression evaporates, leaving its dissolved minerals behind.

Statement-III: The summit remains below freezing all year, so precipitation there builds up as permanent ice.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Both Statement-II and Statement-III are correct and both of them explain Statement-I Both Statement-II and Statement-III are correct, but only one of them explains Statement-I Only one of Statement-II and Statement-III is correct and that is the explanation of Statement-I Neither Statement-II nor Statement-III is correct

From: Emi Koussi: Salt, Not Snow, Tops the Sahara's Highest Peak Open full article →

22.

Consider the following statements about volcanic activity at Emi Koussi:

1.No eruption of Emi Koussi is known from the Holocene, the interval covering roughly the last 11,700 years.

2.A thermal area has been recorded on its southern flank.

3.The absence of a dated Holocene eruption establishes that the volcano can never erupt again.

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: Emi Koussi: Salt, Not Snow, Tops the Sahara's Highest Peak Open full article →

23.

Consider the following statements about Lord Howe Island:

1.It lies in the Tasman Sea and forms part of the Australian state of New South Wales.

2.The Lord Howe Island Group is inscribed on the World Heritage List.

3.The Lord Howe Island stick insect, once believed extinct, was rediscovered on Balls Pyramid in the island group.

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: Lord Howe Island: Shearwater Chick Found With 894 Plastic Pieces Open full article →

24.

Consider the following statements about flesh-footed shearwaters breeding on Lord Howe Island:

Statement-I: Plastic found in their chicks does not necessarily come from litter on the island itself.

Statement-II: Adults forage far out at sea and pass swallowed plastic to their chicks while feeding them.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is not correct Statement-I is not correct, but Statement-II is correct

From: Lord Howe Island: Shearwater Chick Found With 894 Plastic Pieces Open full article →

25.

A 2010-2026 study of seabird chicks on Lord Howe Island found that the share of chicks containing any plastic stayed broadly within 75-85%. Which one of the following can be validly concluded from this finding alone?

The amount of plastic carried by affected chicks has stayed steady Plastic pollution in the birds' feeding waters has fallen It cannot show whether plastic loads in affected chicks are rising Plastic is the main cause of death among these chicks

From: Lord Howe Island: Shearwater Chick Found With 894 Plastic Pieces Open full article →

26.

With reference to plastic debris found in seabirds, consider the following statements:

1.Fragments broken off bottle caps and other finished items are classed as primary microplastics.

2.Nurdles are resin pellets used as raw material for making plastic products.

3.Microplastics are commonly defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm.

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: Lord Howe Island: Shearwater Chick Found With 894 Plastic Pieces Open full article →

27.

Consider the following statements about the flesh-footed shearwater:

1.It belongs to the order Procellariiformes, the tube-nosed seabirds that also include petrels and albatrosses.

2.Plasticosis, a scarring of the stomach caused by ingested plastic, was first described in this species on Lord Howe Island.

3.Stomach flushing of live chicks recovers all the plastic they carry, giving a complete count.

How many of the above statements are correct?

Only one Only two All three None

From: Lord Howe Island: Shearwater Chick Found With 894 Plastic Pieces Open full article →

28.

Consider the following statements about Exercise Tarang Shakti:

1.In its 2026 edition, the countries attending as observers also deploy their own combat aircraft.

2.It is a multinational air exercise hosted by the Indian Air Force.

3.Its first edition, in 2024, was held in phases at Sulur in Tamil Nadu and Jodhpur in Rajasthan.

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: Tarang Shakti 2026: Eight Air Forces Train at Jodhpur Open full article →

29.

Consider the following pairs of air exercises in which the Indian Air Force takes part:

Exercise : Partner or host country

1.Garuda : France

2.Pitch Black : Australia

3.Desert Flag : United Arab Emirates

4.Indradhanush : Oman

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

Only one Only two Only three All four

From: Tarang Shakti 2026: Eight Air Forces Train at Jodhpur Open full article →

30.

Consider the following statements about missions practised in air exercises:

1.Beyond-visual-range combat means engaging aircraft that pilots cannot directly see.

2.Aerial refuelling extends the time aircraft can operate away from their bases.

3.Combat search and rescue rehearses recovering personnel under demanding conditions.

4.Interoperability requires all participants to fly identical aircraft.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1 and 2 only 3 and 4 only 1, 2 and 3 only 1, 2, 3 and 4

From: Tarang Shakti 2026: Eight Air Forces Train at Jodhpur Open full article →

31.

Among the aircraft announced for Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026, which one is primarily a military transport aircraft?

F-35 Rafale F-16 C-130J

From: Tarang Shakti 2026: Eight Air Forces Train at Jodhpur Open full article →

32.

Consider the following statements about the National Single Window System (NSWS):

1.It grew out of an Investment Clearance Cell announced in the 2020-21 Budget.

2.The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), which guides it, replaced the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion in 2019.

3.Invest India, which manages it, is a statutory body created by an Act of Parliament.

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: National Single Window System: Five Years of One-Stop Approvals Open full article →

33.

Consider the following statements about the National Single Window System (NSWS):

1.It binds every approving authority to one uniform deadline.

2.Its Know Your Approvals module suggests permissions as guidance, not a legal opinion.

3.Registration is free, though statutory fees for individual approvals can apply.

4.Registration alone authorises a business to start a regulated activity.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 only 3 and 4 only 1, 2 and 4 only

From: National Single Window System: Five Years of One-Stop Approvals Open full article →

34.

Official figures for the National Single Window System (NSWS) give annual averages of about 3.06 lakh applications and 2.26 lakh approvals. Which one of the following inferences is valid?

About one in four applications is rejected every year The figures alone cannot establish a rejection rate The portal has issued about 2.26 lakh approvals since launch Every onboarded entity has received at least one approval

From: National Single Window System: Five Years of One-Stop Approvals Open full article →

35.

Consider the following statements about ease of doing business:

1.The World Bank discontinued its Doing Business report in 2021 after data irregularities came to light.

2.The Business Reforms Action Plan of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade assesses States and Union Territories, including on single-window systems.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2

From: National Single Window System: Five Years of One-Stop Approvals Open full article →

36.

Consider the following statements about the North Koel river:

1.It rises in the Chhota Nagpur uplands and flows through the Latehar-Palamu region of Jharkhand.

2.It joins the Son, which is in turn a tributary of the Ganga.

3.The Karo is one of its important tributaries.

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: North Koel River: Karma Puja Drownings in Palamu Open full article →

37.

Consider the following statements about the Son river:

1.It originates on the Amarkantak plateau.

2.It is a left-bank tributary of the Ganga.

3.The Rihand is one of its tributaries.

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: North Koel River: Karma Puja Drownings in Palamu Open full article →

38.

Consider the following statements about the South Koel and the Brahmani:

1.The South Koel originates near Nagri in the Ranchi region.

2.The South Koel meets the Sankh at Vedavyas near Rourkela, and the combined river is called the Brahmani.

3.The Brahmani, together with the Baitarani, forms a delta on the Odisha coast.

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: North Koel River: Karma Puja Drownings in Palamu Open full article →

39.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: The North Koel and the South Koel belong to different river basins.

Statement-II: Both the North Koel and the South Koel rise in the uplands of the Chhota Nagpur plateau.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is not correct Statement-I is not correct, but Statement-II is correct

From: North Koel River: Karma Puja Drownings in Palamu Open full article →

40.

Consider the following statements about the North Koel Reservoir Project:

1.It includes a dam near Kutku in Latehar and a barrage at Mohammadganj in Palamu.

2.A barrage mainly stores water, while a dam mainly diverts flow into canals.

3.Its storage raised submergence fears in Palamu Tiger Reserve, one of the first under Project Tiger.

4.Betla National Park lies within the Palamu Tiger Reserve.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1 and 3 only 2 and 4 only 1, 2, 3 and 4 1, 3 and 4 only

From: North Koel River: Karma Puja Drownings in Palamu Open full article →

41.

Consider the following statements about the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO):

1.It has taken over from State authorities the licensing of the retail sale of medicines.

2.It functions under the Directorate General of Health Services in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

3.It approves new drugs and clinical trials in India.

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: CDSCO Advisory: Painkillers, Antibiotics and Kidney Safety Open full article →

42.

Consider the following statements about the Drugs Rules, 1945:

1.They are framed under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.

2.Schedule H, H1 and X drugs can be retailed only on a registered medical practitioner's prescription.

3.Schedule H1 sales must be recorded separately, with records kept for three years.

4.Schedule H1 includes certain third- and fourth-generation antibiotics.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

2, 3 and 4 only 1 and 2 only 3 and 4 only 1, 2, 3 and 4

From: CDSCO Advisory: Painkillers, Antibiotics and Kidney Safety Open full article →

43.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause acute kidney injury in a dehydrated patient.

Statement-II: NSAIDs reduce the production of prostaglandins, some of which keep blood vessels in the kidney dilated.

Statement-III: In dehydration, the kidney relies more on these prostaglandins to maintain its blood flow.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Both Statement-II and Statement-III are correct and both of them explain Statement-I Both Statement-II and Statement-III are correct, but only one of them explains Statement-I Only one of Statement-II and Statement-III is correct and that is the explanation of Statement-I Neither Statement-II nor Statement-III is correct

From: CDSCO Advisory: Painkillers, Antibiotics and Kidney Safety Open full article →

44.

Consider the following statements:

1.Antibiotics act against bacteria and do not treat an uncomplicated viral illness.

2.Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) means that a patient's body becomes accustomed to an antibiotic.

3.Antimicrobial stewardship refers to organised efforts to improve how antimicrobials are selected and used.

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: CDSCO Advisory: Painkillers, Antibiotics and Kidney Safety Open full article →

45.

What does the 2026 Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) circular on medicine misuse call for?

1.The lowest effective dose of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the shortest time needed

2.Immediate withdrawal of all painkillers from retail sale

3.No sharing of antibiotics or self-treatment with leftovers

4.Stronger prescription review and patient counselling in hospitals

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1 and 4 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 only 1, 3 and 4 only

From: CDSCO Advisory: Painkillers, Antibiotics and Kidney Safety Open full article →