UPSC Current Affairs Quiz — 26 September 2026

1.

Consider the following statements about the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Digital Connectivity Rating:

1.Ratings are given by a registered Digital Connectivity Rating Agency (DCRA) chosen by the property manager.

2.Properties under construction can also be assessed, based on plans and readiness.

3.Ratings run from one to five stars, with certificates verifiable by scanning a code.

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: Digital Connectivity Rating: TRAI Portal Star-Rates Buildings Open full article →

2.

Consider the following statements about the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI):

1.It is a statutory body set up under the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997.

2.Appeals against its directions, decisions or orders lie to the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT).

3.It grants the licences or authorisations under which telecom service providers operate.

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: Digital Connectivity Rating: TRAI Portal Star-Rates Buildings Open full article →

3.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: Good outdoor mobile coverage in a locality does not guarantee good connectivity inside every building there.

Statement-II: Reinforced concrete, steel and metal-coated glass weaken radio signals entering a building.

Statement-III: Mobile networks use only frequency bands below 1 gigahertz, which cannot pass through walls.

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: Digital Connectivity Rating: TRAI Portal Star-Rates Buildings Open full article →

4.

Consider the following statements about optical fibres used in broadband networks:

1.Light is guided along the fibre by total internal reflection, which requires the core to have a higher refractive index than the cladding.

2.For total internal reflection, light must strike the core-cladding boundary at an angle of incidence smaller than the critical angle.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Digital Connectivity Rating: TRAI Portal Star-Rates Buildings Open full article →

5.

Consider the following statements about the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes:

1.The hypermobile type is diagnosed mainly through a genetic test for its known causative gene.

2.They are inherited conditions affecting connective tissue, which supports joints, skin and other structures.

3.The vascular type carries a particular risk of rupture of arteries and internal organs.

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: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: Three Studies Probe the Hypermobile Type Open full article →

6.

Consider the following tissues of the human body:

1.Blood

2.Tendons

3.Epidermis of the skin

4.Skeletal muscle

How many of the above are connective tissues?

Only one Only two Only three All four

From: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: Three Studies Probe the Hypermobile Type Open full article →

7.

Consider the following statements about collagen:

1.It is the most abundant protein in the human body.

2.Vitamin C is needed to form stable collagen, and its deficiency causes scurvy.

3.It is the main structural protein of hair and nails.

4.It gives tensile strength to tendons, ligaments, bone and the dermis of the skin.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: Three Studies Probe the Hypermobile Type Open full article →

8.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: Daytime sleepiness can persist in some patients even after continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) controls their obstructive sleep apnoea.

Statement-II: CPAP works by stimulating the brain's respiratory centre to raise the drive to breathe during sleep.

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: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: Three Studies Probe the Hypermobile Type Open full article →

9.

Consider the following statements about androgens:

1.Androgens circulate in both women and men, though usually at higher levels in men.

2.Testosterone is a peptide hormone that acts only through receptors on the cell surface.

3.The adrenal cortex secretes small amounts of androgens along with its other steroid hormones.

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: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: Three Studies Probe the Hypermobile Type Open full article →

10.

Consider the following statements about air-to-air refuelling:

1.It extends the range and endurance of aircraft beyond what their internal fuel allows.

2.It lets a fighter take off with a heavier weapons load and less fuel, then top up in the air.

3.Any tanker can refuel any receiver aircraft, because air-to-air refuelling uses one universal 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: Pegase 26: Four French Rafales Reach Jodhpur for Tarang Shakti Open full article →

11.

Match List I with List II:

List I (Exercise):

A. Garuda

B. Varuna

C. Shakti

D. Tarang Shakti

List II (Description):

1.Multinational air exercise hosted by the Indian Air Force

2.India-France naval exercise

3.India-France air force exercise

4.India-France army exercise

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

From: Pegase 26: Four French Rafales Reach Jodhpur for Tarang Shakti Open full article →

12.

Consider the following statements about France and the Indian Ocean region:

1.France is a member of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

2.Reunion, an overseas department of France, lies east of Madagascar.

3.New Caledonia, a French territory, lies in the western Indian Ocean.

4.Mayotte, administered by France as an overseas department, lies in the Mozambique Channel.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Pegase 26: Four French Rafales Reach Jodhpur for Tarang Shakti Open full article →

13.

Which one of the following best describes the role of a Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft?

It provides airborne early warning and control with a large surveillance radar It hunts submarines and patrols sea lanes over long periods It jams hostile radars and communications as an electronic warfare platform It refuels other aircraft in flight and can also carry passengers and cargo

From: Pegase 26: Four French Rafales Reach Jodhpur for Tarang Shakti Open full article →

14.

Consider the following statements about the Caspian cobra (Naja oxiana):

1.It belongs to the family Elapidae, the same family as the kraits.

2.It is one of the 'Big Four' snakes whose venoms are used to raise India's polyvalent antivenom.

3.Its range extends from Central Asia into north-western 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: Caspian Cobra: Two Deaths in Chamba Are India's First on Record Open full article →

15.

Consider the following statements about the Caspian cobra:

1.The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists it as Near Threatened.

2.Near Threatened is one of the IUCN's three 'threatened' categories.

3.All Naja cobras are in Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2022.

4.Its IUCN category reflects extinction risk, not how dangerous its bite is.

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: Caspian Cobra: Two Deaths in Chamba Are India's First on Record Open full article →

16.

Consider the following statements:

1.Russell's viper and the saw-scaled viper belong to the family Elapidae, like the cobras.

2.The king cobra belongs to the family Elapidae but is placed in a genus separate from the Naja cobras.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Caspian Cobra: Two Deaths in Chamba Are India's First on Record Open full article →

17.

Untreated bites of cobras and kraits are most often fatal because of which one of the following?

Uncontrolled bleeding caused by venom that prevents blood from clotting Paralysis of the breathing muscles caused by neurotoxins that block nerve-to-muscle signals Acute kidney failure caused by venom damage to the kidney tubules A severe allergic reaction to venom proteins, as after some insect stings

From: Caspian Cobra: Two Deaths in Chamba Are India's First on Record Open full article →

18.

Consider the following statements about the antivenom used against snakebite in India:

1.It gives passive immunity, because it contains preformed antibodies against snake venom.

2.It is prepared from antibodies of horses immunised with the venoms of the Big Four snakes.

3.Antibodies raised against one cobra species can recognise key toxins of a related cobra only weakly.

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: Caspian Cobra: Two Deaths in Chamba Are India's First on Record Open full article →

19.

Consider the following statements about the Indian Coast Guard:

1.It is constituted under the Coast Guard Act, 1978 as an armed force of the Union.

2.It coordinates maritime search and rescue in India's designated search-and-rescue region.

3.It functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs, like the Border Security Force.

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: ICGS Shaunak: Six Quad Sea Riders Sail From Chennai for Perth Open full article →

20.

Consider the following statements:

1.A search-and-rescue region assigned to a coastal state forms part of its sovereign territory.

2.A coastal state's sovereignty extends over its territorial sea, up to 12 nautical miles from the baselines.

3.In its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), a coastal state has sovereign rights over natural resources but not full sovereignty.

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: ICGS Shaunak: Six Quad Sea Riders Sail From Chennai for Perth Open full article →

21.

Consider the following statements:

1.A nautical mile is based on one minute of arc of latitude and equals 1.852 kilometres.

2.A ship sailing at 26 knots covers about 26 kilometres in an hour.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: ICGS Shaunak: Six Quad Sea Riders Sail From Chennai for Perth Open full article →

22.

Consider the following statements about the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad):

1.Its members are India, Australia, Japan and the United States.

2.It is a treaty-based military alliance with a mutual-defence commitment.

3.Under its Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission, coast guard officers sail on a partner's vessel.

4.Japan and Australia are treaty allies of the United States, but India is not.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: ICGS Shaunak: Six Quad Sea Riders Sail From Chennai for Perth Open full article →

23.

Under the Coast Guard Act, 1978, which one of the following is NOT among the measures listed for the Indian Coast Guard to protect India's maritime interests?

Ensuring the safety and protection of artificial islands and offshore installations Providing protection to fishermen, including assistance at sea when in distress Preserving the maritime environment and preventing and controlling marine pollution Levying and collecting customs duties on goods landed at Indian ports

From: ICGS Shaunak: Six Quad Sea Riders Sail From Chennai for Perth Open full article →

24.

Consider the following statements about the Oxford Economics Global Cities Index 2026:

1.It ranks 1,000 cities on five categories: economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance.

2.A city's rank shows its position in the ordering, not how far its score lies from other cities' scores.

3.European and North American cities hold most of the top 100 places.

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 Cities Index 2026: Delhi Tops Indian Cities at 268th Open full article →

25.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: In the Global Cities Index 2026, Delhi's overall rank is far below its rank in human capital.

Statement-II: The overall result combines five categories, and Delhi performs poorly in environment and quality of life.

Statement-III: Delhi's economic output is projected to grow strongly through 2050.

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: Global Cities Index 2026: Delhi Tops Indian Cities at 268th Open full article →

26.

Which one of the following correctly describes a 'census town' in the Census of India?

A place with a municipality, corporation, cantonment board or notified town area committee, whatever its population or workforce Any settlement whose population exceeds one lakh, whatever its form of local government or the occupations of its workers A place without urban local-body status that has at least 5,000 people, 400 persons per sq km and 75 per cent of male main workers in non-farm work A continuous urban spread formed by a town and its adjoining urban outgrowths, or by two or more physically contiguous towns

From: Global Cities Index 2026: Delhi Tops Indian Cities at 268th Open full article →

27.

Consider the following statements about the Human Development Index (HDI):

1.Its health dimension is measured by life expectancy at birth.

2.Its standard-of-living dimension uses gross domestic product (GDP) per capita.

3.Its education dimension uses mean years and expected years of schooling.

4.Its dimension indices are combined by a simple arithmetic average.

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: Global Cities Index 2026: Delhi Tops Indian Cities at 268th Open full article →

28.

Consider the following statements about the Bagmati river:

1.It rises in the Shivapuri hills north-east of Kathmandu and flows through the Kathmandu Valley.

2.The Pashupatinath temple stands on its banks in Kathmandu.

3.After entering Bihar, it ends by joining the Burhi Gandak.

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: Bagmati River: Overflow in Nepal and a Basin That Reaches Bihar Open full article →

29.

Consider the following tributaries of the Ganga:

1.Kosi

2.Gandak

3.Ghaghara

4.Gomti

How many of the above flow through Nepal before entering India?

Only one Only two Only three All four

From: Bagmati River: Overflow in Nepal and a Basin That Reaches Bihar Open full article →

30.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: Prolonged heavy rain often triggers landslides on steep Himalayan slopes.

Statement-II: Water soaking into slope material raises pore-water pressure and adds weight, reducing the slope's resistance to sliding.

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: Bagmati River: Overflow in Nepal and a Basin That Reaches Bihar Open full article →

31.

Consider the following statements about floods:

1.When the soil is already saturated, a larger share of rainfall becomes surface runoff.

2.Paving and building over land increase infiltration and lower flood peaks in cities.

3.Flash floods rise within a few hours of intense rain and are typical of small, steep catchments.

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: Bagmati River: Overflow in Nepal and a Basin That Reaches Bihar Open full article →

32.

Consider the following statements about rain-bearing weather systems in South Asia:

1.Monsoon depressions usually form over the Bay of Bengal and move west-northwest across India.

2.Such systems can bring heavy rain to the Himalayan foothills, including Nepal.

3.In the Northern Hemisphere, winds blow clockwise around a low-pressure centre.

4.Western disturbances originate over the Bay of Bengal.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Bagmati River: Overflow in Nepal and a Basin That Reaches Bihar Open full article →

33.

Consider the following statements about blazars:

1.The light seen from blazars escapes from inside their central black holes.

2.A blazar is an active galactic nucleus whose relativistic jet points nearly towards Earth.

3.A blazar's jet emits synchrotron radiation, produced when fast charged particles move through magnetic 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: TeV Blazars: Accretion-Disc X-Ray Hints in Markarian 421 and 501 Open full article →

34.

Consider the following statements about X-ray astronomy:

1.X-ray telescopes are placed in space because Earth's atmosphere absorbs most cosmic X-rays.

2.'Hard' X-rays carry higher photon energies than 'soft' X-rays.

3.X-rays have longer wavelengths than ultraviolet radiation.

4.The Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) observes from the International Space Station.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: TeV Blazars: Accretion-Disc X-Ray Hints in Markarian 421 and 501 Open full article →

35.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: Emission from the accretion disc usually dominates the X-ray output of blazars.

Statement-II: The beamed emission of a blazar's jet usually outshines the other parts of the system.

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: TeV Blazars: Accretion-Disc X-Ray Hints in Markarian 421 and 501 Open full article →

36.

Compared with a photon of visible light, a gamma-ray photon with an energy of one tera-electronvolt (TeV) has:

A higher frequency and a shorter wavelength A higher frequency and a longer wavelength A lower frequency and a shorter wavelength A lower frequency and a longer wavelength

From: TeV Blazars: Accretion-Disc X-Ray Hints in Markarian 421 and 501 Open full article →

37.

Consider the following statements:

1.The X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) is designed mainly to find planets around other stars.

2.AstroSat was India's first dedicated astronomy mission, observing X-ray, optical and ultraviolet bands at once.

3.The Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, Nainital, is an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology.

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: TeV Blazars: Accretion-Disc X-Ray Hints in Markarian 421 and 501 Open full article →

38.

Consider the following statements about the radar satellite built jointly by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO):

1.It carries radars operating in two frequency bands, L-band and S-band.

2.NASA built its spacecraft bus and launched it on an American rocket.

3.It was placed in a sun-synchronous polar orbit.

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: NISAR: 17 Radar Frames Track Lava at Kamchatka's Krasheninnikov Open full article →

39.

Consider the following statements about imaging radar:

1.The brightness of a radar image directly shows the temperature of the surface.

2.L-band microwaves have a longer wavelength than S-band microwaves.

3.Longer radar wavelengths generally penetrate deeper into vegetation canopies.

4.A synthetic aperture radar uses the motion of its platform to simulate a much longer antenna.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: NISAR: 17 Radar Frames Track Lava at Kamchatka's Krasheninnikov Open full article →

40.

Consider the following statements about volcanoes:

1.Shield volcanoes are built mainly of fluid basaltic lava and have gentle slopes.

2.Composite volcanoes, or stratovolcanoes, are built of alternating layers of lava and fragmental material.

3.A caldera is a large depression formed mainly by collapse after a volcano's magma chamber empties.

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: NISAR: 17 Radar Frames Track Lava at Kamchatka's Krasheninnikov Open full article →

41.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: A radar satellite can image a volcano both at night and through thick cloud.

Statement-II: Radar is an active sensor that illuminates the ground with its own microwave pulses.

Statement-III: The microwaves used by imaging radars pass through clouds with little loss, unlike visible and infrared light.

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: NISAR: 17 Radar Frames Track Lava at Kamchatka's Krasheninnikov Open full article →

42.

The volcanoes of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula are mainly the result of which one of the following?

Plates moving apart along a mid-ocean ridge Subduction of the Pacific plate beneath the Okhotsk microplate A hotspot beneath the interior of a plate, as in Hawaii Stretching of continental crust along a rift valley

From: NISAR: 17 Radar Frames Track Lava at Kamchatka's Krasheninnikov Open full article →