UPSC Current Affairs Quiz — 27 September 2026

1.

Consider the following statements about sickle-cell disease:

1.It is inherited as an X-linked recessive disorder, so it affects males far more often than females.

2.It is caused by haemoglobin S, which can form stiff strands inside red blood cells when oxygen levels are low.

3.Its anaemia arises because rigid, fragile red blood cells are destroyed faster than the body can replace them.

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: OneSCD: India Co-Hosts Sickle Cell Partnership Launch at UNGA 81 Open full article →

2.

Consider the following statements about sickle-cell trait and disease:

1.A carrier of the trait has one haemoglobin S gene and one normal gene.

2.If both parents carry the trait, each child has a one-in-four chance of the disease.

3.For carrier parents whose first child is affected, the next child's risk falls.

4.Haemoglobin S with haemoglobin C or a beta-thalassaemia gene also causes the disease.

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: OneSCD: India Co-Hosts Sickle Cell Partnership Launch at UNGA 81 Open full article →

3.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: The haemoglobin S gene is relatively common in populations of regions where falciparum malaria has long been widespread.

Statement-II: People with sickle-cell trait are substantially protected against severe falciparum malaria.

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: OneSCD: India Co-Hosts Sickle Cell Partnership Launch at UNGA 81 Open full article →

4.

Consider the following statements about the treatment of sickle-cell disease:

1.Hydroxyurea raises the level of fetal haemoglobin, which reduces sickling.

2.Approved gene therapies alter a patient's reproductive cells, so the patient cannot pass on the haemoglobin S gene.

3.A stem-cell (bone-marrow) transplant can cure some patients.

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: OneSCD: India Co-Hosts Sickle Cell Partnership Launch at UNGA 81 Open full article →

5.

Consider the following statements:

1.The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 recognises sickle-cell disease as a specified disability.

2.The National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission aims to remove the haemoglobin S gene from India's population by 2047.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: OneSCD: India Co-Hosts Sickle Cell Partnership Launch at UNGA 81 Open full article →

6.

Consider the following statements about the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime:

1.It requires Parties to criminalise illegal access to information and communications technology systems.

2.Its cooperation on electronic evidence also covers serious crimes not committed through computers.

3.It requires its implementation to be consistent with international human rights law.

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: UN Cybercrime Convention: India Signs, Treaty Not Yet in Force Open full article →

7.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: India's 2026 signature of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime did not bind India to it.

Statement-II: The Convention enters into force only after forty States ratify or accede, which had not happened by September 2026.

Statement-III: Signing a treaty subject to ratification does not by itself make a State a party.

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: UN Cybercrime Convention: India Signs, Treaty Not Yet in Force Open full article →

8.

Consider the following statements about the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime:

1.It defines serious crime by an offence's maximum penalty, not the sentence given.

2.A preservation order obliges the data holder to disclose it at once.

3.Each State Party must name a contact point available round the clock.

4.It lets a State exercise another State's reserved powers on that State's territory.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: UN Cybercrime Convention: India Signs, Treaty Not Yet in Force Open full article →

9.

Consider the following statements about treaties under the Constitution of India:

1.Every treaty must be approved by both Houses of Parliament before the Union Government can ratify it.

2.'Entering into treaties and agreements with foreign countries' is a subject in the Union List.

3.Article 253 empowers Parliament to make laws implementing a treaty even on a subject in the State List.

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: UN Cybercrime Convention: India Signs, Treaty Not Yet in Force Open full article →

10.

Consider the following statements about the Council of Europe's Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention):

1.Only member States of the Council of Europe can become parties to it.

2.India is not a party to it.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: UN Cybercrime Convention: India Signs, Treaty Not Yet in Force Open full article →

11.

Consider the following statements about cells:

1.Eukaryotic cells have a membrane-bound nucleus, which the cells of bacteria and archaea lack.

2.Membrane-bound organelles such as mitochondria occur in eukaryotic cells but not in prokaryotic cells.

3.All eukaryotes are multicellular organisms.

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: Incendiamoeba cascadensis: Amoeba Divides at 63 Degrees Celsius Open full article →

12.

Consider the following organisms:

1.Amoeba

2.Yeast

3.Blue-green algae

4.Red algae

How many of the above are eukaryotes?

Only one Only two Only three All four

From: Incendiamoeba cascadensis: Amoeba Divides at 63 Degrees Celsius Open full article →

13.

Consider the following statements about the amoeba Incendiamoeba cascadensis:

1.It divided at 63 degrees C, above the earlier limit of about 60 degrees C for eukaryotes.

2.Its survival of a brief 70 degrees C exposure shows it can multiply at that heat.

3.It came from geothermal waters in Lassen Volcanic National Park, California.

4.It set a record for growth temperature among all known organisms.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Incendiamoeba cascadensis: Amoeba Divides at 63 Degrees Celsius Open full article →

14.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: Most enzymes are inactivated when heated well above their organism's normal temperature range.

Statement-II: Heat breaks the hydrogen bonds and other weak interactions that hold a protein's folded shape.

Statement-III: Heat breaks the peptide bonds between a protein's amino acids, leaving free amino acids.

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: Incendiamoeba cascadensis: Amoeba Divides at 63 Degrees Celsius Open full article →

15.

Consider the following statements about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS):

1.Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), one of them, is cleared from the human body within days, so it does not accumulate.

2.They are synthetic chemicals valued for their resistance to water, grease and heat.

3.The strength of the carbon-fluorine bond makes many of them extremely slow to break down in the environment.

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: PFOS: Study Links the Pollutant to Weaker Antiviral Defence Open full article →

16.

Consider the following statements about the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants:

1.Annex A chemicals are to be eliminated, while Annex B chemicals are restricted.

2.Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and its salts are listed in Annex B.

3.Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) is in Annex A, so no Party may use it at all.

4.India is a Party to the Convention.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: PFOS: Study Links the Pollutant to Weaker Antiviral Defence Open full article →

17.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: Interferons are antibodies secreted by B-lymphocytes that bind to specific viruses.

Statement-II: Virus-infected cells release interferons that help neighbouring cells resist viral infection.

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: PFOS: Study Links the Pollutant to Weaker Antiviral Defence Open full article →

18.

A recent study reported that perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) weakens the body's early antiviral response. Which one of the following best describes the mechanism it identified?

PFOS binds interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) and hinders its activation, cutting type I interferon output PFOS destroys B-lymphocytes in the lymph nodes, so that antibodies against the virus cannot be formed PFOS binds the virus's genetic material directly and speeds up its copying inside infected host cells PFOS triggers an excessive release of interferons, which exhausts the immune cells fighting the virus

From: PFOS: Study Links the Pollutant to Weaker Antiviral Defence Open full article →

19.

Consider the following statements about e-methanol:

1.It is made by combining hydrogen from the electrolysis of water with carbon dioxide.

2.Burning it in a ship's engine releases no carbon dioxide.

3.It is a liquid at ordinary temperature and pressure.

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: Kandla E-Methanol Plant: 150 Tonnes a Day Planned by March 2027 Open full article →

20.

Consider the following pairs:

1.Deendayal Port (Kandla) - Gulf of Kutch

2.Alang - Gulf of Khambhat

3.Mundra - Gulf of Khambhat

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

Only one Only two All three None

From: Kandla E-Methanol Plant: 150 Tonnes a Day Planned by March 2027 Open full article →

21.

Under the life-cycle approach of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a 'well-to-wake' assessment of a marine fuel's greenhouse-gas emissions covers:

Only the gases released from the ship's exhaust while the fuel is burned on board Only the emissions from producing the fuel, because combustion is reported separately Emissions from building and later scrapping the ship and its engines Emissions from producing, processing and transporting the fuel, and from its use on board

From: Kandla E-Methanol Plant: 150 Tonnes a Day Planned by March 2027 Open full article →

22.

Consider the following statements about ports in India:

1.Major ports are a subject in the Union List of the Seventh Schedule.

2.Ports other than major ports are a subject in the Concurrent List.

3.Deendayal Port is a non-major port administered by the Gujarat Maritime Board.

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: Kandla E-Methanol Plant: 150 Tonnes a Day Planned by March 2027 Open full article →

23.

Consider the following statements about Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary:

1.It consists of a single continuous block of forest.

2.It lies in the Western Ghats and forms part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

3.Its forests are contiguous with protected areas in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

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: Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary: Two-Day Vulture Survey Begins Open full article →

24.

Consider the following statements about vultures in India:

1.The White-rumped Vulture and the Indian Vulture belong to the genus Gyps.

2.The Red-headed Vulture is assessed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

3.The Egyptian Vulture is assessed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN.

4.The Himalayan Griffon is assessed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary: Two-Day Vulture Survey Begins Open full article →

25.

Consider the following statements about the decline of vultures in South Asia:

1.Vultures that fed on carcasses of livestock treated with the painkiller diclofenac suffered kidney failure.

2.India has banned the use of diclofenac for veterinary purposes.

3.Meloxicam, another veterinary painkiller, is as toxic to vultures as diclofenac.

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: Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary: Two-Day Vulture Survey Begins Open full article →

26.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: The collapse of vulture populations in India has been linked to increased risks to human health.

Statement-II: With fewer vultures, uneaten carcasses supported more feral dogs, which increased the spread of rabies.

Statement-III: The White-rumped Vulture usually lays a single egg in a breeding season.

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: Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary: Two-Day Vulture Survey Begins Open full article →

27.

With reference to the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which one of the following statements is correct?

It was India's first biosphere reserve and lies entirely within Tamil Nadu It lies entirely within Kerala and is centred on the Silent Valley It was India's first biosphere reserve and extends over Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka It extends over Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka and was India's first national park

From: Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary: Two-Day Vulture Survey Begins Open full article →

28.

Consider the following statements about the geographical indication (GI) tag:

1.A GI links a product's quality, reputation or other characteristics to its geographical origin.

2.Like a trademark, a GI identifies the particular company that made a product.

3.A GI registered in India does not by itself give enforceable protection in other countries.

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: Gulbarga Tur Dal: 1-Tonne GI Consignment Flagged Off to Maldives Open full article →

29.

Consider the following statements about geographical indication (GI) tags in India:

1.They are governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.

2.A GI registration lasts ten years and can be renewed.

3.The Geographical Indications Registry is in Chennai.

4.The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) grants GI tags.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Gulbarga Tur Dal: 1-Tonne GI Consignment Flagged Off to Maldives Open full article →

30.

Which one of the following separates Minicoy Island of Lakshadweep from the Maldives?

Nine Degree Channel Eight Degree Channel Ten Degree Channel Palk Strait

From: Gulbarga Tur Dal: 1-Tonne GI Consignment Flagged Off to Maldives Open full article →

31.

Consider the following statements about geographical indications:

1.They are covered by the World Trade Organization's Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).

2.The TRIPS Agreement gives wines and spirits a higher level of protection than other products.

3.Darjeeling Tea was the first product registered as a geographical indication 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: Gulbarga Tur Dal: 1-Tonne GI Consignment Flagged Off to Maldives Open full article →

32.

Consider the following statements about pigeonpea (tur):

1.It fixes atmospheric nitrogen through cyanobacteria that live in its leaves.

2.In India it is grown mainly as a rabi (winter-sown) crop.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Gulbarga Tur Dal: 1-Tonne GI Consignment Flagged Off to Maldives Open full article →

33.

Consider the following statements about the Siwalik (Shiwalik) range:

1.It is the outermost range of the Himalaya, adjoining the northern plains.

2.It is made largely of unconsolidated sediments brought down by rivers from the higher Himalayan ranges.

3.It is the oldest range of the Himalayan 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: Vizellopsidites miocenicus: New Fossil Fungus on a Himachal Leaf Open full article →

34.

Consider the following fungi:

1.Yeast (Saccharomyces)

2.Morels (Morchella)

3.Neurospora

4.Claviceps

How many of the above are ascomycetes (sac fungi)?

Only one Only two Only three All four

From: Vizellopsidites miocenicus: New Fossil Fungus on a Himachal Leaf Open full article →

35.

Consider the following statements about the fossil fungus Vizellopsidites miocenicus:

1.It was preserved on a fossil leaf's surface, so it is called epifoliar.

2.It was recognised as a new species through genetic sequencing of the fossil.

3.It comes from Miocene-age Siwalik sediments in Himachal Pradesh.

4.It is interpreted as a parasite of its host plant.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Vizellopsidites miocenicus: New Fossil Fungus on a Himachal Leaf Open full article →

36.

Consider the following statements about fungi:

1.The cell walls of most fungi contain chitin, a polysaccharide also found in the exoskeletons of insects.

2.Fungi store surplus food mainly as starch, as green plants do.

3.Fungi are more closely related to animals than to plants.

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: Vizellopsidites miocenicus: New Fossil Fungus on a Himachal Leaf Open full article →

37.

Consider the following statements about the Global Cooling Pledge:

1.It was launched at the 2023 United Nations climate conference hosted by the United Arab Emirates.

2.It is a legally binding protocol under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

3.It aims to cut cooling-related emissions sharply by 2050 while widening access to sustainable cooling.

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: Cool Leaders: UNEP Names Singapore, UAE and Gree's Dong Mingzhu Open full article →

38.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) do not deplete the stratospheric ozone layer.

Statement-II: HFCs are potent greenhouse gases, many with global warming potentials hundreds to thousands of times that of carbon dioxide.

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: Cool Leaders: UNEP Names Singapore, UAE and Gree's Dong Mingzhu Open full article →

39.

Consider the following statements about the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment:

1.The Protocol and the Vienna Convention were the first treaties ratified by every United Nations member.

2.The Protocol's Multilateral Fund helps developing countries meet their obligations.

3.India has ratified the Kigali Amendment.

4.The Kigali Amendment sets one common phasedown timetable for all parties.

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 3 only

From: Cool Leaders: UNEP Names Singapore, UAE and Gree's Dong Mingzhu Open full article →

40.

Consider the following statements about heat in cities:

1.The urban heat island effect keeps city centres warmer than surrounding rural areas, often more markedly after sunset.

2.Roofs with high solar reflectance reduce the heat absorbed by buildings.

3.Wider use of air-conditioners lowers a city's outdoor air temperature, as heat is removed from buildings.

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: Cool Leaders: UNEP Names Singapore, UAE and Gree's Dong Mingzhu Open full article →

41.

Which one of the following best describes 'district cooling'?

Planting trees and restoring water bodies across a city district to lower surface temperatures A mandatory default temperature setting for all room air-conditioners sold in a region Painting roofs across a neighbourhood white so that they reflect more sunlight Chilled water produced in a central plant and piped to cool several buildings

From: Cool Leaders: UNEP Names Singapore, UAE and Gree's Dong Mingzhu Open full article →

42.

Consider the following statements about the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC):

1.It was launched with a leaders' meeting in Suva, Fiji, in 2014.

2.It is another name for the Pacific Islands Forum.

3.At its third summit, held in Port Moresby in 2023, India announced an action plan covering health, skills and infrastructure.

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: FIPIC: Jaishankar Chairs Second Foreign Ministers' Meeting Open full article →

43.

Which one of the following is NOT one of the 14 Pacific island partners of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC)?

New Caledonia Tuvalu Palau Niue

From: FIPIC: Jaishankar Chairs Second Foreign Ministers' Meeting Open full article →

44.

Match List I with List II:

List I (Country)

A. Kiribati

B. Papua New Guinea

C. Niue

D. Palau

List II (Feature)

1.Shares a land border with Indonesia

2.Straddles both the Equator and the 180-degree meridian

3.Has a Compact of Free Association with the United States

4.Is in free association with New Zealand

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

From: FIPIC: Jaishankar Chairs Second Foreign Ministers' Meeting Open full article →

45.

With reference to India's partners in the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation, consider the following statements:

1.Fiji and Vanuatu lie in Melanesia.

2.Palau and the Marshall Islands lie in Micronesia.

3.Samoa and Tonga lie in Melanesia.

4.Tuvalu and the Cook Islands lie in Polynesia.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: FIPIC: Jaishankar Chairs Second Foreign Ministers' Meeting Open full article →