UPSC Current Affairs Quiz — 29 September 2026

1.

Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), consider the following statements:

1.Ships of every State, coastal or land-locked, enjoy innocent passage through the territorial sea.

2.In its contiguous zone, a State may act to prevent breaches of customs, fiscal, immigration or sanitary laws.

3.A coastal State may ban foreign aircraft from overflying its exclusive economic zone.

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 Sea Level Rise Declaration: Leaders Back Continued Statehood Open full article →

2.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: Sea-level rise raises concerns over low-lying States' maritime zones.

Statement-II: Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the normal baseline is the low-water line.

Statement-III: Under that Convention, rocks unable to sustain human habitation or economic life of their own have no exclusive economic zone.

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 Sea Level Rise Declaration: Leaders Back Continued Statehood Open full article →

3.

Consider the following statements about sea-level rise:

1.Local rates of relative sea-level rise match the global average, because the oceans are interconnected.

2.Thermal expansion of warming ocean water is one of its two major causes.

3.Melting of glaciers and ice sheets on land adds water to the oceans.

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 Sea Level Rise Declaration: Leaders Back Continued Statehood Open full article →

4.

Consider the following statements:

1.The Montevideo Convention of 1933 lists a defined territory as a qualification of a state.

2.The 2026 United Nations declaration on sea-level rise presumes continued statehood.

3.The 2026 declaration grants displaced people an automatic right to settle abroad.

4.The 2026 declaration is a legally binding treaty.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: UN Sea Level Rise Declaration: Leaders Back Continued Statehood Open full article →

5.

In the context of climate change, which one of the following is an adaptation measure rather than a mitigation measure?

Replacing coal-fired power generation with solar power Capturing methane from landfill sites for use as fuel Raising coastal roads above projected flood levels Improving the fuel efficiency of road vehicles

From: UN Sea Level Rise Declaration: Leaders Back Continued Statehood Open full article →

6.

Consider the following statements about the Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus):

1.The male's display train is formed of elongated upper-tail coverts rather than true tail feathers.

2.It is a herbivore, feeding on seeds, grain and fruit.

3.It is native to South Asia, including Sri Lanka.

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: Indian Peafowl: First Official Record in Orang Tiger Reserve Open full article →

7.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: The male Indian peafowl's long train has persisted even though such ornaments make a bird more conspicuous to predators.

Statement-II: Sexual selection can favour traits that improve success in obtaining mates even when they reduce survival.

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: Indian Peafowl: First Official Record in Orang Tiger Reserve Open full article →

8.

Consider the following pairs:

Tiger reserve in Assam - Feature

1.Orang - Lies on the north bank of the Brahmaputra

2.Kaziranga - The Brahmaputra forms its southern boundary

3.Nameri - Adjoins Pakke Tiger Reserve of Arunachal Pradesh

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

Only one Only two All three None

From: Indian Peafowl: First Official Record in Orang Tiger Reserve Open full article →

9.

A tiger reserve announces its first photographically confirmed record of a bird species that is common elsewhere in India. Which one of the following does this record by itself establish?

That the species has a breeding population within the reserve That the species was absent from the reserve before it was photographed That the reserve's habitat has improved for the species That the species was present at the site when photographed

From: Indian Peafowl: First Official Record in Orang Tiger Reserve Open full article →

10.

Consider the following statements:

1.The Indian peafowl and the green peafowl belong to the same genus.

2.The green peafowl is listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

3.The Indian peafowl is listed in Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2022.

4.The Indian peafowl roosts on the ground and feeds mainly in the tree canopy.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Indian Peafowl: First Official Record in Orang Tiger Reserve Open full article →

11.

Consider the following statements about ocean waves:

1.The size of wind-generated waves depends on wind strength, wind duration and fetch.

2.Wave period is the vertical distance between the trough and the crest of a wave.

3.As waves move into shallow water, interaction with the seabed changes their speed and shape.

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: Kallakkadal: Swells With 20-25 Second Periods Reach Kerala Coast Open full article →

12.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: The first swells to reach a coast from a distant storm usually have the longest periods.

Statement-II: In deep water, waves with longer periods travel faster than waves with shorter periods.

Statement-III: Swells look smoother and more regular than the confused sea within a storm area.

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: Kallakkadal: Swells With 20-25 Second Periods Reach Kerala Coast Open full article →

13.

Match List I with List II:

List I (Phenomenon)

A. Tsunami

B. Storm surge

C. Tide

D. Swell

List II (Origin)

1.Gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun

2.Wind waves that have left the area where they were generated

3.Sudden displacement of a large mass of water, as by an undersea earthquake

4.Strong winds and low pressure of a severe storm

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

From: Kallakkadal: Swells With 20-25 Second Periods Reach Kerala Coast Open full article →

14.

Consider the following statements:

1.Kallakkadal is coastal flooding caused by swells from distant storms, and it can occur when local winds are calm.

2.In the deep open ocean, a tsunami is usually much taller than it becomes near the coast.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Kallakkadal: Swells With 20-25 Second Periods Reach Kerala Coast Open full article →

15.

Consider the following statements about the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS):

1.It functions as a regional centre of the India Meteorological Department.

2.It is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

3.It houses the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre, which also serves other Indian Ocean rim 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: Kallakkadal: Swells With 20-25 Second Periods Reach Kerala Coast Open full article →

16.

Which one of the following countries does NOT share a land border with Kazakhstan?

Kyrgyzstan Turkmenistan China Mongolia

From: KAZIND Exercise: 60-Member Indian Contingent Departs for Oskemen Open full article →

17.

The Irtysh, a river flowing through north-eastern Kazakhstan, ultimately drains into which one of the following?

The Caspian Sea, through the Ural The Aral Sea, through the Syr Darya The Arctic Ocean, through the Ob Lake Balkhash, through the Ili

From: KAZIND Exercise: 60-Member Indian Contingent Departs for Oskemen Open full article →

18.

Consider the following statements about United Nations peacekeeping:

1.The General Assembly apportions its expenses among member States, which are legally obliged to pay their shares.

2.Current United Nations peace operations are deployed on the basis of Security Council mandates.

3.Its troops are members of a United Nations army rather than of national armies.

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: KAZIND Exercise: 60-Member Indian Contingent Departs for Oskemen Open full article →

19.

Consider the following pairs:

Joint military exercise - Partner country of India

1.Dustlik - Uzbekistan

2.Khanjar - Kazakhstan

3.Nomadic Elephant - Kyrgyzstan

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

Only one Only two All three None

From: KAZIND Exercise: 60-Member Indian Contingent Departs for Oskemen Open full article →

20.

Consider the following statements about the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC):

1.It is a government-run e-commerce application through which buyers place orders.

2.It is an initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.

3.A buyer using one application on the network can discover sellers listed through other applications.

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 Digital Tourism Stack: Pilot Planned for January 2027 Open full article →

21.

Which one of the following best describes 'digital public infrastructure'?

A single government application through which every citizen must obtain all public and private services Government-owned data centres that store and process the records of all ministries and departments Shared, interoperable building blocks, such as identity and payments, that many services can use Proprietary digital platforms whose interfaces are opened only to sellers affiliated with their owners

From: National Digital Tourism Stack: Pilot Planned for January 2027 Open full article →

22.

Consider the following statements about the National Digital Tourism Stack:

1.It is being developed with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).

2.Its planned layers include identity verification, payments and grievance redressal.

3.It is planned to start with a nationwide rollout, followed by a pilot.

4.Memoranda signed alongside it commit the government to funding partners.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: National Digital Tourism Stack: Pilot Planned for January 2027 Open full article →

23.

Consider the following statements about Section 8 companies under the Companies Act, 2013:

1.Such a company must apply its profits to promoting its objects and cannot pay dividends to its members.

2.The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) are such companies.

3.Such a company is a statutory body established by a separate 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 Digital Tourism Stack: Pilot Planned for January 2027 Open full article →

24.

Consider the following statements about dengue:

1.It is spread mainly by the bites of infected female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

2.The mosquitoes that spread it bite mainly at night.

3.Mosquitoes can pick up the virus from infected people who show no symptoms.

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: Dengue Early Warning: Kerala AI Model Uses Weather and Case Data Open full article →

25.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: A person who has recovered from dengue can be infected with dengue again.

Statement-II: Recovery from one dengue serotype gives lifelong immunity only against that serotype, while protection against the others is partial and temporary.

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: Dengue Early Warning: Kerala AI Model Uses Weather and Case Data Open full article →

26.

Consider the following diseases:

1.Chikungunya

2.Zika virus disease

3.Japanese encephalitis

4.Malaria

How many of the above are transmitted mainly by Aedes mosquitoes, the vectors of dengue?

Only one Only two Only three All four

From: Dengue Early Warning: Kerala AI Model Uses Weather and Case Data Open full article →

27.

Consider the following statements about the care of dengue patients:

1.Ibuprofen and aspirin are recommended to bring down dengue fever.

2.Symptoms of severe dengue often appear after the fever has gone away.

3.There is no specific treatment for dengue, so care focuses on managing symptoms.

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: Dengue Early Warning: Kerala AI Model Uses Weather and Case Data Open full article →

28.

Consider the following statements about outbreak early-warning models:

1.Testing a model on data unused in training gives a fairer check of its skill.

2.Correlation of predicted with observed trends shows how often outbreaks are missed.

3.A lower alert threshold usually means fewer missed outbreaks but more false alarms.

4.A high-risk district forecast can diagnose dengue in a fever patient there.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Dengue Early Warning: Kerala AI Model Uses Weather and Case Data Open full article →

29.

Consider the following statements about the Eurasian whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus):

1.It breeds in the tropics and migrates north to the Arctic for the winter.

2.It is a wader with a down-curved bill and a pale crown stripe.

3.Its global category on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List is Least Concern.

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: Eurasian Whimbrel: Bird Ringed in 2020 Resighted on Kerala Coast Open full article →

30.

Consider the following statements about marking migratory waders:

1.A metal ring carries a unique code linking the bird to its ringing record.

2.A coloured leg flag transmits the bird's location by satellite.

3.Waders marked in southern India under the Bombay Natural History Society's scheme carry a black flag.

4.The interval between ringing and a resighting equals the bird's age.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Eurasian Whimbrel: Bird Ringed in 2020 Resighted on Kerala Coast Open full article →

31.

Consider the following statements about community reserves in India:

1.They can be declared where a community or an individual volunteers to conserve wildlife.

2.Land inside a national park can be declared a community reserve.

3.Land use in them can change only by a committee resolution approved by the State Government.

4.On private land, the landowner is a member of the management committee.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Eurasian Whimbrel: Bird Ringed in 2020 Resighted on Kerala Coast Open full article →

32.

Consider the following statements:

1.An estuary is a transition zone where river water mixes with sea water under tidal influence.

2.Migratory shorebirds depend on feeding and resting sites along their routes, not only on their breeding grounds.

3.A species' global category on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List also measures its population at each local site.

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: Eurasian Whimbrel: Bird Ringed in 2020 Resighted on Kerala Coast Open full article →

33.

Consider the following statements about the Bhima river:

1.It joins the Krishna on the Krishna's right bank.

2.It rises in the Western Ghats at Bhimashankar in Maharashtra.

3.The Mula, the Mutha and the Nira are among 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: Bhima River Pollution: KSPCB Directed to Inspect Yadgir Units Open full article →

34.

Consider the following statements about the Krishna river system:

1.The Bhima is the longest tributary of the Krishna.

2.The Tungabhadra is formed by the Tunga and the Bhadra, which rise in the Western Ghats of Karnataka.

3.The Ghataprabha and the Malaprabha join the Krishna on its left bank.

4.The Musi is a left-bank tributary of the Krishna.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Bhima River Pollution: KSPCB Directed to Inspect Yadgir Units Open full article →

35.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: A high biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in river water indicates that the water is rich in dissolved oxygen.

Statement-II: Microorganisms consume dissolved oxygen as they decompose organic matter in water.

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: Bhima River Pollution: KSPCB Directed to Inspect Yadgir Units Open full article →

36.

Consider the following statements about the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974:

1.Parliament enacted it after several State legislatures passed resolutions under Article 252 of the Constitution.

2.It provides for a Central Board and State Boards for the prevention and control of water pollution.

3.Parliament could enact it in its own right because water is a Union List subject.

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: Bhima River Pollution: KSPCB Directed to Inspect Yadgir Units Open full article →

37.

Consider the following statements about the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY):

1.It is a sub-scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).

2.Registration on the National Fisheries Digital Platform automatically entitles a farmer to all its benefits.

3.One of its aims is to formalise the fisheries sector through work-based digital identities for fish workers.

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: PM-MKSSY: Rs 40.03 Lakh Paid as Aquaculture Insurance Incentive Open full article →

38.

Consider the following statements:

1.Central Sector schemes are funded jointly by the Union and the States in fixed sharing ratios.

2.Centrally Sponsored Schemes are implemented directly by Union ministries rather than by State Governments.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: PM-MKSSY: Rs 40.03 Lakh Paid as Aquaculture Insurance Incentive Open full article →

39.

Consider the following statements about the aquaculture insurance incentive under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana:

1.It is a one-time incentive for one crop cycle.

2.For ponds it is 40% of the premium, up to Rs 25,000 per hectare of water-spread area.

3.Cage and biofloc units are excluded from it.

4.It is paid as compensation after a crop loss is assessed.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: PM-MKSSY: Rs 40.03 Lakh Paid as Aquaculture Insurance Incentive Open full article →

40.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana, how is the additional aquaculture insurance incentive for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and women beneficiaries calculated?

As ten percentage points added to the premium-support rate, taking it from 40% to 50% of the premium As ten per cent of the incentive payable to a general-category beneficiary As ten per cent of the sum insured under the aquaculture insurance policy As ten per cent of the cost of stocking and feed for the crop cycle

From: PM-MKSSY: Rs 40.03 Lakh Paid as Aquaculture Insurance Incentive Open full article →

41.

Consider the following statements about aquaculture systems:

1.A recirculating aquaculture system treats culture water and reuses it.

2.Biofloc systems depend on large, continuous water exchange to remove ammonia.

3.In biofloc systems, microbes convert nitrogenous wastes into microbial protein that the cultured animals can eat.

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: PM-MKSSY: Rs 40.03 Lakh Paid as Aquaculture Insurance Incentive Open full article →

42.

Consider the following statements about China's Tiangong space station:

1.Its Tianhe core module serves as the station's management and control centre.

2.Its Wentian and Mengtian modules are experiment modules.

3.The Xuntian optical telescope is designed to be launched separately and fly in a common orbit with the station.

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: Tiangong: Two Pakistani Astronaut Candidates Train in Beijing Open full article →

43.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: Astronauts aboard an orbiting space station experience near-weightlessness.

Statement-II: Earth's gravity becomes negligible at the altitude at which such stations orbit.

Statement-III: The station and everything inside it are continuously falling around the Earth together.

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: Tiangong: Two Pakistani Astronaut Candidates Train in Beijing Open full article →

44.

Consider the following statements about satellite orbits:

1.Tiangong and the International Space Station both operate in low Earth orbit.

2.A satellite in a lower circular orbit travels faster than one in a higher circular orbit.

3.A geostationary satellite orbits above the poles.

4.A geostationary satellite completes one orbit in the time the Earth takes to rotate once on its axis.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Tiangong: Two Pakistani Astronaut Candidates Train in Beijing Open full article →

45.

Consider the following statements:

1.A payload specialist on a crewed mission is trained mainly to conduct the mission's experiments or operate its payload equipment.

2.Flying an experiment to a space station requires the sponsoring country to send its own astronaut too.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Tiangong: Two Pakistani Astronaut Candidates Train in Beijing Open full article →