UPSC Current Affairs Quiz — 3 October 2026

1.

Consider the following statements about satellite thermal imaging:

1.Thermal infrared radiation passes through thick cloud, so a thermal imager sees the ground in all weather.

2.A thermal imager records radiation emitted by surfaces, whereas an ordinary camera mainly records reflected sunlight.

3.As it does not depend on reflected sunlight, a thermal imager can observe the land surface at night.

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: TAPAS-1: Satleo's Thermal Imager Reaches Orbit on Dhruva's LEAP-2 Open full article →

2.

The thermal radiation that a satellite receives from a surface depends on the surface's temperature and on its emissivity. Emissivity is:

the fraction of incoming sunlight that a surface reflects back towards space instead of absorbing it the ratio of a surface's emitted thermal radiation to that of an ideal black body at the same temperature the rate at which heat is conducted from a warm surface into the cooler material lying beneath it the quantity of heat needed to raise the temperature of a unit mass of the surface material by one degree

From: TAPAS-1: Satleo's Thermal Imager Reaches Orbit on Dhruva's LEAP-2 Open full article →

3.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: Under the same weather conditions, the canopy of a water-stressed crop tends to be warmer than that of a well-watered crop of the same kind.

Statement-II: A plant short of water partly closes its stomata, which reduces transpiration and the cooling that transpiration provides.

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: TAPAS-1: Satleo's Thermal Imager Reaches Orbit on Dhruva's LEAP-2 Open full article →

4.

Consider the following statements:

1.A satellite thermal infrared imager is a passive sensor.

2.Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) measures distance using pulses of microwave radiation.

3.The hotter an object, the shorter the wavelength at which its emitted radiation peaks.

4.Like the Sun, the Earth's surface emits most strongly at visible wavelengths.

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: TAPAS-1: Satleo's Thermal Imager Reaches Orbit on Dhruva's LEAP-2 Open full article →

5.

Consider the following statements about satellites:

1.A hosted payload relies on its host spacecraft for power, orientation control and communication with the ground.

2.A star tracker estimates a spacecraft's orientation by comparing an image of the sky with a stored star catalogue.

3.For the same instrument, a geostationary orbit gives finer ground resolution than a low Earth 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: TAPAS-1: Satleo's Thermal Imager Reaches Orbit on Dhruva's LEAP-2 Open full article →

6.

Consider the following statements about the newly described geckos Hemidactylus cairnicola and Hemidactylus koyaorum:

1.Hemidactylus is the name of their genus, while cairnicola and koyaorum are their specific names.

2.Geckos belong to the order Squamata, the same reptile order as snakes.

3.A genus is a broader taxonomic group than a family.

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: Hemidactylus Geckos: Two New Species Described From Telangana Open full article →

7.

Consider the following statements:

1.Mitochondria carry their own deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), separate from the DNA in the cell nucleus.

2.In most animals, mitochondrial DNA is inherited from the mother.

3.Cryptic species differ clearly in appearance but cannot be told apart genetically.

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

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Hemidactylus Geckos: Two New Species Described From Telangana Open full article →

8.

With reference to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, consider the following statements:

1.'Data Deficient' is a threatened category that ranks just below 'Vulnerable'.

2.A newly described species stays 'Not Evaluated' until it is assessed against the Red List criteria.

3.A species not listed in a threatened category can still require conservation action.

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: Hemidactylus Geckos: Two New Species Described From Telangana Open full article →

9.

The gecko Hemidactylus koyaorum is named after the Koya people. Consider the following statements about the Koya:

1.They are listed among the Scheduled Tribes of Telangana.

2.The biennial Sammakka-Saralamma Jatara at Medaram is celebrated and organised by them.

3.They are classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).

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: Hemidactylus Geckos: Two New Species Described From Telangana Open full article →

10.

Consider the following statements about the effects of urbanisation on the catchment of a lake:

1.Roads and roofs reduce the infiltration of rainwater into the ground.

2.Runoff from a paved catchment reaches drains and lakes faster, and with higher peaks, than runoff from a vegetated one.

3.Reduced infiltration can lower the recharge of groundwater.

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: Hebbal Lake: BDA Says 2.28-km Short Tunnel Will Not Harm the Lake Open full article →

11.

Monitoring proposed for a tunnel near Bengaluru's Hebbal Lake includes installing piezometers. A piezometer is used to measure:

the dissolved oxygen content of the lake water near the construction site the vibration of the ground caused by excavation and tunnel-boring machines the thickness of sediment deposited on the lake bed over the years the level or pressure of groundwater at the point where it is installed

From: Hebbal Lake: BDA Says 2.28-km Short Tunnel Will Not Harm the Lake Open full article →

12.

Consider the following statements about urban lakes:

1.Sediment settling on a lake bed reduces the lake's storage capacity.

2.Removing accumulated sediment also stops pollutants entering through inflowing drains.

3.Nutrient-rich sewage can cause algal blooms whose decay depletes dissolved oxygen.

4.A high Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) shows that water carries little organic matter.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Hebbal Lake: BDA Says 2.28-km Short Tunnel Will Not Harm the Lake Open full article →

13.

Consider the following statements about the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017:

1.They apply only to wetlands designated as Ramsar sites.

2.They were framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

3.They constitute a State Wetlands Authority in each State, headed by a minister of the State Government.

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: Hebbal Lake: BDA Says 2.28-km Short Tunnel Will Not Harm the Lake Open full article →

14.

Ukraine has announced the first combat use of Fire Point's FP-7 ballistic missile. Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: A ballistic missile is powered only in the early part of its flight, after which momentum and gravity largely govern its path.

Statement-II: Like a cruise missile, a ballistic missile relies on wings for lift during most of its flight.

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: FP-7: Ukraine Announces First Combat Use of Its Ballistic Missile Open full article →

15.

Match List I with List II:

List I (Missile)

A. BrahMos

B. Prithvi-II

C. Nirbhay

D. Astra

List II (Type)

1.Surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile

2.Beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile

3.Supersonic cruise missile developed with Russia

4.Subsonic cruise missile

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

From: FP-7: Ukraine Announces First Combat Use of Its Ballistic Missile Open full article →

16.

Consider the following statements about the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR):

1.It is a legally binding international treaty.

2.Its strictest controls cover systems able to deliver a payload of at least 500 kg to a range of at least 300 km.

3.India is a Partner of the regime.

4.China is a Partner of the regime.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: FP-7: Ukraine Announces First Combat Use of Its Ballistic Missile Open full article →

17.

Claims about a new missile's accuracy are often expressed through its Circular Error Probable (CEP). The CEP of a missile is:

the radius of a circle within which half of the missiles fired at a target are expected to fall the greatest distance that the missile can travel while carrying its standard payload to a target the largest warhead mass that the missile can carry to the edge of its stated range the probability that the missile will be detected and intercepted by enemy air defences before impact

From: FP-7: Ukraine Announces First Combat Use of Its Ballistic Missile Open full article →

18.

Consider the following statements about missiles and missile defence:

1.An interceptor missile is designed mainly to strike fixed targets on the ground.

2.Ballistic missile trajectories are commonly divided into boost, midcourse and terminal phases.

3.A cruise missile flying close to the ground can stay below a ground-based radar's horizon until it is fairly near.

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: FP-7: Ukraine Announces First Combat Use of Its Ballistic Missile Open full article →

19.

Consider the following statements:

1.The Nilgiri tahr is the State animal of Keralam (formerly Kerala).

2.The Himalayan tahr is a goat-like herbivore native to the central Himalaya of India and Nepal.

3.The Nilgiri tahr is endemic to the Western Ghats.

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: Himalayan Tahr: Kedarnath Sanctuary Plans Curbs on Human Activity Open full article →

20.

Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary lies in the upper catchments of the Alaknanda and the Mandakini. Consider the following pairs of confluences on the Alaknanda:

1.Vishnuprayag : Dhauliganga

2.Nandprayag : Pindar

3.Rudraprayag : Mandakini

4.Devprayag : Bhagirathi

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

Only one Only two Only three All four

From: Himalayan Tahr: Kedarnath Sanctuary Plans Curbs on Human Activity Open full article →

21.

Consider the following statements:

1.The Himalayan tahr is assessed as Near Threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

2.The Nilgiri tahr is assessed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

3.Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary spans the Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts of Uttarakhand.

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: Himalayan Tahr: Kedarnath Sanctuary Plans Curbs on Human Activity Open full article →

22.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: New Zealand controls the numbers of Himalayan tahr, a Near Threatened species.

Statement-II: In New Zealand the introduced tahr damages alpine plants by browsing and trampling.

Statement-III: A Near Threatened listing on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List obliges countries to protect the species.

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: Himalayan Tahr: Kedarnath Sanctuary Plans Curbs on Human Activity Open full article →

23.

Consider the following statements about the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme:

1.It refunds embedded duties and taxes on exports that are not refunded under any other mechanism.

2.It pays a single uniform percentage for all export products.

3.Its rates apply to the Free On Board (FOB) value of exports, with a value cap per unit for some products.

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: RoDTEP: Scheme Extended to 31 December 2026 With Rates Unchanged Open full article →

24.

Consider the following statements:

1.The Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme replaced the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS), which a World Trade Organization (WTO) panel found to be a prohibited export subsidy.

2.Under WTO rules, remitting indirect taxes on exports is a prohibited subsidy even if the amount does not exceed the taxes levied.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: RoDTEP: Scheme Extended to 31 December 2026 With Rates Unchanged Open full article →

25.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: Under the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme, the rebate is paid as cash directly into the exporter's bank account.

Statement-II: RoDTEP duty credits can be transferred to another firm and used to pay basic customs duty on imports.

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: RoDTEP: Scheme Extended to 31 December 2026 With Rates Unchanged Open full article →

26.

Consider the following statements:

1.Under Article 279A, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council recommends the date from which GST is levied on petrol and diesel.

2.Taxes on the consumption or sale of electricity are a State List subject.

3.Excise duty on petrol and diesel produced in India is a Union List subject.

4.Value added tax paid on diesel can be set off as input tax credit against GST.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: RoDTEP: Scheme Extended to 31 December 2026 With Rates Unchanged Open full article →

27.

Consider the following statements about India's export framework:

1.Supplies from the Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) to a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) unit are treated as imports into India.

2.The DTA covers the whole of India, including territorial waters, except the areas of SEZs.

3.An Advance Authorisation allows duty-free import of inputs that are physically incorporated into an export product.

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: RoDTEP: Scheme Extended to 31 December 2026 With Rates Unchanged Open full article →

28.

Consider the following statements about the Dnieper (Dnipro) river system:

1.The Dnieper rises in the Valdai Hills of Russia, which are also the source region of the Volga.

2.Belarus, through which the Dnieper flows, is a landlocked country.

3.Like the Dnieper, the Volga drains into the Black Sea.

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: Dnipro River: Russian Strikes Hit Kyiv's Southern Bridge Again Open full article →

29.

Consider the following statements about the Black Sea:

1.Moldova has a coastline on the Black Sea.

2.Georgia has a coastline on the Black Sea.

3.The Kerch Strait links the Black Sea with the Sea of Azov.

4.The Bosporus links the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Dnipro River: Russian Strikes Hit Kyiv's Southern Bridge Again Open full article →

30.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: In Kyiv, the right bank of the Dnieper is its western bank.

Statement-II: The Dnieper flows broadly southwards through Kyiv.

Statement-III: A river's left and right banks are named as seen by an observer facing downstream.

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: Dnipro River: Russian Strikes Hit Kyiv's Southern Bridge Again Open full article →

31.

The Dnieper reaches the Black Sea through an estuary. Consider the following statements:

1.An estuary holds brackish water, a mixture of river water and seawater whose salinity varies with tides and weather.

2.Much of the Dnieper's course in Ukraine has been turned into a chain of reservoirs by dams.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Dnipro River: Russian Strikes Hit Kyiv's Southern Bridge Again Open full article →

32.

Consider the following statements about the Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation (RELIEF):

1.It is implemented by the Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India (ECGC), now ECGC Limited.

2.Energy shipments are excluded from its forward-insurance component.

3.Extending its forward-insurance component automatically extends its other two components as well.

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: RELIEF: Forward Export Insurance Cover Extended to 31 March 2027 Open full article →

33.

Cargo eligible under the extended Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation (RELIEF) cover includes less-than-container-load (LCL) consignments. An LCL consignment is one that:

is carried in a refrigerated container to keep perishable goods such as fruit fresh is moved from one vessel to another at an intermediate port during its journey to the buyer is withdrawn from the customs area after the export it was meant for has been cancelled is too small to fill a container and shares container space with other shippers' cargo

From: RELIEF: Forward Export Insurance Cover Extended to 31 March 2027 Open full article →

34.

Destinations eligible for India's export-insurance support for the Gulf and West Asia include:

1.Bahrain

2.Iraq

3.Jordan

4.Yemen

How many of the above countries have a coastline on the Persian Gulf?

Only one Only two Only three All four

From: RELIEF: Forward Export Insurance Cover Extended to 31 March 2027 Open full article →

35.

Consider the following statements about export credit insurance:

1.War or civil war in the buyer's country is a political risk.

2.Insolvency of the overseas buyer is a political risk.

3.A restriction by the buyer's government on remitting payment abroad is a political risk.

4.The buyer's failure to accept goods already shipped is a commercial risk.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: RELIEF: Forward Export Insurance Cover Extended to 31 March 2027 Open full article →

36.

Consider the following statements about the Indian major carps released into Ujani reservoir:

1.Catla feeds mainly near the surface, largely on zooplankton.

2.Rohu feeds mainly in the middle water column.

3.Mrigal feeds mainly at the bottom.

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: Ujani Dam: Invasive Fish Removal and 1.22 Crore Carp Fingerlings Open full article →

37.

Consider the following statements about Pterygoplichthys catfishes (family Loricariidae):

1.They are native to South American basins such as the Amazon and the Orinoco.

2.They graze algae and detritus with a sucker-like mouth under the head.

3.Males dig nesting burrows in banks, which can destabilise them and add to erosion.

4.They reached Indian waters mainly as food fish for aquaculture.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Ujani Dam: Invasive Fish Removal and 1.22 Crore Carp Fingerlings Open full article →

38.

Ujani Dam impounds the Bhima, a tributary of the Krishna. Consider the following statements:

1.The Bhima rises in the Bhimashankar hills of the Western Ghats in Maharashtra.

2.The Tungabhadra joins the Krishna from its left bank.

3.The pilgrimage town of Pandharpur stands on the Bhima.

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: Ujani Dam: Invasive Fish Removal and 1.22 Crore Carp Fingerlings Open full article →

39.

Consider the following statements:

1.An introduced species is termed invasive as soon as it is recorded in the wild outside its native range.

2.Rohu, catla and mrigal are carps native to the Indian subcontinent, whereas silver carp and grass carp were introduced from abroad.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Ujani Dam: Invasive Fish Removal and 1.22 Crore Carp Fingerlings Open full article →

40.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: Pterygoplichthys catfishes can survive in stagnant, poorly oxygenated water.

Statement-II: They are facultative air-breathers that can take oxygen from gulped air through an enlarged stomach.

Statement-III: Their bodies are covered with flexible bony plates.

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: Ujani Dam: Invasive Fish Removal and 1.22 Crore Carp Fingerlings Open full article →

41.

Consider the following statements about the European Netherlands:

1.Its only land neighbours are Germany and Belgium.

2.The North Sea lies along its western and northern sides.

3.The Hague is the capital named in the Dutch Constitution.

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: India-Netherlands: Agri Talks Discuss 25 Centres of Excellence Open full article →

42.

Which one of the following is NOT one of the constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands?

Aruba Curacao Sint Maarten Bonaire

From: India-Netherlands: Agri Talks Discuss 25 Centres of Excellence Open full article →

43.

Consider the following international bodies:

1.International Court of Justice

2.International Criminal Court

3.Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

4.International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea

How many of the above have their seat in The Hague?

Only one Only two Only three All four

From: India-Netherlands: Agri Talks Discuss 25 Centres of Excellence Open full article →

44.

Large parts of the Netherlands are polders. A polder is best described as:

a ridge of wind-blown sand along a coast that shelters the low-lying land behind it from the sea a shallow coastal lagoon that has been cut off from the open sea by a long sandbar a low-lying tract of land reclaimed from the sea, a lake or a river and protected by dikes a fan-shaped plain of sediment that a river deposits where it enters the sea or a lake

From: India-Netherlands: Agri Talks Discuss 25 Centres of Excellence Open full article →

45.

Consider the following statements about the rivers of the Netherlands:

1.The Rhine, whose branches cross the Netherlands, originates in the Swiss Alps.

2.The Meuse rises in Germany and enters the Netherlands from the east.

3.The Room for the River approach widens floodplains and relocates dikes so that rivers can carry more water safely at high levels.

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: India-Netherlands: Agri Talks Discuss 25 Centres of Excellence Open full article →