UPSC Current Affairs Quiz — 14 October 2026

1.

Consider the following statements about Ceropegia tamilnaduensis:

1.It was described from Nellai Wildlife Sanctuary in the southern Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu.

2.It was told apart from similar species by a mix of characters, including solitary flowers and a hairless corona.

3.Its describers provisionally rated it Critically Endangered on International Union for Conservation of Nature criteria.

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: Ceropegia tamilnaduensis: New Herb From Nellai Wildlife Sanctuary Open full article →

2.

Consider the following statements about Schedule III of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2022:

1.Species of the genus Ceropegia are listed in it as specified plants.

2.Neelakurinji is listed in it as a specified plant.

3.Red sanders is listed in it as a specified plant.

4.Kuth is listed in it as a specified plant.

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: Ceropegia tamilnaduensis: New Herb From Nellai Wildlife Sanctuary Open full article →

3.

Consider the following statements about biodiversity hotspots:

1.A hotspot must still have at least 70 per cent of its original natural vegetation intact.

2.A hotspot must have at least 1,500 species of vascular plants found nowhere else.

3.The Western Ghats form a single hotspot together with Sri Lanka.

4.India's Nicobar Islands fall within the Sundaland hotspot.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Ceropegia tamilnaduensis: New Herb From Nellai Wildlife Sanctuary Open full article →

4.

Ceropegia tamilnaduensis belongs to the family Apocynaceae. Which one of the following medicinal plants also belongs to this family?

Neem (Azadirachta indica) Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum) Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus)

From: Ceropegia tamilnaduensis: New Herb From Nellai Wildlife Sanctuary Open full article →

5.

Consider the following statements about Czechia:

1.It is a landlocked country in Central Europe.

2.It shares a land border with Hungary.

3.The historical regions of Bohemia and Moravia lie within it.

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: Czechia: Landlocked Partner in India's Defence-Industrial Talks Open full article →

6.

Consider the following statements about rivers of Czechia:

1.The Elbe (Labe) rises in the Krkonose mountains and flows through Germany into the North Sea.

2.The Oder (Odra) carries water from Czechia towards the Baltic Sea.

3.The Vltava, the longest river within Czechia, belongs to the Danube system.

4.The Morava belongs to the Danube basin, which drains into the Black Sea.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Czechia: Landlocked Partner in India's Defence-Industrial Talks Open full article →

7.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: Czechia joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) before it joined the European Union (EU).

Statement-II: Membership of the EU is a precondition for joining NATO.

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: Czechia: Landlocked Partner in India's Defence-Industrial Talks Open full article →

8.

Consider the following statements about the history of Czechoslovakia:

1.It was founded in 1918 after the defeat of Austria-Hungary in the First World War.

2.The 'Prague Spring' reforms of 1968 were ended by a Soviet-led invasion by Warsaw Pact forces.

3.The 'Velvet Revolution' of 1989 brought Lech Walesa to the presidency of Czechoslovakia.

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: Czechia: Landlocked Partner in India's Defence-Industrial Talks Open full article →

9.

With reference to the Schengen area, which one of the following statements is correct?

Every member State of the European Union applies the Schengen rules in full It includes some countries that are not members of the European Union, such as Norway and Switzerland Only countries that use the euro as their currency can join it It was created by the Maastricht Treaty of 1992

From: Czechia: Landlocked Partner in India's Defence-Industrial Talks Open full article →

10.

Consider the following statements about rivers of Siberia:

1.The Selenga rises in Mongolia and flows into Lake Baikal.

2.The Lena flows out of Lake Baikal.

3.The Angara is a tributary of the Yenisei.

4.The Yenisei empties into the Kara Sea, a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Yenisei River: Bear Attack Fears at Podtesovo in Krasnoyarsk Open full article →

11.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: Large north-flowing Siberian rivers, such as the Yenisei and the Lena, are prone to floods in spring.

Statement-II: In spring their upper reaches thaw before their lower reaches, so water builds up behind ice that still blocks their northern courses.

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: Yenisei River: Bear Attack Fears at Podtesovo in Krasnoyarsk Open full article →

12.

Consider the following statements about Lake Baikal:

1.It is the deepest lake in the world.

2.It holds about one-fifth of the world's surface fresh water.

3.It lies in a rift, where the Earth's crust is being pulled apart.

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: Yenisei River: Bear Attack Fears at Podtesovo in Krasnoyarsk Open full article →

13.

Consider the following statements about bears:

1.The Asiatic black bear and the brown bear are listed in Schedule II of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2022.

2.Bears that find food in unsecured waste tend to return to such places, which brings them closer to people.

3.The sloth bear sucks up termites through a gap left by its missing central upper incisors.

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: Yenisei River: Bear Attack Fears at Podtesovo in Krasnoyarsk Open full article →

14.

The Yenisei flows broadly northward through central Siberia. Its major tributaries, such as the Stony Tunguska and the Lower Tunguska, join it mainly from:

the Central Siberian Plateau to its east the West Siberian Plain to its west the Ural Mountains to its west the Verkhoyansk Range to its north-east

From: Yenisei River: Bear Attack Fears at Podtesovo in Krasnoyarsk Open full article →

15.

Consider the following statements about the Maritime State Development Council (MSDC):

1.It is chaired by the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

2.Representatives of private port operators are among its members.

3.Officers of the Navy and the Coast Guard who deal with coastal security are among its members.

4.It formulates the national perspective plan for ports.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Maritime State Development Council: March 2027 Port Reform Target Open full article →

16.

Consider the following statements about the Indian Ports Act, 2025:

1.It repealed the Indian Ports Act, 1908.

2.It requires every State Government to constitute a Dispute Resolution Committee for disputes involving ports other than major ports.

3.Appeals against the orders of a Dispute Resolution Committee lie with the High Court.

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: Maritime State Development Council: March 2027 Port Reform Target Open full article →

17.

Consider the following statements about the maritime single window:

1.The requirement for maritime single windows was introduced through amendments to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL).

2.It is a single digital platform for the information exchanged between ships and public authorities when ships call at ports.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Maritime State Development Council: March 2027 Port Reform Target Open full article →

18.

Under the Indian Ports Act, 2025, the port tariff for a port other than a major port is fixed by:

the Maritime State Development Council the Board of a Major Port Authority the State Maritime Board, or a concessionaire authorised by it the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways

From: Maritime State Development Council: March 2027 Port Reform Target Open full article →

19.

Consider the following statements about the displacement of a ship:

1.A ship's displacement is a measure of how much cargo it can carry.

2.A floating ship displaces a mass of water equal to its own mass.

3.A ship floats lower in fresh water than in sea water.

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: Samarthak: Navy to Commission Multi-Purpose Vessel on 16 October Open full article →

20.

The multi-purpose vessel Samarthak is fitted with a dynamic positioning system. Consider the following statements about such systems:

1.They automatically maintain a vessel's position and/or heading by means of thruster force.

2.They hold a vessel in place by anchoring it to the seabed.

3.Their control system draws on position reference systems and sensor systems.

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: Samarthak: Navy to Commission Multi-Purpose Vessel on 16 October Open full article →

21.

Consider the following statements about the roles announced for the multi-purpose vessel Samarthak:

1.It can deploy and recover targets used in trials of weapons and sensors.

2.It can act as a mothership for unmanned and autonomous systems.

3.It is designed primarily as a fleet tanker that refuels warships at sea.

4.It can be converted to serve as a limited hospital ship.

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: Samarthak: Navy to Commission Multi-Purpose Vessel on 16 October Open full article →

22.

Consider the following shipyards that build ships for the Indian Navy:

1.Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited

2.Cochin Shipyard Limited

3.Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited

4.Larsen & Toubro's Kattupalli shipyard

How many of the above are public sector undertakings under the Ministry of Defence?

Only one Only two Only three All four

From: Samarthak: Navy to Commission Multi-Purpose Vessel on 16 October Open full article →

23.

Consider the following statements about the Central Electricity Authority (CEA):

1.It was first set up under the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948, and continues under the Electricity Act, 2003.

2.It hears appeals against the orders of the electricity regulatory commissions.

3.It specifies technical standards for building electrical plants and lines and for grid connectivity.

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: Central Electricity Authority: AI Conference on 14-15 October Open full article →

24.

Consider the following statements about power grids:

1.Dynamic line ratings set a line's safe capacity by actual weather conditions.

2.Better use of existing networks removes the need to expand grids.

3.Legacy information technology and outside vendors add to grid cyber risk.

4.Artificial intelligence (AI) aids cyber-threat detection but can also help attackers.

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: Central Electricity Authority: AI Conference on 14-15 October Open full article →

25.

With reference to the Electricity Act, 2003, consider the following statements:

1.The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) notifies the National Electricity Plan without the Central Government's approval.

2.The Central Government prepares the National Electricity Policy in consultation with the States and the CEA.

3.The CEA prepares the National Electricity Plan and notifies it once in five years.

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: Central Electricity Authority: AI Conference on 14-15 October Open full article →

26.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: Grid operators use artificial intelligence (AI) more widely for maintenance than for real-time grid operation.

Statement-II: Safety-critical real-time control demands explainability, auditability and accountability that are harder to ensure with AI.

Statement-III: AI models cannot make use of weather data or imagery.

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: Central Electricity Authority: AI Conference on 14-15 October Open full article →

27.

Bekal Fort in Kasaragod, Keralam (formerly Kerala), has laterite walls. Consider the following statements about laterite soils:

1.Their name comes from the Latin word 'later', meaning brick.

2.They result from intense leaching by heavy rain in tropical and subtropical climates with alternate wet and dry seasons.

3.They are generally alkaline and rich in plant nutrients.

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: Hampi, Taj Mahal, Bekal Fort: Rs 23.60 Crore Support in Principle Open full article →

28.

Consider the following statements about the Taj Mahal:

1.It stands on the right bank of the Yamuna at Agra.

2.Its tomb is placed at the exact centre of its quadripartite garden.

3.The Taj Trapezium Zone around it was defined to protect the monument from pollution.

4.The mosque and the guest house in its complex are built of red sandstone.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Hampi, Taj Mahal, Bekal Fort: Rs 23.60 Crore Support in Principle Open full article →

29.

Consider the following statements about the Group of Monuments at Hampi:

1.It has never been placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

2.It preserves the remains of the last capital of the Vijayanagara Empire.

3.Most of its structures are built of local granite, burnt bricks and lime mortar.

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: Hampi, Taj Mahal, Bekal Fort: Rs 23.60 Crore Support in Principle Open full article →

30.

Consider the following foreign travellers:

1.Abdur Razzaq

2.Domingo Paes

3.Francois Bernier

4.Fernao Nuniz

How many of the above left accounts of the city of Vijayanagara?

Only one Only two Only three All four

From: Hampi, Taj Mahal, Bekal Fort: Rs 23.60 Crore Support in Principle Open full article →

31.

Consider the following statements about the National Culture Fund (NCF):

1.Its Council is chaired by the Union Minister of Culture.

2.It supports intangible heritage, such as cultural traditions, as well as monuments.

3.In its partnership with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for Hampi, the Taj Mahal and Bekal Fort, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) supervises the works technically.

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: Hampi, Taj Mahal, Bekal Fort: Rs 23.60 Crore Support in Principle Open full article →

32.

Consider the following statements about the wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee):

1.It is listed as Endangered on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

2.It is the State animal of Chhattisgarh.

3.It is the animal commonly called the 'Indian bison'.

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: Kanha: Eight Wild Buffaloes Moved Into a 17-Hectare Enclosure Open full article →

33.

Consider the following statements about conservation translocations:

1.Releasing a species where it once lived but had died out is a reintroduction.

2.Assisted colonisation moves organisms beyond their indigenous range to avert extinction.

3.A conservation translocation must aim primarily at a conservation benefit.

4.A release to replace a lost ecological function is called reinforcement.

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: Kanha: Eight Wild Buffaloes Moved Into a 17-Hectare Enclosure Open full article →

34.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: Quarantine before release is a basic precaution in most animal translocations.

Statement-II: Quarantine ensures that translocated animals are completely free of all disease-causing organisms.

Statement-III: International translocation guidelines require quarantine in every case, whatever stress it causes.

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: Kanha: Eight Wild Buffaloes Moved Into a 17-Hectare Enclosure Open full article →

35.

Consider the following statements:

1.Domestic buffaloes evolved from the wild water buffalo.

2.Guidelines of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) say that the founder animals of a translocation should provide adequate genetic diversity.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Kanha: Eight Wild Buffaloes Moved Into a 17-Hectare Enclosure Open full article →

36.

In the conservation of a wild species such as the wild water buffalo, the term 'genetic swamping' refers to:

the dilution of a population's distinct genetic make-up through interbreeding with more numerous, genetically different individuals a change in the frequency of genes in a population that occurs by chance the evolution of many different species from a common ancestor within one geographical area the start of a new population by a few individuals that carry only part of the original genetic variation

From: Kanha: Eight Wild Buffaloes Moved Into a 17-Hectare Enclosure Open full article →

37.

Consider the following statements about Prosopis juliflora, called seemai karuvelam in Tamil Nadu:

1.Its native range lies in the Americas, and India is part of its introduced range.

2.Plants cut down to the stump can sprout again.

3.Its seeds are dispersed mainly by wind.

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: Prosopis juliflora: Clearance Complete in Six of 20 Vellore Tanks Open full article →

38.

Consider the following plants, all introduced into India:

1.Lantana camara

2.Parthenium hysterophorus (congress grass)

3.Water hyacinth

4.Black wattle (Acacia mearnsii)

How many of the above are native to the Americas?

Only one Only two Only three All four

From: Prosopis juliflora: Clearance Complete in Six of 20 Vellore Tanks Open full article →

39.

Match List I with List II:

List I (Traditional water-harvesting system)

A. Kuls

B. Khadins

C. Bamboo drip irrigation

D. Inundation channels

List II (Region)

1.Meghalaya

2.Flood plains of Bengal

3.Western Himalayas

4.Jaisalmer, Rajasthan

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

From: Prosopis juliflora: Clearance Complete in Six of 20 Vellore Tanks Open full article →

40.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: The Tamil Nadu coast remains comparatively dry during the southwest monsoon season.

Statement-II: The Tamil Nadu coast lies parallel to the Bay of Bengal branch of the southwest monsoon.

Statement-III: The Tamil Nadu coast lies in the rain-shadow area of the Arabian Sea branch of the southwest monsoon.

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: Prosopis juliflora: Clearance Complete in Six of 20 Vellore Tanks Open full article →

41.

Consider the following statements about the Convention on Biological Diversity:

1.Its Article 8(h) covers alien species threatening ecosystems, habitats or species.

2.It treats the control of invasive alien species as an ex-situ conservation measure.

3.Its Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework aims at least to halve the rates of introduction and establishment of invasive alien species by 2030.

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: Prosopis juliflora: Clearance Complete in Six of 20 Vellore Tanks Open full article →

42.

Consider the following statements about Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS):

1.It offers counselling only in Hindi and English.

2.It can be reached free of charge, round the clock, on the toll-free number 14416.

3.It was launched on World Mental Health Day, 10 October, in 2022.

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: Tele-MANAS: 47,75,644 Calls Since Its Launch in October 2022 Open full article →

43.

Consider the following statements about the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017:

1.It gives every person a right to access mental healthcare from services run or funded by the appropriate Government.

2.It allows a minor to make an advance directive on how he or she wishes to be treated for a mental illness.

3.It prohibits electro-convulsive therapy without the use of muscle relaxants and anaesthesia.

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: Tele-MANAS: 47,75,644 Calls Since Its Launch in October 2022 Open full article →

44.

Consider the following statements about Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS):

1.It forms a digital component of the National Mental Health Programme.

2.Its second tier consists of private hospitals empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Tele-MANAS: 47,75,644 Calls Since Its Launch in October 2022 Open full article →

45.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: The total number of calls received by Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS) shows how many people in India have a mental illness.

Statement-II: A helpline's call total can include several calls from the same person.

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: Tele-MANAS: 47,75,644 Calls Since Its Launch in October 2022 Open full article →