UPSC Current Affairs Quiz — 21 October 2026

1.

Consider the following statements about Kathmandu Durbar Square in Nepal:

1.Its royal palaces are associated with the Shah kings alone, with no link to the Malla rulers.

2.The name Hanuman Dhoka comes from the statue of Hanuman at the palace gate, 'dhoka' meaning gate.

3.Its Kumari Ghar is the official residence of the Living Goddess Kumari of Kathmandu.

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: Taleju Bhawani Temple: Kathmandu's Annual Maha Navami Opening Open full article →

2.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: The Taleju Bhawani temple of Kathmandu stands within the Hanuman Dhoka royal palace complex.

Statement-II: Taleju Bhawani was the tutelary, or protective, deity of the Malla kings.

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: Taleju Bhawani Temple: Kathmandu's Annual Maha Navami Opening Open full article →

3.

Consider the following statements about Nepal:

1.It is landlocked and shares land borders with only two countries, India and China.

2.The Kathmandu Valley lies in its Tarai region, the lowland belt along the border with India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Taleju Bhawani Temple: Kathmandu's Annual Maha Navami Opening Open full article →

4.

Consider the following statements about the history of the Kathmandu Valley:

1.In the later Malla period, the valley was divided among rival kingdoms based at Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan.

2.Prithvi Narayan Shah of Gorkha conquered the valley's kingdoms but kept Gorkha as his capital.

3.Changu Narayan, a Lichhavi legacy, holds one of the valley's earliest inscriptions, from the fifth century.

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: Taleju Bhawani Temple: Kathmandu's Annual Maha Navami Opening Open full article →

5.

Consider the following statements about the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage property:

1.It is a serial property made up of seven monument zones.

2.It was on the List of World Heritage in Danger from 2003 to 2007.

3.Its tiered temples are built mostly of fired brick with mud mortar and timber.

4.Swayambhu and Bauddhanath are its Hindu temple ensembles.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Taleju Bhawani Temple: Kathmandu's Annual Maha Navami Opening Open full article →

6.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines drowning as:

death that occurs when water enters the lungs and stops a person from breathing any injury suffered while swimming, bathing or boating in open water a loss of consciousness caused by sudden contact with cold water respiratory impairment from submersion or immersion in liquid, fatal or not

From: Puzhal Lake: Two 14-Year-Old Boys Drown in Chennai's Red Hills Open full article →

7.

Consider the following statements:

1.The World Health Organization (WHO) lists covering wells and fencing pools among preventive steps.

2.WHO advises against teaching school-age children to swim, as it draws them to water.

3.A 2021 United Nations General Assembly resolution created World Drowning Prevention Day.

4.India's health ministry unveiled a Strategic Framework for Drowning Prevention in 2023.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Puzhal Lake: Two 14-Year-Old Boys Drown in Chennai's Red Hills Open full article →

8.

Consider the following statements about drowning, as assessed by the World Health Organization:

1.The drowning death rate among males is more than twice that among females.

2.Most drowning deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.

3.Drowning accounts for most deaths in flood disasters.

4.Heatwaves lower drowning risk, as people avoid outdoor water in extreme heat.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Puzhal Lake: Two 14-Year-Old Boys Drown in Chennai's Red Hills Open full article →

9.

Consider the following statements about Puzhal lake in Tamil Nadu:

1.It is also known as Red Hills.

2.It lies on the north-western side of Chennai, inland from the Bay of Bengal.

3.It stores raw water that is treated at a water works before being distributed in Chennai.

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: Puzhal Lake: Two 14-Year-Old Boys Drown in Chennai's Red Hills Open full article →

10.

Consider the following statements about the Red Hills reservoir that supplies Chennai:

1.Besides runoff from its own catchment, it receives water through channels from Poondi and Cholavaram.

2.Its storage is replenished mainly by the south-west monsoon, between June and September.

3.Tamil Nadu's 2019 building rules included regulations for its catchment, meant to keep the lake free from contamination.

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: Puzhal Lake: Two 14-Year-Old Boys Drown in Chennai's Red Hills Open full article →

11.

Consider the following statements about the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972:

1.Once intent to constitute a sanctuary is notified, the Act's curbs on entry, habitat damage and fire apply at once.

2.A Collector inquires into and determines people's rights over land within the proposed sanctuary.

3.If the Collector cannot settle all rights within two years, the notification lapses.

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: Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary: Call for Faster Rs 7.5 Crore Sanction Open full article →

12.

Consider the following statements about the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972:

1.A national park can only be formed from a sanctuary.

2.A Collector may let a land right continue in a sanctuary but not a national park.

3.Altering the water flow of either needs a permit authorised after consulting the National Board for Wild Life (NBWL).

4.Boundaries of both may change only on the NBWL's recommendation.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary: Call for Faster Rs 7.5 Crore Sanction Open full article →

13.

Consider the following statements about a sanctuary under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972:

1.Its control, management and protection rest with the District Collector.

2.The State must set up an Advisory Committee for it, including the local legislator and Panchayati Raj representatives.

3.Its notification does not by itself sanction money for works such as interpretation centres or watch towers.

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: Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary: Call for Faster Rs 7.5 Crore Sanction Open full article →

14.

Consider the following statements about the spot-billed pelican (Pelecanus philippensis):

1.It is assessed as Least Concern on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

2.It nests in colonies in the branches of tall trees.

3.It feeds mainly on fish in freshwater, brackish and coastal wetlands, never diving to any great depth.

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: Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary: Call for Faster Rs 7.5 Crore Sanction Open full article →

15.

Consider the following statements about Nanjarayan wetland in Tamil Nadu:

1.It is an inland freshwater lake in Tiruppur district, not a coastal lagoon.

2.The Nallaru, which feeds it, is a tributary of the Noyyal, itself a tributary of the Cauvery.

3.Sewage and industrial effluents carried by the Nallaru are among the pressures recorded in its management plan.

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: Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary: Call for Faster Rs 7.5 Crore Sanction Open full article →

16.

Consider the following statements about the European bee-eater (Merops apiaster):

1.It belongs to the bee-eater family, Meropidae.

2.It feeds mainly on nectar and on honey taken from beehives.

3.It nests in burrows that it digs into sandy banks or the ground.

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: European Bee-Eater: Chennai's First Record Is a Juvenile Bird Open full article →

17.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: A bird record flagged by the automated filters of the eBird platform is treated as an error and deleted.

Statement-II: A flag marks a record as unusual for its place, date or count, and asks for details that volunteer reviewers then assess.

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: European Bee-Eater: Chennai's First Record Is a Juvenile Bird Open full article →

18.

The European bee-eater belongs to the order Coraciiformes. Which one of the following pairs of birds belongs to the same order?

Kingfishers and rollers Swallows and sand martins Woodpeckers and barbets Cuckoos and koels

From: European Bee-Eater: Chennai's First Record Is a Juvenile Bird Open full article →

19.

Consider the following statements about the European bee-eater:

1.It removes the sting of a bee by striking the insect against its perch before swallowing it.

2.Its bill is dark and slightly down-curved.

3.An adult has a yellow throat, a chestnut crown and blue-green underparts.

4.It is assessed as Near Threatened on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

How many of the statements given above are correct?

Only one Only two Only three All four

From: European Bee-Eater: Chennai's First Record Is a Juvenile Bird Open full article →

20.

Consider the following statements about the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960:

1.It does not bar experiments that advance knowledge useful for saving or prolonging life or combating disease.

2.The Committee for Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CCSEA) is constituted under it.

3.The Animal Welfare Board of India registers the establishments that experiment on animals.

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: Animal Experiment Rules 2026: PETA India Objects to CCSEA Draft Open full article →

21.

Consider the following statements about the 'three Rs' of animal research:

1.Using human cells or computer models instead of animals is replacement.

2.Using fruit flies (Drosophila) in place of vertebrates is a form of refinement.

3.Imaging the same animal repeatedly, instead of killing groups at set times, is reduction.

4.Pain relief and housing that allows natural behaviour are forms of refinement.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Animal Experiment Rules 2026: PETA India Objects to CCSEA Draft Open full article →

22.

Which one of the following best describes a 'human organ-on-a-chip'?

A microchip implanted in a patient's organ to monitor how it functions A small laboratory device with living human cells that mimics how an organ works A computer simulation that predicts how a drug spreads through the whole human body An artificial organ grown from stem cells for transplantation into patients

From: Animal Experiment Rules 2026: PETA India Objects to CCSEA Draft Open full article →

23.

Consider the following animals:

1.Rabbit

2.Hare

3.Guinea pig

How many of the above are lagomorphs?

Only one Only two All three None

From: Animal Experiment Rules 2026: PETA India Objects to CCSEA Draft Open full article →

24.

Consider the following statements about the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960:

1.Rules under it must aim to avoid tests on larger animals where guinea pigs, rabbits, frogs or rats suffice.

2.Rules made by its Committee bind only government institutions, not private laboratories.

3.Its rules are made after previous publication, a draft being published for objections first.

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: Animal Experiment Rules 2026: PETA India Objects to CCSEA Draft Open full article →

25.

Consider the following statements about the GSAT-7B satellite project:

1.GSAT-7B will image the Earth's surface with radar from low Earth orbit.

2.It is a geostationary satellite for beyond-line-of-sight communication with Army troops, formations and platforms.

3.NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) is the contracting party, while the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) builds 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: GSAT-7B: Rs 2,963 Crore Army Satellite Expected Around Mid-2028 Open full article →

26.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: A signal relayed by a geostationary satellite takes about a quarter of a second to arrive.

Statement-II: The satellite is about 35,786 km above the equator, so the signal travels over 70,000 km.

Statement-III: A ground antenna can stay fixed in one direction, as the satellite appears stationary.

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: GSAT-7B: Rs 2,963 Crore Army Satellite Expected Around Mid-2028 Open full article →

27.

Consider the following statements about satellite communication:

1.Higher-frequency bands such as the Ku-band offer wider bandwidth but are more affected by rain fade than the C-band.

2.Three evenly spaced geostationary satellites can together provide near-global coverage.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: GSAT-7B: Rs 2,963 Crore Army Satellite Expected Around Mid-2028 Open full article →

28.

Consider the following statements about the GSAT-7 series of communication satellites:

1.GSAT-7, launched in 2013 on an Ariane-5 rocket, was designed to serve a wide oceanic region.

2.GSAT-7A was built for Ku-band communication over the Indian region.

3.GSAT-7A was launched by the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).

4.The GSAT-7C contract signed in October 2026 is for the Indian Navy.

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: GSAT-7B: Rs 2,963 Crore Army Satellite Expected Around Mid-2028 Open full article →

29.

Consider the following statements about Kharg Island:

1.It belongs to Iran's Bushehr Province and lies in the northern Persian Gulf, north-west of the city of Bushehr.

2.Tankers loading crude oil there can reach the Arabian Sea without passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

3.It is a rocky limestone island that holds fresh water within its porous rock.

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: Kharg Island: Unconfirmed US Strike Option on Iran's Oil Terminal Open full article →

30.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: Kharg Island handles most of Iran's crude-oil exports.

Statement-II: Pipelines bring crude from mainland oilfields to storage and loading installations on the island.

Statement-III: Most of Iran's crude-oil reserves lie beneath Kharg Island itself.

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: Kharg Island: Unconfirmed US Strike Option on Iran's Oil Terminal Open full article →

31.

Kharg Island is described as a crude-oil export terminal. Which one of the following is the main function of such a terminal?

Converting crude oil into petrol, diesel and other products by distillation Receiving, storing and loading crude oil onto tankers for onward transport Extracting crude oil from wells drilled into the seabed Holding emergency reserves that are released only during supply crises

From: Kharg Island: Unconfirmed US Strike Option on Iran's Oil Terminal Open full article →

32.

Consider the following statements about Iran's oil-export infrastructure:

1.The Jask terminal, linked to the Goreh-Jask pipeline, lies inside the Persian Gulf, west of the Strait of Hormuz.

2.Kharg's oil terminal was heavily damaged by Iraqi air strikes during the Iran-Iraq War of 1980-1988 and was later repaired and expanded.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Kharg Island: Unconfirmed US Strike Option on Iran's Oil Terminal Open full article →

33.

Consider the following statements about the Cheer Pheasant (Catreus wallichii):

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

2.It is listed in Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

3.It is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

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: Cheer Pheasant: Himachal Records 100% Survival in 2024-25 Release Open full article →

34.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: The Cheer Pheasant breeding programme in Himachal Pradesh prefers natural incubation and the rearing of chicks by their parents.

Statement-II: Chicks hand-reared by keepers learn to find food and avoid predators better than chicks reared by their parents.

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: Cheer Pheasant: Himachal Records 100% Survival in 2024-25 Release Open full article →

35.

Consider the following statements about the ecology of the Cheer Pheasant:

1.It lives in grassland mixed with short trees and shrubs, broadly at 1,500-3,000 metres.

2.It nests on the ground, in steep, cliff-like places.

3.Forest fires pose little risk to it, as they mostly occur outside its breeding season.

4.Grazing and fodder collection reduce the disturbance-free habitat it prefers.

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: Cheer Pheasant: Himachal Records 100% Survival in 2024-25 Release Open full article →

36.

Consider the following statements about the Cheer Pheasant:

1.It belongs to the family Phasianidae, as do the Indian peafowl and the red junglefowl.

2.Its plumage is a muted mix of grey, buff and brown, with a crest, red skin around the eye and a long barred tail.

3.Its males and females look very similar, though the male has a relatively longer tail and crest.

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: Cheer Pheasant: Himachal Records 100% Survival in 2024-25 Release Open full article →

37.

Consider the following statements about the International Energy Agency (IEA):

1.Its collective actions can restrain demand as well as release emergency stocks.

2.A member's share of a collective action follows its share of IEA oil use.

3.Members must hold emergency stocks as crude oil within their own territory.

4.Commercial stocks held by industry can count towards a member's stock obligation.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: IEA: Oil Markets Unlikely to Return to Normal in 2027, Says Birol Open full article →

38.

Consider the following countries:

1.China

2.Indonesia

3.Saudi Arabia

4.South Africa

How many of the above are Association countries of the International Energy Agency (IEA)?

Only one Only two Only three All four

From: IEA: Oil Markets Unlikely to Return to Normal in 2027, Says Birol Open full article →

39.

In shipping markets, 'tonne-miles' is a measure that combines:

a tanker's carrying capacity and its age the freight rate per tonne and the port and canal charges paid on the cargo the speed of a vessel and its fuel consumption per mile the volume of cargo carried and the distance over which it is carried

From: IEA: Oil Markets Unlikely to Return to Normal in 2027, Says Birol Open full article →

40.

Consider the following statements about oil-supply disruptions:

1.A refiner pays the delivered cost of crude, so higher tanker freight can squeeze its margin at an unchanged crude price.

2.When refineries are disrupted, stocks of products such as diesel are more directly usable than crude stocks.

3.A fall in global oil demand always means consumers' fuel needs are being comfortably met.

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: IEA: Oil Markets Unlikely to Return to Normal in 2027, Says Birol Open full article →

41.

Consider the following statements about India and the International Energy Agency (IEA):

1.India joined the IEA family as an Association country in 2017.

2.In 2024, IEA ministers agreed to begin discussions on India's request to become a full member.

3.The final decision on admitting a new member rests with the IEA's Executive Director.

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: IEA: Oil Markets Unlikely to Return to Normal in 2027, Says Birol Open full article →

42.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: The water of the Baltic Sea is brackish, far less salty than the open ocean.

Statement-II: Numerous rivers pour fresh water into it from a catchment about four times the sea's area.

Statement-III: Its only natural link with the ocean is through narrow, shallow straits that limit inflow of saltier water.

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: Nordic Council: Baltic Sea Proposals on Fish Stocks and Research Open full article →

43.

Consider the following statements about the Helsinki Convention on the Baltic Sea marine environment:

1.Its parties include Belarus, as part of the Baltic Sea's drainage basin lies in Belarus.

2.It covers pollution reaching the sea from land-based sources, from the air and from ships.

3.It commits its parties to apply the precautionary principle and the polluter-pays principle.

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: Nordic Council: Baltic Sea Proposals on Fish Stocks and Research Open full article →

44.

Consider the following statements about eutrophication in the Baltic Sea:

1.A Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) assessment saw no clear recovery in 2016-2021.

2.Seabed sediments release phosphorus when the water above them lacks oxygen.

3.The Baltic Sea Action Plan leaves out hazardous substances and litter.

4.Maximum Allowable Inputs are nutrient caps for each sub-basin consistent with good status.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Nordic Council: Baltic Sea Proposals on Fish Stocks and Research Open full article →

45.

Match List I with List II:

List I:

A. Gulf of Bothnia

B. Gulf of Riga

C. Gulf of Finland

D. Gotland

List II:

1.Lies between Latvia and Estonia

2.A large island belonging to Sweden

3.Lies between Sweden and Finland

4.Stretches east between Finland and Estonia towards Russia

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

From: Nordic Council: Baltic Sea Proposals on Fish Stocks and Research Open full article →