UPSC Current Affairs Quiz — 23 October 2026

1.

Consider the following statements about Shamonda virus:

1.It belongs to the genus Orthobunyavirus within the family Peribunyaviridae.

2.It is closely related to Schmallenberg virus, which emerged among European livestock in 2011.

3.Until 2026 it had not been recognised as a cause of disease in human beings.

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: Shamonda Virus: Lyon Case Is the First Reported Human Infection Open full article →

2.

Consider the following diseases of animals:

1.Bluetongue

2.African horse sickness

3.Shamonda virus infection

4.Foot and mouth disease

How many of the above are transmitted mainly through the bites of midges of the genus Culicoides?

Only one Only two Only three All four

From: Shamonda Virus: Lyon Case Is the First Reported Human Infection Open full article →

3.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: Shamonda virus is placed in the Simbu serogroup of the genus Orthobunyavirus.

Statement-II: Every virus placed in the Simbu serogroup causes the same disease in every host species it infects.

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: Shamonda Virus: Lyon Case Is the First Reported Human Infection Open full article →

4.

Consider the following statements about Shamonda virus infection in livestock:

1.Laboratory diagnosis is needed because the reported clinical signs are not specific to it.

2.Transmission from an infected pregnant animal to its offspring has been reported.

3.A commercially available vaccine against the virus is in routine use.

4.Measures directed at the insect vector are used to reduce exposure.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Shamonda Virus: Lyon Case Is the First Reported Human Infection Open full article →

5.

Consider the following statements about Oropouche virus disease:

1.The virus belongs to the same family as Shamonda virus.

2.Its principal vector is a biting midge of the genus Culicoides.

3.It occurs mainly in sub-Saharan Africa.

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: Shamonda Virus: Lyon Case Is the First Reported Human Infection Open full article →

6.

Consider the following statements about the assessment of global climate action:

1.An emissions gap is the difference between projected emissions and the level a chosen pathway needs.

2.An implementation gap is the difference between what existing policies deliver and what was pledged.

3.Closing the implementation gap does not by itself make collective pledges sufficient.

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: Emissions Gap Report 2026: NDCs Cut 11-15% by 2035 vs 45% Needed Open full article →

7.

Consider the following statements about the Paris Agreement:

1.Each Party must prepare and maintain successive nationally determined contributions (NDCs).

2.It aims at a balance between emissions by sources and removals by sinks in the second half of this century.

3.Its compliance committee is expert-based, non-adversarial and non-punitive.

4.Its global stocktake is undertaken once every ten years.

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: Emissions Gap Report 2026: NDCs Cut 11-15% by 2035 vs 45% Needed Open full article →

8.

Which one of the following best describes the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)?

A body set up by two United Nations organisations that assesses published scientific literature A United Nations agency that carries out its own climate research programmes A fund created under the Paris Agreement to finance emission cuts in developing countries A forum in which parties negotiate and adopt binding emission targets for one another

From: Emissions Gap Report 2026: NDCs Cut 11-15% by 2035 vs 45% Needed Open full article →

9.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: Two stated percentage cuts in emissions cannot be compared unless each one's starting year is known.

Statement-II: A percentage cut is measured against a chosen baseline year's emissions.

Statement-III: Carbon dioxide equivalent expresses several greenhouse gases in a common unit by their warming effects.

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: Emissions Gap Report 2026: NDCs Cut 11-15% by 2035 vs 45% Needed Open full article →

10.

Consider the following statements:

1.The global stocktake under the Paris Agreement assesses collective progress every five years.

2.The annual assessment of the emissions gap published by the United Nations Environment Programme is the same process as the global stocktake.

3.The outcome of the first global stocktake called for a global tripling of renewable energy capacity 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: Emissions Gap Report 2026: NDCs Cut 11-15% by 2035 vs 45% Needed Open full article →

11.

Consider the following statements about a Union skill-training scheme:

1.The Pradhan Mantri Dakshata Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi (PM-DAKSH) scheme was run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

2.Its target groups included Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes and De-notified Tribes.

3.It has been merged into the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY).

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-DAKSH: 96,162 Placed of 1,87,305 Trained Before PMKVY Merger Open full article →

12.

Consider the following statements about reservation for the economically weaker sections of citizens in India:

1.It rests on clauses inserted in Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution by the Constitution (One Hundred and Third Amendment) Act, 2019.

2.In public employment the Constitution limits it to a maximum of ten per cent of the posts in each category.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: PM-DAKSH: 96,162 Placed of 1,87,305 Trained Before PMKVY Merger Open full article →

13.

A skill-training programme reports the number of persons trained and the number recorded as placed. The ratio of the second figure to the first is best described as:

the proportion of participants whose earnings rose after the training ended the share of participants who had no work at all before they joined the course a verified placement rate for each training batch and job role a descriptive comparison of two aggregates, which identifies neither outcomes nor earnings

From: PM-DAKSH: 96,162 Placed of 1,87,305 Trained Before PMKVY Merger Open full article →

14.

Consider the following statements about publicly funded skilling:

1.Training providers, awarding bodies and assessment agencies differ in role.

2.A provider failing to place 70 per cent of trainees forfeited an instalment.

3.The current national skilling scheme's design principles delink placement from skilling.

4.Grant-funded training means every trainee qualifies for an enterprise loan.

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: PM-DAKSH: 96,162 Placed of 1,87,305 Trained Before PMKVY Merger Open full article →

15.

Consider the following statements about iodine:

1.It belongs to group 17 of the periodic table, the halogens.

2.At ordinary room temperature it is a shiny solid that sublimes on heating to a purple vapour.

3.Bromine, which belongs to the same group, is a liquid at ordinary room temperature.

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: Iodised Salt: FSSAI's 15-30 ppm Standard and WHO's 5 g Salt Limit Open full article →

16.

Consider the following statements about iodine and the thyroid gland:

1.The thyroid uses iodine to make thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).

2.A dietary deficiency of iodine can cause enlargement of the thyroid gland, called goitre.

3.Inadequate iodine in pregnancy and early childhood can impair a child's development.

4.Thyroxine is secreted by the parathyroid glands.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Iodised Salt: FSSAI's 15-30 ppm Standard and WHO's 5 g Salt Limit Open full article →

17.

The World Health Organization's position on reducing salt intake and on iodising salt is best described as:

iodisation should be confined to the salt used for cooking in households sodium reduction should be suspended wherever iodine deficiency persists iodine should be supplied only through supplements and not through any food the two goals are compatible, since the iodine level in salt can be adjusted

From: Iodised Salt: FSSAI's 15-30 ppm Standard and WHO's 5 g Salt Limit Open full article →

18.

Consider the following statements:

1.The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) specifies potassium iodate as the source of iodine for iodised salt.

2.The specified iodine content of iodised salt is 15-30 parts per million on a dry-weight basis.

3.For a mass concentration, one part per million corresponds to one gram per kilogram.

How many of the above statements are correct?

Only one Only two All three None

From: Iodised Salt: FSSAI's 15-30 ppm Standard and WHO's 5 g Salt Limit Open full article →

19.

Consider the following statements about straits used for international navigation:

1.All ships and aircraft enjoy the right of transit passage through such straits.

2.A State bordering such a strait may suspend transit passage temporarily for security reasons.

3.Transit passage means continuous and expeditious transit between two parts of the high seas or exclusive economic zones.

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: SIMBEX 2026: Bay of Bengal Sea Phase Set for 24-26 October Open full article →

20.

The Malacca Straits Patrol, a set of cooperative maritime security measures, is undertaken by which one of the following groups of countries?

India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Myanmar Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand

From: SIMBEX 2026: Bay of Bengal Sea Phase Set for 24-26 October Open full article →

21.

Consider the following statements about the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA):

1.Its members are Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom.

2.It replaced the Anglo-Malaysian Defence Agreement in 1971.

3.Under it the members undertook to consult one another if Malaysia or Singapore were attacked.

4.It obliges every member to intervene militarily in such an event.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: SIMBEX 2026: Bay of Bengal Sea Phase Set for 24-26 October Open full article →

22.

Consider the following statements about Visakhapatnam:

1.It lies on the eastern coast of Andhra Pradesh, facing the Bay of Bengal.

2.It is the headquarters of the Indian Navy's Eastern Naval Command.

3.The Eastern Ghats lie inland of 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: SIMBEX 2026: Bay of Bengal Sea Phase Set for 24-26 October Open full article →

23.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: In a bilateral naval exercise, professional exchanges and planning conferences are usually completed in harbour before the ships train together at sea.

Statement-II: Shared planning ashore settles how information, responsibilities and intended movements will be handled, which is harder to arrange while ships are under way.

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: SIMBEX 2026: Bay of Bengal Sea Phase Set for 24-26 October Open full article →

24.

Consider the following statements about India's National Air Quality Index:

1.The overall index at a location is the highest of the sub-indices calculated for individual pollutants.

2.It is calculated only when data are available for at least three pollutants, one a particulate-matter measure.

3.The index value is a concentration expressed in micrograms per cubic metre.

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: GRAP: CREA Finds Delhi's Average Winter AQI Rose From 280 to 295 Open full article →

25.

Consider the following statements about the Commission for Air Quality Management:

1.It was established under an Act of Parliament.

2.That Act dissolved the earlier pollution authority for the National Capital Region.

3.Where its direction conflicts with a State Pollution Control Board's, its own direction prevails.

4.It functions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: GRAP: CREA Finds Delhi's Average Winter AQI Rose From 280 to 295 Open full article →

26.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: Invoking a higher stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) does not replace the measures of the lower stages.

Statement-II: Each higher stage is applied in addition to the actions already in force under the lower stages.

Statement-III: The response can be invoked on the strength of air-quality and weather forecasts.

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: GRAP: CREA Finds Delhi's Average Winter AQI Rose From 280 to 295 Open full article →

27.

Consider the following statements about winter air pollution in northern India:

1.A shallower mixing height lets pollutants accumulate closer to the surface.

2.Calm winds reduce the horizontal dispersal of pollutants.

3.A surface temperature inversion promotes vertical mixing, carrying smoke and dust away from the surface.

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: GRAP: CREA Finds Delhi's Average Winter AQI Rose From 280 to 295 Open full article →

28.

In a city, air quality worsened in the week after stricter pollution controls were imposed on several occasions. Which one of the following is the most defensible inference?

The controls caused the air quality to deteriorate The controls had no effect at all on emissions The measurements made during those weeks must be unreliable Estimating the controls' effect needs a comparison with conditions without them

From: GRAP: CREA Finds Delhi's Average Winter AQI Rose From 280 to 295 Open full article →

29.

Consider the following statements about the Charles Correa Gold Medal:

1.It recognises a thesis submitted by a student for a first professional degree in architecture.

2.Two or more students of a college may submit a joint entry for it.

3.The site of the proposed project must be in India.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Charles Correa Gold Medal: Energy Commons Thesis From Kochi Wins Open full article →

30.

Match List I with List II:

List I (Building designed by Charles Correa)

A. Bharat Bhavan

B. Jawahar Kala Kendra

C. Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya

D. Kanchanjunga Apartments

List II (City)

1.Jaipur

2.Mumbai

3.Bhopal

4.Ahmedabad

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

From: Charles Correa Gold Medal: Energy Commons Thesis From Kochi Wins Open full article →

31.

Consider the following statements about the architect Charles Correa:

1.He received the Royal Gold Medal of the Royal Institute of British Architects.

2.He was the first architect from India to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Charles Correa Gold Medal: Energy Commons Thesis From Kochi Wins Open full article →

32.

Consider the following statements about the idea of the 'commons':

1.It describes a resource open to all without any rules, so that no management of it is needed.

2.An influential essay of 1968 argued that unrestricted common access can deplete a shared resource.

3.Later studies found that groups of users have often managed shared resources better than standard theories predicted.

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: Charles Correa Gold Medal: Energy Commons Thesis From Kochi Wins Open full article →

33.

Consider the following statements about the Akash system:

1.It is a ground-based air-defence system in which missiles, radars and control equipment work together.

2.It was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

3.A 'battery' in this context is an operational grouping of equipment rather than a count of missiles.

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: Akash Missile: Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia Named as Buyers Open full article →

34.

Consider the following statements about an air-defence system:

1.A radar's detection coverage and a missile's engagement range are different measures.

2.The published radar coverage can exceed the published missile engagement range.

3.One published figure applies to every variant and export configuration.

4.Akash Prime and Akash Next Generation are distinct developments in one family.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Akash Missile: Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia Named as Buyers Open full article →

35.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: An official statement naming the countries to which a defence system has been exported also discloses the value and delivery schedule of each contract.

Statement-II: A complete air-defence system comprises missiles, radars and control equipment that work together.

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: Akash Missile: Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia Named as Buyers Open full article →

36.

Consider the following statements about the Export-Import Bank of India:

1.It was established under an Act of Parliament and began operations in the early 1980s.

2.Its lines of credit are extended to individual Indian exporters rather than to overseas borrowers.

3.Some of its lines of credit operate with the support of the Government of India.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Akash Missile: Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia Named as Buyers Open full article →

37.

Consider the following statements about the law on diverting forest land in India:

1.An amendment of 2023 renamed the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 as the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam.

2.Prior central approval is needed before forest land is put to a non-forest purpose.

3.The amendment dropped the condition of planting trees to compensate felling on exempted land.

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: Kamala Hydro Project: 1,720 MW Dam Awaits Forest Clearance Open full article →

38.

Consider the following statements about the amended forest law:

1.It covers land notified as forest under the Indian Forest Act, 1927.

2.It covers land recorded as forest in a government record on or after 25 October 1980.

3.Land within 100 kilometres of a border for a strategic linear project is exempt.

4.A zoo inside a protected area is excluded from 'non-forest purpose'.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Kamala Hydro Project: 1,720 MW Dam Awaits Forest Clearance Open full article →

39.

Consider the following statements about approvals for a project on forest land:

1.Stage I approval in the forest clearance process is the final approval, after which work may begin.

2.Stage II approval follows the submission of compliance with the conditions set at Stage I.

3.Approval of investment in a project by the Union Cabinet removes the need for forest and environmental permissions.

How many of the above statements are correct?

Only one Only two All three None

From: Kamala Hydro Project: 1,720 MW Dam Awaits Forest Clearance Open full article →

40.

Consider the following statements about a storage reservoir with a flood-moderation role:

1.A dedicated flood cushion above the normal full-reservoir level lets part of a flood be held back and released in a controlled way.

2.Such a cushion eliminates flooding in the valley downstream.

3.A forest area of 3,278 hectares is about 32.78 square kilometres.

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: Kamala Hydro Project: 1,720 MW Dam Awaits Forest Clearance Open full article →

41.

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: A count of families affected by a project is not a count of families that must move house.

Statement-II: A household can lose land or access to resources without having to leave its residence.

Statement-III: A site outside any national park or sanctuary can still affect wildlife habitat and movement.

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: Kamala Hydro Project: 1,720 MW Dam Awaits Forest Clearance Open full article →

42.

Consider the following statements:

1.An aquifer is a formation holding enough saturated permeable material to yield significant quantities of water to wells and springs.

2.The water table is the upper surface of an unconfined aquifer, standing at atmospheric pressure.

3.In a confined or artesian aquifer the water stands at atmospheric pressure and rises and falls freely with the seasons.

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: Colorado River: Upper Basin Groundwater Loss Put at 17.5 Cubic km Open full article →

43.

Consider the following statements about streams and groundwater:

1.A stream gains water where the water table beside it is higher than the stream surface.

2.One river can gain water along some reaches and lose water along others.

3.Base flow is a stream's sustained low flow, usually supplied by groundwater.

4.Pumping near a stream separated from groundwater by an unsaturated zone still cuts its flow.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

From: Colorado River: Upper Basin Groundwater Loss Put at 17.5 Cubic km Open full article →

44.

Consider the following statements:

1.A loss of groundwater storage stated in cubic kilometres is a volume of water, not a fall of the water table by that distance.

2.A water year used in United States hydrological reporting runs from 1 October to 30 September and is named for the year in which it ends.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Colorado River: Upper Basin Groundwater Loss Put at 17.5 Cubic km Open full article →

45.

Consider the following statements:

1.A river basin is the land whose drainage contributes to a river system, so a State can lie in a basin without the main river flowing through it.

2.Snow and rain that infiltrate the ground contribute to the recharge of groundwater.

3.All the precipitation falling on a basin becomes groundwater recharge.

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: Colorado River: Upper Basin Groundwater Loss Put at 17.5 Cubic km Open full article →