UPSC Current Affairs Quiz — 4 November 2026

1.

What is the main function of a technology business incubator?

Granting exclusive legal rights over inventions Publishing peer-reviewed research papers Supporting young enterprises with facilities, expertise and business guidance Accrediting university degree programmes

From: India S&T Scoreboard: Using Research Data to Compare States and Guide Policy Open full article →

2.

Consider the following statements about research publications and patents:

1.A scientific publication communicates research findings.

2.Patent protection is limited in duration and geographical scope.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: India S&T Scoreboard: Using Research Data to Compare States and Guide Policy Open full article →

3.

Why does a research scoreboard normalise citation impact by field, year and document type?

To make every publication receive the same number of citations To compare research against a more comparable citation benchmark To calculate the market price of each patented invention To replace publication records with the number of research institutions

From: India S&T Scoreboard: Using Research Data to Compare States and Guide Policy Open full article →

4.

Consider the India Science and Technology (S&T) Scoreboard and open access:

1.Open access automatically gives every reader unrestricted rights to reuse a publication.

2.The Scoreboard covers academia, government research laboratories and industry.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: India S&T Scoreboard: Using Research Data to Compare States and Guide Policy Open full article →

5.

Okhla Bird Sanctuary is associated with which river and state?

Yamuna - Uttar Pradesh Ganga - Uttarakhand Chambal - Rajasthan Sutlej - Punjab

From: White Stork at Okhla: A Migratory Bird in the Yamuna Wetland Open full article →

6.

Consider how white storks use thermals during flight:

1.Circling within rising warm air can help a stork gain height with little flapping.

2.Gliding between thermals normally gives the stork additional height without an updraft.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: White Stork at Okhla: A Migratory Bird in the Yamuna Wetland Open full article →

7.

A white stork feeding on insects, frogs, fish and small mammals is best described as a:

Plant-eating specialist Seed-eating specialist Filter feeder on suspended plant matter Carnivorous generalist

From: White Stork at Okhla: A Migratory Bird in the Yamuna Wetland Open full article →

8.

Consider the white stork's movements and conservation status:

1.An unusual sighting at one sanctuary establishes that the species is globally threatened.

2.Some white storks in Portugal have been recorded remaining there throughout the year.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: White Stork at Okhla: A Migratory Bird in the Yamuna Wetland Open full article →

9.

Which capability best reflects the defence self-reliance discussed at the Delhi Defence Dialogue?

Completing the purchase of equipment without arranging later support Restricting research institutions to imported finished designs Measuring capability only by the number of export destinations Designing, making, improving and supporting equipment through its working life

From: Delhi Defence Dialogue: Building the Capacity to Design, Make and Sustain Equipment Open full article →

10.

Consider the Defence Research and Development Organisation's (DRDO) technology-transfer arrangements with industry:

1.Technology-transfer documents convey production know-how to the manufacturer.

2.A manufacturing licence automatically transfers unrestricted ownership of all intellectual property.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Delhi Defence Dialogue: Building the Capacity to Design, Make and Sustain Equipment Open full article →

11.

What most directly distinguishes co-development from licensed manufacturing?

A manufacturer is authorised to produce an existing design under agreed terms The buyer only receives training after equipment delivery A supplier carries out routine repairs under a service contract Partners participate in creating the technology or system

From: Delhi Defence Dialogue: Building the Capacity to Design, Make and Sustain Equipment Open full article →

12.

Consider the following statements about a defence industrial system:

1.Propulsion systems provide the power that moves platforms such as ships or aircraft.

2.Testing and certification help establish whether equipment meets required standards.

3.Defence export partnerships necessarily end when the equipment is delivered.

How many of the above statements are correct?

Only one Only two All three None

From: Delhi Defence Dialogue: Building the Capacity to Design, Make and Sustain Equipment Open full article →

13.

When a trained language model processes a user's input and generates a response, that stage is called:

Dataset collection Initial parameter training Tokeniser design Inference

From: EKA-1 and Dhīr: How India’s New AI Models Connect Training, Language and Local Use Open full article →

14.

Consider parameters and tokens in a language model:

1.Parameters are numerical values adjusted as the model learns during training.

2.Every token must correspond to one complete word.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: EKA-1 and Dhīr: How India’s New AI Models Connect Training, Language and Local Use Open full article →

15.

How does a document-grounded assistant use an office procedure while answering a question?

It answers only from general training without retrieving the instructions It treats every stored document as equally relevant to every request It retrieves relevant instructions and supplies them as context for the response It must train a new foundation model from the beginning for each question

From: EKA-1 and Dhīr: How India’s New AI Models Connect Training, Language and Local Use Open full article →

16.

Consider the artificial intelligence (AI) models released under the IndiaAI Mission:

1.EKA-1 was developed by Soket Labs Technology and Research.

2.Dhir models support English and Indian languages.

3.The official release attributes suitable-device offline deployment to Soket's EKA-1.

How many of the above statements are correct?

Only one Only two All three None

From: EKA-1 and Dhīr: How India’s New AI Models Connect Training, Language and Local Use Open full article →

17.

What makes a polymer a polyester?

Ester linkages form part of its molecular backbone Every molecule contains only a single repeating unit Its name requires it to be produced by an insect Its structure must be identical to polyethylene

From: Cellophane Bees: A Nest Lining That Could Guide Biodegradable Plastic Design Open full article →

18.

Consider the study of cellophane bee (Colletes inaequalis) nest linings:

1.The reported change from 73% to 40% polyester measured the fraction of the original lining mass lost.

2.The percentages represent polyester's share of sampled lining weight at each stage.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Cellophane Bees: A Nest Lining That Could Guide Biodegradable Plastic Design Open full article →

19.

In a nesting aggregation of Colletes inaequalis, the females generally:

Share a single nest maintained by one queen and worker castes Lay eggs in host bees' nests instead of constructing their own Prepare separate nests close to one another Share a nest in which adults jointly care for the same brood

From: Cellophane Bees: A Nest Lining That Could Guide Biodegradable Plastic Design Open full article →

20.

Consider the cellophane bee material study:

1.The nest lining contains ordered molecular regions and links between polymer chains.

2.The researchers detected activity from esterase enzymes.

3.The study established complete conversion of the lining into harmless end products in every environment.

How many of the above statements are correct?

Only one Only two All three None

From: Cellophane Bees: A Nest Lining That Could Guide Biodegradable Plastic Design Open full article →

21.

The home tract of Siri cattle is associated with:

The Thar desert of western Rajasthan The coastal plains of southern Kerala Sikkim and the Darjeeling hills of West Bengal The delta of the Godavari in Andhra Pradesh

From: Siri Cattle Conservation: Connecting Sikkim’s Hill Breed with Planned Breeding Facilities Open full article →

22.

Consider the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying's November 2026 Siri cattle announcement:

1.The Centre of Excellence for Siri conservation and development was inaugurated.

2.A bull mother farm maintains selected cows to produce future breeding bulls.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Siri Cattle Conservation: Connecting Sikkim’s Hill Breed with Planned Breeding Facilities Open full article →

23.

In cattle in vitro fertilisation, where does fertilisation take place?

In the female reproductive tract after artificial insemination After an embryo has already implanted in a recipient animal Only in a recipient animal after an unfertilised egg is transferred In a laboratory, before embryo transfer or freezing

From: Siri Cattle Conservation: Connecting Sikkim’s Hill Breed with Planned Breeding Facilities Open full article →

24.

Consider the following approaches to conserving cattle genetic resources:

1.In-situ conservation maintains live animals within their usual farming systems.

2.Pedigree records help managers trace relatedness when planning matings.

3.Cryoconservation maintains genetic resources only as live herds on farms.

How many of the above statements are correct?

Only one Only two All three None

From: Siri Cattle Conservation: Connecting Sikkim’s Hill Breed with Planned Breeding Facilities Open full article →

25.

Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve occupies which broad geographical setting?

Rajasthan, where the Aravallis meet the Thar desert Uttarakhand, where the Shivaliks meet the Terai Assam, where the Brahmaputra meets the Barak valley Tamil Nadu, where the Western and Eastern Ghats landscapes meet

From: Sathyamangalam: Resort Closure Directions and the Importance of Connected Forests Open full article →

26.

Consider the reported Madras High Court directions on Sathyamangalam resorts:

1.A closure direction itself establishes that every affected resort has already been demolished.

2.The court sought a further status report from the Erode Collector.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Sathyamangalam: Resort Closure Directions and the Importance of Connected Forests Open full article →

27.

Why can a wildlife corridor matter for the long-term conservation of tigers?

It fixes the number of tigers that may occupy every reserve It makes all tiger territories identical in size and vegetation It serves only as an administrative line for district boundaries It permits movement between habitats and can support breeding between populations

From: Sathyamangalam: Resort Closure Directions and the Importance of Connected Forests Open full article →

28.

Consider a Tiger Conservation Plan as explained by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA):

1.It covers core, buffer and adjoining corridor areas.

2.Buffer management includes coexistence and ecologically sustainable livelihood opportunities.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Sathyamangalam: Resort Closure Directions and the Importance of Connected Forests Open full article →

29.

In a sanctuary boundary dispute, what does demarcation principally do?

Locates the existing legal boundary on the ground Changes the legally notified extent of the protected area Assesses which wildlife species should receive legal protection Determines the annual allocation for habitat management

From: Nahargarh Sanctuary: Boundary Mapping and the Rajasthan High Court Challenge Open full article →

30.

Consider the Supreme Court proceedings on the revised map of Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary reported in November 2026:

1.The Supreme Court finally decided the boundary identification and demarcation issues.

2.The Supreme Court held that the revised map excluded land covered by the original notification.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Nahargarh Sanctuary: Boundary Mapping and the Rajasthan High Court Challenge Open full article →

31.

Under Section 26A(3) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, whose recommendation is required before a State alters a sanctuary boundary?

National Board for Wildlife State Legislative Assembly National Tiger Conservation Authority State Pollution Control Board

From: Nahargarh Sanctuary: Boundary Mapping and the Rajasthan High Court Challenge Open full article →

32.

Consider the historical legal records for Nahargarh:

1.The reserved-forest record and wildlife-sanctuary record have separate legal bases.

2.Notifications, historical maps and field surveys can help establish the location of a legal boundary.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Nahargarh Sanctuary: Boundary Mapping and the Rajasthan High Court Challenge Open full article →

33.

Busan, the location of the India-Republic of Korea naval engagement, lies on:

North Korea's western coast beside the Bohai Sea Japan's northern coast beside the Sea of Okhotsk China's southern coast beside the Gulf of Tonkin South Korea's southeastern coast beside the Korea Strait

From: INS Sahyadri at Busan: How Naval Exchanges Build Coordination at Sea Open full article →

34.

Consider the reported harbour and sea activities involving INS Sahyadri at Busan:

1.Cross-deck visits allowed personnel to visit another ship.

2.The sea phase included coordinated navigation and helicopter operations.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: INS Sahyadri at Busan: How Naval Exchanges Build Coordination at Sea Open full article →

35.

A warship design that reduces its radar cross-section chiefly aims to reduce:

The displacement of the ship when fully loaded The range of an underwater acoustic signal The resistance of the hull to forward movement The strength of the radar reflection received by a detecting system

From: INS Sahyadri at Busan: How Naval Exchanges Build Coordination at Sea Open full article →

36.

Consider interoperability in naval exercises:

1.Understanding another navy's procedures can help forces coordinate their activity.

2.Similar hardware is sufficient for interoperability regardless of operating procedures.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: INS Sahyadri at Busan: How Naval Exchanges Build Coordination at Sea Open full article →

37.

What is the function of the oxidiser in solid rocket propellant?

Estimating the vehicle's position during flight Steering the vehicle onto its intended trajectory Supplying what the fuel needs for combustion Measuring the pressure of gases after they leave the nozzle

From: Pralay: How Guidance and Flight Testing Support a Surface-to-Surface Missile Open full article →

38.

Consider navigation, guidance and control in a flying vehicle:

1.Navigation estimates the vehicle's position and motion.

2.Guidance and control only record the flight and do not direct the vehicle's motion.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Pralay: How Guidance and Flight Testing Support a Surface-to-Surface Missile Open full article →

39.

Which activity is an example of telemetry during a missile flight test?

Tracking movement through reflected radar signals Recording movement through an electro-optical tracking system Sending onboard system measurements to receiving equipment Sending control commands from receiving equipment to the vehicle

From: Pralay: How Guidance and Flight Testing Support a Surface-to-Surface Missile Open full article →

40.

Consider the following statements about the Pralay surface-to-surface missile and its testing:

1.Pralay uses a solid-propellant rocket motor.

2.Integrated Test Range (ITR) tracking and ship-based telemetry contributed to the December 2025 two-missile trial.

3.A flight record is evaluated independently of the mission objectives it was meant to test.

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: Pralay: How Guidance and Flight Testing Support a Surface-to-Surface Missile Open full article →