UPSC Current Affairs Quiz — 6 November 2026

1.

The critical-mineral processing CAPEX scheme approved in November 2026 targets plants for which pair of minerals?

Iron and manganese Bauxite and limestone Copper and gold Lithium and nickel

From: Critical-Mineral Processing: How the New CAPEX Scheme Supports the Industrial Chain Open full article →

2.

Consider the critical-mineral processing CAPEX scheme:

1.Support is calculated as a percentage of eligible investment, subject to a beneficiary cap.

2.Technically qualified applicants proceed to financial bidding based on the support sought.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Critical-Mineral Processing: How the New CAPEX Scheme Supports the Industrial Chain Open full article →

3.

Which of the following is an example of capital expenditure in a mineral-processing project?

Paying a monthly electricity bill Paying the current month's wages Purchasing routine office stationery Purchasing processing machinery

From: Critical-Mineral Processing: How the New CAPEX Scheme Supports the Industrial Chain Open full article →

4.

Consider materials covered by the critical-mineral processing scheme:

1.Its lithium coverage excludes brines.

2.A by-product is the principal material for which a production process is undertaken.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Critical-Mineral Processing: How the New CAPEX Scheme Supports the Industrial Chain Open full article →

5.

Scorpions such as Liocheles similipalensis belong to which group?

Insecta Amphibia Arachnida Reptilia

From: Liocheles similipalensis: How a New Similipal Scorpion Was Identified Open full article →

6.

Consider the description of Liocheles similipalensis:

1.The study examined male and female specimens.

2.The authors called for further morphological and molecular work on the genus.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Liocheles similipalensis: How a New Similipal Scorpion Was Identified Open full article →

7.

Similipal, where Liocheles similipalensis was described, lies in which state?

Jharkhand Chhattisgarh West Bengal Odisha

From: Liocheles similipalensis: How a New Similipal Scorpion Was Identified Open full article →

8.

Consider the scientific classification of Liocheles similipalensis:

1.It belongs to the family Bufonidae.

2.Liocheles is the genus name in its two-part scientific name.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Liocheles similipalensis: How a New Similipal Scorpion Was Identified Open full article →

9.

What is the main purpose of anti-submarine warfare?

Defending naval units against hostile aircraft Locating and clearing naval mines Intercepting hostile surface ships Detecting, locating and responding to submarines

From: Amini Delivered: Sonar, Waterjets and the Role of a Shallow-Water Naval Craft Open full article →

10.

Consider active and passive sonar:

1.Active sonar can use a transmitted pulse and a returning echo to help estimate distance.

2.Passive sonar obtains its information by sending its own pulse and receiving that pulse's echo.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Amini Delivered: Sonar, Waterjets and the Role of a Shallow-Water Naval Craft Open full article →

11.

Amini Island, after which the naval craft is named, is part of:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands Puducherry Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Lakshadweep

From: Amini Delivered: Sonar, Waterjets and the Role of a Shallow-Water Naval Craft Open full article →

12.

Consider the general working of a marine waterjet:

1.Accelerating water towards the stern produces a forward force on the vessel.

2.Changing the jet's direction can help steer the vessel.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Amini Delivered: Sonar, Waterjets and the Role of a Shallow-Water Naval Craft Open full article →

13.

A mountain pass is best described as:

The highest summit of a mountain range A relatively low opening or saddle in a ridge A flat plain formed at a river mouth A permanent sheet of ice covering a valley

From: Namika La: Understanding a Mountain Pass on the Kargil–Leh Road Open full article →

14.

Consider elevation and mountain landforms:

1.Elevation is the difference in height within a local area.

2.A route can follow a valley and cross an intervening ridge through a pass.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Namika La: Understanding a Mountain Pass on the Kargil–Leh Road Open full article →

15.

Namika La, on the Kargil-Leh road, lies in:

Himachal Pradesh Uttarakhand Ladakh Sikkim

From: Namika La: Understanding a Mountain Pass on the Kargil–Leh Road Open full article →

16.

Consider contour lines on a topographic map:

1.Closely spaced contours indicate a steep slope.

2.The contour interval is the horizontal distance between two successive lines.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Namika La: Understanding a Mountain Pass on the Kargil–Leh Road Open full article →

17.

The Malabar tree toad is endemic to which region?

The Andaman Islands The Thar Desert The eastern Himalayas The Western Ghats

From: Malabar Tree Toad: Karnataka’s State Amphibian and the Evidence Behind Species Records Open full article →

18.

Consider citizen observations used in a species-distribution study:

1.Photographs, audio and video can help check species identification.

2.Removing duplicate and uncertain records helps prepare an occurrence dataset.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Malabar Tree Toad: Karnataka’s State Amphibian and the Evidence Behind Species Records Open full article →

19.

The term arboreal refers primarily to the use of which habitat?

Underground soil burrows Open marine surface waters Shoreline mudflats Trees and other vegetation

From: Malabar Tree Toad: Karnataka’s State Amphibian and the Evidence Behind Species Records Open full article →

20.

Consider the current IUCN assessment cited for the Malabar tree toad:

1.The assessment published in 2023 lists it as Endangered.

2.The assessment records a decreasing population trend.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Malabar Tree Toad: Karnataka’s State Amphibian and the Evidence Behind Species Records Open full article →

21.

Which institution is the investment manager of the SRI Fund?

National Small Industries Corporation SBI Ventures Limited NSIC Venture Capital Fund Limited Small Industries Development Bank of India

From: SRI Fund: How Growth Capital Reaches Women-Led MSMEs Open full article →

22.

Consider the SRI fund-of-funds structure:

1.The mother fund selects each enterprise and transfers its support directly to that enterprise.

2.Daughter funds pool SRI backing with money from other investors.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: SRI Fund: How Growth Capital Reaches Women-Led MSMEs Open full article →

23.

In quasi-equity financing, a convertible instrument can provide which mechanism?

Becoming ownership shares under agreed conditions Exchanging foreign-currency earnings into rupees Changing a floating interest rate into a fixed rate Transferring an existing loan between lenders

From: SRI Fund: How Growth Capital Reaches Women-Led MSMEs Open full article →

24.

Consider equity finance and due diligence:

1.Equity gives an investor a lender's fixed repayment schedule instead of an ownership stake.

2.Due diligence is an examination conducted only after investment has been made.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: SRI Fund: How Growth Capital Reaches Women-Led MSMEs Open full article →

25.

What is a central function of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board?

Operating nuclear electricity-generating units Manufacturing fuel for nuclear power plants Overseeing nuclear and radiation safety Financing construction of nuclear power plants

From: AERB: How Safety Review Follows a Nuclear Facility Through Its Life Open full article →

26.

Consider stages in the life of a nuclear facility:

1.Commissioning includes tests of whether installed systems perform as intended.

2.Decommissioning covers retirement from service and safe management of that process.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: AERB: How Safety Review Follows a Nuclear Facility Through Its Life Open full article →

27.

What gives ionising radiation its name?

Its capacity to remove electrons from atoms or molecules Its capacity to excite atoms without forming ions Its capacity to change nuclear-spin alignment in a magnetic field Its capacity to amplify low-frequency radio waves

From: AERB: How Safety Review Follows a Nuclear Facility Through Its Life Open full article →

28.

Consider nuclear safety review and engineering:

1.Providing additional components for an important safety function is called diversity.

2.Siting review examines the location and its interaction with the proposed facility.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: AERB: How Safety Review Follows a Nuclear Facility Through Its Life Open full article →

29.

Which organisation launched the Gaia mission?

European Space Agency Indian Space Research Organisation Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Canadian Space Agency

From: Gaia Data Reveals a Star-Cluster Flyby: How Astronomers Read Positions, Ages and Motion Open full article →

30.

Consider measurements used in stellar astrometry:

1.Parallax is the star's movement towards or away from the observer.

2.Proper motion is an angular change in a star's position over time.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Gaia Data Reveals a Star-Cluster Flyby: How Astronomers Read Positions, Ages and Motion Open full article →

31.

A parsec is a unit used to express:

Distance Stellar temperature Radiation frequency Time

From: Gaia Data Reveals a Star-Cluster Flyby: How Astronomers Read Positions, Ages and Motion Open full article →

32.

Consider the interpretation of UBC 63A and UBC 63B in the cited study:

1.The two populations were assigned approximately the same age.

2.The researchers interpreted the pair as gravitationally bound to each other.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Gaia Data Reveals a Star-Cluster Flyby: How Astronomers Read Positions, Ages and Motion Open full article →

33.

Exercise Malabar began as a bilateral exercise between:

India and the United States India and Japan Japan and Australia Australia and the United States

From: Malabar 2026 at Yokosuka: How Four Navies Practise Working Together Open full article →

34.

Consider the Malabar 2026 phases described in the official accounts:

1.The harbour phase includes professional interaction and coordinated planning.

2.Scheduled sea training covers surface, subsurface, air and information domains.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Malabar 2026 at Yokosuka: How Four Navies Practise Working Together Open full article →

35.

Yokosuka, the harbour setting for Malabar 2026, is in:

Japan South Korea Australia Indonesia

From: Malabar 2026 at Yokosuka: How Four Navies Practise Working Together Open full article →

36.

Consider interoperability in a multinational naval exercise:

1.Interoperability is determined solely by the number of ships taking part.

2.Coordinating communications and procedures is part of interoperability.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

From: Malabar 2026 at Yokosuka: How Four Navies Practise Working Together Open full article →