01 September 2026
Practice today’s important current affairs through exam-oriented questions designed primarily for APSC, UPSC and ADRE aspirants. Questions are framed from moderate to difficult level and are also useful for other competitive examinations.
Current Affairs MCQs
Moderate to hard questions for APSC and UPSC, with additional difficulty suitable for ADRE and other competitive examinations.
With reference to the deferment of Census operations in Manipur, consider the following statements:
- The deferment followed demands for updating the National Register of Citizens before the census and delimitation exercise.
- The High Court of Manipur directed that the census process remain deferred until further orders.
- Census, NRC and delimitation are identical exercises having the same legal and administrative purpose.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Article 142 of the Constitution, recently referred to in a Supreme Court matter concerning FIRs, is best associated with which of the following?
Consider the following statements regarding the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC):
- The NCSC is a constitutional body.
- It deals with safeguards provided for Scheduled Castes under the Constitution and other laws.
- The NCSC is a statutory body created only through an executive resolution.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
With reference to the recent Nepal flash floods, consider the following statements:
- The Bhotekoshi River carried floodwaters downstream, damaging settlements and infrastructure.
- India provided specialised assistance including a forensic team for DNA analysis and victim identification.
- India also deployed a tunnel-rescue team and provided relief material.
- The disaster response was unrelated to India’s neighbourhood diplomacy.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Consider the following statements regarding the Brahmaputra and the recent discussion over hydropower development in Tibet:
- The Brahmaputra enters India through Arunachal Pradesh after making a major turn in the Himalayan region.
- Hydropower development in Tibet has significance for downstream countries.
- The Brahmaputra is completely confined to India and does not have an international dimension.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
India’s real GDP grew by 7.8% in Q1 FY27. Which one of the following statements best distinguishes real GDP from nominal GDP?
With reference to surplus liquidity in the banking system, consider the following statements:
- Surplus liquidity implies that the banking system has more funds available than required for its immediate liquidity needs.
- The RBI can use liquidity-management operations to absorb excess liquidity.
- Variable Rate Reverse Repo auctions can be used as a liquidity-absorption instrument.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
With reference to India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) expansion into Uzbekistan, consider the following statements:
- NPCI International entered into a partnership with Uzbekistan’s National Interbank Processing Centre.
- Indian users can make merchant payments by scanning Uzbekistan’s national UZQR code.
- Uzbekistan’s national payment system mentioned in the report is operated by HUMO.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Which of the following factors were identified by experts as contributing to Upper Assam’s flood risk?
- Sedimentation
- Hill-slope instability
- Mining and deforestation
- Altered drainage
Select the correct answer using the code below:
With reference to the concept of a “sponge city”, consider the following statements:
- Sponge-city planning can incorporate wetlands, permeable surfaces, rain gardens and green roofs.
- Permeable surfaces can reduce surface runoff and support groundwater recharge.
- Restored wetlands can help store water and reduce flood intensity.
- The concept is based exclusively on increasing concrete drainage infrastructure.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
With reference to Semicon 2.0, consider the following statements:
- The programme covers chip design, fabrication, packaging, research and development and talent creation.
- Eligible silicon wafer fabs must meet a minimum investment requirement of Rs 20,000 crore.
- Eligible wafer fabs can receive fiscal support equal to 40% of eligible capital expenditure.
- The programme is limited exclusively to importing finished semiconductor chips.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
The circulation of AI-generated and fake visuals during the Nepal floods highlights which of the following challenges in disaster management?
- Misinformation can complicate the verification of disaster information.
- False visuals can interfere with reliable public communication during emergencies.
- Digital technologies have no relevance to disaster response once physical rescue operations begin.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
With reference to Assam’s proposed proton beam therapy centre, consider the following statements:
- The proposed centre is to be established in Guwahati.
- The estimated project cost is Rs 600 crore.
- It is planned as India’s third proton beam therapy centre and the first in the government healthcare sector.
- The project is being established under the ASSIST Project.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
With reference to Assam’s dairy sector, consider the following statements:
- Assam produces 33.53 lakh litres of milk per day.
- Existing milk-processing capacity was reported at 4.95 lakh litres per day.
- The government called for greater participation of women in dairy cooperatives.
- The State has no organised dairy cooperative societies.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
With reference to the Gauhati High Court proceedings concerning Assam elephants in Tamil Nadu, consider the following statements:
- The case involved nine elephants from Assam held in captivity at temples in Tamil Nadu.
- The High Court directed monthly inspections of facilities where the elephants are kept.
- Elephants lacking adequate nutrition or medical care may be seized and rehabilitated.
- The proceedings arose independently of concerns surrounding Joymala.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Prelims Answer Key
Check your responses before reading the explanations.
Answers & Explanations
Concise explanations focused on the facts and concepts tested in each question.
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
The Centre deferred census operations in Manipur amid demands for updating the National Register of Citizens before the census and delimitation exercise. The High Court of Manipur also directed that the census process remain deferred until further orders. Census, NRC and delimitation are distinct processes and do not have identical purposes.
Answer: (a)
Article 142 empowers the Supreme Court to pass orders necessary for doing complete justice in any cause or matter pending before it. The provision was invoked in the matter concerning FIRs registered in connection with student protests.
Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only
The National Commission for Scheduled Castes is a constitutional body concerned with safeguards for Scheduled Castes. The supplied report noted its intervention in a case involving alleged derogatory remarks against former Union Home Minister Buta Singh. Statement 3 is incorrect because the NCSC is not merely an executive-created statutory body.
Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 3 only
The Bhotekoshi River carried floodwaters downstream, damaging settlements, roads, bridges and hydropower infrastructure. India supported Nepal through specialised assistance including a forensic DNA team, a tunnel-rescue team and relief material. Such humanitarian assistance also represents an important dimension of India’s neighbourhood diplomacy.
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
The Brahmaputra enters India through Arunachal Pradesh after making a major turn in the Himalayan region. The report also highlighted the significance of hydropower development in Tibet for downstream countries. The river therefore has a clear transboundary geographical and strategic dimension.
Answer: (b)
Real GDP is measured using constant prices and is intended to capture changes in the volume of production while reducing the effect of price changes. The newspaper reported Q1 FY27 real GDP growth of 7.8%, compared with nominal GDP estimated at Rs 88.27 lakh crore at current prices.
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Surplus liquidity indicates abundant liquidity in the banking system. The report stated that surplus system liquidity reached around Rs 5.05 lakh crore on August 30. The RBI used liquidity management operations including Variable Rate Reverse Repo auctions to absorb excess liquidity.
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
NPCI International and Uzbekistan’s National Interbank Processing Centre entered into a partnership enabling UPI payments in Uzbekistan. Indian tourists, business travellers and students can make merchant payments by scanning the UZQR code. The report identifies HUMO as the operator of Uzbekistan’s national payment system.
Answer: (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Experts at the Dibrugarh University brainstorming session identified multiple interacting factors behind Upper Assam’s flood vulnerability. These included sedimentation, hill-slope instability, mining, deforestation and altered drainage. Poorly planned roads, bridges, embankments and sluice gates can further interfere with natural drainage, making basin-wide management necessary.
Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 3 only
Sponge-city planning uses nature-based and water-sensitive approaches such as wetlands, permeable surfaces, rain gardens and green roofs. Permeable surfaces can reduce runoff and support groundwater recharge, while wetlands can store water and reduce flood intensity. The concept is therefore not limited to conventional concrete drainage.
Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 3 only
Semicon 2.0 is designed to strengthen India’s semiconductor ecosystem across chip design, equipment and materials, fabrication, packaging, research and development and talent creation. Eligible silicon wafer fabs must meet a minimum investment requirement of Rs 20,000 crore and can receive fiscal support equal to 40% of eligible capital expenditure. Statement 4 is incorrect because the programme focuses on building domestic semiconductor capabilities rather than merely importing finished chips.
Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only
The circulation of fake and AI-generated visuals during the Nepal floods demonstrated how misinformation can complicate verification and public communication during disasters. The Nepal government ordered removal of inappropriate content, while the Nepal Press Council opened a dedicated complaints portal. Digital information systems are therefore increasingly relevant to disaster response.
Answer: (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Assam approved a Rs 600 crore proton beam therapy centre in Guwahati. It is planned as India’s third proton beam therapy centre and the first in the government healthcare sector. The project is to be established under the Assam State Secondary Healthcare Initiative for Service Delivery Transformation, or ASSIST Project. Proton beam therapy can target tumours while potentially reducing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues.
Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 3 only
Assam’s daily milk production was reported at 33.53 lakh litres, while existing processing capacity stood at 4.95 lakh litres per day. The government also called for greater participation of women in dairy cooperatives and highlighted conservation of the Lakhimi breed. The State has 2,006 organised dairy cooperative societies, of which 1,032 are registered, making statement 4 incorrect.
Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 3 only
The Gauhati High Court sought a report concerning nine Assam elephants held in captivity at temples in Tamil Nadu. The proceedings originated from concerns surrounding Joymala, with eight other Assam elephants also referred to the committee. The Court directed monthly inspections and stated that elephants lacking adequate nutrition, medical care or other facilities may be seized and rehabilitated. Hence, statement 4 is incorrect.
Mains Answer Writing
Analytical questions for APSC and UPSC Mains, with Assam-specific relevance wherever applicable.