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UPSC current affairs quiz, 4 September 2026

30 Prelims-style questions on the day's news, in the formats UPSC uses (statement-based, How many, Statement-I and II), each with the answer and an explanation. Try each one before you open the answer.

Read 4 September 2026 first3 September 2026 quiz5 September 2026 quizTimed test in the app

Supreme Court: Bar Councils have no power to discipline law students

  1. With reference to the Bar Council of India, consider the following statements:
    1. The Attorney-General of India and the Solicitor-General of India are its ex officio members.
    2. It recognises universities whose degree in law is a qualification for enrolment as an advocate.
    3. According to the Supreme Court's ruling of September 2026, it may take disciplinary action against law students for misconduct.
    Which of the statements given above are correct?

    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 2 and 3 only
    3. 1 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only. Statement 1 is correct: Section 4(1) of the Advocates Act makes the Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General ex officio members, along with one member elected by each State Bar Council. Statement 2 is correct: Section 7(1)(i) gives the BCI this function. Statement 3 is incorrect: the Court held on 3 September 2026 that the Act gives Bar Councils no power to discipline law students; that power lies with their institutions.

  2. Consider the following statements about the Advocates Act, 1961:
    1. The Bar Council of India is a constitutional body created under Article 124.
    2. An applicant for enrolment as an advocate must have completed 21 years of age.
    3. Only advocates are entitled to practise the profession of law.
    How many of the statements given above are correct?

    1. Only one
    2. Only two
    3. All three
    4. None
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) Only two. Statement 1 is incorrect: the BCI is a statutory body created by the Advocates Act, 1961; Article 124 concerns the establishment of the Supreme Court. Statement 2 is correct under Section 24. Statement 3 is correct under Section 29. So two statements are correct.

  3. With reference to the Supreme Court's ruling of 3 September 2026 on the Bar Council of India, consider the following statements:
    1. The Court held that the Advocates Act confers an implied power on the BCI to discipline law students.
    2. The Court held that disciplinary power over law students lies with their university or educational institution.
    3. The Court said a Bar Council's disciplinary power arises only after a law graduate is registered as an advocate.
    4. The Court declared the BCI's communications of 13 August 2026 to be without any authority of law.
    How many of the statements given above are correct?

    1. Only one
    2. Only two
    3. Only three
    4. All four
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) Only three. Statement 1 is incorrect: the Court said the Act confers no express or implied power on Bar Councils to discipline students. Statements 2, 3 and 4 are correct: the Court said disciplinary power over students lies with their parent institution, that such power over a person is preceded by registration as an advocate, and declared the 13 August communications without any authority of law. So three statements are correct.

  4. Consider the following statements:
    Statement-I: A State Bar Council cannot proceed under Section 35 of the Advocates Act against a final-year law student.
    Statement-II: Section 35 applies to an advocate on a State roll, and a person becomes an advocate only on enrolment.
    Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

    1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
    2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
    3. Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
    4. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I. Both statements are correct. Section 35 is triggered when a State Bar Council believes that an advocate on its roll is guilty of misconduct. A student is not on any roll, which is exactly why the Bar Council cannot act against the student. Statement-II explains Statement-I.

  5. Under Section 35(3) of the Advocates Act, 1961, which of the following may the disciplinary committee of a State Bar Council order against an advocate found guilty of misconduct?
    1. Reprimand
    2. Suspension from practice
    3. Removal of the name from the State roll
    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    1. 1 only
    2. 1 and 2 only
    3. 2 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    Show answer

    Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3. Section 35(3) allows the committee to dismiss the complaint, reprimand the advocate, suspend the advocate from practice for such period as it thinks fit, or remove the advocate's name from the State roll. All three listed options are available.

  6. The petitioners in the NALSAR case framed it as a question of freedom of speech and expression in a university. This freedom is guaranteed by which provision of the Constitution?

    1. Article 19(1)(a)
    2. Article 19(1)(b)
    3. Article 19(1)(c)
    4. Article 19(1)(d)
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) Article 19(1)(a). Article 19(1)(a) guarantees freedom of speech and expression. Article 19(1)(b) is assembling peaceably and without arms, 19(1)(c) is forming associations or unions, and 19(1)(d) is moving freely throughout the territory of India.

India and Belgium sign a defence letter of intent and aim to double trade in five years

  1. With reference to the visit of the Prime Minister of Belgium to India in September 2026, consider the following statements:
    1. The Defence Ministries of the two countries signed a Letter of Intent.
    2. India decided to appoint a resident Defence Attaché in its Embassy in Brussels.
    3. India and Belgium signed a bilateral Free Trade Agreement.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 1 and 2 only
    3. 2 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only. Statements 1 and 2 are correct as per the joint statement. Statement 3 is incorrect: Belgium is an EU member and trade agreements are negotiated by the EU; the joint statement refers to the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, whose negotiations concluded on 27 January 2026, not to a bilateral India-Belgium FTA.

  2. Consider the following statements:
    1. NATO's headquarters is located in Brussels.
    2. Negotiations for the India-EU Free Trade Agreement were concluded at the India-EU Summit on 27 January 2026.
    3. The first India-Belgium Strategic Dialogue was held in New Delhi in July 2026.
    How many of the statements given above are correct?

    1. Only one
    2. Only two
    3. All three
    4. None
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) Only two. Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is correct as per the India-Belgium joint statement. Statement 3 is incorrect: the inaugural India-Belgium Strategic Dialogue was held in Brussels on 15 July 2026. So two statements are correct.

  3. Which of the following were outcomes of the Belgian Prime Minister's visit to India in September 2026?
    1. A Letter of Intent between the two Ministries of Defence
    2. An MoU between the CBI and the Federal Police of Belgium on transnational organised crime and cybercrime
    3. A renewed MoU on renewable energy cooperation
    4. An agreement for Belgium to build a nuclear power reactor in India
    How many of the statements given above are correct?

    1. Only one
    2. Only two
    3. Only three
    4. All four
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) Only three. Items 1, 2 and 3 are in the joint statement. Item 4 is incorrect: the statement only names nuclear energy among sectors for cooperation; no reactor agreement was signed. So three are correct.

  4. Consider the following statements:
    Statement-I: imec, with which India wants its semiconductor ecosystem to engage, is based in Belgium.
    Statement-II: Belgium is a member of the European Union.
    Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

    1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
    2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
    3. Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
    4. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II does not explain Statement-I. Both statements are correct. imec is a Belgian research centre named in the joint statement, and Belgium is an EU member. But EU membership does not explain where imec is located, so Statement-II does not explain Statement-I.

  5. 'Flanders Fields', recalled in the India-Belgium joint statement of September 2026, is associated with

    1. Indian soldiers who fought and died in Belgium in the First World War
    2. The signing of the North Atlantic Treaty
    3. The largest diamond-cutting centre in Belgium
    4. The headquarters of the European Commission
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) Indian soldiers who fought and died in Belgium in the First World War. Flanders Fields is the First World War battlefield region in Belgium. The joint statement recalled the supreme sacrifice of more than 9,000 Indian soldiers there. The North Atlantic Treaty was signed in Washington in 1949, and the European Commission sits in Brussels.

  6. Which of the following statements about Belgium is/are correct?
    1. Belgium is a founding member of NATO.
    2. Belgium uses the euro as its currency.
    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Neither 1 nor 2
    4. Both 1 and 2
    Show answer

    Answer: (d) Both 1 and 2. Belgium was one of the 12 founding members of NATO in 1949 and is a member of the euro area. Both statements are correct.

Centre asks Himalayan States to step up monitoring of glacial lakes and avalanche zones

  1. With reference to the National Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Risk Mitigation Project, consider the following statements:
    1. It was approved with an outlay of ₹150 crore.
    2. It covers Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Uttarakhand.
    3. It is implemented by the Central Water Commission.
    Which of the statements given above are correct?

    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 2 and 3 only
    3. 1 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only. Statements 1 and 2 are correct: the project was approved in August 2024 with ₹150 crore for these four States. Statement 3 is incorrect: the project is implemented through the National Disaster Management Authority; the CWC is one of the participating technical agencies.

  2. Consider the following statements:
    1. A GLOF is the sudden release of water held back by a glacier or a moraine.
    2. The National Disaster Management Authority issued guidelines on managing GLOFs in October 2020.
    3. South Lhonak lake, whose outburst in October 2023 breached the Chungthang dam, is in Uttarakhand.
    How many of the statements given above are correct?

    1. Only one
    2. Only two
    3. All three
    4. None
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) Only two. Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is incorrect: South Lhonak lake is in north Sikkim, and the flood travelled down the Teesta. So two statements are correct.

  3. With reference to the Disaster Management Act, 2005, consider the following statements:
    1. The National Disaster Management Authority is chaired by the Prime Minister.
    2. The National Executive Committee is chaired by the Union Home Secretary.
    3. The National Disaster Mitigation Fund is provided for under the Act.
    4. The State Disaster Management Authority is chaired by the Governor of the State.
    How many of the statements given above are correct?

    1. Only one
    2. Only two
    3. Only three
    4. All four
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) Only three. Statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct (the Mitigation Fund is under Section 47). Statement 4 is incorrect: the SDMA is chaired by the Chief Minister. So three statements are correct.

  4. Consider the following statements:
    Statement-I: Moraine-dammed glacial lakes can fail suddenly and release large volumes of water.
    Statement-II: Moraines are loose natural accumulations of ice, sand, pebbles and debris, not engineered structures.
    Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

    1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
    2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
    3. Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
    4. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I. Both statements are correct, and Statement-II explains Statement-I: because a moraine is loose debris rather than a designed dam, it can be breached quickly by a surge, erosion or melting ice.

  5. The National GLOF Risk Mitigation Project approved in August 2024 targets approximately how many high-risk glacial lakes?

    1. 67
    2. 189
    3. 902
    4. 7,500
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) 189. The project targets 189 high-risk lakes. About 7,500 is the approximate total number of glacial lakes in the Indian Himalaya, and 902 is the number of glacial lakes and water bodies the CWC monitors.

  6. Which of the following are components of the National GLOF Risk Mitigation Project?
    1. Automatic weather and water-level monitoring stations
    2. Early warning systems
    3. Measures to lower the water level of dangerous lakes
    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    1. 1 only
    2. 1 and 2 only
    3. 2 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    Show answer

    Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3. All three are part of the project, along with detailed hazard assessment and community involvement in monitoring and alert dissemination.

Ladakh notifies autonomous hill development councils for all seven districts

  1. With reference to Ladakh, consider the following statements:
    1. It became a Union Territory on 31 October 2019.
    2. Like Puducherry, it has a Legislative Assembly.
    3. Autonomous hill development councils have been notified for all its seven districts.
    Which of the statements given above are correct?

    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 1 and 3 only
    3. 2 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only. Statement 1 is correct under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. Statement 2 is incorrect: Ladakh is a Union Territory without a legislature. Statement 3 is correct: the Lieutenant Governor approved the notification on 3 September 2026.

  2. Consider the following statements about Ladakh's districts:
    1. Nubra, Sham and Changthang were carved out of Leh district.
    2. Zanskar and Drass were carved out of Kargil district.
    3. Padum is the headquarters of Changthang district.
    How many of the statements given above are correct?

    1. Only one
    2. Only two
    3. All three
    4. None
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) Only two. Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is incorrect: Padum is the headquarters of Zanskar; Changthang's headquarters is Nyoma. So two statements are correct.

  3. Consider the following statements about the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution:
    1. It applies to tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
    2. An autonomous district council can have up to 30 members.
    3. The Governor may nominate up to four members of an autonomous district council.
    4. It currently applies to the Union Territory of Ladakh.
    How many of the statements given above are correct?

    1. Only one
    2. Only two
    3. Only three
    4. All four
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) Only three. Statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct. Statement 4 is incorrect: Ladakh is not under the Sixth Schedule; its hill councils are statutory bodies under the LAHDC Act, 1997, and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule is a demand of local groups. So three statements are correct.

  4. Consider the following statements:
    Statement-I: Ladakh's autonomous hill development councils do not enjoy the constitutional protection that Sixth Schedule councils have.
    Statement-II: Ladakh's hill councils are created by an ordinary law, the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Act, 1997.
    Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

    1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
    2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
    3. Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
    4. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I. Both statements are correct, and Statement-II explains Statement-I: a body created by ordinary law can be changed by ordinary law, whereas Sixth Schedule councils are protected by the Constitution.

  5. Under Article 239 of the Constitution, a Union Territory is administered by

    1. The Governor of the nearest State
    2. The Union Home Minister
    3. The President, acting through an administrator appointed by him
    4. The Chief Justice of the High Court having jurisdiction
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) The President, acting through an administrator appointed by him. Article 239 provides that every Union Territory shall be administered by the President acting, to such extent as he thinks fit, through an administrator appointed by him. In Ladakh the administrator is the Lieutenant Governor.

  6. The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh, as last constituted, consists of

    1. 26 members, all elected
    2. 30 members, all elected
    3. 26 members, of whom 4 are nominated
    4. 30 members, of whom 26 are elected and 4 are nominated
    Show answer

    Answer: (d) 30 members, of whom 26 are elected and 4 are nominated. The Leh council has 30 councillors: 26 elected and 4 nominated. The elected councillors choose a Chief Executive Councillor.

Newborn deaths in hospital fires and the case for 'hospital plus home' care

  1. Consider the following statements:
    1. Janani Suraksha Yojana was launched under the National Rural Health Mission.
    2. Under Janani Suraksha Yojana, a mother in a rural area of a low performing State gets a larger cash incentive than one in a rural area of a high performing State.
    3. Janani Suraksha Yojana gives cash incentives to promote deliveries at home.
    Which of the statements given above are correct?

    1. 1 and 2 only
    2. 2 and 3 only
    3. 1 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only. Statement 1 is correct: JSY was launched in 2005 under the NRHM. Statement 2 is correct: a rural mother gets ₹1,400 in low performing States and ₹700 in high performing States. Statement 3 is incorrect: JSY promotes institutional (facility) deliveries, not home deliveries.

  2. Consider the following statements about Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY):
    1. It was launched in 2005 along with the National Rural Health Mission.
    2. The cash incentive for a rural mother is higher in low performing States than in high performing States.
    3. It is a conditional cash transfer to promote deliveries at home.
    How many of the statements given above are correct?

    1. Only one
    2. Only two
    3. All three
    4. None
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) Only two. Statements 1 and 2 are correct (₹1,400 versus ₹700 for a rural mother). Statement 3 is incorrect: JSY promotes deliveries in health facilities. So two statements are correct.

  3. According to the opinion article of 4 September 2026 on newborn care, consider the following statements:
    1. Admissions of sick newborns to public SNCUs rose from 11.3 lakh in 2021-22 to 14.45 lakh in 2023-24.
    2. Institutional deliveries rose from 39% in 2005-06 to around 90% in 2023-24.
    3. Three newborns died in the Amravati hospital fire of 24 August 2026.
    4. All newborn care should shift from hospitals to homes.
    How many of the statements given above are correct?

    1. Only one
    2. Only two
    3. Only three
    4. All four
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) Only three. Statements 1, 2 and 3 reflect the article. Statement 4 is incorrect: the article argues for hospital plus home, keeping hospital care for very sick babies such as those with severe prematurity or severe sepsis. So three statements are correct.

  4. Consider the following statements:
    Statement-I: The neonatal mortality rate measures deaths of babies in the first 28 days of life per 1,000 live births.
    Statement-II: The neonatal mortality rate counts deaths of children up to five years of age.
    Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

    1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
    2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
    3. Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
    4. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect. Statement-I is the correct definition. Statement-II is incorrect: deaths of children up to five years are measured by the under-five mortality rate; the neonatal rate covers only the first 28 days.

  5. The Gadchiroli field trial of home-based newborn care, cited in the article, was conducted by which organisation?

    1. PRADAN
    2. SEARCH
    3. SEWA
    4. Barefoot College
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) SEARCH. SEARCH (Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health), founded in Gadchiroli in 1985 by Abhay and Rani Bang, ran the trial published in The Lancet in 1999.

  6. The ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) programme was launched as part of

    1. The National Rural Health Mission, in 2005
    2. The Integrated Child Development Services, in 1975
    3. Ayushman Bharat, in 2018
    4. The National Urban Health Mission, in 2013
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) The National Rural Health Mission, in 2005. The ASHA programme began in 2005 under the National Rural Health Mission. ICDS runs anganwadis, not ASHAs; Ayushman Bharat and the urban mission came later.