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UPSC current affairs quiz, 6 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 6 September 2026 first5 September 2026 quiz7 September 2026 quizTimed test in the app

ISRO staff bodies question the plan to hand rocket making to industry

  1. With reference to the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), consider the following statements:
    1. It is a single-window autonomous agency under the Department of Space.
    2. It is headquartered in Bengaluru.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

    Answer: (a) 1 only. Statement 1 is correct: IN-SPACe, set up in 2020, is a single-window autonomous agency under the Department of Space that promotes, authorises and supervises non-governmental space activities. Statement 2 is wrong: IN-SPACe is headquartered in Ahmedabad; ISRO's headquarters is in Bengaluru.

  2. Consider the following statements:
    1. IN-SPACe functions under the Department of Space.
    2. NSIL is the body that authorises private companies to carry out space activities.
    3. The September 2026 letter of the ISRO staff associations was addressed to the Chairman of ISRO.
    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 wrong: authorisation is IN-SPACe's job; NSIL commercialises mature ISRO capabilities. Statement 3 is correct: the letter went to Chairman V. Narayanan. So two are correct.

  3. Consider the following statements about India's space goals as stated in September 2026:
    1. The target is 50 launches a year by 2030.
    2. The Bharatiya Antariksh Station is planned by 2035.
    3. An Indian crewed Moon mission is targeted by 2040.
    4. India has fewer than 100 space start-ups.
    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 as stated by IN-SPACe and ISRO. Statement 4 is wrong: India now has over 450 space start-ups. So three are correct.

  4. Consider the following statements:
    Statement-I: IN-SPACe authorises space activities of non-governmental entities in India.
    Statement-II: IN-SPACe is headquartered in Ahmedabad.
    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, but the location of IN-SPACe's headquarters has nothing to do with its authorising role, so Statement-II does not explain Statement-I.

  5. Kulasekarapattinam, mentioned in the ISRO staff associations' letter, is best described as:

    1. a new space launch complex in Tamil Nadu
    2. ISRO's cryogenic engine test facility in Kerala
    3. the headquarters of NewSpace India Limited
    4. a deep space tracking station in Karnataka
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) a new space launch complex in Tamil Nadu. Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu is the site of a new space launch complex meant mainly for small satellite launches. The letter asked why it is being opened to private operators.

  6. Consider the following statements:
    1. NewSpace India Limited commercialises mature ISRO capabilities.
    2. IN-SPACe was set up in 2020.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

    Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2. Statement 1 is correct: NSIL is the commercial arm for mature ISRO products and services. Statement 2 is correct: IN-SPACe was approved on 24 June 2020.

Census count advanced in four poll-bound States, formally deferred in Manipur

  1. In the context of a Census, the term 'reference date' means:

    1. the date on which the Census notification is published in the Gazette
    2. the point in time as on which every person is counted, so that the count is a snapshot of one moment
    3. the last date for self-enumeration on the online portal
    4. the date on which provisional population totals are released
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) the point in time as on which every person is counted, so that the count is a snapshot of one moment. The reference date fixes the moment as on which the population is counted: births after it and deaths before it are not counted. For Census 2027 it is 00:00 hours on 1 March 2027 for most of India, 1 October 2026 for Ladakh and snow-bound areas, and 5 January 2027 for the four poll-bound States.

  2. Consider the following statements about Census 2027:
    1. The reference date in the four poll-bound States is 00:00 hours on 5 January 2027.
    2. Self-enumeration in these States runs from 16 to 30 November 2026.
    3. The snow-bound areas of Uttarakhand follow the 5 January 2027 reference date.
    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 wrong: only the non-snow-bound areas of Uttarakhand are covered by the advanced schedule; snow-bound areas have a reference date of 1 October 2026. So two are correct.

  3. Consider the following statements:
    1. The Census in India is conducted under the Census Act, 1948.
    2. The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India functions under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
    3. Census 2027 is the first Indian Census to offer self-enumeration.
    4. The 2021 Census was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
    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, 3 and 4 are correct. Statement 2 is wrong: the Registrar General functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs. So three are correct.

  4. Consider the following statements:
    Statement-I: House-listing operations for Census 2027 have been deferred in Manipur till further declaration.
    Statement-II: The Census Act, 1948 requires an updated National Register of Citizens before a Census can be conducted in any State.
    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 correct: the 5 September 2026 notification added 'except the State of Manipur till further declaration'. Statement-II is wrong: the Census Act has no such requirement; the demand for an NRC first came from groups in Manipur.

  5. Which one of the following has the earliest reference date in Census 2027?

    1. Goa
    2. Kerala
    3. Punjab
    4. Ladakh
    Show answer

    Answer: (d) Ladakh. Ladakh, along with the snow-bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, has a reference date of 1 October 2026. Goa and Punjab have 5 January 2027, and Kerala has 1 March 2027.

  6. Consider the following statements:
    1. The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs approved caste enumeration in the Census on 30 April 2025.
    2. The last Census to record the caste of the entire population was held in 1951.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

    Answer: (a) 1 only. Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: the last full caste count was in 1931. Censuses since 1951 have counted only Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes among caste groups.

Why is BRICS exploring its own cross-border payment links?

  1. 'Project mBridge', recently seen in the news, refers to:

    1. an undersea data cable linking BRICS countries
    2. a shared platform on which central banks exchange central bank digital currencies
    3. an infrastructure fund of the New Development Bank
    4. a bilateral link between India's UPI and Singapore's PayNow
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) a shared platform on which central banks exchange central bank digital currencies. mBridge is a multi-CBDC platform built on distributed ledger technology and shared among participating central banks and commercial banks. Its founding members are the central banks of China, Hong Kong, Thailand and the UAE; Saudi Arabia joined in 2024. The BIS handed it over to the partners in October 2024.

  2. Consider the following statements about SWIFT:
    1. It is headquartered in Belgium.
    2. It was founded in 1973.
    3. It settles payments by moving money between the accounts of central banks.
    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: SWIFT is a member-owned cooperative founded in 1973 and headquartered in La Hulpe, Belgium. Statement 3 is wrong: SWIFT is a messaging network; the money itself moves through banks' accounts. So two are correct.

  3. Consider the following statements about Project mBridge:
    1. It is a multi-central bank digital currency platform built on distributed ledger technology.
    2. The Saudi Central Bank joined it in 2024.
    3. The Reserve Bank of India is one of its founding members.
    4. The Bank for International Settlements announced in October 2024 that it was handing the project over to the partners.
    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 4 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: the founding members are the central banks of China, Hong Kong, Thailand and the UAE. So three are correct.

  4. Consider the following statements:
    Statement-I: The Kazan Declaration of 2024 agreed to study the feasibility of an independent cross-border settlement and depository system called BRICS Clear.
    Statement-II: The Kazan Declaration launched a single common currency for BRICS members.
    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 correct. Statement-II is wrong: the declaration welcomed the use of local currencies and backed payment cooperation, but did not create a common currency.

  5. Which one of the following is NOT among the four challenges of cross-border payments identified in the G20 Roadmap launched in 2020?

    1. High cost
    2. Low speed
    3. Limited access
    4. Exchange rate volatility
    Show answer

    Answer: (d) Exchange rate volatility. The roadmap addresses high cost, low speed, limited access and insufficient transparency. Exchange rate volatility is not one of the four.

  6. Consider the following statements:
    1. Project Nexus aims to connect domestic instant payment systems of different countries in a standardised way.
    2. Project Nexus is a BRICS initiative launched under the Kazan Declaration.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

    Answer: (a) 1 only. Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: Nexus began as a Bank for International Settlements Innovation Hub project, and in 2025 the central banks of India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand set up Nexus Global Payments to take it live.

UN General Assembly backs the Equal Earth map to show Africa's true size

  1. Which one of the following properties does the Equal Earth map projection preserve?

    1. The true shape of every continent
    2. The true relative area of regions
    3. True compass direction from any point
    4. True distance between any two points
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) The true relative area of regions. Equal Earth is an equal-area projection: it shows every region in its correct size relative to others. No flat map can preserve area, shape, distance and direction together, so it gives up exact shapes, directions and distances.

  2. Consider the following statements about the UN General Assembly's 'Correct the map' resolution of September 2026:
    1. It was adopted with 164 votes in favour.
    2. It bans the use of the Mercator projection by UN agencies.
    3. It was introduced by Togo on behalf of the African Group.
    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: 164 in favour, 1 against and 6 abstentions. Statement 2 is wrong: the resolution encourages equal-area maps but does not ban Mercator. Statement 3 is correct. So two are correct.

  3. Consider the following statements about map projections:
    1. The Mercator projection is useful for navigation because it preserves compass directions.
    2. The Mercator projection shows areas near the poles larger than they really are.
    3. The Equal Earth projection preserves the relative area of regions.
    4. A flat map can be drawn that keeps area, shape, distance and direction all true at the same time.
    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 wrong: no flat map can preserve all four properties, which is why every projection involves trade-offs. So three are correct.

  4. Consider the following statements:
    Statement-I: On a Mercator map, Greenland appears about as large as Africa.
    Statement-II: The Mercator projection stretches areas more and more with increasing distance from the Equator.
    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: Greenland lies at high latitudes, so Mercator enlarges it greatly, while Africa straddles the Equator and is shown with little enlargement.

  5. The Equal Earth map projection was introduced in:

    1. 1569
    2. 1921
    3. 2018
    4. 2024
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) 2018. Equal Earth was created in 2018 by Bojan Šavrič, Bernhard Jenny and Tom Patterson. 1569 is the year of Mercator's projection.

  6. Consider the following statements:
    1. Resolutions of the UN General Assembly on matters such as this are recommendations and are not legally binding on member states.
    2. Each member state has one vote in the UN General Assembly.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

    Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2. Both are correct. The General Assembly makes recommendations on such matters, and under the UN Charter every member has one vote.