UPSC current affairs quiz, 9 September 2026

Under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, which one of the following is the authority to initiate the process for determining the nature and extent of individual or community forest rights?

1. The State Forest Department
2. The Gram Sabha
3. The District Level Committee
4. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs

Consider the following statements about the Forest Rights Act, 2006:
1. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is its nodal ministry.
2. It recognises community rights over minor forest produce.
3. The gram sabha is the authority to initiate the process of recognising forest rights.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has said the Forest Rights Act, 2006 has no provision for gram sabha consent for Stage-II forest clearance.
Statement-II: The text of the Forest Rights Act does not use the phrase "gram sabha consent for forest clearance"; the consent requirement developed through executive guidelines under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
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

Consider the following statements:
1. Diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes requires approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
2. Stage-I clearance is the final approval after which the State issues the diversion order.
3. The Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2022 dropped the requirement of gram sabha consent before Stage-I approval.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

The Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 applies to areas listed under which Schedule of the Constitution?

1. Sixth Schedule
2. Seventh Schedule
3. Fifth Schedule
4. Eleventh Schedule

With reference to the Committee on Public Undertakings' recommendation on gram sabha consent, consider the following statements:
1. It suggested a 70 to 75% threshold among affected gram sabhas for large hydropower projects of national importance.
2. It cited practice in Brazil, Australia and New Zealand.
3. It recommended abolishing gram sabha consent for all projects.
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

The proceeds of which one of the following are NOT shared with the States as part of the divisible pool of central taxes?

1. Corporation tax
2. Income tax other than on agricultural income
3. Cesses levied for specific purposes under a law made by Parliament
4. Customs duties

Consider the following statements about the Public Accounts Committee (PAC):
1. It has not more than 22 members, 15 of whom are elected by the Lok Sabha.
2. A Minister of State can be a member of the committee.
3. It examines the audit reports of the CAG after they are laid in Parliament.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: The States receive no share of the proceeds of cesses levied by the Union for specific purposes.
Statement-II: Article 270 excludes cesses levied for specific purposes under a law made by Parliament from the taxes distributed between the Union and the States.
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

Consider the following statements:
1. All revenues received by the Government of India form part of the Consolidated Fund of India.
2. Reserve funds created from cess proceeds are generally kept in the Public Account of India.
3. Money can be withdrawn from the Public Account only through an Appropriation Act.
4. The Contingency Fund of India is provided for under Article 267.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

The non-transfer of cess collections to their designated reserve funds can lead to which of the following?
1. Understatement of the fiscal deficit
2. Use of earmarked money for general expenditure
3. An automatic increase in the States' share of central taxes
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

With reference to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. The CAG holds office for six years or until the age of 65, whichever is earlier.
2. The CAG can be removed by the President on the advice of the Union Cabinet.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

Consider the following pairs:
Exercise : Participants
1. Dharma Guardian : Indian Army and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
2. Veer Guardian : Indian Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force
3. JAIMEX : Indian Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

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

Consider the following statements about Exercise Veer Guardian-2026:
1. It is a bilateral exercise between the Indian Air Force and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.
2. It is being held at Air Force Station Jodhpur.
3. The Indian Air Force is taking part with Tejas, Su-30 MKI and Rafale aircraft.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: Japan has historically been cautious about transferring defence equipment to other countries.
Statement-II: Article 9 of Japan's Constitution renounces war as a sovereign right of the nation.
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

Consider the following statements about India-Japan relations:
1. The two countries upgraded their ties to a Special Strategic and Global Partnership in 2014.
2. India and Japan have an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement between their armed forces.
3. India and Japan hold a 2+2 dialogue of foreign and defence ministers.
4. Japan is a member of the Quad along with India, Australia and the United States.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

The UNICORN system, which India and Japan are pursuing with Bharat Electronics Limited, is best described as:

1. A long-range anti-ship cruise missile
2. An integrated mast that houses several antennas in one structure to reduce a warship's radar signature
3. An amphibious search-and-rescue aircraft
4. A submarine air-independent propulsion system

With reference to the outcomes cited from Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi's August 2026 visit to India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. The two sides agreed to explore joint design and building of naval ships.
2. Japan agreed to supply F-2A fighter aircraft to the Indian Air Force.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

The "21-cm signal" that missions such as CosmoCube and PRATUSH aim to detect is produced by:

1. Ionisation of helium in the atmospheres of the first stars
2. The spin-flip transition between two hyperfine energy levels of neutral hydrogen
3. Synchrotron radiation from electrons spiralling in Earth's magnetic field
4. Photons of the Cosmic Microwave Background scattering off dust

Consider the following statements about the proposed CosmoCube mission:
1. It will orbit the Moon for two years.
2. It will observe at high frequencies above 1,000 MHz.
3. It will keep its own radio silent while over the lunar far side.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: The far side of the Moon is considered well suited for low-frequency radio astronomy.
Statement-II: The far side of the Moon always faces away from Earth, so the Moon blocks radio interference from Earth.
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

Consider the following statements:
1. The Cosmic Dark Ages came before the release of the Cosmic Microwave Background.
2. During the Cosmic Dark Ages the universe contained neutral hydrogen but no stars.
3. The Cosmic Dawn refers to the formation of the first stars and galaxies.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

The "Hubble tension" refers to:

1. The gravitational stress that tore apart the Hubble Space Telescope's solar panels
2. A disagreement between the expansion rate of the universe measured from the early universe and that measured from nearby objects
3. The difference between the age of the Earth and the age of the Sun
4. The pull between dark matter and dark energy inside galaxies

With reference to PRATUSH, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It is being developed by the Raman Research Institute, Bengaluru with ISRO.
2. It is designed to observe from the surface of Mars.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

With reference to the Loss and Damage Fund under the UN climate regime, consider the following statements:
1. It was agreed at the UN climate conference held in 2022.
2. Contributions to it by developed countries are legally binding and assessed in proportion to their historical emissions.
3. The Paris Agreement's provisions on loss and damage provide a legal basis for claims of compensation.
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

Consider the following statements about the Loss and Damage Fund:
1. It was agreed at COP27 in 2022.
2. Contributions to it are voluntary.
3. The UAE pledged $100 million to it.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: Nepal's claim for climate compensation from major emitters has no clear legal basis in the Paris Agreement framework.
Statement-II: The decision adopting the Paris Agreement states that its article on loss and damage does not involve or provide a basis for any liability or compensation.
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

Consider the following statements about the glacier collapse of 26 August 2026:
1. It occurred near Langtang Lirung on the Nepal-China border.
2. The flood travelled down the Kosi river into Bihar.
3. It destroyed the Gyirong port crossing.
4. It registered as a seismic event of magnitude Ms 5.2.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Which one of the following best explains why the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Himalaya are called the "Third Pole"?

1. They lie exactly midway between the North and South Poles
2. They hold the largest store of ice outside the polar regions
3. They have the lowest recorded temperatures on Earth
4. They mark the point where Earth's magnetic field is strongest

With reference to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR), which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It is written into the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change of 1992.
2. Under the Paris Agreement, only developed countries submit nationally determined contributions.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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