UPSC current affairs quiz, 11 September 2026

With reference to Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs) in India, which one of the following statements is correct?

1. They are registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and can name up to 20 star campaigners.
2. They are registered under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 and each gets a reserved symbol.
3. The Representation of the People Act, 1951 empowers the Election Commission to de-register any RUPP that does not contest for six years.
4. They are not required to report any donations to the Election Commission.

Consider the following statements:
1. The Representation of the People Act, 1951 expressly empowers the Election Commission to de-register a party that has not contested elections for ten consecutive years.
2. A registered unrecognised political party may name up to 20 star campaigners.
3. Registered parties must report to the Election Commission contributions above ₹20,000 received from a donor in a financial year.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Consider the following statements:
1. A party that wins at least 6% of valid votes in a State Assembly election and two seats there qualifies for recognition as a State party.
2. A party recognised as a State party in four States qualifies as a national party.
3. The criteria for recognition are laid down in the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.
4. Section 29A was inserted into the Representation of the People Act by the 52nd Constitutional Amendment.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: The Election Commission of India cannot de-register a registered political party merely because the party has become inactive.
Statement-II: In Indian National Congress v. Institute of Social Welfare (2002), the Supreme Court held that the Representation of the People Act gives the Election Commission no general power to de-register a party.
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. An Association for Democratic Reforms report of July 2025 found 2022-23 annual reports publicly available for only 26% of registered unrecognised parties.
2. A political party may accept a cash donation of ₹10,000 from a single donor.
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

Which report of the Law Commission of India recommended that a political party failing to contest elections for ten consecutive years be de-registered?

1. 244th Report
2. 255th Report
3. 262nd Report
4. 267th Report

The Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE), recently in the news for district-level estimates, covers which of the following?

1. Unincorporated non-agricultural establishments in manufacturing, trade and other services, including proprietorships, partnerships other than LLPs, cooperatives and trusts
2. Only companies registered under the Companies Act, 2013
3. Farm and non-farm household enterprises, including crop cultivation
4. Only enterprises registered on the Udyam portal

Consider the following statements about the ASUSE 2025 district-level estimates:
1. They cover 757 districts.
2. The all-India GVA per worker in the sector is above ₹2 lakh.
3. Lakshadweep, Chandigarh and Delhi were treated differently from other areas in the district-level estimates.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Consider the following statements:
1. Gross Value Added is the value of output minus the value of intermediate consumption.
2. GDP equals GVA at basic prices plus product taxes minus product subsidies.
3. The National Statistics Office was formed by merging the Central Statistics Office and the National Sample Survey Office.
4. Limited liability partnerships are included in ASUSE's coverage of partnerships.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: The ASUSE 2025 district estimates show Nirmal district of Telangana with the highest share of women among workers in the unincorporated non-agricultural sector.
Statement-II: Women account for more than half of the workers in this sector at the all-India level.
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 top 10 districts account for roughly one-tenth of the sector's establishments, workers and GVA.
2. Rudraprayag in Uttarakhand has the highest share of women workers in the sector.
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

According to the ASUSE 2025 district estimates, the all-India share of women among workers in the unincorporated non-agricultural sector is closest to:

1. 6.7%
2. 29%
3. 50%
4. 78%

With reference to the Farakka Barrage, which one of the following is correct?

1. It is in Murshidabad district of West Bengal and was built mainly to divert Ganga water into the Hooghly to keep Kolkata port navigable.
2. It is in Bhagalpur district of Bihar and was built mainly to control floods of the Kosi.
3. It is in Malda district of West Bengal and was built mainly for hydroelectric power.
4. It is on the Brahmaputra and regulates water sharing with Bangladesh.

Consider the following statements:
1. The Farakka Barrage is located in Murshidabad district of West Bengal.
2. The India-Bangladesh Ganga water treaty was signed in 1996 for a period of 30 years.
3. The Ganga water treaty was signed by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Consider the following statements:
1. The Kosi, Gandak and Bagmati flow into Bihar from Nepal.
2. The Punpun joins the Ganga from the south.
3. Heavy rain around Allahabad and Varanasi contributed to the Ganga's rise in 2026.
4. In the 2026 Bihar floods, the Nepal-fed rivers rose before the Ganga.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: A river can flood areas along its tributaries even when local rainfall is below normal.
Statement-II: A high water level in a main river slows or blocks the outflow of its tributaries, causing water to back up.
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 Farakka Barrage was built mainly to generate hydroelectric power.
2. A feeder canal from the Farakka Barrage carries Ganga water towards the Hooghly.
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

Under the 1996 India-Bangladesh Ganga water treaty, when the flow at Farakka is 70,000 cusecs or less, the water is shared:

1. Equally between the two countries
2. 40,000 cusecs to India and the balance to Bangladesh
3. 35,000 cusecs to Bangladesh and the balance to India
4. 60% to India and 40% to Bangladesh

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), entered into force in:

1. 1994
2. 2001
3. 2018
4. 2020

Consider the following statements:
1. The Canada-U.S. Auto Pact was signed in 1965.
2. NAFTA came into force on 1 January 1994.
3. The Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement came into force after NAFTA.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Consider the following statements:
1. The most-favoured-nation principle is set out in Article I of GATT.
2. Free trade areas are permitted under Article XXIV of GATT as an exception to MFN.
3. Members of a free trade area must adopt a common external tariff.
4. The USMCA has a 16-year term with a joint review every six years.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: Because the U.S. announced in July 2026 that it would not renew the USMCA, the agreement ended immediately.
Statement-II: Under its review clause, the USMCA continues for its 16-year term, with annual reviews if the parties do not confirm an extension.
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. In a free trade area, member countries keep a common tariff on imports from non-members.
2. The Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement was signed in January 1988 and came into force in January 1989.
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

According to The Hindu's editorial 'Rude lessons', India accepted a tariff arrangement with the U.S. in February 2026 at what rate?

1. 10%
2. 15%
3. 18%
4. 25%

BepiColombo, which is expected to enter orbit around Mercury in November 2026, is a joint mission of:

1. NASA and ESA
2. ESA and JAXA
3. ISRO and JAXA
4. NASA and JAXA

Consider the following statements about Mercury:
1. It is the smallest planet in the Solar System.
2. It takes about 88 Earth days to orbit the Sun.
3. Its core occupies a smaller share of its volume than Earth's core does of Earth's volume.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Consider the following statements:
1. Mariner 10 was the first spacecraft to visit Mercury.
2. MESSENGER entered orbit around Mercury in 2011.
3. MESSENGER ended its mission by crashing onto Mercury in 2015.
4. BepiColombo entered orbit around Mercury in 2025.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: Mercury's surface is marked by long cliff-like ridges called lobate scarps.
Statement-II: As Mercury's interior cools and contracts, its crust is compressed and breaks along thrust faults.
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 BepiColombo:
1. Its Mercury Planetary Orbiter was built by ESA and its Mio orbiter by JAXA.
2. Its arrival at Mercury was brought forward after a thruster upgrade in 2024.
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

The new estimate that Mercury has shrunk by up to 23 km in diameter was based mainly on data from which spacecraft?

1. Mariner 10
2. MESSENGER
3. BepiColombo
4. Parker Solar Probe

With reference to the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP), consider the following statements:
1. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with a 60:40 Centre-State funding pattern.
2. Its nodal department is the Department of Land Resources.
3. Under it, each land parcel gets a 14-digit Unique Land Parcel Identification Number.
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

Consider the following statements about DILRMP 3.0:
1. It covers the period 2026 to 2031.
2. Funds will be released to States linked to performance.
3. It is implemented by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
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 success of DILRMP depends heavily on State governments.
Statement-II: 'Land' is an entry in the State List of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.
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. Under NAKSHA, urban land is surveyed using drones and satellite-based positioning.
2. The Survey of India is the technical partner of NAKSHA.
3. NAKSHA is implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs alone.
4. The NAKSHA pilot covers urban local bodies in both States and Union Territories.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

The Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) consists of how many characters?

1. 10
2. 12
3. 14
4. 16

With reference to Central Sector Schemes, consider the following statements:
1. They are fully funded by the Union Government.
2. DILRMP is an example of a Central Sector Scheme.
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

Consider the following countries:
1. Yemen
2. Djibouti
3. Eritrea
4. Somalia
Which of the above countries border the Bab el-Mandeb Strait?

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

Consider the following statements about the Bab el-Mandeb Strait:
1. It connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
2. It is about 26 km wide at its narrowest point.
3. Oman lies on its eastern shore.
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: Houthi control of Yemen's Red Sea coast near Mokha raises concern for global shipping.
Statement-II: Mokha is the first port north of the Bab el-Mandeb, a chokepoint that ships bound for the Suez Canal must pass.
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 events:
1. Houthis seize Sana'a.
2. Saudi-led coalition intervenes in Yemen.
3. UN-brokered nationwide truce begins.
4. Operation Prosperity Guardian is launched.
How many of these events took place before 2020?

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

With reference to the Houthi movement, consider the following statements:
1. It is a Zaidi Shia political and armed movement from Yemen.
2. It is formally called Ansar Allah.
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

The city of Mokha, often in the news, is historically known for which of the following?

1. Pearl diving
2. Frankincense cultivation
3. The coffee trade
4. Salt pans

With reference to the World Bank's World Development Report 2024, consider the following statements:
1. Its theme was the middle-income trap.
2. It proposed a '3i' strategy of investment, infusion and innovation.
3. It found that more than 100 middle-income economies have become high-income since 1990.
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

Consider the following statements about the World Development Report 2024:
1. It was published by the International Monetary Fund.
2. It defined middle-income countries as those with GDP per capita between about $1,136 and $13,845.
3. It estimated that India would take 75 years to reach a quarter of U.S. per capita income.
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: Middle-income countries can find it hard to keep growing once wages rise.
Statement-II: Rising wages erode their cost advantage over poorer countries before they can compete with richer countries on technology.
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

Arrange the phases of the World Bank's '3i' strategy in the order in which a growing economy should adopt them:
1. Investment, infusion and innovation
2. Investment only
3. Investment and infusion
Select the correct order:

1. 1-2-3
2. 2-3-1
3. 3-2-1
4. 2-1-3

Consider the following statements about India's economy:
1. Manufacturing's share of GVA has stayed at about 14% to 17% for over two decades.
2. Agriculture employs more than 45% of workers.
3. More than 20% of the workforce has formal vocational training.
4. GERD is about 0.64% of GDP.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Which of the following economies is usually cited as having escaped the middle-income trap?

1. Argentina
2. South Korea
3. Brazil
4. Malaysia

Consider the following pairs:
Exercise : Participants
1. Yudh Abhyas : Armies of India and the United States
2. Cope India : Air forces of India and the United States
3. Vajra Prahar : Navies of India and the United States
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 Yudh Abhyas:
1. It is a trilateral exercise of India, the U.S. and Japan.
2. It began in 2004.
3. The 2024 edition was held in Rajasthan.
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: Small drones that fly low and slow are difficult to counter with conventional air defences.
Statement-II: Such drones have a small radar signature and fly below and slower than the targets many air-defence radars are built to track.
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 India-U.S. agreements:
1. GSOMIA
2. LEMOA
3. COMCASA
4. BECA
How many of the above were signed after 2015?

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

With reference to the India-U.S. foundational agreements, consider the following statements:
1. BECA permits the exchange of geospatial information.
2. LEMOA relates to reciprocal logistics support.
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

In military usage, 'multi-domain operations' refers to:

1. Operations conducted only in mountainous terrain
2. Operations that integrate land, air, sea, space and cyber capabilities
3. Peacekeeping missions under the United Nations
4. Exercises involving more than two countries