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UPSC current affairs quiz, 21 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 21 September 2026 first20 September 2026 quiz22 September 2026 quizTimed test in the app

India's NGOs at a new funding crossroads

  1. Under the FCRA amendment of 2020, foreign contributions must first be received in an account at:

    1. Any scheduled commercial bank
    2. RBI, Mumbai
    3. SBI, New Delhi Main Branch
    4. Any public sector bank in the NGO's State
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) SBI, New Delhi Main Branch. The 2020 amendment mandated a designated FCRA account at the State Bank of India's New Delhi Main Branch.

  2. Under the FCRA amendment of 2020, foreign contributions must first be received in an account at:

    1. Any public sector bank
    2. Any scheduled commercial bank
    3. SBI, New Delhi Main Branch
    4. RBI, Mumbai
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) SBI, New Delhi Main Branch. The 2020 amendment mandated SBI's New Delhi Main Branch.

  3. Consider the following about the FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026:
    1. It has been passed by both Houses.
    2. It creates a designated authority to take over assets built with foreign funds.
    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: (b) 2 only. The Bill is before a Joint Parliamentary Committee.

  4. The right to property is currently protected under:

    1. Article 21
    2. Article 19(1)(f)
    3. Article 31
    4. Article 300A
    Show answer

    Answer: (d) Article 300A. Since the 44th Amendment, it is a constitutional right under Article 300A.

  5. The administrative expense cap for FCRA funds after 2020 is:

    1. 35%
    2. 10%
    3. 20%
    4. 50%
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) 20%. It was cut from 50% to 20%.

  6. FCRA was originally enacted in:

    1. 1976
    2. 1966
    3. 1991
    4. 2010
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) 1976. 1976, replaced by the FCRA, 2010.

The missing measure in India's rare-earth magnet mission

  1. In India, rare earth elements are found mainly in:

    1. Coal seams of Jharkhand
    2. Beach sand monazite deposits
    3. Himalayan glaciers
    4. Deccan basalt
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) Beach sand monazite deposits. Monazite in coastal beach sands of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh is India's main rare earth source.

  2. In India, rare earth elements are found mainly in:

    1. Himalayan glaciers
    2. Beach sand monazite
    3. Deccan basalt
    4. Coal seams of Jharkhand
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) Beach sand monazite. Coastal monazite sands are India's main source.

  3. Consider the following statements:
    1. India has full capacity from mining to finished magnets.
    2. China imposed export controls on rare-earth magnets in April 2025.
    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: (b) 2 only. India lacks the metal, alloy and magnet stages.

  4. The ₹7,280 crore scheme approved in 2025 targets how much magnet capacity a year?

    1. 60,000 tonnes
    2. 6,000 tonnes
    3. 600 tonnes
    4. 1,200 tonnes
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) 6,000 tonnes. 6,000 tonnes a year of sintered magnets.

  5. NdFeB magnets are made mainly of:

    1. Nickel, iron and boron
    2. Niobium, iron and beryllium
    3. Neodymium, iron and boron
    4. Nickel, iron and bismuth
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) Neodymium, iron and boron. Neodymium, iron and boron.

  6. Rare earth elements comprise the 15 lanthanides plus:

    1. Lithium and cobalt
    2. Titanium and zirconium
    3. Scandium and yttrium
    4. Thorium and uranium
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) Scandium and yttrium. The 17 rare earths are the lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium.

What does Tulu's new official language status mean?

  1. Which of the following languages was NOT added to the Eighth Schedule by the 92nd Amendment, 2003?

    1. Bodo
    2. Dogri
    3. Konkani
    4. Santali
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) Konkani. The 92nd Amendment added Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santali. Konkani was added earlier, in 1992.

  2. Which of the following languages was NOT added to the Eighth Schedule by the 92nd Amendment, 2003?

    1. Konkani
    2. Bodo
    3. Dogri
    4. Santali
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) Konkani. Konkani was added in 1992 by the 71st Amendment.

  3. A State's power to adopt a language for official purposes comes from:

    1. Article 348
    2. Article 345
    3. Article 343
    4. Article 351
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) Article 345. Article 345.

  4. Consider the following about Tulu's new status:
    1. It applies across all of Karnataka.
    2. Citizens can submit applications in Tulu in the covered districts.
    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: (b) 2 only. It applies only in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi.

  5. How many languages are in the Eighth Schedule?

    1. 22
    2. 20
    3. 24
    4. 18
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) 22. 22 languages.

  6. Tulu is mainly spoken in:

    1. The Nilgiris
    2. Coastal Karnataka and Kasaragod
    3. North Karnataka
    4. Goa
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) Coastal Karnataka and Kasaragod. Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and parts of Kasaragod.

How the EU plans to keep children under 15 off social media

  1. Under India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, a 'child' means a person below the age of:

    1. 13
    2. 15
    3. 16
    4. 18
    Show answer

    Answer: (d) 18. The DPDP Act defines a child as anyone under 18, whose data needs verifiable parental consent.

  2. Under India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, a 'child' means a person below:

    1. 15
    2. 18
    3. 16
    4. 13
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) 18. The DPDP Act defines a child as anyone under 18.

  3. Australia's social media ban applies to children under:

    1. 14
    2. 16
    3. 13
    4. 15
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) 16. Under-16s, from December 2025.

  4. Consider the following about the EU's plan:
    1. It would bar children under 15 from opening their own accounts.
    2. It would cover AI chatbots and online games as well.
    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. The EU Kids Act covers social media, video platforms, AI chatbots and online games.

  5. A major privacy concern with age verification is that it:

    1. May require identity documents from all users
    2. Only works on phones
    3. Bans adults
    4. Slows internet speeds
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) May require identity documents from all users. Verifying age can mean collecting ID from everyone.

  6. Who announced the EU's plan in the State of the Union speech?

    1. The European Commission President
    2. The EU foreign policy chief
    3. The European Parliament President
    4. The European Council President
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) The European Commission President. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.

The persistent decline in India's groundwater

  1. The Atal Bhujal Yojana focuses on:

    1. River interlinking
    2. Community-led groundwater management
    3. Rainwater harvesting in cities only
    4. Desalination plants
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) Community-led groundwater management. Atal Bhujal Yojana (2019) supports community participation and demand-side management of groundwater in water-stressed areas.

  2. The Atal Bhujal Yojana focuses on:

    1. Desalination
    2. Community-led groundwater management
    3. Urban rainwater harvesting only
    4. River interlinking
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) Community-led groundwater management. It supports community participation in seven water-stressed States.

  3. An assessment unit is classed as 'critical' when the stage of extraction is:

    1. Above 100%
    2. Between 90% and 100%
    3. Up to 70%
    4. Between 70% and 90%
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) Between 90% and 100%. Safe up to 70%, semi-critical to 90%, critical to 100%, over-exploited above.

  4. Consider the following statements:
    1. India's national stage of extraction fell between 2017 and 2025.
    2. Punjab had the highest stage of extraction in 2025.
    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. It fell from 63.33% to 60.63%, and Punjab was highest at 156.36%.

  5. India's share of global groundwater extraction is roughly:

    1. 25%
    2. 50%
    3. 5%
    4. 10%
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) 25%. About a quarter, the world's largest.

  6. Which body regulates groundwater extraction under the Environment (Protection) Act?

    1. NITI Aayog
    2. CGWB
    3. CPCB
    4. Central Ground Water Authority
    Show answer

    Answer: (d) Central Ground Water Authority. The Central Ground Water Authority.