Pratidin

UPSC current affairs quiz, 24 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 24 September 2026 first23 September 2026 quiz25 September 2026 quizTimed test in the app

India and the EU to sign their trade deal on 16 December

  1. The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), often discussed in India-EU trade talks, is a measure of:

    1. The World Trade Organization
    2. The European Union
    3. The UNFCCC
    4. The G20
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) The European Union. CBAM is an EU measure that charges importers for the carbon emitted in producing goods such as steel, aluminium and cement.

  2. The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is a measure of:

    1. The WTO
    2. The European Union
    3. The UNFCCC
    4. The G20
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) The European Union. CBAM is an EU measure on the carbon content of imports.

  3. Consider the following about the India-EU FTA:
    1. Negotiations were relaunched in June 2022.
    2. The EU will remove tariffs on 99.5% of items it imports from India.
    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 statements are correct.

  4. After signing, the India-EU FTA needs approval from:

    1. The UN Security Council
    2. The WTO General Council
    3. The G7
    4. The European Parliament
    Show answer

    Answer: (d) The European Parliament. EU trade agreements need the European Parliament's consent.

  5. India-EU FTA talks first began in:

    1. 2013
    2. 2022
    3. 2004
    4. 2007
    Show answer

    Answer: (d) 2007. Talks began in 2007 and stalled in 2013.

  6. Which Indian export sector is most exposed to CBAM?

    1. Tea
    2. Pharmaceuticals
    3. Steel and aluminium
    4. Software services
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) Steel and aluminium. CBAM covers carbon-intensive goods like steel, aluminium and cement.

A Supreme Court judge defends the Collegium and hits back at the Centre

  1. The National Judicial Appointments Commission was created by which Constitutional Amendment?

    1. 97th
    2. 99th
    3. 101st
    4. 103rd
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) 99th. The 99th Amendment (2014) created the NJAC; the Supreme Court struck it down in October 2015.

  2. The National Judicial Appointments Commission was created by which Constitutional Amendment?

    1. 103rd
    2. 101st
    3. 99th
    4. 97th
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) 99th. The 99th Amendment (2014); it was struck down in 2015.

  3. The Collegium system originated from:

    1. The Second Judges Case (1993)
    2. The Constitution as adopted in 1950
    3. The 42nd Amendment
    4. A Law Commission report
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) The Second Judges Case (1993). The Second Judges Case (1993) gave the judiciary primacy through a collegium.

  4. Consider the following statements:
    1. The Collegium is mentioned in the Constitution.
    2. The Supreme Court Collegium consists of the CJI and four senior-most judges.
    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 Collegium is a judge-made system, not in the constitutional text.

  5. Appointment of High Court judges is governed by:

    1. Article 233
    2. Article 226
    3. Article 124
    4. Article 217
    Show answer

    Answer: (d) Article 217. Article 217; Article 233 covers district judges.

  6. In which year was the NJAC struck down?

    1. 2018
    2. 2016
    3. 2014
    4. 2015
    Show answer

    Answer: (d) 2015. The Fourth Judges Case in October 2015.

Quality control orders and India's manufacturing growth

  1. Quality Control Orders in India are issued under which law?

    1. Consumer Protection Act, 2019
    2. Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016
    3. Legal Metrology Act, 2009
    4. Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016. QCOs are notified by ministries under the BIS Act, 2016, making standards mandatory.

  2. Quality Control Orders in India are issued under:

    1. Legal Metrology Act, 2009
    2. Foreign Trade Act, 1992
    3. Consumer Protection Act, 2019
    4. Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016
    Show answer

    Answer: (d) Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016. QCOs are notified under the BIS Act, 2016.

  3. Consider the following statements:
    1. QCOs make BIS certification mandatory for notified products.
    2. Most recent QCOs target finished consumer goods.
    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. NITI Aayog found about 70% of recent QCOs target raw materials and intermediates.

  4. A major criticism of QCOs on intermediate goods is that they:

    1. Raise costs for downstream manufacturers
    2. Reduce tax revenue
    3. Increase exports
    4. Lower product quality
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) Raise costs for downstream manufacturers. They raise input costs, especially for small firms.

  5. Which ministry withdrew the omnibus machinery safety QCO in January 2026?

    1. Heavy Industries
    2. Textiles
    3. MSME
    4. Commerce
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) Heavy Industries. The Ministry of Heavy Industries rescinded it.

  6. QCOs can act as which kind of trade barrier?

    1. Export subsidy
    2. Non-tariff barrier
    3. Tariff barrier
    4. Quota
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) Non-tariff barrier. Mandatory standards and certification are non-tariff barriers.

El Niño, heat deaths and why parched Maharashtra cannot declare drought yet

  1. With reference to El Niño, consider the following:
    1. It involves warming of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific.
    2. It generally strengthens the Indian summer monsoon.
    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. El Niño warms the central and eastern Pacific and usually weakens, not strengthens, the Indian monsoon.

  2. Consider the following statements:
    1. El Niño involves warming of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific.
    2. El Niño generally strengthens the Indian summer monsoon.
    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. El Niño usually weakens the Indian monsoon.

  3. In India, drought is declared by:

    1. State governments
    2. The NDMA
    3. The Ministry of Agriculture
    4. The IMD
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) State governments. States declare drought following the drought manual.

  4. Which phenomenon can partly offset El Niño's impact on Indian rainfall?

    1. Madden-Julian Oscillation
    2. Western disturbances
    3. La Niña
    4. Positive Indian Ocean Dipole
    Show answer

    Answer: (d) Positive Indian Ocean Dipole. A positive IOD tends to support monsoon rainfall.

  5. The Manual for Drought Management was last updated in:

    1. 2024
    2. 2020
    3. 2009
    4. 2016
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) 2020. Issued in 2016 and updated in 2020.

  6. Which is an 'impact indicator' under the drought manual?

    1. Sea surface temperature
    2. Wind speed
    3. Vegetation index
    4. Air pressure
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) Vegetation index. Impact indicators include vegetation, soil moisture, crop sowing and hydrology.

India rejects the OIC contact group's remarks on Kashmir

  1. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is headquartered in:

    1. Riyadh
    2. Jeddah
    3. Cairo
    4. Istanbul
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) Jeddah. The OIC's secretariat is in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

  2. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation is headquartered in:

    1. Jeddah
    2. Cairo
    3. Riyadh
    4. Istanbul
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) Jeddah. The OIC secretariat is in Jeddah.

  3. Consider the following statements:
    1. India is an observer member of the OIC.
    2. India was invited as guest of honour to an OIC foreign ministers' meeting in 2019.
    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 is neither a member nor an observer; it was a guest of honour in Abu Dhabi in 2019.

  4. The OIC has how many member states?

    1. 52
    2. 62
    3. 47
    4. 57
    Show answer

    Answer: (d) 57. 57 member states.

  5. India's standard phrase in rejecting OIC statements on Kashmir is that the OIC has:

    1. No locus standi
    2. No legal personality
    3. No mandate from the UN
    4. No quorum
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) No locus standi. India says the OIC has no locus standi on India's internal affairs.

  6. The OIC was founded in:

    1. 1981
    2. 1945
    3. 1991
    4. 1969
    Show answer

    Answer: (d) 1969. It was founded in 1969.