UPSC current affairs quiz, 1 October 2026

IMD classifies all-India southwest monsoon rainfall as 'deficient' when the seasonal total is:

1. Less than 90% of the Long Period Average
2. Between 90% and 95% of the Long Period Average
3. Less than 96% of the Long Period Average
4. Less than 80% of the Long Period Average

Consider the following statements about the 2026 southwest monsoon:
1. All-India rainfall was 87% of the Long Period Average.
2. July was the only month in which rainfall was at or above its monthly normal.
3. Northwest India was the most deficient region of the country.
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 2026 southwest monsoon is classified by IMD as a 'deficient' season.
Statement-II: IMD classifies all-India seasonal rainfall below 90% of the Long Period Average as deficient.
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 pairs (2026 monsoon, region and share of LPA):
1. East and Northeast India : 74%
2. South Peninsula : 76%
3. Central India : 97%
4. Northwest India : 84%
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

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

Which one of the following best describes El Niño?

1. A cooling of the western Indian Ocean relative to its eastern part
2. A warming of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean
3. A cold current along the coast of Somalia during the monsoon
4. A strengthening of the trade winds across the equatorial Pacific

With reference to the 2026 monsoon, consider the following statements:
1. The monsoon reached Kerala later than its normal onset date.
2. Of the 36 meteorological subdivisions, more were deficient than normal.
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

With reference to the Green Energy Corridor Phase-III scheme approved in September 2026, which one of the following statements is correct?

1. It funds only inter-State transmission lines built by central agencies
2. It combines intra-State transmission with battery energy storage systems
3. It is financed entirely by the Union Government
4. It applies only to the eight States covered in Phase-I

Consider the following statements about the Green Energy Corridor phases:
1. Phase-II covered seven States.
2. Phase-II provided central financial assistance of 33% of the project cost.
3. Phase-I covered about 24 GW of renewable capacity in eight States.
4. Phase-III's central support is more than half of its total outlay.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Under Green Energy Corridor Phase-III, who are the implementing agencies?

1. Central Transmission Utility of India Ltd
2. State Transmission Utilities
3. Solar Energy Corporation of India
4. Central Electricity Regulatory Commission

Consider the following statements:
1. The Intra-State Transmission System carries power within a State's boundaries.
2. Under GEC-III, battery storage can be placed only at substations owned by the Centre.
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 statements about the Green Energy Corridor Phase-III scheme:
1. It provides for 50 GWh of Battery Energy Storage Systems.
2. Greenfield transmission projects under it will be awarded through Tariff Based Competitive Bidding.
3. It is to be completed by 2029-30.
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: Battery Energy Storage Systems can reduce curtailment of solar power.
Statement-II: Batteries can store surplus midday generation and release it when solar output falls.
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

Under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013, the ceiling price of a scheduled formulation is calculated by:

1. Adding a 16% retailer margin to the simple average price to retailer of brands with at least 1% market share
2. Adding a 30% trade margin to the price to stockist of the lowest-priced brand
3. Taking the cost of production of the market leader plus a fixed profit
4. Allowing the maximum retail price to rise by up to 10% each year

In February 2019 the NPPA capped trade margins on 42 non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines. At what level?

1. 16%
2. 30%
3. 10%
4. 70%

Consider the following statements:
1. The ceiling price formula averages the prices to retailer of brands with at least 1% market share.
2. Non-scheduled medicines account for a minority of India's pharmaceutical market by value.
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 statements about the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013:
1. It is issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
2. It fixes ceiling prices for all medicines sold in India.
3. It limits the annual increase in the MRP of non-scheduled medicines to 10%.
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: A medicine outside the National List of Essential Medicines can carry an MRP many times its price to retailer without breaching a ceiling price.
Statement-II: Under the DPCO, 2013, ceiling prices are fixed only for scheduled formulations.
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 Supreme Court hearing of 29 September 2026 on drug markups:
1. The Bench asked why a 16% margin could not apply to all medicines.
2. The Bench asked the Centre to examine hospitals that require patients to buy from in-house pharmacies.
3. The Court struck down the DPCO, 2013.
4. The Solicitor General said a way that balances equities would have to be found.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

In its 2018 judgment in Arjun Gopal v. Union of India, the Supreme Court fixed which time window for bursting crackers on Deepavali?

1. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
2. 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
3. 10 p.m. to 12 midnight
4. 11.55 p.m. to 12.30 a.m.

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: The Supreme Court can issue directions restricting the bursting of firecrackers to protect air quality.
Statement-II: The Supreme Court has interpreted the right to life under Article 21 to include the right to a healthy environment.
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 30 September 2026 hearing:
1. The Bench ruled out a total ban on firecrackers.
2. The Bench ruled out bursting of crackers 24 hours a day.
3. The Bench indicated it may allow next-generation joined green crackers under conditions.
4. The Bench finally allowed barium-based crackers.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Which organisation administers the Explosives Act, 1884 and licenses the manufacture of fireworks in India?

1. Central Pollution Control Board
2. Bureau of Indian Standards
3. Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation
4. Commission for Air Quality Management

Consider the following statements:
1. In September 2023 the Supreme Court refused to permit firecrackers with barium.
2. In October 2025 the Supreme Court allowed green crackers in Delhi-NCR without any time restriction.
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 statements about the Supreme Court's 2018 judgment in Arjun Gopal v. Union of India:
1. It banned the online sale of firecrackers.
2. It banned joined (series) crackers.
3. It imposed a total ban on firecrackers in Delhi-NCR.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

With reference to Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) norms in India, which one of the following statements is correct?

1. They set a fuel consumption limit that each individual car model must meet
2. They set a target for the sales-weighted average of a manufacturer's whole fleet
3. They are notified under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
4. They apply only to diesel vehicles

Consider the following statements:
1. CAFE Stage II, from 2022-23, targeted 113 g CO2/km.
2. CAFE norms cover only vehicles with a gross vehicle weight above 3,500 kg.
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 statements about CAFE-III norms:
1. They apply from 1 April 2027.
2. They give a separate extra relaxation to small petrol cars weighing under 909 kg.
3. They count each battery electric car as three vehicles in the fleet calculation.
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: Under CAFE-III, selling more battery electric cars helps a manufacturer meet its fleet target faster than selling the same number of efficient petrol cars.
Statement-II: CAFE-III counts each battery electric car as three vehicles when calculating the fleet average.
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

Match the vehicle type with its CAFE-III super credit:
1. Strong hybrid : 1.6
2. Plug-in hybrid : 2.5
3. Flex-fuel ethanol vehicle : 1.1
4. Range-extended electric vehicle : 2.5
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

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

Under which law are Corporate Average Fuel Economy norms for passenger vehicles framed in India?

1. Motor Vehicles Act, 1988
2. Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
3. Energy Conservation Act, 2001
4. Environment (Protection) Act, 1986