UPSC current affairs quiz, 7 October 2026

With reference to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, consider the following statements:
1. It is located near the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica.
2. It detects neutrinos by recording Cherenkov light given off by charged particles produced in the ice.
3. Its sensors are laid on the surface of the ice sheet to avoid interference from bedrock.
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:
1. Neutrinos carry no electric charge.
2. Wolfgang Pauli first detected the neutrino experimentally in 1956.
3. The 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded for showing that neutrinos change flavour.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Consider the following statements about the IceCube Neutrino Observatory:
1. Its sensors sit between 1,450 and 2,450 metres below the ice surface.
2. It has 5,160 optical sensors on 86 strings.
3. Its construction was completed in December 2010.
4. The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics for it was shared by three scientists.
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 high-energy neutrino detected on Earth can be traced back towards the object that produced it.
Statement-II: Neutrinos carry no charge and interact very weakly, so they are neither bent by magnetic fields nor absorbed on the way.
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

In 2018, the IceCube collaboration traced a high-energy neutrino detected in September 2017 to which of the following?

1. Supernova 1987A
2. The Crab Nebula
3. Sagittarius A*, the black hole at the Milky Way's centre
4. The blazar TXS 0506+056

Consider the following statements about the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO):
1. It is planned in Theni district of Tamil Nadu.
2. Its main detector is designed to study atmospheric neutrinos.
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 MSME classification in force from 1 April 2025, which one of the following gives the investment and turnover limits for a medium enterprise?

1. Investment up to ₹50 crore and turnover up to ₹250 crore
2. Investment up to ₹125 crore and turnover up to ₹500 crore
3. Investment up to ₹25 crore and turnover up to ₹100 crore
4. Investment up to ₹250 crore and turnover up to ₹1,000 crore

Consider the following statements about the SME Growth Fund:
1. It was announced in the Union Budget 2026-27.
2. The Government's ₹10,000 crore will be given to SMEs as concessional loans.
3. A majority of its allocation is meant for manufacturing-focused SMEs.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Consider the following statements about Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) in India:
1. Venture capital funds and SME funds fall under Category I.
2. Hedge funds that trade for short-term returns fall under Category III.
3. Private equity funds and debt funds fall under Category II.
4. AIFs are regulated by the Reserve Bank of India.
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 Union Cabinet considers growth-stage small and medium enterprises underserved by existing equity funds.
Statement-II: Most existing equity funds focus on early-stage enterprises and cover mainly micro enterprises.
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 Self-Reliant India (SRI) Fund:
1. Its total size is ₹50,000 crore, of which ₹10,000 crore comes from the government.
2. NSIC Venture Capital Fund Ltd acts as its mother fund.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Under the MSME criteria in force from 1 April 2025, an enterprise with investment in plant and machinery of ₹20 crore and annual turnover of ₹80 crore is classified as:

1. Micro
2. Small
3. Medium
4. Not an MSME

With reference to leprosy in India, consider the following statements:
1. 'Elimination as a public health problem' means a prevalence rate below one case per 10,000 population.
2. The National Leprosy Eradication Programme was earlier known as the National Leprosy Control Programme.
3. A single dose of rifampicin is given to close contacts of patients as post-exposure prophylaxis.
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 leprosy:
1. It is caused by a virus.
2. It can be spread by shaking hands with a patient.
3. It is curable with multidrug therapy.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Consider the following statements about leprosy in India in 2025-26, as reported from NLEP data:
1. India recorded 91,783 new cases.
2. Children made up more than 10% of new cases.
3. Overall incidence was 41% above the strategic plan's projection.
4. The grade-2 disability rate was below the target of one per million.
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 fall in leprosy prevalence can hide continuing transmission.
Statement-II: Multidrug therapy shortens the time patients remain on the register, so prevalence can drop even while new infections occur.
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

Which of the following is recommended by WHO to protect close contacts of leprosy patients?

1. BCG revaccination of all adults
2. A single dose of rifampicin as post-exposure prophylaxis
3. Lifelong dapsone for all household members
4. Isolation of patients in leprosy colonies

Consider the following statements:
1. The National Leprosy Control Programme was launched in 1954-55.
2. The National Strategic Plan and Roadmap for Leprosy covers the period 2023-2027.
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 Section 4(d) of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, the gram sabha is competent to safeguard and preserve which of the following?
1. Traditions and customs of the people and their cultural identity
2. Community resources
3. Places of worship of all religions in the village
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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 PESA Act, 1996:
1. It extends the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution to Fifth Schedule areas.
2. It applies to the Sixth Schedule areas of Assam and Meghalaya.
3. It makes the gram sabha competent to safeguard the customary mode of dispute resolution.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Consider the following about States where PESA applies:
1. Chhattisgarh
2. Telangana
3. Himachal Pradesh
4. Mizoram
How many of the above are among the ten States with Fifth Schedule areas covered by PESA?

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

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: In January 2025, the Supreme Court directed that a Christian man's father be buried at a designated Christian ground about 20 km from his village, despite a split between the two judges.
Statement-II: Article 25 of the Constitution gives every person an absolute right to choose a burial place, free of any restriction.
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 Chhattisgarh High Court in November 2025 upheld gram sabha hoardings barring pastors from entering villages.
2. The Supreme Court in February 2026 set aside that High Court ruling.
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 which case did the Supreme Court hold that transfer of tribal land in Scheduled Areas to private parties for mining is null and void?

1. Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala
2. S.R. Bommai v. Union of India
3. Orissa Mining Corporation v. Ministry of Environment and Forest
4. Samatha v. State of Andhra Pradesh

In the UN climate negotiations, the term 'means of implementation' refers to:

1. Nationally determined targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions
2. Finance, technology transfer and capacity-building support for developing countries
3. Carbon border taxes imposed on imports from high-emitting countries
4. Penalties imposed on countries that miss their emission targets

Consider the following statements about COP31:
1. It will be held in Antalya, Türkiye.
2. Australia's climate minister will preside over the negotiations.
3. Its pre-COP meetings were held in Brazil.
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. Article 3(1) of the UNFCCC refers to common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.
2. Article 7.1 of the Paris Agreement establishes the Global Goal on Adaptation.
3. Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement says developed countries shall provide financial resources to developing countries.
4. The Paris Agreement sets binding emission targets only for Annex I countries.
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: India argues that adaptation and means of implementation deserve as much attention as mitigation in climate negotiations.
Statement-II: The Paris Agreement contains no provision on finance from developed to developing countries.
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

The 'New Collective Quantified Goal' agreed at COP29 in Baku relates to:

1. A target for the share of renewable energy in global power
2. A cap on global methane emissions
3. Climate finance from developed to developing countries
4. A timeline to phase out coal power

Consider the following statements about COP30 held in Belém in November 2025:
1. It adopted 59 global indicators for tracking adaptation progress.
2. It called for tripling adaptation finance by 2035.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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