UPSC current affairs quiz, 13 October 2026

With reference to the 2026 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, consider the following statements:
1. It was awarded for work on the microeconomic foundations of macroeconomic stabilisation.
2. The prize is one of the five original prizes named in Alfred Nobel's will.
3. 'Forward guidance' refers to a central bank publicly signalling the likely future path of its policy interest rate.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

Consider the following statements about the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences:
1. It was established by Sweden's central bank, Sveriges Riksbank.
2. It was first awarded in 1901 along with the other Nobel Prizes.
3. The 2026 prize was shared equally by two laureates.
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 the framework honoured by the 2026 economics Nobel, a central bank's statements about future policy can influence spending and pricing today.
Statement-II: In these models households and firms base current decisions on their expectations of the future.
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:
1. Robert E. Hall : Household consumption and permanent income
2. Michael Woodford : 'Interest and Prices' (2003)
3. Joel Mokyr : 2026 economics Nobel
4. John Hassler : Chair of the Committee for the Prize in Economic Sciences
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

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

'Sticky prices', a key element of Michael Woodford's framework, means that:

1. Prices are fixed permanently by government order
2. Many firms change prices only occasionally, so prices adjust slowly to shocks
3. Prices rise but never fall
4. Prices are set by auction every day

With reference to the Reserve Bank of India's policy announcement of 7 October 2026, consider the following statements:
1. The repo rate was raised by 25 basis points to 5.5%.
2. The stance was changed from neutral to 'calibrated tightening'.
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 India's Consumer Price Index data for September 2026, consider the following statements:
1. Rural inflation was higher than urban inflation.
2. Headline inflation was above the upper tolerance limit of the RBI's target band.
3. The CPI series currently in use has 2024 as its base year.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

Consider the following statements about the September 2026 CPI data:
1. Food inflation (CFPI) was higher than headline CPI inflation.
2. Urban inflation crossed 6%.
3. Potato and tomato prices were lower than a year earlier.
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 Monetary Policy Committee:
1. It has six members.
2. Three of its members are external members appointed by the Central Government.
3. The Union Finance Minister chairs it.
4. It decides the policy repo rate.
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: In September 2026, rural CPI inflation was higher than urban CPI inflation.
Statement-II: Food inflation was higher in rural areas than in urban areas, and food has a larger weight in rural consumption baskets.
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 combined CPI index was 103.74 in September 2025 and 109.49 in September 2026. The September 2026 inflation rate is therefore closest to:

1. 5.75%
2. 5.54%
3. 4.83%
4. 6.08%

With reference to India's flexible inflation targeting framework, consider the following statements:
1. The inflation target is set by the Central Government in consultation with the RBI.
2. The target is defined in terms of the Wholesale Price Index.
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 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), consider the following statements:
1. It was established by the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme.
2. It conducts original climate research through its own laboratories.
3. Its Working Group II deals with impacts, adaptation and vulnerability.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

Consider the following statements about the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change:
1. It has 195 member states.
2. It takes decisions in its plenary by simple majority voting.
3. It was set up by WMO and UNEP in 1988.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Consider the following pairs:
1. Working Group I : Physical science basis
2. Working Group II : Impacts, adaptation and vulnerability
3. Working Group III : Mitigation
4. Special report due in 2027 : Oceans and cryosphere
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

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

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: Several developed and small-island countries want all AR7 working group reports approved by 2028.
Statement-II: The second global stocktake under the Paris Agreement concludes in November 2028.
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 'global stocktake' under the Paris Agreement refers to:

1. An annual inventory of each country's coal reserves
2. A five-yearly review of collective progress towards the Agreement's goals
3. A carbon market registry run by the World Bank
4. An IPCC report on greenhouse gas inventories

With reference to the AR7 timeline dispute, consider the following statements:
1. The working group co-chairs have proposed approving all three reports by September 2028.
2. India has supported publishing all three reports before 2028.
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 International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), consider the following statements:
1. It is headquartered in Kathmandu.
2. India is one of its regional member countries.
3. Its 2026 reports found that ice-loss rates in the Hindu Kush Himalaya have halved since 2000.
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 ICIMOD's 2026 findings on the Hindu Kush Himalaya:
1. Ice-loss rates have doubled since 2000.
2. Between 1990 and 2020, glaciers lost about 12% of their area.
3. The largest glaciers, above 10 square km, are shrinking fastest.
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: Thawing permafrost increases the risk of rock avalanches and landslides in high mountains.
Statement-II: Ice within cracks and pores of frozen ground helps bind steep rock slopes together.
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 are regional member countries of ICIMOD?
1. India
2. Myanmar
3. Afghanistan
4. Sri Lanka
How many of the above are correct?

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

A 'glacial lake outburst flood' is best described as:

1. Seasonal flooding of rivers by monsoon rain
2. Sudden release of water from a lake dammed by ice or glacial debris
3. Flooding caused by a cloudburst over a glacier
4. Gradual rise of sea level from melting ice sheets

With reference to expert committees on Himalayan hydropower, consider the following statements:
1. The Avay Shukla committee was set up by the Himachal Pradesh High Court.
2. The Ravi Chopra expert body was formed after the 2013 Kedarnath floods.
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 NITI Aayog's report 'Reimagining Care: Strategies for Empowering Caregivers in Viksit Bharat@2047', consider the following statements:
1. It proposes a National Caregiver Council as an apex body for regulation and certification of caregivers.
2. It recommends NSQF-based certification for caregivers.
3. It recommends that caregiving be treated solely as a welfare activity of the State.
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 India's elderly population:
1. It was about 149 million in 2022.
2. It is projected to be about 20.8% of the population by 2050.
3. The projections come from the Census of India 2021.
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 NITI Aayog's 'Reimagining Care' report:
1. It was released in August 2026.
2. It proposes a National Caregiver Council.
3. It proposes a National Digital Caregiver Portal.
4. It recommends specialised cadres for geriatric, palliative and dementia care.
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: Formalising caregiving can raise women's participation in paid work in India.
Statement-II: Women in India spend far more time on unpaid domestic and caregiving work than men.
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 one of the following provisions directs the State to make effective provision for public assistance in cases of old age?

1. Article 21
2. Article 41
3. Article 46
4. Article 51A

With reference to caregiving initiatives, consider the following statements:
1. K4Care is run by Kudumbashree in Kerala.
2. The Union Budget 2026-27 announced training of 1.5 lakh caregivers in a year.
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