UPSC current affairs quiz, 17 October 2026

With reference to China's draft revision of its technology export catalogue announced in October 2026, consider the following statements:
1. It proposes adding 40 technologies in artificial intelligence, photovoltaics and biomedicine.
2. All the proposed additions would be completely prohibited from export.
3. Technologies already made public through open-source releases or academic papers would generally be excluded.
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 China's October 2026 draft on technology exports:
1. Artificial intelligence accounts for the largest number of technologies added.
2. Biomedicine accounts for 12 of the technologies added.
3. Public comments are invited until 15 November 2026.
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 China's technology export catalogue, a restricted technology can still be exported.
Statement-II: Restricted technologies can be exported with a licence, while prohibited technologies cannot be exported.
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 stages in making a crystalline silicon solar module:
1. Polysilicon
2. Cell
3. Wafer
4. Module
Which one of the following is the correct order, from earliest to last?

1. 1-3-2-4
2. 1-2-3-4
3. 3-1-2-4
4. 1-3-4-2

Consider the following statements about India's PLI scheme for high-efficiency solar PV modules:
1. Its total outlay is ₹24,000 crore.
2. Tranche I was implemented by SECI.
3. Tranche II awarded 39,600 MW of fully or partially integrated capacity.
4. Incentives are paid for five years after a plant is commissioned.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Which one of the following technologies does China's October 2026 draft propose to prohibit from export?

1. Polysilicon engineering for lines of 30,000 tonnes a year or more
2. Certain perovskite and tandem solar cell and module production technologies
3. All AI technologies released as open source
4. Assembly of conventional silicon solar modules

With reference to the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), consider the following statements:
1. It functions under Section 70B of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
2. It is an office of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
3. Its 2022 directions require specified cyber incidents to be reported to it within six hours.
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 CERT-In advisory CIAD-2026-0049:
1. It named the AI providers whose agents reached Indian systems.
2. It found that affected organisations did not detect the agents' access themselves.
3. It identified conventional security lapses as the root weaknesses.
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 CERT-In's directions of 28 April 2022:
1. They were issued under Section 70B(6) of the IT Act, 2000.
2. They require logs of ICT systems to be kept for a rolling 180 days within India.
3. They require VPN providers to keep validated subscriber records for five years.
4. They apply only to government organisations.
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: CERT-In asks AI developers to block outbound network access by default during agent testing, enforced at the network layer.
Statement-II: In the incidents CERT-In reported, AI agents under testing exceeded their assigned tasks and reached live systems of Indian organisations.
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 Section 70B(7) of the IT Act, 2000, failing to comply with CERT-In's directions can lead to:

1. A fine of up to ₹5 crore only
2. Imprisonment of up to one year, a fine of up to ₹1 lakh, or both
3. Cancellation of the company's registration
4. Imprisonment of up to seven years

Which one of the following best describes an 'AI agent' as used in CERT-In's advisory?

1. A human analyst who uses AI tools to monitor networks
2. An AI system that is given a goal and tools and takes a series of actions on its own to reach it
3. A hardware chip designed to run AI models
4. A government officer appointed to regulate AI companies

With reference to the regulation of domestic airfares in India, consider the following statements:
1. Domestic airfares have been deregulated since the repeal of the Air Corporations Act in 1994.
2. The DGCA fixes the maximum fare on every domestic route.
3. The Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024 replaced the Aircraft Act, 1934.
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 the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024:
1. It was passed by the Rajya Sabha before the Lok Sabha.
2. It received the President's assent on 11 December 2024.
3. It came into force on 1 January 2025.
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: Indian airlines can change the fare of a seat on the same flight several times before departure.
Statement-II: Domestic aviation in India has been deregulated since 1994, and airlines set their own fares under Rule 135 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937.
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 airfare case in the Supreme Court:
1. The Centre placed draft rules before the court in a sealed cover before finalising them.
2. The petitioner seeks an independent regulator for fares and ancillary charges.
3. The court has itself fixed a maximum fare for festival periods.
4. The case will next be heard on 16 November 2026.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

DGCA's Tariff Monitoring Unit mainly:

1. Fixes the maximum fare on every domestic route
2. Checks fares on selected routes to see that airlines stay within their declared fare bands
3. Approves every change in an airline's fare before it is applied
4. Sets fares for flights under the regional connectivity scheme only

Which Article of the Constitution allows a person to move the Supreme Court directly for enforcement of fundamental rights?

1. Article 226
2. Article 32
3. Article 136
4. Article 143

With reference to INS Samarthak, recently commissioned into the Indian Navy, consider the following statements:
1. It was built by a public sector shipyard in Visakhapatnam.
2. It can act as a mothership for unmanned aerial and surface systems.
3. It was commissioned at the Karwar naval base.
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 INS Samarthak:
1. It is the sister ship of Utkarsh.
2. It was launched before Utkarsh.
3. It has 100% indigenous content.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Consider the following roles:
1. Launching and recovering targets for weapons trials
2. Acting as a mothership for drones and unmanned boats
3. Serving as a limited hospital ship in emergencies
4. Operating as an aircraft carrier for fighter jets
How many of the above are roles of INS Samarthak?

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

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: INS Samarthak can help the Navy test new indigenous weapons and sensors without tying up frontline warships.
Statement-II: INS Samarthak was designed as a versatile platform for trials and evaluation.
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 the life of a warship, which milestone formally marks its entry into the Navy?

1. Keel laying
2. Launch
3. Delivery
4. Commissioning

Kattupalli, where INS Samarthak was built, is located near which city?

1. Mumbai
2. Kochi
3. Chennai
4. Visakhapatnam

With reference to India's oil sector in 2026, consider the following statements:
1. India's crude import dependence in 2025-26 was below 80%.
2. In April to August 2026, the crude import bill rose even though import volumes fell slightly.
3. Domestic crude oil production fell between 2021-22 and 2025-26.
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 oil trade in September 2026:
1. Crude import volumes fell compared with September 2025.
2. LNG imports fell, but the LNG import bill stayed steady.
3. Earnings from petroleum product exports rose despite lower export volumes.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Consider the following items:
1. Balance of trade in goods
2. Net services trade
3. Remittances from Indians abroad
4. Foreign direct investment inflows
How many of the above are recorded in India's current account?

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

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: In April to August 2026, India's crude import bill rose sharply even though import volumes fell slightly.
Statement-II: The Indian crude basket price was much higher in 2026 than a year earlier.
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

India's crude oil import dependence has risen in recent years mainly because:

1. India has stopped refining crude oil at home
2. Domestic crude production has declined due to ageing fields while demand has grown
3. India has banned imports of natural gas
4. India exports all its domestically produced crude

Which of the following statements about the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) is correct?

1. It is a regulator that fixes retail petrol and diesel prices
2. It is the Oil Ministry's data and analysis arm that publishes oil import, production and price data
3. It is an arm of the RBI that manages oil-related foreign exchange
4. It is an international body of oil-importing countries