UPSC current affairs quiz, 19 October 2026

With reference to the regulation-making power of the President under Article 240 of the Constitution, consider the following statements:
1. A regulation made under it may repeal or amend an Act of Parliament that applies to the Union Territory concerned.
2. It can be exercised only when both Houses of Parliament are not in session.
3. The legal framework for High Court sittings in Ladakh was created through such a regulation in 2026.
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 Ladakh Bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh:
1. Hearings at the bench begin on 21 October 2026.
2. The 2026 Regulation shifted the principal seat of the High Court to Leh.
3. The High Court's Chief Justice can direct that certain categories of cases from Ladakh be heard at Srinagar or Jammu.
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: High Court sittings in Ladakh were provided for by a presidential regulation rather than by a new Act of Parliament.
Statement-II: Article 240 empowers the President to make regulations for the peace, progress and good government of certain Union Territories, with the same force as an Act of Parliament.
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 legal aid in India:
1. Article 39A was inserted by the Constitution (Forty-second Amendment) Act, 1976.
2. Article 39A is part of the Directive Principles of State Policy.
3. Lok Adalats are set up under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
4. Directive Principles are enforceable in a court of law.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Which Article of the Constitution allows Parliament to establish, by law, a common High Court for two or more States and a Union Territory?

1. Article 214
2. Article 231
3. Article 226
4. Article 124

Consider the following statements:
1. The Union Territory of Ladakh has a Legislative Assembly.
2. The Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and of Ladakh came into existence on 31 October 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

With reference to the 'PERM' process that was in the news in October 2026, which one of the following statements is correct?

1. It is a US labour certification that is usually the first step in an employer-sponsored green card application.
2. It is the annual lottery used to allot H-1B visas.
3. It is a WTO mechanism for temporary movement of service professionals.
4. It is an Indian scheme to register emigrant workers going to Gulf countries.

Consider the following statements about the US measures of October 2026:
1. The US Department of Labor suspended PERM applications of eight companies, including Indian IT firms.
2. The PERM suspension automatically cancelled existing H-1B visas of employees of those companies.
3. JD Vance claimed H-1B workers earn about $20,000 less than comparable American workers.
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: India's Ministry of External Affairs called the description of H-1B workers as "indentured servants" deeply offensive.
Statement-II: Under the colonial indenture system, more than a million Indians were sent abroad on fixed-term contracts to work on plantations.
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 Indian indenture system:
1. It began in 1834 with a voyage of labourers from Calcutta to Mauritius.
2. Contracts were usually for five years.
3. Fiji and Suriname were among the destinations.
4. It was started after Indian independence to supply labour to the Gulf.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Which of the following companies were among those suspended from the US PERM programme on 8 October 2026?
1. Infosys
2. Capgemini
3. Adobe
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

Consider the following statements:
1. India's MEA said the US steps "do not advance the shared ambitions of both countries".
2. Vance said his criticism was aimed at H-1B workers as a whole category.
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 foreign portfolio investment in India:
1. A foreign investor holding less than 10% of the paid-up equity of an Indian company is treated as a portfolio investor.
2. Under the Voluntary Retention Route, investors must keep at least 75% of their allocated amount in India for a minimum of three years.
3. Foreign portfolio investors are registered with the Reserve Bank of India rather than with SEBI.
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 FPI flows into Indian equities in 2026:
1. FPIs were net buyers in both July and August 2026.
2. FPIs were net sellers in September 2026.
3. The net outflow in 2026 so far is smaller than the net outflow of 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: Rising US government bond yields tend to cause portfolio outflows from emerging markets such as India.
Statement-II: Higher US yields raise the return available on low-risk US assets relative to riskier emerging market assets.
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. FDI is generally regarded as a largely non-debt creating capital flow.
2. FPI investors typically seek management control of the companies they invest in.
3. Portfolio flows can usually be reversed faster than direct investment.
4. Large FPI outflows tend to strengthen the rupee.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Which of the following were cited by analysts as reasons for FPI selling of Indian equities in 2026?
1. Elevated US bond yields
2. High crude oil prices
3. An AI-led rally in North Asian markets
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

With reference to the Voluntary Retention Route (VRR), consider the following statements:
1. It was introduced by SEBI for equity investment by foreign investors.
2. It requires a minimum retention period of three years.
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