Pratidin

UPSC current affairs quiz, 21 October 2026

30 Prelims-style questions on the day's news, in the formats UPSC uses (statement-based, How many, Statement-I and II), each with the answer and an explanation. Try each one before you open the answer.

Read 21 October 2026 first20 October 2026 quizTimed test in the app

Centre's Ladakh framework gives the L-G final authority over laws of a new elected body

  1. With reference to Article 240 of the Constitution of India, consider the following statements:
    1. It empowers the President to make regulations for the peace, progress and good government of certain Union Territories.
    2. A regulation made under it may repeal or amend an Act of Parliament applicable to that Union Territory.
    3. The President can use it for Puducherry even while the Puducherry Legislative Assembly is functioning.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

    Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only. Statement 1 is correct: this is the purpose of Article 240(1). Statement 2 is correct: Article 240(2) gives a regulation the force of an Act of Parliament and lets it repeal or amend laws applying to the UT. Statement 3 is incorrect: for Puducherry the power is available only when its Assembly is dissolved or its functioning is suspended.

  2. Consider the following statements about the MHA framework for Ladakh shared in October 2026:
    1. It proposes a directly elected body at the Union Territory level.
    2. It proposes a constitutional amendment followed by a regulation under Article 240.
    3. It grants Ladakh inclusion in the Sixth Schedule.
    How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

    Answer: (b) Only two. Statements 1 and 2 are correct: the framework plans a directly elected UT-level body, set up by an amendment and then an Article 240 regulation. Statement 3 is incorrect: the Centre has offered a tailored model instead of the Sixth Schedule.

  3. Consider the following statements:
    1. Every Union Territory is administered by the President through an administrator.
    2. Ladakh has had a Legislative Assembly since 31 October 2019.
    3. The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils are constitutional bodies.
    4. A 2025 regulation reserved one-third of the seats in Ladakh's hill councils for women.
    How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

    Answer: (b) Only two. Statement 1 is correct (Article 239). Statement 2 is incorrect: Ladakh became a UT without a legislature. Statement 3 is incorrect: the councils are statutory, under a 1997 Act. Statement 4 is correct: a 2025 amendment regulation reserved one-third of the seats for women.

  4. Consider the following statements:
    Statement-I: Laws made by Ladakh's proposed UT-level body would need the Lieutenant-Governor's assent under the MHA framework.
    Statement-II: Article 240 regulations made by the President cannot amend 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
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect. Statement-I is correct: the framework makes the L-G the final authority over the body's laws. Statement-II is incorrect: Article 240(2) allows a regulation to repeal or amend an Act of Parliament applying to the UT.

  5. Which one of the following Articles of the Constitution protects the customary law and land of the Nagas from Acts of Parliament unless the State Assembly agrees?

    1. Article 370
    2. Article 371A
    3. Article 371G
    4. Article 244A
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) Article 371A. Article 371A is the special provision for Nagaland. Article 371G is the similar provision for Mizoram. Article 370 concerned Jammu and Kashmir, and Article 244A allows an autonomous State within Assam.

  6. Consider the following issues:
    1. Basis of delimitation of constituencies
    2. Share of seats for women
    3. Constitutional status for the hill councils
    Which of the above are left open for consultation in the MHA's Ladakh framework?

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

    Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3. All three are open: whether to delimit by population, area or both; whether women get one-third to 50% of seats; and whether the LAHDCs should get constitutional status.

China puts tunnel-boring and high-altitude machinery under export curbs from 18 November

  1. With reference to China's export controls announced in October 2026, consider the following statements:
    1. They apply to tunnel-boring machines and their specially designed parts.
    2. They ban all exports of these items to every country.
    3. They cover certain wet shotcrete machines meant for areas above 3,000 metres.
    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
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only. Statement 1 is correct: full-face TBMs and parts such as cutterheads are listed. Statement 2 is incorrect: exports to sensitive or disputed destinations need a licence, and others need registration; China says compliant applications will be approved. Statement 3 is correct: plateau-type wet shotcrete machines for areas above 3,000 metres are covered.

  2. Consider the following items:
    1. Full-face tunnel-boring machines
    2. Walking excavators with specified climbing and fording ability
    3. Plateau-type wet shotcrete machines
    4. Dredgers
    How many of the above are covered by China's export control changes announced on 19 October 2026?

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

    Answer: (d) All four. All four are covered: TBMs and their parts, walking excavators able to climb over 1.2 metres and ford over 1.5 metres, plateau-type shotcrete machines for areas above 3,000 metres, and certain dredgers.

  3. Consider the following statements:
    1. India is a member of the Wassenaar Arrangement.
    2. China is a member of the Wassenaar Arrangement.
    3. India controls the export of dual-use items through the SCOMET list.
    How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

    Answer: (b) Only two. Statement 1 is correct: India joined in December 2017. Statement 2 is incorrect: China is not a member. Statement 3 is correct: SCOMET is India's control list under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992.

  4. Consider the following statements:
    Statement-I: China's new rules require a licence for exports of tunnel-boring machines to sensitive countries and regions in dispute with China.
    Statement-II: China classifies tunnel-boring machines as having dual-use characteristics.
    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
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I. Both are correct. Because China treats the machines as dual-use items, it applies its dual-use licensing system to them, which requires licences for sensitive destinations. Statement-II explains Statement-I.

  5. China's regulation on export control of dual-use items, which took effect on 1 December 2024, did which of the following?

    1. It replaced four older regulations with one unified dual-use list
    2. It abolished licences for all dual-use items
    3. It applied only to rare earth elements
    4. It made China a member of the Wassenaar Arrangement
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) It replaced four older regulations with one unified dual-use list. The regulation consolidated four earlier regulations on nuclear, missile, biological and chemical dual-use items into one list. It did not abolish licences, is not limited to rare earths, and did not change China's non-membership of Wassenaar.

  6. Which one of the following components of a tunnel-boring machine places concrete rings to line the tunnel as the machine advances?

    1. Cutterhead
    2. Screw conveyor
    3. Segment erector
    4. Main drive
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) Segment erector. The segment erector places the concrete lining segments. The cutterhead cuts the ground, the screw conveyor removes the muck, and the main drive turns the cutterhead.

Rubio in Mumbai: India, US and UAE hold trilateral talks as trade deal nears

  1. Which one of the following groups of countries makes up the I2U2 grouping?

    1. India, Indonesia, the UAE and the UK
    2. India, Israel, the UAE and the USA
    3. India, Iran, the UK and the USA
    4. India, Israel, the UK and Uzbekistan
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) India, Israel, the UAE and the USA. I2U2 stands for India and Israel (the two 'I's) and the US and the UAE (the two 'U's). It was formed in October 2021.

  2. Consider the following statements about the meetings in Mumbai on 20 October 2026:
    1. The trilateral meeting included the foreign ministers of India, the US and the UAE.
    2. Israel's foreign minister also took part in the trilateral.
    3. Energy and connectivity were among the topics discussed.
    How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

    Answer: (b) Only two. Statements 1 and 3 are correct: Jaishankar, Rubio and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed met on energy, connectivity and contemporary developments. Statement 2 is incorrect: Israel, the fourth I2U2 member, was not part of it.

  3. Consider the following statements about the I2U2 grouping:
    1. It was formed in October 2021.
    2. Its first leaders' summit announced UAE investment of $2 billion in food parks in India.
    3. It announced a 300 MW hybrid renewable energy project in Gujarat.
    4. Saudi Arabia is one of its members.
    How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

    Answer: (c) Only three. Statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct. Statement 4 is incorrect: the members are India, Israel, the UAE and the US.

  4. Consider the following statements:
    Statement-I: Rubio described India as a "refining superpower".
    Statement-II: The Jamnagar refining complex, which Rubio was scheduled to visit, is run by Reliance Industries.
    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
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II does not explain Statement-I. Both are correct. Rubio called India a "refining superpower", and Reliance Industries runs the Jamnagar complex. But who runs Jamnagar does not explain Rubio's description, so Statement-II does not explain Statement-I.

  5. Consider the following statements about India-US trade ties:
    1. The US imposed tariffs of up to 50% on most Indian goods in August 2025.
    2. A framework in February 2026 reduced the rate to 18%.
    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
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2. Both are correct: tariffs of up to 50% came in August 2025, and the February 2026 framework cut the rate to 18%, though a full deal is still pending.

  6. The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) was announced on the sidelines of which event?

    1. The SCO summit in 2022
    2. The G20 summit in New Delhi in 2023
    3. The BRICS summit in 2024
    4. The Quad summit in 2021
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) The G20 summit in New Delhi in 2023. IMEC was announced at the G20 summit in New Delhi in September 2023, during India's G20 presidency.

Aditya-L1's VELC produces Doppler images that show which way solar eruptions travel

  1. With reference to the Aditya-L1 mission, consider the following statements:
    1. It is placed in a halo orbit around the Sun-Earth Lagrange point L1.
    2. Its Visible Emission Line Coronagraph was built by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics.
    3. It carries a single payload.
    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
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only. Statement 1 is correct: it reached a halo orbit around L1 on 6 January 2024. Statement 2 is correct: VELC was built by IIA, Bengaluru. Statement 3 is incorrect: Aditya-L1 carries seven payloads.

  2. Consider the following statements about VELC on Aditya-L1:
    1. It blocks the Sun's bright disc to observe the corona.
    2. It records emission lines of highly charged iron.
    3. It observes the corona only in X-rays.
    How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

    Answer: (b) Only two. Statements 1 and 2 are correct: VELC is a coronagraph and records iron lines at 5303 Å, 7892 Å and 10747 Å. Statement 3 is incorrect: it works in visible and near-infrared light.

  3. Consider the following statements:
    1. Light from a source moving towards an observer shifts to shorter wavelengths.
    2. Lagrange point L1 lies on the line between the Sun and Earth.
    3. A spacecraft in a halo orbit around L1 has an uninterrupted view of the Sun.
    4. Coronal mass ejections cannot affect satellites.
    How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

    Answer: (c) Only three. Statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct: approaching sources show blueshift, L1 lies between the Sun and Earth, and a halo orbit around it avoids eclipses. Statement 4 is incorrect: CMEs can disrupt satellites and communication.

  4. Consider the following statements:
    Statement-I: VELC's Doppler images can show whether a coronal mass ejection is moving towards or away from Earth.
    Statement-II: The wavelength of light emitted by moving plasma shifts depending on its motion along the line of sight.
    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
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I. Both are correct, and Statement-II is the principle (the Doppler effect) that makes Statement-I possible.

  5. Consider the following statements about the CME that VELC observed on 16 July 2024, as reported by ISRO:
    1. Plasma was moving away from the observer at about 10 km/s.
    2. The brightness of the affected region rose by about 50%.
    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
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) 1 only. Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is incorrect: the region dimmed, with brightness falling by about 50%; it was the temperature that rose, by about 30%.

  6. Why is a coronagraph needed to observe the Sun's corona?

    1. The corona emits only radio waves
    2. The corona is far fainter than the Sun's disc, which must be blocked
    3. The corona lies inside the Sun's core
    4. The corona can be seen only from the Moon
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) The corona is far fainter than the Sun's disc, which must be blocked. The corona is much fainter than the solar disc and is normally seen only during a total eclipse; a coronagraph blocks the disc to create an artificial eclipse.

Op-ed: As India hosts the Agrivoltaics World Conference, farms can grow crops and power

  1. With reference to PM-KUSUM, consider the following statements:
    1. It is implemented by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
    2. Under Component A, farmers can set up decentralised solar plants of up to 2 MW on barren or fallow land.
    3. Component C provides only diesel pumps to farmers without grid access.
    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
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only. Statement 1 is correct: MNRE runs the scheme. Statement 2 is correct: Component A covers plants of up to 2 MW on barren or fallow land. Statement 3 is incorrect: Component C solarises existing grid-connected pumps; standalone solar pumps fall under Component B, and the scheme does not provide diesel pumps.

  2. Consider the following statements about the 7th AgriVoltaics World Conference:
    1. It is being held in New Delhi from 21 to 23 October 2026.
    2. Its theme is "Powering the Global South".
    3. It is the first time the conference series has been held.
    How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

    Answer: (b) Only two. Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is incorrect: the series began in 2020, and the 2025 edition was held in Freiburg, Germany.

  3. Consider the following statements about PM-KUSUM:
    1. It was launched in 2019.
    2. Component B supports standalone solar pumps.
    3. Component C solarises grid-connected pumps.
    4. All its project deadlines ended on 31 March 2026 with no extension.
    How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

    Answer: (c) Only three. Statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct. Statement 4 is incorrect: in March 2026 MNRE extended timelines, with Component A commissioning now due by 31 March 2027.

  4. Consider the following statements:
    Statement-I: Agrivoltaic systems may help protect crops from heat stress.
    Statement-II: Solar panels in agrivoltaic systems provide partial shade over the crops.
    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
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I. Both are correct, and the partial shade from the panels is what creates the cooler microclimate that can protect crops from heat stress.

  5. The 100 kWp Agri-PV pilot inaugurated in December 2025 is located at which institution?

    1. ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur
    2. ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
    3. National Institute of Solar Energy, Gurugram
    4. BAIF Rural Innovation Centre, Pune
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. The pilot is at ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, under its Centre of Excellence on Agri-PV, with NISE, MNRE and GIZ as partners. CAZRI and BAIF run separate AgriPV research.

  6. Consider the following statements about the International Solar Alliance:
    1. It was launched by India and France at the UN climate conference in Paris in 2015.
    2. All member countries of the United Nations are automatically its members.
    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
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) 1 only. Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is incorrect: countries join by signing and ratifying the ISA framework agreement.