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UPSC current affairs quiz, 29 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 29 October 2026 first28 October 2026 quiz30 October 2026 quizTimed test in the app

Op-ed: The Inter-State Council has withered away and must be rebuilt

  1. With reference to the Inter-State Council, consider the following statements:
    1. It is a constitutional body created directly by the Constitution and must meet every year.
    2. It was constituted in 1990 by a Presidential Order on the recommendation of the Sarkaria Commission.
    3. It is chaired by the Prime Minister.
    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: (b) 2 and 3 only. Statement 1 is wrong: Article 263 only empowers the President to establish a council if the public interest would be served; the Constitution itself does not create it or fix meetings. Statement 2 is correct: the Presidential Order is dated 28 May 1990, following the Sarkaria Commission. Statement 3 is correct: the Prime Minister is the chairman.

  2. Consider the following statements about the Inter-State Council:
    1. It was constituted by a Presidential Order in 1990.
    2. Its recommendations are binding on the States.
    3. Union Territories with legislatures are represented by their Chief Ministers.
    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 (Order of 28 May 1990). Statement 2 is wrong: the Council is advisory and its recommendations bind neither the Union nor the States. Statement 3 is correct: Chief Ministers of UTs with legislative assemblies are members. So two are correct.

  3. Consider the following statements:
    Statement-I: The Inter-State Council can be called a constitutional body only in the sense that the Constitution permits it.
    Statement-II: Article 263 empowers the President to establish the Council if it appears that the public interest would be served.
    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. The Constitution does not create the Council directly; Article 263 lets the President create it when the public interest would be served, which is exactly why it exists only by Presidential Order. Statement-II explains Statement-I.

  4. Consider the following bodies:
    1. Inter-State Council
    2. GST Council
    3. Zonal Councils
    4. NITI Aayog
    How many of the above derive from an express provision of the Constitution of India?

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

    Answer: (b) Only two. The Inter-State Council (Article 263) and the GST Council (Article 279A) rest on constitutional provisions. Zonal Councils were created by the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, and NITI Aayog by a Union Cabinet resolution of 2015. So only two.

  5. The 11th and latest meeting of the Inter-State Council was held in:

    1. 2006
    2. 2010
    3. 2016
    4. 2024
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) 2016. It was held in New Delhi on 16 July 2016, after a gap of almost ten years since the 10th meeting in December 2006. November 2024 saw a reconstitution of the Council, not a meeting.

  6. Consider the following statements:
    1. The Standing Committee of the Inter-State Council is chaired by the Prime Minister.
    2. The Punchhi Commission recommended strengthening the Inter-State Council.
    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: (b) 2 only. Statement 1 is wrong: the Union Home Minister chairs the Standing Committee; the Prime Minister chairs the full Council. Statement 2 is correct: the Punchhi Commission (2010) recommended making the Council a stronger forum.

Industrial output growth slows to a four-month low of 6.7% in September 2026

  1. With reference to the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) in India, consider the following statements:
    1. It is compiled and released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
    2. In the series with base year 2022-23, manufacturing has a weight of about three-fourths.
    3. The IIP covers the services sector as well as industry.
    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: MoSPI releases the IIP. Statement 2 is correct: manufacturing's weight is 76.06% in the new series. Statement 3 is wrong: the IIP measures industrial output only (mining, manufacturing, electricity and gas, and water supply and waste management), not services.

  2. Consider the following statements about IIP data for September 2026:
    1. Mining and quarrying output contracted.
    2. Capital goods grew faster than intermediate goods.
    3. Electricity and gas supply grew by more than 10%.
    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: mining fell 6.2%. Statement 2 is wrong: intermediate goods grew 12.2%, faster than capital goods at 10.4%. Statement 3 is correct: electricity and gas grew 11.2%. So two are correct.

  3. Consider the following:
    1. Manufacturing
    2. Mining and quarrying
    3. Water supply, sewerage and waste management
    4. Financial services
    How many of the above are sectors of the Index of Industrial Production with base year 2022-23?

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

    Answer: (c) Only three. The new IIP has four sectors: mining and quarrying, manufacturing, electricity and gas supply, and water supply, sewerage and waste management. Financial services are part of services, not the IIP. So three of the four listed are IIP sectors.

  4. Consider the following statements:
    Statement-I: IIP growth figures for a month can change after their first release.
    Statement-II: MoSPI first releases IIP as quick estimates and revises them later as more data arrive.
    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 II explains I. The September 2026 figure is a quick estimate; the August figure was revised from 8% to 7.8% when more data came in.

  5. Which one of the following use-based categories of the IIP is the best indicator of investment activity in the economy?

    1. Consumer non-durables
    2. Primary goods
    3. Capital goods
    4. Consumer durables
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) Capital goods. Capital goods are machinery and equipment used to produce other goods, so their output tracks investment. In September 2026 they grew 10.4%.

  6. Consider the following statements:
    1. The IIP is a value index that measures changes in the money value of industrial output.
    2. Manufacturing accounts for about three-fourths of the IIP's weight in the 2022-23 series.
    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: (b) 2 only. Statement 1 is wrong: the IIP measures changes in the volume of production. Statement 2 is correct: manufacturing has a weight of 76.06%.

Cyclone Arnab crosses Andhra coast; El Niño helps explain its path and strength

  1. With reference to tropical cyclones in the North Indian Ocean, consider the following statements:
    1. A very severe cyclonic storm, in IMD's classification, has maximum sustained winds of at least 118 km/h.
    2. Sea surface water of at least about 26°C is a necessary condition for cyclone formation.
    3. In El Niño years, cyclones in this basin tend to form farther from the equator than usual.
    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: IMD's very severe category begins at 118 km/h. Statement 2 is correct: warm water of about 26°C or more, extending to some depth, fuels cyclones. Statement 3 is wrong: in El Niño years they tend to form closer to the equator, which pushes tracks towards Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

  2. Consider the following statements about Cyclone Arnab:
    1. It was the first cyclone of 2026 in the North Indian Ocean basin.
    2. It made landfall on the Odisha coast near Gopalpur.
    3. It kept its intensity for at least six hours after landfall.
    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. Statement 2 is wrong: it crossed the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam. Statement 3 is correct: its centre stayed nearly stationary near Narsapur and Yanam. So two are correct.

  3. Consider the following statements:
    Statement-I: Tropical cyclones do not form very close to the equator.
    Statement-II: The Coriolis force is nearly zero near the equator.
    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 II explains I. Cyclones need the Coriolis force to start rotating, and it is too weak within roughly 5 degrees of the equator.

  4. Consider the following conditions:
    1. Sea surface temperature of about 26°C or more
    2. Strong vertical wind shear
    3. Sufficient Coriolis force
    4. High humidity in the lower and middle troposphere
    How many of the above favour the formation of a tropical cyclone?

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

    Answer: (c) Only three. Warm sea, adequate Coriolis force and moist air favour cyclones. Strong vertical wind shear works against them by tilting and tearing apart the storm column; low shear is needed. So three of the four favour formation.

  5. Arrange the following IMD categories in increasing order of wind speed:
    1. Severe cyclonic storm
    2. Deep depression
    3. Very severe cyclonic storm
    4. Cyclonic storm
    Select the correct answer:

    1. 2-4-1-3
    2. 4-2-1-3
    3. 2-1-4-3
    4. 4-1-2-3
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) 2-4-1-3. Deep depression (50 to 61 km/h) comes before cyclonic storm (from 62), then severe cyclonic storm (from 89) and very severe cyclonic storm (from 118).

  6. Consider the following statements regarding El Niño:
    1. It is marked by unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific.
    2. The Niño 3.4 region is used to monitor it.
    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. El Niño is the warm phase of ENSO, and the Niño 3.4 region of the equatorial Pacific is the standard monitoring box; in July to September 2026 it was 2 to 2.8°C above normal.

Centre sends NTCA-WCCB team after Kuno cheetah cub dies of gunshot pellet injuries

  1. With reference to Project Cheetah, consider the following statements:
    1. The first cheetahs released under the project were brought from Namibia in September 2022.
    2. As of October 2026, all of India's cheetahs are in Madhya Pradesh.
    3. The cheetahs brought to India belong to the Asiatic subspecies.
    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: eight cheetahs from Namibia were released at Kuno on 17 September 2022. Statement 2 is correct: the 58 cheetahs are in Kuno, Gandhi Sagar and Veerangana Durgavati, all in Madhya Pradesh. Statement 3 is wrong: the animals came from Namibia and South Africa and are African cheetahs; the Asiatic cheetah survives only in Iran.

  2. Consider the following protected areas:
    1. Kuno National Park
    2. Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary
    3. Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve
    How many of the above held cheetahs as of October 2026?

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

    Answer: (c) All three. All three: Kuno had 52, Gandhi Sagar four and Veerangana Durgavati two, for a total of 58.

  3. Consider the following statements:
    Statement-I: Cheetahs reintroduced in India have been brought from African countries.
    Statement-II: The Asiatic cheetah is now found in the wild only in Iran.
    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 II explains I. Because the only surviving Asiatic cheetahs are a tiny population in Iran, India sourced African cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa.

  4. Consider the following statements about the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau:
    1. It is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
    2. It was set up in 2007.
    3. It is part of the National Investigation Agency.
    4. Its officers are part of the central team probing the death of cheetah KNG22.
    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 4 are correct. The WCCB was constituted in 2007 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act and works under the Environment Ministry; an Additional Director and a Regional Deputy Director are on the KNG22 team. Statement 3 is wrong: it is not part of the NIA.

  5. Kuno National Park, the main site of Project Cheetah, is located in which district?

    1. Morena
    2. Sheopur
    3. Mandsaur
    4. Damoh
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) Sheopur. Kuno National Park lies in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh. KNG22 was found injured in territorial forest outside the park.

  6. Consider the following statements:
    1. The National Tiger Conservation Authority is a statutory body.
    2. KNG22's death was the first reported gunfire death of a cheetah since Project Cheetah began.
    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. The NTCA was given statutory status through the 2006 amendment to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. KNG22 is the first cheetah reported killed by gunfire since September 2022.

Rajnath raises U.S. support for Pakistan's F-16 fleet with Hegseth at ADMM-Plus in Cebu

  1. Which of the following countries are among the eight Dialogue Partners in the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus)?
    1. India
    2. Pakistan
    3. New Zealand
    4. Russia
    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

    Answer: (b) 1, 3 and 4 only. The eight ADMM-Plus Dialogue Partners are Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States. Pakistan is not a member.

  2. Consider the following agreements between India and the United States:
    1. LEMOA
    2. COMCASA
    3. BECA
    How many of the above were signed after 2017?

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

    Answer: (b) Only two. LEMOA was signed in 2016. COMCASA (2018) and BECA (2020) came after 2017. So two.

  3. Consider the following statements:
    Statement-I: India objects to U.S. sustainment support for Pakistan's F-16 fleet.
    Statement-II: Pakistan is a Dialogue Partner of the ADMM-Plus.
    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: Rajnath Singh raised the issue with Hegseth in Cebu. Statement-II is wrong: the eight Dialogue Partners are Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the U.S.

  4. Consider the following statements about the U.S. F-16 package for Pakistan notified in December 2025:
    1. It was estimated at about $686 million.
    2. It includes Link-16 data-sharing terminals.
    3. It is meant to extend the life of the fleet through 2040.
    4. It provides for new F-16 aircraft to be built for Pakistan.
    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: about $686 million, 92 Link-16 terminals, life extension through 2040. Statement 4 is wrong: the package upgrades and sustains the existing fleet; it is not a sale of new jets.

  5. The 10-year Framework for the U.S.-India Major Defence Partnership was signed on the sidelines of which meeting?

    1. Quad Leaders' Summit in Wilmington
    2. 12th ADMM-Plus in Kuala Lumpur
    3. G20 Summit in New Delhi
    4. Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) 12th ADMM-Plus in Kuala Lumpur. Rajnath Singh and Pete Hegseth signed it on 31 October 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, on the sidelines of the 12th ADMM-Plus.

  6. Consider the following statements:
    1. ADMM-Plus defence ministers have met annually since 2017.
    2. The Philippines chaired the ADMM-Plus in 2026.
    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. After meeting every few years from 2010, the ADMM-Plus has met annually since 2017; the 13th meeting in 2026 was held in Cebu under the Philippines' chairmanship.