What mattered in the last day or two — from PIB, written in our own words — then 15 questions in UPSC's formats. +2 for a right answer, −0.67 for a wrong one, 0 for a blank.
India and MERCOSUR have initiated talks to expand their existing Preferential Trade Agreement, aiming to deepen economic ties and create new opportunities for private sectors.
Negotiations were launched by Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Uruguayan Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin.
Uruguay is currently exercising the Pro Tempore Presidency of MERCOSUR.
The goal is to expand the current Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) to cover areas of mutual interest.
Both nations are finalizing the Terms of Reference to define the scope and structure of the expanded deal.
Key terms
Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA)
— A trade deal where member countries reduce tariffs on specific goods and services for each other, but not necessarily for all trading partners.
Pro Tempore Presidency
— The temporary leadership role held by a member country of an international organization, responsible for coordinating its activities during a specific period.
Terms of Reference
— A document that outlines the scope, objectives, and structure of a negotiation or project, serving as the roadmap for the discussions.
2. Union Minister Visits GIB Habitat; Inaugurates Soft Release Centre
The Union Environment Minister visited the Great Indian Bustard habitat in Gujarat, inaugurating a new soft release centre and reviewing conservation progress including predator-proof fencing and community-led afforestation.
Inaugurated the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) Soft Release Centre at Naliya, Kachchh, designed for gradual adaptation of birds to the wild.
Reported successful 'jump-start' intervention where infertile wild eggs were replaced with viable captive-bred eggs, resulting in a chick surviving beyond three months.
Conservation measures include restoring 11 sq. km of grassland from invasive Prosopis juliflora and raising 30 km of predator-proof fencing.
Launched 'Sayara Van Kavach', a Miyawaki-method forest covering 9.46 sq. km with 10,000 saplings across 47 native species.
Flagged off 33 patrolling vehicles for the Kachchh Forest Circle and reviewed mangrove plantation efforts at Jakhau.
Key terms
Soft Release Centre
— A facility equipped to help captive-bred animals gradually adapt to natural environmental conditions before full release into the wild.
Jump-start Intervention
— A conservation technique where infertile eggs laid by wild females are replaced with viable eggs from a breeding program to boost hatchling survival.
Miyawaki Method
— An intensive afforestation technique using native species to create dense, multi-layered forests that grow rapidly and support high biodiversity.
Prosopis juliflora
— An invasive tree species that threatens native grasslands by outcompeting indigenous flora and altering soil chemistry.
Six years after launch, commercial coal mine auctions have transformed India's mining sector through transparency, private participation, and significant revenue generation.
4. India-MERCOSUR Protocol Enables Electronic Certificates of Origin
India and MERCOSUR signed a protocol to grant legal validity to electronic Certificates of Origin, aiming to reduce trade costs and modernize customs procedures under their existing Preferential Trade Agreement.
7. Wave-like Heat Transport in TlCu5Se3 Boosts Thermoelectric Efficiency
Researchers at JNCASR discovered a novel wave-like heat transport mechanism in thallium copper selenide, enabling efficient conversion of industrial waste heat into electricity.
MoSPI released provisional CPI data for August 2026, showing headline inflation at 4.82% and food inflation at 5.95%, driven by sharp rises in onion and silver prices.
10. Ministry of Coal Launches Special Campaign 6.0 for E-Waste
The Ministry of Coal has initiated Special Campaign 6.0 (Oct 2026) focusing on e-waste management, following SC 5.0's success in scrap disposal and space optimization.
The Indian Air Force launched its first Dronathon-2026 at Pokhran to assess unmanned systems, releasing a new UAS Roadmap and demonstrating the indigenous 'Vayu UTtaM' traffic management system.
13. Kerala’s EcoSense Scholarships: Empowering Students in Waste Management
Kerala's EcoSense initiative awards scholarships to thousands of students for active participation in waste management, aligning with Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0.
The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan has engaged over 34 crore citizens through awareness campaigns, expanded de-addiction infrastructure, and digital tools to combat substance abuse.
15. CEC Gyanesh Kumar Visits Bhutan to Strengthen Electoral Ties
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is on a three-day visit to Bhutan to enhance institutional cooperation and participate in National Voters' Day celebrations.
16. INS Mysore Concludes Exercise Samudra Laksamana in Malaysia
Indian Naval Ship Mysore completed the 4th edition of bilateral naval exercise Samudra Laksamana with the Royal Malaysian Navy, enhancing maritime interoperability.
With reference to the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre and India's engagement with global traditional medicine frameworks, consider the following statements:
1. The Centre is located in Jamnagar, Gujarat, and was established in 2022 with India as its lead investor.
2. The inclusion of Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani in ICD-11 Module 2 constitutes a formal endorsement by the WHO of their scientific validity and efficacy.
3. The second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine held in New Delhi resulted in the 'Gujarat Declaration'.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (d)
Statement 1 is correct: The text confirms the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre was established in Jamnagar in 2022 with India as the lead investor (committing ~USD 250 million).
Statement 2 is incorrect: The text explicitly states that WHO clarified such inclusion does not constitute an endorsement of scientific validity or efficacy.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The 'Gujarat Declaration' resulted from the first summit in Gandhinagar (2023). The second summit in New Delhi (2025) resulted in the 'Delhi Declaration' and SMART commitments.
a Both Statement 2 and Statement 3 are incorrect; Statement 1 is missing.
b Statement 2 is factually incorrect regarding WHO's stance on validation.
With reference to the recent visit of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India to Bhutan, consider the following statements:
1. The CEC was invited as the Chief Guest for the celebration of Bhutan’s National Voters’ Day.
2. The visit aimed to strengthen institutional cooperation between the Election Commission of India and the Election Commission of Bhutan.
3. During the visit, the CEC met with the King of Bhutan in Paro and the Prime Minister of Bhutan in Thimphu.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (d)
Statement 1 is correct: The release explicitly states that a key engagement was the celebration of Bhutan’s National Voters’ Day at the Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law, Paro, where the CEC was the Chief Guest.
Statement 2 is correct: The final paragraph notes that the visit will strengthen close institutional cooperation between the ECI and the Election Commission of Bhutan.
Statement 3 is incorrect: While the CEC met the King of Bhutan, the release specifies this meeting took place in Thimphu on September 14, not in Paro. The meeting with the Prime Minister also took place in Thimphu.
a Statement 3 is incorrect due to the wrong location cited for the meeting with the King.
b Statement 3 is incorrect because the meeting with the King occurred in Thimphu, not Paro.
c Statement 3 is incorrect, making option d invalid.
With reference to the 'Special Campaign' series launched by the Government of India, consider the following statements:
1. Special Campaign 6.0 places a special emphasis on the effective collection, segregation, and disposal of e-waste.
2. During Special Campaign 5.0, the Ministry of Coal emerged as the Top Performer in the category of Revenue Earned among all Ministries/Departments.
3. The campaign is implemented under the direction of the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG).
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (c)
Statement 1 is correct: The release explicitly states that Special Campaign 6.0 has a special emphasis on “Effective collection, segregation and disposal of e-waste”.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The release states that during Special Campaign 5.0, the Ministry of Coal emerged as the Top Performer in the category of Space Freed and secured the Third position in Revenue Earned, not Top Performer in Revenue Earned.
Statement 3 is incorrect: While DARPG reports are mentioned for performance ranking, the release states the campaign was "Implemented under the direction of the Ministry of Coal".
a Both Statements 2 and 3 are incorrect based on the source text.
b Statement 2 is factually incorrect regarding the specific achievement category (Top Performer vs Third Position).
Consider the following statements regarding the revenue structure and outcomes of the Commercial Coal Mine Auction policy launched in 2020:
1. The revenue generated includes Royalty, District Mineral Foundation (DMF) contributions, and National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) contributions, in addition to a competitively bid revenue share.
2. Legacy public sector undertakings like Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) were barred from participating in the auctions to encourage private competition.
3. As of the report date, over 140 coal mines have been auctioned, attracting participation from new private companies as well as existing PSUs.
How many of the above statements are correct?
Answer: (b)
Statement 1 is correct: The release lists Royalty, DMF, NMET, GST, and competitively bid revenue share as components of the contribution to states.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The release states that legacy coal PSUs like WCL and NCL 'have themselves stepped in as bidders... competing on exactly the same terms as private players'.
Statement 3 is correct: The release confirms that '147 coal mines have been auctioned till date' and notes the entry of both new companies and legacy PSUs.
a Two statements (1 and 3) are correct, not just one.
c Statement 2 is incorrect because PSUs were allowed and did participate.
Consider the following statements regarding the recent developments in India-MERCOSUR trade relations:
Statement-I: The Pro Tempore Presidency of MERCOSUR was held by Uruguay during the announcement of the PTA expansion negotiations.
Statement-II: The primary objective of expanding the PTA is to replace the existing bilateral trade agreements with a single multilateral framework.
In the context of the above statements, which one of the following is correct?
Answer: (c)
Statement-I is true: The release notes that the Uruguayan Minister acted 'in the exercise of the Pro Tempore Presidency of MERCOSUR'.
Statement-II is false: The release states the goal is to 'expand the current Agreement' to cover more areas and deepen relations, not to replace existing bilateral agreements or create a new multilateral framework from scratch.
With reference to the India-MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), consider the following statements:
1. The PTA provides preferential tariff concessions on an equal number of tariff lines for both India and MERCOSUR.
2. The First Additional Protocol grants electronic Certificates of Origin the same legal validity as paper certificates, provided they are issued by duly authorised entities in accordance with domestic legislation.
3. The Protocol was signed during the fifth meeting of the Joint Administrative Committee held in April 2026.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (b)
Statement 1 is incorrect: The text states India offers concessions on 450 tariff lines while MERCOSUR offers them on 452 tariff lines; hence, the numbers are not equal.
Statement 2 is correct: The Protocol amends Article 16 to ensure electronic Certificates of Origin have identical legal value to paper ones, subject to issuance by authorized entities under domestic law.
Statement 3 is incorrect: While the proposal was adopted at the fifth meeting in April 2026, the signing took place subsequently (on 14 Sept 2026) by Commerce Secretary and Ambassadors, not 'during' that specific committee meeting.
a Statement 1 is factually wrong regarding the equality of tariff lines.
c Statement 3 is incorrect because the signing event is distinct from the adoption of the proposal at the JAC meeting.
With reference to the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) in India, consider the following statements:
1. The WPI is compiled and released by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
2. In the current series with base year 2022-23, 'Fuel and Power' has the highest weight among the three major groups.
3. The provisional estimate for a reference month is typically released on the 14th of the following month.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (b)
Statement 1 is correct: The press release explicitly states it is issued by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
Statement 2 is incorrect: According to Annexure-I, 'Manufactured Products' has a weight of 63.13%, which is significantly higher than 'Fuel and Power' (14.11%) and 'Primary Articles' (22.76%).
Statement 3 is correct: The text states that provisional indices are released on the 14th of the following month.
a Statement 2 is incorrect as Manufactured Products has the highest weight, not Fuel and Power.
c Statement 2 is incorrect.
d Statement 2 is incorrect regarding the weight distribution.
With reference to 'Vayu UTtaM', consider the following statements:
1. It is an indigenously developed multi-mode Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) system.
2. Its primary operational role is restricted exclusively to managing military drone operations within combat zones.
3. It has potential applications in civil aviation and critical infrastructure safety beyond the military domain.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: (a)
Statement 1 is correct: The release identifies Vayu UTtaM as the IAF's indigenously developed multi-mode UTM system.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The system detects and tracks both military and civil UAS and is designed for coordinated management in congested airspace, not just combat zones.
Statement 3 is correct: The text explicitly states it has potential applications in airspace safety, critical infrastructure, civil aviation, and public safety.
b Statement 2 is incorrect due to its restrictive claim about the system's scope.
c Statement 2 is incorrect because the system handles civil drones and has non-military applications.
d Statement 2 is incorrect; the system is not restricted to military-only operations.
Consider the following statements regarding the context of India-Malaysia maritime cooperation as described in recent engagements:
1. Exercise Samudra Laksamana builds upon the momentum generated by the 12th India–Malaysia Sub Committee Meeting.
2. The primary objective of the harbour phase of the exercise was to conduct coordinated maritime evolutions to enhance interoperability.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (d)
Statement 1 is correct: The release mentions that the exercise builds upon the momentum from the 12th India–Malaysia Sub Committee Meeting held on 01 Jul 2026.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The release distinguishes the phases; the harbour phase featured professional exchanges and sharing of experiences, while the operational phase at sea involved coordinated maritime evolutions for interoperability.
a Statement 1 is correct, and Statement 2 is incorrect due to misattribution of activities to the wrong phase.
With reference to the conservation measures for the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) in the Kachchh landscape, consider the following statements:
1. The 'jump-start' intervention involves replacing infertile eggs laid by wild GIB females with viable eggs from the conservation breeding programme.
2. The Soft Release Centre is designed exclusively for the permanent housing of adult GIBs that cannot be released into the wild due to disability.
3. Predator-proof fencing and grassland restoration are key habitat management strategies employed in the region.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (a)
Statement 1 is correct: The text explicitly describes the 'jump-start' intervention as replacing infertile wild eggs with viable ones from the breeding program.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The Soft Release Centre supports 'gradual adaptation of GIBs to the natural environment,' implying a temporary phase before release, not permanent housing for disabled birds.
Statement 3 is correct: The text lists predator-proof fencing and grassland restoration (removing Prosopis juliflora) as part of comprehensive conservation and habitat-management measures.
b Statement 2 is incorrect, making this option invalid.
c Statement 2 is incorrect, making this option invalid.
d Statement 2 is incorrect because the centre is for gradual adaptation/release, not permanent housing.
With reference to 'Operation Deep Manifest' and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), consider the following statements:
1. The operation was launched in response to a complete prohibition on direct or indirect imports from Pakistan imposed by the Government of India in May 2025.
2. The seizure of Pakistan-origin goods under this operation relies solely on physical inspection at Indian ports, without utilizing intelligence regarding transshipment hubs like Jebel Ali.
3. The DRI operates under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to enforce trade prohibitions.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (d)
Statement 1 is correct: The release states that following the Pahalgam terror attack, the GoI imposed a complete prohibition on imports from Pakistan effective 2 May 2025, and DRI has been acting under 'Operation Deep Manifest' to counter circumvention attempts.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The release explicitly mentions that DRI acted on 'specific intelligence' and identified 'transshipment arrangements' via third countries (UAE/Jebel Ali) to conceal origin, not just physical inspection.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The release attributes the action to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), which functions under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, not the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
a Statement 2 is incorrect as the operation heavily relies on intelligence regarding transshipment and misdeclaration, not just physical inspection.
b Statement 2 is incorrect regarding the mechanism, and Statement 3 is incorrect regarding the parent ministry (it is Finance, not Commerce).
c Statements 2 and 3 are factually incorrect based on the source text.
With reference to the 'EcoSense' initiative in Kerala, consider the following statements:
1. It is implemented by the Local Self Government Department in collaboration with the General Education Department.
2. The scholarship amount is fixed at ₹1,500 per student, regardless of the type of local body they belong to.
3. Students from Classes 6 through 12 are eligible for selection under this scheme.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (a)
Statement 1 is correct: The release states EcoSense is led by the Local Self Government Department in collaboration with the General Education Department.
Statement 2 is correct: The text explicitly mentions that each selected student receives a scholarship of ₹1,500 along with a certificate.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The eligibility is restricted to specific classes: Upper Primary (Classes 6 & 7), High School (Classes 8 & 9), and first-year students of Higher Secondary/Vocational Higher Secondary categories. It does not include all students from Class 6 through 12.
b Statement 3 is incorrect as it overgeneralizes the class eligibility; second-year Higher Secondary students are not included.
c Statement 2 is actually correct, so excluding it makes this option wrong.
With reference to the material Thallium Copper Selenide (TlCu5Se3) and its thermal transport properties, consider the following statements:
1. It exhibits a wave-like heat transport mechanism driven by strong anharmonicity arising from confined dynamic disorder of copper atoms.
2. Its high thermoelectric performance is achieved through long-range, liquid-like diffusion of ions similar to conventional superionic materials.
3. The compound crystallizes in a tetragonal structure forming a complex three-dimensional cloverleaf knot-like framework.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: (c)
Statement 1 is correct: The release states that confined dynamic disorder of Cu generates strong anharmonicity, leading to predominantly wave-like phonon transport.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The release explicitly contrasts TlCu5Se3 with conventional superionic materials, noting that Cu atoms exhibit localized dynamic disorder rather than long-range, liquid-like diffusion, which preserves structural stability.
Statement 3 is correct: The text confirms the compound crystallizes in a tetragonal structure with a complex three-dimensional cloverleaf knot-like framework.
a Statement 2 is factually opposite to the source; it describes localized disorder, not long-range diffusion.
With reference to the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA), consider the following statements:
1. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment provides financial assistance under NAPDDR only to State Governments and Union Territories for preventive education and treatment.
2. The NMBA 2.0 Mobile Application has been launched to enable citizens to locate the nearest de-addiction centre.
3. The campaign focuses exclusively on youth engagement, excluding women and other demographic groups from its awareness activities.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (a)
Statement 1 is incorrect: Under NAPDDR, the Ministry provides financial assistance to State Governments, Union Territories, NGOs, AND Government hospitals, not just state/UT governments.
Statement 2 is correct: The release explicitly states that the Ministry launched the NMBA 2.0 Mobile Application to improve accessibility by enabling citizens to locate the nearest de-addiction centre.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The release highlights that the campaign reached over 13.70 Crore youth AND 10.64 Crore women, indicating a broad demographic focus beyond just youth.
b Statement 3 is false because the campaign actively includes women and general citizens, not just youth.
c Statements 1 and 3 are both factually incorrect based on the source text.
d Statement 1 is false because it excludes NGOs and Government hospitals from the list of beneficiaries under NAPDDR.
Consider the following statements regarding the context and capacity of the power export to Nepal approved in September 2026:
1. The primary driver for this additional requirement was significant damage to Nepal's hydropower infrastructure caused by recent floods.
2. The total approved export capacity through both transmission lines combined exceeds 650 MW.
3. The agreement is limited strictly to the calendar year 2026, with no provisions for future cooperation or review.
How many of the above statements are correct?
Answer: (b)
Statement 1 is correct: The release attributes the reduced domestic generation and additional requirement to flood damage on hydropower infrastructure.
Statement 2 is correct: The capacities are up to 600 MW (Muzaffarpur-Dhalkebar) + up to 54 MW (Tanakpur-Mahendranagar) = 654 MW, which exceeds 650 MW.
Statement 3 is incorrect: While the current approval ends on 31 December 2026, the release explicitly mentions a review for January 2027 onwards and highlights strengthening long-standing energy cooperation, contradicting the claim that there are 'no provisions' for future cooperation.
a Two statements (1 and 2) are correct, not just one.
c Statement 3 is incorrect as the release mentions reviews for 2027 and ongoing cooperation.
d Statements 1 and 2 are clearly supported by the text.
Items are summarised in our own words from PIB; nothing is reproduced from the articles, and each item links to the original. Questions are generated from those releases and re-checked against the source text by a second model before publishing. If one looks wrong, use Feedback — every report is read.
Practise Prelims PYQs and the daily 21 free
Score the daily set, see your rank, and let Guru explain what you missed.