What mattered in the last day or two — from PIB, The Hindu and The Indian Express, written in our own words — then 21 questions in UPSC's formats. +2 for a right answer, −0.67 for a wrong one, 0 for a blank.
1. 25th SCO Heads of Government Meet: India urges end to terror ecosystem
At the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh pressed for action against terrorism's full ecosystem and set out India's views on connectivity, trade and technology cooperation.
25th SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on 20 October 2026; Rajnath Singh represented India.
India backed the Action Plan for the Multilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation Programme (PMTEC) for 2026-2030, which was adopted along with the SCO budget for 2027.
The Bishkek Summit decided to make the Universal Centre (Tashkent) and the Anti-Drug Centre (Dushanbe) permanent SCO bodies.
India cited INSTC and Chabahar Port as links between Central Asia and wider markets.
India will host the first SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum later in the year.
Key terms
SCO Council of Heads of Government
— The SCO body of prime ministers or equivalents that reviews multilateral economic and trade cooperation and approves the organisation's budget.
PMTEC Action Plan
— Plan implementing the Programme of Multilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation among SCO members, adopted here for 2026-2030.
International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)
— Multimodal transport route linking India with Central Asia, Russia and Europe through Iran.
Chabahar Port
— Iranian port that India is developing as a trade gateway to Central Asia that bypasses Pakistan.
Digital Public Infrastructure
— Shared digital systems that deliver public services and promote financial inclusion at scale.
2. Wings of Change: A Decade of UDAN and Modified UDAN
UDAN, the regional air connectivity scheme, completes ten years in October 2026, and a ten-year Modified UDAN with an outlay of Rs 28,840 crore was launched in July 2026 to build aerodromes, sustain operations and promote Indian-made…
UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik), or the Regional Connectivity Scheme, was launched on 21 October 2016 under the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016. Its first flight ran from Shimla to Delhi in April 2017.
Over the decade it has operationalised 687 routes and 95 aerodromes (including 17 heliports and 2 water aerodromes). It has operated over 3.68 lakh flights carrying 1.72 crore passengers.
Modified UDAN was launched on 4 July 2026. It runs from FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36 with an outlay of Rs 28,840 crore.
It plans 100 airports on existing airstrips (Rs 12,159 crore), 200 modern helipads (Rs 3,661 crore) and three years of O&M support for about 441 aerodromes (Rs 2,577 crore).
Airline Viability Gap Funding of Rs 10,043 crore is available for up to five years, with tapering from year 3 and route exclusivity of three years. Rs 400 crore is proposed for HAL Dhruv helicopters (Pawan Hans) and HAL Dornier aircraft (Alliance Air).
Key terms
Regional Connectivity Scheme (UDAN)
— Scheme to make air travel on regional routes affordable and commercially viable by linking unserved and underserved airports.
Viability Gap Funding (VGF)
— Financial support given to airlines to cover the gap between the cost and revenue of operating a regional route.
Challenge Mode Portal for Aerodrome Development
— A portal-based competitive process to identify airstrips and helipads for development.
Operation and Maintenance (O&M) support
— Funding, capped per airport or heliport per year, to keep aerodromes running.
National Civil Aviation Policy 2016
— Policy that prioritised affordable regional connectivity through financial support and infrastructure development.
3. China's New Export Curbs on Tunnel Boring Machines: Impact on India
China will require export licences for tunnel boring machines (TBMs) from November 18 under dual-use export controls, adding leverage over India's metro and bullet train projects at a time of a widening trade deficit.
China's Commerce Ministry said TBM exporters must apply for licences under its export control law and dual-use items regulations; the rule takes effect on November 18.
TBMs weigh around 3,000 tonnes and are key to metro, highway and rail tunnelling; they are safer than conventional blasting.
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor is 508 km long and includes a 7-km undersea tunnel.
Germany's Herrenknecht, a leading TBM maker, had reported customs clearance problems for machines shipped from China to India in 2024; India received the TBMs in March this year.
India's trade deficit with China in the first six months of 2026-27 was $69 billion, 27% higher than a year earlier.
Key terms
Tunnel boring machine (TBM)
— A giant machine that excavates tunnels mechanically, safer than blasting and used for metros, highways and rail.
Dual-use items
— Goods with both civil and military or strategic applications, which states subject to export licensing.
Export control licensing
— A requirement that exporters obtain government permission before shipping specified goods abroad.
Anti-dumping measures
— Duties imposed on imports sold below fair value that harm domestic industry.
Trade deficit
— The excess of a country's imports over its exports in a given period.
4. Sirpur in Chhattisgarh enters UNESCO World Heritage tentative list
Sirpur, a multi-religious archaeological site (5th–12th century CE) in Chhattisgarh, has been placed on UNESCO's tentative list, the preliminary step before a full World Heritage nomination.
5. Nicobar tribal council seeks impleadment in Great Nicobar forest rights case; Centre objects
The Little and Great Nicobar Tribal Council wants to join a Calcutta HC PIL on Forest Rights Act compliance for diverting 166 sq km of forest for the Great Nicobar project; the Centre calls the plea belated.
Plea filed in the Calcutta High Court's Port Blair bench by the Little and Great Nicobar Tribal Council (chairperson Barnabas Manju) to be made a party to the PIL.
The PIL, brought by former Union secretary Meena Gupta, challenges FRA proceedings for diverting 166 sq km of forest land for the Rs 81,000-crore Great Nicobar project.
The Record of Forest Rights (RoFR) certificate dated August 18, 2022 stated that FRA settlement was complete for the diversion; the plea says it wrongly records gram sabha consent.
Project components: integrated township, transshipment container port at Galathea Bay, solar and gas-based power plant, and a greenfield military-civilian airport.
The Centre and the A&N administration say the plea is delayed and would widen the PIL's scope; they invoked the 'approbate and reprobate' principle against withdrawing the NOC.
Key terms
Forest Rights Act (FRA)
— The law recognising the forest rights of forest-dwelling tribal and other communities, including gram sabha's role in consenting to diversion of forest land.
Record of Forest Rights (RoFR)
— Certificate recording the settlement of forest rights; here it was issued to state that FRA process was complete for diversion.
Sub-divisional level committee (SDLC)
— FRA body that verifies gram sabha claims and prepares the draft RoFR for the district level committee.
Impleadment
— Court permission for an outside party to join an ongoing case as a party.
Approbate and reprobate
— Legal principle that a party cannot accept a benefit or decision and later reject it.
6. India's Nuclear Programme Peaceful; Nuclear Power to Fuel AI Demand
Union Minister Jitendra Singh said India's nuclear programme is meant for peaceful use and that nuclear power will help meet future electricity needs, including for AI and data centres, under the 100 GW by 2047 and Net Zero 2070 goals.
7. Keralam seeks FSSAI clarity on HFSS food definition
Keralam will ask FSSAI to finalise criteria defining high fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) food, since without statutory thresholds States cannot list or restrict such foods near schools.
8. J&K announces annual Darbar Move from Srinagar to Jammu
The J&K government has ordered the biannual capital shift to Jammu, with offices reopening there on November 2. The practice, scrapped in 2021, was revived by the Omar Abdullah government in 2025.
Order issued on October 20, 2026; offices in Srinagar start closing October 30-31 and reopen in winter capital Jammu on November 2.
Darbar Move began in 1872 under Dogra Maharaja Gulab Singh, shifting offices between Jammu (winter) and Srinagar (summer).
Over 9,000 employees from about 51 departments relocate each year.
The Lieutenant Governor's administration ended the practice in 2021, citing the burden on the exchequer; the Omar Abdullah government resumed it in 2025.
JKRTC to run buses on Oct 31 and Nov 1, with tickets from Oct 27; police to give convoys priority at the Banihal-Qazigund and Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee tunnels.
Key terms
Darbar Move
— Biannual shifting of the J&K civil secretariat and offices between the summer capital Srinagar and the winter capital Jammu.
Camp mode
— Arrangement where an office relocates with a reduced staff, up to 33% or 10 officials, whichever is lower.
Lieutenant Governor's administration
— Executive authority headed by the LG in a Union Territory, which ended the Darbar Move in 2021.
9. SIR deletions: why the Form 6 remedy for voters is contested
Voters dropped from rolls during the Special Intensive Revision are told to re-apply via Form 6, which carries a 'first-time voter' declaration; petitions in the Delhi HC, Bombay HC at Goa and the Supreme Court question this.
Form 6 is the ECI application for inclusion in electoral rolls by people who have never voted; it carries a declaration of first-time enrolment.
Form 8 is used to declare a change of residence or correct an existing roll entry.
Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 punishes a knowingly false written declaration with up to one year's imprisonment, a fine, or both.
Delhi HC (Justices Dinesh Mehta and Aditi Choudhary) called the concern 'misplaced' and dismissed the petition, noting that Form 6 was suggested by the ECI's counsel on the ERO's instructions.
In Delhi's draft roll (31 August), about 47.56 lakh of roughly 1.45 crore electors were excluded, of whom 31.59 lakh were marked 'permanently shifted'.
Key terms
Special Intensive Revision (SIR)
— An intensive, house-to-house enumeration drive to revise electoral rolls, in which unenumerated voters are dropped from the draft roll.
Form 6
— Application to be included in the electoral roll, meant for first-time enrolment.
Form 8
— Form to report a shift of residence or correct details in an existing electoral entry.
Electoral Registration Officer (ERO)
— Official designated by the ECI, after consulting the state government, to prepare and revise electoral rolls for a constituency.
Section 31, RPA 1950
— Provision penalising false written statements or declarations made in connection with electoral rolls.
10. Rijiju Urges Opposition Cooperation on Delimitation Constitution Amendment Bill
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, replying to Kharge's call for an all-party meeting, said the government has already consulted widely on the delimitation Bill that failed in Lok Sabha for lack of a two-thirds majority, and asked…
The Constitution Amendment Bill on Delimitation, which linked delimitation with larger representation for women, failed in the Lok Sabha on 17 April 2026 for want of the required two-thirds majority.
Rijiju says he wrote to Kharge on 16 March, 26 March and 12 April, and also spoke to Kharge and Rahul Gandhi personally.
Besides Congress, the government consulted DMK, SP, YSRCP, NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT), AIMIM and BJD.
Kharge had objected that both Houses remained unprorogued 64 days after the Monsoon Session was adjourned sine die.
Rijiju replied that the Constitution fixes no time limit for prorogation after adjournment sine die, citing past gaps of up to 87 days and the 2008 confidence-motion sittings.
Key terms
Delimitation
— Redrawing the boundaries of constituencies and the number of seats in legislatures to reflect population.
Two-thirds majority
— The special majority of members present and voting (and a majority of total membership) required to pass a Constitution Amendment Bill.
Adjournment sine die
— Ending a sitting of the House without fixing a date for the next meeting.
Prorogation
— Formal end of a session of the House, done by the President, which is distinct from adjournment.
Leader of Opposition
— Head of the largest opposition party in a House; Kharge in Rajya Sabha and Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha.
11. Why India lost the 1962 war with China, and lessons
The 1962 India-China war ended in a swift Chinese victory because India misread Beijing's intent and capability and was militarily unprepared; the lessons stay relevant as pressure continues along the LAC.
China attacked on 20 October 1962 on two fronts: Ladakh in the west and the North East Frontier Agency (today's Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Assam) in the east.
China took Tawang, then declared a unilateral ceasefire on 21 November 1962, withdrawing from most eastern territory but keeping Aksai Chin.
India recognised the PRC in 1950; the Panchsheel Agreement was signed in 1954; the Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959.
India's 'Forward Policy' of 1961 set up posts close to Chinese positions; Mao called the resulting situation 'armed co-existence'.
Battle of Rezang La (18 November): C Company of 13 Kumaon under Major Shaitan Singh fought to the last man; Indian troops also held out at Walong in the east.
Key terms
Forward Policy (1961)
— India's strategy of setting up posts close to Chinese positions to stop further encroachment.
Panchsheel Agreement (1954)
— India-China agreement signed to consolidate bilateral ties after India recognised the PRC.
Line of Actual Control (LAC)
— The de facto boundary between India and China, along which China continues to exert military pressure.
Aksai Chin
— Strategic region in Ladakh where China built a road linking Xinjiang and Tibet; it retained control after 1962.
North East Frontier Agency (NEFA)
— Former name of the eastern border region, now Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Assam.
12. Survey flags plight of 8,000 Raipur sanitation workers
A Chhattisgarh State Human Rights Commission survey, carried out by law interns, found Raipur's sanitation workers lacking toilets, ID documents, safety gear and welfare benefits, and often exploited by contractors.
Survey by Chhattisgarh State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), run over nine months till July, covering about 8,000 sanitation workers in Raipur
Conducted by 500+ law interns working with police officers in batches of 25-30, not by officials
336 workers had no toilet at home; 749 worked without proper safety and sanitation kits; 165 faced substance-abuse problems
1,907 lacked key IDs (Voter ID, Aadhaar, ration card, Ayushman card); 2,387 had not got PMJJBY/PMSBY insurance benefits
In 1,076 cases contractors held workers' ATM cards and passbooks, enabling underpayment through commissions; report sent to Raipur and Bilaspur district authorities
Key terms
State Human Rights Commission (SHRC)
— State-level body that inquires into human rights violations and promotes rights awareness; here it initiated the survey.
PMJJBY
— Government-backed life insurance scheme whose benefits many surveyed workers had not received.
PMSBY
— Government-backed accident/health-type insurance scheme, also not reaching many workers in the survey.
Ayushman card
— Identification card for health-cover benefits; 1,907 workers lacked this or other key IDs.
13. WWF-India EIACP launches nationwide Green Diwali campaign, 20 Oct–8 Nov 2026
WWF-India's EIACP Programme Centre, backed by the Environment Ministry, is running a three-week campaign urging a cracker-free Diwali under Mission LiFE, focused on the 130 NCAP cities.
Campaign runs 20 October to 8 November 2026, led by WWF-India's Programme Centre – Resource Partner (PC-RP) under the EIACP scheme of the MoEFCC
Anchored in Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment)
Special focus on the 130 cities covered under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)
Citizens are asked to take a Green Diwali Pledge: no firecrackers, diyas and energy-efficient lights, no single-use plastic, waste segregation, local products
WWF-India's Carbon Footprint Survey is offered, and participants submit geo-tagged photos and a short report; selected entries may be featured on EIACP platforms
Key terms
Mission LiFE
— Lifestyle for Environment, a campaign promoting mindful, sustainable everyday choices by individuals and communities.
National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)
— A national programme to improve air quality in identified cities; 130 are covered here.
EIACP
— The Environmental Information, Awareness, Capacity Building and Livelihood Programme of the MoEFCC; WWF-India hosts a Programme Centre – Resource Partner under it.
Carbon footprint
— A measure of the greenhouse gas emissions linked to a person's activities and consumption.
14. US Secretary of State Rubio in Mumbai: India-US 'aligned' on core issues
On his Mumbai visit, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio paid tribute to 26/11 victims and said India and the US are aligned on core national-interest issues, while Jaishankar pressed for zero tolerance on terrorism and flagged trade,…
15. Kerala SMA generic drug row: SAT Hospital defends CDSCO-approved Risdiplam
Kerala's Opposition leader alleged 'experimental' drug samples were given to SMA children, while SAT Hospital said it is an approved, much cheaper generic of Roche's Risdiplam that keeps free treatment sustainable.
Dispute: packs marked 'Physician Sample' and 'For Clinical Trials Only' were allegedly distributed to SMA patients at SAT Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram.
Hospital's stand: the drug is a CDSCO-approved generic of Roche's patented Risdiplam, made by Natco Pharma and sold as Risdinat.
Price: about ₹15,900 per bottle for the generic versus ₹6.3 lakh for Roche's 60 ml bottle, a cut of roughly 97%.
SAT Hospital has run an SMA clinic since 2022; Kerala is said to be the only State using public funds for free SMA treatment of children.
Natco got its licence to make the generic in 2025, after Roche's patent period on Risdiplam ended.
Key terms
CDSCO
— Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, the national regulator that approves drugs in India.
Risdiplam
— A drug used to treat Spinal Muscular Atrophy, originally patented by Roche.
Generic drug
— A version of an off-patent drug with the same active ingredient, sold at a much lower price.
National Policy for Rare Diseases (2021)
— Policy that promotes local manufacture of rare-disease drugs to make them affordable.
16. UN rights experts say Delhi police action on protesters breaches India's obligations
UN-appointed human rights experts, through OHCHR, said the mass detention of protesters in Delhi over voter-roll deletions violates India's international legal obligations and called for an independent probe and reparations.
A joint statement by a group of UN special rapporteurs and independent experts was issued through the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
The experts said over 7,000 youths, journalists and human rights defenders were arbitrarily detained in New Delhi, and raised concern over reports of sexual violence.
They said the actions violate the rights to peaceful assembly, freedom of expression, liberty, security of the person and the right to defend human rights.
Restrictions on peaceful assembly must be legal, serve a legitimate aim, and be necessary and proportionate.
They demanded reparations and an independent, impartial and thorough investigation; the Ministry of External Affairs had not yet responded.
Key terms
UN Special Rapporteurs
— Independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor and report on specific rights or countries; their views are not binding.
OHCHR
— The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the main UN body that promotes and protects human rights.
Necessity and proportionality test
— The standard that any restriction on a right must be legal, aim at a legitimate purpose, be necessary and be proportionate to that aim.
Arbitrary detention
— Holding a person without lawful basis or due process, in violation of the right to liberty.
Right to peaceful assembly
— The right to gather and protest without arms; in India it is protected by Article 19(1)(b), subject to reasonable restrictions.
17. Amit Shah burns 'Chitta' Ravana in Ludhiana, vows drug-free Punjab by 2029
On Vijayadashami, the Union Home Minister burned a symbolic 'Chitta' (drugs) Ravana in Ludhiana and set a deadline of 31 December 2029 to rid Punjab of the drug trade, urging CBI probes into drug-linked murders.
Event: Vijayadashami Ravana Dahan in Ludhiana, Punjab, where the Ramlila Committee has held the programme for around 200 years; the effigy symbolised 'Chitta' (drugs).
Target announced: a drug-free Punjab by 31 December 2029.
Shah said the Punjab government had given one murder case of a drug-fight victim to the CBI, and asked it to refer the other two as well.
Citizens were urged to report drug trade on the Narcotics Control Bureau's toll-free helpline.
Shah is both Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation; the NCB works under the Home Ministry.
Key terms
Chitta
— Popular Punjabi term for synthetic or adulterated drugs such as heroin, used here for the drug menace.
Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)
— Central agency for drug-law enforcement and coordination; it runs a toll-free helpline for tips on the drug trade.
CBI
— Central Bureau of Investigation, the premier investigating agency; it takes up State cases on State consent or a court order.
Vijayadashami
— Festival marking the victory of Lord Ram over Ravana, observed as the triumph of good over evil.
18. Shilp Samagam Mela 2026 Begins in Guwahati for Artisans
The Social Justice Ministry is holding an eight-day artisan fair in Guwahati to give marginalised-community craftspeople direct market access, with BHARAT-TULIP promoted as a key focus.
Guwahati edition runs until 28 October at Farm Gate, Khanapara, Assam; the first 2026 edition ended in Mysuru on 19 October.
75 artisans take part, 31 of them women, showing about 40 types of handloom and handicraft products.
The Mela supports beneficiaries of three bodies: NSFDC, NSKFDC and NBCFDC.
BHARAT-TULIP (Traditional Artisans' Upliftment Livelihood Programme) is the focus; it helps market artisans' products through physical outlets and e-commerce.
Target groups are Scheduled Castes, OBCs, Safai Mitras and Denotified Tribes.
Key terms
BHARAT-TULIP
— Traditional Artisans' Upliftment Livelihood Programme, which helps target-group artisans market products via physical outlets and e-commerce.
NSFDC
— National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation, one of the Ministry's three National Corporations.
NSKFDC
— National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation, serving safai karamcharis.
NBCFDC
— National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation, serving backward classes.
Denotified Tribes (DNTs)
— Communities once labelled 'criminal tribes' under colonial law and later denotified; among the Mela's target groups.
19. Why Rubio is visiting Reliance's Jamnagar refinery complex
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to Reliance's Jamnagar refineries, alongside trade-deal talks, shows Washington treating India's top private refiner as a key player in global fuel supply and US-India energy ties.
Jamnagar (Gujarat) is the world's largest single-location refinery complex, with two refineries run by Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL).
Capacity is 68.2 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), of which 35.2 mtpa is earmarked for export; one of the two refineries is an export-oriented unit.
RIL is India's biggest exporter of refined products such as diesel and jet fuel, and is seen as a 'swing supplier' when other regions' supplies are disrupted.
RIL is involved in a proposed Brownsville, Texas refinery by America First Refining, described as the first new US refinery in about five decades and tied to a $300 billion deal.
The $300 billion is the value of crude processed plus products made over five years: 1.2 billion barrels of US light shale oil (~$125 billion) and 50 billion gallons of products (~$175 billion), at 60 million barrels a year.
Key terms
Swing supplier
— A producer able to raise or redirect supply quickly to fill gaps when other sources are disrupted.
Export-oriented unit
— A facility set up mainly to produce for overseas markets rather than domestic sale.
mtpa
— Million tonnes per annum, the standard measure of refining capacity.
Light shale oil
— Low-density crude extracted from shale formations in the US, valued for yielding more fuels such as diesel and petrol.
20. RSS at 101: Why and how Hedgewar founded the organisation
The RSS, founded at Nagpur on Vijayadashami 1925 by K B Hedgewar, marks 101 years; its origins lie in Hindu-Muslim and Congress strategy debates of the Khilafat era, and it built a shakha-based model of long-term social organisation.
Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, a doctor and former Congressman, announced the RSS on Vijayadashami 1925 at his house in Sukravari, Nagpur.
The name 'Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh' was picked on 17 April 1926 from four options, including Jaripatka Mandal, Bharat Uddharak Mandal and Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh.
Hedgewar belonged to the Tilak faction of Congress and was linked with the Bengal-based revolutionary Anushilan Samiti.
The shakha, a regular gathering of exercise, drill, ideological instruction and group activity, was his central organisational innovation.
The RSS stayed out, as an organisation, of the civil disobedience movement and, under M S Golwalkar, the Quit India Movement.
Key terms
Khilafat movement
— Agitation after the First World War to protect the position of the Ottoman Caliph, which Gandhi linked with Non-Cooperation.
Shakha
— The RSS's regular local gathering combining physical drills, ideological instruction and collective activities.
Anushilan Samiti
— Bengal-based network promoting revolutionary nationalism, with which Hedgewar was associated.
Vijayadashami
— Festival day (1925) on which Hedgewar announced the formation of the RSS.
With reference to the 'Darbar Move' in Jammu and Kashmir, consider the following statements:
1. It involves the seasonal shifting of government offices between Srinagar and Jammu, the summer and winter capitals respectively.
2. It was introduced in 1872 by Dogra Maharaja Gulab Singh.
3. The Lieutenant Governor's administration discontinued it in 2021 citing the burden on the exchequer.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (c)
The Darbar Move shifts offices to Srinagar in summer and back to Jammu in winter, so Srinagar is the summer capital and Jammu the winter capital.
It was introduced in 1872 by Dogra Maharaja Gulab Singh.
The Lieutenant Governor's administration stopped it in 2021 because of the burden on the exchequer; the Omar Abdullah government resumed it in 2025.
All three statements are correct.
a Statement 1 is also correct, so this option leaves it out wrongly.
b Statements 2 and 3 are also correct, so this option is incomplete.
d Statement 3 is also correct: the practice was stopped in 2021 on account of the burden on the exchequer.
Statement-I: Nuclear energy is expected to play an increasingly important role in meeting India's future electricity needs, including those of Artificial Intelligence and data centres.
Statement-II: AI and data centres require dependable sources of electricity capable of meeting substantial and continuous energy needs.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Answer: (a)
Nuclear energy is seen as a growing contributor to India's power needs, including AI and data centres.
AI and data centres need continuous, dependable power, which nuclear energy as a continuous clean source can supply.
Statement-II is therefore the reason for Statement-I.
b Statement-I is correct as stated.
c Statement-II directly gives the reason for the link in Statement-I, so it does explain it.
Consider the following statements regarding the Great Nicobar mega project and the related litigation:
Statement-I: The Centre and the Andaman and Nicobar administration have opposed the tribal council's plea to be made party to the PIL.
Statement-II: The Centre argues that impleadment at this belated stage would delay the hearing and enlarge the scope of the PIL.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Answer: (a)
The Centre (through the Environment and Tribal Affairs Ministries) and the UT administration opposed the impleadment plea.
The Centre's counter affidavit says impleadment at a belated stage would delay the PIL hearing and enlarge its scope.
This is precisely the reason given for the opposition, so Statement-II explains Statement-I.
b Statement-II is the stated ground for the opposition, so it does explain Statement-I.
c Statement-II is correct; the Centre did cite delay and enlargement of scope.
d Statement-I is correct; the Centre and UT administration did oppose the plea.
Consider the following statements regarding the Vijayadashami event addressed by the Union Home Minister in Ludhiana, Punjab:
1. A symbolic Ravana representing 'Chitta' (drugs) was burnt as part of the festival.
2. The Union Home Minister announced a resolve to make Punjab drug-free by 31 December 2029.
3. Citizens were urged to share information on the drug trade through the toll-free helpline of the Narcotics Control Bureau.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (d)
All three statements match the event: the effigy was of 'Chitta' (drugs), the target date was 31 December 2029, and the NCB toll-free helpline was named for information on the drug trade.
Hence none of the statements is altered, and all three are correct.
a Omits statement 1, which is correct: the effigy symbolised 'Chitta'.
b Omits statement 2, which is correct: the 2029 deadline was announced.
c Omits statement 3, which is correct: the NCB toll-free helpline was cited.
Statement-I: UN human rights experts have said that the police action on protesters in Delhi violates India's core international legal obligations.
Statement-II: The experts noted that the actions affected the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of expression, liberty and security of the person, and the right to defend human rights.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Answer: (d)
The experts said the actions violate India's core international legal obligations.
They specified those obligations as the rights to peaceful assembly, expression, liberty, security of the person and the right to defend human rights.
Statement-II therefore gives the grounds for the conclusion in Statement-I, so it explains it.
a Statement-I is correct, as the experts did make that finding.
b Statement-II is correct, as the experts did list those rights.
c Statement-II lists the very rights whose breach constitutes the violation, so it does explain Statement-I.
With reference to the Jamnagar refinery complex of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) in Gujarat, consider the following statements:
1. It is described as the world's largest single-location refinery complex.
2. It consists of twin refineries, one of which is an export-oriented unit.
3. RIL is India's largest exporter of refined petroleum products such as diesel and jet fuel.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (a)
The Jamnagar complex is described as the world's largest single-location refinery complex, made up of twin refineries.
One of the two refineries is an export-oriented unit.
RIL is India's largest exporter of refined petroleum products such as diesel and jet fuel, and is seen as a swing supplier in global fuel markets.
All three statements are correct.
b Omits statement 3, which is correct: RIL is India's largest exporter of refined petroleum products.
c Omits statement 2, which is correct: Jamnagar has twin refineries, one of them export-oriented.
d Omits statement 1, which is correct: Jamnagar is the world's largest single-location refinery complex.
With reference to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as discussed at the 25th Meeting of its Council of Heads of Government, consider the following statements:
1. The Council of Heads of Government meeting reviewed multilateral economic and trade cooperation and adopted a Joint Communiqué along with the SCO budget for 2027.
2. The Universal Centre in Tashkent and the Anti-Drug Centre in Dushanbe were decided to be established as permanent bodies of the Organisation.
3. India argued that the SCO should create a larger number of new institutions, since this translates directly into greater achievements.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (b)
Statement 1 is correct: the meeting reviewed economic and trade cooperation and adopted the Joint Communiqué, the 2027 budget and the PMTEC Action Plan for 2026-2030.
Statement 2 is correct: the Bishkek Summit decided to make the Universal Centre (Tashkent) and Anti-Drug Centre (Dushanbe) permanent bodies.
Statement 3 is incorrect: India said a greater number of institutions does not necessarily mean greater achievements, and that new mechanisms should avoid duplication.
a Statement 3 is wrong; it reverses India's stated position.
c Statement 3 is wrong, as India cautioned against proliferation of institutions.
d Statement 3 is wrong, so not all three are correct.
With reference to the regulation of HFSS (High Fat, Sugar and Salt) foods in India, consider the following statements:
1. Junk food has a precise scientific definition, but States have not prepared lists of such foods.
2. The FSSAI has published a draft regulation proposing thresholds above which solid or liquid food is considered high in fat, sugar or salt.
3. Once the draft regulation is incorporated into statutory rules, States would have clear legal standing to restrict sale of HFSS food near schools.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (d)
Junk food has no precise scientific definition; this absence of criteria hampers listing of HFSS foods, so statement 1 is wrong.
The FSSAI's draft regulation proposes separate thresholds for solid food (per 100 g) and liquid food (per 100 ml).
Only after the draft is finalised and made statutory rules would States have legal standing to list HFSS foods and restrict their sale near schools.
a Statement 1 is incorrect, so including it makes this option wrong.
b Statement 1 is incorrect because junk food lacks a precise scientific definition.
c Statement 1 is incorrect, and it also excludes the correct statements 2 and 3.
Consider the following statements regarding India-China economic relations as discussed in the context of China's curbs on tunnel boring machines:
1. Herrenknecht, a German company and a leader in TBMs, reported unusual customs clearance circumstances in China for machines meant for India in 2024.
2. The TBMs for Indian projects were never delivered despite the delays.
3. India opened more anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations than any other country in July-September, with China the single largest target.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: (b)
Herrenknecht told The Indian Express of 'extraordinary circumstances' in customs clearance from China to India.
India received the TBMs in March after tensions eased, so statement 2 is wrong.
Per Global Trade Alert, India opened the most anti-dumping/anti-subsidy probes in July-September, with China the largest target.
a Two statements (1 and 3) are correct, not one.
c Statement 2 is false; the TBMs were received in March.
d Statements 1 and 3 are correct, so the count is not zero.
With reference to the Modified UDAN scheme launched in 2026, consider the following statements:
1. It places greater emphasis on Centre-State/UT partnerships and uses a Challenge Mode framework for aerodrome development.
2. It provides support for operation and maintenance of existing aerodromes and for developing modern helipads.
3. It includes an allocation for HAL-made Dhruv helicopters for Pawan Hans and Dornier aircraft for Alliance Air, supporting indigenous aviation.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: (c)
Modified UDAN has a three-pronged approach: Centre-State/UT partnerships, aviation infrastructure and regional connectivity, with a Challenge Mode Portal for aerodrome development.
It gives three years of O&M support for about 441 aerodromes and develops 200 modern helipads.
Rs 400 crore is proposed for HAL Dhruv helicopters (Pawan Hans) and HAL Dornier aircraft (Alliance Air) under Atmanirbhar Bharat.
So all three statements are correct.
a Wrong, since more than one statement is correct; all three match the scheme.
b Wrong, since the third statement on HAL aircraft is also correct, as are the first two.
d Wrong, since every statement is supported by the scheme's features.
With reference to Sirpur, the archaeological site in Chhattisgarh recently placed on UNESCO's Tentative List, consider the following statements:
1. It lies on the eastern bank of the Mahanadi River and was once a capital of Dakshina Kosala.
2. Its remains belong to Hindu, Buddhist and Jain traditions within a unified urban fabric.
3. Inclusion in the Tentative List confers World Heritage Site status, after which a nomination dossier is prepared.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (a)
Sirpur is on the eastern bank of the Mahanadi in Mahasamund district and was a capital of Dakshina Kosala under the Panduvanshi and later the Somavamshi kings, so statement 1 is correct.
It has Hindu, Buddhist and Jain monuments within a unified urban fabric, so statement 2 is correct.
The Tentative List is only a preliminary stage. A detailed nomination dossier must still be prepared and evaluated, so statement 3 is wrong.
b Statement 3 is wrong, so this combination cannot be correct.
c Statement 3 is wrong because the Tentative List is only preliminary and does not confer status.
d Statement 2 is also correct, so 1 alone is incomplete.
Consider the following statements regarding India-US engagement during the Mumbai visit of the US Secretary of State:
1. Jaishankar welcomed the Trump administration's decision to extradite Tahawwur Rana to India.
2. Rubio said the two countries were aligned on harnessing 'super intelligence' for the advantage of humankind.
3. Jaishankar named defence and agriculture as the main new areas for bilateral ties.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: (b)
Jaishankar welcomed the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, an accused in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Rubio said both countries were aligned on using super intelligence for human advantage while mitigating downsides.
Jaishankar named trade, technology, investment and energy as new vistas, not defence and agriculture, so statement 3 is wrong.
a Two statements, 1 and 2, are correct, not one.
c Statement 3 is incorrect because the areas named were trade, technology, investment and energy.
d Statements 1 and 2 are correct, so the count is not zero.
Consider the following statements regarding the Green Diwali Campaign of WWF-India's PC-RP:
1. Citizens are encouraged to take a Green Diwali Pledge to avoid firecrackers and use diyas and energy-efficient lights.
2. WWF-India's Carbon Footprint Survey is meant to help citizens understand how their daily activities and consumption contribute to their environmental footprint.
3. Participating institutions are required to submit their activity details to the Central Pollution Control Board.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (a)
The pledge covers avoiding firecrackers, using diyas and energy-efficient lights, avoiding single-use plastic and segregating waste.
The Carbon Footprint Survey helps citizens identify their footprint and more sustainable habits.
Participants share activity details through an online form, with selected entries featured on EIACP websites and social media, not submitted to the CPCB.
b Statement 3 is wrong, and statement 2 is correct.
c Statement 3 is wrong because no submission to the CPCB is mentioned.
d Statement 3 is wrong; details go through an online form and selected entries appear on EIACP platforms, not to the CPCB.
With reference to the generic version of Risdiplam used for treating Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) in Kerala, consider the following statements:
1. The generic version is manufactured by Natco Pharma, while the patented original formula belongs to Roche.
2. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) is the body that ratified the drug distributed at SAT Hospital, according to the hospital authorities.
3. The National Policy for Rare Diseases (2021) lists licensing of rare-disease drugs to foreign firms alone as an important objective.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (d)
Statement 1 is correct: the generic is made by Natco Pharma, and the patented original formula is Roche's.
Statement 2 is correct: SAT Hospital said only CDSCO-ratified drugs are distributed.
Statement 3 is wrong: the policy's objective is manufacturing and licensing of rare-disease drugs by Indian pharma firms so that they are cheaper and more accessible, not by foreign firms alone.
a Statement 2 is also correct, so '1 only' is incomplete.
b Statement 3 is incorrect, and statements 1 and 2 are correct.
c Statement 3 is incorrect, because the policy favours manufacture by Indian firms.
With reference to the India–China war of 1962, consider the following statements:
1. The Chinese offensive began on 20 October 1962 simultaneously in Ladakh and the North East Frontier Agency.
2. China declared a unilateral ceasefire on 21 November and withdrew from most of the territory it held in the east while retaining Aksai Chin.
3. The 'Forward Policy' adopted by India in 1961 involved withdrawing Indian posts away from Chinese positions to avoid provoking a military response.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (a)
The PLA launched a coordinated surprise offensive in Ladakh and NEFA on 20 October 1962, so statement 1 is correct.
China announced a unilateral ceasefire on 21 November, withdrew from most of the eastern territory but kept Aksai Chin, so statement 2 is correct.
The Forward Policy involved setting up posts close to Chinese positions to prevent encroachment, not withdrawing them, so statement 3 is wrong.
b Statement 3 is wrong, since the Forward Policy did not involve withdrawal of posts.
c Omits statement 2, which is correct.
d Statement 3 is wrong, since the Forward Policy meant establishing posts near Chinese positions.
With reference to the forms used for electoral roll registration in India, consider the following statements:
1. Form 6 is an application for inclusion in the electoral rolls meant for persons who have never voted before.
2. Form 8 is used to declare a change of residence or to correct an existing entry in the rolls.
3. Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 penalises a false statement or declaration made in writing.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (d)
Form 6 is the application for inclusion in the rolls, meant for first-time enrollees.
Form 8 is for a change of residence or correction of an existing entry.
Section 31 of the RPA, 1950 penalises false written declarations with imprisonment up to one year, a fine, or both.
All three statements are correct.
a Omits statement 3, which is correct: Section 31 penalises false declarations.
b Omits statement 2, which is correct: Form 8 covers change of residence or correction.
c Omits statement 1, which is correct: Form 6 is for those who have never voted before.
With reference to the Shilp Samagam Mela organised by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, consider the following statements:
1. It provides marketing support to artisans and beneficiaries associated with the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation, the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation and the National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation.
2. It seeks to promote the economic empowerment of artisans belonging to Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, Safai Mitras and Denotified Tribes.
3. It also creates awareness among visitors about the welfare and development schemes of the Ministry and its National Corporations.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (d)
The Mela provides marketing support to artisans linked with NSFDC, NSKFDC and NBCFDC, the Ministry's three National Corporations.
It targets the economic empowerment of SC, OBC, Safai Mitra and DNT artisans.
It also spreads awareness of the welfare, financial assistance and development schemes of the Ministry and its Corporations.
All three statements are therefore correct.
a Statements 2 and 3 are also correct, so '1 only' is incomplete.
b Statement 3 is also correct, since awareness of schemes is an stated objective.
c Statement 1 is also correct, since marketing support to the three Corporations' beneficiaries is the core purpose.
With reference to the survey of sanitation workers in Raipur by the Chhattisgarh State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), consider the following statements:
1. The field survey was carried out by law interns working with police officers, rather than by government officials.
2. The survey found that in a number of cases contractors had confiscated workers' ATM cards and passbooks, enabling them to pay lesser wages.
3. The report was submitted directly to the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for action.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (d)
The survey was done by law interns, working in batches with police officers, not by officials.
Contractors confiscating ATM cards and passbooks to pay lesser wages (commission) was a finding.
The report was sent to the Raipur and Bilaspur district authorities, not to a Union Ministry, so statement 3 is wrong.
a Omits statement 2, which is also correct.
b Statement 3 is incorrect; the report went to district authorities, and statement 1 is correct but excluded.
c Statement 3 is incorrect, since the report was sent to district authorities.
With reference to the Constitution Amendment Bill on Delimitation that was taken up in the Lok Sabha, consider the following statements:
1. The Bill linked delimitation with larger representation for women in the House.
2. The Bill failed to pass the Lok Sabha for want of the requisite two-thirds majority.
3. The Parliamentary Affairs Minister said the Bill could be passed without consulting any political party other than the Congress.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (a)
The Bill tied delimitation to larger representation for women, so statement 1 is correct.
It failed in the Lok Sabha because it lacked the two-thirds majority needed for a constitutional amendment, so statement 2 is correct.
Statement 3 is wrong. The government said it reached out to the Congress and then to other parties (DMK, SP, YSRCP, NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT), AIMIM, BJD) to build a broader consensus.
b Statement 2 is true, so excluding it is wrong, and statement 3 is false.
c Statement 3 is wrong, since the government consulted many parties, not only the Congress, and did not claim it could skip consultation.
d Statement 3 is false, so not all three are correct.
With reference to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), consider the following statements:
1. It was formally inaugurated on Vijayadashami in 1925 at the Nagpur residence of its founder, K. B. Hedgewar.
2. Its central organisational innovation was the shakha, combining physical exercise, drills, ideological instruction and collective activities.
3. As an organisation, it participated in the Quit India Movement under M. S. Golwalkar.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (b)
The RSS began on Vijayadashami in 1925 at Hedgewar's house in Sukravari, Nagpur, and the shakha was his central innovation.
Under Golwalkar the RSS stayed away from the Quit India Movement, so statement 3 is wrong.
Only statements 1 and 2 are correct.
a Statement 3 is false, since the RSS stayed away from Quit India.
c Statement 2 is true, so excluding it is wrong, and statement 3 is false.
d Statement 3 is false, so not all three are correct.
Consider the following statements regarding India's positions at the 25th SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting:
1. India said connectivity projects must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries to be sustainable.
2. India cited the International North-South Transport Corridor and the Chabahar Port as initiatives that can connect Central Asia with wider markets.
3. India announced that the first SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum would be hosted by Tajikistan.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: (b)
Statement 1 is correct: Rajnath Singh said projects not founded on consultation and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity will not be sustainable.
Statement 2 is correct: INSTC and Chabahar were cited as connecting Central Asia with broader markets.
Statement 3 is incorrect: the first SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum is being hosted by India, which invited Member States to it.
a Two statements (1 and 2) are correct, not one.
c Statement 3 is wrong since India, not Tajikistan, hosts the Forum.
d Statements 1 and 2 are correct, so the count is not zero.
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