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. Ramsar Sites in India: 103 Wetlands, Third Globally
India's Ramsar network has grown from 26 sites in 2014 to 103, ranking first in Asia and third in the world, backed by wetland rules and conservation missions.
India has 103 Ramsar Sites covering over 13.87 lakh hectares across 28 States and UTs, up from 26 in 2014.
India ranks first in Asia and third globally by number of Ramsar Sites; India joined the Convention on 1 February 1982.
Ramsar Convention: adopted 2 February 1971 at Ramsar, Iran; in force 1975; 172 Contracting Parties and over 2,536 sites as of October 2026.
A wetland must satisfy at least one of nine criteria; Criterion 5 is 20,000 or more waterbirds, and Criteria 6 and 9 use the 1% population threshold.
At COP15 (Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe), India's resolution on 'Promoting Sustainable Lifestyles for the Wise Use of Wetlands' was adopted.
Key terms
Ramsar Site
— A wetland designated as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention for its ecological, botanical, zoological, limnological or hydrological value.
Wise use
— The Convention's principle of sustaining wetlands and their benefits through conservation and sustainable management of all wetlands.
Wetland (Ramsar definition)
— Marsh, fen, peatland or water, natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including marine water not deeper than six metres at low tide.
Taxon (plural taxa)
— A group of organisms classified together on shared characteristics, such as amphibians, reptiles or mammals.
Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017
— India's rules anchoring regulation and conservation of wetlands.
2. Supreme Court clarifies scope of police custody under BNSS
In State of Andhra Pradesh vs Suda Suresh Veera Venkata Naga Raju, the Supreme Court held that BNSS Section 187(2) lets police custody of up to 15 days be taken in parts within the first 40/60 days of detention, and that an accused's lawyer…
Case: State of Andhra Pradesh vs Suda Suresh Veera Venkata Naga Raju, a custodial death case in which the body and the original CCTV hard disks were still untraced.
Section 187(2) BNSS: police custody totalling at most 15 days, which can be sought in parts at any time during the first 40 days (of 60) or first 60 days (of 90) of detention.
Under the earlier CrPC Section 167, police custody was confined to the first 15 days of remand.
Section 38 BNSS gives the right to meet an advocate of choice during interrogation, but not throughout it; it is pari materia with Section 41-D CrPC.
The Court allowed 7 more days of police custody, so that the total, including that granted earlier, stays within 15 days.
Key terms
Police custody vs judicial custody
— In police custody the accused is held by the investigating agency for interrogation; in judicial custody the accused is held in jail under the magistrate's authority.
Default bail
— The accused's right to be released if the investigation is not completed within the statutory 60 or 90 days.
Section 187 BNSS
— The provision on detention beyond 24 hours, governing police custody (up to 15 days) and total detention periods.
Pari materia
— A Latin term meaning 'on the same subject'; here it describes provisions that are substantially identical in the two laws.
Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA)
— The new evidence law replacing the Indian Evidence Act; the case refers to discoveries under it.
The Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) sits under the UNFCCC financial mechanism. It was agreed at COP27 (2022), and its Governing Instrument was adopted at COP28 (2023).
The Board approved $21.6 million for Nepal, including $1.6 million in oversight fees. This is the first country-specific earmark by the Fund.
The decision came at the Board's first virtual 'extraordinary meeting' on October 22, 2026. Nepal's full funding request will go to the tenth Board meeting in Manila in December, and money is released only after that approval.
As of March 15, 2026, 27 countries had pledged $822.06 million. The start-up allocation is $342 million, with at least half reserved for small island developing States and least developed countries.
The trigger was an ice-and-rock avalanche on August 26, 2026, which caused floods along the Bhotekoshi–Trishuli–Narayani system. Nepal puts losses at $2.69 billion or more and recovery needs at $4.71 billion or more.
Key terms
Loss and Damage
— Economic and non-economic harm from climate change, including extreme weather and slow-onset events, that goes beyond what adaptation can prevent.
FRLD
— The Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, which helps climate-vulnerable developing countries respond to such harm.
Oversight fees
— Payments to implementing organisations to cover the cost of supervising how project money is used.
Small island developing States and least developed countries
— Country groups for which the Fund reserves at least half of its start-up allocation.
4. Feral dogs a major threat to vultures in Thar desert
A Biological Conservation study at the Jorbeer carcass dumpsite in Bikaner finds free-ranging dogs cut vulture feeding time and shift their activity, which could undermine recovery efforts after the diclofenac-driven crash.
5. Ladakh's ABL-KDA Release MHA Talks Records Amid Leadership Split
Ladakh's two main bodies made public their documents and minutes of talks with the Home Ministry, including the May 22 agreement on Article 371(K) and a UT legislature.
Apex Body Leh (ABL) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) released five documents exchanged with MHA since May 22, plus the minutes of that day's meeting.
On May 22 both sides agreed on constitutional safeguards under a proposed Article 371(K) and a legislature for the Union Territory of Ladakh.
ABL and KDA scaled down their demands: from Sixth Schedule to Article 371(K), and from statehood to a UT legislature.
Thupstan Chhewang, former BJP Lok Sabha MP from Ladakh (2014-18), was removed from ABL in May and has formed a new group.
The Centre/UT administration announced six new Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs), which ABL and KDA see as a divisive move.
Key terms
Article 371(K)
— Proposed new constitutional provision giving Ladakh special protections for identity, land and jobs.
Sixth Schedule
— Constitutional provision for autonomous district and regional councils in tribal areas; the original Ladakhi demand.
Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC)
— Elected local hill council in Ladakh handling local development; new ones are being created in more regions.
Union Territory with legislature
— A UT with its own elected assembly, unlike Ladakh at present, which is governed without one.
6. Cabinet Secretary: role, evolution and limits of the office
The Cabinet Secretariat declined to act on two Election Commissioners' complaints against an ECI officer, calling it interference in a constitutional body; the episode puts the Cabinet Secretary's role and limits in focus.
Cabinet Secretary T V Somanathan (1987-batch, Tamil Nadu cadre) is the 32nd holder since 1950; his tenure has been extended twice, a year each time.
Under current rules a Cabinet Secretary's tenure can be extended up to a maximum of five years.
The post is the senior-most IAS position, ranks 11th in the order of precedence and works under the Prime Minister.
The Cabinet Secretariat administers the Transaction of Business Rules, 1961 and the Allocation of Business Rules, 1961.
The Secretariat was renamed on 5 September 1946 under the Interim Government; N R Pillai was the first Cabinet Secretary after the office was formally established in 1950.
Key terms
Cabinet Secretariat
— Office under the Prime Minister that services the Cabinet and coordinates ministries; headed by the Cabinet Secretary.
Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC)
— Cabinet body that approves appointments to senior posts, including officers sent to bodies like the ECI.
Transaction of Business Rules, 1961
— Rules governing how departmental business is handled, with matters reserved for the PM or Cabinet.
Allocation of Business Rules, 1961
— Rules assigning subjects among ministries and departments.
Indian Councils Act, 1861
— Colonial law that provided the legal basis for the portfolio system and the Governor-General's Executive Council.
7. Punjab farm fires: Why Tarn Taran and Amritsar lead stubble burning
Two Majha districts account for 72% of Punjab's 574 farm fires this season, driven by early harvest of short-duration paddy and a rush to fit in a third crop; machinery exists but farmers' incentives and the tight crop calendar undermine…
8. PM inaugurates RBI Data Centre and Cybersecurity Training Institute in Bhubaneswar
PM Modi opened the RBI's new Data Centre and Cybersecurity Training Institute in Bhubaneswar, tying them to safer digital finance, financial inclusion and Odisha's push from mining into electronics and computing.
Facilities inaugurated in Bhubaneswar, Odisha: the Reserve Bank of India's new Data Centre and its Cybersecurity Training Institute.
Figures cited: about 60 crore Jan Dhan accounts, 13 crore first-time entrepreneurs under Mudra, and Atal Pension Yojana coverage of 9 crore people (38 lakh in Odisha).
Insurance schemes named: PM Suraksha Bima Yojana (Rs 20 annual premium, Rs 2 lakh accident cover) and PM Jeevan Jyoti Yojana (under Rs 450 a year, life cover); over Rs 25,000 crore in claims paid.
Credit schemes named: PM SVANidhi for street vendors and PM Vishwakarma for artisans; Self-Help Groups of 10 crore rural women got bank support.
The Prime Minister said the next decade will focus on making banking more efficient and reliable, with cyber defence of the financial system as a priority.
Key terms
Financial inclusion
— Making formal banking, credit, insurance and pension services accessible to all sections, especially the poor and previously unbanked.
Jan Dhan accounts
— Basic bank accounts opened to bring households into the formal banking system and receive benefit transfers.
Mudra Yojana
— A scheme providing collateral-free formal credit to small and micro entrepreneurs.
PM SVANidhi
— A scheme giving formal credit to street vendors.
PM Vishwakarma
— A scheme supporting traditional artisans and craftspeople with skills and credit.
9. 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum opens in Parliament House, Delhi
India hosts the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum (26-27 Oct 2026) during its BRICS Presidency, and Speaker Om Birla met Russia's State Duma chief ahead of it to push parliamentary diplomacy, counter-terrorism cooperation and UNSC reform.
12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum: 26-27 October 2026, Parliament House Complex, New Delhi; India holds the BRICS Presidency in 2026
Theme: 'Strengthening Parliaments for People-Centric Development'; four sessions on Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability
Speaker Om Birla met Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of Russia's State Duma; India and Russia complete 80 years of diplomatic ties in 2027
Special meeting of chairpersons of International Affairs Committees of BRICS member and partner parliaments on parliamentary diplomacy and capacity building
Birla also met delegations from Cuba, Egypt and Belarus; he cited Sansad Bhashini as a tool for accessible parliamentary proceedings
Key terms
BRICS Parliamentary Forum
— Annual gathering of legislatures of BRICS countries to build consensus and cooperation on shared issues.
Parliamentary diplomacy
— Use of legislators' exchanges, commissions and forums to advance a country's international relations.
State Duma
— Lower house of Russia's Federal Assembly.
Sansad Bhashini
— Technology initiative to make parliamentary proceedings more accessible and inclusive through language tools.
UNSC reform
— Push to expand and make the Security Council more representative, including permanent membership for India.
10. National Urban Conclave 2026 ends in Bhubaneswar with urban reform recommendations
The two-day conclave closed with recommendations on urban governance, planning, municipal finance and service delivery, with stress on empowering smaller cities and devolving funds and powers to urban local bodies for Viksit Bharat 2047.
Held in Bhubaneswar; concluded on 25 Oct 2026 after seven technical sessions, with Union Minister Manohar Lal giving the closing remarks.
The Minister said over half of India's legacy waste has been remediated; he cited AMRUT, Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban and PM SVANidhi as the main national missions.
Rajiv Gauba of NITI Aayog pointed to the Urban Challenge Fund and City Economic Regions, and urged linking funding under national urban missions to state reforms.
The 'Right to Walk' session wanted pedestrian rights written into statutory plans, with secured right-of-way and dedicated financing.
The housing session suggested reserving land, FAR and TDR incentives for cross-subsidy, single-window approvals, and rental and transit housing models.
Key terms
Right to Walk
— Proposal to make safe, accessible pedestrian space a planned and funded part of urban streets.
Transit-oriented development
— Dense, mixed-use development concentrated around public transport nodes.
FAR and TDR
— Floor area ratio and transferable development rights, tools for incentivising housing and cross-subsidising it.
Legacy waste
— Old accumulated dumps of solid waste that need scientific remediation.
Own-source revenue
— Funds a municipality raises itself, such as property tax and user charges, as opposed to transfers.
11. Sonowal in Busan to pitch India's shipbuilding opportunity to Korea
Ports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal began a four-day South Korea visit to deepen shipbuilding cooperation under the India–Korea VOYAGES framework, supporting India's aim to be a top-five shipbuilding nation by 2047.
Sonowal began a four-day visit to South Korea, starting in Busan, which he called the hub of Korea's maritime industry.
VOYAGES is the India–Korea framework adopted in April during President Lee Jae Myung's state visit to India; it covers shipbuilding, shipping and maritime logistics.
India's goal: a top-five shipbuilding nation by 2047, under Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
The Union Cabinet approved a set of policy incentives for the shipbuilding sector in September 2025.
He will attend a ministerial roundtable in Busan for World Maritime Day, with the IMO Secretary-General expected.
Key terms
VOYAGES
— India–Korea framework for cooperation in shipbuilding, shipping and maritime logistics, adopted in April.
Maritime India Vision 2030
— Government roadmap to make India a competitive hub for shipbuilding, ship repair, manufacturing and logistics.
Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047
— Long-term maritime strategy targeting India as a top-five shipbuilding nation by 2047.
International Maritime Organisation (IMO)
— Global body whose Secretary-General is expected at the Busan World Maritime Day roundtable.
India Ship Technology Centre
— Initiative to build domestic ship design and technology capability, which diaspora professionals are urged to join.
12. NITI Aayog's Gauba urges empowered city governments at National Urban Conclave
At the 2nd National Urban Conclave, NITI Aayog Member Rajiv Gauba called for reforms in urban governance, finance and planning, arguing that cities cannot be run from state capitals if Viksit Bharat 2047 is to be achieved.
Urban population is projected to rise from about 50 crore now to 85 crore by 2050; India's total population is expected to stabilise near 165 crore around 2060.
The 2025-26 Budget announced a ₹1 lakh crore Urban Challenge Fund; this year's budget gives ₹5,000 crore each to 7 city economic regions over five years.
The NITI Aayog–MoHUA report 'Moving Towards Effective City Governance' recommends directly elected mayors with 5-year terms and a Mayor-in-Council system.
States are urged to devolve all 18 functions listed under the 74th Amendment to urban local bodies.
Central Finance Commission grants to ULBs have more than doubled, and their share has risen to 45% from 36%.
Key terms
74th Constitutional Amendment
— 1992 amendment that gave urban local bodies constitutional status and listed 18 functions for them.
Mayor-in-Council
— System in which a directly elected mayor governs along with a council of members from the elected municipal body.
Floor Area Ratio (FAR)
— Ratio of a building's total floor area to its plot size; low limits restrict how much can be built.
Land pooling
— Owners combine their land parcels for planned development and receive back a share of the developed plots.
Model Tenancy Act
— Central model law to regulate rental housing and encourage states to increase rental supply.
13. Yashwant Varma's resignation: is he still a judge?
Former Allahabad High Court judge Yashwant Varma resigned amid a misbehaviour inquiry; the article argues that a judge's resignation needs no presidential acceptance, so his status and the pending parliamentary report need clarity.
Yashwant Varma, former judge of the Allahabad and Delhi High Courts, resigned on 9 April 2026 'with immediate effect'; the inquiry began after partially burnt cash was found at his official residence in March 2025.
The committee was appointed by the Lok Sabha Speaker under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968; its report is due before Parliament in the Monsoon Session.
The Constitution gives 13 functionaries, including SC and HC judges, Governors and the President, the power to resign at will without acceptance.
Under Article 101(3)(b) and Article 190(3)(b), resignations of MPs and state legislators take effect only on acceptance by the presiding officer.
Union of India vs Gopal Chandra Misra (1978): a five-judge Bench held that a judge's resignation needs no acceptance by the President.
Key terms
Power to resign at will
— The ability of certain constitutional office-holders to quit by a signed letter, with no authority needing to accept it.
Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968
— The law that governs investigation of charges of misbehaviour or incapacity against Supreme Court and High Court judges.
Ex proprio vigore
— Taking effect by its own force, automatically, without any outside action.
Misbehaviour
— The charge, once proved through a statutory inquiry, that can lead to a judge's removal.
14. India's EV Shift Needs a 'Reuse' Pathway: Retrofitment
The article argues that India's vehicle policy stresses scrapping and recycling but neglects retrofitting structurally sound old vehicles with electric powertrains, which would better serve circular economy goals.
Scrapping rules in place: Motor Vehicles (Registration and Functions of Vehicle Scrapping Facility) Rules, 2021 and Environment Protection (End of Life Vehicles) Rules, 2025.
As of January 2026, 129 Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities were working in 21 States/UTs and had processed 4.3 lakh vehicles.
Retrofitment replaces the engine, fuel system and related parts with an electric powertrain while keeping the core vehicle structure.
Scrapping one two-wheeler yields about 90 kg of recyclable material and 18 kg of landfill waste; across roughly 30 crore vehicles this means about 2.7 crore tonnes recyclable and 0.54 crore tonnes landfill waste.
Retrofitment is linked to UN SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production).
Key terms
Circular economy
— An economic model that keeps products and materials in use longer through reduction, reuse and recycling, to minimise waste.
Retrofitment
— Replacing the engine and fuel system of an existing vehicle with an electric powertrain while retaining its structure.
Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility
— An authorised centre that dismantles end-of-life vehicles and recovers materials under the 2021 rules.
SDG 12
— UN Sustainable Development Goal on responsible consumption and production.
15. West Bengal Transfers Land to BSF for Border Fencing
West Bengal's Cabinet approved permanent transfer of about 32 acres to the BSF for fencing and three new border outposts on the Bangladesh border, clearing a long-pending State-level hurdle after a High Court order.
West Bengal Cabinet approved permanent transfer of 31.905 acres at nine locations to the Border Security Force (BSF) for fencing and related infrastructure.
A further 1.53 acres is earmarked for three new Border Outposts in Malda, Nadia and Cooch Behar.
West Bengal shares the longest border with Bangladesh among Indian States.
The Calcutta High Court (January 2026, Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen) directed handover of acquired land in nine border districts to the BSF by 31 March 2026.
The petition was a PIL: Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Dr. Subrata Saha v. Union of India & Others.
Key terms
Border Security Force (BSF)
— Union central armed police force that guards India's borders with Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Border Outpost (BOP)
— Forward post of the BSF along the border, used for surveillance and patrolling.
Public Interest Litigation (PIL)
— Court petition filed in the interest of the public rather than of an individual litigant.
Polish PM Donald Tusk's visit to Delhi and Bengaluru renewed India-Poland engagement on trade, technology and defence, though differing ties with Russia and Pakistan still limit trust.
Donald Tusk visited Delhi and Bengaluru, his first India trip as Poland's PM in 16 years; he last came in 2017 as European Council President for the EU-India summit.
Bilateral trade is only about $6 billion; both sides aim to double it by 2030.
Poland is the EU's sixth largest economy and has crossed $1 trillion nominal GDP; its tech economy is about $120 billion.
They agreed to set up a 'Defence Industry Dialogue' and explore a counter-terrorism cooperation dialogue.
Tusk backed India's four-pronged plan on grain exports and seafarers' safety in the Ukraine war, announced by EAM S. Jaishankar in Warsaw in September.
Key terms
India-EU Free Trade Agreement
— A trade pact between India and the European Union, long delayed and now being finalised for signing and ratification.
Defence Industry Dialogue
— A new India-Poland forum to discuss cooperation in defence manufacturing and hardware.
Global South
— Developing and emerging countries, whose food and economic security are hit by the Ukraine war.
Classified information agreement
— A pact to protect shared sensitive military information, needed before deep defence cooperation.
In October, speed limits on Starlink and Starshield terminals disrupted Ukraine's interceptor and strike drones until service above 400 kmph was restored on October 24, highlighting how far Kyiv depends on satellite links it does not…
Starshield connections began dropping around October 13-14 when terminals moved faster than about 160 kmph; drones still flew but could lose contact with operators.
Ukraine's Defence Ministry said on October 24 that both systems again worked at speeds above 400 kmph.
Starlink is a low-Earth-orbit constellation of over 11,000 satellites, launched by SpaceX from 2019; Starshield is its government and military counterpart.
Starshield offers encrypted communications, Earth observation and hosting of specialised payloads, and uses Starlink's technology and network.
The US government is Starshield's largest customer; Musk accused Ukraine of breaching Starlink's terms by using it for offensive drone strikes and denied responsibility for the Starshield curbs.
Key terms
Starlink
— SpaceX's low-Earth-orbit satellite internet network that connects users through portable ground dishes without cables.
Starshield
— The military and government-oriented version of Starlink, offering encrypted communications, imaging and hosted payloads.
Low-Earth orbit
— An orbit close to Earth where many small satellites can give low-delay internet coverage.
Interceptor drone
— A fast drone built to chase and destroy incoming enemy attack drones.
18. Jaishankar: Terror as statecraft unacceptable; not all states show zero tolerance
On UN Day, EAM S Jaishankar criticised states that let political calculations dilute action against terror sponsors, and pressed for dialogue on the Ukraine and West Asia wars and for UN reform.
Jaishankar spoke at the Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav Global Sammelan on Non-Dualism for World Understanding, held in New Delhi on UN Day.
He called terrorism as an instrument of statecraft unacceptable and said it persists because not all states show zero tolerance. He did not name Pakistan.
India condemned the attack on a church in Karak, Jordan, which killed seven people and injured 34, in an MEA statement.
He named two major conflicts, in Ukraine and in West Asia, and said India backs dialogue and diplomacy as the only solution.
He referred to Article 1 of the UN Charter, which makes the UN a centre for harmonising nations' actions, and asked for reformed multilateralism.
Key terms
State-sponsored terrorism
— A state using terror groups as an instrument of foreign policy, which Jaishankar called 'terrorism as statecraft'.
Zero tolerance for terror
— A stance of no compromise or selective leniency towards terrorism or those who back it.
Reformed multilateralism
— Overhauling global bodies such as the UN so decision-making reflects present-day realities and includes under-represented regions.
UN Charter, Article 1
— Sets out the UN's purposes, including maintaining peace and being a centre for harmonising nations' actions.
19. Cyclone Arnab: IMD forecasts Andhra Pradesh landfall on October 28
A Bay of Bengal depression is set to become a severe cyclonic storm, named Arnab, and cross the north Andhra coast on Oct 28. Andhra Pradesh and Odisha are on alert, and it is the first Bay cyclone of 2026.
IMD expects landfall between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam on October 28, with sustained winds of 115-125 km/h, gusting to about 140 km/h.
The name 'Arnab' was proposed by Bangladesh and will be used once the system becomes a cyclonic storm; it is the first Bay of Bengal cyclone of 2026.
The system was a depression about 470 km north-northwest of Sri Vijay Puram (Andamans). It is forecast to move south, intensify into a deep depression, then recurve northwestwards into a cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay by Oct 27.
Heavy to very heavy rain is forecast for the Andamans till Oct 27, and for north Andhra and south Odisha till Oct 29.
Odisha will shut schools, colleges and Anganwadi centres on Oct 28-29 in Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri.
Key terms
Severe cyclonic storm
— An IMD intensity category for a tropical cyclone with sustained winds above those of a plain cyclonic storm; here 115-125 km/h expected at landfall.
Depression / deep depression
— The early, weaker stages of a developing tropical system, before it reaches cyclonic storm strength and receives a name.
El Niño
— Abnormal warming of the equatorial Pacific Ocean, which affects cyclone formation latitudes and tracks in the northern hemisphere.
Landfall
— The point at which the centre of a cyclone crosses the coast from sea to land.
Recurving
— A change in a cyclone's track direction, here from southward to northwestward.
20. Piyush Goyal in Netherlands: Rotterdam Port Visit, India-EU FTA Focus
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal began a Netherlands visit on 25 October 2026, touring the Port of Rotterdam and meeting the Indian diaspora. The aim is to use Dutch logistics strength for Indian exports under the expected India-EU FTA.
21. Odisha mobilises forces, evacuates people ahead of very severe cyclone
A Bay of Bengal depression is forecast to become a very severe cyclonic storm and hit the Andhra Pradesh coast on October 28; Odisha is on high alert, with red warnings in five districts, because of expected heavy rain.
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: The Apex Body Leh and the Kargil Democratic Alliance made public the documents and minutes of their meetings with the Union Home Ministry.
Statement-II: The two bodies wanted to put a clear picture before the people of Ladakh and counter what they see as attempts by the UT administration to divide the people and the leadership.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Answer: (c)
The ABL and KDA released five documents and the May 22 meeting minutes.
Their stated reasons were to 'put a clear picture' before the people and to 'defeat attempts to divide the people', as they feel the UT administration is creating a wedge.
Statement-II therefore gives the stated motive for the release, so it explains Statement-I.
a Statement-II gives the stated reason for the release, so it does explain Statement-I.
b Statement-I is correct, since the documents were indeed made public.
d Statement-II is correct, as it reflects the leaders' stated reasons.
Statement-I: West Bengal occupies a pivotal position in India's border fencing project.
Statement-II: West Bengal shares the longest international border with Bangladesh among Indian States.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Answer: (a)
West Bengal shares the longest border with Bangladesh among Indian States.
This long border is why the State holds a pivotal position in the fencing project, so Statement-II explains Statement-I.
b Statement-I is correct; the State is described as pivotal.
c Statement-II directly explains the State's centrality to fencing.
d Statement-II is correct as stated in the source.
With reference to the recent remarks of India's External Affairs Minister at the Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav Global Sammelan on UN Day, consider the following statements:
1. He described the use of terrorism as an instrument of statecraft as unacceptable and said it persists because not all states display zero tolerance.
2. He argued that the conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia can be ended through military victory by the stronger side.
3. He said that the case for reformed multilateralism was becoming weaker as the UN has shown leadership in global crises.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (c)
Statement 1 is correct: he said terrorism as statecraft can never be justified or rationalised, yet continues because not all states display zero tolerance.
Statement 2 is wrong: he said dialogue and diplomacy are the only solution, not the battlefield.
Statement 3 is wrong: he said the case for reformed multilateralism was growing stronger and the UN must show leadership, not be a spectator.
a Both 2 and 3 invert his stated positions.
b Statement 2 contradicts his call for dialogue and diplomacy over battlefield outcomes.
d Statements 2 and 3 are altered; only 1 is correct.
With reference to the Union Commerce Minister's visit to the Netherlands, consider the following statements:
1. The Minister toured the Port of Rotterdam, which is described as Europe's largest port and a gateway for Indian goods to the European market.
2. The visit underscored the Netherlands' importance as a gateway to Europe in the context of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement.
3. The Indian community interaction in Amsterdam was hosted by the Ministry of External Affairs at its headquarters in New Delhi.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (d)
Statement 1 is correct: Rotterdam is described as Europe's largest port and a gateway for Indian goods to Europe.
Statement 2 is correct: the visit underscored the Netherlands' role as a gateway to Europe in the context of the India-EU FTA.
Statement 3 is wrong: the community interaction was hosted by the Embassy of India at the Waldorf Astoria in Amsterdam, not by the MEA in New Delhi.
a Statement 3 is wrong, since the event was hosted by the Embassy of India in Amsterdam.
b Omits statement 2, which is also correct.
c Statement 3 is wrong, since the event was hosted by the Embassy of India in Amsterdam.
Consider the following statements regarding disaster preparedness for the cyclone threat in Odisha:
1. The Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Fire Services teams have been deployed in vulnerable areas.
2. The state government has set a zero-casualty objective and directed officials to prioritise evacuation and emergency response.
3. Senior officials were directed to remain at their headquarters and the leave of district collectors was cancelled.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (a)
ODRAF, NDRF and Fire Services teams have been deployed or put on alert in vulnerable areas.
Chief Minister Majhi reiterated the state's zero-casualty objective and prioritised public safety, evacuation and emergency response.
Officials were told to stay at headquarters from October 26 and collectors' leave was cancelled, so all three statements are correct.
b Ignores that statements 2 and 3 are also correct.
c Wrongly excludes statement 2; the zero-casualty objective was reiterated.
d Wrongly excludes statement 1; ODRAF, NDRF and Fire Services were deployed.
With reference to the Ramsar Convention and Ramsar Sites in India, consider the following statements:
1. The Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty adopted in 1971 at Ramsar, Iran.
2. In India, the State Government or Union Territory Administration identifies a suitable wetland, and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change forwards the proposal to the Ramsar Secretariat.
3. A wetland must satisfy all nine criteria to be designated a Wetland of International Importance.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (c)
Statements 1 and 2 correctly describe the Convention and the Indian designation process.
A wetland has to meet at least one of the nine criteria, not all of them, so statement 3 is wrong.
a Statement 3 is incorrect, since meeting at least one criterion suffices.
b Statement 2 is also correct, so '1 only' is incomplete.
d Statement 3 is incorrect, so not all three are correct.
With reference to the provisions on police custody under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), consider the following statements:
1. Section 58 provides that a person arrested by the police without warrant cannot be detained beyond 24 hours unless a magistrate authorises it under Section 187.
2. Section 187(2) confines police custody to the first 15 days of remand, as Section 167 of the CrPC did.
3. Section 38 entitles an arrested person to meet an advocate of choice during interrogation, though not throughout the interrogation.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (b)
Section 58 bars detention beyond 24 hours without magistrate authorisation under Section 187, so statement 1 is correct.
Section 187(2) allows police custody of up to 15 days in aggregate, in whole or in parts, within the first 40 or 60 days. It is not confined to the first 15 days, so statement 2 is wrong.
Section 38 gives the right to meet an advocate during interrogation but not throughout it, so statement 3 is correct.
a Statement 2 describes the old CrPC Section 167 position, not the BNSS.
c Statement 2 is wrong, because Section 187(2) enlarges the window beyond the first 15 days.
d Omits statement 3, which correctly states the Section 38 entitlement.
Consider the following statements regarding the financial inclusion and social security schemes highlighted by the Prime Minister:
1. Under the Mudra Yojana, people became first-time entrepreneurs through collateral-free formal credit.
2. PM SVANidhi and PM Vishwakarma extended formal credit to street vendors and skilled artisans.
3. The Atal Pension Yojana provides a 2-lakh-rupee accident cover at a 20-rupee annual premium.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (d)
Mudra Yojana helped 13 crore people become first-time entrepreneurs, and PM SVANidhi and PM Vishwakarma gave formal credit to street vendors and artisans.
The 2-lakh-rupee accident cover at a 20-rupee annual premium belongs to the PM Suraksha Bima Yojana, not the Atal Pension Yojana.
The Atal Pension Yojana is a pension scheme.
a Statement 3 is incorrect because the accident cover is under PM Suraksha Bima Yojana.
b Statement 2 is also correct, so this is incomplete.
c Statement 3 wrongly attributes the accident cover to the Atal Pension Yojana; it belongs to PM Suraksha Bima Yojana.
With reference to the findings of the study on vultures at the Jorbeer dumpsite in Bikaner, Rajasthan, consider the following statements:
1. Vultures spent about half as long on carcasses at the open dumpsite as they did at dog-free enclosures.
2. In the presence of dogs, vulture feeding activity was restricted largely to the afternoon.
3. The dumpsite was designed by the State forest department as a managed 'vulture restaurant'.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (b)
Vultures spent about half as long on carcasses at the open dumpsite as at dog-free enclosures, and dogs restricted their activity largely to the afternoon.
Statement 3 is wrong: traditional livestock carcass dumps in India were never designed for vultures; they became de facto feeding sites. Managed 'vulture restaurants' are typical of Europe and Africa.
a Omits statement 2, which is also correct.
c Statement 3 is incorrect, since the dumpsite was never designed for vultures.
d Statement 3 is incorrect and statement 1 is left out.
With reference to the early spike in stubble burning in Punjab's Majha region, consider the following statements:
1. Farmers in Majha grow short-duration paddy and Basmati varieties such as Pusa 1509, so fields are freed earlier than in many other parts of the state.
2. The early harvest allows farmers to squeeze in a third crop such as green peas or potatoes before sowing wheat, leaving little time to clear residue without burning.
3. Majha lies in the southern part of Punjab, and Malwa lies in the northwest.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (a)
Statements 1 and 2 match the explanation of the early spike: short-duration paddy and Basmati varieties free fields early, and a third crop of peas or potatoes leaves little time for residue clearing.
Statement 3 reverses the geography. Majha is in the northwest, Doaba in the northeast and Malwa to the south.
b Statement 2 is correct, and omitting it makes this option wrong; statement 3 is also false.
c Statement 3 is wrong, since Majha is in the northwest and Malwa in the south.
d Statement 3 swaps the locations of Majha and Malwa, so not all statements are correct.
With reference to the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD), consider the following statements:
1. It operates under the financial mechanism of the UNFCCC.
2. Governments agreed to create it at COP27, and its Governing Instrument was adopted at COP28.
3. It is hosted by the International Monetary Fund, which serves as its interim trustee.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (d)
The FRLD operates under the UNFCCC's financial mechanism and was agreed at COP27 (2022), with its Governing Instrument adopted at COP28 (2023).
Statement 3 is wrong: the Fund is hosted by the World Bank, which is its interim trustee, not the IMF.
a Omits statement 2, which is also correct.
b Statement 3 is wrong (World Bank, not IMF), and statement 1 is correct and is left out.
With reference to the Cabinet Secretary of India, consider the following statements:
1. The Cabinet Secretary is the administrative head of the Cabinet Secretariat and the senior-most officer of the Indian Administrative Service.
2. The Cabinet Secretariat administers the Government of India (Transaction of Business) Rules, 1961 and the Allocation of Business Rules, 1961.
3. The Cabinet Secretariat was renamed from the Executive Council Secretariat on the formation of the Interim Government in 1946, but the post of Cabinet Secretary was first filled only after 1950 when the Constitution came into force.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (c)
Statements 1 and 2 are correct: the Cabinet Secretary heads the Cabinet Secretariat, is the senior-most IAS officer, and the Secretariat administers both sets of 1961 Rules.
Statement 3 is wrong: the Secretariat was renamed the Cabinet Secretariat on 5 September 1946 and its Secretary became the Cabinet Secretary; H M Patel signed as Cabinet Secretary in June 1947. The office was only formally established in 1950 with N R Pillai.
a Statement 3 is incorrect, so not all three are correct.
b Omits statement 2, which is correct.
d Statement 3 is incorrect, since the post existed from 1946 and was functional by 1947.
With reference to the National Urban Conclave 2026 held in Bhubaneswar, consider the following statements:
1. It was organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and linked its deliberations to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
2. The session on 'Right to Walk' recommended institutionalising the right in statutory plans and establishing dedicated financing mechanisms.
3. The Member of NITI Aayog who addressed the valedictory session called for centralising urban planning decisions at the state capital level.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (d)
Statements 1 and 2 match the Conclave's framing and the 'Right to Walk' session's recommendations.
Statement 3 is reversed: the NITI Aayog Member said 'we cannot run cities from our state capitals' and called for devolution of powers and finances to urban local bodies.
a Statement 3 is incorrect because it reverses the call for empowering smaller cities and ULBs.
b Statement 2 is also correct, so '1 only' is incomplete.
c Statement 3 is wrong, since the call was for devolution to cities, not centralisation; statement 1 is correct.
With reference to vehicle retrofitment in the context of India's electric mobility transition, consider the following statements:
1. It replaces the internal combustion engine and fuel system of an existing vehicle with an electric powertrain while retaining the core vehicle structure.
2. In circular economy terms, it is a practical expression of recycling, since it recovers materials from vehicles at the end of their life.
3. It is presented as a middle path that complements, and does not compete with, an effective scrappage policy.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (a)
Retrofitment swaps the engine, fuel system and related components for an electric powertrain and keeps the chassis and body, so statement 1 is correct.
It is a practical expression of reuse, not recycling. Recycling recovers materials, while reuse preserves functionality. Statement 2 is therefore wrong.
It is described as the missing middle path and not a competing strategy to scrappage, so statement 3 is correct.
b Statement 2 wrongly equates retrofitment with recycling.
c Statement 3 is also correct, so '1 only' leaves out a true statement.
d Statement 2 is wrong because retrofitment is reuse, not recycling.
With reference to Starlink and Starshield, consider the following statements:
1. Starlink is a satellite internet network of small satellites in low-Earth orbit that connects users through ground receivers without depending on cables reaching the user's location.
2. Starshield is developed primarily for government and military applications and relies on Starlink's technology and operational infrastructure.
3. Starshield is operated by the US government, while SpaceX operates only the commercial Starlink network.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (a)
Starlink is a low-Earth-orbit constellation giving internet through portable dishes, without cables, so statement 1 is correct.
Starshield is Starlink's military counterpart, built primarily for government and military use, and relies on Starlink's technology and infrastructure, so statement 2 is correct.
The division of control between SpaceX and the US government is described as unclear. The US government is only Starshield's largest customer, so statement 3 is wrong.
b Statement 2 is also correct, so '1 only' is incomplete.
c Statement 3 is incorrect, so pairing it with 2 is wrong.
d Statement 3 is incorrect: the US government is the largest customer of Starshield, not its sole operator, and the control division is unclear.
With reference to the framework adopted by India and South Korea during the South Korean President's state visit to India in April, consider the following statements:
1. The framework is called VOYAGES.
2. It covers cooperation in shipbuilding, shipping and maritime logistics.
3. It is confined to an agreement between the two governments and excludes professionals and industry.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (a)
The framework is named VOYAGES and covers shipbuilding, shipping and maritime logistics, so statements 1 and 2 are correct.
Sonowal urged professionals to see it 'not merely as a government framework' but as a platform for professional growth, so statement 3 is incorrect.
b Statement 2 is also correct, since the framework covers shipbuilding, shipping and maritime logistics.
c Statement 3 is wrong because the framework is presented as a platform for professionals, not a government-only agreement.
d Statement 3 is wrong because the framework is not limited to a government agreement.
With reference to the urban governance reforms advocated by NITI Aayog in the report Moving Towards Effective City Governance, consider the following statements:
1. The report was jointly developed by NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
2. It calls for directly elected mayors with 5-year terms and a Mayor-in-Council system.
3. It calls for States to devolve to urban local bodies the functions listed in line with the 74th Amendment, including master planning, water supply, fire services and traffic.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (a)
The report was jointly developed by NITI Aayog and MoHUA, so statement 1 is correct.
It advocates directly elected mayors with 5-year terms, a Mayor-in-Council system and timely municipal elections, so statement 2 is correct.
It urges States to devolve all the functions, including master planning, water supply, fire services and traffic, in line with the 74th Amendment, so statement 3 is correct.
b Wrongly rejects statement 1; the report was a joint NITI Aayog–MoHUA effort.
c Wrongly rejects statement 3; devolution of functions under the 74th Amendment is a core recommendation.
d Wrongly rejects statements 2 and 3, which both match the report's recommendations.
With reference to the resignation of constitutional functionaries in India, consider the following statements:
1. A judge of a High Court may resign by writing under his hand, and the resignation does not depend on acceptance by the President.
2. The resignation of a Member of Parliament is subject to acceptance by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha or the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, as the case may be.
3. The resignation of a member of a State Legislative Assembly takes effect automatically, without acceptance by the Speaker.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (b)
Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts have the power to resign at will; in Union of India vs Gopal Chandra Misra (1978) the Bench held that acceptance by the President is not needed.
Article 101(3)(b) makes an MP's resignation subject to acceptance by the presiding officer.
Article 190(3)(b) likewise makes the resignation of State Legislature members subject to acceptance by the Speaker or Chairman, so statement 3 is wrong.
a Statement 3 is incorrect, so not all three are correct.
c Statement 3 is wrong, since Article 190(3)(b) requires acceptance for State Assembly members.
d Statement 3 is wrong; it also leaves out statement 2, which is correct.
With reference to the cyclone system forecast over the Bay of Bengal in the news, consider the following statements:
1. Once it intensifies into a cyclonic storm, it will be named Cyclone Arnab, a name proposed by Bangladesh.
2. It is the first cyclone to form in the Bay of Bengal in 2026.
3. Its formation aligns with conditions typical of an El Niño year, when northern hemisphere tropical cyclones tend to form at lower latitudes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (a)
The name Arnab was proposed by Bangladesh and is assigned once the system becomes a cyclonic storm.
It is the first Bay of Bengal cyclone of 2026.
El Niño years, marked by abnormal warming of the equatorial Pacific, typically push northern hemisphere cyclones to form at lower latitudes and track toward Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
All three statements are correct.
b Statement 3 on El Niño is also correct.
c Statement 1 on the Bangladesh-proposed name is also correct.
With reference to the recent India-Poland engagement, consider the following statements:
1. The two sides agreed to work towards doubling bilateral trade, currently about $6 billion, by 2030.
2. They agreed to establish a "Defence Industry Dialogue" and to explore a dialogue on counter-terrorism cooperation.
3. Poland is the largest economy in the European Union after Germany.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (b)
Both sides agreed to double trade, now around $6 billion, by 2030, so statement 1 is correct.
They agreed to set up a Defence Industry Dialogue and explore a counter-terrorism dialogue, so statement 2 is correct.
Poland is described as the EU's sixth largest economy, not the second, so statement 3 is wrong.
a Statement 3 is incorrect, since Poland is the EU's sixth largest economy.
c Statement 3 is incorrect, since Poland is the EU's sixth largest economy.
With reference to the India-Russia parliamentary engagement discussed by the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Chairman of the State Duma ahead of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, consider the following statements:
1. Both sides called for sustained institutional engagement through regular meetings of the India-Russia Inter-Parliamentary Commission.
2. The Lok Sabha Speaker thanked Russia for its continued support for India's permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council.
3. The two countries will complete 80 years of diplomatic relations in 2027.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (d)
Birla thanked Russia for its continued support for India's permanent UNSC membership, so statement 2 is correct.
The two countries complete 80 years of diplomatic relations in 2027, so statement 3 is correct.
The call for regular India-Russia Inter-Parliamentary Commission meetings came from Birla. The Duma Chairman spoke of regular exchanges, including through multilateral platforms such as BRICS. Statement 1 is therefore wrongly attributed to both sides.
a Statement 1 is not correct as worded, since the call came from Birla alone.
b Statement 2 is correct and so must be included, while statement 1 is misattributed.
c Statement 3 is also correct, and statement 1 wrongly attributes the call for Commission meetings to both sides.
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