UPSC Prelims Practice
Current Affairs Quiz 31 March 2026
Test Your Knowledge
28 questions based on today’s current affairs & editorials
Choose number of questions
Question 1 of 28
India’s 2026 NDC commits to 60% of installed electric capacity from non-fossil sources by 2035. The earlier 2022 NDC had set 50% by 2030. The emissions intensity reduction target is also raised to 47% from 2005 levels.
Concept note
The NDC ratchet mechanism under Article 4 of the Paris Agreement requires progressively ambitious contributions every 5 years. India submitted its first NDC in 2015 (original target: 40% non-fossil by 2030), upgraded in 2022 (50% by 2030), and again in 2026 (60% by 2035).
This ratchet approach is central to keeping the 1.5°C global pathway alive.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 (environment + economy) + GS2 (IR, Paris Agreement + CBDR). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | CBDR (Common But Differentiated Responsibilities), NDC ratchet mechanism, just transition, non-fossil installed capacity. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Students confuse installed capacity share with electricity generation share, these are different. A 60% non-fossil installed capacity will generate more than 60% of actual electricity due to solar/wind capacity factors. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | UPSC has asked about India’s NDC targets in Prelims 2019, 2022. Expect a question on the 2026 upgrade. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** How does India balance coal-dependent employment in states like Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh with its NDC commitments? |
Question 2 of 28
Energy Statistics India 2026 (National Statistics Office, 33rd edition) reports India’s total renewable energy potential at 47,04,043 MW as of March 2025. Solar energy accounts for ~71% of this potential. The document also notes RE installed capacity CAGR of 10.93% from 2016 to 2025.
Concept note
Energy Statistics India is an annual NSO publication tracking India’s energy production, consumption, transmission, and potential. Key FY 2024-25 figures: RE electricity generated = 4,16,823 GWh; T&D losses reduced from 22% (2015-16) to 17% (2024-25); CO2 emissions growth slowed to 0.7%, the slowest in two decades excluding the pandemic.
Top 6 RE states hold ~70% of national RE potential: Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 (environment + energy security). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | Renewable energy potential, installed capacity, CAGR, T&D losses, energy transition. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Confusing potential with installed capacity, India’s installed RE capacity (~200 GW in 2025) is far less than its potential (47 lakh MW). |
| 📌 Exam Tip | NSO data and MoSPI publications are increasingly cited in UPSC questions. Know the difference between potential, installed capacity, and generation. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Given India has 47 lakh MW of RE potential, what are the three biggest structural barriers to realising it? |
Question 3 of 28
MC14 was held at Yaoundé, Cameroon, only the second WTO Ministerial Conference to be held in Africa. The first MC in Africa was MC12 in Geneva in 2022 (which was technically held in Geneva, not Africa). The second MC actually held on African soil was MC14 in Yaoundé.
WTO DG Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is Nigerian.
Concept note
WTO Ministerial Conferences (MCs) are the highest decision-making body of the WTO, meeting every two years. Key MCs: MC1 Singapore (1996), MC6 Hong Kong (2005), MC9 Bali (2013, Trade Facilitation Agreement), MC11 Buenos Aires (2017), MC12 Geneva (2022, Fisheries subsidies deal), MC13 Abu Dhabi (2024), MC14 Yaoundé (2026).
The WTO was established January 1, 1995, replacing GATT (1947).
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 (International Institutions + IR) + GS3 (Trade Policy). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | WTO dispute settlement, e-commerce moratorium, plurilateral agreements, CBDR in trade, policy space. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Students confuse MC12 (2022) with MC13 (2024) and get venues wrong, MC12 was Geneva; MC13 Abu Dhabi; MC14 Yaoundé. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | WTO venue + outcomes have appeared in Prelims 2018 (MC11 Buenos Aires), 2022 (MC12). MC14 outcomes (moratorium lapse, IFD block) are high-probability 2026 Prelims questions. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Does India benefit from WTO remaining weak? What is India’s interest in WTO reform? |
Question 4 of 28
India and South Africa blocked the Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) agreement at MC14, arguing investment rules fall outside the WTO’s mandate (which covers trade in goods, services, and intellectual property, not investment). They had similarly blocked the IFD at MC13 in Abu Dhabi (2024). The IFD was a plurilateral deal backed by ~120 WTO members.
Concept note
The IFD would have created WTO-wide rules on investment transparency, one-stop shops for investors, and faster approval timelines. India’s concern: performance requirements on FDI (local sourcing mandates, technology transfer conditions) could be challenged under IFD rules.
Under WTO rules, a plurilateral agreement only binds all members if adopted by consensus, India’s veto is legally effective. This gives India significant leverage to protect domestic industrial policy.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 (IR + International Institutions) + GS3 (FDI policy, Make in India). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | WTO mandate creep, plurilateral agreements, investment facilitation, policy space, sovereign right to regulate. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Confusing plurilateral (voluntary, limited membership) with multilateral (all WTO members) agreements under WTO. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | India’s trade policy positions at WTO, blocking IFD, e-commerce moratorium, pushing for special safeguard mechanism in agriculture, are perennial Mains essay and GS2 topics. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Is India a constructive participant in multilateral trade negotiations, or does it primarily play a blocking role? |
Question 5 of 28
The WTO e-commerce moratorium, prohibiting customs duties on electronic transmissions, was established at the 2nd Ministerial Conference (MC2) in Geneva in 1998. It has been renewed at every subsequent MC until MC14 (2026), when no consensus was reached for renewal, effectively allowing it to lapse.
Concept note
The moratorium covers digital products traded electronically, software, music, streaming content, data services. Developed nations (USA, EU, China) benefit most because they dominate global digital trade.
Developing nations like India argue the moratorium denies them customs revenue, UNCTAD estimated global developing country revenue loss at $10–14 billion annually. India’s Equalisation Levy (6% on digital advertising, Finance Act 2016) was India’s unilateral response to this imbalance while the moratorium was in force.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 (WTO + IR) + GS3 (Digital economy + trade policy). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | E-commerce moratorium, digital trade, policy space, Equalisation Levy, data localisation. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Confusing the e-commerce moratorium (customs on digital products) with data localisation (storing data within national borders), these are separate policy debates. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | UPSC 2022 Prelims had a question on WTO fisheries subsidies deal (MC12). Expect MC14 outcomes including the moratorium lapse in upcoming exams. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Now that the e-commerce moratorium has lapsed, should India impose customs duties on digital imports? What are the risks? |
Question 6 of 28
INS Dunagiri is the fifth vessel in the Nilgiri-class under Project 17A and the second Project 17A frigate built by GRSE (the first three are built by MDL Mumbai). It is 149 metres long, displaces 6,670 tonnes, uses CODAG propulsion, and carries the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. It is NOT a Shivalik-class (Project 17) vessel.
Concept note
Project 17A involves 7 frigates: 4 by MDL (lead ship INS Nilgiri) + 3 by GRSE. The Nilgiri-class improves on the Shivalik-class (Project 17, 3 ships) with greater stealth, automation, and weapons integration.
INS Dunagiri’s CODAG propulsion combines diesel for cruising and gas turbine for high speed, offering flexibility and fuel efficiency. With GRSE’s tally now at 118, the PSU has delivered more warships than any other Indian shipyard.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 (Defence industrial base + Atmanirbhar Bharat) + GS2 (Maritime security + IOR). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | Project 17A, indigenisation in defence, Atmanirbhar Bharat, Maritime India Vision 2030, CODAG propulsion. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Confusing Project 17 (Shivalik-class, 3 ships) with Project 17A (Nilgiri-class, 7 ships), different classes, different specifications. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | Naval indigenisation questions often appear in UPSC Defence-heavy years. Know: Project 17A, Project 75 (Scorpene submarines), INS Vikrant (Project 71). |
| 🎤 Interview | ** India delivers three naval platforms in one day but holds only 0.06% of global shipbuilding market. What will change this? |
Question 7 of 28
The withdrawal of Clinically Assisted Nutrition and Hydration (CANH) for a patient in Persistent Vegetative State is permissible in India.
Active euthanasia is legal in India under Article 21 as interpreted by the Supreme Court in Common Cause v. Union of India (2018).
A is TRUE, the Supreme Court in Harish Rana v. Union of India (2026) permitted CANH withdrawal for the first time. R is FALSE, the 2018 Common Cause ruling legalised PASSIVE euthanasia (withdrawing life support) and advance directives, NOT active euthanasia. Active euthanasia (administering lethal drugs) remains illegal in India.
Concept note
The passive-active euthanasia distinction is fundamental. Passive euthanasia = withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment (legal in India since 2018, extended to CANH in 2026).
Active euthanasia = administering lethal medication to cause death (legal in Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, NOT India). Advance directives (living wills) allow competent persons to specify treatment preferences in advance, simplified by the 2023 Common Cause review judgment.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 (Constitutional law + Article 21 expansive interpretation) + GS4 (Ethics, autonomy, dignity, sanctity of life). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | Passive vs active euthanasia, advance directives, right to die with dignity, Article 21, persistent vegetative state. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Students assume the 2018 ruling legalised all forms of euthanasia, it only permitted passive euthanasia with safeguards. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | Article 21 expansive interpretation cases are perennial: Maneka Gandhi (1978), Francis Coralie (1981), Paschim Banga (1996), Common Cause (2018). Know what each added to the right. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Should India move towards physician-assisted dying as Canada has? What institutional safeguards would be necessary? |
Question 8 of 28
Aruna Shanbaug v. Union of India (2011) was the first Indian case to recognise passive euthanasia. Aruna Shanbaug, a nurse at KEM Hospital, Mumbai, was attacked in 1973 and remained in PVS for 42 years until her death in 2015. The 2-judge bench allowed withdrawal of artificial life support under strict conditions including a 3-doctor medical board.
The 2018 Common Cause case was the follow-up constitutional bench ruling that went further.
Concept note
The chronology of right-to-die cases matters for UPSC: (1) P. Rathinam v. Union of India (1994), 2-judge bench upheld right to die; (2) Gian Kaur v. State of Punjab (1996), 5-judge bench reversed Rathinam, held Article 21 does NOT include right to die; (3) Aruna Shanbaug (2011), passive euthanasia recognised despite Gian Kaur, by treating it as ‘right to die with dignity’ not ‘right to die’; (4) Common Cause (2018), 5-judge bench, advance directives; (5) Common Cause review (2023), simplified procedure; (6) Harish Rana (2026), CANH withdrawal.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 (Judiciary + Fundamental Rights) + GS4 (Bioethics). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | Passive euthanasia, advance directives, persistent vegetative state, Article 21 right to dignity. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Confusing Gian Kaur (1996, right to die not part of Article 21) with Common Cause (2018, right to DIE WITH DIGNITY is part of Article 21). The distinction is semantic but legally crucial. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | UPSC Prelims 2020 asked about Common Cause (2018). Harish Rana (2026) extends the jurisprudence, expect a question combining both. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** The Supreme Court has repeatedly expanded Article 21’s scope through judicial interpretation. Is this judicial overreach or constitutional evolution? |
Question 9 of 28
SWM Rules 2026 raise the RDF (Refuse-Derived Fuel) mandate from 5% (under the 2016 rules) to 15% over a phased six-year period. RDF is non-recyclable, high-calorific waste processed into fuel pellets used by cement kilns and thermal plants, directly linking waste management to India’s emissions reduction. The rules are effective April 1, 2026.
Concept note
Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) addresses the waste that cannot be recycled or composted. By mandating cement kilns and thermal plants to use RDF as co-fuel (replacing coal), the rules create a market demand for waste processing.
This is the core of the circular economy approach, waste becomes a resource. The 5% to 15% jump over 6 years gives industries time to retrofit their kilns and boilers.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 (Environment + Circular economy + Waste-to-energy) + GS2 (74th Amendment, ULBs, 12th Schedule). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | Circular economy, Polluter Pays Principle, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Bulk Waste Generator, four-stream segregation. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Confusing the SWM Rules (municipal/household waste) with Plastic Waste Management Rules (2022) and E-Waste Management Rules (2022), India has separate rules for each waste stream. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | SWM Rules have been updated in 2000, 2016, and 2026, know the trajectory and what each update added. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Urban Local Bodies in most Indian cities lack the capacity and technology to implement four-stream segregation. What must change? |
Question 10 of 28
Under SWM Rules 2026, a Bulk Waste Generator (BWG) is any entity meeting ANY one of three criteria: generating more than 100 kg waste/day, consuming more than 40,000 litres water/day, or owning more than 20,000 sq.m. of built-up area. BWGs must maintain on-site waste processing infrastructure.
Concept note
The multiple-criterion definition of BWG is important because large establishments (hotels, hospitals, malls, residential complexes) may not generate 100 kg/day but still qualify via water consumption or area thresholds. This prevents large polluters from evading obligation through waste minimisation alone.
BWGs must install composting, biogas, or waste-to-energy systems on-site, decentralising waste treatment and reducing the burden on municipal collection systems.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 (Waste management + EPR + Circular economy) + GS2 (Governance + ULBs). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | Extended Producer Responsibility, Bulk Waste Generator, decentralised waste treatment, Polluter Pays Principle, circular economy. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Only remembering the weight criterion (100 kg/day) and forgetting the water/area alternatives, the SWM rules use OR not AND. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | Specific thresholds and criteria from environment rules (SWM, Plastic Waste, E-Waste, Hazardous Waste) appear as options in Prelims. Memorise BWG criteria. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** India generates 1.6 lakh MT of municipal waste daily but only processes ~60%. What systemic changes would double the processing rate in five years? |
Question 11 of 28
MC12 (Geneva, June 2022) produced the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, the first new multilateral WTO agreement since the TRIPS waiver in 2001 (two decades earlier). The deal prohibits subsidies for illegal fishing and overfished stocks. MC14 produced only a partial extension of this deal, without major new breakthroughs.
Concept note
The Fisheries Subsidies Agreement at MC12 was considered a landmark because WTO had gone 21 years without a major new multilateral deal. Context: Global fisheries subsidies total ~$35 billion/year, of which ~$22 billion are ‘harmful’ subsidies that encourage overfishing.
Major subsidisers: China (~$7.3 billion), EU, USA, Japan. India’s position: special treatment for small-scale fishers (Article 12 protection).
The TRIPS waiver (2001, Doha) had been the previous WTO achievement, allowing developing nations to produce generic medicines.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 (WTO + International Institutions) + GS3 (Fisheries + Blue Economy + Food security). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | Fisheries subsidies, WTO multilateral agreement, Blue Economy, overfishing, WTO Doha Round. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Confusing the 2001 Doha Declaration (TRIPS waiver for medicines) with the 2022 Fisheries Subsidies Agreement, both are WTO achievements but different sectors and different MCs. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | UPSC 2022 Prelims asked about the fisheries subsidies deal. MC14’s limited progress makes MC12 even more relevant as a contrast. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Why has the WTO been largely deadlocked since 2001? Is the multilateral trading system still fit for purpose? |
Question 12 of 28
The Great Indian Bustard’s scientific name is Ardeotis nigriceps and it is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Its global population is fewer than 150 individuals. It is the state bird of Rajasthan.
Note: Chlamydotis macqueenii is the Macqueen’s Bustard; Otis tarda is the Great Bustard (Europe/Asia); Eupodotis bengalensis is the Bengal Florican.
Concept note
The GIB family (Otididae) has several Indian species: Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps, Critically Endangered), Lesser Florican (Sypheotides indicus, Endangered), and Bengal Florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis, Critically Endangered). The GIB was once found across 11 states but now survives mainly in Rajasthan (~100 birds) and small numbers in Gujarat.
Overhead power lines are the single largest cause of adult mortality, GIBs have a narrow forward field of vision and cannot spot wires while flying.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 (Biodiversity + Wildlife conservation + Climate-biodiversity trade-off). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | Critically Endangered, Jumpstart Approach, inter-state egg transfer, captive breeding, Project GIB, Solar energy vs wildlife habitat. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Confusing GIB (Ardeotis nigriceps) with Houbara Bustard (Chlamydotis macqueenii), the Houbara is migratory and found in Rajasthan in winter; the GIB is resident and endemic to India. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | GIB-power lines-Supreme Court 2021 case is a unique climate-biodiversity conflict, UPSC loves such crossover topics. Know both the wildlife angle and the renewable energy policy angle. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** The GIB is dying because of solar energy infrastructure. As a District Collector in Jaisalmer, how would you balance solar development and GIB conservation? |
Question 13 of 28
India hosted CMS COP13 at Gandhinagar, Gujarat, in January 2020, the first time the Convention on Migratory Species COP was held in South Asia. CMS COP15 was held in Brazil in March 2026, where 40 new species including the Great Indian Bustard were added to protected lists.
Concept note
CMS (Convention on Migratory Species / Bonn Convention) was established in 1979 in Bonn, Germany, and is administered by UNEP. India is a signatory.
Appendix I species: strictly protected (no taking or killing). Appendix II species: require international cooperative agreements.
CMS COP13 (Gandhinagar 2020) was notable as the first in Asia, India used the occasion to announce several wildlife conservation initiatives. Key species discussed at COP13: Amur Falcon, Gangetic dolphin, Snow Leopard.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 (International wildlife conventions + Biodiversity) + GS2 (Multilateral environmental agreements). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | CMS, CITES, CBD, Ramsar, four key international biodiversity/wildlife conventions; India’s MEA obligations. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Confusing CMS (migratory species, UNEP) with CITES (trade in endangered species, also UNEP-linked) and CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity, Kunming-Montreal Framework). These are three separate conventions, all covered by GS3. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | India’s hosting of MEA COPs is frequently tested: CMS COP13 (Gandhinagar 2020), CBD COP (various), Ramsar Conference. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Over 49% of migratory species are declining. Can conventions like CMS actually stop this, or are they toothless frameworks? |
Question 14 of 28
The Naxalbari Uprising of 1967 took place in Naxalbari village in Darjeeling district, West Bengal, led by Charu Majumdar and Kanu Sanyal. It was a peasant uprising against zamindari exploitation and inspired the Naxalite (Communist Party of India-Marxist-Leninist) movement that spread across several Indian states.
Concept note
The 1967 uprising had a specific trigger: tribal peasants under the Siliguri Kisan Sabha refused to pay rent to landlords after a dispute, and when security forces intervened, a police constable was killed. Charu Majumdar then articulated the ‘annihilation line’, targeted killings of class enemies, which became the ideological foundation of the violent wing of the movement.
Kanu Sanyal later moderated his views and worked within parliamentary politics.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 (Internal Security + LWE) + GS1 (Modern Indian History, post-independence movements). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | Naxalbari, CPI (Maoist), Red Corridor, SAMADHAN, Greyhounds, LWE, AFSPA (in related context). |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Confusing Naxalbari (1967, Darjeeling, land reform uprising) with Telangana Armed Struggle (1946-51, Hyderabad, against Nizam), both are peasant movements but different causes, leaders, and outcomes. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | UPSC has asked about LWE origins and current status in multiple papers. Combining the 1967 origin with 2026 AP declaration creates a strong narrative answer. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Andhra Pradesh is now Naxal-free, but Chhattisgarh’s Bastar division remains a stronghold. What makes Bastar different? |
Question 15 of 28
CPI (Maoist) was formed in September 2004 through the merger of the People’s War Group (PWG), active primarily in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh, and the Maoist Communist Centre of India (MCCI), active in Bihar and Jharkhand. CPI (Maoist) is classified as a terrorist organisation under UAPA and is led by a Central Committee.
Concept note
PWG was originally formed in 1980 by K. Seetharamaiah (alias Seetharaman) after splitting from the CPI(ML). It was the strongest Maoist faction in south and central India.
MCCI was active in Bihar and Jharkhand with a strong presence in Santhal Pargana. Their merger created the pan-India CPI (Maoist) with a unified Central Committee and Politburo.
The Andhra Pradesh Police’s Greyhounds force had systematically decimated PWG’s leadership in AP before the merger.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 (Internal Security) + GS1 (Post-independence history, communist movements). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | CPI (Maoist), UAPA, Red Corridor, SAMADHAN, LWE doctrine, people’s guerrilla army. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Confusing CPI (Maoist) with CPI (M-L) Liberation, Liberation is a legal parliamentary party; CPI (Maoist) is banned under UAPA. Both trace lineage to Naxalbari but took opposite paths after the 1970s. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | LWE organisations, formation dates, and their UAPA designation appear in Prelims MCQs and Mains GS3. Know the 2004 merger. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** CPI (Maoist) has survived decades of counter-insurgency. What explains the resilience, ideology, terrain, or governance failure? |
Question 16 of 28
Match List I (Naval Vessel) with List II (Key Feature) from the March 31, 2026 GRSE deliveries:
| List I | List II |
|---|
INS Dunagiri (I) = BrahMos supersonic cruise missile (B). INS Sanshodhak (II) = Hydrographic surveys and oceanographic data collection (C). INS Agray (III) = ~88% indigenous content, anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft (A).
INS Dunagiri carries BrahMos; INS Sanshodhak is a survey vessel; INS Agray is the ASW craft with highest indigenisation.
Concept note
List I: I. INS Dunagiri II. INS Sanshodhak III.
INS Agray. List II: A. ~88% indigenous content, anti-submarine warfare B. BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, CODAG propulsion C. Hydrographic surveys, oceanographic data collection.
The three vessels serve distinct roles: frigates (surface warfare), survey vessels (navigation/intelligence), and ASW craft (submarine hunting). Their simultaneous delivery reflects GRSE’s expanded production capacity.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 (Defence manufacturing + Atmanirbhar Bharat) + GS2 (Maritime security doctrine). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | Project 17A, CODAG, BrahMos, ASW, GRSE, indigenisation, SAGAR doctrine. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Assuming all warships serve the same combat role, frigates, destroyers, submarines, survey vessels, and ASW craft each serve distinct operational functions. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | Match-the-following questions on defence procurement (project numbers, vessel classes, weapons systems) are common. Build a reference table. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** India delivers more warships from domestic shipyards than ever before, yet exports almost no warships. What is blocking India from becoming a naval exporter? |
Question 17 of 28
The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 (Nagarpalika Act) added the 12th Schedule to the Constitution, listing 18 functions to be transferred to Urban Local Bodies. Solid waste management is one of these 18 functions. The 73rd Amendment added the 11th Schedule for Panchayats (rural local bodies), listing 29 functions.
Concept note
The 74th Amendment is one of the most tested constitutional amendments in UPSC. Key facts: Inserted by: The Constitution (74th Amendment) Act, 1992.
Added: Part IX-A (Municipalities) + 12th Schedule. 12th Schedule lists: 18 functions including urban planning, regulation of land use, public health, sanitation, solid waste management, slum improvement, urban poverty alleviation, public amenities. Also inserted: Articles 243P to 243ZG (provisions relating to municipalities).
Three committees: Ward Committee, District Planning Committee, Metropolitan Planning Committee.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 (74th Amendment + Decentralisation + Urban governance) + GS3 (Solid waste management + ULBs). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | 74th Amendment, 12th Schedule, Urban Local Bodies, devolution, municipal finances, State Finance Commission. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Confusing 73rd (rural, Panchayats, 11th Schedule, 29 functions) with 74th (urban, Municipalities, 12th Schedule, 18 functions). |
| 📌 Exam Tip | 73rd and 74th Amendments are among the most frequently tested constitutional provisions in UPSC Prelims. Know: amendment numbers, schedules, number of functions, and constitutional articles inserted. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Twenty-five years after the 74th Amendment, urban local bodies in India still lack funds, functions, and functionaries. What is the single most important reform needed? |
Question 18 of 28
Project GIB was launched in 2016. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, leads the programme in collaboration with the State Forest Departments of Rajasthan and Gujarat and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). Captive breeding centres are located at Sam and Ramdevra in Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan.
Concept note
WII (Wildlife Institute of India) is an autonomous institution under MoEFCC, established in 1982 in Dehradun. It is India’s premier wildlife research, training, and capacity-building institution.
It leads several species recovery programmes, Project GIB (bustard), Snow Leopard Project (2019), and provides technical support for tiger reserve management. The Abu Dhabi-based International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC) has been a key international partner for captive breeding techniques.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 (Biodiversity + Species recovery + International conservation partnerships). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | Ex situ conservation, captive breeding, Jumpstart Approach, Project GIB, WII, IUCN Red List, species recovery plan. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Confusing WII (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, under MoEFCC) with ZSI (Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, under MoEFCC) and BSI (Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata). All three are under MoEFCC but have different mandates. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | Species-specific conservation projects with lead institutions appear in Prelims: Project Tiger (NTCA), Project Elephant (MoEFCC), Project Dolphin (Ministry of Jal Shakti + MoEFCC), Project GIB (WII). |
| 🎤 Interview | ** India has fewer than 150 GIBs left. At what point is a species effectively extinct in the wild, and should resources shift from in-situ to ex-situ conservation? |
Question 19 of 28
The IRDAI Ind AS framework for insurers is built primarily around Ind AS 109 (Financial Instruments, covering the investment portfolios of insurers) and Ind AS 117 (Insurance Contracts, the new standard for recognising and measuring insurance liabilities). Ind AS 117 is the Indian equivalent of IFRS 17, a landmark global accounting standard for the insurance industry.
Concept note
Ind AS 117 is a significant change because it requires insurers to value their liabilities at current market rates rather than historical cost, making balance sheets more transparent but also more volatile. This is important for systemic risk monitoring.
The two-year parallel reporting requirement (April 2026 – March 2028) allows regulators and analysts to compare the old and new frameworks before full transition. IRDAI was established under the IRDAI Act, 1999 and is headquartered in Hyderabad.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 (Financial sector regulation + Accounting standards) + GS2 (Regulatory bodies, IRDAI). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | IRDAI, Ind AS, IFRS convergence, insurance regulation, financial reporting, systemic risk, transparency. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Confusing Ind AS (Indian Accounting Standards, converged with IFRS) with Indian GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, the older system), Ind AS represents a major shift towards global accounting norms. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | IRDAI reforms and insurance sector questions appear in GS3 Economy and in financial sector oversight. Know IRDAI’s establishment, powers, and key recent reforms. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** IRDAI’s Ind AS adoption will make insurance company financials more transparent. But who actually reads insurance balance sheets in India, do these reforms matter for retail policyholders? |
Question 20 of 28
Option D is INCORRECT. BrahMos travels at Mach 2.8–3.0 (approximately 3 times the speed of sound), NOT Mach 4.5. It is called the world’s fastest OPERATIONALLY DEPLOYED supersonic cruise missile.
The BrahMos-II (hypersonic variant, under development) would reach Mach 6–7. BrahMos is correctly named after the Brahmaputra (India) and Moskva (Russia) rivers, and is a joint venture between India’s DRDO/BDL and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya.
Concept note
BrahMos details: Speed Mach 2.8–3.0; Export range ~300 km; Domestic extended range variant 500+ km; Launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, and land. BrahMos Aerospace: Joint venture company (50.5% India, 49.5% Russia).
Named after: Brahmaputra + Moskva rivers. Variants: BrahMos Block I (original), BrahMos-ER (extended range), BrahMos-A (air-launched, on Su-30MKI), BrahMos-NG (mini, for smaller platforms).
Exports: Philippines became first export customer (2022).
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 (Defence technology + Atmanirbhar Bharat + Defence exports) + GS2 (India-Russia relations). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | BrahMos, DRDO, defence exports, Mach speed, cruise missile, India-Russia defence cooperation. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Confusing BrahMos (supersonic, Mach 2.8-3) with hypersonic missiles (Mach 5+). BrahMos-II is the hypersonic variant (under development); the deployed BrahMos is supersonic, not hypersonic. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | Negative questions ('which is NOT correct') about defence systems test precision knowledge. BrahMos speed (Mach 2.8-3) is a commonly confused fact. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Philippines bought BrahMos. India has a $450 billion global arms trade to capture. What is India’s defence export strategy and what are the barriers? |
Question 21 of 28
The Bhavasagara Referral Centre is located at the Centre for Marine Living Resources & Ecology (CMLRE), Kochi, Kerala. CMLRE was established in 1998 under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. The centre was designated India’s National Repository for Deep-Sea Fauna under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and houses 3,500+ taxonomically identified, geo-referenced voucher specimens.
Concept note
CMLRE (Centre for Marine Living Resources & Ecology) focuses on deep-sea biodiversity exploration and monitoring of India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). It is distinct from: CMFRI (Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, under ICAR, fisheries-focused), NIO (National Institute of Oceanography, physical and chemical oceanography, Goa), and NCPOR (National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Antarctica and Arctic focus, Goa).
The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 provides the legal framework for biodiversity conservation and access/benefit sharing.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 (Marine biodiversity + Deep-sea exploration + Biological Diversity Act 2002). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | Deep-sea fauna, biodiversity repository, Biological Diversity Act 2002, ABS (Access and Benefit Sharing), EEZ, Blue Economy. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Confusing the multiple ocean/marine research institutions, NIO (physical oceanography, Goa), CMFRI (fisheries, Kochi), CMLRE (deep-sea life, Kochi), NCPOR (polar research, Goa). |
| 📌 Exam Tip | Biological Diversity Act 2002, National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), State Biodiversity Boards, their roles and the ABS mechanism appear regularly in GS3 environment questions. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** India has barely explored its deep-sea biodiversity in its vast EEZ. What is the strategic significance of mapping and cataloguing deep-sea species? |
Question 22 of 28
India’s carbon sink target in the 2026 NDC has been raised to 3.5–4 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent by 2035.
India’s current total forest and tree cover meets the constitutionally mandated 33% of geographic area.
A is TRUE, India’s 2026 NDC raised the carbon sink target to 3.5–4 billion tonnes CO₂e. R is FALSE, India’s current forest and tree cover stands at ~25.17% (FSI 2023), significantly below the constitutionally aspirational 33% target under Article 48A (DPSP). Since R is false, Option C is correct.
Concept note
The 33% forest cover goal is mentioned in Article 48A (DPSP: State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard forests and wildlife) and in the National Forest Policy, 1988. However, it is not a justiciable right, it is a Directive Principle.
India’s FSI (Forest Survey of India) biennial reports measure ‘forest cover’ (canopy density >10%) and ‘tree cover’ separately. The combined total of ~25.17% (FSI 2023) remains well short of 33%.
Closing this gap is critical to achieving India’s carbon sink commitments.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 (Environment + NDC + Forest policy) + GS2 (Constitutional provisions, Article 48A DPSP + Article 51A(g) Fundamental Duty). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | Forest Survey of India, carbon sink, Article 48A, Fundamental Duty (Article 51A-g), afforestation, CAMPA, National Forest Policy 1988. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Students often state India’s forest cover as '33%', that is the TARGET, not the current figure (25.17% per FSI 2023). |
| 📌 Exam Tip | Article 48A and Article 51A(g) are the two constitutional environment provisions most tested in UPSC Prelims. Know which is DPSP and which is Fundamental Duty. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** India wants to expand its carbon sink to 4 billion tonnes but its forest cover is stagnating at 25%. Can afforestation programmes alone bridge this gap, or do we need to reduce deforestation rates first? |
Question 23 of 28
The SAMADHAN doctrine for LWE elimination was developed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). It is a comprehensive multi-pronged strategy combining security operations, intelligence, development initiatives, and rehabilitation. The MHA coordinates all state and central efforts under this framework through its Internal Security Division.
Concept note
SAMADHAN acronym: Smart leadership, Aggressive strategy, Motivation and training, Actionable intelligence, Dashboard-based KPIs and key results, Harnessing technology, Action plan for each theatre, No complacency. The strategy also works in tandem with the Aspirational Districts Programme (launched 2018, now Aspirational Districts and Blocks Programme) which prioritises development in economically laggard districts, many of which are LWE-affected.
The Vikas Darshan initiative fast-tracks infrastructure in LWE-affected blocks.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 (Internal Security + LWE) + GS2 (Centre-State relations in internal security). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | SAMADHAN, Aspirational Districts Programme, Vikas Darshan, Greyhounds, COBRA, CRPF, LWE, Red Corridor. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Treating LWE as purely a security problem, SAMADHAN explicitly integrates development (roads, schools, banks, health centres) as part of the solution. The MHA and Ministry of Rural Development work jointly on this. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | UPSC GS3 questions on LWE consistently expect students to address both security AND governance/development dimensions. A one-dimensional answer loses marks. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** With Andhra Pradesh Naxal-free and Telangana largely free, only Chhattisgarh’s Bastar, parts of Jharkhand, and Odisha border remain. What is the endgame strategy for Bastar, the most resilient Maoist zone? |
Question 24 of 28
Statement 1 (60% non-fossil installed capacity by 2035), CORRECT. Statement 2 (47% emissions intensity reduction from 2005 levels), CORRECT. Statement 3 is the false one: India’s carbon sink target in the 2026 NDC is 3.5–4 billion tonnes CO₂ equivalent, NOT 2.5–3 billion tonnes (that was the original 2015 NDC target).
Hence statements 1 and 2 only are correct.
Concept note
Statements: 1. India’s 2026 NDC commits to 60% of installed electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2035. 2.
India’s 2026 NDC aims to reduce emissions intensity of GDP by 47% from 2005 levels by 2035. 3. The carbon sink target in the 2026 NDC is 2.5-3 billion tonnes CO₂ equivalent.
The NDC progression: Original 2015 NDC: 40% non-fossil capacity, 33-35% intensity reduction, 2.5-3 Bn tonne sink (all by 2030). 2022 update: 50% capacity, 45% intensity, 2.5-3 Bn tonne sink. 2026 update: 60% capacity, 47% intensity, 3.5-4 Bn tonne sink (all by 2035).
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 (Climate policy + NDC) + GS2 (Paris Agreement + UNFCCC). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | NDC ratchet, Paris Agreement Article 4, CBDR, non-fossil capacity, emissions intensity, carbon sink, UNFCCC. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Mixing up the three NDC versions, original (2015), updated (2022), and new (2026). The targets are specific to each version and each has a different deadline (2030 for the first two, 2035 for 2026 update). |
| 📌 Exam Tip | Statement-based questions on NDC targets require precise number recall. Create a three-column comparison table for all three NDC versions. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** India’s NDC targets are conditional on climate finance from developed nations. How much has actually been delivered versus promised, and how should India respond to broken climate finance commitments? |
Question 25 of 28
Statement 1 (CMS established in 1979 at Bonn, Germany), CORRECT.
Statement 2Incorrect
CMS is administered by UNEP, not UNESCO. UNESCO administers World Heritage Sites (WHC). Statement 3 (India hosted CMS COP13 at Gandhinagar in 2020), CORRECT.
Hence statements 1 and 3 only are correct.
Concept note
Statements: 1. The Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) was established in 1979 in Bonn, Germany. 2.
CMS is administered by UNESCO. 3. India hosted CMS COP13 at Gandhinagar, Gujarat, in January 2020.
The UN body administering CMS is UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), not UNESCO. The ‘Bonn Convention’ name reflects its origin city.
CMS COP15 (Brazil, 2026) added 40 species including the Great Indian Bustard to protected lists.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 (International biodiversity conventions) + GS2 (Multilateral environmental agreements). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | CMS, CITES, CBD, Ramsar, MEAs, migratory species, Appendix I/II. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Attribution errors in UN agencies, UNESCO (cultural heritage, World Heritage Sites), UNEP (CMS, CITES, climate conventions), FAO (fisheries, food), WHO (health). CMS comes under UNEP. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | Know which UN body administers each major convention: CBD (UNEP), CMS (UNEP), CITES (UNEP), Ramsar (independent secretariat, advisory role to UNEP), UNFCCC (UNEP/WMO). |
| 🎤 Interview | ** CMS protects migratory species but it is a 'framework convention' with weak enforcement. What specific mechanisms could make it more effective at halting migratory bird decline? |
Question 26 of 28
Statement 1 (moratorium established at MC2 in 1998), CORRECT. Statement 2 (India is a member of MPIA) is FALSE, India is NOT a member of the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA), the alternative appeal mechanism set up to substitute for the non-functional WTO Appellate Body. Statement 3 (DG Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the first African and first woman WTO DG), CORRECT.
Hence 1 and 3 only are correct.
Concept note
Statements: 1. The WTO e-commerce moratorium was first established at the 2nd Ministerial Conference (MC2) in Geneva in 1998. 2.
India is a member of the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA). 3. WTO DG Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the first African and first woman to head the WTO.
India has NOT joined MPIA, which currently has ~50 members. India’s position: the Appellate Body should be restored rather than bypassed through MPIA.
MPIA was established in 2020 by members who wanted a functional appeal mechanism.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 (WTO + International Institutions + Dispute Settlement) + GS3 (Digital trade policy). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | WTO Appellate Body, MPIA, e-commerce moratorium, dispute settlement, rule-based multilateral trading system. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Assuming India joined MPIA since India is active in WTO, India’s position is to restore the Appellate Body, not circumvent it via MPIA. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | WTO Appellate Body crisis, MPIA membership (India NOT a member), and India’s position on dispute settlement reform are high-value GS2 international institutions topics. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** The WTO’s dispute settlement system is broken. Is this good or bad for a country like India that often finds itself in trade disputes with the USA and EU? |
Question 27 of 28
Statement 1 (four-stream segregation: wet, dry, sanitary, special care), CORRECT.
Statement 2Incorrect
SWM Rules 2026 are notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, NOT the Solid Waste Management Act. India does not have a separate SWM Act; the framework comes from the EPA 1986 + the 74th Amendment. Statement 3 (RDF raised from 5% to 15% over six years), CORRECT.
Hence 1 and 3 only.
Concept note
Statements: 1. SWM Rules 2026 mandate four-stream segregation: wet waste, dry waste, sanitary waste, and special care waste. 2.
SWM Rules 2026 are notified under a dedicated Solid Waste Management Act. 3. The RDF (Refuse-Derived Fuel) mandate has been raised from 5% to 15% over six years under the SWM Rules 2026.
India has no separate Solid Waste Management Act, the rules are framed under EPA 1986. This is a commonly tested factual distinction.
Contrast: Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules 2016, also under EPA 1986.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 (Environment + Waste management + Circular economy) + GS2 (Governance + ULBs + 74th Amendment). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | Environment (Protection) Act 1986, SWM Rules, circular economy, RDF, Extended Producer Responsibility, Polluter Pays Principle. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Assuming there is a dedicated SWM Act in India, there is not. All solid waste rules come under EPA 1986’s delegated legislation framework. Students also confuse the notification year (2016 vs 2026). |
| 📌 Exam Tip | For environment rules, always know: the parent Act (usually EPA 1986 or specific Acts for plastic/e-waste), the notification year, and key provisions. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** India generates more waste every year but recycling rates stagnate. Is the problem regulation, infrastructure, behaviour, or economics of recycling? |
Question 28 of 28
Statement 1 (right to die with dignity under Article 21 recognised in Common Cause 2018), CORRECT.
Statement 2Incorrect
Aruna Shanbaug v. Union of India was decided in 2011, not 1996. The 1996 case was Gian Kaur v. State of Punjab (which held Article 21 does NOT include right to die, later overridden by interpretation in Aruna Shanbaug 2011 and Common Cause 2018). Statement 3 (Harish Rana 2026 first permitted CANH withdrawal), CORRECT.
Hence 1 and 3 only.
Concept note
Statements: 1. The Supreme Court in Common Cause v. Union of India (2018) recognised the right to die with dignity as part of Article 21. 2.
The Aruna Shanbaug case was decided in 1996. 3. In Harish Rana v. Union of India (2026), the Supreme Court permitted withdrawal of Clinically Assisted Nutrition and Hydration (CANH) for the first time in India.
Aruna Shanbaug was decided in 2011 (NOT 1996). 1996 = Gian Kaur (denied right to die). 2011 = Aruna Shanbaug (recognised passive euthanasia). 2018 = Common Cause (advance directives + Article 21). 2026 = Harish Rana (CANH withdrawal).
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 (Fundamental Rights + Article 21 + Judiciary) + GS4 (Bioethics + autonomy + dignity). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | Right to die with dignity, passive euthanasia, advance directives, CANH, PVS, Article 21, Common Cause, Aruna Shanbaug. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Mixing up the year of Aruna Shanbaug (2011) with Gian Kaur (1996), a classic year-confusion trap in statement questions. Also: confusing the HOLDING of each case (Gian Kaur = no right to die; Aruna Shanbaug = passive euthanasia okay). |
| 📌 Exam Tip | Right-to-die case chronology is a perennial UPSC Prelims topic. Build a clear timeline: 1994 → 1996 → 2011 → 2018 → 2023 → 2026. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** India has taken 55 years from the Naxalbari Uprising to the AP Naxal-free declaration. How long will it take from the 2018 Common Cause ruling to the day that advance directives are routinely honoured in Indian hospitals? |
Performance
Question-wise Result
