Daily Current Affairs Quiz
Daily Quiz -- May 12, 2026
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14 questions based on today’s current affairs & editorials
14 MCQs
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Question 1 of 14
Consider the April 2026 CPI release by MoSPI.
Which of the following statements is correct?
Which of the following statements is correct?
FACT: For April 2026, headline retail inflation was 3.48 per cent YoY – a 13-month high – with food inflation (CFPI) accelerating to 4.20 per cent. Rural inflation (3.74 per cent) was higher than urban inflation (3.16 per cent).
The base year for the new CPI series is 2024 = 100. ANALYSIS: The print is still inside the RBI tolerance band of 4 +/- 2 per cent, but the upward drift – driven by tomato (+35.28 per cent) and silver jewellery (+144.34 per cent) – narrows the policy space for further rate cuts at the MPC’s next bi-monthly meeting.
The base year for the new CPI series is 2024 = 100. ANALYSIS: The print is still inside the RBI tolerance band of 4 +/- 2 per cent, but the upward drift – driven by tomato (+35.28 per cent) and silver jewellery (+144.34 per cent) – narrows the policy space for further rate cuts at the MPC’s next bi-monthly meeting.
📝 Concept Note
CPI is compiled by the National Statistical Office (NSO) under MoSPI. The new series with base year 2024 = 100 replaced the 2012 = 100 series in 2026. The Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) is the food sub-aggregate.
RBI’s flexible inflation targeting (FIT) was adopted via the Monetary Policy Framework Agreement (2016) and the Finance Act, 2016 (inserting Section 45ZA in the RBI Act, 1934). The Monetary Policy Committee has six members – three RBI (Governor, Deputy Governor for monetary policy, one nominee) and three Government-appointed external experts.
It meets bi-monthly. The current 4 +/- 2 per cent target is for the period 2021-2026 and is due for statutory review.
Big upside contributors in April 2026: tomato (+35.28 per cent), silver jewellery (+144.34 per cent), coconut copra (+44.55 per cent). Soft basket: potato (-23.69 per cent), onion (-17.67 per cent).
RBI’s flexible inflation targeting (FIT) was adopted via the Monetary Policy Framework Agreement (2016) and the Finance Act, 2016 (inserting Section 45ZA in the RBI Act, 1934). The Monetary Policy Committee has six members – three RBI (Governor, Deputy Governor for monetary policy, one nominee) and three Government-appointed external experts.
It meets bi-monthly. The current 4 +/- 2 per cent target is for the period 2021-2026 and is due for statutory review.
Big upside contributors in April 2026: tomato (+35.28 per cent), silver jewellery (+144.34 per cent), coconut copra (+44.55 per cent). Soft basket: potato (-23.69 per cent), onion (-17.67 per cent).
🎯 Concept Kit — tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 -- Indian economy, monetary policy; GS2 -- statutory bodies. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | CPI, CFPI, flexible inflation targeting, MPC, Section 45ZA, base year revision. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Confusing the WPI base year (2011-12) with the CPI base year (now 2024 = 100). |
| 📌 Exam Tip | RBI’s inflation target is 4 per cent with a 2-6 per cent tolerance band; statutory under Section 45ZA RBI Act inserted by Finance Act 2016. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Should silver and gold be retained in the CPI basket given their wealth-effect volatility? |
Question 2 of 14
In the Supreme Court’s decision in Gunjan @ Girija Kumari v. State (NCT of Delhi) (May 2026), the Court held that:
FACT: In Gunjan @ Girija Kumari v. State (NCT of Delhi) [2026 INSC 468; 2026 LiveLaw (SC) 484], a three-judge bench held that insults inside a private dwelling – where no member of the public has access and no independent person is present – fall outside the meaning of “place within public view” in Sections 3(1)® and 3(1)(s) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. ANALYSIS: The Court restated the principle from Hitesh Verma v. State of Uttarakhand (2020).
Charges under the Atrocities Act were quashed; ordinary criminal law (IPC/BNS) provisions remained open. The reading turns on a textual limit Parliament itself placed in the statute – “in any place within public view”.
Charges under the Atrocities Act were quashed; ordinary criminal law (IPC/BNS) provisions remained open. The reading turns on a textual limit Parliament itself placed in the statute – “in any place within public view”.
📝 Concept Note
The SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 was enacted under Article 17, which abolishes untouchability. Section 3(1)® penalises intentional insult or intimidation with intent to humiliate in “any place within public view”; Section 3(1)(s) penalises abuse by caste name in “any place within public view”.
The Act was significantly amended in 2015 (new categories of atrocities, 60-day investigation deadline, exclusive special courts) and in 2018 (Section 18A reinstated the bar on anticipatory bail and barred preliminary inquiry, reversing Subhash Kashinath Mahajan v. State of Maharashtra (2018)). In Prathvi Raj Chauhan v. UoI (2020), the SC upheld Section 18A. The May 2026 Gunjan ruling did NOT strike down Section 18 – it ruled on the scope of “public view”.
The Act was significantly amended in 2015 (new categories of atrocities, 60-day investigation deadline, exclusive special courts) and in 2018 (Section 18A reinstated the bar on anticipatory bail and barred preliminary inquiry, reversing Subhash Kashinath Mahajan v. State of Maharashtra (2018)). In Prathvi Raj Chauhan v. UoI (2020), the SC upheld Section 18A. The May 2026 Gunjan ruling did NOT strike down Section 18 – it ruled on the scope of “public view”.
🎯 Concept Kit — tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 -- Polity, vulnerable sections, welfare legislation; GS4 -- Ethics. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | Article 17, SC/ST Act, place within public view, Hitesh Verma 2020, untouchability. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Reading the judgment as invalidating the SC/ST Act -- it does not; it only clarifies the spatial scope. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | "Place within public view" requires public access -- a private home without bystanders fails the test. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Should the statute be amended to cover insults in employer-employee or landlord-tenant private settings? |
Question 3 of 14
The SEHAT Mission launched on May 11, 2026 is a convergence between which two apex councils and which ministries?
FACT: SEHAT (Science Excellence for Health through Agricultural Transformation), launched on May 11, 2026 by Health Minister J P Nadda and Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, is a joint mission between the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR – under Department of Health Research, MoHFW) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR – under DARE, MoA&FW). ANALYSIS: The convergence is methodologically novel: ICMR brings epidemiological and cohort-study rigour, ICAR brings crop-breeding and farm-system expertise.
The five priority areas are biofortified crops, integrated farming for dietary diversity, occupational health of agri workers, agri-NCD prevention, and One Health surveillance.
The five priority areas are biofortified crops, integrated farming for dietary diversity, occupational health of agri workers, agri-NCD prevention, and One Health surveillance.
📝 Concept Note
ICMR was founded in 1911 as the Indian Research Fund Association and renamed in 1949; it sits under the Department of Health Research, MoHFW. ICAR was founded in 1929 and operates under DARE within the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare. The SEHAT Mission aligns with the National One Health Mission (approved by Cabinet, 2024) and the POSHAN Abhiyaan / POSHAN 2.0 (under MWCD).
India has released over 70 biofortified varieties since 2015, including HD-2967 wheat (zinc/iron), CR Dhan-310 rice (protein), pearl millet ICTP-8203 Fe10 (iron), and Bhu Sona sweet potato (beta-carotene). Despite cereal self-sufficiency, NFHS-5 (2019-21) shows under-5 stunting at 35.5 per cent and child anaemia at 67.1 per cent – the hidden-hunger paradox SEHAT targets.
India has released over 70 biofortified varieties since 2015, including HD-2967 wheat (zinc/iron), CR Dhan-310 rice (protein), pearl millet ICTP-8203 Fe10 (iron), and Bhu Sona sweet potato (beta-carotene). Despite cereal self-sufficiency, NFHS-5 (2019-21) shows under-5 stunting at 35.5 per cent and child anaemia at 67.1 per cent – the hidden-hunger paradox SEHAT targets.
🎯 Concept Kit — tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 -- Social justice, governance; GS3 -- Agriculture, S&T. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | SEHAT Mission, ICMR-ICAR convergence, biofortification, One Health, hidden hunger, POSHAN. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Confusing SEHAT (ICMR-ICAR convergence) with Ayushman Bharat schemes -- SEHAT is an R&D and convergence platform, not an insurance or PHC scheme. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | Five SEHAT pillars: biofortification, integrated farming, agri occupational health, agri-NCDs, One Health. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Can institutional convergence at the Centre overcome line-department silos at the State level? |
Question 4 of 14
SEBI’s consultation paper "GARUDA" (May 11, 2026) proposes which of the following changes to the Alternative Investment Fund regime?
FACT: GARUDA (“Green-Channel: AIF Rollout Upon Document Acknowledgement”) proposes that AIF scheme Private Placement Memoranda (PPMs) be filed through SEBI-registered merchant bankers, with SEBI acknowledging receipt within 10 working days – enabling scheme launch upon acknowledgement rather than after full pre-approval. The total timeline drops from around 30 days to 10 working days.
ANALYSIS: The reform shifts SEBI’s role from gatekeeper to post-facto auditor; the merchant banker assumes first-line compliance responsibility. Public comments are open until June 1, 2026.
Minimum corpus and investor commitment thresholds are unchanged.
ANALYSIS: The reform shifts SEBI’s role from gatekeeper to post-facto auditor; the merchant banker assumes first-line compliance responsibility. Public comments are open until June 1, 2026.
Minimum corpus and investor commitment thresholds are unchanged.
📝 Concept Note
AIFs are regulated under the SEBI (AIF) Regulations, 2012. Category I covers VC, SME, social impact, and infrastructure funds; Category II covers PE and debt funds; Category III covers hedge funds and complex/leveraged strategies.
The minimum corpus per scheme is Rs 20 crore (Rs 10 crore for angel funds) and the minimum investor commitment is Rs 1 crore (Rs 25 lakh for angel funds). AIF industry AUM crossed Rs 13 lakh crore in 2025.
Merchant bankers are Category-I registered under SEBI (Merchant Bankers) Regulations, 1992. The GIFT-IFSC is regulated by IFSCA (since 2020) and offers an even faster launch channel – GARUDA closes the mainland-IFSC speed gap.
The minimum corpus per scheme is Rs 20 crore (Rs 10 crore for angel funds) and the minimum investor commitment is Rs 1 crore (Rs 25 lakh for angel funds). AIF industry AUM crossed Rs 13 lakh crore in 2025.
Merchant bankers are Category-I registered under SEBI (Merchant Bankers) Regulations, 1992. The GIFT-IFSC is regulated by IFSCA (since 2020) and offers an even faster launch channel – GARUDA closes the mainland-IFSC speed gap.
🎯 Concept Kit — tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 -- Indian economy, capital markets. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | AIF, SEBI Regulations 2012, GARUDA green-channel, merchant banker, GIFT-IFSC, patient capital. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Calling the AIF minimum commitment Rs 25 lakh -- that applies only to angel funds; for other AIFs it is Rs 1 crore. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | AIF categories: I (venture / SME / social / infra), II (PE / debt), III (hedge funds). |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Does fast-track filing without pre-approval invite mis-selling risk? |
Question 5 of 14
Which of the following correctly distinguishes HAM and BOT-Toll models for highway projects in India?
FACT: The Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) introduced in 2015-16 sees the Government fund 40 per cent of the project during construction; the concessionaire raises the remaining 60 per cent, and is repaid through fixed annuities over the concession period – traffic risk stays with NHAI. BOT-Toll, by contrast, is fully concessionaire-financed and the concessionaire bears the entire traffic risk, recovering investment through tolls. ANALYSIS: This explains why HAM dominates new awards (~80 per cent of FY 2025-26 awards), while BOT-Toll dried up – forcing MoRTH’s May 11, 2026 revision opening BOT bidding to PE / sovereign / pension funds.
📝 Concept Note
India’s highway PPP models are EPC (100 per cent Govt-funded, contractor builds), HAM (40 per cent Govt + 60 per cent concessionaire, annuity-based, no traffic risk on concessionaire), BOT-Annuity (100 per cent concessionaire-financed, fixed annuity from Govt), BOT-Toll (100 per cent concessionaire-financed, full traffic risk), and TOT (Toll-Operate-Transfer) for already-operational highways. The May 2026 revision allows sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, infrastructure investment funds, and PE funds to bid for BOT-Toll directly, with an EPC contractor as mandatory team partner.
The trigger was four BOT projects worth Rs 22,000 crore that failed to attract bids. NHAI’s BOT pipeline now exceeds Rs 31,000 crore.
NHAI was established under the NHAI Act, 1988, operates under MoRTH, and floated the NHAI InvIT (Infrastructure Investment Trust) in 2021 to monetise operational assets.
The trigger was four BOT projects worth Rs 22,000 crore that failed to attract bids. NHAI’s BOT pipeline now exceeds Rs 31,000 crore.
NHAI was established under the NHAI Act, 1988, operates under MoRTH, and floated the NHAI InvIT (Infrastructure Investment Trust) in 2021 to monetise operational assets.
🎯 Concept Kit — tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 -- Infrastructure, economy; GS2 -- governance. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | EPC, HAM, BOT, TOT, NHAI, asset monetisation, NIIF, sovereign wealth funds. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Assuming the concessionaire bears traffic risk under HAM -- it does not; that is BOT-Toll. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | HAM: 40:60, annuity, no traffic risk on concessionaire. BOT-Toll: 0:100, toll-based, full traffic risk. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Should India shift highway financing entirely to listed InvITs instead of new BOT-Toll concessions? |
Question 6 of 14
According to the IIP release for March 2026, which use-based category showed the strongest growth, and what does it signal?
FACT: The Index of Industrial Production for March 2026 grew 4.1 per cent YoY. The strongest segment in the use-based classification was capital goods at 14.6 per cent – the highest reading in 18+ months. ANALYSIS: Capital goods (machinery, plant, electricals) are a leading indicator of private capex; a 14.6 per cent print signals that capex announcements are converting into actual machinery orders, consistent with RBI’s nowcast of Q4 FY 25-26 GDP above 7 per cent.
Meanwhile, consumer non-durables grew only 1.1 per cent – suggesting rural consumption remains weak.
Meanwhile, consumer non-durables grew only 1.1 per cent – suggesting rural consumption remains weak.
📝 Concept Note
IIP is compiled by the National Statistical Office (NSO) under MoSPI; the current base year is 2011-12 = 100. Sectoral weights: Manufacturing 77.63 per cent; Mining 14.37 per cent; Electricity 7.99 per cent.
The use-based classification has six categories: Primary goods, Capital goods, Intermediate goods, Infrastructure/Construction goods, Consumer Durables, Consumer Non-durables. The Eight Core Industries Index (ICI) – coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement, electricity – has a 40.27 per cent weight in IIP and is released by the Office of the Economic Adviser, DPIIT. Other March 2026 prints: Manufacturing +4.6 per cent; Electricity +5.2 per cent; Mining +2.6 per cent; Infrastructure +6.7 per cent.
The use-based classification has six categories: Primary goods, Capital goods, Intermediate goods, Infrastructure/Construction goods, Consumer Durables, Consumer Non-durables. The Eight Core Industries Index (ICI) – coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement, electricity – has a 40.27 per cent weight in IIP and is released by the Office of the Economic Adviser, DPIIT. Other March 2026 prints: Manufacturing +4.6 per cent; Electricity +5.2 per cent; Mining +2.6 per cent; Infrastructure +6.7 per cent.
🎯 Concept Kit — tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 -- economy, growth, indicators. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | IIP, capital goods, capex cycle, use-based classification, Eight Core Industries, GVA. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Confusing IIP (industrial output) with GDP / GVA (broader value-added) -- IIP excludes services. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | IIP weights: Manufacturing 77.63 per cent, Mining 14.37 per cent, Electricity 7.99 per cent; ICI weight in IIP = 40.27 per cent. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Is the capex revival broad-based, or concentrated in a few large groups? |
Question 7 of 14
Under the Centre’s royalty regime notified on May 8, 2026, what is the royalty rate for ultra-deepwater oil and gas fields in the first seven years of production?
FACT: Under the notification dated May 8, 2026, ultra-deepwater fields enjoy zero royalty for the first seven years of production and 5 per cent thereafter; deepwater fields pay 5 per cent for the first seven years and 10 per cent thereafter. Onshore nominated / pre-NELP PSC royalty has been cut from 20 per cent to 12.5 per cent.
ANALYSIS: The tiered structure is internationally aligned – the US Gulf of Mexico and Brazilian pre-salt regimes use similar time-bound concessions. The reform aims to revive India’s upstream E&P, with crude import dependence at ~87 per cent and domestic production having fallen from 38.5 MMT (FY 11-12) to ~29 MMT (FY 24-25).
ANALYSIS: The tiered structure is internationally aligned – the US Gulf of Mexico and Brazilian pre-salt regimes use similar time-bound concessions. The reform aims to revive India’s upstream E&P, with crude import dependence at ~87 per cent and domestic production having fallen from 38.5 MMT (FY 11-12) to ~29 MMT (FY 24-25).
📝 Concept Note
India’s upstream licensing has moved through several phases: Pre-NELP PSCs (1980s-90s, cost-recovery, high royalty); NELP (1999-2017, PSC + cost-recovery); HELP (Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy, 2016 onwards, revenue-sharing, with the Open Acreage Licensing Programme / OALP); and DSF (Discovered Small Field, 2015 onwards, revenue-sharing). The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) is the regulator under MoPNG. India holds about 5.33 MMT in Strategic Petroleum Reserves at Visakhapatnam, Mangalore, and Padur (~9.5 days of import cover); Phase II is in progress at Chandikhol (Odisha) and Padur expansion.
Royalty is now calculated on a standardised well-head price – replacing arbitrary post-stabilisation deductions.
Royalty is now calculated on a standardised well-head price – replacing arbitrary post-stabilisation deductions.
🎯 Concept Kit — tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 -- economy, energy security, infrastructure. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | Royalty reform, HELP, OALP, NELP, DSF, well-head price, import dependence, SPR. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Confusing the deepwater rate (5 per cent for 7 years) with the ultra-deepwater rate (zero for 7 years). |
| 📌 Exam Tip | Ultra-deepwater: 0 per cent (yrs 1-7), 5 per cent thereafter; Deepwater: 5 per cent (yrs 1-7), 10 per cent thereafter; Onshore nominated: 20 per cent -> 12.5 per cent. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Is fossil-fuel royalty reform consistent with India’s net-zero by 2070 commitment? |
Question 8 of 14
India’s upstream oil & gas licensing has evolved through several regimes. Which of the following pairings is correct?
FACT: HELP (Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy, 2016 onwards) operates on a revenue-sharing model and introduced the Open Acreage Licensing Programme (OALP), which allows bidders to identify a block from the National Data Repository any time. NELP (1999-2017) used a PSC + cost-recovery model – not revenue-sharing.
DSF (Discovered Small Field, from 2015) is a revenue-sharing regime, but is distinct from HELP. Pre-NELP contracts (1980s-90s) used PSCs with cost-recovery and high royalty. ANALYSIS: The shift from cost-recovery to revenue-sharing was a deliberate move to reduce the cost-related disputes that had bedevilled the KG-D6 and similar fields.
DSF (Discovered Small Field, from 2015) is a revenue-sharing regime, but is distinct from HELP. Pre-NELP contracts (1980s-90s) used PSCs with cost-recovery and high royalty. ANALYSIS: The shift from cost-recovery to revenue-sharing was a deliberate move to reduce the cost-related disputes that had bedevilled the KG-D6 and similar fields.
📝 Concept Note
Under cost-recovery PSCs, the contractor first recovers permitted costs and then shares profit petroleum with the Government – creating disputes over what costs are “permitted”. Under revenue-sharing, the contractor commits a percentage of revenue from day one, eliminating cost-recovery disputes.
HELP also offers a single licence for both conventional and unconventional hydrocarbons (CBM, shale, gas hydrates), marketing freedom, and a transparent revenue-share bidding parameter. OALP, under HELP, has run multiple bid rounds since 2017.
The May 2026 royalty cut applies on top of this revenue-sharing framework. The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) manages the National Data Repository (NDR).
HELP also offers a single licence for both conventional and unconventional hydrocarbons (CBM, shale, gas hydrates), marketing freedom, and a transparent revenue-share bidding parameter. OALP, under HELP, has run multiple bid rounds since 2017.
The May 2026 royalty cut applies on top of this revenue-sharing framework. The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) manages the National Data Repository (NDR).
🎯 Concept Kit — tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 -- energy, governance reforms in resource sectors. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | HELP, NELP, OALP, DSF, PSC, revenue-sharing, cost-recovery. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Calling NELP a revenue-sharing model -- it was a PSC + cost-recovery model. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | HELP (2016) = revenue-sharing + OALP + single licence; NELP (1999-2017) = PSC + cost-recovery; DSF (2015) = revenue-sharing for small discovered fields. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Has revenue-sharing under HELP improved bid participation compared to NELP? |
Question 9 of 14
International Nurses Day is observed annually on May 12 to commemorate which of the following?
FACT: International Nurses Day is observed every year on May 12, the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale (born May 12, 1820, in Florence, Italy). The day has been observed by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) since 1965 and was formally proclaimed by the United States in 1974.
ANALYSIS: Nightingale’s contribution went beyond nursing care: she pioneered evidence-based public health, hospital design, and statistical visualisation (her “coxcomb” rose diagrams of British troop mortality during the Crimean War remain foundational in public-health communication).
ANALYSIS: Nightingale’s contribution went beyond nursing care: she pioneered evidence-based public health, hospital design, and statistical visualisation (her “coxcomb” rose diagrams of British troop mortality during the Crimean War remain foundational in public-health communication).
📝 Concept Note
Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) led 38 nurses to the Crimean War (1854-56), reducing military hospital mortality from 42 per cent to 2 per cent through sanitation reforms. She published Notes on Nursing in 1859 and founded the Nightingale Training School for Nurses at St Thomas’ Hospital, London, in 1860 – the world’s first secular nursing school.
She was the first woman to be appointed to the Order of Merit (1907). The ICN 2026 theme is "Our Nurses.
Our Future. Caring for Nurses Strengthens Economies." May 12, 2026 coincides with the WHO’s launch of the second State of the World’s Nursing report (the first edition was in 2020).
Globally, nurses make up around 59 per cent of all health professionals.
She was the first woman to be appointed to the Order of Merit (1907). The ICN 2026 theme is "Our Nurses.
Our Future. Caring for Nurses Strengthens Economies." May 12, 2026 coincides with the WHO’s launch of the second State of the World’s Nursing report (the first edition was in 2020).
Globally, nurses make up around 59 per cent of all health professionals.
🎯 Concept Kit — tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 -- health governance, international institutions; GS1 -- modern history, women in science. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | Florence Nightingale, ICN, WHO, State of the World’s Nursing, nurse-population ratio. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Attributing the day to WHO Founding Day -- that is April 7 (World Health Day). |
| 📌 Exam Tip | May 5 -- International Day of the Midwife; May 12 -- International Nurses Day; World Health Day, observed since 1950 on April 7. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Are the gains from COVID-19 era nurse recruitment being sustained? |
Question 10 of 14
Which of the following correctly describes the Indian Nursing Council (INC) and the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Act, 2023?
FACT: The Indian Nursing Council (INC) is a statutory body established under the Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947, to set standards for nursing education and registration. The National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Act, 2023, passed by Parliament, provides for a new Commission with four autonomous boards – UG and PG nursing education, registration, and ethics & registration – once notified.
ANALYSIS: The 2023 Act mirrors the structure adopted for medicine (NMC Act, 2019 replacing the Medical Council of India) – shifting from a self-regulating council to an arms-length Commission with separate boards for education, registration, and discipline. State Nursing Councils continue to maintain state-level registers.
ANALYSIS: The 2023 Act mirrors the structure adopted for medicine (NMC Act, 2019 replacing the Medical Council of India) – shifting from a self-regulating council to an arms-length Commission with separate boards for education, registration, and discipline. State Nursing Councils continue to maintain state-level registers.
📝 Concept Note
The Trained Nurses’ Association of India (TNAI) – founded in 1922 – is the professional association, member of ICN since 1922, but is distinct from the INC (statutory regulator). India has approximately 3.4 million registered nurses (INC, 2025), but the active nursing workforce is significantly smaller.
India’s nurse-population ratio is roughly 1.7 per 1,000 – well below the WHO norm of 3 per 1,000. Globally, around 89 per cent of nurses are women.
Kerala remains India’s largest nurse-exporting state, with bilateral MoUs (India-UK 2022; India-Germany 2022) framing ethical migration. The National Health Policy 2017 targets improvement in the broader skilled health workforce ratios.
India’s nurse-population ratio is roughly 1.7 per 1,000 – well below the WHO norm of 3 per 1,000. Globally, around 89 per cent of nurses are women.
Kerala remains India’s largest nurse-exporting state, with bilateral MoUs (India-UK 2022; India-Germany 2022) framing ethical migration. The National Health Policy 2017 targets improvement in the broader skilled health workforce ratios.
🎯 Concept Kit — tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 -- health governance, statutory bodies; GS1 -- gendered occupations. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | INC, NNMC Act 2023, NMC Act 2019, regulatory reform, migration of health workers. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Confusing the INC (statutory regulator) with TNAI (professional association). |
| 📌 Exam Tip | INC = 1947 statutory body; TNAI = 1922 professional association; NNMC Act = 2023 (once notified) replaces INC. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Has the NMC Act, 2019 model worked well enough to justify replication for nursing? |
Question 11 of 14
Consider the following pairs related to Indian biofortified crop varieties. Which of the pairs are correctly matched?
1. HD-2967 -- Zinc-and-iron-rich wheat 2. CR Dhan-310 -- High-protein rice 3. ICTP-8203 Fe10 -- Iron-rich pearl millet 4. Bhu Sona -- Beta-carotene-rich sweet potato
1. HD-2967 -- Zinc-and-iron-rich wheat 2. CR Dhan-310 -- High-protein rice 3. ICTP-8203 Fe10 -- Iron-rich pearl millet 4. Bhu Sona -- Beta-carotene-rich sweet potato
FACT: All four pairs are correctly matched. HD-2967 is a high-yielding wheat variety with zinc and iron biofortification traits.
CR Dhan-310 (developed by ICAR-National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack) is a high-protein rice variety. ICTP-8203 Fe10 is an iron-biofortified pearl millet (bajra).
Bhu Sona is an orange-fleshed sweet potato rich in beta-carotene (vitamin A precursor). ANALYSIS: India has released over 70 biofortified varieties since 2015, in collaboration with HarvestPlus and via ICAR’s All India Coordinated Research Projects.
The SEHAT Mission, launched on May 11, 2026, prioritises adoption and dietary integration of these varieties.
CR Dhan-310 (developed by ICAR-National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack) is a high-protein rice variety. ICTP-8203 Fe10 is an iron-biofortified pearl millet (bajra).
Bhu Sona is an orange-fleshed sweet potato rich in beta-carotene (vitamin A precursor). ANALYSIS: India has released over 70 biofortified varieties since 2015, in collaboration with HarvestPlus and via ICAR’s All India Coordinated Research Projects.
The SEHAT Mission, launched on May 11, 2026, prioritises adoption and dietary integration of these varieties.
📝 Concept Note
Biofortification is the process of breeding crops to increase their nutritional value – either through conventional breeding or genetic modification. The principal target micronutrients are iron, zinc, vitamin A (beta-carotene), protein quality, and folate.
ICAR’s biofortification pipeline includes wheat (HD-2967, HI-1633 – zinc/iron), rice (CR Dhan-310, DRR Dhan-49), pearl millet (ICTP-8203 Fe10, HHB-299 – iron), finger millet ragi (CFMV-1, CFMV-2 – calcium), maize (Pusa HQPM-1 Improved – lysine, tryptophan), and sweet potato (Bhu Sona – beta-carotene). The National Institute of Nutrition (NIN, Hyderabad), an ICMR institute founded in 1918, anchors the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for India.
POSHAN Abhiyaan (2018, now POSHAN 2.0) under MWCD is the delivery vehicle for biofortified outputs through anganwadis.
ICAR’s biofortification pipeline includes wheat (HD-2967, HI-1633 – zinc/iron), rice (CR Dhan-310, DRR Dhan-49), pearl millet (ICTP-8203 Fe10, HHB-299 – iron), finger millet ragi (CFMV-1, CFMV-2 – calcium), maize (Pusa HQPM-1 Improved – lysine, tryptophan), and sweet potato (Bhu Sona – beta-carotene). The National Institute of Nutrition (NIN, Hyderabad), an ICMR institute founded in 1918, anchors the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for India.
POSHAN Abhiyaan (2018, now POSHAN 2.0) under MWCD is the delivery vehicle for biofortified outputs through anganwadis.
🎯 Concept Kit — tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 -- agriculture, food technology, biotechnology; GS2 -- health and nutrition. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | Biofortification, ICAR, HarvestPlus, hidden hunger, RDA, POSHAN. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Treating biofortification as synonymous with GM crops -- most Indian biofortified varieties are conventionally bred, not GM. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | Bhu Sona = orange sweet potato = beta-carotene; ICTP-8203 = pearl millet = iron; CR Dhan-310 = rice = protein. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Why has uptake of biofortified varieties been slow despite a strong release pipeline? |
Question 12 of 14
Which of the following statements about India’s Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) categories is correct?
FACT: Under the SEBI (AIF) Regulations, 2012, Category I covers venture capital, SME funds, social impact funds, and infrastructure funds; Category II covers private equity and debt funds (those not in Categories I or III); Category III covers hedge funds and complex / leveraged strategies. The minimum investor commitment is Rs 1 crore (Rs 25 lakh applies only to angel funds, which are a sub-class of Category I).
ANALYSIS: The category structure is designed around economic function and risk – with regulatory disclosures and leverage limits varying accordingly. The May 2026 GARUDA framework applies to scheme launches across all three categories.
ANALYSIS: The category structure is designed around economic function and risk – with regulatory disclosures and leverage limits varying accordingly. The May 2026 GARUDA framework applies to scheme launches across all three categories.
📝 Concept Note
AIFs are privately pooled investment vehicles. Category I includes Venture Capital Funds (which themselves include Angel Funds), SME Funds, Social Impact Funds, Infrastructure Funds.
Category II includes Private Equity Funds and Debt Funds. Category III includes Hedge Funds and other strategies using leverage.
The minimum scheme corpus is Rs 20 crore (Rs 10 crore for angel funds). The minimum investor commitment is Rs 1 crore (Rs 25 lakh for angel funds).
AIF AUM in India crossed Rs 13 lakh crore in 2025. SEBI was established in 1988 and made statutory in 1992 under the SEBI Act, 1992.
The GIFT-IFSC, regulated by IFSCA (since 2020), provides an alternative jurisdiction for AIF set-ups with relaxed rules; the GARUDA framework aims to bring mainland AIF speed closer to IFSC speed.
Category II includes Private Equity Funds and Debt Funds. Category III includes Hedge Funds and other strategies using leverage.
The minimum scheme corpus is Rs 20 crore (Rs 10 crore for angel funds). The minimum investor commitment is Rs 1 crore (Rs 25 lakh for angel funds).
AIF AUM in India crossed Rs 13 lakh crore in 2025. SEBI was established in 1988 and made statutory in 1992 under the SEBI Act, 1992.
The GIFT-IFSC, regulated by IFSCA (since 2020), provides an alternative jurisdiction for AIF set-ups with relaxed rules; the GARUDA framework aims to bring mainland AIF speed closer to IFSC speed.
🎯 Concept Kit — tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 -- capital markets, mobilisation of resources. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | AIF, SEBI Regulations 2012, Category I/II/III, GIFT-IFSC, IFSCA, angel funds. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Placing infrastructure funds in Category II -- they are in Category I. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | Cat I = VC + SME + social + infra; Cat II = PE + debt; Cat III = hedge + leveraged. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Should AIFs be opened to retail investors with smaller minimums, given the size of the industry? |
Question 13 of 14
Which provision is the statutory anchor for the Reserve Bank of India’s flexible inflation targeting (FIT) framework?
FACT: India’s flexible inflation targeting framework is statutorily anchored in Section 45ZA (and related Sections 45ZB-ZN) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, inserted by the Finance Act, 2016. Section 45ZA empowers the Central Government, in consultation with the RBI, to fix an inflation target every five years.
Section 45ZB constitutes the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) – six members, with the RBI Governor as Chair and casting vote. ANALYSIS: The current target is 4 per cent +/- 2 per cent for the period 2021-2026 and is due for statutory review.
The April 2026 print of 3.48 per cent CPI sits comfortably within the band, but its 13-month-high reading narrows the policy space.
Section 45ZB constitutes the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) – six members, with the RBI Governor as Chair and casting vote. ANALYSIS: The current target is 4 per cent +/- 2 per cent for the period 2021-2026 and is due for statutory review.
The April 2026 print of 3.48 per cent CPI sits comfortably within the band, but its 13-month-high reading narrows the policy space.
📝 Concept Note
Section 7 of the RBI Act, 1934, deals with the Central Government’s power to give directions to the Bank in the public interest – it is not the FIT anchor. Article 280 of the Constitution establishes the Finance Commission and is unrelated to monetary policy.
The Banking Regulation Act, 1949 governs banks. The FIT framework was adopted via the Monetary Policy Framework Agreement between the Government and RBI in February 2015, and given statutory force through the Finance Act, 2016.
The MPC has six members: the RBI Governor (Chair), the Deputy Governor in charge of monetary policy, one RBI nominee, and three Government-appointed external experts (initially appointed for four years, non-renewable). The MPC meets bi-monthly and publishes minutes 14 days after each meeting.
The Banking Regulation Act, 1949 governs banks. The FIT framework was adopted via the Monetary Policy Framework Agreement between the Government and RBI in February 2015, and given statutory force through the Finance Act, 2016.
The MPC has six members: the RBI Governor (Chair), the Deputy Governor in charge of monetary policy, one RBI nominee, and three Government-appointed external experts (initially appointed for four years, non-renewable). The MPC meets bi-monthly and publishes minutes 14 days after each meeting.
🎯 Concept Kit — tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 -- statutory bodies; GS3 -- monetary policy, economy. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | Flexible inflation targeting, MPC, Section 45ZA, RBI Act 1934, Finance Act 2016, MPFA 2015. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Citing Section 7 of the RBI Act as the FIT anchor -- it is not; that section is on Government directions. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | FIT = MPFA 2015 + Finance Act 2016 + Section 45ZA RBI Act + 4 +/- 2 per cent target. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Should the inflation target be raised, lowered, or kept at 4 +/- 2 per cent in the upcoming review? |
Question 14 of 14
A nation-wide convergence of agriculture, nutrition and health is conceptually anchored in which Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
FACT: The SEHAT Mission directly addresses SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being). SDG 2 targets ending hunger, achieving food security, improved nutrition and sustainable agriculture by 2030.
SDG 3 targets ensuring healthy lives and well-being for all ages. ANALYSIS: The mission’s convergence design also has linkages to SDG 5 (occupational health of women agri-workers), SDG 10 (reduced inequalities through targeted nutrition), and SDG 17 (partnerships across ministries), but the core anchors are SDG 2 and SDG 3.
SDG 3 targets ensuring healthy lives and well-being for all ages. ANALYSIS: The mission’s convergence design also has linkages to SDG 5 (occupational health of women agri-workers), SDG 10 (reduced inequalities through targeted nutrition), and SDG 17 (partnerships across ministries), but the core anchors are SDG 2 and SDG 3.
📝 Concept Note
The Sustainable Development Goals were adopted by all UN member states in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. There are 17 SDGs with 169 targets.
India tracks progress through the NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index (latest edition published 2023-24) and the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation’s National Indicator Framework (NIF). SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) are also reflected in domestic schemes like POSHAN Abhiyaan, Ayushman Bharat, Mid-Day Meal (PM POSHAN), Saksham Anganwadi, and the National Food Security Act, 2013.
WHO’s Triple Billion targets (2019-2023, now in next-phase planning) also align with SDG 3.
India tracks progress through the NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index (latest edition published 2023-24) and the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation’s National Indicator Framework (NIF). SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) are also reflected in domestic schemes like POSHAN Abhiyaan, Ayushman Bharat, Mid-Day Meal (PM POSHAN), Saksham Anganwadi, and the National Food Security Act, 2013.
WHO’s Triple Billion targets (2019-2023, now in next-phase planning) also align with SDG 3.
🎯 Concept Kit — tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 -- international institutions, SDGs; GS3 -- agriculture, nutrition, public health. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | SDG 2, SDG 3, hidden hunger, POSHAN, NFSA, Ayushman Bharat. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | Forgetting that SDG 2 explicitly includes nutrition and sustainable agriculture, not just hunger. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | 17 SDGs, adopted 2015, 2030 Agenda; SDG India Index by NITI Aayog. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Has India’s SDG India Index improvement been driven by data revisions or genuine outcomes? |
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