UPSC Prelims Practice
Current Affairs Quiz 17 June 2026
Test Your Knowledge
14 questions based on today’s current affairs & editorials
Choose number of questions
Question 1 of 14
Facts
India’s defence production touched a record ₹1.78 lakh crore in FY26, up 15.6 percent year-on-year and over 110 percent since FY21.
Analysis
The figure reflects the cumulative impact of indigenisation reforms under Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Concept note
The FY21 base was ₹84,643 crore. Defence exports separately hit a record ₹38,424 crore.
DPSUs and PSUs accounted for about 76 percent of output and the private sector about 24 percent (around ₹42,000 crore).
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 (security, economy, indigenisation), GS2 (government policy). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | Atmanirbhar Bharat, positive indigenisation lists, defence corridors. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | confusing the production figure with the export figure. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | production ₹1.78 lakh crore; exports ₹38,424 crore. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** can assured demand crowd in private investment? |
Question 2 of 14
Facts
Positive indigenisation lists notified by the Ministry of Defence prohibit the import of listed items after specified dates, creating assured demand for domestic manufacturers.
Analysis
Combined with capital budget earmarking and DAP 2020, they have driven the production surge.
Concept note
The Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 made Buy (Indian-IDDM), prioritising indigenous design and development, the most preferred procurement category. Two defence industrial corridors operate in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 (security, technology). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | indigenisation, IDDM, assured demand. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | thinking the lists ban exports rather than imports. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | positive list = no import after the cut-off date. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** does forced indigenisation risk quality trade-offs? |
Question 3 of 14
Facts
The Kishau Dam is on the Tons River, the largest tributary of the Yamuna.
Analysis
Six states ended an eight-year deadlock over cost sharing, with the Centre agreeing to fund 90 percent of the water-component cost.
Concept note
The Tons often carries more water than the Yamuna at their confluence. The 236-metre concrete gravity dam will generate 660 MW, irrigate about 97,000 hectares and provide 517 MCM of drinking water.
The six states are UP, Rajasthan, HP, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Delhi.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS1 (drainage), GS2 (federalism), GS3 (water and energy). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | cooperative federalism, river basin management, hydropower. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | placing the dam on the Yamuna main stem. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | Tons = largest tributary of the Yamuna. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** how to balance dams with Himalayan seismic risk? |
Question 4 of 14
Facts
Article 262 empowers Parliament to provide for the adjudication of inter-state river water disputes, and the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 was enacted under it.
Analysis
The Kishau breakthrough shows central facilitation can avoid the decades-long litigation seen in disputes like the Cauvery.
Concept note
Article 262 also allows Parliament to bar the jurisdiction of courts, including the Supreme Court, in such disputes. Water is a State subject (Entry 17, State List), while inter-state rivers fall under Entry 56 of the Union List.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 (polity, federalism). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | Article 262, water tribunals, cooperative federalism. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | confusing Article 262 with Article 263 (Inter-State Council). |
| 📌 Exam Tip | 262 = river disputes; 263 = Inter-State Council. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** should tribunal awards be time-bound? |
Question 5 of 14
Facts
The day is marked by the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), one of the three Rio Conventions of 1992.
Analysis
The 2026 theme is “Rangelands: Recognize. Respect. Restore.”, hosted by Kenya.
Concept note
The three Rio Conventions are the UNCCD, the UNFCCC and the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Ramsar Convention on wetlands is separate (1971).
India hosted UNCCD COP14 in 2019 and pledged 26 million hectares of land restoration by 2030 under the Bonn Challenge.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 (environment), GS2 (conventions). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | land degradation neutrality, Rio Conventions, Bonn Challenge. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | including Ramsar among the Rio Conventions. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | Rio 1992 = UNCCD, UNFCCC, CBD. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** why are rangelands neglected in conservation? |
Question 6 of 14
Facts
India’s overall hazard score was 9.21 out of 10, with extreme heat at 10 and air pollution at 9.94.
Analysis
About 1.1 billion children globally face three or more overlapping climate hazards.
Concept note
About 392 million Indian children (around 92 percent) are exposed to extreme heat and 89 million to recurrent heatwaves. Pakistan scored 9.44 and Bangladesh 9.38, underlining the South Asian heat and pollution crisis.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 (climate), GS2 (child rights). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | climate justice, heat action plans, child vulnerability. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | treating the score as a ranking rather than a composite index. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | India 9.21; heat 10; air pollution 9.94. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** how should heat action plans protect children? |
Question 7 of 14
Facts
CETA gives about 99 percent of India’s exports duty-free access to the UK and opens 137 services sectors.
Analysis
It is India’s first major free trade agreement with a developed European economy.
Concept note
The companion Double Contribution Convention on social security takes effect the same day, exempting Indian professionals and employers from UK social security contributions for a defined period. India protected dairy, cereals, millets, edible oils and apples.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 (IR), GS3 (trade). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | free trade agreement, services trade, agricultural protection. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | assuming all sectors were liberalised. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | CETA signed July 2025, in force July 15, 2026. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** why protect agriculture in FTAs? |
Question 8 of 14
Facts
The Double Contribution Convention exempts Indian professionals temporarily in the UK, and their employers, from UK social security contributions for a defined period, since they continue contributing in India.
Analysis
This lowers the cost of posting Indian talent and was a long-standing Indian demand.
Concept note
It is distinct from a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, which deals with income tax. The convention is a mobility and services issue, reflecting India’s strength in IT and professional services exports.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 (IR), GS3 (services, economy). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | mobility diplomacy, social security, services exports. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | confusing it with double taxation avoidance. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | DCC = social security, not income tax. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** how does mobility shape trade deals? |
Question 9 of 14
Facts
In Shishu Pal v. Surjeet (June 11, 2026) the Court held that the loss of a homemaker’s domestic care services is a separate head of Motor Vehicles Act compensation, with a minimum value of ₹30,000 per month; the homemaker’s notional income for loss of dependency is assessed separately. Correction (September 23, 2026): this question originally called the ₹30,000 a minimum notional income.
Analysis
It described homemakers as “nation builders”, recognising the economic value of unpaid care.
Concept note
The compensation in the case was enhanced to about ₹62.78 lakh. The ruling builds on Kirti v. Oriental Insurance (2021), which established that homemakers’ work has economic value.
The NSO Time Use Survey provides data on unpaid domestic work.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS1 (society, gender), GS2 (judiciary). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | unpaid care work, loss of domestic care, Time Use Survey. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | confusing the value of lost domestic care with the notional income used for loss of dependency. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | ₹30,000/month minimum for loss of domestic care. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** should GDP count unpaid care work? |
Question 10 of 14
Facts
The Pentagon adopted “Pacific Command” (PACOM), the name used until 2018, as a secondary title for INDOPACOM; the official name remains Indo-Pacific Command. Correction (September 23, 2026): this question originally said the command was renamed back to PACOM.
Analysis
The mission, headquarters at Camp H.M. Smith in Hawaii, and area of responsibility remain unchanged, making the change symbolic.
Concept note
PACOM was established in 1947 and is the oldest and largest US combatant command. The 2018 renaming had symbolically elevated India and the Indian Ocean in US strategy.
The Quad comprises India, the US, Japan and Australia.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 (IR), GS3 (maritime security). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | Indo-Pacific, Quad, net security provider. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | assuming the area of responsibility changed. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | PACOM 1947, INDOPACOM 2018, "Pacific Command" secondary title 2026. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** does nomenclature signal strategic intent? |
Question 11 of 14
Facts
Article 44 directs the State to endeavour to secure a uniform civil code for citizens throughout India.
Analysis
Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav announced a UCC Bill for the monsoon session, with a committee led by Justice Ranjana Desai.
Concept note
Uttarakhand was the first state to implement a UCC. A UCC covers marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption, replacing diverse personal laws with common rules.
Article 44 lies in Part IV (Directive Principles), which are non-justiciable.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 (polity, DPSP), GS1 (society). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | uniform civil code, personal laws, secularism. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | confusing Article 44 (UCC) with Article 48A (environment). |
| 📌 Exam Tip | Article 44 = UCC; Uttarakhand was first to implement. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** can UCC be reconciled with diversity? |
Question 12 of 14
Facts
The rules removed the Schedule K, Serial 13 exemption that let villages with under 1,000 population sell certain cough syrups without a licence.
Analysis
The change followed child deaths in Madhya Pradesh from contaminated syrup, tightening quality control.
Concept note
The parent law is the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, with the Drugs Rules, 1945. Schedule K lists exemptions; Schedule H lists prescription drugs; Schedule M sets good manufacturing practices.
Cough syrups can now be sold only through licensed pharmacies.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 (governance, health), GS3 (regulation). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | drug regulation, public health, quality control. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | confusing Schedule K (exemptions) with Schedule H (prescription). |
| 📌 Exam Tip | Schedule K = exemptions under the Drugs Rules 1945. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** how to regulate drugs in rural areas? |
Question 13 of 14
Facts
SpaceX reached about $2.65 trillion in market value, overtaking Amazon to become the world’s fifth most valuable company at market close on June 16, 2026.
Analysis
Its IPO priced at $135 per share, and it announced a $60 billion acquisition of AI coding startup Cursor.
Concept note
The rise of private space ventures reshapes the global launch market. India’s parallel push runs through IN-SPACe, the regulator promoting private participation, and private launch firms, complementing ISRO.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 (space, economy, technology). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | privatisation of space, new space economy, IN-SPACe. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | confusing market value with revenue. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | IN-SPACe promotes private space activity in India. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** should strategic space assets be privatised? |
Question 14 of 14
Facts
The UNCCD is the only legally binding international agreement linking environment, development and sustainable land management, centred on the concept of Land Degradation Neutrality.
Analysis
It is one of the three Rio Conventions of 1992.
Concept note
India hosted UNCCD COP14 in 2019, where the Delhi Declaration was adopted, and pledged to restore 26 million hectares by 2030 under the Bonn Challenge. The Aravalli Green Wall aims to check desertification from the Thar.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 (environment), GS2 (international conventions). |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | land degradation neutrality, desertification, Bonn Challenge. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | thinking the UNCCD is only about climate emissions. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | UNCCD = land; UNFCCC = climate; CBD = biodiversity. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** how does land degradation drive migration? |
Performance
Question-wise Result
