UPSC Prelims Practice
Current Affairs Quiz 13 July 2026
Test Your Knowledge
16 questions based on today’s current affairs & editorials
Choose number of questions
Question 1 of 16
Facts
Helium is extracted mainly from natural gas fields, where it accumulates over geological time.
Analysis
In July 2026 China imposed a temporary ban on helium exports amid strained Strait of Hormuz shipping, and China itself imports more than 85 per cent of its helium.
Concept note
Helium is the second lightest element and an inert noble gas with the lowest boiling point of any element (about minus 269 degrees Celsius); once released it escapes into space, making it effectively non-renewable.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 science and technology, resource geopolitics. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | critical resources, supply-chain vulnerability, strategic reserves. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | thinking helium is captured cheaply from air. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | helium comes mainly from natural gas fields. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Securing supplies of a critical gas. |
Question 2 of 16
Facts
Helium is used for cooling in semiconductor fabrication, for the superconducting magnets in MRI scanners, and to purge rocket fuel tanks, but it is inert and is not used as a fuel.
Analysis
India has negligible domestic helium and imports almost all of it, mainly from the United States and Qatar.
Concept note
The top global helium suppliers are Qatar and the United States; India has no commercial helium production.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 science and technology. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | semiconductors, India Semiconductor Mission, import dependence. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | thinking an inert gas can be a fuel. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | helium is inert and not combustible. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Helium and the chip supply chain. |
Question 3 of 16
Facts
The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, estimated that on average about 23 per cent, roughly a quarter, of monsoon rain mass evaporates in mid-air (sub-cloud evaporation) before landing, ranging from about 4 to 61 per cent day to day.
Analysis
The team used stable water isotopes on paired rain and vapour samples from the 2019 Pune monsoon.
Concept note
IITM Pune functions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences; the study appeared in the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS1 geography, GS3 environment. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | hydrological cycle, monsoon forecasting, sub-cloud evaporation. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | assuming all rain reaches the ground. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | IITM Pune is under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Improving monsoon prediction. |
Question 4 of 16
Facts
India and New Zealand elevated their relationship to a Strategic Partnership and adopted a non-binding Roadmap to 2030, during the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand in about 40 years.
Analysis
They set a target to roughly double two-way trade to about NZ$7 billion by 2030, with free-trade-agreement talks continuing.
Concept note
New Zealand’s capital is Wellington and its largest city is Auckland; New Zealand is a member of the Five Eyes intelligence grouping.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 international relations. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | Indo-Pacific, Five Eyes, small-partner diplomacy. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | confusing a Strategic Partnership with a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | India-NZ ties elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2026. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** India’s Indo-Pacific outreach beyond the Quad. |
Question 5 of 16
Facts
New Zealand is a member of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, along with the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
Analysis
This makes the elevation of India-New Zealand ties significant for Indo-Pacific security cooperation.
Concept note
The Roadmap to 2030 adopted by India and New Zealand is non-legally-binding.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 international relations and security. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | Five Eyes, Indo-Pacific, intelligence cooperation. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | placing New Zealand in AUKUS. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | Five Eyes = US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Intelligence partnerships and India. |
Question 6 of 16
Facts
Formulations with more than 12 per cent ethyl alcohol now require a licence under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and can be sold only on prescription, to curb the misuse of certain medicinal syrups and tinctures as intoxicants.
Analysis
The move brings such formulations under stricter regulatory control.
Concept note
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), headed by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), is the national drug regulator; Schedule H1 lists drugs needing a prescription and a sales record.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 governance and health. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | drug regulation, substance misuse, public health. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | misremembering the 12 per cent threshold. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | over 12 per cent ethyl alcohol now needs a drug licence. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Balancing access and control of medicines. |
Question 7 of 16
Facts
The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, together with the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, regulates the import, manufacture, distribution and sale of drugs and cosmetics in India.
Analysis
The July 2026 change removed an exemption that had allowed some high-alcohol formulations to be sold without a drug licence.
Concept note
Drug manufacturing licences are issued by State licensing authorities, while CDSCO handles central functions such as approvals and standards.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 governance and health, federalism. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | drug regulation, Centre-State roles, CDSCO. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | confusing the Drugs and Cosmetics Act (1940) with the NDPS Act (1985). |
| 📌 Exam Tip | Drugs and Cosmetics Act = 1940. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Regulating self-medication. |
Question 8 of 16
Facts
In Philippines v. China, a tribunal constituted under Annex VII of UNCLOS ruled in 2016 that China’s “nine-dash line” and claims of historic rights had no legal basis; the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague served as registry.
Analysis
China rejected the award and continues to do so.
Concept note
UNCLOS was adopted in 1982 and entered into force in 1994; India and China are parties, while the United States is not.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 international relations and law of the sea. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | UNCLOS, freedom of navigation, nine-dash line, rules-based order. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | thinking the ruling was under the ICJ. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | the South China Sea award was under UNCLOS Annex VII, via the PCA. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** International law without enforcement. |
Question 9 of 16
Facts
Under UNCLOS, the territorial sea extends up to 12 nautical miles and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) up to 200 nautical miles, within which the coastal state has sovereign rights over resources.
Analysis
The South China Sea disputes turn on overlapping maritime-zone and historic-rights claims.
Concept note
The Permanent Court of Arbitration, based at The Hague, was established in 1899.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 international law. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | EEZ, territorial sea, maritime boundaries. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | confusing the 12 nm territorial sea with the 200 nm EEZ. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | EEZ = 200 nautical miles. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Maritime zones and resource rights. |
Question 10 of 16
Facts
The Hyderabad-based space company Dhruva Space was reported as the first recipient of an investment from the Antariksh Venture Capital Fund (AVCF), a government-backed fund for the space sector anchored by IN-SPACe.
Analysis
It reflects India’s push to finance a private space economy following the space-sector reforms.
Concept note
IN-SPACe (the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre), set up in 2020, is the single-window body that promotes and authorises private space activity; NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) is the commercial arm of ISRO.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 economy and space technology. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | space economy, IN-SPACe, start-ups, Indian Space Policy 2023. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | confusing the AVCF with the general startup Fund of Funds. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | AVCF is the space-sector venture fund anchored by IN-SPACe. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Financing India’s private space sector. |
Question 11 of 16
Facts
IN-SPACe (the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre) is an autonomous body under the Department of Space that promotes and authorises non-governmental (private) space activity.
Analysis
It anchors the Antariksh Venture Capital Fund and implements the Indian Space Policy 2023.
Concept note
India permits up to 100 per cent foreign direct investment in parts of the space sector under the reformed rules.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 space and economy. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | IN-SPACe, space reforms, private participation. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | placing IN-SPACe under the DST. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | IN-SPACe is under the Department of Space. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Opening up the space sector. |
Question 12 of 16
Facts
India and Canada concluded the third round of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in Ottawa in July 2026, targeting conclusion in 2026.
Analysis
The two sides aim to raise bilateral trade to about 50 billion dollars by 2030.
Concept note
The talks signal a thaw in India-Canada ties after a strained period.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS2 international relations, GS3 economy. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | CEPA, trade agreements, market access. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | confusing a CEPA with a narrow investment treaty. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | India-Canada are negotiating a CEPA. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Trade diplomacy and repairing ties. |
Question 13 of 16
Facts
Jannik Sinner of Italy beat Alexander Zverev of Germany to win the men’s singles title at Wimbledon 2026, while Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic won the women’s singles.
Analysis
Wimbledon is the oldest of the four tennis Grand Slams.
Concept note
Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam played on grass courts.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS1 sports and general awareness. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | Grand Slam, sports. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | confusing the finalist with the champion. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | Wimbledon 2026 men’s champion = Jannik Sinner. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** none specific. |
Question 14 of 16
Facts
Kashmir Martyrs’ Day marks July 13, 1931, when twenty-two people were killed by Dogra state forces outside Srinagar Central Jail during the trial of Abdul Qadeer.
Analysis
Its status as an official holiday in Jammu and Kashmir was withdrawn in 2019 after the reorganisation of the State.
Concept note
The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 created the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS1 modern history, GS2 polity. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | princely states, Jammu and Kashmir, reorganisation. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | dating the event to 1947. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | Kashmir Martyrs' Day = July 13, 1931. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Historical memory and statehood. |
Question 15 of 16
Facts
China imposed a temporary ban on helium exports in July 2026, notable because China is itself a major importer and re-exporter of helium and therefore a key intermediary node in the supply chain.
Analysis
The move added to concerns about critical-material supply security for semiconductors and healthcare.
Concept note
India imports almost all of its helium, mainly from the United States and Qatar.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 economy and technology. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | export controls, resource weaponisation, supply chains. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | assuming a top producer, rather than an intermediary, imposed the ban. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | China imposed the July 2026 helium export ban. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** Chokepoints in critical-material trade. |
Question 16 of 16
Facts
The study used stable water isotopes (the heavier isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen) measured on paired rain and vapour samples to estimate sub-cloud evaporation observationally, rather than from models alone.
Analysis
This is why it is described as the first observational estimate over the northern Western Ghats.
Concept note
Better representation of evaporation improves the accuracy of monsoon and climate models.
🎯 Concept Kit tap to expand
| 🔗 Cross-Paper Links | GS3 science and technology, GS1 geography. |
| ✍️ Mains Keywords | isotope hydrology, monsoon modelling. |
| ⚠️ Common Mistake | assuming radar or gauges gave the estimate. |
| 📌 Exam Tip | the estimate used stable water isotopes. |
| 🎤 Interview | ** New tools for studying the monsoon. |
Performance
Question-wise Result
