Science & Technology Current Affairs Quiz — Last 12 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Under the July 2026 amendment to the Drugs Rules, 1945, high-alcohol formulations were moved to which schedule requiring prescription sale?
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Correct answer: C — Schedule H1
The amendment shifts these products to Schedule H1, which mandates sale against a registered medical practitioner's prescription.
What threshold triggers the new licensing requirement for alcohol-containing formulations under the July 2026 amendment?
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Correct answer: A — More than 12% v/v ethyl alcohol in quantities above 30 mL
Formulations with more than 12% v/v ethyl alcohol in quantities exceeding 30 mL are no longer covered by the Schedule K exemption.
Consider the following statements about the July 2026 amendment to the Drugs Rules, 1945: 1. It removes certain alcohol-containing formulations from the licensing exemption under Schedule K. 2. Affected products must now obtain licences under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. 3. The amendment bans the manufacture of all tinctures containing ethyl alcohol. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1 and 2 only
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: there is no ban; the products need licences and prescriptions so they remain available for legitimate therapeutic use.
Which helpline number for drug de-addiction was highlighted at the July 2026 meeting on the National Pledge Against Drug Abuse?
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Correct answer: C — 14446
The meeting highlighted the need to promote drug de-addiction through helpline 14446.
Which DoT project won the WSIS Prize 2026 under Action Line C6?
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Correct answer: C — Samriddh Gram
DoT won for 'Samriddh Gram: Integrated Phygital Service Delivery Model Enabled by BharatNet'.
Samriddh Gram won the WSIS Prize 2026 under which Action Line?
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Correct answer: A — C6 – Enabling Environment
The project was the global winner under Action Line C6 – Enabling Environment.
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) process, under which the WSIS Prizes are given, is led by which UN agency?
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Correct answer: D — ITU
The WSIS Prizes are instituted under the WSIS process led by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
India's Traditional Knowledge Digital Library access agreement of July 2026 was signed between CSIR and which Australian body?
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Correct answer: B — IP Australia
CSIR and IP Australia entered into the TKDL access agreement during the 3rd India–Australia Annual Summit.
After the July 2026 agreement with IP Australia, how many patent offices have access to the TKDL database?
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Correct answer: D — 18
With the signing of the Agreement with IP Australia, eighteen patent offices now have access to the database under NDAs.
Consider the following statements about the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL): 1. It was established in 2001 by CSIR and the Ministry of AYUSH. 2. It holds information on over 5.2 lakh formulations and practices in five international languages. 3. Hindi is one of the five languages in which TKDL is made available to patent examiners. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1 and 2 only
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: the five languages are English, German, French, Japanese and Spanish.
Where did DRDO flight-test the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket on 8 July 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Integrated Test Range, Chandipur
The LRGR was flight-tested at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur.
Which DRDO laboratory designed the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket, in association with HEMRL?
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Correct answer: D — Armament Research and Development Establishment
PIB says the LRGR is designed by ARDE in association with HEMRL; DRDL and RCI supported, and PXE coordinated the trial with ITR.
Consider the following statements about the Pinaka LRGR test of 8 July 2026: 1. The rocket was tested for a user-defined minimum range of 60 km. 2. The rocket was fired from a newly built dedicated launcher. 3. The trial was coordinated by ITR and the Proof & Experimental Establishment. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 and 3 only
Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 2 is wrong: the rocket was fired from the in-service Pinaka launcher.
Which rule of the Drugs Rules, 1945 was amended to add Navi Mumbai Airport as a port for import of drugs?
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Correct answer: B — Rule 43A
The amendment to Rule 43A of the Drugs Rules, 1945 includes Navi Mumbai in the list of airports for drug imports.
After Navi Mumbai Airport was added in July 2026, how many ports of entry are notified for import of drugs into India?
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Correct answer: A — 42
The total number of ports of entry (road/rail/ship/air) for drug imports became 42.
To reconstruct the topside ionosphere over India, IIG researchers combined bottomside ionosonde observations with scale-height data from which source?
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Correct answer: B — COSMIC radio occultation measurements
The method combines altitude-wise scale height derived from COSMIC radio occultation measurements with bottomside ionosonde observations.
Which radio array did the international team including IIA's Dr Aru Beri use to find faint black hole activity in nearby galaxies (2026)?
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Correct answer: D — e-MERLIN
The team used the e-MERLIN radio array, seven telescopes across the UK working as an interferometer.
How many nearby galaxies were observed in the e-MERLIN survey reported by DST on 6 July 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 280
The team observed 280 nearby galaxies selected from the Palomar sample.
On which date did the Health Ministry mark World Zoonoses Day with a national consultation in 2026?
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Correct answer: A — 6 July
The consultation was held on 6 July 2026, on the occasion of World Zoonoses Day.
The proposed National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Zoonoses is framed around which approach?
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Correct answer: C — One Health
The plan is titled 'A Strategic Framework with One Health Approach', linking human, animal and environmental health.
Which platform was cited at the July 2026 zoonoses consultation for integrated disease surveillance?
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Correct answer: D — IHIP 2.0
Additional Secretary Rakesh Gupta referred to integrated surveillance systems through IHIP 2.0.
On which date was the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India established?
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Correct answer: B — 12 October 1993
The NHRC was established on 12 October 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
The CG Semi OSAT facility inaugurated by PM Modi on 4 July 2026 is located in which place?
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Correct answer: A — Sanand, Gujarat
PM Modi inaugurated the CG Semi Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test facility in Sanand, Gujarat.
The CG Semi OSAT facility at Sanand was built in partnership with which company?
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Correct answer: C — Renesas Electronics, Japan
The facility was built in partnership with Renesas Electronics, Japan, with an investment of over Rs 7,600 crore.
The Semicon India programme, which set up the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) as its nodal agency, was approved by the Union Cabinet in December 2021 with what outlay?
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Correct answer: D — Rs 76,000 crore
The Cabinet approved the programme on 15 December 2021 with an outlay of Rs 76,000 crore (over USD 10 billion) and set up ISM to drive it; Rs 2,30,000 crore was the total support for electronics manufacturing.
Consider the following statements about the CG Semi facility at Sanand: 1. It is the third semiconductor plant in India to start commercial production in 2026. 2. It is India's first semiconductor fab. 3. It went from groundbreaking to commercial production in 27 months. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 3 only
It is the third plant in commercial production this year and took 27 months from groundbreaking; it is an OSAT unit, while India's first fab is coming up in Dholera.
The banyan tree identified in July 2026 as the oldest accurately dated banyan, about 700 years old, is in which place?
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Correct answer: A — Munger, Bihar
A banyan tree in Munger, Bihar, about 700 years old, was identified as the oldest accurately dated banyan.
Which institute's scientists dated the Munger banyan using radiocarbon dating?
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Correct answer: C — Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow
The team was led by Dr Trina Bose of the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow, an autonomous institute under DST.
Why could conventional dendrochronology not be used to date the Munger banyan?
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Correct answer: D — Most tropical broadleaf trees lack distinct annual growth rings
The absence of distinct annual growth rings in most tropical broadleaf trees limits conventional dendrochronology, so the team used radiocarbon dating of alpha-cellulose.
'Pashujanya Yudh Abhyas', the national zoonotic disease mock drill completed on 3 July 2026, was held in which district?
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Correct answer: C — Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh
The exercise was held at Khari village, Vidisha district, Madhya Pradesh, from 29 June to 3 July 2026.
Which disease outbreak in animals was simulated during 'Pashujanya Yudh Abhyas' (2026)?
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Correct answer: A — Influenza A (H1N1)
The scenario simulated an outbreak of Influenza A (H1N1) in animals with potential spillover to humans and wildlife.
The first national mock drill under the National One Health Mission, 'Vishanu Yuddh Abhyas', was held in August 2024 in which district?
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Correct answer: B — Ajmer, Rajasthan
Vishanu Yuddh Abhyas was conducted in Ajmer district, Rajasthan from 27 to 31 August 2024; Pashujanya Yudh Abhyas in Vidisha (2026) was the third such drill.
The National Awards for e-Governance, under which ICMR-MINDS won a Gold Award in July 2026, are instituted by:
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Correct answer: B — Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances
The National Awards for e-Governance are instituted by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions.
Where was the 29th National Conference on e-Governance (NCeG) 2026 held on 1-2 July 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Jaipur
The 29th NCeG 2026 was held in Jaipur, Rajasthan on 1-2 July 2026.
The July 2026 amendment to the Drugs Rules, 1945 brought cell or stem cell derived products, gene therapeutic products and xenografts under the:
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Correct answer: B — Centrally License Approving Authority (CLAA) framework
The amendment brings these products under the Centrally License Approving Authority (CLAA) framework of joint Central and State oversight.
In the context of the July 2026 amendment to the Drugs Rules, 1945, 'xenografts' refer to:
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Correct answer: C — Animal tissue-derived products such as heart valves transplanted into humans
Xenografts are animal tissue-derived products, such as heart valves, which can be transplanted into humans; they are used in cardiology and orthopaedics.
Which institute developed a crack-free SS316L-IN718 bi-metallic structure using laser-based powder bed fusion additive manufacturing (July 2026)?
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Correct answer: A — ARCI, Hyderabad
The research was done by the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), Hyderabad, an autonomous institute of DST.
NHAI launched Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling at the Manoharpura Toll Plaza in July 2026. This toll plaza is on which national highway section?
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Correct answer: D — Delhi-Jaipur section of NH-48
Manoharpura Toll Plaza is on the Delhi-Jaipur section of NH-48 in Rajasthan.
Rajasthan's first Multi-Lane Free Flow tolling system was rolled out by NHAI on 19 June 2026 at which toll plaza?
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Correct answer: C — Daulatpura
NHAI rolled out Rajasthan's first MLFF system at Daulatpura Toll Plaza on the Delhi-Jaipur section on 19 June 2026; Manoharpura followed and Shahjahanpur is planned next.
The 2026 study that used AI on 100 years of Kodaikanal Solar Observatory suncharts was led by researchers from which institute?
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Correct answer: B — Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences
The study was led by Dibya Kirti Mishra of ARIES, an autonomous institute under DST, with collaborators including IIA Bangalore.
In the AI study of Kodaikanal suncharts (July 2026), the shift of magnetically active solar patches (plages) was traced over which period?
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Correct answer: D — 1916 to 2007
The plages were traced from 1916 to 2007 (Solar Cycles 15-23); the KoSO suncharts themselves span 1904 to 2022.
India's first private Point-in-Space (PinS) instrument approach procedure for helicopter operations was approved in July 2026 for which heliport?
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Correct answer: B — Undavalli Heliport
The first private PinS Instrument Approach Procedure for helicopters was approved for Undavalli Heliport.
Consider the following about India's first PinS procedure for helicopters (July 2026): 1. It was developed by the Airports Authority of India. 2. It was approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. 3. It depends on a conventional Instrument Landing System installed at the heliport. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1 and 2 only
AAI developed and DGCA approved the procedure. PinS uses satellite-based navigation for heliports that do not have conventional instrument landing infrastructure, so statement 3 is wrong.
UPI services went live in Greece on 30 June 2026 through NIPL's partnership with which bank?
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Correct answer: D — Eurobank
Piyush Goyal witnessed the live demonstration of the Eurobank-NIPL partnership enabling UPI services at Eurobank headquarters.
In which city did Piyush Goyal witness the launch of UPI in Greece in June 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Athens
The launch was witnessed at Eurobank headquarters in Athens.
The e-OCI Card launched by Amit Shah on 30 June 2026 is expected to benefit how many OCI cardholders?
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Correct answer: A — More than 50 lakh
The launch of the e-OCI Card will benefit more than 50 lakh OCI cardholders.
Data of the FCRA 2.0 Portal launched in June 2026 will be hosted on:
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Correct answer: C — MeghRaj (Government Cloud)
All the portal's data will be hosted on 'MeghRaj' (Government Cloud).
According to the Ministry of Science and Technology release on the IIA study of solar storms (June 2026), the peak of which solar cycle occurred in 2025?
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Correct answer: B — Solar Cycle 25
The release states that the peak of the current cycle, no. 25, was in 2025; the study covered Cycles 23, 24 and the rising phase of 25.
The SUMAN Roadmap 2030, launched at the 16th CCHFW conference on 29 June 2026, is a strategic framework for:
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Correct answer: B — Maternal and newborn healthcare
The SUMAN Roadmap 2030 is a framework to transform maternal and newborn healthcare and speed up progress towards the SDGs by 2030.
The Central Council of Health and Family Welfare, which held its 16th conference in June 2026, is constituted under which Article of the Constitution of India?
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Correct answer: D — Article 263
The CCHFW is constituted under Article 263, which empowers the President to establish an inter-State council; it is the apex advisory body of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The Samagra Shishu Bal Swasthya Karyakram (SSBSK), launched in June 2026, provides home and community-based care for children from birth up to what age?
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Correct answer: A — 36 months
SSBSK provides a continuum of home and community-based care for every child from birth to 36 months, with the vision 'Pehle Teen Saal Sampoorna Dekhbhal'.
Consider the following statements about the 16th CCHFW conference (June 2026): 1. The SUMAN Roadmap 2030 has focused interventions in 130 districts across 13 high-focus States. 2. SSBSK integrates the Home-Based Newborn Care (HBNC) and Home-Based Care for Young Child (HBYC) programmes. 3. The conference was held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1 and 2 only
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. The conference was held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, not Bharat Mandapam.
The DFP-2026 released by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on 29 June 2026 refers to:
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Correct answer: B — Delegation of Financial Powers to DRDO
DFP-2026 is the Delegation of Financial Powers to DRDO, a reform to improve efficiency, accountability and timely execution of strategic R&D projects.
The AI-enabled Rural Internal Audit Portal launched on 28 June 2026 was conceived by which office?
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Correct answer: A — Office of the Chief Controller of Accounts, Ministry of Rural Development
The portal was conceived by the Office of the Chief Controller of Accounts, Ministry of Rural Development, and developed with the National Informatics Centre.
Where was the Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Sammelan inaugurated by Shivraj Singh Chouhan on 28 June 2026 held?
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Correct answer: B — Pusa Campus, New Delhi
The Rural Internal Audit Portal was launched during the Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Sammelan at Pusa Campus, New Delhi.
Consider the following statements (June 2026): 1. The Rural Internal Audit Portal covers both risk-based and compliance audits. 2. The portal was developed in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre. 3. The Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Sammelan was a three-day event. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1 and 2 only
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. The Sammelan was a two-day event, with officials on 28 June and ministers on 29 June.
Under the Medical Devices Rules, 2017, which class comprises the highest-risk medical devices?
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Correct answer: D — Class D
Medical devices are classified into four risk-based categories, Class A, B, C and D, with Class D comprising the highest-risk devices.
The June 2026 draft amendment to the Medical Devices Rules, 2017 proposes to change the manufacturing licence timeline for Class B devices from:
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Correct answer: C — 140 days to 115 days
For Class B devices, such as blood pressure monitors and pulse oximeters, the timeline is proposed to be cut from 140 to 115 days.
For high-risk Class C and Class D medical devices such as cardiac stents, the June 2026 draft proposes to cut the manufacturing licence timeline from:
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Correct answer: A — 105 days to 90 days
For Class C and D devices, including cardiac stents and hip and knee implants, the timeline is proposed to be reduced from 105 to 90 days.
The Nasha Mukt Bharat Conclave addressed by Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan in Bengaluru on 28 June 2026 was organised by which university on its 31st Foundation Day?
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Correct answer: C — Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences
The conclave was organised by Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), with the Narcotics Control Bureau and Disha Bodh Foundation, during its 31st Foundation Day.
The Digital India programme, which neared its 11th anniversary in June 2026, was launched on:
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Correct answer: B — 1 July 2015
Digital India was launched on 1 July 2015 with the vision of transforming India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.
According to MeitY (June 2026), India's rank in the Global Innovation Index improved from 81 in 2015 to what in 2025?
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Correct answer: D — 38
India's Global Innovation Index ranking improved from 81 in 2015 to 38 in 2025.
As per MeitY's Digital India update of June 2026, India's 5G network covers what share of districts?
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Correct answer: A — 99.9%
India's 5G network covers 99.9% of districts, with 4.74 lakh towers established.
Where was the world's first hydrogen production facility based on the Copper–Chlorine thermochemical cycle using nuclear heat inaugurated on 26 June 2026?
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Correct answer: B — IGCAR, Kalpakkam
The facility was inaugurated at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam.
The nuclear process heat for the Cu–Cl hydrogen facility inaugurated in June 2026 comes from which reactor?
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Correct answer: D — Fast Breeder Test Reactor
The facility uses nuclear process heat generated from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) at IGCAR.
The Copper–Chlorine thermochemical hydrogen production process demonstrated at Kalpakkam in June 2026 was developed indigenously by:
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Correct answer: A — Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)
The Cu–Cl thermochemical process was developed indigenously by BARC, Mumbai; the facility was built jointly by BARC and IGCAR.
FBTR expertise at IGCAR laid the foundation for the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR). PFBR is the flagship of which stage of India's three-stage nuclear power programme?
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Correct answer: C — Second stage
DAE describes the 500 MWe PFBR as the flagship of the second stage of India's three-stage nuclear power programme.
Section 29 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, omitted under the Jan Vishwas Act, 2026 reforms operationalised in June 2026, had penalised:
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Correct answer: B — Use of a Government Analyst's report for advertising a drug or cosmetic
Section 29 prescribed a penalty of up to Rs 1 lakh for the use of a Government Analyst's report for advertising any drug or cosmetic; it has been omitted.
Under the Jan Vishwas Act, 2026 amendments to the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the imprisonment term for interfering with seized items was changed:
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Correct answer: D — From 6 months to 3 months
The punishment for interfering with seized items has been rationalised, with imprisonment reduced from six months to three months.