BPSC TRE Current Affairs Quiz — All time
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Who chaired the first meeting of the Informal Group of Ministers (IGoM) on the West Asia situation on 28 March 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Rajnath Singh
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh chaired the first IGoM meeting at Kartavya Bhawan-2, New Delhi.
Where was the first meeting of the IGoM on the West Asia situation held?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Kartavya Bhawan-2, New Delhi
The meeting was held at Kartavya Bhawan-2, New Delhi, on 28 March 2026.
Who was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Nepal on 27 March 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Balendra Shah
Balendra (Balen) Shah of the Rastriya Swatantra Party was sworn in by President Ramchandra Paudel.
Balendra Shah, who became Nepal's Prime Minister in March 2026, belongs to which party?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Rastriya Swatantra Party
Shah is a senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which won 182 of 275 seats on 5 March 2026.
Consider the following statements about Nepal's new Prime Minister Balendra Shah: 1. He was earlier the Mayor of Kathmandu. 2. He defeated K. P. Sharma Oli in Jhapa-5. 3. He is the first Prime Minister of Nepal from the Madhesi community. Which of the above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
Shah was Kathmandu mayor from May 2022 to January 2026, won Jhapa-5 defeating Oli, and is the first Madhesi PM.
By how much did the Centre cut excise duty on petrol and diesel on 27 March 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — ₹10 per litre
Excise duty was reduced by ₹10 per litre on both petrol and diesel with immediate effect.
Consider the following statements about the excise duty cut of 27 March 2026: 1. Retail pump prices of petrol and diesel were reduced by the same amount. 2. The cut offsets part of the under-recoveries of public sector oil marketing companies. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 2 only
Retail pump prices did not change. The reduction directly reduces the under-recoveries absorbed by IOCL, BPCL and HPCL.
According to the government (March 2026), international crude prices had risen in about a month from roughly USD 70 per barrel to around:
Show answer
Correct answer: B — USD 122
Crude rose from approximately USD 70 to around USD 122 per barrel – nearly 75% in under four weeks.
The Defence Acquisition Council on 27 March 2026 granted Acceptance of Necessity for proposals worth about:
Show answer
Correct answer: C — ₹2.38 lakh crore
The DAC granted AoN for proposals worth about ₹2.38 lakh crore. ₹6.73 lakh crore is the total AoN for FY 2025-26.
The Medium Transport Aircraft cleared by the DAC in March 2026 are meant to replace which IAF transport fleets?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — AN-32 and IL-76
The Medium Transport Aircraft will replace the transport fleet of AN-32 and IL-76.
Match the service with the item cleared by the DAC on 27 March 2026: 1. Indian Army – a. Heavy Duty Air Cushion Vehicles 2. Indian Air Force – b. Dhanush Gun System 3. Indian Coast Guard – c. S-400 missile system
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
Dhanush Gun System was cleared for the Army, S-400 for the Air Force and Heavy Duty Air Cushion Vehicles for the Coast Guard.
According to the PLFS Annual Report 2025, the unemployment rate (usual status, age 15+) in 2025 was:
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 3.1%
The unemployment rate in usual status (ps+ss) for persons aged 15+ was 3.1% for both men and women in 2025.
As per PLFS 2025, the youth (15–29 years) unemployment rate in usual status declined to:
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 9.9%
Youth unemployment fell to 9.9% in 2025 from 10.3% in 2024. 8.3% is rural youth and 13.6% urban youth.
Consider the following findings of the PLFS Annual Report 2025: 1. Female LFPR (age 15+) was 40.0%. 2. The share of regular wage/salaried workers declined compared to 2024. 3. The share of self-employed persons fell to 56.2%. Which of the above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 1 and 3 only
Female LFPR was 40.0% and self-employment fell to 56.2%. Regular wage/salaried share rose to 23.6% from 22.4%, so statement 2 is wrong.
The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 proposes to amend how many provisions of Central Acts?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 784
It proposes amending 784 provisions of 79 Central Acts, of which 717 are to be decriminalised.
Who chaired the Select Committee that examined the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Tejasvi Surya
The Select Committee chaired by Tejasvi Surya held 49 sittings and reported on 13 March 2026.
Consider the following statements: 1. The Jan Vishwas Act, 2023 decriminalised 183 provisions in 42 Central Acts. 2. The Jan Vishwas Bill, 2026 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha. 3. The 2026 Bill proposes replacing imprisonment for minor defaults with monetary penalties or warnings. Which of the above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 1 and 3 only
The 2023 Act decriminalised 183 provisions in 42 Acts, and the 2026 Bill replaces imprisonment with penalties or warnings. It was introduced in the Lok Sabha, not the Rajya Sabha.
Kavach, reviewed by the Railway Minister in March 2026, is India's indigenous:
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Automatic Train Protection system
Kavach is the indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system of Indian Railways.
What is 'SURAKSHA', announced in the March 2026 Kavach review?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — An AI-based centralised monitoring platform for Kavach
SURAKSHA is being developed as an AI-based centralised Operations Management System for real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance of Kavach.
As of March 2026, Kavach had been installed on approximately how many route kilometres?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 3,103
Kavach has been installed on 3,103 route km; work is in progress on 24,427 route km, and 1,638 route km are commissioned under version 4.0.
What is the total outlay of the Modified UDAN scheme approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — ₹28,840 crore
Modified UDAN has a total outlay of ₹28,840 crore for FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36. ₹12,159 crore is the airport-development component.
Consider the following about the Modified UDAN scheme (2026): 1. It proposes to develop 100 airports from existing unserved airstrips. 2. It proposes 200 modern helipads focused on priority and aspirational districts. 3. It will run for five years from FY 2026-27. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
The scheme runs for ten years (FY 2026-27 to 2035-36), so statement 3 is wrong; 100 airports and 200 helipads are both components.
Under Modified UDAN, aircraft are to be procured from HAL for which two operators?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Pawan Hans and Alliance Air
Two HAL Dhruv helicopters will go to Pawan Hans and two HAL Dornier aircraft to Alliance Air, under the Atmanirbhar Bharat component.
Under its NDC for 2031-2035 approved in March 2026, India aims to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 2035, from the 2005 level, by:
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 47%
The new NDC targets a 47% reduction in emissions intensity of GDP by 2035 over 2005. 33-35% was the 2015 NDC target for 2030.
Consider the following about India's NDC for 2031-2035: 1. It targets 60% of cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil sources by 2035. 2. It targets an additional carbon sink of 3.5-4.0 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent through forest and tree cover by 2035 from the 2005 level. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are targets of the NDC 2031-35, alongside the 47% emissions-intensity target.
According to the government (March 2026), what share of India's installed electric power capacity was from non-fossil sources in February 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 52.57%
Non-fossil capacity reached 52.57% in February 2026, meeting the updated NDC target five years ahead of the timeline; the new target is 60% by 2035.
How many entries did India record in the global top 50 of the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 27
India recorded a record 27 top-50 entries in 2026, more than double the 12 in both 2024 and 2025.
In the QS Subject Rankings 2026, India's highest-ranked subject (21st globally) was Mineral & Mining Engineering at:
Show answer
Correct answer: A — ISM Dhanbad
ISM Dhanbad's Mineral & Mining Engineering was ranked 21st – India's highest-ranked subject. IIM Ahmedabad was also 21st in Business & Management Studies and Marketing.
Consider the following about India in the QS Subject Rankings 2026: 1. 99 Indian institutions featured, with 599 subject entries. 2. IIT Delhi was the leading Indian institution with six top-50 entries. 3. The rankings covered 55 subjects. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
All three are correct as per the Ministry of Education release on the rankings released on 25 March 2026.
Under the 'Nasha Mukt Vidyalaya' action plan (March 2026), the area within what radius of schools is to be declared a drug-free zone?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 500 metres
The three-year action plan provides for declaring the area within a 500-metre radius of schools as drug-free zones.
The 'Nasha Mukt Vidyalaya' action plan followed directions from the 9th Apex meeting of which body, chaired by the Union Home Minister?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD)
The 9th Apex meeting of the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD), chaired by Amit Shah, asked all departments to prepare a roadmap up to 2029.
Which ICAR institution was the only Indian university in the top 100 for Veterinary Science in the QS Subject Rankings 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — ICAR-IVRI, Bareilly
ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, entered the 51-100 band – the only Indian university in the Veterinary Science top 100.
Consider the following about the Agriculture & Forestry subject in the QS Rankings 2026: 1. ICAR-IARI, New Delhi debuted in the 151-200 band. 2. 10 Indian universities featured among 475 ranked globally. 3. CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar was placed in the 51-100 band. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
CCS HAU Hisar made its maiden entry in the 301-350 band, not 51-100; statements 1 and 2 are correct.
The IVFRT scheme, extended by the Union Cabinet in March 2026, relates to:
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Immigration, visa and foreigners' registration
IVFRT stands for Immigration, Visa, Foreigners Registration & Tracking; it was extended to 31 March 2031 with ₹1,800 crore.
Consider the following about the IVFRT scheme: 1. Its continuation for 2026-2031 carries an outlay of ₹1,800 crore. 2. It was first approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in 2010. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
The 2026-31 continuation is ₹1,800 crore; the CCEA first approved the project on 13 May 2010.
About how much green hydrogen production capacity had India commissioned till February 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 8,000 tonnes per annum
Around 8,000 TPA had been commissioned till February 2026; 5 million tonnes per annum is the likely capacity by 2030.
Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, the price discovered through competitive bidding for green hydrogen supply to Indian Oil's refinery was:
Show answer
Correct answer: B — ₹397 per kg
₹397/kg (including 18% GST) for IOCL's refinery; ₹387/kg for BPCL and HPCL refineries. ₹235/kg is the estimated renewable-power share of cost.
From 26 March 2026, Akashvani stations broadcast the full version of 'Vande Mataram' containing how many stanzas?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Six
The full six-stanza version (3 min 10 sec) replaced the two-stanza version (65 sec), following an MHA guideline of 28 January 2026.
The first version of the full 'Vande Mataram' broadcast by Akashvani from March 2026 is sung in which raga?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Raag Des
It is sung by Pt. Chandrashekhar Vaze in Raag Des.
Through which two countries were Indian nationals in Iran being assisted to travel to India, as stated on 25 March 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Armenia and Azerbaijan
MEA said Indians in Iran were being assisted to travel to India via Armenia and Azerbaijan; 1,043 had crossed out with the Mission's help.
According to the inter-ministerial briefing of 25 March 2026, about how many passengers had returned to India from West Asia since 28 February?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 4,26,000
Around 4,26,000 passengers had returned from the region to India since 28 February.
Consider the following statements about Operation Sindhu: 1. It was launched in June 2025 to evacuate Indian nationals from Iran and Israel. 2. More Indians were evacuated from Israel than from Iran under the operation. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. Operation Sindhu, launched on 18 June 2025, evacuated 4,415 Indians — 3,597 from Iran and 818 from Israel.
As per ASUSE 2025, the estimated number of unincorporated non-agricultural establishments in India was about:
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 7.92 crore
Establishments rose from 7.34 crore in ASUSE 2023-24 to 7.92 crore in ASUSE 2025, about 7.97% growth.
In ASUSE 2025, which sector recorded the highest growth in Gross Value Added over ASUSE 2023-24?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Trade
GVA growth was led by trade (16.77%), followed by manufacturing (8.52%) and other services (7.36%). Construction is excluded from ASUSE.
Consider the following about ASUSE 2025: 1. The share of establishments using the internet rose to 39.4%. 2. Women-owned proprietary establishments declined compared with ASUSE 2023-24. 3. The survey covers construction along with manufacturing, trade and other services. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 only
Women-owned proprietary establishments rose from 26.2% to 27%, and ASUSE excludes construction; only statement 1 is correct.
What is the theme of World TB Day 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Yes! We Can End TB!
The 2026 theme is 'Yes! We Can End TB!'. World TB Day is observed every year on 24 March.
According to the Health Ministry (March 2026), by how much did TB incidence in India decline over the past decade?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 21%
TB incidence fell 21% and TB mortality 25% over the past decade, both outpacing global averages.
Consider the following launched or reported on World TB Day 2026: 1. A 100-day TB Mukt Bharat campaign covering 1.58 lakh villages and urban wards. 2. An AI-enabled chatbot named 'Khushi' in the TB Mukt Bharat App. 3. About 10.9 lakh asymptomatic TB patients detected since the intensified Abhiyaan began in December 2024. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
All three are correct. Of 32.65 lakh patients detected after screening over 20 crore people, about 10.9 lakh had no classical symptoms.
India's total exports (merchandise and services) in April–January of FY 2025-26 were about:
Show answer
Correct answer: B — USD 714.73 billion
Exports were USD 714.73 billion, up 5.26% from USD 679.02 billion in April–January 2024-25. USD 828.25 billion was the full-year 2024-25 figure.
Which of the following is NOT one of the four pillars of India's Foreign Trade Policy 2023 as cited by the Commerce Ministry?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Import substitution
The four pillars are trade facilitation, export promotion, state-level partnerships and digital integration; import substitution is not one of them.
Why did the Railways sanction a rail-over-rail flyover at Kosamba (Gujarat) in March 2026 instead of a surface crossing?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — The Dedicated Freight Corridor alignment makes a surface crossing not feasible
Because of the Dedicated Freight Corridor alignment, the Kosamba–Umrapada gauge-converted line cannot join the Mumbai–Vadodara main line through a surface crossing.
The 13.38 km rail bypass sanctioned by the Ministry of Railways in March 2026 is at which city?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Bhagalpur
The Bhagalpur Bypass (13.38 km) in Bihar, under Eastern Railway, was sanctioned at ₹303.20 crore.
'MuleHunter.AI', mentioned by the Finance Ministry in March 2026, is used to:
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Detect mule accounts used in cyber frauds
MuleHunter.AI is RBI's AI/ML-based solution to detect mule accounts used to divert and layer money from cyber frauds; it is live in 26 banks.
Consider the following about the Indian Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation (IDPIC): 1. It was incorporated as a Section 8 company under the Companies Act, 2013. 2. Its mandate is real-time detection and prevention of fraud in digital payments. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
IDPIC was incorporated on 16 October 2025 as a Section 8 company, with the mandate to detect, prevent and analyse digital payment fraud in real time using AI, ML and big data.
The 'Clinical Study on Ayurveda as an Adjunct Therapy for Tuberculosis', announced on World TB Day 2026, is a collaboration between the Ministry of Ayush and:
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Department of Biotechnology
The study is a collaboration of the Ministry of Ayush and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science & Technology.
In the Ayush–DBT TB study announced in March 2026, Ayurveda is being tested as:
Show answer
Correct answer: D — An adjunct (add-on) to anti-TB treatment
The study evaluates Ayurveda as an adjunct therapy alongside standard anti-TB treatment, not as a replacement.
How many Farmer IDs had been generated under the AgriStack Farmers Registry as of 19 March 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — More than 9.20 crore
More than 9.20 crore Farmer IDs had been generated, including 47.63 lakh in Bihar.
As cited by the Agriculture Ministry (March 2026), which state used AgriStack to transfer over ₹14,000 crore to 89 lakh farmers for Kharif 2025 crop losses within 5 days?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Maharashtra
Maharashtra used AgriStack for this disaster-relief transfer; Chhattisgarh used Farmer ID for MSP paddy procurement covering 32 lakh+ farmers.
According to the NSO CAPEX survey released in March 2026, aggregate provisional private corporate capex for 2025-26 is estimated at about:
Show answer
Correct answer: D — ₹11.44 lakh crore
Provisional capex for 2025-26 is ₹11,43,879 crore; ₹9,55,281 crore is the investment intention for 2026-27.
As per the NSO CAPEX survey, the largest source of financing for private corporate capex in 2025-26 is:
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Internal accruals
About 65.35% of 2025-26 capex is sourced from internal accruals, while 23.25% comes from domestic debt.
In the NSO CAPEX survey, the 'realisation ratio' for 2024-25 was 96.3%. This means:
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Actual capex per enterprise was 96.3% of what was planned
Estimated capex per enterprise for 2024-25 was ₹180.2 crore and actual capex ₹173.5 crore – a realisation ratio of 96.3%.
The RoDTEP scheme, whose rates were restored in March 2026, relates to:
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Remission of duties and taxes on exported products
RoDTEP stands for Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products; its rates and value caps were restored from 23 March 2026.
By the decision of 23 March 2026, RoDTEP rates were restored to the levels in force on:
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 22 February 2026
The restored rates are those in force on 22 February 2026, withdrawing the 50% restriction imposed on 23 February 2026.
Consider the following about the RoDTEP restoration of March 2026: 1. It withdrew a 50% restriction on RoDTEP rates imposed in February 2026. 2. It applies only to exports bound for West Asian countries. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 only
The restoration covers all eligible export products, not only West Asia-bound exports; it withdrew the 50% restriction of Notification No. 60/2025-26.
How many blocks are on offer in the seventh tranche of critical and strategic mineral auctions launched on 23 March 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 19
The 7th tranche offers 19 blocks across 10 States; 46 is the number auctioned in the earlier six tranches and 24 the number of notified critical and strategic minerals.
Consider the following about auctions of critical and strategic minerals: 1. The MMDR Act was amended on 17 August 2023 to notify 24 minerals as critical and strategic and let the Centre auction them. 2. The Mineral (Auction) Amendment Rules, 2026 allow an Insurance Surety Bond as an alternative to a bank guarantee. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct as per the Ministry of Mines releases of 22 and 23 March 2026.
Shaheed Diwas on 23 March marks the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev in which year?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 1931
They laid down their lives on 23 March 1931, as recalled by the Rajya Sabha Chairman on 23 March 2026.
Whose birth anniversary, besides Shaheed Diwas, did the Prime Minister mark on 23 March 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia
The PM paid tribute to socialist leader Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia on his birth anniversary on 23 March.
Under which provision does the Election Commission allot free broadcast and telecast time on Doordarshan and AIR to recognised parties?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Section 39A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951
The ECI issued the directions under Section 39A of the RP Act, 1951, for the 2026 Assembly elections.
For the 2026 Assembly elections, what base broadcast time has the ECI allotted to each recognised party on both Doordarshan and All India Radio?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 45 minutes
Each party gets a base time of 45 minutes on both Doordarshan and AIR, plus extra time based on its previous Assembly poll performance.
Through which portal does MoSPI's Model Context Protocol (MCP) server give AI tools access to official statistics?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — eSankhyiki
The MCP server allows AI applications to access verified Government data through the National Statistical Portal, eSankhyiki.
Consider the following about MoSPI's MCP server (March 2026): 1. Its beta version covered 7 statistical products, including PLFS and CPI. 2. It has now been extended to 21 products on eSankhyiki. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct: the beta's 7 products (PLFS, CPI, ASI, IIP, National Accounts, etc.) have been extended to 21 products.
The GARBH-INi programme, highlighted in March 2026, focuses on developing AI tools to predict:
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Preterm births
GARBH-INi aims at indigenous, AI-driven solutions for preterm births, a leading cause of neonatal mortality.
Consider the following about GARBH-INi: 1. It is an initiative of the Department of Biotechnology. 2. It has enrolled around 12,000 pregnant women. 3. It is run by the Indian Council of Medical Research under the Ministry of Health. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
GARBH-INi is a Department of Biotechnology initiative, not an ICMR programme; it has enrolled about 12,000 pregnant women.