CDS Current Affairs Quiz — All time
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Who was appointed Chairman of Prasar Bharati on 2 May 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Prasoon Joshi
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting appointed Prasoon Joshi as Chairman of Prasar Bharati.
Consider the following statements about Prasar Bharati: 1. It was established under the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act, 1990. 2. It became operational in the same year the Act was passed. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only statement 1 is correct: Prasar Bharati is a statutory autonomous broadcaster set up under the 1990 Act, but it became operational only in 1997.
Before being appointed Chairman of Prasar Bharati in May 2026, Prasoon Joshi had headed which body since August 2017?
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Correct answer: D — Central Board of Film Certification
Prasoon Joshi had served as Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), Mumbai, since August 2017.
According to the IMD extended-range forecast cited on 2 May 2026, which weeks of May 2026 were expected to be relatively hotter, with heatwave conditions?
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Correct answer: D — 8–14 May and 22–28 May
Relatively higher temperatures were expected in the second (8–14 May) and fourth (22–28 May) weeks; the first and third weeks were expected to be normal to below normal.
Consider the following statements based on the IMD outlook for May 2026 cited by the government: 1. ENSO-neutral conditions were prevailing. 2. Above-normal maximum temperatures were expected over the entire country. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only statement 1 is correct: ENSO-neutral conditions prevailed, and a large part of the country was expected to see normal to below-normal temperatures.
Who among the following were appointed full-time Members of NITI Aayog in May 2026?
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Correct answer: B — R. Balasubramaniam and Joram Aniya
Dr. R. Balasubramaniam and Dr. Joram Aniya were appointed full-time Members of NITI Aayog; the PM congratulated them on 2 May 2026.
NITI Aayog, which replaced the Planning Commission, was constituted through which of the following?
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Correct answer: D — A Cabinet resolution dated 1 January 2015
NITI Aayog was constituted by a Cabinet resolution dated 1 January 2015; like the Planning Commission (set up by a Cabinet resolution in 1950), it is neither a constitutional nor a statutory body.
Consider the following statements about the composition of NITI Aayog as per its 2015 Cabinet resolution: 1. It can have a maximum of four part-time Members, on a rotational basis. 2. It can have a maximum of four ex officio Members from the Union Council of Ministers, nominated by the Prime Minister. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
Only statement 2 is correct: the resolution provides for up to 2 (not 4) rotational part-time Members and up to 4 ex officio Members from the Union Council of Ministers nominated by the PM.
IMNEX and IMCOR, mentioned during the Indian Navy chief's May 2026 visit, refer to India's naval engagements with which country?
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Correct answer: A — Myanmar
IMNEX is the India–Myanmar Naval Exercise and IMCOR the Indo-Myanmar Coordinated Patrol.
Who is the Chief of the Naval Staff who visited Myanmar from 2 to 5 May 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi
Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, made a four-day official visit to Myanmar from 2 to 5 May 2026.
House-to-house Houselisting Operations under Census 2027 began on 1 May 2026 in six States/UTs. Which of the following was NOT among them?
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Correct answer: C — Rajasthan
HLO began in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh; in Rajasthan only the self-enumeration window opened on 1 May.
About how many households had used the Census 2027 self-enumeration facility by 1 May 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 82 lakh
The Home Ministry said nearly 82 lakh households had availed the self-enumeration facility so far.
Consider the following statements about Census 2027: 1. The self-enumeration facility being used in Census 2027 was also offered in the previous Census. 2. Data collected is governed by the Census Act, 1951, and may be shared for individual verification. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — Neither 1 nor 2
Neither is correct. Self-enumeration has been introduced for the first time in a Census; data is collected under the Census Act, 1948, and remains strictly confidential, used only for statistical purposes and development planning.
The six assistive-product standards published by BIS in May 2026 are part of the National List of Essential Assistive Products (NLEAP), an initiative of which body?
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Correct answer: D — Indian Council of Medical Research
NLEAP is an initiative brought out by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
Which of the following is NOT among the six assistive products for which BIS published standards in May 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Hearing aids
The six standards cover elbow crutches, walking sticks, multi-legged walking sticks, portable ramps, tactile guide maps and Braille on signage; hearing aids were not among them.
Who assumed charge as Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) on 1 May 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Anugraha Narayana Das
Anugraha Narayana Das, a 1991-batch IDAS officer, became CGDA; his predecessor Vishvajit Sahay became Secretary (Defence Finance).
Consider the following statements about the Defence Accounts Department (DAD), headed by the CGDA: 1. The Military Accounts Department was renamed the Defence Accounts Department on 15 August 1947. 2. The DAD has always functioned under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence since Independence. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — Neither 1 nor 2
Neither is correct. The renaming took place on 1 October 1951, when the head was designated CGDA; for over three decades after Independence DAD was under the Ministry of Finance, and came under the Ministry of Defence only from August 1983.
Vishvajit Sahay, who became Secretary (Defence Finance) on 1 May 2026, belongs to which service?
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Correct answer: B — Indian Defence Accounts Service
Vishvajit Sahay is a 1990-batch officer of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS) and was serving as CGDA before the appointment.
Maharashtra and Gujarat, which celebrate their statehood day on 1 May, were formed in which year?
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Correct answer: C — 1960
Both states were formed on 1 May 1960 under the Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960.
Under the Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960, which of the following is correct?
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Correct answer: A — A new State of Gujarat was formed, and the residuary State of Bombay came to be known as Maharashtra.
Section 3 of the Act formed the new State of Gujarat from specified territories of Bombay State, and the residuary State of Bombay became the State of Maharashtra, with effect from 1 May 1960.
The 'Padma Doree' textile initiative launched in May 2026 blends Eri silk of Northeast India with which weaving tradition?
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Correct answer: B — Chanderi of Madhya Pradesh
Padma Doree blends Eri (Ahimsa) silk of Northeast India with the Chanderi weaving heritage of Madhya Pradesh.
'Padma Doree' was unveiled in May 2026 by NEHHDC. NEHHDC is a CPSE under which Ministry?
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Correct answer: D — Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region
The North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC) is a CPSE under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER).
On which date was the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) launched by NPCI?
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Correct answer: A — 11 April 2016
UPI was launched on 11 April 2016 by the National Payments Corporation of India under RBI's regulatory oversight.
As per the Finance Ministry's 10-year note, what was UPI's approximate transaction value in FY 2025–26?
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Correct answer: D — ₹314 lakh crore
Transaction value rose from ₹0.07 lakh crore in FY 2016–17 to approximately ₹314 lakh crore in FY 2025–26.
Consider the following statements about UPI as of its 10th anniversary in April 2026: 1. Over 700 banks are onboarded on UPI. 2. UPI captures nearly 49% of global real-time payments. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct as per the Finance Ministry's release of 30 April 2026.
What is the total outlay of the Incentive Scheme for Promotion of Critical Mineral Recycling under the National Critical Mineral Mission?
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Correct answer: A — ₹1,500 crore
The scheme has a total outlay of ₹1,500 crore under the National Critical Mineral Mission and was notified on 2 October 2025.
Which institution is the Project Management Agency (PMA) that evaluated proposals under the Critical Mineral Recycling incentive scheme?
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Correct answer: C — Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre
Proposals were evaluated by the PMA, the Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC).
Consider the following statements about the Critical Mineral Recycling incentive scheme: 1. The scheme covers recovery of critical minerals from lithium-ion batteries, e-waste and industrial scrap. 2. All 58 eligible companies were cleared in a single Executive Committee meeting on 29 April 2026. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: 20 entities were cleared on 30 March 2026 and 38 on 29 April 2026.
How many new 8-digit tariff lines were added to the RoDTEP schedules by Notification No. 15/2026–27?
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Correct answer: C — 142
The revision covers 194 tariff lines: 142 new 8-digit lines added, 50 deleted and descriptions of 2 modified.
Under the RoDTEP scheme, Appendix 4RE covers exports by which units?
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Correct answer: A — Advance Authorisation, EOU and SEZ units
Appendix 4R is for DTA exports, while Appendix 4RE is for exports by Advance Authorisation (AA), Export Oriented Unit (EOU) and SEZ units.
According to the 5th India–Tanzania Joint Trade Committee, what was India–Tanzania bilateral trade in 2025–26?
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Correct answer: D — USD 9.02 billion
Bilateral trade reached USD 9.02 billion in 2025–26, rising from USD 8.64 billion in 2024–25.
Consider the following statements about the 5th India–Tanzania Joint Trade Committee: 1. The meeting was held in Dar es Salaam on 29–30 April 2026. 2. The previous (4th) session was held in New Delhi in August 2017. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct: the 5th JTC was held in Dar es Salaam on 29–30 April 2026 and reviewed progress since the 4th session in New Delhi in August 2017.
Under the ECI's three-tier security mechanism for counting centres introduced on 30 April 2026, at which point is QR code scanning mandatory for entry?
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Correct answer: B — At the third, innermost cordon near the counting hall
Photo ID cards issued by the RO are checked manually at the first and second tiers; entry at the third and innermost cordon near the counting hall is permitted only after QR code verification.
On which ECI platform was the QR code-based Photo Identity Card module for counting centres introduced in April 2026?
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Correct answer: D — ECINET
The Election Commission introduced the QR code-based Photo Identity Card module on ECINET.
What is the theme of India's BRICS chairship, which guided the first BRICS Women's Working Group meeting on 30 April 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability
India's BRICS chairship theme is 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability'.
Consider the following statements about the first preparatory meeting of the BRICS Women's Working Group in 2026: 1. The meeting was held in physical mode in New Delhi. 2. Women's role in climate action was one of the four priority areas. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
Statement 1 is wrong: the meeting was held in virtual mode. Statement 2 is correct.
Which document was exchanged between India and Italy during the Rajnath Singh–Guido Crosetto meeting on 30 April 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan 2026–27
A Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan for 2026–27 was exchanged during the meeting.
The Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), highlighted in India–Italy defence talks in April 2026, is located in which city?
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Correct answer: D — Gurugram
The release refers to the Information Fusion Center–Indian Ocean Region, Gurugram.
The Live Events Development Cell (LEDC), which held its 4th meeting on 30 April 2026, was set up by which ministry?
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Correct answer: B — Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting set up the LEDC in July 2025 under the chairpersonship of the I&B Secretary.
On which portal is single-window clearance for live events being provided, as discussed at the 4th LEDC meeting?
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Correct answer: A — India Cine Hub
The 4th LEDC meeting highlighted single-window clearance for live events on the India Cine Hub portal.
What is the maximum balance limit of the India Post Payments Bank's SHG Savings Account launched on 30 April 2026?
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Correct answer: D — ₹2,00,000
The IPPB SHG Savings Account has a maximum balance limit of ₹2,00,000, with no minimum deposit or monthly average balance.
Consider the following statements about the IPPB SHG Savings Account: 1. Interest on the account is paid quarterly. 2. The account requires a minimum initial deposit of ₹500. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: there is no minimum initial deposit requirement.
In the context of TRAI's consultation paper released on 30 April 2026, what does 'V2X' stand for?
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Correct answer: B — Vehicle-to-Everything
TRAI's consultation paper is on the Regulatory Framework for Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Communication.
As per the NSO 80th Round health survey, coverage under government health insurance/financing schemes in rural areas rose from 12.9% to what level?
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Correct answer: C — 45.5%
Rural coverage rose from 12.9% to 45.5%, while urban coverage rose from 8.9% to 31.8%.
Consider the following statements about the NSO 80th Round Household Social Consumption: Health survey: 1. The survey canvassed more urban households than rural households. 2. Institutional deliveries reached 97.8% in urban areas. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
Statement 1 is wrong: 76,296 rural and 63,436 urban households were surveyed. Statement 2 is correct.
According to the NSO 80th Round health survey, what was the median out-of-pocket expenditure for hospitalisation cases at public health facilities?
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Correct answer: B — ₹1,100
The Health Ministry said the out-of-pocket expenditure in more than half of hospitalisation cases at public facilities stands at ₹1,100, i.e. the median.
With which three states were reform-linked MoUs under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 signed on 29 April 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Uttarakhand, Karnataka and Tripura
The reform-linked MoUs were signed with Uttarakhand, Karnataka and Tripura.
On which date did the Union Cabinet approve Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0?
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Correct answer: D — 10 March 2026
The reform-linked MoUs followed the approval of JJM 2.0 by the Union Cabinet on 10 March 2026.
As stated on 29 April 2026, how many Doppler Weather Radars does India now operate, up from 14 in 2014?
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Correct answer: A — 50
The DWR network has grown from 14 operational units in 2014 to 50, covering over 87% of the country.
Under which mission are 50 more Doppler Weather Radars planned, as per the Earth Sciences Ministry?
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Correct answer: C — Mission Mausam
The minister said 50 more DWRs are planned under Mission Mausam.
How many vessels does India plan to add in FY 2026–27 under the roadmap announced by Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on 29 April 2026?
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Correct answer: D — 62
Sonowal said India is advancing a roadmap to add 62 vessels in FY 2026–27, backed by ₹51,383 crore, creating 2.85 million GT of capacity.
Consider the following statements about India's FY 2026–27 shipping capacity plan announced on 29 April 2026: 1. The plan is backed by an investment of ₹51,383 crore. 2. It aims to add 2.85 million gross tonnage of capacity. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct as per the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways release.
In which city was the SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting held on 28 April 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Bishkek
Rajnath Singh addressed the SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
On the sidelines of the SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting in April 2026, what did Rajnath Singh gift to Kyrgyzstan?
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Correct answer: A — Two BHISM Aarogya Maitri Health Cubes
Rajnath Singh gifted two indigenously developed BHISM Aarogya Maitri Health Cubes for HADR and search-and-rescue operations.
Consider the following statements about Rajnath Singh's visit to Bishkek in April 2026: 1. He held bilateral meetings with the defence ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Belarus. 2. He recalled the Tianjin Declaration of the SCO in his address. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct as per the Ministry of Defence releases of 28 April 2026.
What was India–Kenya bilateral trade in 2025–26, as noted at the 10th Joint Trade Committee?
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Correct answer: D — USD 4.31 billion
Trade stood at USD 4.31 billion in 2025–26, up 24.91% from USD 3.45 billion in 2024–25.
At the 10th India–Kenya JTC, an MoU for exchange of pre-arrival customs information was signed between CBIC and which Kenyan body?
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Correct answer: C — Kenya Revenue Authority
The MoU was signed between CBIC and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA); a separate BIS–KEBS MoU on standards was reviewed.
From which country did the NCB secure the return of drug trafficker Mohammad Salim Dola on 28 April 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Türkiye
NCB secured Dola's return from Türkiye under 'Operation Global-Hunt'.
Under which operation did the Narcotics Control Bureau bring back Mohammad Salim Dola in April 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Operation Global-Hunt
The return was secured under 'Operation Global-Hunt'.
As per MoSPI's quick estimate, by how much did the Index of Industrial Production grow in March 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 4.1%
IIP grew 4.1% in March 2026, compared with 5.2% in February 2026.
Consider the following statements about the IIP for March 2026: 1. Electricity recorded the highest growth among the three sectors. 2. The IIP uses 2011–12 as its base year. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
Statement 1 is wrong: mining grew fastest (5.5%), electricity grew just 0.8%. Statement 2 is correct.
For how long will sports-related IP registrations be exempt from fees, as announced by Piyush Goyal on 28 April 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Three years
All sports-related IP registrations will be exempt from fees for three years, effective immediately.
What was the theme of the World Intellectual Property Day celebrations held in New Delhi on 28 April 2026?
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Correct answer: B — IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate!
The celebrations were themed 'IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate!'.
Which Indian Navy ship participated in the bilateral diving exercise IN–SLN DIVEX 2026 at Colombo?
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Correct answer: A — INS Nireekshak
INS Nireekshak, the Indian Navy's Diving Support and Submarine Rescue Vessel, took part in IN–SLN DIVEX 2026.
Consider the following statements about IN–SLN DIVEX 2026: 1. It was the first edition of the India–Sri Lanka diving exercise. 2. Divers from both navies executed deep-sea dives beyond 55 metres. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
Statement 1 is wrong: it was the fourth edition. Statement 2 is correct.
What was the 'first' about the four coal mine agreements signed by the Ministry of Coal on 28 April 2026?
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Correct answer: B — First commercial coal mines with embedded Underground Coal Gasification provisions
They are the first tranche of commercial coal mines in India with embedded provisions for Underground Coal Gasification (UCG).
Consider the following statements about the coal mine agreements with UCG provisions signed on 28 April 2026: 1. The mines were allotted under the 14th round of commercial coal mine auctions. 2. All four mines are located in Jharkhand. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: the mines are in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.