Defence Current Affairs Quiz — Last 12 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
With which Norwegian research organisation did CSIR sign a Collaboration Agreement (2026–2029) on circularity and sustainability, under an existing 2014 MoU?
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Correct answer: A — SINTEF
CSIR signed a 2026–2029 Collaboration Agreement with Stiftelsen SINTEF under the framework of their 2014 MoU.
What is the title of the Joint Declaration of Intent signed by CSIR, AcSIR and NTNU in Oslo in May 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation for the Green Shift
The declaration is titled 'Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation for the Green Shift'.
What export target for this year did Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal announce on 18 May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — $1 trillion
Goyal said India has set a target of $1 trillion in exports this year and $2 trillion over five years. $863 billion is the export level already reached.
According to Piyush Goyal (May 2026), with which country's FTA may come into force from 1 June?
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Correct answer: A — Oman
Goyal said the Oman FTA may come into force from 1 June, with other finalised FTAs to follow.
As stated by Piyush Goyal on 18 May 2026, India's exports this year reached about how much?
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Correct answer: C — $863 billion
Goyal said exports this year reached $863 billion, nearly 5% higher than the previous year.
Which honour did King Harald V of Norway confer on PM Narendra Modi on 18 May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit
PM Modi received the Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit in Oslo.
According to PIB, the Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit is Norway's highest honour for:
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Correct answer: B — foreign Heads of Government
PIB states that the award is Norway's highest honour bestowed on foreign Heads of Government.
Who assumed charge as CEO of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on 18 May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Saurabh Vijay
Saurabh Vijay, a 1998-batch IAS officer, assumed charge as CEO of UIDAI on 18 May 2026.
New UIDAI CEO Saurabh Vijay is an IAS officer of which batch and cadre?
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Correct answer: B — 1998 batch, Maharashtra cadre
PIB: he is an IAS officer of the 1998 batch of the Maharashtra cadre.
To what level did India and Sweden elevate their relationship during PM Modi's visit to Sweden in May 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Strategic Partnership
PM Modi and PM Ulf Kristersson agreed in Gothenburg to elevate India–Sweden ties to the level of Strategic Partnership.
Which document did India and Sweden adopt in May 2026 to operationalise their new partnership?
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Correct answer: C — India-Sweden Joint Action Plan 2026-2030
The two leaders adopted the India-Sweden Joint Action Plan 2026-2030 as the roadmap for the Strategic Partnership.
Consider the following statements about the India–Sweden talks of May 2026: 1. The relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. 2. The partnership will be guided by three pillars. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — Neither 1 nor 2
Both are wrong: the ties were elevated to a Strategic Partnership (not Comprehensive), and it rests on four pillars.
The houselisting field operations that began in Rajasthan, Meghalaya, Maharashtra and Jharkhand on 17 May 2026 are part of which exercise?
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Correct answer: B — Phase I of Census 2027
The Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO) is Phase I of Census 2027.
As of 17 May 2026, more than how many households had completed Census self-enumeration?
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Correct answer: D — 1.44 crore
MHA said more than 1.44 crore households had completed self-enumeration across 25 States/UTs.
Consider the following statements about Census 2027 operations as of 17 May 2026: 1. The self-enumeration facility has been introduced for the first time in Census operations. 2. Houselisting operations in Uttar Pradesh were completed between 16 April and 15 May 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: in Uttar Pradesh self-enumeration runs until 21 May and field work from 22 May to 20 June; the 16 April–15 May round covered A&N, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha, Sikkim and Delhi's NDMC and Cantonment areas.
On 17 May 2026 the Census self-enumeration facility opened in which group of States/UTs?
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Correct answer: B — Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and Puducherry
Self-enumeration began on 17 May in Gujarat, J&K, Ladakh and Puducherry, open till 31 May 2026.
According to PIB, the Afsluitdijk visited by PM Modi in May 2026 is a dam and causeway of about what length?
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Correct answer: B — 32 km
PIB describes the Afsluitdijk as a 32-kilometre-long dam and causeway.
The Kalpasar project, on which India and the Netherlands agreed technical cooperation in May 2026, aims to create a freshwater reservoir across which water body?
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Correct answer: D — Gulf of Khambhat
The Kalpasar project in Gujarat aims to create a freshwater reservoir across the Gulf of Khambhat.
Who conferred the Royal Order of the Polar Star, Degree Commander Grand Cross, on PM Narendra Modi on 17 May 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Crown Princess Victoria
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden conferred the award at a special ceremony in Gothenburg.
Which distinction did PM Modi achieve with the Royal Order of the Polar Star in May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — First Asian leader to be conferred the award
PIB states that PM Modi is the first Asian leader to be conferred the award.
According to PIB, in which century was Sweden's Royal Order of the Polar Star instituted?
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Correct answer: B — 18th century
PIB describes it as one of Sweden's oldest honours, instituted in the 18th century.
To what level did India and the Netherlands elevate their relations on 16 May 2026?
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Correct answer: C — Strategic Partnership
PM Modi and PM Rob Jetten decided in The Hague to elevate India–Netherlands relations to a Strategic Partnership.
At which royal palace did King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima host PM Modi on 16 May 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Huis ten Bosch, The Hague
The Joint Statement says the King and Queen hosted PM Modi at the Royal Palace Huis ten Bosch in The Hague.
Consider the following statements about PM Modi's visit to the Netherlands in May 2026: 1. It was PM Modi's first visit to the Netherlands. 2. Under the Strategic Partnership Roadmap, a Foreign Minister-level mechanism will hold annual meetings to review progress. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
Statement 1 is wrong: it was PM Modi's second visit to the Netherlands. Statement 2 is correct as per the Roadmap.
Which statement correctly describes India's BRICS Chairship as stated in May 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Fourth time; earlier in 2012, 2016 and 2021
India has assumed the BRICS Chairship for the fourth time, after 2012, 2016 and 2021.
According to the Commerce Secretary (May 2026), intra-BRICS merchandise trade reached what value in 2024?
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Correct answer: C — US$1.17 trillion
Intra-BRICS merchandise trade rose thirteen-fold from US$84 billion in 2003 to US$1.17 trillion in 2024.
The 2nd meeting of the BRICS Contact Group on Trade and Economic Issues (CGETI) in May 2026 was held in which city?
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Correct answer: B — Gandhinagar
The 2nd CGETI meeting was held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat; the first was held virtually in March 2026.
PM Narendra Modi congratulated Ali Falih Kadhim al-Zaidi in May 2026 on assuming office as the Prime Minister of which country?
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Correct answer: C — Iraq
PM Modi congratulated Ali Falih Kadhim al-Zaidi on assuming office as Prime Minister of Iraq.
INS Sagardhwani concluded a port call at Port Klang in May 2026. Port Klang is in which country?
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Correct answer: B — Malaysia
INS Sagardhwani departed Port Klang, Malaysia, on 15 May 2026 after engaging with the Royal Malaysian Navy.
What type of vessel is the Indian Navy's INS Sagardhwani?
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Correct answer: C — Oceanographic research vessel
The Ministry of Defence describes INS Sagardhwani as the Indian Navy's oceanographic research vessel.
Under the ISPRL–ADNOC MoU signed during PM Modi's UAE visit in May 2026, ADNOC may store up to how much crude oil in India's Strategic Petroleum Reserves?
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Correct answer: C — 30 million barrels
The MoU covers potential ADNOC crude storage in India's SPR of up to 30 million barrels.
During PM Modi's UAE visit in May 2026, Emirates NBD announced a US$3 billion investment in which Indian entity?
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Correct answer: B — RBL Bank
Emirates NBD is to invest US$3 billion in RBL Bank; IHC is to invest US$1 billion in Sammaan Capital and ADIA up to US$1 billion with NIIF.
Consider the following statements about India–UAE relations, as per PIB (May 2026): 1. PM Modi's visit to the UAE in 2015 was the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 34 years. 2. India–UAE bilateral merchandise trade crossed US$100 billion for the first time in FY 2025-26. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct: the 2015 visit was the first by an Indian PM in 34 years, and trade reached US$101.25 billion in FY 2025-26.
Which Indian organisation signed a term sheet with UAE's G-42 in May 2026 to set up an 8-exaflop supercomputing cluster?
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Correct answer: D — CDAC
The term sheet for an 8-exaflop super computing cluster is between CDAC, India and G-42, UAE, as part of AI Mission India.
What penalty did the CCPA impose on Motion Education Pvt. Ltd. for misleading advertisements (May 2026)?
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Correct answer: C — ₹10 lakh
CCPA imposed a ₹10 lakh penalty on Motion Education and ₹5 lakh on Career Line Coaching, Sikar.
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), which penalised coaching institutes in May 2026, acts under which law?
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Correct answer: B — Consumer Protection Act, 2019
The CCPA passed the orders for violations under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the law under which it functions.
India's total exports (merchandise and services) in April 2026 were estimated at:
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Correct answer: C — US$80.80 billion
Total exports in April 2026 were estimated at US$80.80 billion, up 13.59% from US$71.13 billion in April 2025.
What were India's merchandise exports in April 2026?
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Correct answer: B — US$43.56 billion
Merchandise exports in April 2026 were US$43.56 billion, up 13.78% from US$38.28 billion in April 2025.
According to the PLFS monthly bulletin for April 2026, what was the urban unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above?
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Correct answer: A — 6.6%
The urban unemployment rate (15+) eased to 6.6% in April 2026 from 6.8% in March 2026.
Which body conducts the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)?
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Correct answer: A — National Statistics Office (NSO), MoSPI
The PLFS is conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
According to a PIB backgrounder (May 2026), what is India's world rank in terms of large dams?
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Correct answer: C — 3rd
India ranks third in the world with 6,628 specified dams.
Which state has the highest number of specified dams in India, as per the PIB backgrounder of May 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Maharashtra
Maharashtra has the highest number of specified dams, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.
Consider the following statements: 1. Under the Dam Safety Act, 2021, the National Dam Safety Authority is the apex body of the four-tier mechanism. 2. Phase I of the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) was launched in April 2012 with World Bank support. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
Statement 1 is wrong: the National Committee on Dam Safety is the apex body; the NDSA is the regulatory and implementing arm. Statement 2 is correct.
Which institution's campus at Jinja, Uganda, is described by PIB (May 2026) as India's first overseas public academic campus?
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Correct answer: A — National Forensic Sciences University
PIB describes the NFSU Uganda Campus in Jinja, which enrolled its first batch in October 2025, as India's first overseas public academic campus.
'BIRSA 101', discussed at a workshop in May 2026, is:
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Correct answer: D — India's first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy for sickle cell disease
BIRSA 101, named after Bhagwan Birsa Munda, is India's first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy for sickle cell disease.
Which CSIR laboratory is associated with BIRSA 101, the CRISPR-based gene therapy for sickle cell disease?
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Correct answer: B — CSIR-IGIB, New Delhi
The workshop on BIRSA 101 was organised with CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) at CSIR-IGIB, New Delhi.
What was India's annual WPI inflation rate (provisional) for April 2026?
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Correct answer: D — 8.30%
WPI inflation was 8.30% in April 2026; 3.88% was March, 9.17% primary articles and 24.71% fuel and power.
Which major group of the WPI recorded the highest annual inflation in April 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Fuel & Power
Fuel & Power inflation was 24.71%, against 9.17% for primary articles, 4.62% for manufactured products and 2.31% for the food index.
Consider the following statements about the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) in India: 1. The current WPI series has 2011-12 as its base year. 2. DPIIT releases the WPI on the 14th of every month with a time lag of two weeks of the reference month. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct, as stated in DPIIT's April 2026 WPI release (base year 2011-12; release on the 14th, or the next working day, with a two-week lag).
SIR Phase III of electoral rolls, ordered by the ECI on 14 May 2026, covers about how many electors?
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Correct answer: B — 36.73 crore
Over 3.94 lakh BLOs will go house to house to 36.73 crore electors in SIR Phase III.
Which of the following is NOT covered in SIR Phase III announced by the ECI in May 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Himachal Pradesh
Phase III covers the whole country except Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, whose schedule will be announced later.
Consider the following statements about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Phase III (2026): 1. The ECI ordered it under Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. 2. Enumeration begins first, on 30 May 2026, in Odisha, Mizoram, Sikkim and Manipur. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. The ECI order cites Article 324 and Section 21 of the RP Act, 1950, and the house-to-house enumeration starts on 30 May in Odisha, Mizoram, Sikkim and Manipur.
In which year did Central Electronics Limited (CEL) manufacture India's first solar cell, as recalled at the dedication of its 200 MW module line (May 2026)?
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Correct answer: B — 1977
India's first solar cell was manufactured by CEL in 1977, and the country's first solar plant was set up by CEL in 1979.
Which technology did CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories transfer to Central Electronics Limited in May 2026, described as now fully indigenous?
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Correct answer: D — Drishti Transmissometer System
Technology transfer covered the Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) and the new-generation Drishti Transmissometer System, which is now fully indigenous.
When Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on PM Modi in May 2026, he briefed him on progress since which India–Russia Annual Summit held in December 2025?
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Correct answer: C — 23rd
Lavrov briefed the PM on progress since the leaders' meeting in December 2025 for the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit.
Consider the following statements about Sergei Lavrov's call on PM Modi on 14 May 2026: 1. PM Modi reiterated India's stand in favour of dialogue and diplomacy. 2. The talks were limited to bilateral trade and did not cover Ukraine. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. The two discussed regional and global issues including Ukraine and West Asia, so statement 2 is wrong.
At the ITU Council 2026 in Geneva, India's proposal to host which ITU event was accepted?
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Correct answer: D — ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2030
The ITU Council accepted India's proposal to host the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-2030); it is likely to be approved at PP-2026 in Doha.
Consider the following statements about the ITU Council: 1. It is the governing body of the ITU and comprises 48 elected Member States. 2. India became a member of the ITU Council only in 1992. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. DoT states that India has been a member of the ITU Council since 1952.
According to the Commerce Ministry (May 2026), India–Africa bilateral trade in 2025-26 stood at about:
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Correct answer: A — US$93.69 billion
Bilateral trade reached US$93.69 billion in 2025-26 (exports US$45.42 bn, imports US$48.27 bn); US$3.4 trillion is the value of AfCFTA.
Consider the following statements about India–Africa trade, as stated at the IAFS-IV business curtain raiser (May 2026): 1. In 2025-26, India's imports from Africa were higher than its exports to Africa. 2. India and Africa share the ambition of tripling bilateral trade by 2030. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct: imports were US$48.27 bn against exports of US$45.42 bn. The stated ambition is doubling, not tripling, trade by 2030.
India's chairship of the Common Criteria Development Board (CCDB) for 2026–2028 was confirmed at a CCRA meeting held in April 2026 in which city?
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Correct answer: B — Tokyo
It was confirmed at the 1st Quarter Meeting of the CCRA held from 14 to 16 April 2026 in Tokyo, Japan.
Consider the following statements about India and the Common Criteria Recognition Arrangement (CCRA): 1. India has been a member of the CCRA since September 2013 as a Certificate Authorizing Nation. 2. CERT-In acts as India's official certification body for IT security evaluations under the Common Criteria. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. India joined on 16 September 2013; the official certification body is MeitY's STQC Directorate, not CERT-In.
As per the Commerce Ministry, what was the European Union's rank among markets for Indian seafood exports in 2025-26?
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Correct answer: B — Third
The EU emerged as the third-largest market, with 18.94% of total export value (US$1.593 billion).
Consider the following statements about India's seafood exports to the EU (May 2026): 1. India had been omitted from the EU's Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2598 on third countries allowed to export from September 2026. 2. EU Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/905 concerns the use of antimicrobials in animals whose products are exported to the EU. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. India's omission was in Regulation (EU) 2024/2598, and Regulation (EU) 2023/905 requires exported animals and products to be free of antimicrobials used for growth promotion or reserved for humans.
What is the financial outlay of the Scheme for Promotion of Surface Coal/Lignite Gasification Projects approved by the Cabinet in May 2026?
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Correct answer: B — ₹37,500 crore
The scheme has an outlay of ₹37,500 crore; ₹8,500 crore was the earlier scheme approved in January 2024.
Under the 2026 coal/lignite gasification scheme, the financial incentive for any single project is capped at:
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Correct answer: A — ₹5,000 crore
The cap is ₹5,000 crore per project, ₹9,000 crore per product (except SNG and urea) and ₹12,000 crore per entity group.
Consider the following statements about India's coal gasification push: 1. India has a national target of gasifying 100 million tonnes of coal by 2030. 2. Under the 2026 scheme, the incentive is capped at 20% of the cost of plant and machinery. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. The scheme advances the 100 MT-by-2030 target (building on the National Coal Gasification Mission, 2021) and offers up to 20% of plant and machinery cost.
For kharif marketing season 2026-27, which crop got the highest absolute increase in MSP over the previous year?
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Correct answer: C — Sunflower seed
Sunflower seed got the highest increase (₹622 per quintal), followed by cotton (₹557), nigerseed (₹515) and sesamum (₹500).
Under the kharif MSP 2026-27, the expected margin over cost of production is highest for which crop?
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Correct answer: D — Moong
Moong has the highest expected margin (61%), followed by bajra (56%), maize (56%) and tur/arhar (54%).
Consider the following statements about Minimum Support Prices (MSP): 1. Fixing MSP at least at 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production was announced in the Union Budget 2014-15. 2. The MSP of paddy (common) for marketing season 2026-27 is ₹2,441 per quintal. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
Only 2 is correct. The 1.5-times-cost principle was announced in the Union Budget 2018-19, as the Cabinet release states.
How much was released on 13 May 2026 as the first instalment of mother sanction for 2026-27 under the CSS for infrastructure of district and subordinate courts?
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Correct answer: C — ₹401.50 crore
Arjun Ram Meghwal released ₹401.50 crore to States/UTs through PFMS as the first instalment for 2026-27.
Consider the following statements about the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Development of Infrastructure Facilities for District and Subordinate Courts: 1. The Department of Justice has been running this effort since 1993-94. 2. Union Territories share its cost with the Centre in a 90:10 ratio. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. The fund-sharing pattern is 60:40 for most states, 90:10 for north-eastern and two Himalayan states, and 100% central for UTs.
The Judicial Infrastructure Advisory Committee constituted by the Chief Justice of India on 12 May 2026 is chaired by:
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Correct answer: B — Justice Aravind Kumar
The committee was constituted under the chairmanship of Justice Aravind Kumar, Judge, Supreme Court of India.