UKPSC Current Affairs Quiz — Last 12 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Where was the Egmont Group Plenary held at which FIU-IND won runner-up in the Best Egmont Case Award 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Baku, Azerbaijan
The BECA 2026 was presented during the Egmont Group Plenary held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
How many member jurisdictions does the Egmont Group have, as stated in the FIU-IND release of July 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 182
FIU-IND's case was one of two finalists among submissions from the Egmont Group's 182 member jurisdictions.
Consider the following statements about FIU-IND's award-winning case at BECA 2026: 1. The case originated from intelligence shared by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C). 2. It involved cyber fraud proceeds of about ₹868 crore and more than 5,000 mule bank accounts. 3. The case won the top prize (winner) at BECA 2026. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 1 and 2 only
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: the FIU-IND case was adjudged the runner-up, not the winner.
The 49th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC49), held from 6 to 10 July 2026, took place in which city?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Geneva
CAC49 was held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 6 to 10 July 2026.
At CAC49, the Codex Commission approved India's proposal for new work on a standard for which product?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Cashew kernels
The Commission approved India's proposal to develop a Codex Standard for Cashew Kernels under the Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables.
Consider the following statements: 1. The Codex Alimentarius Commission was established jointly by the FAO and the WHO. 2. India hosts the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH), with the Spices Board as its Secretariat. 3. The standards for large cardamom, coriander and vanilla were finalised at the CCSCH session held in Kochi in 2024. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: the standards were finalised at the Eighth Session of the CCSCH, held in Guwahati in October 2025.
Under the July 2026 amendment to the Drugs Rules, 1945, high-alcohol formulations were moved to which schedule requiring prescription sale?
Show answer
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?
Show answer
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?
Show answer
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.
In the 15th round of commercial coal block auctions (bids opened 10 July 2026), how many bids were received?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 21
21 bids were received against 8 of the 23 coal blocks offered; 16 companies took part.
Which helpline number for drug de-addiction was highlighted at the July 2026 meeting on the National Pledge Against Drug Abuse?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 14446
The meeting highlighted the need to promote drug de-addiction through helpline 14446.
Which city hosted the 3rd India–Australia Annual Summit on 9 July 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Melbourne
The Third India–Australia Annual Summit was held in Melbourne.
The India–Australia Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation (July 2026) renews which earlier document?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Joint Declaration on Security (2009)
The list of outcomes says the JDDSC renews the existing Joint Declaration on Security of 2009.
Which Australian university received a Letter of Intent at the July 2026 summit to set up a campus in Bengaluru?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Flinders University
A Letter of Intent was handed to Flinders University for a campus in Bengaluru; Victoria University got a Letter of Approval for Gurugram.
Consider the following statements about the 3rd India–Australia Annual Summit (July 2026): 1. The two countries established an Annual Defence Ministers' Dialogue. 2. Australia returned three antiquities that originated in Tamil Nadu. 3. Victoria University will set up its Indian campus in Bengaluru. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 1 and 2 only
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: Victoria University's campus is approved for Gurugram; Flinders University is the one coming to Bengaluru.
The Administrative Arrangement finalised at the July 2026 Melbourne summit operationalises the India–Australia Civil Nuclear Agreement signed in which year?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 2014
The Arrangement operationalises the India–Australia Civil Nuclear Agreement signed in 2014.
Australian uranium exports to India under the July 2026 arrangement will be under the safeguards of which body?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
The Arrangement enables uranium exports for peaceful purposes under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.
Consider the following statements, as given in PIB's July 2026 backgrounder on India–Australia civil nuclear cooperation: 1. Australia has the largest uranium resources in the world, more than one-third of the global total. 2. India operates 24 nuclear power reactors with an installed capacity of 8.78 GW. 3. India's Nuclear Energy Mission targets 50 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 1 and 2 only
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: the Nuclear Energy Mission targets 100 GW by 2047.
Which DoT project won the WSIS Prize 2026 under Action Line C6?
Show answer
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?
Show answer
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?
Show answer
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?
Show answer
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?
Show answer
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?
Show answer
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.
By what date did the Sports Ministry ask National Sports Federations to publish their Los Angeles 2028 Olympic selection pathways?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 15 July 2026
NSFs were asked to publish the pathway on their websites immediately and no later than 15 July 2026.
As stated by the Sports Ministry, the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games are scheduled for which dates?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 14 – 30 July 2028
The Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games are scheduled to be held from 14 July to 30 July 2028.
According to the AISHE report released in July 2026, what was India's Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education in 2023-24?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 30
GER reached 29.5 in 2022-23 and 30 in 2023-24; 31.2 is the female GER for 2023-24.
What was the Gender Parity Index (GPI) in higher education in 2023-24 as per AISHE?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1.08
The GPI for 2023-24 stands at 1.08 and has remained above 1.0 for seven consecutive years.
Consider the following statements about AISHE: 1. GER in AISHE is computed for the 18–23 years age group. 2. Women made up 44% of STEM enrolment in 2023-24. 3. Participation in AISHE is mandatory for all Higher Education Institutions. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 1 and 2 only
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: PIB's survey note says participation in AISHE is voluntary and data is self-reported.
What was the total enrolment in higher education in 2023-24 according to AISHE?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 4.50 crore
Enrolment rose from 3.42 crore (2014-15) to 4.46 crore (2022-23) and 4.50 crore (2023-24); 2.24 crore is female enrolment.
What is the last date for applications under the ₹37,500 crore Scheme for Promotion of Surface Coal/Lignite Gasification Projects?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 7 September 2026
Applications close on 7 September 2026; 20 July is the pre-application conference, 7 July the RFP and 25 June the guidelines.
Under the 2026 coal/lignite gasification scheme, the financial incentive is capped at what share of the cost of plant and machinery?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 20%
The Cabinet release says the incentive is a maximum of 20% of the cost of plant and machinery.
The coal gasification scheme approved by the Cabinet in May 2026 advances India's national target of gasifying how much coal by 2030?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 100 million tonnes
The national target is 100 MT of coal gasification by 2030; the new scheme itself targets about 75 MT of coal/lignite.
The Prambanan Temple Complex in Indonesia, where ASI began a conservation project in July 2026, is dedicated to whom?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — The Trimurti — Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva
Prambanan, built in the 9th century, is the largest temple complex in Indonesia dedicated to the Trimurti.
In which Indonesian region is the Prambanan Temple Complex, visited by PM Modi on 8 July 2026, located?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Yogyakarta
PIB says PM Modi visited the Prambanan Temple Complex in Yogyakarta.
To reconstruct the topside ionosphere over India, IIG researchers combined bottomside ionosonde observations with scale-height data from which source?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — COSMIC radio occultation measurements
The method combines altitude-wise scale height derived from COSMIC radio occultation measurements with bottomside ionosonde observations.
According to UDISE+ 2025-26, how many school teachers were there in India?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — About 1.03 crore (1,02,73,020)
Teachers numbered 1,02,73,020 in 2025-26, up from 94,83,294 in 2022-23.
What was the dropout rate at the secondary level in 2025-26 as per UDISE+?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 7.0%
Secondary dropout fell from 8.2% in 2024-25 to 7.0% in 2025-26; 3.6% is the middle level and 13.8% the 2022-23 secondary figure.
What was the Gross Enrolment Ratio at the secondary level in 2025-26 as per UDISE+?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 71.7%
Secondary GER rose from 68.5% in 2024-25 to 71.7% in 2025-26; 89.6% is the middle-level GER and 51.9% the secondary retention rate.
Where did PM Narendra Modi and President Prabowo Subianto hold official talks on 7 July 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Istana Merdeka, Jakarta
The joint statement says the official bilateral talks were held on 7 July 2026 at Istana Merdeka, Jakarta.
During PM Modi's July 2026 visit, India announced the deployment of an Indonesian Liaison Officer at which centre?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR)
The list of announcements includes the deployment of an Indonesian Liaison Officer in IFC-IOR.
Consider the following statements about PM Modi's State Visit to Indonesia in July 2026: 1. The visit took place from 6 to 8 July 2026. 2. It followed President Prabowo's visit to India as Chief Guest at the 76th Republic Day. 3. The outcomes included cooperation on the BrahMos Missile System. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
All three are correct as per the joint statement and the list of outcomes.
The Indonesia Open Network (ION), launched during PM Modi's July 2026 visit, is based on which Indian digital architecture?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)
The announcements list the launch of Indonesia Open Network (ION), based on India's ONDC architecture.
As of July 2026, how many guarantees had been issued under ECLGS 5.0?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 4,11,497 guarantees worth ₹1,55,229 crore
Since launch, 4,11,497 guarantees worth ₹1,55,229 crore had been issued under ECLGS 5.0.
What guarantee coverage does ECLGS 5.0 give on additional loans to MSMEs?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 100%
ECLGS 5.0 gives 100% guarantee cover on additional loans to MSMEs and 90% to other business segments.
Consider the following statements about ECLGS 5.0: 1. It was approved by the Union Cabinet on 5 May 2026. 2. MSMEs account for 98% of guarantees issued by number. 3. It gives 90% guarantee cover to MSMEs and 100% to other businesses. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 1 and 2 only
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 reverses the figures: MSMEs get 100% cover and other businesses 90%.
What was the combined outlay of the Strategic Investment Plans approved at PM-SETU's 4th National Steering Committee in July 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — ₹1,237.58 crore
The committee approved SIPs worth a combined ₹1,237.58 crore; ₹240.21 crore is the Odisha cluster alone and ₹60,000 crore the scheme's total outlay.
Which company is the Anchor Industry Partner for the PM-SETU ITI cluster in Gujarat approved in July 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India
ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India anchors the Surat-hub cluster in Gujarat; Jindal is in Odisha, and Apollo Med-Skills and Neuland are in Telangana.
Under Component I of PM-SETU, how many Government ITIs are to be upgraded in the hub-and-spoke model?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 1,000 ITIs (200 hubs and 800 spokes)
PIB says Component I upgrades 1,000 Government ITIs — 200 hub ITIs and 800 spoke ITIs; the scheme outlay is ₹60,000 crore.
Where will IIM Bangalore set up its first international campus, announced in July 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Singhasari SEZ, Malang
The proposed campus will be at Singhasari Special Economic Zone, Malang, Indonesia.
What will Phase One of IIM Bangalore's Indonesia campus offer?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Executive Education Programmes for senior executives and public-sector professionals
Phase One begins with executive education; degree-granting programmes come in Phase Two, subject to Phase One's success over the first two years.
Which Indonesian honour was conferred on PM Narendra Modi on 7 July 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Bintang Adipurna of the Republic of Indonesia
PM Modi received the Bintang Adipurna of the Republic of Indonesia, the country's highest civilian honour.
Who conferred the Bintang Adipurna on PM Modi in July 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — President Prabowo Subianto
The award was conferred by the President of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto.
Which rules did the Department of Consumer Affairs amend in July 2026 to ease verification of high-capacity weighing instruments?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011
The Department amended the Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011.
After the 2026 amendment, what share of maximum capacity must standard weights cover before substitution, once a repeatability test is passed?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 20% (one-fifth)
The requirement was reduced from 50% of maximum capacity to one-fifth (20%).
Which radio array did the international team including IIA's Dr Aru Beri use to find faint black hole activity in nearby galaxies (2026)?
Show answer
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?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 280
The team observed 280 nearby galaxies selected from the Palomar sample.
In which year was the Union Ministry of Cooperation created, which marked its 5th Foundation Day in July 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 2021
Amit Shah said the Ministry of Cooperation was created in 2021.
How many national-level cooperative societies exist, as stated at the Ministry of Cooperation's 5th Foundation Day?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Nine
Shah said a total of nine national-level cooperative societies have been formed, including three newly created ones.
Bharat Beej Sahakari Samiti Limited (BBSSL), mentioned by Amit Shah in July 2026, is expected to become what within three years?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — India's largest seed production company
Shah said BBSSL will emerge as the country's largest seed production company within the next three years.
Who chaired MoSPI's Expert Committee on Energy Statistics, whose report was released on 6 July 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Dr Rangan Banerjee
The committee was chaired by Dr Rangan Banerjee, Director, IIT Delhi.
Which annual MoSPI publication did the Expert Committee on Energy Statistics review?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Energy Statistics India
The committee comprehensively reviewed MoSPI's annual publication 'Energy Statistics India' and the energy statistics database.
How much crude steel did India produce in April–June 2026, according to the Steel Ministry?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 42.1 Mt
Crude steel output was 42.1 Mt, up from 40.8 Mt in April–June 2025; 41.0 Mt is finished steel and 23.5 Mt hot metal.
In April–June 2026, what was India's trade position in finished steel?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Net importer
Imports (about 2,063.9 thousand tonnes) exceeded exports (about 1,592.8 thousand tonnes), making India a net importer.
How much did the Centre release on 5 July 2026 as the first instalment (Mother Sanction) to States under VB-G-RAM-G?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Rs 25,863 crore
Shivraj Singh Chouhan released the first instalment (Mother Sanction) of Rs 25,863 crore to the States.
According to the Rural Development Minister, what is the minimum daily wage rate that any State will now have under VB-G-RAM-G?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Rs 300
Wage rates have been raised by about 10% on average, and no State will now have a wage rate below Rs 300 per day.
The VB-G-RAM-G Act, 2025 guarantees how many days of wage employment per financial year to a rural household whose adult members volunteer for unskilled manual work?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 125 days
Section 5(1) of the Act provides a guarantee of not less than 125 days of wage employment per rural household per financial year, up from the earlier 100 days.
Consider the following statements about VB-G-RAM-G: 1. Its provisions came into force in all States and UTs on 1 July 2026. 2. Wage rates under it were raised by about 25% on average. 3. The first instalment is meant to let States pay wages within 15 days. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 1 and 3 only
S.O. 2382(E) appointed 1 July 2026 for all States and UTs, and the instalment aims at wage payment within 15 days; the average wage rise was about 10%, not 25%.
Who has been invited by UNCTAD to chair the Ninth Session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Consumer Protection Law and Policy (6-8 July 2026)?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Nidhi Khare
Nidhi Khare, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, was invited by UNCTAD to chair the Ninth Session.
Which country's consumer protection law and policy will undergo a voluntary peer review at the Ninth Session of UNCTAD's IGE on Consumer Protection?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Argentina
The session includes a voluntary peer review of Argentina's consumer protection law and policy.
The United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection, under which UNCTAD's IGE on Consumer Protection works, were first adopted by the UN General Assembly in which year?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 1985
The Guidelines were first adopted by General Assembly resolution 39/248 in 1985, expanded by ECOSOC in 1999 and revised by resolution 70/186 on 22 December 2015.
At which naval base in Singapore did INS Udaygiri, INS Shakti and INS Kavaratti make their port call (concluded July 2026)?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Changi
The three ships concluded their port call at Changi Naval Base, Singapore.
INS Udaygiri, INS Shakti and INS Kavaratti, which visited Singapore in July 2026, belong to which fleet of the Indian Navy?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Eastern Fleet
The ships are of the Eastern Fleet, led by Rear Admiral Alok Anand, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet.
How many vessels carrying fertilisers and fertiliser raw materials for India had safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz, as per the Department of Fertilizers on 5 July 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 15
A total of 15 vessels carrying fertilisers and fertiliser raw materials for India had safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz.
What was India's urea production in the first quarter (April-June) of FY 2026-27?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 71.55 LMT
India produced 71.55 LMT of urea in April-June 2026 against a target of 67.86 LMT, beating it by 3.69 LMT.
Consider the following statements from the Department of Fertilizers update of 5 July 2026: 1. Natural gas supply to fertiliser plants has been restored to 100% after falling to nearly 65%. 2. Of the 15 vessels, 8 were carrying urea. 3. Only 5 Indian Missions abroad were involved in securing new supplies. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
Gas supply was restored to 100% from nearly 65%, and 8 of the 15 vessels carried urea; 28 Indian Missions, not 5, played a role.
About how many erstwhile Ordnance Factory employees are covered by the government's decision to redeploy them into regular government service (highlighted on 5 July 2026)?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 65,000
The decision covers nearly 65,000 erstwhile Ordnance Factory employees, following the restructuring of the Ordnance Factory Board.