UPSC Civil Services Current Affairs Quiz — Last 6 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
What cumulative Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) did the Government e Marketplace (GeM) report on 6 April 2026?
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Correct answer: A — ₹18.4 lakh crore
The Commerce Ministry said GeM achieved a cumulative GMV of ₹18.4 lakh crore; over ₹5 lakh crore was in 2025-26 alone.
What share of total orders on GeM in 2025-26 was executed by Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs)?
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Correct answer: B — 68%
The ministry said MSEs executed 68% of total orders, accounting for 47.1% of GMV.
Scientists from which institution developed the 'paired biometric threshold' to distinguish cereal pollen from wild grass pollen in the Central Ganga Plain?
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Correct answer: B — Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences
DST said the study was by scientists from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), an autonomous institution of DST, with collaborators.
Consider the following statements about the BSIP pollen study released in April 2026: 1. Cereal pollen generally exceeds 46 µm in grain diameter and 9 µm in annulus size, pearl millet being an exception. 2. The study was published in the journal Nature. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is the threshold reported by DST. Statement 2 is wrong: the study was published in The Holocene (SAGE).
Narendra Bhooshan assumed charge on 6 April 2026 as Secretary of which department?
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Correct answer: C — Department of Land Resources
The Ministry of Rural Development said he assumed charge as Secretary, Department of Land Resources.
Narendra Bhooshan, the new Secretary of the Department of Land Resources, belongs to which IAS batch and cadre?
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Correct answer: A — 1992 batch, Uttar Pradesh cadre
The release says he is a 1992-batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre.
According to 'Market for Textiles & Clothing: National Household Survey 2024', what was the market size of textiles in India in 2024?
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Correct answer: C — ₹14.95 lakh crore
The Textiles Committee study puts the market size of textiles at ₹14.95 lakh crore in 2024; ₹12.02 lakh crore is the domestic market and ₹8.77 lakh crore is household demand.
As per the National Household Survey 2024 on textiles, which fibre category had the largest share of the product basket?
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Correct answer: D — Man-made fibre (MMF) and blended products
MMF and blended products contributed 52.2%, followed by cotton at 41.2%, silk at 5.2% and wool at 1.3%.
How many Digital Life Certificates (DLCs) were generated between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026, as reported for DLC Campaign 4.0?
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Correct answer: D — Over 1.91 crore
DoPPW said over 1.91 crore DLCs were generated in this period; 1.16 crore is the number made using face authentication.
Consider the following statements about Digital Life Certificate Campaign 4.0: 1. More than 60% of DLCs in the period were generated using face authentication technology. 2. The campaign was held from 1 to 30 November 2025. 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 DoPPW: over 1.16 crore DLCs (more than 60%) used face authentication, and the campaign ran from 1 to 30 November 2025.
How many newly elected or re-elected members did Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan administer the oath to on 6 April 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 19
The Rajya Sabha Secretariat said the Chairman administered the oath or affirmation to nineteen members.
With reference to Article 99 of the Constitution of India, consider the following statements: 1. Every member of either House of Parliament must make and subscribe an oath or affirmation before the President, or a person appointed by the President, before taking the seat. 2. The form of this oath or affirmation is set out in the Fourth Schedule. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 restates Article 99. Statement 2 is wrong: Article 99 says the form is set out in the Third Schedule.
On which date is National Maritime Day observed in India?
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Correct answer: B — 5 April
National Maritime Day is observed on 5 April, the date of the SS Loyalty's voyage in 1919.
National Maritime Day commemorates the 1919 voyage of which ship?
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Correct answer: D — SS Loyalty
The Hindu and The Times of India both say the day marks the SS Loyalty's voyage from Mumbai to London on 5 April 1919.
Consider the following statements about the SS Loyalty, whose voyage is commemorated on National Maritime Day: 1. It was owned by the Scindia Steam Navigation Company. 2. Its 1919 voyage was from Kolkata to Singapore. 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 voyage was from Mumbai to London.
What share of LPG deliveries were Delivery Authentication Code (DAC) based as per the government update of 5 April 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 90%
The update said DAC-based deliveries rose from 53% in February 2026 to 90%.
To what was the LPG cylinder booking interval in urban areas raised, as part of the measures noted on 5 April 2026?
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Correct answer: D — 25 days
The update said the interval was raised from 21 to 25 days in urban areas and up to 45 days in rural areas.
According to the 5 April 2026 update, how many passengers had returned to India from the West Asia region since 28 February?
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Correct answer: A — Over 7,02,000
The update said over 7,02,000 passengers had returned to India since 28 February.
The first-ever 'Administrative Capacity Building' programme launched on 5 April 2026 under Mission Karmayogi is aimed at which group?
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Correct answer: A — Scientists and academicians
DoPT said the programme is for scientists and academicians moving into leadership roles.
On 5 April 2026, the Capacity Building Commission signed an MoU with which institution for global knowledge partnerships in capacity building?
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Correct answer: D — Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS)
The release says the MoU was between the Capacity Building Commission and RIS.
Who is the Chairperson of the Capacity Building Commission, as per the DoPT release of 5 April 2026?
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Correct answer: B — S. Radha Chauhan
The release names S. Radha Chauhan as Chairperson; Alka Mittal is Member (Administration) of the CBC.
Which Union Minister took cognisance of crop damage from hailstorms and heavy rainfall in several states on 5 April 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Shivraj Singh Chouhan
The Agriculture Ministry said Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan took cognisance.
Consider the following statements about the Agriculture Minister's response on 5 April 2026: 1. He directed ministry officials to review crop damage caused by hailstorms and heavy rain. 2. He said he would discuss the damage with the agriculture ministers of the affected states. 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 Agriculture Ministry release.
Where was the Global Conference of Meditation Leaders addressed by the Vice President on 5 April 2026 held?
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Correct answer: D — Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
The Vice President's Secretariat said the conference was held at Bharat Mandapam.
Which Tamil sage did the Vice President cite at the Global Conference of Meditation Leaders, describing the body as a temple and meditation as a means to realise the Divine within?
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Correct answer: D — Thirumoolar
The Vice President recalled the teachings of the Tamil sage Thirumoolar.
What record freight loading did Indian Railways achieve in 2025-26?
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Correct answer: C — 1,670 million tonnes
The Railway Ministry said freight loading reached a historic high of 1,670 million tonnes.
How many locomotives did Indian Railways produce in 2025-26?
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Correct answer: A — 1,674
The ministry said 1,674 locomotives were produced; 6,677 is the number of LHB coaches.
Consider the following statements about Indian Railways' performance in 2025-26: 1. The Kavach system has been commissioned over more than 3,100 route km. 2. 35 stations were redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme during the year. 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: 119 stations were redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme; 35 is the number of Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals commissioned.
What was the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment's highest-ever expenditure in 2025-26?
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Correct answer: A — ₹11,810.82 crore
Dr Virendra Kumar said the department spent ₹11,810.82 crore in 2025-26; ₹10,409 crore was the 2024-25 figure.
By roughly what percentage did the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment's expenditure grow in 2025-26 over 2024-25?
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Correct answer: C — Nearly 14%
The ministry said the increase was nearly 14% over the ₹10,409 crore spent in 2024-25.