Oceania Current Affairs Quiz — Last 6 months
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026, inaugurated on 26 September 2026, is being held at which Air Force Station?
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Correct answer: C — Jodhpur
Tarang Shakti 2026 is being conducted at Air Force Station Jodhpur from 26 September to 12 October 2026.
What is the theme of Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Power in Partnership
The exercise is themed 'Power in Partnership'.
Which of the following countries is NOT one of the seven participating in Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Japan
The seven participants are Australia, the USA, the UAE, France, Germany, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh; Japan is not among them.
Consider the following statements about Exercise Tarang Shakti: 1. The first edition of the exercise was held in 2024. 2. The F-35 Lightning II is among the foreign aircraft taking part in the 2026 edition. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. The 2026 edition builds on the inaugural 2024 edition, and the foreign aircraft include the F-35 Lightning II.
Which Indian Coast Guard ship sailed from Chennai to Perth on 25 September 2026 for the QUAD-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission?
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Correct answer: B — ICGS Shaunak
ICG Ship Shaunak sailed from Chennai for Perth with six Sea Riders from the Quad countries.
Consider the following statements about the QUAD-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission of September 2026: 1. The ship sailed from Chennai for Perth, Australia. 2. Sea Riders from all four Quad countries embarked on the ship. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. Six Sea Riders embarked: two each from India and Japan and one each from Australia and the USA.
From which date will the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement enter into force?
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Correct answer: D — 20 October 2026
The FTA will enter into force on 20 October 2026, a date chosen to coincide with Dussehra–Vijaya Dashami.
Where was the India–New Zealand FTA signed on 27 April 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
The FTA was signed at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, by Piyush Goyal and Todd McClay.
Under the India–New Zealand FTA, what share of India's exports to New Zealand becomes duty-free from day one?
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Correct answer: B — 100%
Every tariff line covering 100% of India's exports to New Zealand becomes duty-free from entry into force.
Consider the following about the India–New Zealand FTA: 1. New Zealand's Parliament passed the enabling legislation on 16 September 2026. 2. Prime Minister Modi's July 2026 visit was the first by an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand in four decades. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct as per the Commerce Ministry release of 21 September 2026.
Where was the 2nd India–New Zealand Defence Strategic Dialogue held on 24 August 2026?
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Correct answer: A — Wellington
The second Defence Strategic Dialogue was held in Wellington on 24 August 2026.
The 2nd India–New Zealand Defence Strategic Dialogue discussed implementing which roadmap?
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Correct answer: B — Strategic Partnership Roadmap 2030
The talks focused on implementing the targets in the India–New Zealand Strategic Partnership Roadmap 2030, after ties were elevated to a Strategic Partnership.
Exercise Pitch Black 2026, in which the IAF took part, was hosted by the air force of which country?
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Correct answer: A — Australia
Pitch Black 2026 was hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force, with air forces from more than 20 nations.
Where was Exercise Udara Shakti 2026 held?
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Correct answer: C — Subang, Malaysia
After Pitch Black, the IAF contingent moved directly to Subang, Malaysia, for Udara Shakti 2026 with the Royal Malaysian Air Force.
Consider the following statements about the IAF's August 2026 deployments: 1. The IAF deployed Su-30MKI fighters to Exercise Pitch Black 2026. 2. Exercise Udara Shakti 2026 was a trilateral exercise with Australia and Malaysia. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — Neither 1 nor 2
Both are wrong. The IAF deployed Rafale aircraft to Pitch Black, and Udara Shakti was a bilateral exercise with the Royal Malaysian Air Force.
With which Digital Public Infrastructure platform is 'AAERI Verify', launched in August 2026 for students applying to Australian universities, integrated?
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Correct answer: A — DigiLocker
AAERI Verify is integrated with DigiLocker for consent-based verification of student documents.
Exercise Pitch Black 2026, in which the IAF is participating, is being held at which base?
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Correct answer: C — RAAF Base Darwin
Exercise Pitch Black 2026 is being held at RAAF Base Darwin from 20 July to 7 August 2026.
Which fighter aircraft is the IAF contingent operating at Exercise Pitch Black 2026?
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Correct answer: D — Rafale
The IAF contingent operates Rafale fighters, supported by C-17 Globemaster III and IL-78 aircraft.
PM Narendra Modi's July 2026 visit to New Zealand was the first by an Indian Prime Minister to that country in how many years?
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Correct answer: B — 40 years
The joint statement says the 10–11 July 2026 visit was the first by an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand in 40 years.
India and New Zealand set what target for two-way trade in goods and services by 2030?
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Correct answer: D — NZ$7 billion
The leaders agreed to work towards doubling two-way trade to NZ$7 billion, or about ₹35,000 crore, by 2030.
Under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), which pillar did New Zealand nominate as its priority, as welcomed in the July 2026 joint statement?
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Correct answer: A — Maritime Security
India welcomed New Zealand's nomination of Maritime Security as its priority pillar under the IPOI.
Consider the following statements about the India–New Zealand outcomes of July 2026: 1. The two countries endorsed a 'Roadmap to 2030' for their new Strategic Partnership. 2. An arrangement was signed between the National Maritime Heritage Complex, Lothal, and the New Zealand Maritime Museum. 3. New Zealand joined the International Solar Alliance during the visit. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: C — 1 and 2 only
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: PM Modi welcomed New Zealand joining the Global Biofuels Alliance; the leaders only agreed to deepen cooperation through the International Solar Alliance.
Which city hosted the 3rd India–Australia Annual Summit on 9 July 2026?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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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.
India's Traditional Knowledge Digital Library access agreement of July 2026 was signed between CSIR and which Australian body?
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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?
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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?
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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.
The Global Skills Challenge 2026, for which Team India was sent off on 21 June 2026, is being held in which country?
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Correct answer: A — Australia
The GSC 2026 is held in Australia from 23 to 29 June 2026, organised by WorldSkills Australia.
The Global Skills Challenge 2026 serves as a preparatory platform ahead of which edition of the WorldSkills Competition, to be held in Shanghai?
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Correct answer: D — 48th
It is a full-scale simulation ahead of the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, China.
The second India–Australia Defence Ministers' Dialogue on 1 June 2026 was co-chaired by Rajnath Singh and:
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Correct answer: C — Richard Marles
Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles co-chaired the dialogue.
As co-leads of the IORA Working Group on Maritime Safety and Security, India and Australia planned a Search and Rescue and tabletop exercise in June 2026 at the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in:
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Correct answer: B — Chennai
The Defence Ministry release names MRCC Chennai.
Which edition of the India–Australia Defence Policy Talks was held in New Delhi on 8 May 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 10th
The 10th edition of the India–Australia Defence Policy Talks was held in New Delhi on 8 May 2026.
Consider the following statements about the India–Australia Defence Policy Talks of May 2026: 1. The Indian delegation was led by the Defence Secretary. 2. The first India–Australia Joint Staff Talks were held alongside the Defence Policy Talks in New Delhi. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — Neither 1 nor 2
Neither is correct. The Indian side was led by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad, and both sides only looked forward to holding the first Joint Staff Talks later in the year.