Daily Current Affairs MCQs – 19 August 2026
upscjournal | UPSC & State PCS | 15 Questions
These 15 questions are based on the six major topics covered in today's Daily Current Affairs. I’ve kept them more conceptual than simple headline-recall questions.
Q1. With reference to Positive Indigenisation Lists in India's defence sector, consider the following statements:
- They seek to progressively procure specified defence items from domestic sources.
- They are part of India's broader defence-indigenisation strategy.
- They prohibit Indian private-sector companies from manufacturing listed items.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: B
Explanation: Positive Indigenisation Lists promote domestic procurement and manufacturing; they do not exclude India's private sector.
Q2. Defence indigenisation can contribute most directly to which of the following?
- Reduction in import dependence
- Development of domestic defence supply chains
- Strategic autonomy
- Development of indigenous technological capabilities
Select the correct answer:
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2, 3 and 4 only
C. 1, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: D
Explanation: All four are important objectives or potential benefits of defence indigenisation.
Q3. The National Testing Agency (NTA) is primarily associated with:
A. Regulation of universities
B. Accreditation of higher educational institutions
C. Conduct of specified entrance and recruitment examinations
D. Formulation of the National Education Policy
Answer: C
Explanation: NTA is an examination-conducting organisation; it is not India's university regulator or accreditation agency.
Q4. Consider the following statements regarding reusable launch vehicles:
- Recovery and reuse of rocket stages can potentially reduce launch costs.
- Reusability can potentially increase launch frequency.
- Every component of a reusable launch vehicle must necessarily be recovered after each mission.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: B
Explanation: A launch system can be partly reusable; complete recovery of every component is not necessary.
Q5. The term “methalox”, frequently discussed in modern rocket propulsion, refers to:
A. Methanol and hydrogen
B. Methane and liquid oxygen
C. Methane and liquid nitrogen
D. Methanol and liquid oxygen
Answer: B
Explanation: Methalox propulsion uses methane as fuel and liquid oxygen (LOX) as oxidiser. Zhuque-3 is associated with this propulsion combination.
Q6. Zhuque-3, recently in the news for reusable booster technology, is associated with:
A. Japan
B. India
C. China
D. South Korea
Answer: C
Explanation: Zhuque-3 is being developed by Chinese private space company LandSpace.
Q7. Consider the following statements regarding the International Criminal Court (ICC):
- It was established under the Rome Statute.
- It prosecutes individuals rather than States.
- It is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.
- India is not a State Party to the Rome Statute.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1, 2 and 4 only
C. 1, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: B
Explanation: The ICJ, not ICC, is the principal judicial organ of the UN. India is not a State Party to the Rome Statute.
Q8. The ICC's core jurisdiction includes:
- Genocide
- Crimes against humanity
- War crimes
- Crime of aggression
Select the correct answer:
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1, 2 and 3 only
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: D
Explanation: All four fall within the Rome Statute framework.
Q9. What is meant by the principle of complementarity in the context of the ICC?
A. ICC and ICJ must jointly approve international prosecutions.
B. ICC generally complements national criminal jurisdictions rather than replacing them.
C. UN Security Council must approve every ICC prosecution.
D. Two countries must jointly refer a case to the ICC.
Answer: B
Explanation: National courts retain primary responsibility. ICC intervention is subject to admissibility rules, including whether national authorities are genuinely investigating or prosecuting.
Q10. Which one of the following correctly distinguishes the ICC from the ICJ?
A. ICC settles disputes between States; ICJ prosecutes individuals.
B. Both prosecute individuals for international crimes.
C. ICC prosecutes individuals, while ICJ hears legal disputes between States.
D. Both are principal judicial organs of the United Nations.
Answer: C
Explanation: This is a frequent Prelims trap. The ICC focuses on individual criminal responsibility, whereas contentious cases before the ICJ are between States.
The latest US sanctions targeted ICC President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye.
Q11. With reference to India's flexible inflation-targeting framework, consider the following statements:
- The inflation target is 4%.
- The tolerance band is 2%–6%.
- CPI inflation is used for the inflation target.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D
Explanation: A common mistake is to call 2–6% the “target”. 4% is the target; 2–6% is the tolerance band.
Q12. Consider the following chain:
International crude-oil prices rise → India's import costs increase → pressure on rupee → imported inputs become costlier
The phenomenon described by the final stage is most appropriately associated with:
A. Disinflation
B. Imported inflation
C. Deflation
D. Demand-pull deflation
Answer: B
Explanation: A rise in prices of imported commodities or a weaker domestic currency can transmit foreign price pressures into the domestic economy.
Q13. In monetary-policy discussions, second-round effects of inflation refer to:
A. Automatic doubling of CPI inflation
B. An initial price shock spreading into other prices, wages and inflation expectations
C. RBI changing the repo rate twice in one year
D. Government revising inflation data after publication
Answer: B
Explanation: A temporary oil or food shock becomes more concerning for a central bank when it spreads through wages, services, other prices and expectations.
Q14. With reference to fog harvesting, consider the following statements:
- Mesh surfaces can be used to intercept tiny liquid-water droplets suspended in fog.
- Wind can carry fog through the collector.
- Passive fog harvesting necessarily requires refrigeration.
- Its effectiveness depends strongly on local climatic and topographic conditions.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1, 2 and 4 only
C. 1, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: B
Explanation: Fog droplets already exist as liquid droplets, so passive mesh-based collection does not require mechanical refrigeration.
Q15. Mount Boutmezguida, discussed in connection with fog harvesting, is situated in the:
A. Andes Mountains, Chile
B. Anti-Atlas Mountains, Morocco
C. Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa
D. Zagros Mountains, Iran
Answer: B
Explanation: The Mount Boutmezguida fog-harvesting initiative is located in southwestern Morocco's Anti-Atlas region.
Quick Score
13–15 correct: Excellent — strong UPSC-level command
10–12: Very good — revise incorrect concepts
7–9: Good, but static-current linkage needs revision
Below 7: Re-read today's six major topics before moving ahead
Today's Most Important Prelims Traps
ICC ≠ UN principal judicial organ → ICJ is.
ICC prosecutes individuals, not States.
India is not a Rome Statute State Party.
Inflation target = 4%, not 2–6%.
Methalox = methane + liquid oxygen.
Fog harvesting captures existing liquid droplets; it does not necessarily require refrigeration.
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