Daily Current Affairs MCQs — 16 August 2026
UPSC Prelims | High-Level Practice | 20 Questions
Below are 20 UPSC-level current-affairs MCQs based on today's verified developments. I’ve deliberately made them conceptual and statement-based.
Q1. With reference to the BRICS Environment Working Group, consider the following statements:
- India is hosting the BRICS Environment Working Group meetings in New Delhi.
- The meetings are associated with India's BRICS Chairship in 2026.
- The discussions are restricted exclusively to climate-change mitigation.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Q2. Consider the following pairs:
| Organisation/Institution | Area of relevance |
|---|---|
| 1. NIELIT | Electronics and Information Technology |
| 2. DRI | Customs intelligence and enforcement |
| 3. NABARD | Rural development and agriculture finance |
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. The recent DRI investigation concerning areca imports is primarily associated with which of the following concepts?
A. Most-Favoured-Nation principle
B. Rules of origin under preferential trade arrangements
C. Balance of payments adjustment
D. Exchange-rate management
Q4. Consider the following statements regarding SAFTA:
- SAFTA stands for South Asian Free Trade Area.
- It seeks to promote trade among participating South Asian countries.
- Preferential tariff treatment under a trade agreement can operate independently of rules of origin.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Q5. With reference to CYBER KUSHTI 2026, consider the following statements:
- It is associated with cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence.
- NIELIT is associated with the initiative.
- Its approach places importance on human judgement in cybersecurity assessment.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Q6. India's decision to increase domestic LPG production amid geopolitical disruptions is most directly related to which concept?
A. Energy security
B. Food security
C. Monetary sovereignty
D. Fiscal federalism
Q7. Consider the following statements regarding the Strait of Hormuz:
- It connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman.
- It is strategically important for international energy trade.
- Disruptions in the Strait can potentially affect India's energy import costs.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Q8. India has set a maximum daily cooking-gas production target of approximately:
A. 36,810 metric tonnes
B. 53,810 metric tonnes
C. 63,810 metric tonnes
D. 73,810 metric tonnes
Q9. Consider the following statements regarding India's foreign exchange reserves:
- Foreign Currency Assets form a component of India's forex reserves.
- Gold reserves are included in India's forex reserves.
- Special Drawing Rights are part of India's reserve assets.
- India's entire forex reserve is held in the form of US dollars.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1, 2 and 3 only
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q10. Consider the following statements about India's neighbourhood diplomacy:
- Bangladesh is strategically important for India's connectivity with the Northeast.
- India and Bangladesh cooperate in areas including energy and transport connectivity.
- Political developments in Bangladesh can have implications for India's bilateral relations.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Q11. With reference to the Cauvery river dispute, consider the following:
- It is an interstate water dispute.
- Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are among the principal states involved.
- Variations in monsoon rainfall can intensify the dispute.
- The dispute has no connection with agricultural water requirements.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1, 2 and 3 only
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q12. Why are critical minerals increasingly considered strategically important?
- They are required for several advanced technologies.
- They are important for renewable-energy technologies.
- Their global supply chains can be geographically concentrated.
- They have no relevance to defence manufacturing.
Select the correct answer using the code below:
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1, 2 and 3 only
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q13. Consider the following sequence:
Exploration → Mining → Processing → Refining → Manufacturing → Recycling
This sequence best represents:
A. Agricultural value chain
B. Critical-mineral value chain
C. Monetary transmission mechanism
D. Carbon-credit trading cycle
Q14. With reference to Census 2027's self-enumeration exercise, consider the following statements:
- It allows households to provide census information digitally.
- It can reduce dependence on completely door-to-door enumeration.
- It eliminates the need to address issues of digital exclusion.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Q15. A major earthquake recently struck eastern Indonesia. Indonesia's vulnerability to earthquakes is primarily associated with:
A. Its location entirely within a stable continental interior
B. Its location near active tectonic plate boundaries and subduction zones
C. Its proximity to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
D. Its location on the African Plate
Q16. Consider the following factors:
- Earthquake magnitude
- Earthquake depth
- Building quality
- Population exposure
- Emergency preparedness
Which of the above influence the severity of an earthquake disaster?
A. 1, 2 and 3 only
B. 1, 3 and 4 only
C. 2, 4 and 5 only
D. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Q17. Which one of the following best describes the Pacific Ring of Fire?
A. A zone of high atmospheric pressure surrounding the Pacific Ocean
B. A region characterised by extensive tectonic activity, earthquakes and volcanism around the Pacific basin
C. A region of permanent tropical cyclones over the Pacific
D. A belt of coral reefs extending around the Pacific Ocean
Q18. Consider the following statements about monsoon-related disasters:
- Excess rainfall can cause flooding.
- Intense rainfall can trigger landslides in vulnerable terrain.
- Urban flooding can be aggravated by inadequate drainage.
- Above-normal rainfall always benefits agriculture.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1, 2 and 3 only
B. 1 and 4 only
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q19. Which of the following best explains why a country may want to increase domestic production of an essential imported fuel during a geopolitical crisis?
A. To eliminate all international trade
B. To improve resilience against supply-chain disruptions
C. To permanently prevent private-sector participation
D. To eliminate the need for foreign exchange reserves
Q20. Consider the following pairs:
| Current Development | Broader Concept |
|---|---|
| 1. LPG production push | Energy security |
| 2. DRI–SAFTA investigation | Rules of origin and trade enforcement |
| 3. Indonesia earthquake | Plate tectonics and disaster management |
| 4. CYBER KUSHTI | AI and cybersecurity |
How many pairs are correctly matched?
A. Only one
B. Only two
C. Only three
D. All four
✅ Answer Key
| Q | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1 | A |
| 2 | D |
| 3 | B |
| 4 | A |
| 5 | D |
| 6 | A |
| 7 | D |
| 8 | C |
| 9 | B |
| 10 | D |
| 11 | B |
| 12 | B |
| 13 | B |
| 14 | B |
| 15 | B |
| 16 | D |
| 17 | B |
| 18 | A |
| 19 | B |
| 20 | D |
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