Practice 15 UPSC Prelims-level current affairs MCQs for 19 September 2026 with answers and explanations. This quiz covers important developments from 18 September with current-to-static linkages for UPSC, BPSC and UPPCS.
Today Current Affairs Quiz – 19 September 2026
15 UPSC Prelims-Level MCQs | Current Affairs + Static Linkage | UPSC • BPSC • UPPCS
Q1. With reference to India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 2.0, consider the following statements:
1. Its focus areas include semiconductor design, materials and machines, fabrication, ATMP, research and development, and talent.
2. Industry-grade Electronic Design Automation tools have been extended to hundreds of engineering colleges and start-ups.
3. Five semiconductor manufacturing plants have commenced commercial production in India.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
ISM 2.0 seeks to build a complete semiconductor ecosystem. Its six pillars cover design, materials and machines, more fabrication units, more ATMP facilities, R&D and talent. Industry-grade EDA access has also been expanded significantly.
Source: PIB
Q2. World Patient Safety Day 2026 brought renewed focus on safe treatment of noncommunicable diseases. Consider the following statements:
1. The national observance highlighted the theme “Safe Care for Noncommunicable Diseases”.
2. The observance emphasised quality and patient safety across the continuum of NCD care.
3. Noncommunicable diseases are primarily infectious diseases transmitted directly from one person to another.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
NCDs include conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases. They are not primarily spread through person-to-person infection.
Source: PIB
Q3. With reference to Project Cheetah, consider the following statements:
1. The project began in September 2022 with the translocation of eight cheetahs from Namibia.
2. One of its long-term objectives is to establish a viable cheetah population capable of surviving and breeding under natural conditions.
3. The project is implemented exclusively and directly by the National Tiger Conservation Authority without the involvement of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Project Cheetah began on 17 September 2022 with eight cheetahs from Namibia. MoEFCC implements the project, while NTCA plays an important coordinating role.
Source: The Indian Express
Q4. With reference to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), consider the following statements:
1. It was established under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.
2. It is not bound by the procedure laid down in the Code of Civil Procedure and is guided by principles of natural justice.
3. It is required to apply the principles of sustainable development, precautionary principle and polluter pays principle.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
The NGT is a specialised environmental tribunal. Section 20 of the NGT Act requires it to apply sustainable development, precautionary and polluter-pays principles.
Source: NGT / The Indian Express
Q5. With reference to Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026, consider the following statements:
1. It is an annual bilateral military exercise between the armies of India and the United States.
2. Its 22nd edition includes training at Auli in Uttarakhand and the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan.
3. Training includes drones, autonomous systems and long-range precision fires.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Yudh Abhyas aims to improve interoperability between the Indian and US armies in difficult terrain and increasingly incorporates advanced surveillance, autonomous and precision-strike technologies.
Source: The Indian Express
Q6. Consider the following pairs of military exercises and participating countries:
1. IMBAX — India and Myanmar
2. LAMITIYE — India and Seychelles
3. Sea Dragon — Multinational anti-submarine warfare exercise led by the United States Navy
4. MILAN — Multilateral naval exercise hosted by the Indian Navy
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
- Only one
- Only two
- Only three
- All four
Show Answer
All four are correctly matched. These exercises test different aspects of land, maritime and joint military interoperability.
Source: The Indian Express
Q7. With reference to Exercise LAMITIYE-2026, consider the following statements:
1. It is a military exercise between India and Seychelles.
2. The 2026 edition was its first tri-services edition.
3. The word “Lamitiye” means friendship in Seychelles Creole.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
LAMITIYE is a long-running India-Seychelles exercise. The 2026 edition expanded into a tri-services format involving personnel and assets from the Army, Navy and Air Force.
Source: The Indian Express
Q8. Consider the following statements regarding India's defence production and exports in FY 2025–26:
1. Annual defence production reached an all-time high of about ₹1.78 lakh crore.
2. Defence exports reached about ₹38,424 crore.
3. India's defence exports declined compared with the previous financial year.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
India recorded a significant rise in defence exports during FY 2025–26 rather than a decline, alongside record domestic defence production.
Source: Ministry of Defence / The Indian Express
Q9. Consider the following pairs relating to aircraft handed over by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited:
1. LCA Tejas FOC Twin-Seater Trainer — Indian Air Force
2. HTT-40 Basic Trainer — Indian Air Force
3. Dhruv Next Generation helicopter — Pawan Hans Limited
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
- Only one
- Only two
- All three
- None
Show Answer
HAL handed over LCA Tejas twin-seater trainers and HTT-40 basic trainers to the IAF, while Dhruv NG helicopters were handed over to Pawan Hans.
Source: PIB
Q10. With reference to India's Next Generation Missile Vessel (NGMV) project, consider the following statements:
1. The vessels are being constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited.
2. The contract for construction was concluded in 2023.
3. Major role-defining equipment for the vessels is being indigenously developed and manufactured.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
The NGMV project forms part of India's effort to strengthen indigenous naval shipbuilding and deploy modern weapon and sensor systems.
Source: PIB
Q11. With reference to digital initiatives discussed at the Southern Regional Agriculture Conference, consider the following statements:
1. States were asked to accelerate Farmer ID and AgriStack-related work.
2. Bharat Vistar is intended to reach farmers in 13 regional languages.
3. The initiatives seek to improve last-mile delivery of agricultural information and services.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
The conference emphasised timely implementation of Farmer ID and AgriStack and wider multilingual access to agricultural information through Bharat Vistar.
Source: PIB
Q12. With reference to El Niño and Indian agriculture, consider the following statements:
1. El Niño is associated with unusual warming of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean.
2. Every El Niño event necessarily results in a drought over the whole of India.
3. Rabi crops in India are generally sown during the cooler months and harvested in spring.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
El Niño can adversely influence the Indian monsoon, but its impact is not deterministic. Other ocean-atmosphere conditions also influence rainfall.
Source: PIB + Static Geography Linkage
Q13. With reference to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), consider the following statements:
1. It functions under a statutory framework enacted in 2021.
2. Its jurisdiction covers the National Capital Region and adjoining areas whose activities affect NCR air quality.
3. It has only an advisory role and cannot issue binding directions for air-pollution control.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
CAQM has statutory powers to take measures and issue directions for protecting and improving air quality in NCR and adjoining areas.
Source: PIB / CAQM
Q14. With reference to Leopardus tilcayo, recently identified as a new wild-cat species, consider the following statements:
1. It was identified from the Yungas cloud forests of Bolivia.
2. Genetic analysis played an important role in distinguishing it from other tiger cats.
3. It illustrates the concept of a cryptic species, where closely related species may be difficult to distinguish merely by external appearance.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
The newly described tilcayo tiger cat highlights the importance of genetic evidence in resolving taxonomic uncertainty among visually similar or cryptic species.
Source: The Indian Express
Q15. In the context of modern cartography and digital twins, consider the following statements:
1. A digital twin can represent a physical system or geographical area virtually and may be updated using real-world data.
2. Modern cartography increasingly integrates technologies such as GIS, satellite imagery and digital spatial databases.
3. The Mercator projection accurately preserves the relative area of all landmasses across the globe.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Mercator is a conformal projection that preserves angles and local shapes but greatly distorts area, especially towards the poles. Digital twins and GIS represent the newer evolution of mapping technology.
Source: The Indian Express
