UPSC Quiz – 2026 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 26th March 2026

Solution (b)

Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect. India fell from a “high performer” to a “medium” one due to being labeled among the biggest producers of oil, gas, and coal. However, it does not mention that India maintained a “high performance in the climate policy category.” In fact, the fall across categories led to its overall rank drop. 

Statement 2 is correct. The CCPI is published by Germanwatch, New Climate Institute, and Climate Action Network International, and the four categories are: GHG Emissions (40%), Renewable Energy (20%), Energy Use (20%), and Climate Policy (20%). 

Statement 3 is correct. The CCPI 2026 identifies China, Russia, the US, and Saudi Arabia as the G20’s worst-performing countries, with a “very low” overall score.

• Why this question? Tests the ability to extract precise factual details from a current affairs context while avoiding plausible but incorrect inferences about India’s performance across categories.
• Why important for UPSC? CCPI is a recurring theme in Environment & Ecology prelims, linking climate policy, international rankings, and India’s standing—a high-yield area.
• PYQ Pattern Link: UPSC has previously asked about global environmental indices (e.g., Environmental Performance Index, Climate Change Performance Index) with statement-based questions testing institutional details and country rankings.

Solution (c)

Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct. The Indira Gandhi Peace Prize was instituted in 1986 by a trust formed in the former Prime Minister’s name, and it is widely recognized as a prestigious honour in the field of peace and development. 

Statement 2 is incorrect. The prize is not restricted to individuals; it can be awarded to any person or organization. Furthermore, while promoting a new international economic order is one of the eligibility criteria, it is not the exclusive criterion—the award recognizes creative efforts across multiple domains, including international peace, disarmament, racial equality, and advancing developing nations. 

Statement 3 is correct. The eligibility criteria explicitly state that the award is given annually to a person or organization without distinction of nationality, race, or religion, and it includes a monetary award of ₹25 lakh along with a citation.

• Why this question? Tests attention to detail regarding eligibility criteria and the scope of the award, creating a conceptual trap by narrowing the criteria in one statement.
• Why important for UPSC? UPSC frequently asks about national and international awards, their institutional history, and specific eligibility conditions under the Miscellaneous category.
• PYQ Pattern Link: Similar to PYQs on awards like the Gandhi Peace Prize, Jnanpith Award, or Magsaysay Award, where statement-based questions test factual precision about the award’s founding, criteria, and recipients.

Solution (b)

Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect. The Survey of India (founded in 1767) is the oldest survey body in India. The GSI, established formally in 1851, is the second oldest. Additionally, while GSI is currently an attached office to the Ministry of Mines, this factual detail is correct, but the error lies in claiming it is the oldest. 

Statement 2 is correct. The GSI was conceived by John McClelland, who initiated the appointment of David Hiraw Williams as Geological Surveyor in 1846. However, the formal establishment and commencement of functioning is marked by the appointment of Thomas Oldham in 1851. 

Statement 3 is correct. The GSI operates under five missions: Mission-I (Surveys), Mission-II (Natural Resource Assessments), Mission-III (Information & Dissemination), Mission-IV (Geoscience Research), and Mission-V (Training & Capacity Building).

• Why this question? Tests factual precision regarding institutional history, specifically the distinction between “conception” and “formal establishment,” and the relative chronology of India’s survey organizations.
• Why important for UPSC? GSI is a statutory/attached office frequently mentioned in news; UPSC Prelims often tests the origin, nodal ministry, and historical context of such key institutions under Polity and Governance.
• PYQ Pattern Link: Similar to PYQs on institutions like the Survey of India, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), or Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), where statement-based questions test establishment year, parent ministry, and foundational history.

Q.4) Solution (d)

Explanation:
The Sangai Festival is celebrated annually in the state of Manipur. It was started in 2010 and is named after the Sangai (also known as the dancing deer), which is the state animal of Manipur. 

The festival showcases the state’s rich cultural heritage, indigenous traditions, music, dance, and native art forms, with the classical dance form Ras Leela taking centre stage. 

The Sangai deer itself is endemic to Manipur and is found only in the Keibul Lamjao National Park within Loktak Lake.

• Why this question? A straightforward factual question testing the association of a cultural festival with its home state—a common pattern in UPSC prelims.
• Why important for UPSC? UPSC frequently asks about state-specific festivals, state animals, and their cultural significance under the History and Culture or Art and Culture syllabus.

PYQ Pattern Link: Similar to PYQs that have asked about festivals like Hornbill Festival (Nagaland), Losar Festival (Ladakh), or state animals like the Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros (Assam).

Q.5) Solution (c)

Explanation:
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is an autonomous statutory body established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. 

It operates under the administrative control of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Its primary mandate is to set food standards, regulate the manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import of food, and ensure the availability of safe and wholesome food for consumption.

• Why this question? A simple direct question testing the nodal ministry of an important statutory body—a common easy-level question in UPSC Prelims.
• Why important for UPSC? Knowing the administrative parent ministry of key institutions like FSSAI, NITI Aayog, or CBDT is frequently tested.
• PYQ Pattern Link: Similar to PYQs that have asked about the ministry under which bodies like the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) or the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) function.