IASbaba Daily Prelims Quiz
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The Current Affairs questions are based on sources like ‘The Hindu’, ‘Indian Express’ and ‘PIB’, which are very important sources for UPSC Prelims Exam. The questions are focused on both the concepts and facts. The topics covered here are generally different from what is being covered under ‘Daily Current Affairs/Daily News Analysis (DNA) and Daily Static Quiz’ to avoid duplication. The questions would be published from Monday to Saturday before 2 PM. One should not spend more than 10 minutes on this initiative.
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Question 1 of 5
1. Question
Q.1) Consider the following statements regarding the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting held in Bishkek (April 2026):
- India became a full member of the SCO in 2017, along with Pakistan.
- The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) of the SCO is headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
- Belarus attended the meeting as an observer state, having not yet gained full membership.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct
Q.1) Solution (a)
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct: India and Pakistan became full members of SCO in 2017.
- Statement 2 is correct: RATS (Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure) is headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
- Statement 3 is incorrect: Belarus joined SCO as a full member in 2024 (not observer). This is its first Defence Ministers’ Meeting after full membership. Rajnath Singh held bilateral meetings with Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
The SCO has 10 members: India, Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus.
Why this question?
Tests Belarus’s membership status (full member, not observer) – a factual trap.Why important for UPSC?
SCO and its members appear in IR (Prelims 2018, 2020, 2022, 2024).PYQ Pattern Link
Similar to 2018 Prelims question on SCO membership.Incorrect
Q.1) Solution (a)
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct: India and Pakistan became full members of SCO in 2017.
- Statement 2 is correct: RATS (Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure) is headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
- Statement 3 is incorrect: Belarus joined SCO as a full member in 2024 (not observer). This is its first Defence Ministers’ Meeting after full membership. Rajnath Singh held bilateral meetings with Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
The SCO has 10 members: India, Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus.
Why this question?
Tests Belarus’s membership status (full member, not observer) – a factual trap.Why important for UPSC?
SCO and its members appear in IR (Prelims 2018, 2020, 2022, 2024).PYQ Pattern Link
Similar to 2018 Prelims question on SCO membership. -
Question 2 of 5
2. Question
Q.2) Assertion (A): The Government of India is considering mandating companies in critical sectors (energy, telecom, banking) to use ‘Made in India’ sovereign cloud systems.
Reason (R): The Nayara Energy incident (July 2025), where Microsoft blocked access to Outlook and Teams following EU sanctions, exposed India’s vulnerability to geopolitical disruptions affecting digital infrastructure.Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Correct
Q.2) Solution (a)
Explanation:
Both A and R are true, and R explains why the government is considering this move.- Nayara Energy (Russian oil giant Rosneft holds 49.13%) was blocked by Microsoft from its IT services in July 2025 following EU sanctions – employees lost access to Outlook and Teams, and Nayara lost access to its own data despite fully paid-up licenses.
- Microsoft later acknowledged this as an “automated sanctions enforcement” flaw and rectified it. The incident served as a wake-up call for digital sovereignty, prompting the government to push for ‘Made in India’ cloud systems.
However, domestic cloud systems are not yet at the same level as foreign counterparts.
Why this question?
Tests the causal link between the Nayara Energy incident and the sovereign cloud push.Why important for UPSC?
Data sovereignty and digital infrastructure appear in Science & Tech and IR (Prelims 2024, 2026 trend).PYQ Pattern Link
Similar to 2022 Prelims assertion-reason question on data localisation.Incorrect
Q.2) Solution (a)
Explanation:
Both A and R are true, and R explains why the government is considering this move.- Nayara Energy (Russian oil giant Rosneft holds 49.13%) was blocked by Microsoft from its IT services in July 2025 following EU sanctions – employees lost access to Outlook and Teams, and Nayara lost access to its own data despite fully paid-up licenses.
- Microsoft later acknowledged this as an “automated sanctions enforcement” flaw and rectified it. The incident served as a wake-up call for digital sovereignty, prompting the government to push for ‘Made in India’ cloud systems.
However, domestic cloud systems are not yet at the same level as foreign counterparts.
Why this question?
Tests the causal link between the Nayara Energy incident and the sovereign cloud push.Why important for UPSC?
Data sovereignty and digital infrastructure appear in Science & Tech and IR (Prelims 2024, 2026 trend).PYQ Pattern Link
Similar to 2022 Prelims assertion-reason question on data localisation. -
Question 3 of 5
3. Question
Q.3) Consider the following statements regarding the Atacama Desert and the threat of light pollution:
- The Atacama Desert is considered the driest non-polar desert on Earth, with over 300 clear nights per year.
- The Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) being built by ESO will be 20 times more powerful than today’s leading telescopes but is threatened by light pollution from nearby urban and industrial development.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct
Q.3) Solution (c)
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct: Atacama is the driest non-polar desert with over 300 clear nights per year.
- Statement 2 is correct: The ELT (€1.5 billion, scheduled for completion 2030) has 798 mirrors, will be 20× more powerful and 15× sharper than Hubble. It is threatened by light pollution from urban sprawl, mining, and industrial development. UPSC tests this regulatory gap.
Why this question?
Tests the fact that Chile’s preservation laws are outdated – a common factual trap.Why important for UPSC?
Astronomy and light pollution appear in Science & Tech and Environment (Prelims 2018, 2020, 2022).PYQ Pattern Link
Similar to 2018 Prelims question on observatories and light pollution.Incorrect
Q.3) Solution (c)
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct: Atacama is the driest non-polar desert with over 300 clear nights per year.
- Statement 2 is correct: The ELT (€1.5 billion, scheduled for completion 2030) has 798 mirrors, will be 20× more powerful and 15× sharper than Hubble. It is threatened by light pollution from urban sprawl, mining, and industrial development. UPSC tests this regulatory gap.
Why this question?
Tests the fact that Chile’s preservation laws are outdated – a common factual trap.Why important for UPSC?
Astronomy and light pollution appear in Science & Tech and Environment (Prelims 2018, 2020, 2022).PYQ Pattern Link
Similar to 2018 Prelims question on observatories and light pollution. -
Question 4 of 5
4. Question
Q.4) Consider the following statements regarding India’s trade agreement landscape after the India-New Zealand FTA:
- India now has trade pacts with all members of RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) except China.
- AYUSH services (Ayurveda, yoga, traditional medicine) were included in an FTA for the first time globally.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct
Q.4) Solution (c)
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct: India now has trade pacts with all RCEP members except China – Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, ASEAN members (through other FTAs).
- Statement 2 is correct: AYUSH was included for the first time in any FTA – promoting medical value travel and global recognition of India’s traditional medicine systems. UPSC tests this 15-year vs 10-year trap.
Why this question?
Tests the investment commitment duration (15 years) – a factual trap (10 vs 15 years).Why important for UPSC?
FTA provisions and investment commitments appear in Economy (Prelims 2024, 2026).PYQ Pattern Link
Similar to 2022 Prelims question on trade agreement investment commitments.2Incorrect
Q.4) Solution (c)
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct: India now has trade pacts with all RCEP members except China – Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, ASEAN members (through other FTAs).
- Statement 2 is correct: AYUSH was included for the first time in any FTA – promoting medical value travel and global recognition of India’s traditional medicine systems. UPSC tests this 15-year vs 10-year trap.
Why this question?
Tests the investment commitment duration (15 years) – a factual trap (10 vs 15 years).Why important for UPSC?
FTA provisions and investment commitments appear in Economy (Prelims 2024, 2026).PYQ Pattern Link
Similar to 2022 Prelims question on trade agreement investment commitments.2 -
Question 5 of 5
5. Question
Q.5) Consider the following statements regarding St Francis Xavier and the recent controversy in Goa:
- St Francis Xavier was a Spanish Jesuit missionary who arrived in Goa in 1542 and is revered as ‘Goencho Saib’ (Lord of Goa).
- His remains are considered ‘incorruptible’ (minimal signs of decay) and are kept at the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa.
- Basilica of Bom Jesus is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of ‘Churches and Convents of Goa’ inscribed in 1986.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct
Q.5) Solution (c)
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct: St Francis Xavier (1506-1552) was a Spanish Jesuit missionary; arrived in Goa in 1542; called ‘Goencho Saib’.
- Statement 2 is correct: His remains are ‘incorruptible’ (well-preserved) and kept at Basilica of Bom Jesus since 1624.
- Statement 3 is correct: Basilica of Bom Jesus is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of ‘Churches and Convents of Goa’ – inscribed in 1986. YouTuber Gautam Khattar was arrested for derogatory remarks against St Francis Xavier on April 18, 2026. UPSC tests this decennial (10-year) fact.
Why this question?
Tests the frequency of relic exposition (once every decade, not 5 years) – a factual trap.Why important for UPSC?
Portuguese history and religious heritage appear in History and Art & Culture (Prelims 2015, 2018, 2020).PYQ Pattern Link
Similar to 2015 Prelims question on Portuguese heritage in Goa.Incorrect
Q.5) Solution (c)
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct: St Francis Xavier (1506-1552) was a Spanish Jesuit missionary; arrived in Goa in 1542; called ‘Goencho Saib’.
- Statement 2 is correct: His remains are ‘incorruptible’ (well-preserved) and kept at Basilica of Bom Jesus since 1624.
- Statement 3 is correct: Basilica of Bom Jesus is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of ‘Churches and Convents of Goa’ – inscribed in 1986. YouTuber Gautam Khattar was arrested for derogatory remarks against St Francis Xavier on April 18, 2026. UPSC tests this decennial (10-year) fact.
Why this question?
Tests the frequency of relic exposition (once every decade, not 5 years) – a factual trap.Why important for UPSC?
Portuguese history and religious heritage appear in History and Art & Culture (Prelims 2015, 2018, 2020).PYQ Pattern Link
Similar to 2015 Prelims question on Portuguese heritage in Goa.
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