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Current Affairs — UPSC Prelims MCQs

984+ practice questions across 12 chapters, including 116+ previous year questions— each with option-by-option explanations.

Chapters in Current Affairs

Sample Current Affairs questions

A preview of the kind of MCQs you'll practise — with the correct answer and explanation.

Q1Current AffairsScience and Technology in News

The Indian government's 'Kavach' system, recently in the news, is related to:

  • AA missile defence shield developed by DRDO
  • BAn automatic train protection system for preventing collisions on Indian RailwaysCorrect
  • CA cybersecurity framework for protecting critical digital infrastructure
  • DA bio-defence suit developed for Indian armed forces

Explanation

Correct. Kavach is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection system designed to prevent train collisions, signal-passing dangers and over-speeding on Indian Railways.

Why the other options are incorrect
Option A

India's missile defence systems include the PDV and AAD interceptors; Kavach is a railway safety system.

Option C

Kavach is not a cybersecurity framework; it is a safety technology for rail transport.

Option D

Kavach is not a bio-defence suit; it is an electronic safety system for trains.

Q2Current AffairsDefence, Space and Security in News

Which of the following organisations is responsible for India's satellite navigation system NavIC?

  • ADefence Research and Development Organisation
  • BIndian Space Research OrganisationCorrect
  • CBharat Electronics Limited
  • DCentre for Development of Advanced Computing

Explanation

Correct. NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation), also known as IRNSS, is an autonomous regional satellite navigation system developed and operated by ISRO to provide accurate positioning over India and the surrounding region.

Why the other options are incorrect
Option A

DRDO develops defence-specific technologies; NavIC is an ISRO programme.

Option C

BEL produces user receivers for NavIC but is not the system's developer or operator.

Option D

C-DAC works on computing technologies but does not operate NavIC.

Q3Current AffairsAwards, Summits and Organizations in News

The Gallantry Award 'Param Vir Chakra' is India's highest wartime military decoration. Which of the following statements about it is correct?

  • AIt can be awarded to officers of all three armed forces as well as civilian personnel
  • BIt has been awarded to more than 50 individuals since independence
  • CIt is awarded for the most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemyCorrect
  • DIt was instituted in 1950 after the adoption of the Indian Constitution

Explanation

Correct. The Param Vir Chakra is awarded for the most conspicuous bravery or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice in the face of the enemy.

Why the other options are incorrect
Option A

The Param Vir Chakra is awarded to members of the armed forces, not civilians. Civilians are eligible for the Ashoka Chakra.

Option B

Only 21 individuals have received the Param Vir Chakra, making it an extremely rare honour.

Option D

It was instituted on 26 January 1950 but the provision dates to 1947; the key point is the description of the award criteria, which option C correctly states.

Q4Current AffairsEnvironment and Climate in News

The 'Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC)', launched at COP27, is co-led by:

  • AIndia and Indonesia
  • BUAE and IndonesiaCorrect
  • CIndia and Brazil
  • DBangladesh and Australia

Explanation

Correct. The Mangrove Alliance for Climate was co-led by the UAE and Indonesia, aiming to scale up conservation and restoration of mangrove ecosystems.

Why the other options are incorrect
Option A

India is a member of MAC but it was co-led by UAE and Indonesia.

Option C

Neither India nor Brazil co-led MAC; it was the UAE and Indonesia.

Option D

MAC was not co-led by Bangladesh and Australia.

Q5Current AffairsInternational Relations and Groupings in News

The 'Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)', sometimes in the news, is significant because:

  • AIt was the first multilateral disarmament treaty banning an entire category of weaponsCorrect
  • BIt established the International Criminal Court to try bioterrorism cases
  • CIt created a standing verification mechanism similar to the OPCW
  • DIt applies only to state actors and does not cover non-state entities

Explanation

Correct. The BWC (1972) was the first multilateral disarmament treaty to ban an entire category of weapons, specifically biological and toxin weapons.

Why the other options are incorrect
Option B

The ICC was established by the Rome Statute, not the BWC.

Option C

A major criticism of the BWC is precisely that it lacks a formal verification mechanism, unlike the CWC/OPCW.

Option D

While the BWC primarily binds states, it is not significant solely because of scope limitations regarding non-state actors.

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PYQsCurrent Affairs previous year questions116 solved PYQs, topic-wiseMock testFree UPSC Prelims mock testInstant explanationsCurrent affairsDaily current-affairs quizNew digest every morning

Other UPSC Prelims subjects

SubjectEnvironment1,287+ MCQs · 16 chaptersSubjectPolity & Governance1,287+ MCQs · 17 chaptersSubjectGeography1,451+ MCQs · 18 chaptersSubjectScience1,131+ MCQs · 14 chaptersSubjectIndian Economy1,454+ MCQs · 18 chaptersSubjectHistory & Culture1,920+ MCQs · 23 chapters

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