With reference to the National SARAS Aajeevika Mela 2026, consider the following statements:
- It is being held at Punnami Ghat, Vijayawada — the first national edition outside the Delhi-NCR region.
- It is organised by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
- It was inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu.
- 1 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (C) 1 and 3 only
Explanation: Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 2 is wrong: the SARAS Mela is organised by the Ministry of Rural Development (with Andhra Pradesh's SERP) under DAY-NRLM. The Shilp Samagam Mela is the Social Justice Ministry's event.
Match the Indian Navy's bilateral exercise with the partner country:
| List I | List II |
|---|
| A. SIMBEX | 1. Japan |
| B. AUSINDEX | 2. Singapore |
| C. JIMEX | 3. Sri Lanka |
| D. SLINEX | 4. Australia |
- A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
- A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
- A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3
- A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1
Answer: (A) A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
Explanation: SIMBEX — Singapore (2); AUSINDEX — Australia (4); JIMEX — Japan (1); SLINEX — Sri Lanka (3). Hence A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3. The 33rd SIMBEX began at Visakhapatnam on 21 October 2026; it started in 1994 as 'Exercise Lion King'.
Which of the following bears found in India is classified as 'Least Concern' on the IUCN Red List at the species level?
- Sloth bear
- Asiatic black bear
- Malayan sun bear
- Brown bear
Answer: (D) Brown bear
Explanation: The brown bear (Ursus arctos) is Least Concern globally; the sloth bear, Asiatic black bear and sun bear are Vulnerable. In India the Himalayan brown bear population is small and protected under Schedule I. WII Dehradun is now preparing India's first national assessment of all four bears.
Consider the following statements about financial inclusion in India:
- The Finance Ministry's campaign launched on 21 October 2026 runs till 31 December 2026 at the Gram Panchayat and ULB level.
- In RBI's Financial Inclusion Index, the 'Usage' sub-index carries the highest weight of 45%.
- RBI's Financial Inclusion Index uses 2017 as its base year.
- 1 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (B) 1 and 2 only
Explanation: Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: the FI-Index has no base year. It was launched in August 2021, has 97 indicators, and weights Access 35%, Usage 45%, Quality 20%. Its value rose from 67.0 (March 2025) to 70.0 (March 2026).
Consider the Assertion (A) and Reason (R):
Assertion (A): India and China lie in the Northern Hemisphere, yet both are counted as part of the 'Global South'.
Reason (R): 'Global South' is a developmental and political grouping of countries, not a strictly geographical term for the Southern Hemisphere.
- Both A and R are true, and R explains A
- Both A and R are true, but R does not explain A
- A is true, R is false
- A is false, R is true
Answer: (A) Both A and R are true, and R explains A
Explanation: Both are true and R explains A: the grouping is about development and shared positions, not the hemisphere. That is also why Australia and New Zealand, though in the Southern Hemisphere, are counted in the Global North. The 7th AgriVoltaics World Conference (New Delhi, 21–23 October 2026) had the theme 'Powering the Global South'.
The third ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup (21 January – 6 February 2027) will be hosted by:
- Sri Lanka and Nepal
- Malaysia and Thailand
- Bangladesh and Nepal
- South Africa and Namibia
Answer: (C) Bangladesh and Nepal
Explanation: Bangladesh (Chattogram, Sylhet — 26 matches) and Nepal (Kathmandu — 15 matches) will host 16 teams in 41 matches. India, winners in 2023 (South Africa) and 2025 (Malaysia), are in Group A.
With reference to orangutans, consider the following statements:
- All three orangutan species are listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN.
- The Tapanuli orangutan is found only on the island of Sumatra.
- The Bornean orangutan is found only in Indonesia.
- 1 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (B) 1 and 2 only
Explanation: Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: Borneo is shared by Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, and Bornean orangutans live in both the Indonesian and Malaysian parts. On 19 October 2026 India returned a rescued baby Sumatran orangutan to Medan, Indonesia.
Match the national finance and development corporation with the group it serves:
| List I | List II |
|---|
| A. NSFDC | 1. Safai Karamcharis |
| B. NBCFDC | 2. Persons with disabilities |
| C. NSKFDC | 3. Scheduled Castes |
| D. NHFDC | 4. Backward Classes |
- A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
- A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2
- A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1
- A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2
Answer: (D) A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2
Explanation: NSFDC — Scheduled Castes (3); NBCFDC — Backward Classes (4); NSKFDC — Safai Karamcharis (1); NHFDC — persons with disabilities (2). Hence A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2. NSFDC, NBCFDC and NSKFDC are behind the Shilp Samagam Mela 2026 in Guwahati (21–28 October).
Consider the Assertion (A) and Reason (R):
Assertion (A): The Sengol was installed in the new Parliament building on 28 May 2023.
Reason (R): The Sengol was crafted by the Vummidi Bangaru Chetty jewellers of Madras in 1947.
- Both A and R are true, and R explains A
- Both A and R are true, but R does not explain A
- A is true, R is false
- A is false, R is true
Answer: (B) Both A and R are true, but R does not explain A
Explanation: Both are true, but who made the sceptre does not explain why or when it was installed in Parliament. So R does not explain A. Vummidi Ethiraj, associated with crafting the Sengol, died in Chennai on 21 October 2026 aged 99.
The UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), which launched a forum on military uses of AI in October 2026, is headquartered in:
- New York
- Vienna
- Geneva
- The Hague
Answer: (C) Geneva
Explanation: UNIDIR was set up in 1980 by the UN General Assembly and is based in Geneva. Its new forum sits under the Centre of Excellence on AI, Peace and Security, which has received funding from all five nuclear-weapon States. Vienna hosts the IAEA; The Hague hosts the ICJ.