7 June 2026, Questions & Answers

Explanation

The Supreme Court, in upholding State laws prohibiting online betting, affirmed that 'betting and gambling' fall within the legislative competence of State Legislatures under Entry 34 of List II (State List) of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct as the SC upheld the 28% GST on the full stake value. Statement 2 is incorrect; the Court held that for GST purposes, the distinction between skill and chance becomes irrelevant once money is staked. Statement 3 is correct; the Court noted States could use Entry 1 (public order) along with Entry 34.

Explanation

The article states that the amendments approved by the GST Council in August 2023 came into force on October 1, 2023. The Supreme Court later held that these amendments were clarificatory and could operate retrospectively from this date.

Explanation

The term 'res extra commercium' means activities outside legitimate commerce. By applying this to betting and gambling, the Supreme Court held that these activities do not enjoy the ordinary constitutional protections available to trade and business under Article 19(1)(g), making them easier for States to restrict or prohibit.

Explanation

The article states that the new IIP data series was released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). The National Statistical Office (NSO) under MoSPI is the nodal agency for compiling and releasing official statistical data like IIP and CPI.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct as per the article: IIP base year is revised to 2022-23 and Gas Supply is a newly added sector. Statement 2 is correct: CPI base year is 2024 and rural house rent is included for the first time. Statement 3 is incorrect: The article clearly states that RBI has a legal mandate to target CPI inflation, not WPI.

Explanation

The article explicitly states: "The revised basket consists of 1,042 products mapped to 463 item groups as compared to 839 items mapped to 407 item groups in 2011-12 series." The number 839 refers to the old series, making it a close distractor.

Explanation

The article emphasizes that revising the base year, updating the item basket, and incorporating new sectors (like renewables in IIP) or items (like rural rent in CPI) are done to ensure these critical indicators reflect the present-day economy, leading to more accurate measurement of growth and inflation for policy-making.

Explanation

Lord Louis Mountbatten was the last Viceroy of India (1947) who announced the plan for partition and independence. The Governor-General was the title he held after independence.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct as per the article. Statement 2 is correct; Mountbatten admitted the date was chosen because it was the anniversary of Japan's surrender. Statement 3 is incorrect; the article states the rush was Mountbatten's alone, and leaders like Nehru and Liaquat Ali Khan warned against moving too fast.

Explanation

The article quotes Shahid Hamid's diary entry: "Two states will be born 77 days from now." The announcement was on June 3, 1947, and independence was on August 15, 1947.

Explanation

The article explicitly states that while India became free earlier, "this came at the cost of great violence and chaos." It describes the horror, confusion, and heightened vulnerability due to the rushed process and secrecy.

Explanation

DAY-NRLM is a flagship poverty alleviation program aimed at organizing rural poor into Self Help Groups. It falls under the purview of the Ministry of Rural Development, which oversees schemes related to rural infrastructure and livelihood generation.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect. The MLAA is for mutual legal assistance in criminal matters (investigation, prosecution), not specifically for extradition. Statement 2 is incorrect. Access to Claude Mythos Preview under Project Glasswing is restricted and vetted, not publicly released, due to dual-use concerns. Statement 3 is correct as per the article description of the slope drainage system.

Explanation

The article explicitly states that under the CEPA, Oman has granted zero-duty access across 98% of tariff lines, which covers 99% of India's exports. This is a key data point highlighting the agreement's depth.

Explanation

The evaluation points to a deeper structural issue. It found weak demand for products, fear of loan defaults, and limited ground-level support, indicating that the immediate economic pressures of poverty (consumption needs) often override the ability or willingness to start a business, revealing a mismatch between the scheme's design and on-ground realities.

Explanation

The Supreme Court judgment specifically upheld state laws prohibiting online betting by citing Entry 34 of List II (State List) of the Seventh Schedule, which explicitly includes 'Betting and gambling'. This grants states the legislative competence on this subject.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct as the SC upheld the 28% GST levy on the full stake value, ruling the 2023 amendment was a clarification. Statement 2 is incorrect; the Court explicitly held that for GST purposes, the skill-chance distinction becomes irrelevant once money is staked. Statement 3 is correct; the judgment noted states could use Entry 1 (public order) in addition to Entry 34 (betting) for legislative support.

Explanation

The article states that following the GST Council's decision in August 2023, the amended regime came into force on October 1, 2023. The Supreme Court's judgment in May 2026 upheld the validity of this regime and its retrospective application.

Explanation

'Res extra commercium' is a legal doctrine meaning 'outside commerce'. By applying this to betting and gambling, the Supreme Court held that these activities are not ordinary trade or business entitled to the fundamental right to practice any profession (Article 19(1)(g)). This strengthens the state's power to restrict or ban them.

Explanation

The 'Hum Do, Hamaare Do' (We Two, Our Two) was a flagship family planning campaign under India's National Family Planning Programme, which falls under the purview of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct as the article states India's TFR is 2.0 and the replacement rate is 2.1. Statement 2 is correct as demographer Moradhvaj Dhakad noted India achieved below-replacement TFR around 2020, faster than UN projections. Statement 3 is incorrect; the article clarifies that this pattern (higher income = more children) is seen in rich East Asian societies but the reverse is often true in middle-income countries.

Explanation

The article explicitly states: 'Financial incentive of Rs 30,000 to a couple upon the birth of their third child.' This makes Andhra Pradesh one of the first Indian states to announce such pro-natalist payments.

Explanation

Demographer Martin Kolk states that when fertility is very low, 'societies will face challenges in maintaining pension systems and paying for public health care for the elderly.' The article cites the example of South Korea, where there are three-and-a-half 55-year-olds for every newborn.

Explanation

The article explicitly states the four pillars documented by the AI Resist List are: Resist, Refuse, Reclaim, and Reimagine. 'Regulate' is not one of them, making it the correct answer for this negative question.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct as the expert describes AI as a "technological shortcut" to avoid messy structural work. Statement 2 is incorrect; the article clearly states India is "simultaneously a site of exploitation and a site of aspiration." Statement 3 is correct, quoting the expert that "in the short and medium term, probably not in any comprehensive sense."

Explanation

The article directly quotes Petra Molnar: "In my mind, the single most important question is: who bears the costs, and who receives the benefits?" This is in the context of data centres in water-stressed regions.

Explanation

The article argues AI data labour is "more insidious because it is designed to disappear into the product," unlike earlier outsourcing where the function was visible. The worker's contribution is absorbed into a model, flattening their identity and conditions.

Explanation

The article explicitly states that declassified United Kingdom government documents reveal the involvement of a British military expert who advised on the operation. The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office was involved in the communication.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct as the article states the UK adviser recommended assaulting all objectives simultaneously using helicopters. Statement 2 is incorrect because the Indian Army changed the main concept and executed a frontal ground assault, which contributed to high casualties. Statement 3 is correct as the adviser visited from February 8-16, 1984.

Explanation

The article states the documents were 'declassified around 12 years ago' from the article's publication date of 2026. 2026 minus 12 years is 2014. The other options are distractors based on other potential declassification timelines.

Explanation

The UK adviser's plan focused on surprise via simultaneous helicopter insertion of troops. The actual operation, as per the Indian paper dated June 13, 1984, was a ground assault preceded by a warning, without a helicopter-borne element, becoming a step-by-step clearance supported by armor.

Explanation

The article explicitly mentions updates shared by the Ministry of Railways regarding the progress of electrification. The Indian Railways falls under the administrative control of this ministry, which is responsible for its infrastructure projects, including electrification.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct as per the article. Statement 2 is incorrect because the article states 99.6% (70,002 km) of the BG network is electrified, with 269 km remaining. Statement 3 is correct, as mentioned in the article that all new line and multi-tracking projects are being sanctioned with electrification.

Explanation

The article provides the exact data: "70,002 RKm had been electrified as of May 31, 2026." Option B is the total BG network, option C is the remaining non-electrified portion, and option D is a distractor.

Explanation

The article concludes that electrification is a step towards "reducing dependence on fossil fuels and advancing its sustainability goals." This aligns with the strategic objectives of energy security and environmental sustainability. The other options are not supported by the article's content.

Explanation

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is India's central bank and monetary authority. It is mandated with the objective of price stability (inflation targeting) and also plays a key role in managing the exchange rate through its interventions in the forex market.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect. Economists in the article advocate for orthodoxy: the RBI should NOT defend the rupee and should focus on inflation targeting. Statement 2 is correct as per the article's description of market wallahs' fears. Statement 3 is correct as the article states both groups agree on the need to facilitate foreign capital flows.

Explanation

The article explicitly states: "core inflation (excluding precious metals) is around just 2.2 per cent." This data point is used to argue that the economy isn't overheating, making a case against raising interest rates solely to defend the rupee.

Explanation

The article states the economists' orthodox view: "An inflation-targeting central bank should focus on inflation, not the exchange rate." Their core argument is that defending the rupee distracts from the primary objective of maintaining price stability.

Explanation

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is the nodal ministry responsible for the exploration, production, refining, distribution, marketing, import, export, and conservation of petroleum products, including the pricing and subsidy policy for domestic LPG.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct as the article states the Saudi CP rose about 46% since the pre-crisis February level. Statement 2 is incorrect; the PMUY subsidy has been reduced to the first 4 refills annually, down from 9 refills announced last year. Statement 3 is correct as the article mentions the Union Cabinet approved ₹30,000 crore in compensation.

Explanation

The article explicitly states: 'The price of a 14.2-kg domestic LPG cylinder in Delhi was raised to ₹942 from ₹913.' ₹913 was the old price. ₹1,600 is the mentioned supply cost, and ₹642 is the effective price for PMUY beneficiaries after subsidy.

Explanation

The article states that to safeguard availability, 'Domestic LPG production was increased by more than 60% — from about 32,000 tonnes a day to about 52,000 tonnes.' This, along with import diversification, was a key measure to ensure supply security. The other options are not mentioned as measures taken.

Explanation

The article explicitly states that the proposal came from the World Health Assembly, which is the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect as the article clarifies 'AMR is not restricted to hospitals' and mentions its spread through agriculture. Statement 2 is correct as per the article's mention of antibiotic use in farming. Statement 3 is correct as the article cites the WHO figure of 1.27 million deaths.

Explanation

The article explicitly states: 'An estimated 1.27 million deaths were linked to bacterial AMR in 2019, according to the global health body.' The other options are close but incorrect distractors.

Explanation

Dr. Neetu Jain is quoted saying AMR is 'particularly so in countries like India where the prevalence of infection is high, and antibiotics are readily available.' This directly links the severity to both high disease burden and easy access, which fuels misuse.

Explanation

PMUY is a flagship scheme of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, aimed at providing LPG connections to women from BPL households. The article mentions the scheme and the Petroleum Ministry's statement, directly linking it to this ministry.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: The article states commercial cylinder prices are a direct pass-through, but domestic cooking cylinder prices are NOT automatically revised; they are modulated by the government. Statement 2 is incorrect: Under-recovery is absorbed by OMCs and partly compensated by the government. Statement 3 is correct: The article explicitly mentions that 90% of India's LPG imports came via the Strait of Hormuz.

Explanation

The article's title and body repeatedly state that OMCs continue to absorb under-recoveries of about Rs 700 per 14.2-kg cylinder. The ₹942 is the selling price, and ₹300 is the DBT for PMUY beneficiaries on initial refills.

Explanation

The article's core argument is that the government and OMCs have been "shielding households from spiralling international prices amid the West Asia crisis." This objective of affordability and price insulation for over 33 crore households is the stated primary reason for price modulation.

Explanation

The article states that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is carrying out a parallel investigation into money laundering allegations and made an arrest under PMLA. The ED is the designated agency for enforcing the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct as per the article: 'The development comes months after the Haryana government granted sanction under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act to the CBI.' Statement 2 is incorrect because the embezzlement involved funds from Haryana government, Chandigarh UT Administration, and two private schools, as stated by the ED. Statement 3 is correct as the article mentions ED arrested Vikram Wadhwa, alleging he 'played a key role in the generation, layering and concealment of the laundered funds.'

Explanation

The article explicitly states, 'The ED had, in a statement, said that its investigation has so far revealed the “embezzlement of public funds amounting to Rs 645 crore...' The other figures are related to specific sub-cases or arrests mentioned (Rs 83 crore CREST fraud, Rs 70 crore received by Wadhwa, Rs 50 crore suspicious transactions during Dewan's tenure).

Explanation

The article explains: 'The provision mandates prior approval before investigating decisions taken by public servants in the discharge of official duties.' This provision was introduced to protect honest officials from harassment for decisions taken in good faith while performing their official functions, ensuring a balance between investigation and administrative efficacy.

Explanation

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was founded in 1960 in Baghdad by the five countries mentioned: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. Its headquarters are in Vienna, Austria.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Russia are among the seven members listed. Statement 2 is incorrect because the quota increase of almost 600,000 bpd was from April to June, not January to March. Statement 3 is incorrect as the article states production collapsed to 33.19 million bpd in April from 42.77 million bpd in February.

Explanation

The article explicitly states that the seven OPEC+ members will likely increase targets by about 188,000 bpd from July. The 206,000 bpd figure was for May and April (before adjustment), and 600,000 bpd was the total increase from April to June.

Explanation

The article directly states that the U.S. war with Iran is preventing several OPEC+ members from pumping more oil, as it has cut oil flows via the Strait of Hormuz. This has created a major supply crisis independent of quota decisions.

Explanation

The article states that 'Equirus Securities said in a note' while discussing India's power consumption surge and the directive for gas-based plants. Kpler is the firm that provided ship tracking data.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The article states imports were '6% higher over the corresponding month of last year'. Statement 2 is correct: US share was 'about 41%'. Statement 3 is incorrect: Prices were '$17-18/mBtu... still about 70% above pre-crisis (level of) about $10/mBtu', not double (which would be 100%).

Explanation

The article explicitly states: 'Volumes from the US tripled to 0.9 million tonnes'. Option A (0.2) was the 2025 monthly average, option B (0.5) was Nigeria's volume, and option D (1.0) was Qatar's 2025 average.

Explanation

The article states India 'prioritised supplies over price amid demand from various sectors, which include city gas distribution, fertiliser, power, and ceramics' and that 'high and largely inelastic demand from critical sectors... has ensured that LNG imports remain strong'. The other options are not mentioned as primary reasons.

Explanation

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow passage connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It is bordered to the north by Iran and to the south by the Musandam Peninsula of Oman.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct as the article states India will account for 'approximately half of global oil demand growth' over the next 10 years. Statement 2 is incorrect; the article says India's electricity demand is 'approaching' current EU levels, not surpassing them. Statement 3 is correct as it directly quotes the IEA projection from the article.

Explanation

The article explicitly states that 'The Russian energy major holds a 49.13% stake in Nayara Energy'. This is a precise data point testable in prelims.

Explanation

The article explains that conflicts in the Strait of Hormuz affect oil and gas markets as well as fertiliser shipments, raising the risk of higher food prices. India, being a major importer of both energy and fertilisers, is highly vulnerable to such disruptions.

Explanation

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao is a tri-ministerial initiative converging the efforts of the Ministry of Women and Child Development (nodal), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and Ministry of Education. This structure is fundamental to its design for holistic girl child empowerment.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct as per the article: SRB rose from 838 (2010) to 923 (2019). Statement 2 is incorrect; the primary act against sex-determination is the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act, 1994, not the MTP Act. Statement 3 is correct; Charkhi Dadri recorded an SRB of 768 in early 2026.

Explanation

The article states that FIRs under the PC-PNDT Act peaked at 271 in 2016. This number sharply declined to 85 in 2023 and 47 in 2024, illustrating the enforcement slowdown linked to the declining sex ratio.

Explanation

The article quotes an FDA official stating the focus shifted from action under the PC-PNDT Act (sex-determination) to cases under the MTP Act (abortion), 'putting the cart before the horse.' This enforcement misalignment is cited as a core reason for the programme losing direction.

Explanation

The article explicitly states that the report 'School Education System in India...' was released by NITI Aayog in May. NITI Aayog is the premier policy think tank of the Government of India, responsible for strategic policy formulation.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct as the report uses the phrase 'near-universal access'. Statement 2 is correct as the article mentions 'By Class 6, more than half of India’s children had fallen behind in Maths.' Statement 3 is incorrect; the report explicitly advocates for AI as 'a supportive tool… rather than as a substitute for the teacher.'

Explanation

The article provides the specific data point: 'Asked to represent the simple fraction one-half on a number line, only 29% of Class 6 children could do it.' This highlights the severe learning gap in foundational mathematical concepts.

Explanation

The article uses the ancient story as a metaphor. Gautama's easy admission of Satyakama represents achieving 'access' or enrolment. The 'harder question' that follows is 'what comes after'—i.e., ensuring quality teaching and learning. The report's core theme is this transition from access to quality.

Explanation

The article explicitly states that Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi reached Tehran and that this was his third visit in recent weeks for this purpose. The other officials are not mentioned as the primary actors in these specific visits.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct as per the line: 'In April, Pakistan hosted the first direct talks between the U.S. and Iran...'. Statement 2 is incorrect; the article states the conflict began *after* the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran, not after Iran's retaliation. Statement 3 is correct as mentioned: 'The conflict was halted when a ceasefire was brokered on April 8. Since then, the two sides have been exchanging messages through Pakistan for peace talks.'

Explanation

The article specifically mentions: 'The conflict was halted when a ceasefire was brokered on April 8.' February 28 is the date the conflict began, making the other options incorrect distractors.

Explanation

The entire article describes Pakistan's efforts to 'push for peace' and bring 'the two sides to the table.' It mentions Pakistan hosting talks and exchanging messages between the sides, which is the core function of a mediator. There is no mention of military, multilateral hosting, or specific economic partnerships in this context.