Question 1

What topics are covered in the 20 August 2026 current affairs quiz?

Accepted Answer

The 20 August 2026 quiz covers Polity, Governance, Social Issues, International Relations with 25 MCQs sourced from The Hindu and Indian Express.

Question 2

How to use 20 August 2026 daily quiz for UPSC preparation?

Accepted Answer

Attempt the quiz after reading the daily current affairs. Focus on understanding the explanation for each question. Link each topic to your static GK notes for comprehensive preparation.

Question 3

How many MCQs should I practice daily for competitive exams?

Accepted Answer

Experts recommend 10-20 current affairs MCQs daily. This takes only 5-7 minutes but significantly improves retention through active recall, which is more effective than passive reading.

Question 4

Are these quiz questions based on The Hindu and Indian Express?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All questions are derived from important news articles published in The Hindu and Indian Express, filtered and ranked by AI for exam relevance across UPSC, MPSC, SSC, Banking & Teaching exams.

Question 5

Which Act's definition of 'industry' was under consideration in the 1978 Supreme Court judgment?

Accepted Answer

Industrial Disputes Act 1947, The article states that the 1978 judgment interpreted Section 2(j) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The new code is the Industrial Relations Code 2020, but the old act was the ID Act 1947.

Question 6

Which ministry issued the order empowering District Collectors to process citizenship applications under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Home Affairs, The news explicitly states that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) transferred the processing of pending CAA applications from Empowered Committees to District Collectors in eight States/UTs via an August 19, 2026 order.

Question 7

Under which Act is the term 'industry' defined, the scope of which is being reconsidered by the Supreme Court?

Accepted Answer

Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, The article discusses the definition of 'industry' under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Bangalore Water Supply case interpreted Section 2(j) of this Act. The Industrial Relations Code 2020 is a later consolidation but the current case concerns the original Act.

Question 8

Which section of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) is invoked in the petition challenging polygamy?

Accepted Answer

Section 82, The petition explicitly seeks to treat polygamy as a criminal offence under Section 82 of the BNS, which currently applies only to non-Muslims and punishes bigamy with up to 7 years imprisonment.

Question 9

Which ministry is primarily responsible for the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) mentioned in the news?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, The article states that the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities is under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. This ministry oversees disability-related policies and the implementation of the RPwD Act.

Question 10

Which international treaty established the International Criminal Court (ICC)?

Accepted Answer

Rome Statute, The ICC was established by the Rome Statute, adopted in 1998 and effective from 2002. The Geneva Conventions relate to humanitarian law, the UN Charter to the UN, and the Vienna Convention to treaty law. Only the Rome Statute created the ICC.

Question 11

Which ministry/department is primarily responsible for implementing the Maritime Security Cooperation MoA signed between India and Japan?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Defence, The MoA on Maritime Security Cooperation was signed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Japanese counterpart, indicating that the Ministry of Defence is the nodal ministry for implementation. While external affairs coordinates diplomacy, the operational aspects fall under the Defence Ministry.

Question 12

Which ministry is primarily responsible for implementing the PM-KUSUM scheme mentioned in the article?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, PM-KUSUM is a scheme under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). It aims to promote solar energy among farmers by subsidising solar pumps and grid-connected solar plants. The Ministry of Agriculture is not the nodal ministry for this scheme.

Question 13

Which provision of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) is under scrutiny by the HPEC for potential misuse as a routine or pre-emptive measure against peaceful assembly?

Accepted Answer

Section 163, Section 163 of BNSS, 2023 (which replaces the old CrPC Section 144) allows authorities to issue prohibitory orders. The HPEC is examining its regulation to prevent routine or pre-emptive use that forecloses the right to peaceful assembly. Section 152 BNS deals with assault on public servants, not prohibitory orders.

Question 14

Which organisation is responsible for preparing the Maharashtra state school textbooks mentioned in the news?

Accepted Answer

Balbharti (Maharashtra State Bureau of Textbook Production and Curriculum Research), The article explicitly states that the textbooks are prepared by Balbharti, the Maharashtra State Bureau of Textbook Production and Curriculum Research. NCERT is mentioned only as the basis for new textbooks, not as the preparing body for these state-board books.

Question 15

Consider the following statements:

1. The 2026 Supreme Court judgment held that the triple test from 1978 applies to disputes under IRC 2020.

2. Only core sovereign activities are exempt from the definition of 'industry' under the 1978 judgment.

3. The nine-judge bench clarified that Section 2(p) of IRC 2020 is not influenced by the 1978 interpretation.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 2 and 3, Statement 1 is incorrect because the court said the 1978 interpretation will not affect IRC 2020. Statement 2 is correct: the 1978 judgment exempted only core sovereign activities. Statement 3 is correct as per the majority opinion that the future of 'industry' in Section 2(p) is not burdened by the old interpretation.

Question 16

Consider the following statements regarding the Supreme Court's verdict on the definition of 'industry':

1. The 9-judge Constitution Bench held that the 1978 Bangalore Water Supply judgment's definition of 'industry' will not apply under the new Industrial Relations Code, 2020.

2. The 1978 judgment had given a narrow definition of 'industry', excluding hospitals and educational institutions.

3. The new verdict is likely to reduce the scope of labour rights in non-industrial establishments.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct as per the article: the 1978 expansive definition will not apply under the new code. Statement 2 is incorrect: the 1978 judgment gave a broad (expansive) definition, not narrow. Statement 3 is correct: the new verdict, by narrowing the definition, reduces labour rights in non-industrial settings.

Question 17

Consider the following statements regarding the Supreme Court case on the definition of 'industry':

1. The current nine-judge bench is reconsidering the 1978 Bangalore Water Supply ruling.

2. The 1978 ruling was delivered by a nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court.

3. The case also examines whether the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 has any bearing on the definition.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct: the nine-judge bench is reconsidering the 1978 Bangalore Water Supply ruling. Statement 2 is incorrect: the 1978 ruling was by a seven-judge bench, not nine. Statement 3 is correct: the court is examining the impact of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020. Hence option C is correct.

Question 18

Consider the following statements:

1. The petition seeks to treat polygamy as a criminal offence under Section 82 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

2. Section 82 of the BNS currently applies to all citizens irrespective of religion.

3. The Supreme Court asked the Centre to consider legislative steps to abolish polygamy for all citizens.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct as the petition seeks to invoke Section 82 BNS. Statement 2 is incorrect because Section 82 applies only to non-Muslims (exemptions for Muslims under personal law). Statement 3 is correct as the court sought the Centre's response and asked it to consider suitable legislative steps to abolish the practice for all citizens.

Question 19

Consider the following statements regarding Census 2027:

1. Self-enumeration for snowbound areas began on August 17, 2026.

2. Census 2027 includes all 21 disability categories as per the RPwD Act, 2016.

3. The 2011 Census counted 2.68 crore persons with disabilities.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct: self-enumeration started August 17 for snowbound areas. Statement 2 is incorrect: only 9 categories are included, not 21. Statement 3 is correct: 2011 Census recorded 2.68 crore PwDs. Hence option C.

Question 20

How many judges constituted the bench that delivered this judgment?

Accepted Answer

9, The article explicitly states 'A Nine-judge Bench of the Supreme Court'. The other options are common bench sizes but not the correct one for this case.

Question 21

How many States and Union Territories were covered under the MHA's August 19 order empowering District Collectors to process CAA citizenship applications?

Accepted Answer

Eight, The article lists exactly eight States/UTs: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Question 22

How many judges are part of the Supreme Court bench hearing the case on the definition of 'industry'?

Accepted Answer

9, The article explicitly states that a nine-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, is hearing the case. The original 1978 ruling was by a seven-judge bench, but the current bench is larger.

Question 23

According to the article, what is the maximum punishment provided under Section 82 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for marrying another person during subsistence of an existing marriage?

Accepted Answer

7 years, The article states that Section 82 provides for a punishment of up to seven years for marrying another person during the subsistence of an existing marriage. This is a direct data point from the news.

Question 24

How many disability categories were enumerated in the 2011 Census?

Accepted Answer

6, The article explicitly states that the 2011 Census had included six disability categories. The other options are distractors: 7 was the number under the PwD Act 1995, 9 is the current proposal, and 21 is the RPwD Act 2016 list.

Question 25

What is the primary implication of this judgment for future industrial disputes?

Accepted Answer

The definition of 'industry' under IRC 2020 will be interpreted independently of the 1978 judgment., The court clarified that the future of 'industry' in Section 2(p) is not burdened by the 1978 interpretation, allowing independent interpretation. Option A is wrong because the triple test does not apply. Option B is too broad. Option D is not stated.

Question 26

What is the primary objective of the Supreme Court's decision to form a High-Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC) regarding the NEET-UG student protests?

Accepted Answer

To investigate allegations of police violence and excessive force against protestors, The article clearly states that the HPEC will examine issues including 'police violence' and 'excessive force and violence against protestors by police authorities and other agencies' during the NEET-UG protests.

Question 27

What is the primary concern of labour unions in the ongoing Supreme Court case regarding the definition of 'industry'?

Accepted Answer

To ensure workers excluded from the Act have alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, The article states that labour unions argued that excluding workers from the Act without comparable protections would leave them with little recourse. This is their primary concern, not expanding or contracting the definition per se.

Question 28

What is the primary objective of the petition filed by the five activists?

Accepted Answer

To treat polygamy as a criminal offence for all citizens and annul exemptions under Muslim Personal Law, The petition seeks to have polygamy treated as a criminal offence under Section 82 for all citizens, irrespective of religion, and also seeks annulment of the exemptions granted under Muslim Personal Law. This is explicitly mentioned in the article.

Question 29

What is the primary concern raised by rights groups regarding the 9-category enumeration in Census 2027?

Accepted Answer

It will render certain disability groups invisible in official statistics, affecting policy-making., Rights groups argue that grouping specific disabilities under broad categories (e.g., blood disorder) hides conditions like thalassemia, autism, etc., making them invisible. This impacts data accuracy, policy design, and resource allocation, as highlighted in the article.

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