Question 1

What topics are covered in the 8 March 2026 current affairs quiz?

Accepted Answer

The 8 March 2026 quiz covers Polity, Social Issues, Science Tech, Governance with 25 MCQs sourced from The Hindu and Indian Express.

Question 2

How to use 8 March 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 ministry is primarily responsible for formulating the proposed law on graded social media restrictions for children?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, The article mentions internal meetings within the IT Ministry and statements from IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, indicating MeitY's lead role in this policy formulation concerning digital platforms and internet governance.

Question 6

Which government body commissioned the evaluation study on PMJAY and other health sector schemes mentioned in the news?

Accepted Answer

NITI Aayog, The article clearly states that the evaluation study was commissioned by the NITI Aayog and submitted to its Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DEMO). The Ministry of Health is the implementing body, not the commissioning body for this specific study.

Question 7

As per the news, which ministry is responsible for preparing and updating the 'Blue Book' that governs protocols for visits of high dignitaries?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Home Affairs, The article explicitly states that the 'Blue Book' is prepared and updated time-to-time by the Union Home Ministry. It is then circulated to concerned officials and kept at the district level by the District Magistrate.

Question 8

The 'Mukh Mantri Mawan Dhian Satikar Yojna' recently announced is a welfare initiative of which state government?

Accepted Answer

Punjab Government, The article clearly states that the Mukh Mantri Mawan Dhian Satikar Yojna was unveiled by the Punjab Government in its Budget 2026-27. The Finance Minister quoted is Harpal Cheema of Punjab.

Question 9

Which central bank has consistently issued warnings and reports against the practice of farm loan waivers, as discussed in the article?

Accepted Answer

Reserve Bank of India (RBI), The article repeatedly cites warnings from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and its Internal Working Group to Review Agricultural Credit (2019) about the negative impacts of farm loan waivers on credit culture and state finances.

Question 10

As per the Iranian Constitution, which body is responsible for selecting the country's Supreme Leader?

Accepted Answer

The Assembly of Experts, The article explicitly states that according to the Iranian constitution, the 88-member Assembly of Experts is authorized to select the country's supreme leader. The Guardian Council oversees elections, the Expediency Council resolves disputes, and the Parliament is the legislative body.

Question 11

As per the article, which ministry is primarily responsible for the education-related policies and data discussed?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Education, The article is authored by the Union Minister of Education, and it discusses education data from AISHE (All India Survey on Higher Education), STEM enrolment, and higher education policies, which fall under the purview of the Ministry of Education.

Question 12

Consider the following statements regarding the proposed social media restrictions:

1. The central government is considering a complete ban on social media for children under 18.

2. The Economic Survey 2025-26 recommended age-based limits for social media usage by children.

3. France, as the current G7 chair, has urged India to consider a ban on social media for children under 15.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 2 and 3, Statement 1 is incorrect as the government is against a ban and favors nuanced restrictions. Statement 2 is correct as mentioned in the article. Statement 3 is correct as French President Macron made this call during the India-AI Impact Summit.

Question 13

Consider the following statements regarding the findings of the NITI Aayog study on PMJAY:

1. The average Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) for PMJAY beneficiaries in private hospitals was more than double that in public hospitals.

2. The study found that transport costs are covered under the PMJAY scheme, reducing the financial burden.

3. The survey covered 2,283 households across 13 states and Union Territories.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct as per the article: OOPE was ₹53,965 in private vs ₹21,827 in public facilities. Statement 2 is incorrect as the article explicitly notes 'transport cost is not covered under the scheme'. Statement 3 is correct as the survey sample was 2,283 households across 13 states/UTs.

Question 14

Consider the following statements regarding the news:

1. The government is considering a complete ban on social media for all children under 18 years of age.

2. The 'Blue Book' provisions are very strict and even a minor deviation opens inquiries at many levels.

3. A motion for the removal of the Lok Sabha Speaker was first moved against Speaker G V Mavalankar.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 2 and 3, Statement 1 is incorrect. The article clearly states the government is not in favour of a ban but is considering nuanced, graded restrictions. Statement 2 is correct as per the details about the 'Blue Book'. Statement 3 is correct as the article mentions the first-ever resolution to remove a Speaker was against G V Mavalankar in December 1954.

Question 15

Consider the following statements regarding the Mukh Mantri Mawan Dhian Satikar Yojna:

1. It provides a higher monthly cash transfer to women belonging to the Scheduled Caste community.

2. The scheme has universal coverage and includes all adult women residing in Punjab.

3. Its budget allocation for the financial year 2026-27 is ₹9,300 crore.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct as the scheme provides Rs 1,500 for SC women versus Rs 1,000 for others. Statement 2 is incorrect because the scheme is 'nearly universal' covering 97% of adult women, but excludes government employees and income tax payers. Statement 3 is correct as per the article's mention of ₹9,300 crore earmarked for the scheme.

Question 16

Consider the following statements regarding farm loan waivers in India:

1. The first nationwide farm loan waiver was the Agriculture and Rural Debt Relief Scheme (ARDRS) initiated in 1990.

2. The 2008 Agricultural Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme (ADWDRS) covered loans from scheduled commercial banks but excluded cooperative credit institutions.

3. Since 2014-15, the trend has shifted, with state governments announcing waivers worth an aggregate of ₹2.4 lakh crore.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct as per the article. Statement 2 is incorrect because the 2008 ADWDRS was broader and specifically included cooperative credit institutions. Statement 3 is correct as the article states ten states announced waivers totaling ₹2.4 lakh crore since 2014-15.

Question 17

According to the news, the Karnataka government has announced a plan to ban social media for children below what age?

Accepted Answer

16 years, The article explicitly states that Karnataka has said it will ban children below 16 years from using social media. Andhra Pradesh has proposed a ban for those below 13 years, which is a close distractor.

Question 18

According to the NITI Aayog study, what was the average Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) incurred per hospitalisation by PMJAY beneficiaries in public facilities?

Accepted Answer

₹21,827, The article provides the exact data: 'In public facilities, the patients incurred on an average OOPE of Rs 21,827 per hospitalisation.' ₹11,146 is the OOPE for non-insured patients in public facilities. ₹38,084 is the average OOPE for those not insured. ₹53,965 is the OOPE for PMJAY patients in private facilities.

Question 19

According to the cybersecurity firm McAfee Corp, as mentioned in the article, what percentage of children in India have been victims of cyberbullying?

Accepted Answer

85%, The article directly quotes a report by McAfee Corp which states that as many as 85 per cent of children in India have been victims of cyberbullying. This data point is crucial for understanding the rationale behind social media regulations for children.

Question 20

What is the monthly financial assistance amount provided to a woman from the Scheduled Caste community under Punjab's Mukh Mantri Mawan Dhian Satikar Yojna?

Accepted Answer

Rs 1,500, The article specifies that the scheme offers Rs 1,000 per month to most adult women, but provides a higher tier of Rs 1,500 for women from the Scheduled Caste (SC) community. Rs 2,100 is the amount under Haryana's scheme, and Rs 2,500 is the total for women receiving other pensions in Punjab.

Question 21

According to the article, what is the total estimated cost of the new farm loan waiver scheme announced by the Maharashtra government in 2026?

Accepted Answer

₹35,000 crore, The article clearly states the total outgo for Maharashtra's new waiver scheme is roughly ₹35,000 crore, comprising ₹20,000 crore for defaulters and ₹15,000 crore as an incentive for regular repayers.

Question 22

What is a major concern raised by digital rights groups like the Internet Freedom Foundation regarding blanket social media bans for children in India?

Accepted Answer

They may deepen the existing digital gender divide., The IFF warned that in the Indian context, where girls already face barriers to digital access, a ban framed around 'protection' could become a tool to deny them connectivity altogether, thus worsening the gender divide.

Question 23

What is a key implication of the finding that PMJAY beneficiaries still incur significant Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE), as highlighted in the study?

Accepted Answer

It reveals a gap in coverage, potentially undermining the scheme's goal of financial protection., The core objective of PMJAY is to provide financial protection against catastrophic health expenditure. The persistence of high OOPE, especially for non-covered items like medicines and diagnostics, indicates a coverage gap that can leave families vulnerable, thus undermining the scheme's primary goal. The article does not suggest the other options.

Question 24

What is the primary constitutional basis for moving a motion to remove the Speaker of the Lok Sabha?

Accepted Answer

Article 94(c) of the Constitution, The article states that the Speaker can be removed from office by a resolution of Lok Sabha passed by a majority of all the then members of the House. This procedure is provided under Article 94(c) of the Indian Constitution. Article 93 deals with the election of the Speaker.

Question 25

According to the Finance Minister, what is a primary objective of the Mukh Mantri Mawan Dhian Satikar Yojna, as mentioned in the article?

Accepted Answer

To promote economic independence among women, The article directly quotes Finance Minister Harpal Cheema stating that the initiative aims to promote economic independence among women and strengthen their role in household decision-making. The other options are not mentioned as objectives; the scheme is contrasted with restrictive models and complements other pensions.

Question 26

What is a key alternative solution to farm loan waivers suggested by the SBI research report mentioned in the article?

Accepted Answer

Introducing a nationwide income support scheme, The SBI research report concluded that loan waivers have failed and instead pitched for an income support scheme, arguing it could provide larger benefits to target groups with lower spending without harming credit discipline.

Question 27

Consider the following statements regarding the news article:

1. The Assembly of Experts has officially announced the name of the new Supreme Leader.

2. The selection process faced obstacles regarding whether a final in-person meeting was required.

3. The late Ayatollah Khamenei had advised that Iran's next leader should be 'praised by the enemy'.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only 2, Statement 1 is incorrect. The article states the Assembly's Secretariat is yet to announce the decision; only a consensus has been reached. Statement 2 is correct as per reports of 'some obstacles' and a disagreement over an in-person meeting. Statement 3 is incorrect; Khamenei's advice was that the leader should be 'hated by the enemy', not praised.

Question 28

Consider the following statements regarding women's participation in STEM fields in India as discussed in the article:

1. The Gender Parity Index for gross enrolment in school education has reached 1.0 at foundational and secondary levels.

2. Women constitute more than 50% of the national Research and Development (R&D) workforce in India.

3. The Prime Minister's Research Fellowship (PMRF) scheme currently supports over 3,500 scholars, of which 35% are women.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct as the article states gender parity index reached 1.0 at foundational, preparatory, middle, and secondary levels. Statement 2 is incorrect; the article states women account for 18.6% of the national R&D workforce, not more than 50%. Statement 3 is correct as per the article's mention of PMRF supporting over 3,500 scholars including 35% women.

Question 29

The Punjab Budget 2026-27 was presented in the state assembly by which constitutional functionary?

Accepted Answer

The Finance Minister of Punjab, As per standard budgetary procedure in Indian states, the Annual Financial Statement (Budget) is laid before the state legislature by the Finance Minister of the state. The article mentions Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema presenting the budget.

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