Question 1

What topics are covered in the 12 March 2026 current affairs quiz?

Accepted Answer

The 12 March 2026 quiz covers Polity, Governance, Social Issues, Ethics with 25 MCQs sourced from The Hindu and Indian Express.

Question 2

How to use 12 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 constitutional article forms the basis for the 'right to die with dignity' as recognized by the Supreme Court in the Harish Rana case?

Accepted Answer

Article 21, The Supreme Court has interpreted the 'Right to Life and Personal Liberty' under Article 21 of the Constitution to include the right to live with human dignity. In landmark judgments like Common Cause (2018) and now Harish Rana, the Court has held that this dignity includes the right to die with dignity in specific circumstances of terminal illness or irreversible vegetative state.

Question 6

Under which Article of the Indian Constitution did the Supreme Court recognize the 'right to die with dignity'?

Accepted Answer

Article 21, The Supreme Court, in the Common Cause vs Union of India (2018) case, interpreted that the right to live with human dignity under Article 21 includes the right to die with dignity. This forms the constitutional basis for passive euthanasia in India.

Question 7

As per the news, which constitutional article has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to include the 'right to die with dignity'?

Accepted Answer

Article 21, The article explains that the distinction for permitting withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment flows from Article 21, the 'right to life', which the Supreme Court has interpreted to include the right to live with dignity. This forms the legal basis for passive euthanasia.

Question 8

Which constitutional article forms the basis for the Supreme Court's judgments on the right to a dignified death, including passive euthanasia?

Accepted Answer

Article 21, The Supreme Court has interpreted the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution to include the right to die with dignity, which is the foundational principle for its judgments on passive euthanasia, as seen in the Common Cause case.

Question 9

The Supreme Court judgment dealt with the creamy layer criteria defined in an Office Memorandum (OM). Which government department typically issues such OMs on matters related to civil services and reservations?

Accepted Answer

Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions is the nodal agency for policies related to civil services, recruitment, and reservation guidelines, including the issuance of relevant Office Memorandums.

Question 10

Which ministry has been directed by the Supreme Court to formulate the no-fault compensation policy for Covid vaccine injuries?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, The Supreme Court specifically directed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to expeditiously formulate and publish the no-fault compensation framework, as it is the nodal ministry for the vaccination drive and public health.

Question 11

Which government department issued the 1993 circular and the 2004 clarification regarding the creamy layer criterion for OBCs?

Accepted Answer

Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), The article explicitly states that the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issued the Official Memorandum (OM) in September 1993 and the clarification letter on October 14, 2004, regarding the creamy layer criterion for OBCs.

Question 12

Which law enforcement agency is primarily responsible for investigating offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)?

Accepted Answer

Enforcement Directorate (ED), The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is the specialized financial investigation agency under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, responsible for enforcing the PMLA. While CBI investigates the predicate offences, the ED investigates the money laundering aspect.

Question 13

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is an autonomous organization under which Union Ministry?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Education, NCERT functions as an autonomous organization under the Union Ministry of Education. It was established to assist and advise the government on policies for school education.

Question 14

Which government body is primarily responsible for conducting the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) in India?

Accepted Answer

National Statistical Office (NSO), The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) is conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO), which is part of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). The NSO subsumed the functions of the former National Sample Survey Office (NSSO).

Question 15

Consider the following statements regarding the Supreme Court's ruling in the Harish Rana case:

1. It is the first Indian court order permitting passive euthanasia.

2. The Court waived the mandatory 30-day reconsideration period before withdrawing treatment.

3. The judgment was based on the legal framework established in the Gian Kaur case (1996).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 2, Statement 1 is correct as the article states this is the 'first ever Indian court order approving passive euthanasia'. Statement 2 is correct as the court 'waived the usual 30-day reconsideration period'. Statement 3 is incorrect; while Gian Kaur (1996) is a historical precedent, the immediate and detailed legal framework applied was established by the Constitution Bench in Common Cause v. Union of India (2018), which the article cites extensively.

Question 16

Consider the following statements regarding euthanasia in India:

1. The Supreme Court in the Common Cause case (2018) recognized the right to die with dignity as part of Article 21.

2. Active euthanasia, which involves administering a substance to cause death, is legally permitted in India.

3. The recent Harish Rana case (2026) involved a patient who had been in a Persistent Vegetative State for 13 years.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct as the Common Cause (2018) judgment is the landmark case establishing this right. Statement 2 is incorrect because active euthanasia remains illegal in India; only passive euthanasia is permitted under guidelines. Statement 3 is correct as mentioned in the article. Hence, option C is correct.

Question 17

Consider the following statements regarding the news:

1. The Supreme Court's 2026 judgment on passive euthanasia was its first application of the framework established in the 2018 Common Cause vs Union of India case.

2. 'Black rain' in Tehran was caused by volcanic eruptions releasing ash and sulfur into the atmosphere.

3. India's crude oil imports from Russia surged to 1.5 million barrels per day in early March 2026 after the Strait of Hormuz was closed.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct as the article states this is the 'first application' of the passive euthanasia framework. Statement 2 is incorrect; black rain was caused by Israeli airstrikes on oil facilities, not volcanoes. Statement 3 is correct as per the data from trade sources and Kpler.

Question 18

Consider the following statements regarding passive euthanasia in India:

1. The Supreme Court first allowed passive euthanasia in the Aruna Shanbaug case.

2. The concept of 'Living Wills' was introduced by the Supreme Court in its 2018 Common Cause judgment.

3. The withdrawal of Clinically Administered Nutrition (CAN) is now considered a permissible act under the passive euthanasia framework.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 2 and 3, Statement 1 is incorrect because the Supreme Court rejected active euthanasia in the Aruna Shanbaug case; passive euthanasia was first formally allowed in the 2018 Common Cause case. Statement 2 is correct as per the article. Statement 3 is correct, as the latest SC verdict specifically allowed the withdrawal of CAN, overruling the earlier view that it was not a medical intervention.

Question 19

Consider the following statements regarding the Supreme Court's judgment on the OBC creamy layer:

1. The Court ruled that the creamy layer status must consider the parent's category of post (Group A, B, C, D) and not just income.

2. The judgment upheld the validity of the clarificatory letter dated October 14, 2004, which included salary income for determining the creamy layer.

3. The Court stated that treating children of PSU/private employees differently from government employees' children for reservation would amount to hostile discrimination.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct as the SC emphasized considering the 'status' and 'category of post'. Statement 2 is incorrect because the Court dismissed the Centre's appeals and did not uphold the 2004 letter; it found the letter created discrimination. Statement 3 is correct as the Court explicitly called this differential treatment 'hostile discrimination'.

Question 20

For how many years had Harish Rana been in a vegetative state before the Supreme Court's 2026 ruling?

Accepted Answer

13 years, The article states Harish Rana has been in a vegetative state 'since 2013'. The ruling was in March 2026. Calculating from 2013 to 2026 gives a period of 13 years. This tests attention to chronological detail often asked in prelims.

Question 21

For how many years had Harish Rana been in a Persistent Vegetative State (PVS) before the Supreme Court's judgment in 2026?

Accepted Answer

13 years, The article explicitly states that Harish Rana had been in a Persistent Vegetative State for 13 years following a fall at the age of 19. This factual duration is a key detail from the case.

Question 22

According to the article, approximately what fraction of global liquid petroleum consumption is handled by the Strait of Hormuz?

Accepted Answer

One-fifth, The 'Do You Know' section explicitly states that the Strait of Hormuz 'handles approximately one-fifth of global liquid petroleum consumption'. This is a critical static GK fact linked to global energy security.

Question 23

In which year did the Supreme Court deliver the landmark 'Common Cause v Union of India' judgment that first recognized the legality of passive euthanasia in India?

Accepted Answer

2018, As explicitly stated in the article, the landmark verdict in Common Cause v Union of India was delivered in 2018. This judgment recognized the legality of passive euthanasia and introduced the concept of living wills.

Question 24

As per the article, what was the date of the Office Memorandum (OM) issued by the Government of India that specified criteria for identifying the creamy layer among OBCs?

Accepted Answer

September 8, 1993, The article clearly states that the dispute centered around the 'September 8, 1993 Office Memorandum (OM) issued by the Government of India'. October 14, 2004, is the date of the subsequent clarificatory letter, and March 11, 2026, is the news publication date.

Question 25

What was the key legal distinction made by the Supreme Court that allowed the withdrawal of treatment for Harish Rana?

Accepted Answer

Classifying Clinically Assisted Nutrition and Hydration (CANH) as a medical treatment., The Supreme Court held that artificial nutrition delivered via a PEG tube is not ordinary feeding but 'a technologically mediated medical intervention'. This classification was 'decisive for the legal analysis' because under the Common Cause framework, only medical treatment can be withdrawn when it becomes futile. If it were considered basic sustenance, doctors would have no legal basis to stop it.

Question 26

What is the primary constitutional principle that the Supreme Court's euthanasia jurisprudence seeks to balance?

Accepted Answer

The individual's right to autonomy and dignity versus the state's interest in preserving life., The core of the Court's reasoning, as discussed in the article, is balancing the individual's autonomy and right to die with dignity (under Article 21) against the traditional state obligation to preserve life. The Court held that indefinite preservation of biological existence without consciousness may not protect dignity.

Question 27

What was a primary immediate consequence for India's energy imports due to the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, as discussed in the news?

Accepted Answer

A significant increase in oil imports from Russia., The article's core analysis shows that with West Asian supplies halted, India's Russian oil imports surged by 50% to 1.5 million barrels per day. This was the primary and immediate market adjustment, highlighting India's import dependency and diplomatic pragmatism.

Question 28

What is the primary rationale cited by the Supreme Court for directing the Centre to frame legislation on passive euthanasia after its latest verdict?

Accepted Answer

To address procedural complexities and prevent potential abuse of the process., The article states that experts pointed out passive euthanasia can be prone to abuse, with living wills being manipulated. Therefore, the Supreme Court asked the Centre to frame legislation. The core objective is to create a clear, legally robust framework that simplifies the cumbersome procedure while incorporating safeguards against misuse.

Question 29

What is the primary constitutional principle the Supreme Court invoked to strike down the income-only test for the OBC creamy layer?

Accepted Answer

The equality doctrine under Articles 14, 15, and 16, The judgment explicitly states that creating artificial distinctions between equals 'would amount to equals being treated unequally, thereby attracting the rigour of the equality doctrine under Articles 14, 15 and 16'. This is the core constitutional principle applied to prevent hostile discrimination.

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