Question 1

What topics are covered in the 18 March 2026 current affairs quiz?

Accepted Answer

The 18 March 2026 quiz covers Polity, Governance, International Relations, Economy with 15 MCQs sourced from The Hindu and Indian Express.

Question 2

How to use 18 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

Under which Article of the Constitution is a 'Constitution Bench' of the Supreme Court constituted?

Accepted Answer

Article 143, Article 143 deals with the power of the President to consult the Supreme Court. However, the provision for Constitution Benches (with five or more judges) is governed by Article 145(3), which states that any case involving a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution shall be decided by a bench of at least five judges.

Question 6

Under which Ministry does the Enforcement Directorate (ED) function?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Finance, The Enforcement Directorate (ED) functions under the Department of Revenue, which is part of the Ministry of Finance. It is responsible for enforcing economic laws like PMLA and FEMA.

Question 7

As per the news, which ministry is currently the final signing-off agency for issuing content blocking orders to social media platforms under Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, The article explicitly states that the power to issue final blocking orders under Section 69(A) is currently only available to the IT Ministry (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology). Other ministries send requests, but the IT Ministry is the final agency.

Question 8

The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is mentioned in which part of the Indian Constitution?

Accepted Answer

Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV), The Uniform Civil Code is enshrined in Article 44, which falls under the Directive Principles of State Policy in Part IV of the Constitution. These principles are not enforceable by courts but are fundamental in governance.

Question 9

Which section of the Indian Penal Code creates a statutory presumption against the accused in cases of dowry death?

Accepted Answer

Section 304B IPC, The article explicitly mentions Section 304B of the IPC (and its equivalent Section 80 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) as the provision that creates a statutory presumption treating dowry death as a heinous crime. Section 498A deals with cruelty, while Sections 302 and 326 deal with murder and grievous hurt respectively.

Question 10

Under which central legislation is the term 'industry' being interpreted by the Supreme Court in the current case?

Accepted Answer

The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, The article explicitly states that the Supreme Court is revisiting the definition of 'industry' as per the Industrial Disputes Act-1947. This Act is the primary legislation governing industrial disputes in India.

Question 11

According to the article, which Indian institution provided the estimate for the country's platform workforce in 2020-21?

Accepted Answer

NITI Aayog, The article explicitly states that a NITI Aayog report estimated 7.7 million platform workers in India in 2020-21. The ILO provided the global estimate of 400 million workers.

Question 12

Which constitutional provision is cited by the government to justify the centralization of higher education regulation under the VBSA Bill?

Accepted Answer

Entry 66 of Union List, The Ministry, as per the article, informed the committee that Entry 66 of the Union List provides for coordination and determination of standards in higher education institutions, and the VBSA Bill makes provisions for this mandate. Entry 25 is for education generally, while Articles 21 and 368 are unrelated.

Question 13

Which international organization's physical activity guidelines are referenced in the Lancet study on climate change and inactivity?

Accepted Answer

World Health Organization (WHO), The article explicitly mentions the WHO guidelines for weekly exercise, recommending at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous activity for adults. The study uses this as a baseline to measure the impact of climate change on physical activity levels.

Question 14

Which national survey is the primary source for data on the prevalence and treatment gap of mental disorders in India, as discussed in the article?

Accepted Answer

National Mental Health Survey (NMHS), The article repeatedly cites data from the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) of 2015-16 for key statistics like adult prevalence (10.6%), rural-urban divide, and the 70-92% treatment gap. NMHS is the flagship survey for mental health data in India.

Question 15

Consider the following statements regarding the definition of 'industry' in Indian labour law:

1. The 'triple test' for defining an industry was laid down by the Supreme Court in the Bangalore Water Supply case (1978).

2. The Industrial Disputes (Amendment) Act, 1982, which sought to narrow the definition, was fully notified and implemented.

3. The new Industrial Relations Code, 2020, has completely replaced the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only 1, Statement 1 is correct as the 'triple test' was indeed established in the 1978 Bangalore Water Supply case. Statement 2 is incorrect because the 1982 Amendment Act was never notified and thus did not come into effect. Statement 3 is incorrect; while the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, is meant to consolidate and replace the Industrial Disputes Act, it is yet to be fully implemented, as mentioned in the article.

Question 16

Consider the following statements regarding the legal arguments presented in the Supreme Court case concerning ED raids in Kolkata:

1. West Bengal argued that the ED, being a department of the Central government, is not a 'person' entitled to file a writ petition under Article 32.

2. The Solicitor General argued that the Chief Minister's alleged obstruction of the ED's investigation was in the larger public interest.

3. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal contended that an officer of the ED does not have a 'fundamental right' to investigate, as the power is drawn solely from the PMLA.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct as per the article: West Bengal's counsel argued the ED is not a 'body corporate' or a 'legal or natural person' to claim violation of fundamental rights under Article 32. Statement 2 is incorrect; it was the ED (through the Solicitor General) that argued the raids were 'in the larger public interest', not that the obstruction was. Statement 3 is correct as Kapil Sibal argued an ED officer's power to investigate is drawn from the PMLA, not from a fundamental right.

Question 17

Consider the following statements regarding developments mentioned in the news:

1. The Supreme Court read down a provision limiting maternity leave for adoptive mothers to cases where the child is below three months old.

2. India supports the US-led proposal at the WTO for a permanent moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions.

3. The Durand Line dispute is a primary factor in the recent escalation of conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct: The SC read down Section 60(4) of the Social Security Code 2020 which had a three-month age limit. Statement 2 is incorrect: India OPPOSES the permanent moratorium. Statement 3 is correct: The article details how skirmishes along the Durand Line have escalated and it is a historical wound for Pashtuns.

Question 18

How many judges were part of the Constitution Bench that delivered the landmark Bangalore Water Supply judgment in 1978?

Accepted Answer

7 Judges, The article explicitly states that the 1978 landmark judgment in Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board vs A Rajappa was delivered by a seven-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court.

Question 19

According to the article, what is the estimated value of the coal smuggling case being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in relation to the Kolkata I-PAC raids?

Accepted Answer

₹2,742 crore, The article explicitly states that the ED has maintained the raids were part of an investigation into a '₹2,742-crore coal smuggling case'. The other options are plausible distractors but are not mentioned in the text.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz, 18 March 2026MCQs for UPSC, MPSC, SSC, Banking & Teaching Exams

All Questions in Today's Current Affairs Quiz

Topics Covered

Articles Covered

Practice More Quizzes

Related Current Affairs Resources

Why Practice Daily Current Affairs Quiz?

Frequently Asked Questions