Question 1

What topics are covered in the 13 May 2026 current affairs quiz?

Accepted Answer

The 13 May 2026 quiz covers Polity, Governance, Social Issues, Science Tech with 25 MCQs sourced from The Hindu and Indian Express.

Question 2

How to use 13 May 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

The Supreme Court's judgment in the Harish Rana case primarily interprets which fundamental right under the Indian Constitution?

Accepted Answer

Right to Life and Personal Liberty (Article 21), The judgment explicitly reasons that the withholding of life-sustaining treatment, allowing the natural course of life, does not fall foul of Article 21, thereby linking the right to die with dignity to this fundamental right.

Question 6

Which part of the Constitution empowers the State to make laws for social reform and the throwing open of Hindu religious institutions to all classes?

Accepted Answer

Article 25(2)(b), As discussed in the article, Article 25(2)(b) specifically empowers the State to make laws providing for social welfare and reform or for throwing open Hindu religious institutions of a public character to all classes and sections of Hindus. Article 25(1) guarantees freedom of conscience, Article 26(b) gives denominations the right to manage religious affairs, and Article 29(2) deals with admission to educational institutions.

Question 7

Which Indian organization is responsible for the development of the Agni series of missiles?

Accepted Answer

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), The article states that the Agni missile family was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). ISRO handles space missions, while HAL and BDL are defence PSUs involved in aircraft and missile production, respectively.

Question 8

The Supreme Court quashed a 35-year-old case citing violation of the right to speedy trial, which is an integral part of which Fundamental Right?

Accepted Answer

Right to Life and Personal Liberty (Article 21), The right to a speedy trial is a judicially recognized facet of Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty) of the Constitution. The Supreme Court, in cases like Hussainara Khatoon (1979), has held that unreasonable delay in trial violates this fundamental right.

Question 9

The National Testing Agency (NTA), in the news for the NEET paper leak, operates under which Union Ministry?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Education, The National Testing Agency (NTA) is an autonomous body established to conduct entrance examinations and operates under the administrative control of the Union Ministry of Education.

Question 10

The joint report 'Extreme Heat and Agriculture' discussed in the article was released by which two international organizations?

Accepted Answer

Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), The article explicitly states that the report 'Extreme Heat and Agriculture' is a joint publication by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).

Question 11

Which constitutional document's schedule was discussed in relation to the medium of instruction in the Supreme Court's judgment?

Accepted Answer

Eighth Schedule, The Supreme Court criticized the Rajasthan government's 'myopic stance' that only languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution could be incorporated into the school curriculum. The Court clarified this was not a necessary condition.

Question 12

Which United Nations specialized agency, mentioned in the article, provides authoritative forecasts on climate patterns like El Nino?

Accepted Answer

World Meteorological Organization (WMO), The article states that the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said El Nino conditions are expected to start in May. The WMO is the UN agency responsible for weather, climate, and water.

Question 13

Which state department issued the instructions regarding the implementation of preferential reservation for Arunthathiyars?

Accepted Answer

Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, The article states that the communication was from the 'Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department'. This department in Tamil Nadu handles the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Question 14

Which international financial institutions are primarily identified as the architects of Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) in the article?

Accepted Answer

International Monetary Fund and World Bank, The article explicitly states that beginning in the 1980s, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank began structural adjustment programmes across Asia, Africa and Latin America, and later refers to them as the 'primary architects' of these programmes.

Question 15

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

1. The Court permitted the withdrawal of Clinically Assisted Nutrition and Hydration (CANH) for the first time in India.

2. The Court equated the withdrawal of life support with active euthanasia, which involves a positive act like a lethal injection.

3. The Court directed the constitution of secondary medical boards at the district level under Chief Medical Officers.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct as the article states this was a 'first-of-its-kind judicial order in India'. Statement 2 is incorrect; the Court distinguished active euthanasia from passive euthanasia (withdrawal of life support), not equated them. Statement 3 is correct as the Court directed Chief Medical Officers to constitute panels of medical practitioners as secondary boards.

Question 16

Consider the following statements regarding the Supreme Court hearing on Sabarimala review petitions:

1. The nine-judge bench is examining the interplay between rights under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution.

2. Article 25(2)(b) empowers the State to make laws for social reform, which, as per the Kerala government's counsel, is a trespass on religious rights.

3. The Chief Justice of India heading the bench is Justice Surya Kant.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct as the article clearly states the key question is the interplay between rights under Articles 25 and 26. Statement 2 is incorrect because the counsel for Kerala, Senior Advocate Jaideep Gupta, argued the opposite: that Article 25(2)(b) creates a separate compartment, making it clear that such state action is "not necessarily trespassing upon protected religious rights." Statement 3 is correct as the article mentions CJI Surya Kant presiding over the bench.

Question 17

Consider the following statements:

1. MIRV technology allows a single missile to carry multiple warheads that can be independently targeted at different locations.

2. The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is primarily driven by wind patterns and is independent of differences in ocean temperature and salinity.

3. In a freely floating exchange rate system, the value of a currency is determined by demand and supply in the foreign exchange market.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct as per the core concept of MIRV. Statement 2 is incorrect because AMOC, part of thermohaline circulation, is driven by temperature and salinity differences (density), not just wind. Statement 3 correctly defines a free-floating exchange rate system.

Question 18

Consider the following statements regarding the Supreme Court judgment discussed in the news:

1. The Court quashed a criminal case pending since 1991, involving charges under IPC and the Railways Act.

2. The bench observed that lower courts diligently follow the Supreme Court's guidelines on speedy trials, ensuring accountability.

3. The Court invoked its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to ensure 'complete justice' in the matter.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct as per the article: the FIR was registered in 1989 and pending since 1991 under IPC and Railways Act. Statement 2 is incorrect; the Court's observation was the opposite – it stated 'No court bothers to follow the guidelines' due to a lack of accountability. Statement 3 is correct; the Court's power to pass orders for complete justice is derived from Article 142.

Question 19

Consider the following statements regarding the news:

1. The NEET-UG 2026 exam was conducted across nearly 5,500 centres in more than 550 cities.

2. The National Testing Agency (NTA) was established in 2019 to professionalize entrance examinations.

3. After the 2024 NEET controversy, a committee was formed headed by former ISRO chairperson K Radhakrishnan.

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; the NTA was established in 2017, not 2019. Statement 3 is correct as mentioned in the article. Hence, option C is correct.

Question 20

According to the article, on which date did the Supreme Court deliver its judgment holding that withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment would be in Harish Rana's best interest?

Accepted Answer

March 11, 2026, The article clearly states: 'the Supreme Court on March 11 had held that withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment... would uphold a patient’s dignity.' March 24, 2026, is the date of Rana's death. May 13, 2026, is the date of the subsequent hearing where the Court appreciated the organ donation.

Question 21

The Supreme Court's original judgment, which is under review, striking down age restrictions on women's entry to Sabarimala temple was delivered on which date?

Accepted Answer

September 28, 2018, The article explicitly states that the bench is considering questions arising from petitions seeking review of the SC's "September 28, 2018" judgment. The other dates are close distractors related to other judicial events or the timeline of the review process.

Question 22

According to the news, to what level did the Indian rupee depreciate against the US dollar, hitting a fresh record low?

Accepted Answer

95.63, The article explicitly states: "The rupee slipped to a fresh record low of 95.63 yesterday against the US dollar." The other options are plausible but incorrect distractors.

Question 23

For how many years was the criminal case, which was recently quashed by the Supreme Court, pending trial?

Accepted Answer

35 years, The article explicitly states the case was pending trial for 35 years. The FIR was registered in 1989 and the trial was pending since 1991. The Supreme Court's order in 2026 marks a delay of 35 years from the start of the trial proceedings.

Question 24

According to the article, approximately how many MBBS seats in India does the NEET-UG exam serve as a gateway for?

Accepted Answer

Roughly 1.3 lakh, The article explicitly states that NEET is the gateway to roughly 1.3 lakh MBBS seats in India's medical colleges. The other options are close distractors.

Question 25

What was a key procedural directive issued by the Supreme Court in its March 11 judgment to handle future cases of life-support withdrawal?

Accepted Answer

Constitute panels of medical practitioners as secondary boards under district Chief Medical Officers., The article states the Court directed 'Chief Medical Officers in all districts to constitute panels of registered medical practitioners to serve as secondary medical boards.' This decentralizes the process for future applications, making option B correct. The other options are not mentioned in the article.

Question 26

What was the core concern expressed by Justice B V Nagarathna regarding the use of Article 25(2)(b) for social reform?

Accepted Answer

That it could be used to completely 'hollow out' a religion., The article quotes Justice Nagarathna saying, "in the name of reform, you cannot violate what is guaranteed under Article 25(1)... cannot hollow out religion." This captures her concern that unrestrained use of the social reform power could erode the core of religious freedom. The other options are not supported by the article's content.

Question 27

What is a primary strategic implication of India successfully testing MIRV technology on the Agni-5 missile?

Accepted Answer

It enhances India's second-strike capability, strengthening nuclear deterrence., The article explains that MIRV technology, by enabling a devastating counterattack with multiple warheads, is critical for India's no-first-use doctrine and deters adversaries from striking first. The other options are incorrect: cost reduction is not the primary goal, pre-emptive strikes contradict stated doctrine, and MIRV is a military, not civilian, technology.

Question 28

What was the primary reason cited by the Supreme Court for the failure of its guidelines on speedy trials?

Accepted Answer

Absence of accountability for non-compliance, The Supreme Court explicitly stated, 'No court bothers to follow the guidelines. They do not follow because there is no accountability. No one is made answerable for the same.' This highlights a systemic issue where directives are issued but not enforced due to the lack of mechanisms to hold courts accountable for delays.

Question 29

What is the primary institutional concern raised by the repeated paper leaks in exams conducted by the NTA?

Accepted Answer

The capacity of the agency to safeguard the sanctity and credibility of high-stakes examinations., The core issue highlighted in the article is the NTA's institutional failure and its questioned capacity to ensure the integrity of exams on which lakhs of aspirants stake their futures, undermining the meritocratic system.

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