Question 1

What topics are covered in the 21 July 2026 current affairs quiz?

Accepted Answer

The 21 July 2026 quiz covers International Relations, Security, Environment, Economy with 25 MCQs sourced from The Hindu and Indian Express.

Question 2

How to use 21 July 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/department is primarily responsible for handling the Indus Waters Treaty in India?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of External Affairs, The Indus Waters Treaty is an international treaty between India and Pakistan, and its handling falls under the Ministry of External Affairs, which manages bilateral relations and diplomatic negotiations. While the Ministry of Jal Shakti deals with water resources, the treaty's abeyance and renegotiation are primarily a diplomatic matter.

Question 6

Which international organisation is responsible for regulating maritime safety and confirmed the 59 incidents in the Strait of Hormuz?

Accepted Answer

International Maritime Organisation (IMO), The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is the UN specialised agency that regulates shipping. In the article, the IMO is cited as having confirmed at least 59 such incidents (vessel attacks) since March 1. The other options are unrelated to maritime safety regulation.

Question 7

Which constitutional provision deals with disqualification on grounds of defection?

Accepted Answer

Tenth Schedule, The Tenth Schedule to the Constitution, added by the 52nd Amendment Act, 1985, contains the anti-defection law. It provides for disqualification of MPs/MLAs for defecting from their political party, with exceptions for mergers as per rules.

Question 8

Which organisation is the U.K.'s financial and commercial hub, as mentioned in the article?

Accepted Answer

City of London Corporation, The article explicitly identifies the City of London Corporation as the U.K.'s financial and commercial hub, with its policy chief commenting on the CETA. The Bank of England is the central bank, and the other options are not the designated hub.

Question 9

Which ministry/department is responsible for the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), whose Director General chairs the Supreme Court-appointed committee on Aravalli Hills?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). Its Director General, Kanchan Devi, chairs the High-Powered Committee on Aravalli Hills, as mentioned in the article.

Question 10

Which institution published the report 'Realising Rights' that analyses welfare spending in India?

Accepted Answer

Centre for the Study of the Indian Economy, Azim Premji University, The article mentions that the handbook 'Realising Rights' was published by the Centre for the Study of the Indian Economy, Azim Premji University. It traces the history and budgetary implications of key central welfare programmes.

Question 11

Which article of the Constitution empowers High Courts to issue writs for enforcement of fundamental rights and for any other purpose?

Accepted Answer

Article 226, Article 226 empowers High Courts to issue writs for enforcement of fundamental rights and for any other purpose. Article 32 empowers the Supreme Court for fundamental rights enforcement. Article 136 deals with special leave petition, and Article 142 with enforcement of decrees and orders of the Supreme Court.

Question 12

Which Articles of the Constitution were cited by the Supreme Court to declare walking on footpaths a fundamental right?

Accepted Answer

Article 19(1)(d) and Article 21, The Supreme Court in Maniyar Iliyaz @ Shaik Riyaz vs P. Ayyappan (2026) held that walking on demarcated footpaths is a fundamental right protected under Article 19(1)(d) (right to move freely) and Article 21 (right to life). The other options are incorrect because they involve different constitutional provisions not mentioned in the judgment.

Question 13

Which provision of US law was invoked by President Trump to impose 50% tariffs on Canadian goods?

Accepted Answer

Section 338 of the 1930 Trade Act, The article clearly states that Trump signed proclamations invoking Section 338 of the 1930 Trade Act, a rarely used provision based on trade discrimination claims. The other options are common US trade remedy laws but were not used in this instance.

Question 14

The Chenab River is a tributary of which major river basin?

Accepted Answer

Indus Basin, The Chenab is one of the five rivers of the Indus system. The article mentions 'Indus basin' in the context of India's legitimate rights. The Indus Waters Treaty allocates the Chenab to Pakistan as a western river.

Question 15

Consider the following statements regarding the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT):

1. India has decided to terminate the Indus Waters Treaty permanently.

2. The treaty was placed in abeyance after the Pahalgam terror attack of April 20, 2025.

3. India's action on the IWT sets a precedent for China's Brahmaputra dam project.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only 2, Statement 1 is incorrect because India has placed the treaty in 'abeyance' (temporary suspension), not terminated it. Statement 2 is correct as per the article: the treaty was placed in abeyance after the Pahalgam attack. Statement 3 is incorrect because the official explicitly stated that India's IWT stance does not set a precedent for China's Brahmaputra projects, as no treaty exists with China on that river.

Question 16

Consider the following statements regarding the India-U.K. Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA):

1. The CETA came into effect on July 15, 2026, a year after it was signed.

2. Under the deal, the UK has eliminated tariffs on 64.1% of its tariff lines.

3. India has eliminated tariffs on a total of 77.3% of the trade volume, including 47% through phased elimination.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct: the CETA came into effect on July 15, 2026, one year after it was signed. Statement 2 is incorrect: the UK eliminated 96.8% of its tariff lines (9,249 of 9,736), not 64.1%. Statement 3 is correct: India will eliminate tariffs on 77.3% of trade volume (including 47% phased). Hence option C is correct.

Question 17

Consider the following statements regarding the Tenth Schedule:

1. A merger of a political party is valid only if at least two-thirds of its members agree to the merger.

2. The Speaker's decision under the Tenth Schedule is final and cannot be challenged in any court.

3. The anti-defection law was added by the 52nd Amendment Act, 1985.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct: For a merger to be valid, at least two-thirds of the party's members must agree. Statement 2 is incorrect: The Speaker's decision is subject to judicial review by the Supreme Court (as held in Kihoto Hollohan case). Statement 3 is correct: The 52nd Amendment added the Tenth Schedule.

Question 18

Consider the following statements regarding the India-U.K. CETA:

1. The agreement came into effect on July 15, 2026.

2. The U.K.-India Infrastructure Financing Bridge (UKIIFB) was launched in September 2024.

3. The UKIIFB has already achieved its target of $4.5 trillion in infrastructure projects.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 2, Statement 1 is correct: The CETA came into effect on July 15, 2026. Statement 2 is correct: The UKIIFB was launched in September 2024. Statement 3 is incorrect: The $4.5 trillion is India's infrastructure target by 2030, not an achievement of the UKIIFB.

Question 19

Consider the following statements:

1. The Aravalli Range is one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, formed during the Precambrian Era.

2. The 100-metre elevation definition for Aravalli Hills was initially proposed by a committee led by the Director General of ICFRE.

3. The Supreme Court, in its December 29 order, stayed the implementation of the ministry report and its own November 20 judgment.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct: the article states the Aravallis were formed during the Precambrian Era. Statement 2 is incorrect: the 100-metre definition was proposed by an Environment Secretary-led panel, not by the ICFRE DG-led committee. Statement 3 is correct: the Supreme Court's December 29 order stayed both the ministry report and its own November 20 judgment.

Question 20

According to the news article, what percentage of the water flow Pakistan receives under the Indus Waters Treaty flows into the ocean?

Accepted Answer

50%, The article states that 'almost 50% of the water flow that Pakistan received under the Indus Waters Treaty flowed into the ocean.' This was cited as a reason for India's dissatisfaction, as Pakistan has not built adequate storage facilities over 76 years.

Question 21

According to the article, how many commercial vessels carrying Indian crew were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz on July 14, 2026?

Accepted Answer

Two vessels with a combined 30 Indian crew, The article states: 'Two commercial vessels carrying 30 Indian crew combined were attacked off the coast of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday last week (July 14).' Options A, C, and D provide incorrect numbers – the article clearly mentions two vessels and 30 Indian crew.

Question 22

On which date did the Lok Sabha Speaker issue the circular recognizing the merger of six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs?

Accepted Answer

July 18, 2026, The article explicitly states that on July 18, 2026, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla recognized the merger of six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs with the Shinde-led faction. This circular was challenged by the UBT faction in the Supreme Court.

Question 23

What is the value of India's infrastructure target by 2030, as mentioned in the article?

Accepted Answer

$4.5 trillion, The article explicitly states that India aims to achieve a $4.5 trillion infrastructure target by 2030, supported by the UKIIFB unlocking global capital.

Question 24

According to the article, what percentage of the Aravalli hill range would have been left unprotected under the initially accepted 100-metre elevation definition?

Accepted Answer

Over 90%, The article explicitly states that the 100-metre elevation benchmark would leave 'over 90 per cent of the vulnerable hill range outside protection.' This key data point is crucial for prelims and demonstrates the impact of definitional ambiguity.

Question 25

What is the primary reason cited by India for placing the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance?

Accepted Answer

Pakistan's continued support for cross-border terrorism, The article emphasizes that Pakistan's sponsorship of terrorism, especially after the Pahalgam attack, was the primary trigger. The official stated that Pakistan's support for terrorism 'can be considered a breach of the treaty' and that India cannot be compelled to stay in a treaty against its interest. While other factors like climate change and storage issues were mentioned, they were secondary to the terror sponsorship issue.

Question 26

What is the primary geopolitical objective of the US Senate bill seeking 100% tariffs on India and four other countries?

Accepted Answer

To penalise countries financing another nation's war effort through oil purchases, The article explicitly states that this legislation 'would be first instance of the US Congress explicitly authorising tariffs as a geopolitical instrument to penalise countries accused of financing another nation’s war effort.' The bill targets countries buying Russian oil, aiming to cut off revenue flows to Russia amid the Ukraine war. While trade deficit and IP enforcement are ongoing issues, the primary objective here is geopolitical.

Question 27

What is the primary constitutional argument made by Shiv Sena (UBT) against the Speaker's recognition of the merger?

Accepted Answer

The MPs acted unilaterally without the merger of the original political party, violating the Tenth Schedule, The petition argued that the six MPs decided unilaterally to merge with the rival party without the original party (Shiv Sena UBT) merging. Under the Tenth Schedule, individual defection without party merger is unconstitutional. The Speaker's recognition was challenged as 'ex-facie unconstitutional'.

Question 28

What is the primary purpose of the U.K.-India Infrastructure Financing Bridge (UKIIFB)?

Accepted Answer

To de-risk Indian infrastructure projects and connect them with global capital, According to the article, the UKIIFB brings together experts to make Indian projects more investable (de-risk) and link them with global pools of capital, as exemplified by the Versova Sea Link project.

Question 29

What is the primary objective of the High-Powered Committee constituted by the Supreme Court on the Aravalli Hills issue?

Accepted Answer

To obtain a fair, impartial, and independent assessment resolving ambiguities in the 100-metre definition, The Supreme Court established the panel to obtain a 'fair, impartial, and independent' assessment and to resolve critical ambiguities in the October 2025 report. Its mandate includes definitively enumerating regions under the 100-metre definition and analysing the ecological consequences of mining, not an outright ban or compensation.

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