Question 1

What topics are covered in the 15 August 2026 current affairs quiz?

Accepted Answer

The 15 August 2026 quiz covers Economy, International Relations, Security, Infrastructure with 15 MCQs sourced from The Hindu and Indian Express.

Question 2

How to use 15 August 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 implementing the Samudra Manthan National Offshore Exploration Scheme?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, The Samudra Manthan scheme is aimed at accelerating oil and gas exploration in deepwater and ultra-deepwater areas. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is the nodal ministry for all hydrocarbon exploration and production activities in India.

Question 6

Which Supreme Court judgment established the basic structure doctrine of the Indian Constitution?

Accepted Answer

Kesavananda Bharati v State of Kerala, 1973, A 13-judge bench of the Supreme Court held that Parliament cannot alter the basic structure or essential features of the Constitution through amendments under Article 368. This landmark judgment placed limits on the amending power.

Question 7

Under which constitutional entry do states derive the power to tax mineral rights, which has been curtailed by the recent amendment to the MMDR Act?

Accepted Answer

State List – Entry 50, Entry 50 of the State List (List II of the Seventh Schedule) gives states the power to levy taxes on mineral rights, subject to any limitations imposed by Parliament by law relating to mineral development. The recent amendment restricts this power by prohibiting state taxes on mineral-bearing lands and operations.

Question 8

Which organisation is responsible for designing the indigenous Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) under India's Nuclear Energy Mission?

Accepted Answer

Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, The article states that three types of SMRs—the 200 MWe BSMR-200, a 55 MWe SMR, and a 5 MWt high-temperature gas-cooled reactor—are being designed and developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) for demonstration.

Question 9

Which department was set up under Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to facilitate the integration of princely states into India?

Accepted Answer

States Department, The States Department was created in July 1947 with Sardar Patel as head and V.P. Menon as secretary to handle the accession and integration of over 500 princely states.

Question 10

Which department is responsible for releasing the draft rules under the SHANTI Act?

Accepted Answer

Department of Atomic Energy, The draft SHANTI rules were released by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), which is the nodal department for nuclear energy in India. The DAE operates under the Prime Minister's Office and oversees nuclear power generation, research, and regulation.

Question 11

Which international organization's benchmark food price index hit an all-time high in March 2022, as mentioned in the article?

Accepted Answer

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), The article explicitly states 'the FAO’s benchmark food price index hit an all-time high' in March 2022. FAO is the specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security.

Question 12

In the Independence Day speech, which framework was outlined by PM Modi as a seven-point growth framework for the next five-seven years?

Accepted Answer

Sapt Dhara, The article mentions PM Modi outlined 'Sapt Dhara' as a seven-point growth framework covering manufacturing, agriculture, technology, infrastructure, defence, green-blue economy and soft power. Samudra Manthan is an offshore exploration initiative, SHANTI Act relates to nuclear energy, and Viksit Bharat is the overall developed-India goal.

Question 13

Which U.S. office authored the report 'The Great Transhipment Scam' that names India in a shadow transhipment network?

Accepted Answer

Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy (OTMP), The article explicitly states that the report was authored by the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy (OTMP), an advisory body within the White House. It notes that the OTMP is not established through a statute but its advisory role suggests continued surveillance.

Question 14

Which ministry is responsible for launching and implementing the Green India Mission (GIM)?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, The Green India Mission was launched by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in 2014. It is one of the eight missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).

Question 15

Consider the following statements:

1. PM Modi warned that resources like fuel, medicines, and technology are being weaponised by some countries.

2. The Strait of Hormuz handled about 20 million barrels per day of oil in 2025, accounting for roughly half of global seaborne oil trade.

3. India has opened 99% of its sedimentary basins for oil and gas exploration and production.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct as per PM Modi's speech. Statement 2 is incorrect: the Strait of Hormuz handled ~20 million barrels/day, which is about a quarter (25%) of global seaborne oil trade, not half. Statement 3 is correct: the government opened 99% of sedimentary basins for exploration.

Question 16

Consider the following statements regarding Supreme Court judgments:

1. The Navtej Singh Johar case decriminalised consensual same-sex relations by striking down Section 377 IPC.

2. The Shayara Bano case upheld the practice of instant triple talaq as constitutional.

3. The Puttaswamy judgment recognised the right to privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct: Navtej Singh Johar (2018) struck down Section 377 IPC decriminalising consensual same-sex relations. Statement 2 is incorrect: Shayara Bano (2017) struck down instant triple talaq as unconstitutional, not upheld. Statement 3 is correct: Puttaswamy (2017) held the right to privacy is an intrinsic part of Article 21.

Question 17

Consider the following statements regarding the recent Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026:

1. The Act prohibits state governments from levying any tax or cess on mineral rights, mineral-bearing lands, and related operations.

2. The amendment applies to both major and minor minerals, bringing all mining under central regulation.

3. The Act takes retrospective effect, invalidating any such levy that was liable but not collected before its enforcement.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 3 only, Statement 1 is correct as the amendment specifically bars states from imposing tax/cess on mineral operations and lands. Statement 2 is incorrect because the amendment covers only major minerals (e.g., coal, iron ore, lithium) and not minor minerals, which remain under state control. Statement 3 is correct as the Act has a retrospective effect, nullifying prior levies not yet collected.

Question 18

According to the news, what was India's approximate crude oil import bill for the year 2024-25?

Accepted Answer

$137 billion, The article explicitly states that crude oil imports were valued at about $137 billion in 2024-25. The other options are close distractors: $84 billion is close to the Samudra Manthan outlay (₹84,084 crore), and $160 billion is a plausible round figure but not correct.

Question 19

In which year did the Supreme Court strike down Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, relating to restrictions on online speech?

Accepted Answer

2015, The Shreya Singhal v Union of India judgment in 2015 declared Section 66A unconstitutional for violating the freedom of speech under Article 19(1)(a). It held that the section was not protected under 'reasonable restriction' under Article 19(2).

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