Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

The 21 May 2026 quiz covers Polity, Governance, Security, Social Issues with 25 MCQs sourced from The Hindu and Indian Express.

Question 2

How to use 21 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

Which investigative agency was involved in the Supreme Court case 'Syed Iftikhar Andrabi vs National Investigation Agency, Jammu'?

Accepted Answer

National Investigation Agency (NIA), The case name explicitly mentions the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The NIA is India's central counter-terrorism law enforcement agency, established after the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Question 6

The decennial Census of India is conducted under the administrative control of which Union Ministry?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Home Affairs, The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, which conducts the Census, operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs. This is a key static GK fact for governance-related questions.

Question 7

The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), discussed in the news, replaced which earlier legislation governing criminal procedure in India?

Accepted Answer

The Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, As stated in the article, the BNSS replaced the colonial era Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) on July 1, 2024. The Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Indian Evidence Act are substantive and evidence laws, respectively, not primarily procedural codes.

Question 8

The Supreme Court judgment on stray dogs cited a violation of which fundamental right under the Constitution of India?

Accepted Answer

Right to Life and Personal Liberty (Article 21), The Supreme Court explicitly held that the unchecked presence of stray dogs in public institutions poses a direct threat to citizens' right to life and safety under Article 21 of the Constitution. This article guarantees the protection of life and personal liberty.

Question 9

Which central investigating agency is probing the NEET 2026 paper leak case, as mentioned in the article?

Accepted Answer

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), The article explicitly states that the NTA referred the names of Chemistry paper setters and translators to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for further examination following the leak. The CBI is the premier central investigating agency in India.

Question 10

Which ministry/department in India is responsible for awarding Geographical Indication (GI) tags?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Commerce and Industry, The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is the nodal agency for administering the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999, and awarding GI tags in India.

Question 11

Which body publishes the India Justice Report, as mentioned in the article?

Accepted Answer

Tata Trusts, The article mentions the India Justice Report, which is published by Tata Trusts in collaboration with other partners. This is a key static GK fact linked to governance and social justice reports.

Question 12

Which international organization administers the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA)?

Accepted Answer

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), The article explicitly states that CORSIA is 'Administered by the International Civil Aviation Organisation'. ICAO is a UN specialized agency that manages the administration and governance of the Convention on International Civil Aviation.

Question 13

Which institution in India is the primary authority for managing the country's Balance of Payments and exchange rate policy?

Accepted Answer

Reserve Bank of India (RBI), The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is India's central bank and the primary authority responsible for managing the country's foreign exchange reserves, exchange rate policy, and overall Balance of Payments, as outlined in the RBI Act, 1934.

Question 14

Under which law was the Sri Lankan national in the news article originally convicted?

Accepted Answer

Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, The article explicitly states the accused was 'convicted under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA)'. The UAPA is India's primary anti-terror law, distinguishing it from other security-related acts like POTA (repealed) or AFSPA.

Question 15

Consider the following statements regarding the Supreme Court's Andrabi ruling:

1. The ruling granted bail to an accused who had spent over five years in pre-trial custody under the UAPA.

2. It held that the bail restrictions under Section 43-D(5) of UAPA are absolute and cannot be diluted under any circumstance.

3. The judgment disapproved the reasoning in the two-judge bench rulings of Gurwinder Singh (2024) and Gulfisha Fatima (2026).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct as the article states bail was granted after over five years and nine months in custody. Statement 2 is incorrect; the ruling held that the rigours of Section 43-D(5) can 'melt down' when trial is delayed. Statement 3 is correct as the article explicitly states the judgment disapproved the reasoning in those two cases.

Question 16

Consider the following statements regarding the upcoming 2027 Census:

1. It will be the first Census since Independence to include a question on caste.

2. Its population data will be used for the delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies.

3. It will follow a pure 'de jure' method of enumeration, counting people at their permanent place of residence.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 2, Statement 1 is correct: The 2027 Census will include caste data for the first time since the 1951 Census (post-Independence). Statement 2 is correct: Census data is constitutionally mandated for delimitation. Statement 3 is incorrect: The Indian Census follows an 'extended de facto' method, not a pure 'de jure' method.

Question 17

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

1. The Court held that the hearing before cognisance under BNSS is a substantive right flowing from Article 21 of the Constitution.

2. The Court accepted the Enforcement Directorate's argument that the PMLA is a stand-alone statute, making BNSS procedures inapplicable.

3. The Court ruled that cognisance taken without the mandatory hearing under Section 223(1) of BNSS is 'void ab initio'.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct as the article states the first proviso to Section 223(1) was 'a substantive right flowing from Article 21'. Statement 2 is incorrect because the Supreme Court 'rejected the argument outright' that PMLA is a stand-alone statute overriding BNSS. Statement 3 is correct as the court declared such cognisance 'void ab initio'.

Question 18

Consider the following statements regarding the Supreme Court's judgment on stray dogs:

1. The Court ordered the removal of stray dogs specifically from institutional premises like schools and hospitals.

2. The judgment interpreted the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, as mandating the release of sterilised dogs back into the exact same location, including airports.

3. The Court directed states to identify and secure all such institutional premises within a period of two weeks.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct as the Court's order specifically focuses on schools, hospitals, transport hubs, etc. Statement 2 is incorrect; the Court held that the ABC Rules do NOT mandate the compulsory reintroduction of dogs into sensitive institutional premises. Statement 3 is correct as the article mentions the two-week deadline for states to identify and secure premises.

Question 19

Consider the following statements regarding the vulnerabilities of examination systems as discussed in the article:

1. Both Pen-and-Paper (PnP) and Computer-Based Testing (CBT) formats are vulnerable to leaks originating from the human chain involved in question setting.

2. The IIT-JEE examination system maintains stability primarily by keeping critical operations like paper setting and translation in-house under academic oversight.

3. The NEET 2026 'Guess Paper' controversy was solely due to a breach during the physical transportation of printed question papers.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 2, Statement 1 is correct: The article explains that both PnP and CBT rely on the same ecosystem of question setters, making them vulnerable to insider leaks. Statement 2 is correct: The stability of IIT-JEE is attributed to its in-house control over operations. Statement 3 is incorrect: The article suggests the 2026 leak likely originated from the question-setting process (involving translators) and not from physical transportation, as the 'Guess Paper' contained solutions and resembled question bank content.

Question 20

For how long had Syed Iftikhar Andrabi been in pre-trial custody before being granted bail by the Supreme Court?

Accepted Answer

Over 5 years and 9 months, The article specifically mentions that Syed Iftikhar Andrabi had spent "over five years and nine months in pre-trial custody." This is a key factual detail highlighting the issue of prolonged detention.

Question 21

As per the article, what is the approximate number of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) living abroad, according to the Ministry of External Affairs website?

Accepted Answer

About 1.58 crore, The article explicitly cites the Ministry of External Affairs website, stating there are about 1.58 crore NRIs living abroad. This is a key data point with implications for delimitation and representation.

Question 22

From which date did the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) come into force, as per the article?

Accepted Answer

July 1, 2024, The article explicitly states 'the new criminal laws came into force on July 1, 2024' and that 'BNSS... replaced the colonial era Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) on July 1, 2024'.

Question 23

As cited in the Supreme Court judgment, what was the total number of dog bite cases reported in Tamil Nadu in the first four months of 2026?

Accepted Answer

Approximately 2.63 lakh cases, The article explicitly states that Tamil Nadu recorded nearly 2.63 lakh dog-bite cases in the first four months of 2026. The other options are close distractors based on figures for other states or time periods mentioned.

Question 24

According to the article, how many different language versions are the NEET question papers translated into?

Accepted Answer

13 languages, The article states that for NEET, multiple paper sets are prepared and translated into English, Hindi, and 11 additional languages. Therefore, the total number of language versions is 13 (1 English + 1 Hindi + 11 others).

Question 25

What is the primary legal principle that the Supreme Court's Andrabi ruling sought to reaffirm against the stringent UAPA bail provision?

Accepted Answer

The primacy of the right to personal liberty and a speedy trial under Article 21., The article states the judgment reiterated that "the right to personal liberty and a speedy trial cannot be subservient to the provision in Section 43-D(5)." This is a direct application of Article 21 of the Constitution. The ruling does not create an absolute right to bail but establishes a constitutional check on prolonged detention.

Question 26

What is a major implication of excluding Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) from the Census count, as discussed in the article?

Accepted Answer

It leads to a representational gap affecting the allocation of Lok Sabha seats to states during delimitation., The article argues that since NRIs are not counted in the Census but can be registered as voters, states with high emigration (like Kerala) may lose out on Lok Sabha seat allocation during delimitation, which is based on Census population figures. This creates a representational asymmetry.

Question 27

What was the primary constitutional basis cited by the Supreme Court for mandating a pre-cognisance hearing under the BNSS?

Accepted Answer

Article 21 - Protection of Life and Personal Liberty, The article clearly states that the Court held the mandatory hearing was 'a substantive right flowing from Article 21 (protection of life and personal liberty) of the Constitution'. This links the procedural safeguard directly to the fundamental right to a fair trial.

Question 28

What was the primary legal reasoning the Supreme Court used to justify the removal of stray dogs from institutional areas, despite the Animal Birth Control Rules?

Accepted Answer

That the 'same locality' rule in the ABC Rules does not apply to sensitive institutional premises like schools and hospitals., The Court performed a harmonious interpretation, holding that sensitive institutional premises cannot be equated with ordinary public streets or open-access localities. It concluded that the statutory scheme does not mandate the compulsory reintroduction of dogs into such secured institutional areas, thereby balancing the ABC Rules with the State's duty under Article 21.

Question 29

What is identified as the primary reason for the comparative stability of the IIT-JEE examination system over NEET, as per the analysis in the article?

Accepted Answer

IIT-JEE maintains in-house academic control over critical operations like paper setting., The article directly contrasts the two systems. It states that IIT-JEE keeps most critical operations in-house under academic oversight (faculty supervision, limited translation), leading to stability. In contrast, NTA extensively outsources sensitive operations, creating accountability gaps. The testing platform or number of applicants is not cited as the primary reason.

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