Q.1) The World Buddhist Peace Conference 2026, recently held in India, was organised in which city?
[a] Bengaluru
[b] Hyderabad
[c] Varanasi
[d] Bodh Gaya
View Answer
Answer: [b] Hyderabad
Explanation:
The World Buddhist Peace Conference 2026 was held in Hyderabad, Telangana, organised by Buddhavanam and Telangana Tourism Development Corporation in partnership with the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha. The two-day conference brought together delegates from over 20 countries (including India, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Bhutan) to discuss peace, reconciliation, ethical leadership, and Buddhist approaches to conflict resolution. It also promoted the Buddhavanam Buddhist Heritage Theme Park on the banks of the Krishna River as a centre for Buddhist diplomacy.
Q.2) According to data released by the Ministry of Finance, India’s fiscal deficit during April–February FY2026 stood at what percentage of the full-year target?
[a] 65.9%
[b] 73.8%
[c] 80.4%
[d] 86%
View Answer
Answer: [c] 80.4%
Explanation:
India’s fiscal deficit for April–February FY2026 was ₹12.5 lakh crore, which is 80.4% of the full-year target, lower than 86% in the previous year. This occurred despite a 15% rise in capital expenditure. Total expenditure reached ₹40.44 lakh crore (81.5% of target), with revenue expenditure at ₹31.15 lakh crore and capital expenditure at ₹9.29 lakh crore. Interest payments formed the largest share of revenue spending (₹10.65 lakh crore), followed by subsidies (~₹3.9 lakh crore).
Q.3) Under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 notified by the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, waste segregation at source is mandated into how many categories?
[a] Two
[b] Three
[c] Four
[d] Five
View Answer
Answer: [c] Four
Explanation:
The Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 (effective from 1 April 2026 under the Environment Protection Act, 1986) mandate four-stream waste segregation at source—wet, dry, sanitary, and special care waste. The rules strengthen waste management through circular economy principles, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and the polluter pays principle. Wet waste must be composted locally, dry waste sent to Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), and sanitary/hazardous waste disposed of through authorised channels.
Q.4) The Celeste In-Orbit Demonstration Mission, recently launched by the European Space Agency, is primarily aimed at testing which of the following?
[a] Deep space communication systems
[b] Low Earth Orbit navigation layer
[c] Space tourism technologies
[d] Lunar landing modules
View Answer
Answer: [b] Low Earth Orbit navigation layer
Explanation:
ESA launched the first two Celeste satellites aboard Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket from New Zealand to test a LEO-based Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) system complementing Galileo and EGNOS. Built by GMV and Thales Alenia Space, the mission will validate new signals using L- and S-band frequencies. It is part of ESA’s LEO-PNT initiative to enhance navigation accuracy, resilience and security.
Q.5) The IMEX TTX 2026, recently conducted by the Indian Navy, was held at which location?
[a] Mumbai
[b] Kochi
[c] Visakhapatnam
[d] Chennai
View Answer
Answer: [b] Kochi
Explanation:
IMEX TTX 2026 was conducted at the Maritime Warfare Centre, Kochi, with participation from multiple Indian Ocean countries. The exercise simulated maritime security scenarios focusing on coordination, information sharing, and decision-making. It coincided with India assuming chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) for 2026–2028, highlighting its growing regional maritime leadership.
Q.6) The Indian Army’s first-ever capital procurement through the Government e-Marketplace involved the purchase of which of the following equipment?
[a] Armoured vehicles
[b] Telescopic Handlers
[c] Missile systems
[d] Drones
View Answer
Answer: [b] Telescopic Handlers
Explanation:
The Indian Army signed its first capital procurement via GeM for 93 Telescopic Handlers from JCB India Ltd under the Buy (Indian) category worth ₹25.90 crore. The move enhances logistics in difficult terrain, reduces manual labour, and promotes transparency and faster procurement, supporting the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Q.7) Earth Hour, recently seen in news for completing 20 years, was first launched in which year?
[a] 2005
[b] 2007
[c] 2010
[d] 2012
View Answer
Answer: [b] 2007
Explanation:
Earth Hour was launched in 2007 and is now observed in 190+ countries to promote environmental awareness and sustainable living. In India, World Wide Fund for Nature India collaborated with the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change to mark 20 years with awareness programmes in Gwalior under the theme “Give an Hour for Earth,” encouraging participation in initiatives like Mission LiFE.
Q.8) Sheetal Devi, recently seen in news, is associated with which of the following sports?
[a] Shooting
[b] Archery
[c] Athletics
[d] Badminton
View Answer
Answer: [b] Archery
Explanation:
Sheetal Devi was named Para Archer of the Year 2025 by World Archery. She became the first female armless archer to win gold at the World Para Archery Championships (2025, Gwangju). She also won team silver and mixed bronze, along with a bronze at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, and multiple Asian-level medals.
Q.9) Kimi Antonelli, recently seen in news, is associated with which of the following sports?
[a] Tennis
[b] Formula One racing
[c] MotoGP
[d] Rally racing
View Answer
Answer: [b] Formula One racing
Explanation:
Kimi Antonelli of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team became the youngest-ever leader of the Formula One World Championship after winning the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. He leads with 72 points, ahead of George Russell. Formula One is governed by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile.
Q.10) The International Day of Zero Waste, observed globally, is celebrated annually on which date?
[a] 20 March
[b] 22 March
[c] 30 March
[d] 5 June
View Answer
Answer: [c] 30 March
Explanation:
The International Day of Zero Waste is observed on 30 March, established by the UN General Assembly in 2022 and facilitated by the United Nations Environment Programme and UN-Habitat. The 2026 theme focuses on food waste, which contributes nearly 10% of global emissions. About 1.05 billion tonnes of food is wasted annually, with households accounting for 60%, highlighting the need for a circular economy approach.