Daily Current Affairs Quiz for UPSC Prelims 2027 — 14 June 2026

The Global Gender Gap Report, which benchmarks countries on their progress towards gender parity across key dimensions, is an annual publication by which of the following organizations?

Why this answer

The correct answer is the World Economic Forum (WEF). The Global Gender Gap Report is an annual publication by the WEF that measures gender-based gaps in access to resources and opportunities in countries. UN Women is the UN entity for gender equality, the World Bank publishes reports on economic development including gender data, and the UNDP is famous for the Human Development Report which includes the Gender Inequality Index (GII), a different metric often confused with the Gender Gap Index.

The static concept

Major International Reports and Indices related to Social and Human Development.

The 'Global Gateway' strategy, frequently mentioned in the news, is a major global infrastructure and investment initiative launched by which of the following?

Why this answer

The correct answer is the European Union. The Global Gateway is the EU's strategy to boost smart, clean, and secure links in digital, energy, and transport sectors across the world. Launched in 2021, it aims to mobilize up to €300 billion in investments by 2027. It is widely seen as a European alternative to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The G7 has a similar initiative called the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), and while the USA is a key partner in Western-led initiatives, the 'Global Gateway' is specifically an EU-branded strategy. The World Bank is a multilateral development bank and not a geopolitical bloc that launches such strategic initiatives.

The static concept

Major International Groupings and Initiatives: Geopolitical strategies and connectivity projects.

With reference to the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), which of the following statements best describes its primary objective?

Select the most accurate description from the options below.

Why this answer

The India-EU Trade and Technology Council, launched in February 2023, is a strategic mechanism designed to facilitate cooperation on trade, technology, and security, thereby deepening the strategic partnership by providing a high-level forum to tackle challenges in these interconnected areas. The assertion that it exclusively fast-tracks BTIA negotiations is incorrect because while trade is a component, the TTC's mandate is broader and operates on a separate track. The notion that it forms a military and security pact aimed at maritime surveillance is incorrect; the TTC is a strategic coordination body, not a military alliance. The characterization that it creates a common digital market between India and the EU is an overstatement; while digital connectivity is a focus, this is not its stated primary objective.

The static concept

India's Foreign Policy: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India, particularly the India-EU Strategic Partnership.

With reference to contemporary geopolitical conflicts and regions in the news, consider the following statements:

1. 1.The Sahel region in Africa has been prominent in the news due to a series of military coups and the expanding influence of Islamist insurgent groups.
2. 2.The Houthi movement, responsible for recent attacks on international shipping, primarily operates from Yemen and controls key territories along the Red Sea coast.
3. 3.The Nagorno-Karabakh region is a disputed territory where a UN-mandated peacekeeping force currently maintains a ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
4. 4.The 'Two-State Solution' is a widely discussed framework proposed to resolve the long-standing territorial dispute between Syria and Israel over the Golan Heights.

How many of the above statements are correct?

Why this answer

The correct answer is 'Only two'. - Statement 1 is correct. The Sahel region, particularly countries like Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, has experienced a 'coup belt' and is a hotspot for jihadist insurgencies linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIS. - Statement 2 is correct. The Houthi movement (Ansar Allah) controls the capital Sana'a and significant portions of Yemen's Red Sea coast, from where it has launched attacks on maritime shipping. - Statement 3 is incorrect. Following a military offensive in September 2023, Azerbaijan took full control of Nagorno-Karabakh. The peacekeeping force present was Russian, not UN-mandated, and its mission has effectively ended with the changed ground reality. - Statement 4 is incorrect. The 'Two-State Solution' refers to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, proposing an independent State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel. The Golan Heights is a separate territorial dispute between Israel and Syria.

The static concept

International Relations: Map-based knowledge of contemporary conflict zones and their geopolitical drivers.

With reference to the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), consider the following statements:

1. 1.The India-EU TTC is structured around three working groups covering digital connectivity, green technologies, and resilient value chains.
2. 2.India is the first country with which the European Union has established a Trade and Technology Council.
3. 3.The TTC is the designated primary implementation body for the EU's 'Global Gateway' strategy in the Indian subcontinent.
4. 4.The establishment of the TTC has formally superseded and replaced the negotiations for the India-EU Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA).

How many of the above statements are correct?

Why this answer

Statement 1 is correct. The India-EU TTC is structured around three specific Working Groups: 1) Strategic Technologies, Digital Governance and Digital Connectivity; 2) Green & Clean Energy Technologies; and 3) Trade, Investment and Resilient Value Chains. Statement 2 is incorrect. The EU first launched a TTC with the United States in 2021, making India the second partner for such a mechanism. Statement 3 is incorrect. The TTC and the Global Gateway are complementary but distinct initiatives. The TTC is a forum for policy coordination on trade and tech, while Global Gateway is a broader global infrastructure and investment strategy. The TTC is not the primary implementation body for Global Gateway. Statement 4 is incorrect. The TTC negotiations and the talks for a Free Trade Agreement (historically known as BTIA) are proceeding on parallel, separate tracks. The TTC is a strategic dialogue, not a replacement for a comprehensive trade deal. Therefore, only one statement is correct.

The static concept

India-EU Strategic Partnership: Institutional mechanisms for cooperation in trade, technology, and geopolitics.

Why this answer

Both the Assertion (A) and the Reason (R) are true, and R is the correct explanation for A. The Supreme Court, in its landmark judgment in *The Secretary, Ministry of Defence v. Babita Puniya & Ors.* (2020), mandated the grant of Permanent Commission to women officers in the Army. This was a significant step towards gender equality in the armed forces. The Reason (R) correctly states the legal basis for this judgment. The Court explicitly rejected the Union Government's arguments based on physiological features, motherhood, and domestic obligations, terming them as gender stereotypes that violate the guarantee of equality under Article 14. Therefore, the reasoning provided in R directly led to the judicial mandate mentioned in A.

The static concept

Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment, linked with Fundamental Rights (Article 14 and 16) and the role of the judiciary in social reform.