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Daily quiz archive · 26 June 2026

Daily Current Affairs Quiz for UPSC Prelims 2027 — 26 June 2026

Of this day’s ten questions, 5 were built from that morning’s news. They are below, with the answers. The rest of the set came from Prelimo’s practice bank and stays in the app, because a bank question can still turn up in a live quiz.

Each question below is followed by the keyed answer, why that answer is right, and the static syllabus concept the question is really testing. Where a question came from a specific news story, that story is linked.

Q1 · Geography · Indian Monsoon System

Which of the following statements most accurately describes the typical impact of La Niña on the Indian summer monsoon?

  1. ALa Niña conditions are generally associated with stronger-than-average monsoon rainfall in India.Correct answer
  2. BLa Niña is characterized by the unusual warming of the surface waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.
  3. CLa Niña typically causes a strong positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), leading to severe drought conditions across the subcontinent.
  4. DThe primary effect of La Niña is to significantly delay the onset of the monsoon over the Kerala coast by several weeks.

Why this answer

The correct option states that La Niña conditions are generally associated with stronger-than-average monsoon rainfall in India. This is because La Niña involves the cooling of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, which strengthens the normal Walker Circulation. This results in a stronger high-pressure system over the eastern Pacific and a more intense low-pressure system over the Indian subcontinent, enhancing the flow of moisture and leading to a wetter-than-normal monsoon. The statement describing unusual warming of the Pacific defines El Niño, not La Niña. La Niña is not causally linked to a positive IOD and drought; in fact, both La Niña and a positive IOD are generally favourable for the Indian monsoon. While ENSO conditions can influence the monsoon's onset date, their primary and most-studied impact is on the total seasonal rainfall amount, not a significant delay.

The static concept

Mechanism of the Indian Monsoon, including the influence of El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD).

From the news: Why India may be better prepared this time to withstand a poor monsoon

The full Deep Proof for this question — the news angle, the static-dynamic link, the source chapter and an autopsy of every wrong option — lives in the app.

Q2 · Environment · Climate Change & Greenhouse Gas Management

Which of the following best describes the primary mechanism of Solar Radiation Management (SRM) techniques as a method to counter global warming?

  1. AIncreasing the Earth's albedo to reflect a small fraction of incoming solar radiation back into space.Correct answer
  2. BDirectly capturing and sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide in geological formations or oceans.
  3. CEnhancing the chemical processes that remove other potent greenhouse gases like methane and nitrous oxide from the troposphere.
  4. DModifying large-scale ocean currents to increase the transport of heat from the equator to the polar regions.

Why this answer

The correct answer describes the fundamental principle of Solar Radiation Management (SRM). SRM techniques aim to cool the Earth by reflecting a portion of sunlight back into space, thereby increasing the planet's overall reflectivity, or albedo. This approach does not reduce greenhouse gas concentrations but rather seeks to offset their warming effect. The option describing the capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide refers to Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR), a different category of geoengineering. The other options describe other potential climate interventions, such as removing non-CO2 greenhouse gases or altering ocean circulation, which are distinct from the primary mechanism of SRM.

The static concept

Geoengineering: Differentiating between Solar Radiation Management (SRM) and Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) as climate change mitigation strategies.

From the news: Europe swelters under record-breaking heatwave

The full Deep Proof for this question — the news angle, the static-dynamic link, the source chapter and an autopsy of every wrong option — lives in the app.

Q3 · Polity · Fundamental Rights

Which one of the following scenarios most accurately represents a situation where the writ of Mandamus can be issued by the Supreme Court or a High Court?

  1. ATo compel the President of India to give assent to a Bill passed by the Parliament.
  2. BTo enforce a contractual obligation against a private corporation that does not perform any public duty.
  3. CTo direct a public official, who has a statutory duty to perform an act, to carry out that duty when they have arbitrarily refused to do so.Correct answer
  4. DTo order an inferior court or tribunal to decide a pending case in a specific manner.

Why this answer

The writ of Mandamus, which literally means 'we command', is issued by a court to a public official asking him to perform his official duties that he has failed or refused to perform. The correct option describes the quintessential case for issuing Mandamus: a public official refusing to perform a mandatory statutory duty. Mandamus cannot be issued against the President or a State Governor for the exercise of their powers and duties. It also cannot be used to enforce a private contract against a private body which has no public duty. Furthermore, it cannot be issued to direct an inferior court on how to exercise its judicial discretion, as this would violate judicial independence; other writs like Prohibition or Certiorari deal with jurisdictional errors, not the substance of the judgment.

The static concept

Article 32 & 226 — Writ Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and High Courts, specifically the scope and limitations of the writ of Mandamus.

From the news: Clearing the road to timely trauma care in India

The full Deep Proof for this question — the news angle, the static-dynamic link, the source chapter and an autopsy of every wrong option — lives in the app.

Q4 · International Relations · UN & Global Governance

With reference to the process of representation and credentials at the United Nations, consider the following statements:

  1. 1.The UN Credentials Committee consists of nine members who are appointed by the General Assembly at the beginning of each regular session.
  2. 2.The Credentials Committee has the final authority to reject the credentials of a member state's representative if they are found to be invalid.
  3. 3.The acceptance of a member state's credentials by the General Assembly requires a prior recommendation from the UN Security Council.
  4. 4.In cases of competing claims for a country's seat, the practice has been to allow the incumbent representative to retain their position until the General Assembly makes a final decision.

How many of the above statements are correct?

  1. AOnly one
  2. BOnly twoCorrect answer
  3. COnly three
  4. DAll four

Why this answer

Two statements are correct. Statement 1 is correct. According to Rule 28 of the UN General Assembly's Rules of Procedure, a Credentials Committee consisting of nine members is appointed by the General Assembly at the beginning of each session on the proposal of the President. Statement 2 is incorrect. The Credentials Committee examines the credentials of representatives and reports its findings to the General Assembly. The General Assembly holds the final authority to approve or reject the credentials, not the committee itself. Statement 3 is incorrect. The UN Security Council's role is to recommend the admission of *new member states* to the UN. The process of verifying the credentials of representatives of *existing member states* is a function of the General Assembly and its Credentials Committee, and does not require UNSC recommendation. Statement 4 is correct. This reflects the established practice of the UN. In recent years, concerning the competing claims from Afghanistan and Myanmar, the Credentials Committee has deferred its decision, which has resulted in the representatives of the previous governments retaining their seats.

The static concept

UN General Assembly Rules of Procedure, particularly the role and function of the Credentials Committee and the distinction between member admission and representative credentials.

From the news: Russia denies pressuring Belarus to widen Ukraine conflict; Minsk blames West

The full Deep Proof for this question — the news angle, the static-dynamic link, the source chapter and an autopsy of every wrong option — lives in the app.

Q5 · Environment · Biodiversity Hotspots & Conservation

Assertion (A): Assertion (A): The Western Ghats are designated as a global biodiversity hotspot primarily because they contain a high concentration of endemic species and have experienced severe habitat loss.

Reason (R): Reason (R): The Kasturirangan Committee Report recommended that approximately 60% of the Western Ghats be declared as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) to protect its biodiversity.

  1. ABoth A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
  2. BBoth A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
  3. CA is true but R is falseCorrect answer
  4. DA is false but R is true

Why this answer

Assertion (A) is true. An area qualifies as a biodiversity hotspot if it meets two strict criteria: it must contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants (>0.5% of the world's total) as endemics, and it has to have lost at least 70% of its original habitat (i.e., have 30% or less of its original natural vegetation). The Western Ghats fulfil both these conditions. Reason (R) is false. The High-Level Working Group (HLWG), chaired by K. Kasturirangan, recommended declaring only 37% of the Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA), not 60%. The much stricter Gadgil Committee (WGEEP) had recommended a more extensive zonation covering the entire region. Therefore, A is true but R is false.

The static concept

Biodiversity Hotspots: Criteria (endemism, threat level) and Indian examples (Western Ghats), and related conservation governance (Gadgil and Kasturirangan Committees).

From the news: House panel chief flags Great Nicobar project issues; BJP members say stick to the agenda

The full Deep Proof for this question — the news angle, the static-dynamic link, the source chapter and an autopsy of every wrong option — lives in the app.