National Current Affairs From The Hindu

1. The upcoming Census 2027 will include caste enumeration. When was caste last enumerated as part of a Census in India before this exercise?

A. 1921
B. 1931
C. 1941
D. 1951

Answer: B. 1931

Explanation: Caste enumeration is set to be included in Census 2027. The last time caste data for all communities was collected as part of the decennial Census was in 1931. The upcoming exercise is therefore significant for India’s demographic and social data.

2. The Supreme Court’s recent proceedings on the definition of an “industry” refer to which landmark case concerning the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB)?

A. Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala
B. Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board v. A. Rajappa
C. Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India
D. Minerva Mills v. Union of India

Answer: B. Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board v. A. Rajappa

Explanation: The case of Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board v. A. Rajappa (1978) is a landmark Supreme Court judgment that gave a broad interpretation to the term “industry” under labour law. The Court is now reconsidering aspects of this interpretation in light of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020.

International Current Affairs

3. The U.S. administration has proposed a fee of about $103,000 for which category of visa applications?

A. L-1 visa
B. H-1B visa
C. F-1 visa
D. O-1 visa

Answer: B. H-1B visa

Explanation: The U.S. administration has proposed a fee of $103,265 for H-1B visa applications subject to the annual cap, including applications eligible for the advanced-degree exemption. The move is significant for Indian professionals because India has traditionally been the largest source of H-1B beneficiaries.

4. During his meeting with Vladimir Putin, S. Jaishankar discussed India-Russia cooperation in which of the following areas?

A. Energy and fertilisers
B. Nuclear energy and technology
C. Connectivity and mobility
D. All of the above

Answer: D. All of the above

Explanation: The discussions highlighted the broad nature of the India-Russia strategic partnership. Areas mentioned included energy, fertilisers, nuclear energy, connectivity, mobility and technology, along with wider economic cooperation.

5. India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval arrived in Beijing for border-related talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The talks were held under which framework?

A. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
B. Special Representatives mechanism
C. BRICS Security Dialogue
D. ASEAN Regional Forum

Answer: B. Special Representatives mechanism

Explanation: NSA Ajit Doval visited Beijing for the 25th round of talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi under the Special Representatives mechanism on the India-China boundary question. The mechanism is an important channel for discussing the boundary issue and maintaining peace along the border.

6. Ajit Doval’s visit to Beijing for talks with Wang Yi primarily concerned which bilateral issue?

A. Indus Waters dispute
B. India-China boundary question
C. Trade tariffs
D. Visa liberalisation

Answer: B. India-China boundary question

Explanation: The Special Representatives’ talks focus on the India-China boundary question and broader efforts to maintain peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control. The discussions are significant for managing bilateral relations between the two countries.

Economy & Banking Current Affairs

7. The Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC) has given in-principle approval for the privatisation of how many airports?

A. 4
B. 5
C. 6
D. 8

Answer: B. 5

Explanation: The PPPAC has approved the proposal for the privatisation of five airports through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) route. The airports include Amritsar, Varanasi and Tiruchirappalli, along with two others, and will be bundled into five separate packages for bidding.

8. The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) completed how many years of operations in August 2026?

A. 8 years
B. 9 years
C. 10 years
D. 12 years

Answer: C. 10 years

Explanation: UPI completed 10 years of operations in August 2026. Since its launch in 2016, it has transformed India’s digital payments ecosystem, with transaction volumes growing dramatically and UPI becoming a major component of India’s digital financial infrastructure.

Science & Technology Current Affairs

9. The government has proposed a major shift in Census 2027 by introducing which feature in the enumeration process?

A. Census through only paper forms
B. Digital enumeration
C. Census conducted every five years
D. Enumeration only through Aadhaar

Answer: B. Digital enumeration

Explanation: Census 2027 is being undertaken with a significant emphasis on digital enumeration. The exercise is also notable because caste enumeration is being included, making it an important source of updated demographic and socio-economic data for policymaking.

10. ISRO’s proposed space station, mentioned in the context of India’s expanding space programme, is known by which name?

A. Bharatiya Antariksha Station
B. Indian Orbital Research Station
C. Vikram Space Station
D. Aryabhata Space Station

Answer: A. Bharatiya Antariksha Station

Explanation: India plans to establish the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS) as part of its long-term human spaceflight and space exploration programme. The station is intended to strengthen India’s capabilities in human spaceflight and orbital research.

11. The Indian government has been promoting private-sector participation in the space sector. Which of the following organisations was established to enable greater private participation in India’s space activities?

A. IN-SPACe
B. ISRO
C. DRDO
D. NSIL

Answer: A. IN-SPACe

Explanation: The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) was established as an independent agency under the Department of Space to facilitate and regulate the participation of non-government entities in India’s space activities.

12. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has established a rare-disease registry based on data from how many specialised hospitals, according to the report?

A. 9
B. 12
C. 19
D. 25

Answer: C. 19

Explanation: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has established a rare-disease registry using data contributed by experts from 19 specialised hospitals. The registry has collected information on around 4,000 patients with selected rare diseases over the previous five years, highlighting the importance of patient-data repositories in rare-disease research.

Defence & Security Current Affairs

13. The U.S. Ambassador to India visited which defence company’s facility in Hyderabad amid discussions on expanding India-U.S. aerospace and defence cooperation?

A. Boeing
B. Lockheed Martin
C. Northrop Grumman
D. Raytheon Technologies

Answer: B. Lockheed Martin

Explanation: U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gor visited the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics facility in Hyderabad. The visit highlighted growing India-U.S. cooperation in aerospace and defence manufacturing, including opportunities for deeper integration of Indian industries into global aerospace supply chains.

Environment & Climate Change Current Affairs

14. The Jojari River, which is the subject of recent Supreme Court environmental restrictions, is a tributary of which river?

A. Chambal
B. Luni
C. Yamuna
D. Sabarmati

Answer: B. Luni

Explanation: The Jojari is an important tributary of the Luni River in Rajasthan. Pollution of the river system, particularly from industrial and other activities, has led to judicial intervention and restrictions aimed at protecting the river ecosystem.

15. According to the U.K. Met Office forecast, the El Niño event expected in 2026 could be the biggest in more than a century and may make which year the hottest year globally?

A. 2026
B. 2027
C. 2028
D. 2029

Answer: B. 2027

Explanation: The U.K. Met Office has forecast an exceptionally strong El Niño event, potentially the biggest in more than a century. The resulting increase in global temperatures could make 2027 the hottest year on record, surpassing 2024.

16. El Niño occurs when sea-surface temperatures in which region become unusually warm?

A. Tropical eastern Pacific Ocean
B. Tropical western Atlantic Ocean
C. Southern Indian Ocean
D. North Pacific Ocean

Answer: A. Tropical eastern Pacific Ocean

Explanation: El Niño is a climate phenomenon associated with unusually warm sea-surface temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean. This warming alters atmospheric circulation, winds and rainfall patterns across different parts of the world.

17. At what minimum rise in sea-surface temperature above the baseline is El Niño generally considered to occur?

A. 0.2°C
B. 0.5°C
C. 1.0°C
D. 1.5°C

Answer: B. 0.5°C

Explanation: El Niño is generally identified when sea-surface temperatures in the relevant tropical Pacific region rise by at least 0.5°C above the baseline. Stronger El Niño events can produce much larger temperature anomalies and significant global climatic effects.

Government Schemes Current Affairs

18. The Annapurna Bhandar Scheme, which has become a point of political dispute in West Bengal, is primarily aimed at providing benefits to which group?

A. Small and marginal farmers
B. Women
C. Senior citizens
D. Urban unemployed youth

Answer: B. Women

Explanation: The Annapurna Bhandar Scheme is a West Bengal government initiative under which women beneficiaries receive support through ration/benefit provisions. The scheme has recently become a political issue over allegations concerning eligibility and the distribution of benefits.

19. The Tamil Nadu government has announced a scheme to provide free domestic LPG cylinders to eligible households. How many cylinders per year will be provided?

A. Two
B. Three
C. Four
D. Six

Answer: B. Three

Explanation: The Tamil Nadu government announced that eligible families will receive three domestic LPG cylinders a year under the scheme. The initiative is aimed at providing financial relief to eligible households facing rising fuel costs.

Reports & Indices Current Affairs

20. According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2024-25, what was the unemployment rate among young people aged 18–29 years?

A. 7.7%
B. 9.7%
C. 12.7%
D. 14.8%

Answer: B. 9.7%

Explanation: The editorial cites the PLFS 2024-25, which recorded an unemployment rate of 9.7% among people aged 18–29 years. The article highlights that youth unemployment remains a major economic and social concern, particularly for educated young people.

Sports Current Affairs

21. The Balaji-Anirudh pair won the men’s doubles title at the Cancun Country Open. Which sport is this tournament associated with?

A. Tennis
B. Badminton
C. Table Tennis
D. Squash

Answer: A. Tennis

Explanation: Indian pair N. Sriram Balaji and Anirudh Chandrasekar won the men’s doubles title at the Cancun Country Open. They defeated the Mexican-Belarusian pairing of Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela and Ivan Litynovich in the final.