Weekly Current Affairs Quiz for Prelims Practice
Source:Indian Express ↗
Why It Matters
Regularly practicing current affairs quizzes helps UPSC aspirants consolidate their knowledge of recent events, which is crucial for tackling the dynamic and factual questions commonly found in the Prelims exam.
Summary
This article provides a weekly current affairs quiz tailored for UPSC Prelims 2026 aspirants. Covering the week of April 12 to April 18, it features multiple-choice questions on recent news events to help candidates evaluate their preparation and stay updated on important issues.
Key Points
- The article presents a weekly current affairs quiz designed for UPSC Prelims 2026 preparation.
- It covers important national and international events that occurred between April 12 and April 18, 2026.
- The quiz format helps aspirants test their knowledge and readiness for the objective-type questions in the Preliminary examination.
Important Terms
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Constitutional body under Articles 315-323, responsible for recruiting Group A and B civil servants in India through various competitive examinations.
UPSC context
Polity (GS2); tests understanding of constitutional bodies, their independence, and the merit-based recruitment process.
131st Constitution Amendment Bill
A 2026 legislative proposal aiming for 33% female reservation in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, recently debated for immediate implementation versus census-linked delays.
UPSC context
Polity/Governance (GS2); tests knowledge of amendment processes, gender justice, and legislative representation issues.
Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR)
A planned industrial smart city in Gujarat, housing India’s first commercial semiconductor fabrication plant and part of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor.
UPSC context
Economy/S&T (GS3); critical for infrastructure development, semiconductor manufacturing, and the India Semiconductor Mission.
River Basin Management (RBM) Scheme
A Jal Shakti Ministry framework for integrated management, protection, and sustainable development of India’s river basins, extended through 2031 with increased funding.
UPSC context
Geography/Environment (GS1/GS3); tests inter-state water governance, river interlinking, and climate resilience strategies.
Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha
A constitutional post under Article 89, elected by Rajya Sabha members from among themselves to preside in the absence of the Chairman.
UPSC context
Polity (GS2); tests parliamentary procedure, constitutional offices, and the functioning of the Upper House.
India AI Governance Guidelines
A principle-based framework released in 2026, anchored in seven 'Sutras' (like People First and Accountability) to ensure ethical and inclusive AI development.
UPSC context
S&T (GS3); tests emerging technologies, digital governance, and ethical frameworks in the context of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Space Situational Awareness (SSA)
The monitoring and tracking of space objects and debris to ensure safe satellite operations; ISRO released the ISSAR-2025 report highlighting rising collision risks.
UPSC context
S&T (GS3); tests space security, international cooperation (Kessler Syndrome), and India’s growing space-faring capabilities.
Kalai-II Hydroelectric Project
A 1,200 MW run-of-river project on the Lohit River in Arunachal Pradesh, vital for India’s renewable energy and strategic infrastructure in border areas.
UPSC context
Geography (GS1/GS3); tests North-East infrastructure, river systems, and energy security priorities.
Prelims Trap
"Khasi and Garo languages were recently added to the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution."
Under Article 345, state legislatures can adopt regional languages for official state purposes. This does NOT automatically place them in the Eighth Schedule.
Static Concepts Connected
How are official languages of a State determined under the Indian Constitution?
- Article 345 power: State legislatures can adopt any language in use in the state, or Hindi, as the official language for state purposes.
- Eighth Schedule myth: A language does not need to be in the Eighth Schedule to be adopted as a state's official language (e.g., Khasi and Garo).
Why are glass substrates being preferred in advanced 3D semiconductor packaging?
- Thermal stability: Glass offers superior dimensional stability and resists warping at high temperatures better than traditional organic or silicon substrates.
- Interconnect density: Glass allows for much finer, denser interconnects, enabling faster data transfer and more complex multi-chip 3D architectures.
Cross-Topic Patterns
Linear infra & wildlife mitigation
The Rajaji elevated corridor mirrors efforts in Pench (NH44). UPSC increasingly tests the intersection of infrastructure modernization (NHAI projects) with Eco-Sensitive Zones and wildlife conservation mandates.
Malnutrition tech: GM vs Extrusion
Contrasting controversial GM biofortification (Golden Rice) with CSIR's non-GM extrusion-processed 'designer rice' highlights alternative, faster regulatory pathways to combat anemia and hidden hunger.
Non-GM 'designer rice' extrusion vs GM biofortification is a prime candidate for a comparative S&T statement question in Prelims 2026.
Linked PYQs · 3
Linked PYQs · 3
- 2024PrelimsGS1
Consider the following pairs (Country — Reason for being in the news): 1. Argentina — Worst economic crisis 2. Sudan — War between the country's regular army and paramilitary forces 3. Turkey — Rescinded its membership of NATO How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
- 2022PrelimsGS1
Consider the following pairs: Country Important reason for being in the news recently 1. Chad - Setting up of permanent military base by China 2. Guinea - Suspension of Constitution and Government by military 3. Lebanon - Severe and prolonged economic depression 4. Tunisia - Suspension of Parliament by President How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
- 2023PrelimsGS1
Consider the following pairs: Area of conflict mentioned in news Country where it is located 1. Donbas : Syria 2. Kachin : Ethiopia 3. Tigray : North Yemen How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
