UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — The DAILY QUIZ

Q1. Following the March 2026 civilian killings in South Sudan, which single body holds the PRIMARY mandate for the protection of civilians within the country?

  • A. United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)
  • B. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
  • C. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
  • D. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Q2. In UN peacekeeping operations such as UNMISS, a 'Formed Police Unit' (FPU) is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A cohesive, armed and mobile police contingent (about 140 officers) deployed for public-order management and protection of UN personnel and facilities
  • B. An unarmed team of individual police advisers seconded to mentor the host-state police
  • C. A military infantry battalion assigned to ceasefire-line monitoring
  • D. A civilian cell tasked solely with human-rights monitoring and reporting

Q3. As of 2025, into how many states is the Republic of South Sudan administratively divided (in addition to its Administrative Areas)?

  • A. 10
  • B. 28
  • C. 32
  • D. 8

Q4. Consider the following countries with respect to South Sudan: 1. Sudan 2. Ethiopia 3. Nigeria 4. Kenya Which of the above is/are correctly identified as countries sharing a land border with South Sudan?

  1. Sudan
  2. Ethiopia
  3. Nigeria
  4. Kenya
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q5. Under UN Security Council Resolution 2820 (2026), the authorized troop ceiling of UNMISS was reduced to which one of the following levels?

  • A. 12,500
  • B. 17,000
  • C. 7,000
  • D. 19,000

Q6. Consider the following as stated tasks within the mandate of UNMISS: 1. Protection of civilians 2. Creating conditions conducive to the delivery of humanitarian assistance 3. Supporting implementation of the Revitalized Agreement and the peace process 4. Administering South Sudan as a United Nations trust territory Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Protection of civilians
  2. Creating conditions conducive to the delivery of humanitarian assistance
  3. Supporting implementation of the Revitalized Agreement and the peace process
  4. Administering South Sudan as a United Nations trust territory
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. Consider the following statements regarding the security architecture of Cyprus: 1. UNFICYP was established in 1964 to prevent fighting between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. 2. The ceasefire buffer zone supervised by UNFICYP is commonly known as the Green Line. 3. Akrotiri and Dhekelia are Sovereign Base Areas retained by the United Kingdom. 4. The Republic of Cyprus is a member of both the European Union and NATO. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. UNFICYP was established in 1964 to prevent fighting between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities.
  2. The ceasefire buffer zone supervised by UNFICYP is commonly known as the Green Line.
  3. Akrotiri and Dhekelia are Sovereign Base Areas retained by the United Kingdom.
  4. The Republic of Cyprus is a member of both the European Union and NATO.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 2 and 4

Q8. Which one of the following is the principal United Nations peacekeeping force deployed on the island of Cyprus?

  • A. United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP)
  • B. United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
  • C. United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF)
  • D. United Nations Military Observer Group (UNMOGIP)

Q9. Consider the following pairs relating to Nepal's 2026 general election: 1. Rastriya Swatantra Party — secured a majority in the House of Representatives 2. Balen Shah — RSP's prime ministerial candidate and a former civil engineer 3. K.P. Sharma Oli — leader of the Nepali Congress who returned as Prime Minister 4. Nepali Congress — finished in second place Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

  1. Rastriya Swatantra Party — secured a majority in the House of Representatives
  2. Balen Shah — RSP's prime ministerial candidate and a former civil engineer
  3. K.P. Sharma Oli — leader of the Nepali Congress who returned as Prime Minister
  4. Nepali Congress — finished in second place
  • A. 1, 2 and 4
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q10. With reference to the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup compared with earlier editions, consider the following statements: 1. The 2026 tournament was co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. 2. India defeated New Zealand in the final to become the first team to win three T20 World Cup titles. 3. The 2026 final was the first in the tournament's history to be decided by a Super Over. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The 2026 tournament was co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
  2. India defeated New Zealand in the final to become the first team to win three T20 World Cup titles.
  3. The 2026 final was the first in the tournament's history to be decided by a Super Over.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q11. Cuba's national electricity grid suffered how many separate nationwide collapses during March 2026?

  • A. Three
  • B. One
  • C. Two
  • D. Five

Q12. In the context of George Russell's win at the season-opening 2026 Australian Grand Prix, the term 'pole position' refers precisely to which one of the following?

  • A. The first place on the starting grid, awarded to the driver who set the fastest time in qualifying
  • B. The status of having led every lap of the race from start to finish
  • C. The fastest single lap recorded during the race itself
  • D. First place in the previous season's drivers' championship