UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Willingness to pay up may not save bank scam colluders: SC

Q1. Which one of the following Supreme Court Benches passed the February 2026 order directing the Enforcement Directorate to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and observing that 'willingness to pay up' cannot save bank scam colluders in the ADAG banking fraud matter?

  • A. A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant
  • B. A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai
  • C. A Division Bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna
  • D. A Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud

Q2. With reference to the parallel CBI and ED investigations into the ADAG banking fraud case as reflected in the Supreme Court's 2026 orders, consider the following statements: 1. The CBI has registered 8 separate FIRs, while the ED has registered 3 Enforcement Case Information Reports (ECIRs) under the PMLA in this matter. 2. The Supreme Court directed the Enforcement Directorate, and not the CBI, to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of senior officers to probe the alleged nexus. 3. The aggregate wrongful loss reflected in the updated status report before the Court exceeded the initial alleged figure of ₹40,000–41,000 crore. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. The CBI has registered 8 separate FIRs, while the ED has registered 3 Enforcement Case Information Reports (ECIRs) under the PMLA in this matter.
  2. The Supreme Court directed the Enforcement Directorate, and not the CBI, to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of senior officers to probe the alleged nexus.
  3. The aggregate wrongful loss reflected in the updated status report before the Court exceeded the initial alleged figure of ₹40,000–41,000 crore.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. As referenced by the Supreme Court while monitoring the ADAG banking fraud probe in 2026, how many separate FIRs has the Central Bureau of Investigation registered in connection with the alleged siphoning of bank loans by ADAG group companies?

  • A. 3
  • B. 5
  • C. 8
  • D. 13

Q4. In the context of money laundering investigations in India, the term 'Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR)' as used by the Enforcement Directorate is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. An internal document of the ED, analogous to an FIR, recorded to initiate an investigation into a scheduled offence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002
  • B. A final prosecution complaint filed by the ED before a Special PMLA Court at the conclusion of investigation
  • C. A compliance inspection report issued by the ED on regulated entities under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999
  • D. A request submitted by the ED to a magistrate seeking judicial cognizance of predicate offences in a scheduled list

Q5. With reference to the ADAG banking fraud matter being monitored by the Supreme Court in 2026, which of the following are correctly identified as ADAG (Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group) entities whose alleged loan diversion is under investigation? 1. Reliance Communications Ltd 2. Reliance Power Ltd 3. Reliance Home Finance Ltd 4. Reliance Industries Ltd Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Reliance Communications Ltd
  2. Reliance Power Ltd
  3. Reliance Home Finance Ltd
  4. Reliance Industries Ltd
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
  • NRAA-Funded Wild Rice Conservation Project Secures Major Milestone in Assam
    NRAA-Funded Wild Rice Conservation Project Secures Major Milestone in Assam

    The notification of Borjuli site in Sonitpur, Assam as a Biodiversity Heritage Site under an NRAA-funded wild rice conservation project is a named, verifiable fact. Biodiversity Heritage Sites and wild crop genetic resource conservation are tested Prelims topics.

  • India Advances Global Green Hydrogen Leadership under National Green Hydrogen Mission

    Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), a landmark commercial deal for green ammonia and methanol export to Japan (IHI Corporation named) is a concrete outcome. India's green hydrogen ambitions and NGHM are recurring Prelims themes; this adds a factual export-deal hook.

  • NITI Aayog launches report on "Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global"
    NITI Aayog launches report on "Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global"

    A named NITI Aayog report on Ayurveda's global expansion is testable as a policy document. NITI Aayog reports, AYUSH sector initiatives, and traditional medicine diplomacy are recurring Prelims themes; the report's launch date and authoring body are clean factual hooks.

  • INDIAN NAVAL SHIP TRIKAND RESPONDS TO PIRACY ATTEMPT ON MV GOLDEN ARSENAL IN THE GULF OF ADEN

    A named Indian Navy anti-piracy operation with specific ship (INS Trikand — identified as a stealth frigate), vessel flag state (St. Vincent and the Grenadines), and location (Gulf of Aden) offers testable facts. India's maritime security operations are plausible Prelims hooks but appear occasionally, not frequently.

  • Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan launches nationwide ‘Viksit Bharat – G-Ram G Act’ from Andhra Pradesh with Chief Minister Shri Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Shri Pawan Kalyan

    A newly named nationwide scheme launched by the Rural Development ministry that explicitly positions itself as moving 'beyond MGNREGA' is potentially testable. However, the excerpt lacks concrete numbers or statutory grounding, keeping it at 3 rather than 4.

  • MANAS: A Digital Shield Against Drugs

    MANAS is a named government digital initiative (national narcotics helpline) with a specific mandate under Nasha Mukt Bharat. Named government portals/helplines with specific functions are tested in Prelims, though this release is a backgrounder without new launch data.

  • VB-G RAM G Act comes into force across the country from today; “A historic day for rural India”: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

    The VB-G RAM G Act (likely a renamed/revised MGNREGA or rural employment guarantee framework) came into force across India from July 1, 2026. Key facts: national launch in Tirupati on July 2; revised wage rates notified with no daily wage below ₹300; national average wage increased by over 10%. A new central Act coming into force with specific wage figures is high-priority Prelims material.

  • India Achieves Major Milestone with Approval of Country’s First PinS Instrument Approach Procedure for Helicopter Operations

    DGCA approved India's first Private Point-in-Space (PinS) Instrument Approach Procedure for helicopter operations, implemented at Undavalli Heliport (developed by AAI). This is a named first in Indian aviation with a specific location and implementing body — classic Prelims material for science/tech and aviation sections.

  • 11 Years of Digital India: Better Healthcare & Digital Markets Making Lives Easier

    This release contains high-quality testable data: Greece is named as the 10th country to adopt UPI; every second real-time digital transaction globally is processed via India's UPI; 13 lakh Anganwadi workers connected via Poshan Tracker covering 9 crore beneficiaries. Multiple concrete facts that are prime Prelims material.

  • India, EU Advance Cooperation on Sustainable Ship Recycling; Three Indian Yards Ready for EU Recognition

    India has a 35.4% global market share in sustainable ship recycling. Three Indian ship-recycling yards are ready for EU recognition. India committed $8 billion to strengthen shipbuilding and recycling, with a target of recycling 16,000 ships. These are specific, verifiable figures in a sector where India leads globally — strong Prelims material on maritime/shipping sector.

  • GAGAN: Navigating India’s Skies with Precision

    Detailed backgrounder on GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation), India's Satellite-Based Augmentation System developed jointly by ISRO and Airports Authority of India (AAI). It enhances GPS accuracy for aviation, is certified to international standards, and supports satellite-based landing approaches. GAGAN is a recurring Prelims topic and this backgrounder consolidates key testable facts about its developers, purpose, and certification status.

    • The Hindu

    Latest PIB

    Latest from The Hindu

    Explore