UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Centre unveils policy to tackle terror threats

Q1. With reference to recent developments, the 'PRAHAAR — National Counter-Terrorism Policy & Strategy', made public in February 2026, was released by which one of the following?

  • A. Ministry of Defence
  • B. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • C. Ministry of External Affairs
  • D. Cabinet Secretariat through the National Security Council Secretariat

Q2. With reference to the 'PRAHAAR' policy released by the Government of India in 2026, consider the following as its stated pillars: 1. Prevention of terror attacks 2. Response to threats in a swift and proportionate manner 3. Aggregating Internal Capacities through a whole-of-government approach 4. Recovery and Resilience through an inclusive, whole-of-society approach Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Prevention of terror attacks
  2. Response to threats in a swift and proportionate manner
  3. Aggregating Internal Capacities through a whole-of-government approach
  4. Recovery and Resilience through an inclusive, whole-of-society approach
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. The PRAHAAR National Counter-Terrorism Policy & Strategy (2026) describes India's counter-terror approach as being primarily guided by which one of the following?

  • A. Kinetic-response-led, prioritising rapid deployment of special forces
  • B. Legislation-led, prioritising new statutes over operational doctrine
  • C. Intelligence-Guided, according primacy to intelligence gathering and dissemination to executive agencies
  • D. Diplomacy-led, prioritising bilateral extradition treaties over domestic disruption

Q4. The acronym 'PRAHAAR', adopted for India's National Counter-Terrorism Policy & Strategy released in 2026, is formed from how many guiding pillars?

  • A. Five
  • B. Six
  • C. Seven
  • D. Nine

Q5. With reference to the 'PRAHAAR' policy of 2026, consider the following as components of its doctrine: 1. Attenuation of conditions that enable terrorism and radicalisation 2. Reduction of India's overall defence expenditure as a share of GDP 3. Alignment and shaping of international efforts to counter terrorism 4. Human rights and rule-of-law based approach while responding to threats Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as a pillar of PRAHAAR?

  1. Attenuation of conditions that enable terrorism and radicalisation
  2. Reduction of India's overall defence expenditure as a share of GDP
  3. Alignment and shaping of international efforts to counter terrorism
  4. Human rights and rule-of-law based approach while responding to threats
  • A. 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only
  • 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