UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PRESS NOTE

Question 1

Among the following modes by which the Government of India communicates, which one is the only instrument that carries legal force to validate and bring an Act, Rule or Order into effect?

Accepted Answer

A Gazette Notification published in the Gazette of India

Answer

A Press Note issued by a Ministry through the Press Information Bureau

Answer

A Press Release circulated to newspapers by the Press Information Bureau

Answer

A Press Communique issued by a Government department

Question 2

In the context of Government communications routed through the Press Information Bureau, what most accurately describes a 'Press Note' as distinct from a 'Press Release'?

Accepted Answer

A formal, dated communication of record value by which a Ministry announces an official decision, order or invitation for input, carrying greater standing than a routine news release

Answer

A day-to-day news item circulated to the media to publicise ordinary departmental activities and achievements

Answer

A statement issued only on matters of the highest national importance that must be reproduced verbatim by all newspapers

Answer

A background reference document that compiles data and explanations on a subject without announcing any decision

Question 3

Across which one of the four States/UTs recognised in the definitional exercise does the Aravalli range have its single largest extent?

Accepted Answer

Rajasthan

Answer

Haryana

Answer

Gujarat

Answer

Delhi

Question 4

Consider the following statements comparing the Supreme Court-accepted definition of the Aravallis with the earlier Rajasthan approach:
1. The landform-based definition traces back to the Rajasthan Committee Report of 2002, which applied Richard Murphy's landform classification.
2. Under the accepted definition, a landform must rise at least 100 metres above the local relief to qualify as an Aravalli Hill.
3. The accepted definition treats two or more such hills lying within 1 kilometre of one another as constituting an Aravalli Range.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 5

The 2026 High-Powered Committee on the Aravalli Hills and Ranges was constituted by the Supreme Court in which one of the following proceedings?

Accepted Answer

Suo Motu Writ Petition (Civil) No. 10 of 2025 — In Re: Definition of Aravalli Hills and Ranges and Ancillary Issues

Answer

Writ Petition (Civil) No. 202 of 1995 — T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India

Answer

Writ Petition (Civil) No. 4677 of 1985 — M.C. Mehta v. Union of India

Answer

Suo Motu Writ Petition (Civil) No. 10 of 2024 — In Re: Aravalli Mining Moratorium

Question 6

Consider the following statements about the expert bodies in the Aravalli definitional matter:
1. The earlier committee that recommended the definition was led by the MoEFCC and included the Forest Survey of India, the National Biodiversity Authority and the Geological Survey of India.
2. That earlier committee was first constituted pursuant to a Supreme Court direction dated 9 May 2024.
3. The High-Powered Committee constituted on 25 May 2026 is required to submit its report to the Supreme Court before 31 August 2026.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 7

Which one of the following Supreme Court orders first imposed the interim moratorium on the grant of new mining leases across the Aravalli landscape?

Accepted Answer

The order dated 20 November 2025

Answer

The further directions dated 12 August 2025

Answer

The order dated 29 December 2025

Answer

The order dated 25 May 2026

Question 8

Which one of the following statements about the Supreme Court's order dated 29 December 2025 in the Aravalli matter is correct?

Accepted Answer

It stayed the Court's own 20 November 2025 order and directed the formation of a fresh expert committee to re-examine the definitional issue

Answer

It permanently banned all mining activity across the entire Aravalli landscape in all four States

Answer

It transferred the matter exclusively to the National Green Tribunal for final adjudication

Answer

It made the 100-metre landform definition binding forever on every State and district covered by the range

Question 9

In the Supreme Court's Aravalli orders, the grant of new mining leases was barred pending the preparation of the 'Mining Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM)'. What does this MPSM most accurately denote?

Accepted Answer

A single landscape-wide plan for the whole Aravalli region, pending which no fresh mining leases may be granted

Answer

The individual mine-level environmental clearance granted to each lease holder before extraction begins

Answer

A compensatory afforestation fund created from levies on existing mining operations

Answer

A district-level survey report identifying minor-mineral blocks available for auction

Question 10

The Press Information Bureau, through which the Aravalli press note was released, is the Government's principal publicity arm and functions as a nodal agency under which one of the following Ministries?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

Answer

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Answer

Ministry of Home Affairs

Answer

Ministry of Culture

Question 11

The press note of 21 July 2026 inviting public representations for the Aravalli High-Powered Committee was issued by which one of the following Ministries?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Answer

Ministry of Mines

Answer

Ministry of Jal Shakti

Answer

Ministry of Coal

Question 12

The Aravalli Green Wall Project, launched by the Union Environment Ministry, principally aims to green a buffer of what width around the Aravalli Hill Range across the four States?

Accepted Answer

5 km

Answer

1 km

Answer

10 km

Answer

500 metres

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PRESS NOTE

Q1. Among the following modes by which the Government of India communicates, which one is the only instrument that carries legal force to validate and bring an Act, Rule or Order into effect?

Q2. In the context of Government communications routed through the Press Information Bureau, what most accurately describes a 'Press Note' as distinct from a 'Press Release'?

Q3. Across which one of the four States/UTs recognised in the definitional exercise does the Aravalli range have its single largest extent?

Q5. The 2026 High-Powered Committee on the Aravalli Hills and Ranges was constituted by the Supreme Court in which one of the following proceedings?

Q7. Which one of the following Supreme Court orders first imposed the interim moratorium on the grant of new mining leases across the Aravalli landscape?

Q8. Which one of the following statements about the Supreme Court's order dated 29 December 2025 in the Aravalli matter is correct?

Q9. In the Supreme Court's Aravalli orders, the grant of new mining leases was barred pending the preparation of the 'Mining Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM)'. What does this MPSM most accurately denote?

Q10. The Press Information Bureau, through which the Aravalli press note was released, is the Government's principal publicity arm and functions as a nodal agency under which one of the following Ministries?

Q11. The press note of 21 July 2026 inviting public representations for the Aravalli High-Powered Committee was issued by which one of the following Ministries?

Q12. The Aravalli Green Wall Project, launched by the Union Environment Ministry, principally aims to green a buffer of what width around the Aravalli Hill Range across the four States?