Art & Culture MCQs for UPSC Prelims — June 2026

Q1. Under the Centrally Sponsored PMKSY-PDMC component, in what ratio are funds shared between the Centre and the State for general (non-North-Eastern, non-Himalayan) States?

• A. 50:50
• B. 60:40
• C. 75:25
• D. 90:10

Q2. The Economic Survey 2024-25 noted that 'irrigation intensity' rose from 144.2 per cent to 154.5 per cent. In this context, 'irrigation intensity' refers to:

• A. the ratio of gross irrigated area to net irrigated area, expressed as a percentage
• B. the ratio of gross irrigated area to gross cropped area, expressed as a percentage
• C. the ratio of net irrigated area to total geographical area, expressed as a percentage
• D. the ratio of area under micro-irrigation to total cultivable area, expressed as a percentage

Q3. Consider the following statements regarding PMKSY's financial parameters: 1. PMKSY for the 2021-26 cycle was approved with a total outlay of Rs.93,068 crore. 2. Within this, the central support component to States is Rs.37,454 crore. 3. The Union Budget 2026-27 allocated Rs.6,587 crore to PMKSY. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. PMKSY for the 2021-26 cycle was approved with a total outlay of Rs.93,068 crore.
2. Within this, the central support component to States is Rs.37,454 crore.
3. The Union Budget 2026-27 allocated Rs.6,587 crore to PMKSY.

• A. 1 only
• B. 1 and 2 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. The Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP), now a component of PMKSY, was originally launched by the Government of India in which year to provide central assistance for major and medium irrigation projects?

• A. 1991-92
• B. 1996-97
• C. 2004-05
• D. 2015-16

Q5. In the context of PMKSY, the description of the scheme as an 'umbrella' Centrally Sponsored Scheme most precisely means that it:

• A. converged and consolidated several pre-existing irrigation programmes (such as AIBP) under a single integrated framework
• B. is funded entirely by the Central Government with no State contribution
• C. is confined exclusively to micro-irrigation through drip and sprinkler systems
• D. provides crop insurance coverage against irrigation failure

Q6. In which year was the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) launched as an umbrella scheme converging pre-existing irrigation programmes?

• A. 2014-15
• B. 2015-16
• C. 2016-17
• D. 2019-20

Q7. The dedicated fund created to enable States to mobilise resources for providing top-up incentives to farmers for micro-irrigation beyond PMKSY-PDMC provisions was set up with which one of the following institutions?

• A. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)
• B. Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)
• C. Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
• D. National Water Development Agency (NWDA)

Q8. With reference to the Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) component and micro-irrigation under PMKSY, consider the following: 1. PDMC promotes water-use efficiency mainly through drip and sprinkler irrigation. 2. A Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF) with a corpus of Rs.5,000 crore has been created under NABARD. 3. The Government of India provides a 3% interest subvention on loans extended to State Governments under the MIF. 4. PDMC is implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

1. PDMC promotes water-use efficiency mainly through drip and sprinkler irrigation.
2. A Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF) with a corpus of Rs.5,000 crore has been created under NABARD.
3. The Government of India provides a 3% interest subvention on loans extended to State Governments under the MIF.
4. PDMC is implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1, 2 and 3 only
• C. 2, 3 and 4 only
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q9. The 'Per Drop More Crop' (PDMC) component of PMKSY, focused on enhancing water-use efficiency through micro-irrigation, is operationalised by which one of the following?

• A. Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
• B. Ministry of Jal Shakti
• C. Department of Land Resources
• D. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)

Q10. The 'Har Khet Ko Pani' (HKKP) component of PMKSY, implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, comprises how many sub-components?

• A. Two
• B. Three
• C. Four
• D. Six

Q11. Consider the following statements about CARTMAN, the body associated with the bullock-cart redesign project. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

1. CARTMAN expands to Centre for Action Research and Technology for Man, Animal and Nature.
2. It is based in Bangalore.
3. Its bullock-cart redesign project was funded by the ICAR.
4. It was founded by Verghese Kurien.

• A. 1 and 3
• B. 2 only
• C. 4 only
• D. 3 and 4

Q12. The two-year project begun in April 2001 to redesign six bullock-cart variants for difficult rural terrain was funded by which one of the following?

• A. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
• B. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
• C. Department of Science and Technology (DST)
• D. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways

Q13. Which one of the following was the first language to be granted classical-language status by the Government of India?

• A. Sanskrit
• B. Tamil
• C. Telugu
• D. Kannada

Q14. Which mango variety became the first to be commercially exported from India to Singapore by sea route under the ICAR-CISH protocol?

• A. Alphonso
• B. Kesar
• C. Banganapalli
• D. Dasheri

Q15. In the context of mango sea exports, a 'reefer container' is best described as:

• A. A refrigerated shipping container with controlled temperature and atmosphere for transporting perishables
• B. An air-cargo unit load device fitted with ethylene scrubbers
• C. A bonded warehouse maintained at ambient temperature near the port
• D. A fumigation chamber used to disinfest fruit before loading

Q16. The statutory authority that, in collaboration with ICAR-CISH, facilitated the cost-cutting commercial sea shipment of mangoes is:

• A. Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)
• B. Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA)
• C. Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)
• D. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

Q17. The scientific sea-shipment protocol developed by ICAR-CISH and APEDA extends the shelf life of fresh mangoes to up to how many days?

• A. 15 days
• B. 30 days
• C. 45 days
• D. 60 days

Q18. In the context of the ICAR-CISH sea-shipment protocol for mangoes, what is 'CISH-Met Wash'?

• A. An ICAR-CISH-developed post-harvest treatment that enhances shelf life and minimises disease incidence during long-distance transport
• B. A controlled-atmosphere reefer container that regulates ethylene levels in transit
• C. A vapour-heat disinfestation method targeting fruit-fly larvae for quarantine clearance
• D. An edible wax coating applied to obtain Geographical Indication certification

Q19. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) functions as a statutory body under which one of the following ministries?

• A. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
• B. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
• C. Ministry of Food Processing Industries
• D. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

Q20. In the 2026 El Niño assessment, how many districts were classified as being of 'primary concern' on account of irrigation coverage below 25%?

• A. 111
• B. 76
• C. 128
• D. 315

Q21. Among the three priority categories into which the 315 vulnerable districts were grouped in 2026, which category contains the largest number of districts?

• A. Category 3 (low priority, better irrigation)
• B. Category 1 (primary concern, irrigation below 25%)
• C. Category 2 (medium priority, irrigation 25–50%)
• D. All three categories contain an equal number of districts

Q22. With reference to the three-tier classification of the 315 vulnerable districts in the 2026 El Niño contingency assessment, consider the following statements: 1. Category 1 (primary concern) districts have irrigation coverage below 25%. 2. Category 2 (medium priority) districts have irrigation coverage between 25% and 50%. 3. Category 3 (low priority) districts are fewer in number than Category 1 districts. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Category 1 (primary concern) districts have irrigation coverage below 25%.
2. Category 2 (medium priority) districts have irrigation coverage between 25% and 50%.
3. Category 3 (low priority) districts are fewer in number than Category 1 districts.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q23. In the 2026 El Niño preparedness exercise, the term 'district of primary concern' (Category 1) is defined on the basis of which one of the following criteria?

• A. A district where irrigation coverage is below 25%, making it almost entirely rain-fed
• B. A district where the entire net sown area lies within the monsoon core zone
• C. A district that recorded more than 50% rainfall deficit in the previous Kharif season
• D. A district where groundwater extraction has been officially classified as 'over-exploited'

Q24. In the context of the Thirupparankundram dispute, the term 'Deepathoon' refers precisely to which one of the following?

• A. The ancient stone lamp-pillar atop the hill on which the Karthigai Deepam is lit
• B. The innermost sanctum sanctorum of the Subramaniya Swamy Temple
• C. The entire annual Karthigai festival observed in the Tamil month of Karthigai
• D. The adjacent dargah structure on the hill

Q25. The Arupadai Veedu, of which Thirupparankundram is reckoned as the first, comprises how many sacred abodes of Lord Murugan?

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

Q26. The Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for the 22 mandated crops are announced by the Government of India primarily on the basis of recommendations made by which one of the following?

• A. Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)
• B. NITI Aayog
• C. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)
• D. National Statistical Commission

Q27. The assured 100% procurement of tur, urad and masoor under the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses is carried out under which one of the following umbrella schemes?

• A. Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA)
• B. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)
• C. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
• D. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)

Q28. NAFED serves as the principal central nodal cooperative agency for MSP-based procurement of which one of the following categories of agricultural commodities?

• A. Pulses and oilseeds
• B. Wheat and paddy
• C. Cotton and jute
• D. Sugarcane and tobacco

Q29. In the 2025-26 excavation that preceded the transfer of remains to the Anthropological Survey of India, how many burials were reported to have been discovered at Mound No. 7 of Rakhigarhi?

• A. Eight
• B. Three
• C. Twelve
• D. Fifty-six

Q30. Consider the following statements comparing Rakhigarhi with the other major Harappan urban centre, Mohenjo-daro: 1. Rakhigarhi, at about 550 hectares, is a larger settlement than Mohenjo-daro. 2. Rakhigarhi is located in the Ghaggar-Hakra plain of Haryana, whereas Mohenjo-daro lies in the Indus plain. 3. Unlike Mohenjo-daro, ancient DNA from a Rakhigarhi individual showed Iranian-related ancestry but an absence of the steppe pastoralist gene. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Rakhigarhi, at about 550 hectares, is a larger settlement than Mohenjo-daro.
2. Rakhigarhi is located in the Ghaggar-Hakra plain of Haryana, whereas Mohenjo-daro lies in the Indus plain.
3. Unlike Mohenjo-daro, ancient DNA from a Rakhigarhi individual showed Iranian-related ancestry but an absence of the steppe pastoralist gene.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 3 only
• C. 1 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3