Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC Prelims — March 2026

Q1. As per the latest enforcement action, the intermediary Telegram was notified to disable access to how many channels publishing unauthorized film content?

• A. 800
• B. 1,974
• C. 3,142
• D. 5,000

Q2. Consider the following statements regarding the March 2026 cut in central excise duty on petrol and diesel. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

1. The central excise duty was cut by ₹10 per litre on both petrol and diesel.
2. The benefit of the cut was passed directly to consumers as a reduction in pump prices.
3. The measure was triggered by a spike of about 75% in the Indian crude basket amid the West Asia conflict.
4. The cut took effect on 27 March 2026.

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

Q3. As per the primary source, which one of the following is the highest-grossing 'A' (Adults Only)-certified Indian film of all time?

• A. Dhurandhar: The Revenge
• B. The Kashmir Files
• C. Uri: The Surgical Strike
• D. Article 370

Q4. Operation Kaveri, frequently cited as a template for India's consular crisis response, refers to the evacuation of Indian nationals from which one of the following?

• A. Ukraine during the Russia–Ukraine war
• B. Sudan during clashes between rival military factions
• C. Israel during the Israel–Hamas conflict
• D. Yemen during the Saudi-led intervention

Q5. How many winners of the Jal Shakti Hackathon were felicitated at the World Water Day Conclave 2026?

• A. 17
• B. 19
• C. 22
• D. 25

Q6. What was the theme of the World Water Day Conclave 2026 held by the Ministry of Jal Shakti?

• A. Industry for Water
• B. Water for Peace
• C. Water and Gender
• D. Leaving No One Behind

Q7. In the context of the maritime logistics fallout of the West Asia conflict, the 'RELIEF' scheme stands for which of the following?

• A. Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation
• B. Rapid Evacuation and Logistics Initiative for Expatriate Families
• C. Refinery LPG Enhancement and Import Equalisation Fund
• D. Regional Energy Logistics and Inland Eastern Freight corridor

Q8. Operation Kaveri was launched by India to evacuate its stranded nationals from which country?

• A. Yemen
• B. Ukraine
• C. Sudan
• D. Israel

Q9. What is the amount of compensation approved for the public-sector Oil Marketing Companies to offset their domestic LPG under-recoveries during the West Asia oil shock?

• A. ₹20,000 crore
• B. ₹30,000 crore
• C. ₹40,000 crore
• D. ₹50,000 crore

Q10. Operation Sindhu, to evacuate Indian nationals from the Iran–Israel theatre, was launched in which month and year?

• A. April 2015
• B. February 2022
• C. October 2023
• D. June 2025

Q11. In the context of recent developments in West Asia, 'Operation Sindhu' refers to which one of the following?

• A. An Indian naval anti-piracy patrol mission in the Gulf of Aden
• B. The evacuation of Indian nationals from Iran and Israel during the 2025 West Asia conflict
• C. A strategic petroleum reserve build-up programme of the MoPNG
• D. A scheme to divert refinery streams into the domestic LPG pool

Q12. As officially stated by the Government in 2026, approximately what share of its crude oil requirement does India meet through imports?

• A. About 60%
• B. About 70%
• C. About 85%
• D. About 95%

Q13. Among India's imported petroleum products, which one has the highest share of its imports transiting the Strait of Hormuz?

• A. Crude oil
• B. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)
• C. Naphtha
• D. Natural gas

Q14. World Water Day, on which the Operational Guidelines of Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 were e-released, is observed every year on which one of the following dates?

• A. 22 March
• B. 22 April
• C. 8 March
• D. 5 June

Q15. To strengthen domestic energy security and reduce import dependence, the national coal production target set for FY 2026-27 is approximately how many billion tonnes?

• A. 1.3 billion tonnes
• B. 1.0 billion tonnes
• C. 1.5 billion tonnes
• D. 2.0 billion tonnes

Q16. Consider the following statements comparing India's coal output across recent fiscal years: 1. All-India coal production in FY 2024-25 was about 1047.67 million tonnes. 2. This represented a growth of roughly 4.99% over the previous fiscal. 3. Coal output in FY 2023-24 stood at about 997.83 million tonnes. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. All-India coal production in FY 2024-25 was about 1047.67 million tonnes.
2. This represented a growth of roughly 4.99% over the previous fiscal.
3. Coal output in FY 2023-24 stood at about 997.83 million tonnes.

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

Q17. Consider the following statements regarding India's 1 billion tonne coal production milestone: 1. India crossed 1 billion tonne coal production on 20 March 2026. 2. FY 2025-26 marked the second consecutive year of reaching the 1 billion tonne mark. 3. The milestone enabled record coal stocks at coal-based thermal power plants. 4. All-India coal output in FY 2024-25 was 997.83 million tonnes. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

1. India crossed 1 billion tonne coal production on 20 March 2026.
2. FY 2025-26 marked the second consecutive year of reaching the 1 billion tonne mark.
3. The milestone enabled record coal stocks at coal-based thermal power plants.
4. All-India coal output in FY 2024-25 was 997.83 million tonnes.

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

Q18. With reference to the 2026 Supreme Court intervention over the NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook and the consequent expert committee, consider the following statements: 1. The impugned chapter was titled 'The Role of the Judiciary in our Society' and contained a sub-topic on 'Corruption in the Judiciary'. 2. The Supreme Court relied on the definition of criminal contempt under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 while issuing show-cause notices. 3. The expert committee tasked with redrafting the legal studies curriculum consists exclusively of sitting Supreme Court judges. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. The impugned chapter was titled 'The Role of the Judiciary in our Society' and contained a sub-topic on 'Corruption in the Judiciary'.
2. The Supreme Court relied on the definition of criminal contempt under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 while issuing show-cause notices.
3. The expert committee tasked with redrafting the legal studies curriculum consists exclusively of sitting Supreme Court judges.

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

Q19. With reference to the expert committee constituted in 2026 to redraft NCERT's legal studies curriculum, consider the following persons: 1. Justice Indu Malhotra 2. K.K. Venugopal 3. Justice Aniruddha Bose 4. Justice D.Y. Chandrachud Which of the above is/are correctly identified as members of this committee?

1. Justice Indu Malhotra
2. K.K. Venugopal
3. Justice Aniruddha Bose
4. Justice D.Y. Chandrachud

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

Q20. Who was identified as the institutional anchor of the expert committee constituted in 2026 to finalise NCERT's legal studies curricula, by virtue of his position as Director of the National Judicial Academy, Bhopal?

• A. Justice Aniruddha Bose
• B. Justice Indu Malhotra
• C. Senior Advocate K.K. Venugopal
• D. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant

Q21. With reference to the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), consider the following statements: 1. The Mission was launched in January 2025. 2. It has an outlay of about Rs.34,300 crore spread over seven years. 3. Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL) is tasked with acquiring critical mineral assets abroad under the Mission. 4. The Mission is implemented by the Ministry of Heavy Industries. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

1. The Mission was launched in January 2025.
2. It has an outlay of about Rs.34,300 crore spread over seven years.
3. Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL) is tasked with acquiring critical mineral assets abroad under the Mission.
4. The Mission is implemented by the Ministry of Heavy Industries.

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

Q22. With reference to India's record mineral block auctions in FY 2025–26, consider the following statements: 1. A total of 200 mineral blocks were auctioned, the highest ever in a single financial year. 2. The 200 blocks comprised 123 Mining Leases and 77 Composite Licences. 3. Limestone was the most auctioned mineral, accounting for 76 blocks. 4. Coal accounted for the largest single share of the blocks auctioned during the year. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

1. A total of 200 mineral blocks were auctioned, the highest ever in a single financial year.
2. The 200 blocks comprised 123 Mining Leases and 77 Composite Licences.
3. Limestone was the most auctioned mineral, accounting for 76 blocks.
4. Coal accounted for the largest single share of the blocks auctioned during the year.

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

Q23. With reference to the progress of the SVAMITVA Scheme as reported to Parliament in March 2026, consider the following statements: 1. Drone survey had been completed in about 3.29 lakh of the roughly 3.44 lakh targeted villages. 2. About 2.65 crore Property Cards had been distributed. 3. Uttar Pradesh led the country with over one crore Property Cards distributed. 4. Property Cards had been prepared for all 3.44 lakh targeted villages. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

1. Drone survey had been completed in about 3.29 lakh of the roughly 3.44 lakh targeted villages.
2. About 2.65 crore Property Cards had been distributed.
3. Uttar Pradesh led the country with over one crore Property Cards distributed.
4. Property Cards had been prepared for all 3.44 lakh targeted villages.

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

Q24. Among the official ICC T20 World Cup final memorabilia sold in the Pundole's timed auction, which single lot fetched the highest (flagship) hammer price?

• A. The toss coin
• B. The match ball
• C. The official scoresheet
• D. A player's match jersey

Q25. By how many runs did India defeat South Africa in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 final at Bridgetown, Barbados?

• A. 5 runs
• B. 7 runs
• C. 8 runs
• D. 15 runs

Q26. In the Pundole's timed auction of official ICC T20 World Cup final memorabilia, how many distinct match-related artefacts were sold as separately hammered lots (the toss coin, the match ball and the official scoresheet)?

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

Q27. For the 2026 general election to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, approximately how many companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) were reported to have been deployed for law and order and free-and-fair polling?

• A. 280 companies
• B. 380 companies
• C. 480 companies
• D. 580 companies

Q28. The Phase-II Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls undertaken by the Election Commission covered how many States and Union Territories?

• A. 6 States/UT in all
• B. 9 States and 3 Union Territories
• C. 11 States and 2 Union Territories
• D. 9 States and 2 Union Territories

Q29. Among the special categories of electors enumerated for West Bengal for the 2026 Assembly election, which one is numerically the largest?

• A. Persons with Disabilities (PwD) electors
• B. Electors aged 85 years and above
• C. Electors in the 18-19 age cohort
• D. Home-voting electors who availed the facility

Q30. In the West Bengal electoral roll figures released for the 2026 Assembly election, the count of 5,23,229 electors specifically denotes which category?

• A. Electors in the 18-19 age cohort (first-time voters)
• B. Electors aged 85 years and above
• C. Persons with Disabilities (PwD) electors
• D. Service and overseas electors