Question 1 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q1
Which one of the following Carnatic music ragas is similar to Raga Bilawal in Hindustani music?
UPSC CSE (Preliminary) 2026 · GS Paper I
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| Subject | Questions | Easy | Medium | Hard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International relations & current affairs | 20 | 4 | 13 | 3 |
| Economy & social development | 14 | 6 | 6 | 2 |
| Science & technology | 13 | 4 | 9 | 0 |
| Polity & governance | 12 | 4 | 7 | 1 |
| Geography | 11 | 3 | 7 | 1 |
| Environment & ecology | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Art & culture | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Ancient India | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Modern India & the freedom struggle | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
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Prelims 2026 · GS Paper I · Practice test
0 of 99 answered
Question 1 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q1
Which one of the following Carnatic music ragas is similar to Raga Bilawal in Hindustani music?
Question 2 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q2
The artificially fixed rupee-sterling exchange rate prescribed by the Hilton-Young Commission (1926) was adopted by the British Government for which one of the following reasons?
Question 3 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q3
Consider the following statements:
I. Pali texts contain the first definite references to coins, e.g., kahapana, nikkha, kamsa, and kakanika.
II. The literary evidence from Pali texts is corroborated by archaeological evidence of punch-marked coins from many sites, most of them made of silver.
The above statements have been associated with which of the following?
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Question 4 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q4
Which of the following temples has/have a Nagara-style shikhara?
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Question 5 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q5
Among the four main forms of existence of life recognized in Jainism, which one of the following is not included?
Question 6 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q6
The Hallisalasya painting in the Bagh Caves represents:
Question 7 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q7
Consider the following statements relating to the use of the place-value system in India:
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Question 8 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q8
Consider the following statements about the archaeological findings in Harappan towns:
I. There is wide occurrence of spindle-whorls in the houses but absence of spinning wheels.
II. Weights and measurement scales, complete with graduations have been discovered.
III. There are houses built in large part with baked bricks, around relatively spacious courtyards, with their own wells, bathing platforms, and large rooms.
Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above statements?
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Question 9 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q9
Which one of the following statements about the Eka Movement and Bardoli Satyagraha is correct?
Question 10 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q10
Consider the following statements about the Rigvedic period:
I. Irrigation from wells allowed agriculture to expand away from flood plains and strips on river margins into the present Punjab and Haryana plains having underground water levels reasonably close to the surface.
II. Draught-animal power was employed to draw up water out of the wells.
Which of the following information support/supports the above statements?
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Question 11 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q11
Consider the following assertion:
In the Pleistocene period either the Yamuna once flowed into the Indus, or the Sutlej flowed into the Yamuna and one major tributary of either had shifted from the Ganga to the Indus or vice versa.
Which of the following is/are the basis of the above assertion?
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Question 12 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q12
What does an empty seat represent in early Buddhist iconography?
Question 13 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q13
Which of the following pairs of ancient and modern names of rivers is/are correctly matched?
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Question 14 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q14
Which of the following statements on the Amaravati Stupa and its relief sculpture is/are correct?
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Question 15 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q15
Which of the following pairs of the king and his dynasty in early historical Tamilakam is/are not correctly matched?
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Question 16 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q16
Which of the following factors contributed to the formation of the Forward Bloc by Subhas Chandra Bose in 1939?
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Question 17 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q17
Consider the following statements regarding the British policy in Awadh immediately after its annexation in 1856:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Question 18 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q18
Consider the following assertion:
The genesis of political alliances based on community lay in the very nature of the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms, 1919.
Which of the following statements support/supports the above assertion?
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Question 19 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q19
Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur, the famous classical singer from Karnataka, represented the:
Question 20 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q20
In which one among the following texts does the term kshetra-patni (‘mistress of the field’) originate?
Question 21 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q21
Consider the following statements with reference to India's response to climate change:
I. India's Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) is a crucial tool for achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
II. India's 4th Biennial Update Report (BUR-4) submitted in December, 2024 recorded around 8% decrease in Greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 over 2019.
III. Climate-resilient development necessarily depends on quick and short-term achievement of emission reduction targets.
Which of the following relationships among the above statements is/are correct?
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Question 22 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q22
With respect to the Western Hoolock Gibbons, which of the following statements is/are correct?
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Question 23 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q23
Which of the following best explain(s) the rationale for protecting mangrove ecosystems in the context of climate resilience?
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Question 24 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q24
In what way(s) does the Vizhinjam International Seaport represent a structural shift in India's maritime trade and logistics policy?
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Question 25 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q25
Identify the river of the Indian sub-continent on the basis of the following information:
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Question 26 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q26
Which of the following with reference to Indian States is/are not correct?
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Question 27 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q27
Which of the following statements with regard to the arrival of Amur Falcons at Doyang Lake in Nagaland each year from Mongolia is/are correct?
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Question 28 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q28
Which among the following is/are the objective(s) of the Rainfed Area Development (RAD) initiative under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)?
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Question 29 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q29
Which of the following is/are the most significant implication(s) of obtaining Oeko-Tex certification for Eri Silk in the global textile industry?
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Question 30 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q30
Ships from which of the following countries have to cross the Strait of Hormuz to reach out to the Indian Ocean?
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Question 31 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q31
Tungurahua Volcano, which was declared a Global Geopark by UNESCO in 2025, is situated in which one among the following countries?
Question 32 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q32
With reference to Madhav National Park, which of the following statements is/are correct?
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Question 33 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q33
With reference to the climate of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which of the following statements is/are correct?
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Question 34 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q34
Which of the following geographical features or phenomena is/are associated with the Peninsular Block of India?
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Question 35 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q35
Consider the following statements with reference to the Sagarmala Programme of the Government of India:
I. The Sagarmala Programme seeks to achieve port-led economic growth through cost-effective and sustainable coastal infrastructure.
II. The success of the Sagarmala Programme is reflected in significant growth in coastal and inland waterway shipping, along with improved global port rankings.
III. Sagarmala 2.0 aims to position India as a global maritime innovation hub aligned with Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047 visions.
Which of the following relationships among the above statements is/are correct?
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Question 36 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q36
Consider the following statements about Rhynchostylis retusa (Foxtail orchid):
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Question 37 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q37
Which one of the following statements with regard to the Moidams, built by the Tai-Ahom kingdom and inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is/are correct?
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Question 38 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q38
At the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) held in June, 2025 in France, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations demonstrated its leading voice on marine and ocean issues, especially on sustainable fisheries and aquaculture for resilient livelihood and “Blue Transformation”.
Which of the following combinations about the “Four Betters” proposed by FAO for “Blue Transformation” is correct?
Question 39 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q39
Which of the following statements with reference to Lake Turkana is/are correct?
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Question 40 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q40
Which one of the following is the first Plan Vivo certified Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) project in India?
Question 41 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q41
Which of the following statements with regard to genetic medicine is/are correct?
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Question 42 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q42
Which of the following statements with regard to Large Language Models (LLMs) used in machine learning is/are correct?
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Question 43 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q43
Which of the following statements with regard to stealth technology is/are correct?
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Question 44 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q44
Which of the following statements with regard to Black Boxes used in modern aircrafts is/are correct?
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Question 45 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q45
Which of the following statements with regard to Green Hydrogen is/are correct?
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Question 46 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q46
Consider the following statements with regard to involvement of private entities in India’s space programme:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Question 47 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q47
Which of the following statements with regard to drone swarms is/are correct?
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Question 48 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q48
Which of the following statements with regard to GenomeIndia Project is/are correct?
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Question 49 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q49
Which of the following statements with regard to the National Quantum Mission (NQM) is/are correct?
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Question 50 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q50
Which of the following statements with regard to India’s Deep Ocean Mission is/are correct?
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Question 51 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q51
Mr. X, a senior officer, was overseeing a critical vaccination programme during a pandemic. He found that a private service provider responsible for vaccine distribution was compromising on quality to make profits. Despite immense pressure to manage the issue due to vested interests, he raised his voice based on the principles of public administration which he learnt during various training programmes attended across his career. He reported the issue to the appropriate vigilance authority and halted the contract to ensure citizen welfare.
Which one among the following principles of public administration was most strongly demonstrated by Mr. X’s actions?
Question 52 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q52
In a multi-ethnic district where both economic competition and historical grievances frequently led to community tensions, a flashpoint has arisen with a Government decision to allocate land for a waste management facility near a tribal hamlet, sparking protests by the tribal community, which claimed that the land was sacred and critical to their cultural identity. At the same time, urban residents and local industries supported the project, citing severe solid waste challenges and health concerns due to lack of a proper disposal site. The conflict has escalated with road blockades, social media campaigns, and allegations of police excesses.
As a responsible Government official, you are tasked with resolving the situation through mediation, ensuring a sustainable outcome that balances environmental needs, tribal rights, and urban public health.
Consider the following statements with reference to the above:
Which of the statements given above would contribute to the resolution process?
Question 53 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q53
Ms. X is a mid-level civil service official working in the urban development department of a major city. Recently, she was involved in approving a contract for a public infrastructure project — a new community park. During the approval process, she received a piece of confidential information indicating that one of the shortlisted contractors had a history of poor workmanship and allegations of corruption in other cities, though nothing had been legally proven. The Head of the Department, Mr. Y, advised her not to disclose this information to the project committee or the public because it could delay the project and damage the city’s reputation. However, Ms. X believed that withholding such information compromised transparency and public trust.
What amongst the following should Ms. X do now?
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Question 54 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q54
‘X’ was addressing a seminar on the meaning of the term ‘law’ as provided under Article 13, Part III of the Constitution of India. ‘X’ explained that the meaning of the term ‘law’ in the Constitution of India was very comprehensive. It included ordinances, orders and even rules and regulations. ‘Y’ pointed out that the term ‘law’ in Article 13 also included custom or usage having in the territory of India the force of law, to which ‘X’ was not convinced.
Based on the above, select the correct conclusion from the options given below:
Question 55 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q55
Consider the following statements with reference to the Constitution of India:
Which one of the following conclusions based on the above statements is correct?
Question 56 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q56
Which of the following statements with regard to the persons with disabilities in India is/are correct?
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Question 57 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q57
Consider the following statements about the provisions pertaining to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in India:
Which one of the following conclusions based on the above statements is correct?
Question 58 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q58
Consider the following statements in respect of questions asked by the Members in the Parliament of India:
Which one of the following conclusions based on the above statements is correct?
Question 59 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q59
Consider the following statements about the Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes of the Parliament of India:
Which one of the following conclusions based on the above statements is correct?
Question 60 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q60
Consider the following statements about Mission Sudarshan Chakra of India:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Question 61 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q61
Consider the following statements about river bridges connecting India with neighbouring countries:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Question 62 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q62
Which of the following statements about a Zero First Information Report (Zero FIR) under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 is/are correct?
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Question 63 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q63
With reference to the organisations under the Government of India, consider the following details:
| Organisation | Function | Controlling Union Ministry | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB) | To coordinate between various law enforcement agencies | Ministry of Home Affairs |
| 2. | Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) | To investigate complex corporate frauds | Ministry of Finance |
| 3. | Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) | To preserve values in public life and ensure the health of the national economy | Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension |
In how many of the above rows are the given details correctly matched?
Question 64 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q65
Consider the following statements with respect to the AI Impact Summit, 2026 held in New Delhi:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Question 65 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q66
Which of the following connectivity projects is/are a part of cooperation between India and the ASEAN member countries?
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Question 66 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q67
Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists:
| List I (Project Supported by India) | List II (Country) | |
|---|---|---|
| A. | Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Project | 1. Maldives |
| B. | Restoration of Stor Palace | 2. Afghanistan |
| C. | District Hospital at Dickoya | 3. Bhutan |
| D. | Institute of Security and Law Enforcement Studies | 4. Sri Lanka |
Question 67 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q68
Which of the following items of defence hardware is/are manufactured in India?
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Question 68 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q69
Consider the following statements about platforms for multilateral co-operation:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Question 69 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q70
Consider the following UN organisations/ agencies:
How many of the above has/have been awarded the Nobel Prize twice?
Question 70 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q71
Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists:
| List I (UN Peacekeeping Operation) | List II (Period of Operation) | |
|---|---|---|
| A. | UNMIL | 1. 2007 – 2010 |
| B. | MINURCAT | 2. 2002 – 2005 |
| C. | MINUSTAH | 3. 2003 – 2018 |
| D. | UNMISET | 4. 2004 – 2017 |
Question 71 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q72
Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists:
| List I (BIMSTEC Centre / Establishment) | List II (Location) | |
|---|---|---|
| A. | BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory | 1. NOIDA |
| B. | BIMSTEC Energy Centre | 2. Bengaluru |
| C. | BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate | 3. Colombo |
| D. | BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility | 4. Thimphu |
Question 72 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q73
Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?
(Indian Army Corps: Headquarters)
Question 73 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q74
Which of the following statements with respect to the Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) is/are correct?
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Question 74 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q75
Which of the following countries are members of the European Union?
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Question 75 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q76
Match List I with List II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists:
| List I (INTERPOL Notice) | List II (Description) | |
|---|---|---|
| A. | Silver Notice | 1. To seek information on unidentified bodies |
| B. | Blue Notice | 2. To collect additional information about a person’s identity, location, or activities in relation to a criminal investigation |
| C. | Black Notice | 3. To provide warning about a person’s criminal activities, where the person is considered to be a possible threat to public safety |
| D. | Green Notice | 4. To identify and trace criminal assets |
Question 76 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q77
Which of the following statements in relation to NIRANTAR (National Institute for Research and Application of Natural Resources to Transform, Adapt and Build Resilience), a platform of institutions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, is/are correct?
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Question 77 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q78
The Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany visited India in January, 2026. Which of the following is/are not correct in terms of outcomes of this visit?
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Question 78 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q79
Which of the following statements about DHRUV64 is/are correct?
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Question 79 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q80
The Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) recently introduced a national standard to test and assess bomb disposal system. Which of the following statements with regard to this system is/are correct?
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Question 80 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q81
‘X’, born in the UK, was conferred the Nobel Prize in 2025. He was a professor in an American university when this prize was announced. Identify ‘X’:
Question 81 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q82
Which of the following statements with regard to the Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments is/are correct?
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Question 82 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q83
Which one of the following pairs of semiconductor plants in India and their locations is not correctly matched?
Question 83 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q84
Which of the following statements with regard to India’s indigenous new high resolution weather model, the ‘Bharat Forecast System,’ is/are correct?
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Question 84 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q85
Consider the following statements with regard to the film ‘Boong’:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Question 85 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q86
Which of the following statements regarding the features of blockchain technology are correct?
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Question 86 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q87
An e-commerce revenue model where the seller has control over pricing but doesn’t keep products in stock and instead transfers customer orders and shipment details to a third-party supplier, who then ships the goods directly to the customer, is called:
Question 87 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q88
Which one of the following correctly represents the three key sub-indices of the Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)?
Question 88 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q89
Which one of the following best describes the key objective of India’s ‘Open Network for Digital Commerce’ (ONDC) initiative?
Question 89 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q90
Which one of the following statements about Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Central Bank Digital Currency (Digital Rupee) is not correct?
Question 90 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q91
Which of the following statements about Real-World Assets (RWA) Tokenization are correct?
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Question 91 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q92
A bond whose proceeds are used only to finance or refinance a combination of both environmental and social projects is called:
Question 92 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q93
Which of the following statements about M1xchange’s role in Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) financing is/are correct?
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Question 93 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q94
Which one of the following best describes the ‘Crowding Out Effect’ in the context of fiscal policy?
Question 94 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q95
Which of the following statements about Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and Critical Minerals is/are correct?
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Question 95 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q96
Which of the following statements about insurance in aviation sector is/are correct?
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Question 96 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q97
Which of the following statements about Crowdfunding is/are correct?
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Question 97 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q98
With reference to different Committees in India, consider the following details:
| Committee | Objective | Organization under which it was formed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | R.N. Malhotra Committee | Comprehensive reforms of Insurance sector in India | Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India |
| 2. | L.C. Gupta Committee | Preparing a roadmap for the introduction of derivatives trading in India | Securities and Exchange Board of India |
| 3. | Urjit R. Patel Committee | Preparing a roadmap for reforming bank lending to the Housing sector | Reserve Bank of India |
| 4. | Y.H. Malegam Committee | Preparing a roadmap for reforms in Microfinance sector in India | Reserve Bank of India |
In which of the above rows are all the details correctly matched?
Question 98 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q99
Consider the following statements about the Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) in India:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Question 99 of 99 · Prelims 2026, Q100
Consider the following statements about Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI):
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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