Geopolitics & International Relations (Questions 1-9)
Q1. On 16 May 2026, PM Narendra Modi held bilateral talks in The Hague and elevated ties with which country to a Strategic Partnership, focusing on hydrogen, tech, and talent?
A) Sweden
B) Netherlands
C) Norway
D) Italy
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: PM Modi was on a multi-nation European tour; the India-Netherlands elevation supports economic and strategic cooperation.
Q2. Which ongoing conflict featured Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visiting Tehran for US-Iran talks on 16 May 2026?
A) 2026 Iran War
B) Russia-Ukraine War
C) Israel-Hezbollah Conflict
D) Mali War
Correct Answer: A.
Explanation: Efforts continued for ceasefire and negotiations amid Hormuz tensions and energy crisis impacts.
Q3. What major energy security agreement was highlighted in PM Modi’s engagements (including prior stops like UAE) around mid-May 2026?
A) Solar alliance expansion
B) Nuclear deal with France
C) Gas pipeline with Russia
D) 30 million barrels crude storage with ADNOC in India’s SPR
Correct Answer: D.
Explanation: This significantly boosts India’s strategic petroleum reserves amid global energy volatility from the Iran war.
Q4. India rejected a ruling by which body on the Indus Waters Treaty around mid-May 2026, calling it null and void?
A) International Court of Justice
B) Court of Arbitration
C) WTO Dispute Panel
D) UN Security Council
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: India maintains it never recognized the tribunal’s legitimacy.
Q5. Global tensions on 16 May 2026 included references to US-China summit talks and issues related to:
A) Taiwan
B) South China Sea only
C) Arctic resources
D) African debt
Correct Answer: A.
Q6. The Strait of Hormuz remained a key chokepoint in May 2026 due to:
A) Climate-related closures
B) Pirate activities
C) 2026 Iran War blockades and negotiations
D) Routine maintenance
Correct Answer: C.
Q7. PM Modi’s European tour (Netherlands, Sweden etc.) on 16 May 2026 aimed at:
A) Climate funding appeals
B) Signing only defence pacts
C) Cultural exchanges only
D) Boosting trade ties and securing supply chains amid global disruptions
Correct Answer: D.
Q8. Which country’s PM welcomed PM Modi in Gothenburg as part of the tour?
A) Netherlands
B) Sweden
C) Italy
D) Norway
Correct Answer: B.
Q9. India’s multi-alignment strategy faces stress due to volatility in:
A) The 2026 Iran War and West Asian geopolitics
B) Indo-Pacific only
C) European Union expansion
D) African Union reforms
Correct Answer: A.
Indian Polity & Governance (Questions 10-17)
Q10. On 16 May 2026, PM Modi dismissed reports of the government mulling a tax on:
A) Foreign travel
B) Luxury cars
C) Digital assets
D) Agricultural income
Correct Answer: A.
Q11. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju raised concerns over alleged undeclared foreign trips of:
A) State CMs
B) Opposition leaders in general
C) Rahul Gandhi
D) Bureaucrats
Correct Answer: C.
Q12. CBSE made the study of three languages compulsory from Class IX starting July 2026, with at least two being:
A) Foreign languages
B) Native Indian languages
C) Sanskrit and Hindi only
D) English compulsory as third
Correct Answer: B.
Q13. The Bhojshala Complex dispute saw a Madhya Pradesh High Court verdict declaring the disputed area as a:
A) Temple
B) Mosque
C) Shared site
D) Museum
Correct Answer: A.
Q14. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla reconstituted which committee for 2026-27 with Daggubati Purandeswari as Chairperson?
A) Ethics Committee
B) Public Accounts Committee
C) Estimates Committee
D) Committee on Empowerment of Women
Correct Answer: D.
Q15. N. Rangasamy was sworn in as Chief Minister of Puducherry for a fifth term in 2026. He belongs to:
A) All India N.R. Congress (AINRC)
B) DMK
C) AIADMK
D) BJP
Correct Answer: A.
Q16. Rajnath Singh and Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu laid foundation stones for projects in Puttaparthi related to:
A) IT parks
B) Strategic aerospace and defence
C) Solar farms
D) Ports
Correct Answer: B.
Q17. The Election Commission began Phase III of which exercise in 2026?
A) Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
B) Delimitation
C) Voter education drive
D) EVM upgrades
Correct Answer: A.
Education & Examination Reforms (Questions 18-21)
Q18. CBI arrested the alleged mastermind (P.V. Kulkarni, chemistry lecturer) behind the NEET-UG 2026:
A) General paper
B) Biology paper leak
C) Physics leak
D) Chemistry paper leak
Correct Answer: D.
Q19. The NEET-UG 2026 leak case involved an expert appointed by:
A) UGC
B) CBSE
C) National Testing Agency (NTA)
D) AICTE
Correct Answer: C.
Q20. A Delhi court demanded CBI explanation regarding closure of probe into 2024:
A) UGC-NET leak
B) NEET leak
C) CLAT leak
D) UPSC leak
Correct Answer: A.
Q21. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan released new literary works developed by centers of excellence, focusing on:
A) STEM textbooks only
B) Indian languages and literature
C) Foreign policy
D) Sports science
Correct Answer: B.
Economy, Environment & Other Current Affairs (Questions 22-27)
Q22. India’s goods exports in April 2026 reached approximately:
A) $43.6 billion
B) $50 billion
C) $35 billion
D) $60 billion
Correct Answer: A.
Q23. India’s first satellite-tagged Ganges soft-shell turtle was released in:
A) Kaziranga National Park
B) Sundarbans
C) Chambal
D) Ganga at Varanasi
Correct Answer: A.
Q24. Amid global energy crisis from Iran war, PM Modi introduced austerity measures encouraging:
A) Luxury spending
B) Increased imports
C) Work from home, public transport, reduced gold buying
D) Coal expansion only
Correct Answer: C.
Q25. Tamil Nadu CM urged removal of import duty on:
A) Electronics
B) Cotton
C) Steel
D) Pharmaceuticals
Correct Answer: B.
Q26. International Museum Day 2026 theme was:
A) Sustainable Museums
B) Museums for Future
C) Digital Heritage
D) Museums Uniting a Divided World
Correct Answer: D.
Q27. New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 was highlighted for its scale with over:
A) 1000 publishers
B) 500 publishers
C) 2000 publishers
D) 100 publishers
Correct Answer: A.
Sports & Miscellaneous (Questions 28-30)
Q28. Sports events around 16 May 2026 included references to which major racing series All-Star Race?
A) Formula 1
B) NASCAR Cup Series
C) MotoGP
D) IndyCar only
Correct Answer: B.
Q29. NCAA men’s tennis championship 2026 featured an intense final between Texas and:
A) Virginia
B) Stanford
C) UCLA
D) Florida
Correct Answer: A.
Q30. Which national day was observed around mid-May (third Saturday in May)?
A) Teachers’ Day
B) Yoga Day
C) Environment Day
D) Armed Forces Day
Correct Answer: D.
