Geopolitics & World News (Questions 1–12)
Q1. On 19 March 2026, Iranian Shahed drones struck two oil refineries in which country, causing large fires according to the Kuwait National Petroleum Company?
A) Saudi Arabia
B) Kuwait
C) Qatar
D) UAE
Answer: B.
Explanation: Direct strike on Kuwait refineries escalated the 2026 Iran war and spiked global Brent crude prices beyond $119/barrel.
Q2. Which of the following occurred in Iranian airspace on 19 March 2026 during the ongoing conflict?
A) Israeli F-35 shot down
B) U.S. Air Force F-35 hit by surface-to-air missile & emergency landing
C) Chinese drone downed
D) Russian Su-57 crashed
Answer: B.
Explanation: U.S. CENTCOM confirmed the incident; pilot safe at regional base.
Q3. U.S. forces destroyed a surface-to-surface missile assembly factory belonging to IRGC on 19 March 2026 in which Iranian city?
A) Tehran
B) Karaj
C) Isfahan
D) Shiraz
Answer: A.
Explanation: Targeted strike reported by U.S. Central Command.
Q4. India evacuated more than how many nationals from the Gulf region between 1–7 March 2026 amid the Iran–US–Israel conflict, as per MEA on 19 March?
A) 25,000
B) 52,000
C) 75,000
D) 1,00,000
Answer: B.
Explanation: Over 10 million Indians in West Asia; special control room & helplines activated.
Q5. Congress leader Manish Tewari on 19 March 2026 stated that the Iran war is “not our war” while backing the Modi government’s stand on:
A) Sending troops
B) Joint strikes with Israel
C) Neutrality & energy security focus
D) Closing Strait of Hormuz
Answer: C.
Explanation: Rare bipartisan support on strategic non-involvement.
Q6. Which Gulf LNG hub was reportedly struck, raising fears of LPG/CNG shortage in India (highlighted in Maharashtra news on 19 March)?
A) Jebel Ali
B) Ras Laffan (Qatar)
C) Jubail
D) Sohar
Answer: B.
Explanation: Major supply risk for India’s energy imports.
Q8. Brent crude crossed which price milestone on 19 March 2026 following mutual strikes on oil/gas infrastructure?
A) $75
B) $90
C) $100
D) $119
Answer: D.
Q9. Germany withdrew support for Israel at ICJ on 19 March 2026 in South Africa’s genocide case citing its own case against:
A) Russia
B) Nicaragua
C) Iran
D) China
Answer: B.
Q10. Rafah crossing partially reopened on 19 March 2026 for limited medical evacuation of Palestinians to Egypt amid spillover of:
A) Sudan war
B) Yemen crisis
C) 2026 Iran war
D) Lebanon conflict
Answer: C.
Q11. Which country’s National Assembly re-elected Anutin Charnvirakul as PM on 19 March 2026?
A) Cambodia
B) Thailand
C) Myanmar
D) Laos
Answer: B.
Q12. Over 52,000 Indians returned via commercial flights; MEA advised nationals in West Asia to follow advisories from:
A) Only Indian embassies
B) Local authorities + Indian missions
C) UN only
D) GCC only
Answer: B.
Indian Polity & Governance (Questions 13–19)
Q13. The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026 introduced on/around 19 March replaces self-identification with:
A) Aadhaar linkage
B) Court order
C) Mandatory medical certification by Medical Board
D) Community certificate
Answer: C.
Explanation: Removes Section 4(2) of 2019 Act; government calls original definition “vague”.
Q14. The 2026 Amendment Bill narrows the definition of “transgender person” primarily to:
A) All gender-fluid identities
B) Socio-cultural (kinner, hijra) + specific medical congenital conditions
C) Only trans-women
D) Only intersex
Answer: B.
Q15. Under the proposed bill, kidnapping an adult to force transgender identity carries minimum imprisonment of:
A) 3 years
B) 10 years RI (extendable to life)
C) 5 years
D) 7 years
Answer: B.
Q16. Cabinet approved which scheme on/around 19 March 2026 for renewable energy development?
A) Large Hydro Mission
B) Green Hydrogen Policy
C) Solar Rooftop 3.0
D) Small Hydro Power Development Scheme
Answer: D.
Q17. National Highways Fee (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026 were notified to:
A) Abolish tolls
B)?Merge with railways
C) Privatise all highways
D) Update fee structure & user charges
Answer: D.
Q18. The 2019 Transgender Act had issued how many certificates till 2026 (mentioned in context of amendment concerns)?
A) 32,424
B) 40,000
C) 50,000
D) 1 lakh
Answer: A.
Q19. The Amendment Bill increases punishment for forcing a child into begging/bonded labour as transgender to:
A) 3–5 years
B) 10–14 years RI + ?5 lakh fine (adult variant lower)
C) Only fine
D) 2 years
Answer: B.
Sports & Arts (Questions 20–27)
Q20. Sahitya Akademi, which promotes literary excellence in 24 languages, was established in:
A) 1947
B) 1954
C) 1962
D) 1975
Answer: B.
Q21. Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu recently documented nearly how many species, highlighting its biodiversity hotspot status?
A) 200
B) 500
C) 1,000
D) 5,000
Answer: C.
Q22. Aggressive Apis dorsata bee attacks causing anaphylaxis cases were reported on 19 March 2026 mainly in:
A) Kerala
B) Assam
C) Rajasthan
D) Uttar Pradesh
Answer: D.
Q23. DME (Dimethyl Ether, CH?OCH?) is being promoted as a clean substitute for:
A) LPG & diesel
B) Petrol only
C) Coal
D) Nuclear fuel
Answer: A.
Q24. Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) concluded its session on 19 March 2026 at UN Headquarters under the theme:
A) Digital Divide
B) Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls
C) Climate & Women
D) Education 2030
Answer: B.
Q25. India’s response to West Asia crisis on 19 March emphasised safety of Indian nationals AND:
A) Military aid to Israel
B) Closing embassies
C) Maintenance of energy & trade supply chains
D) Sanctions on Iran
Answer: C.
Q26. High Point vs Wisconsin thriller (improbable ending) was part of which tournament that began its first round on 19 March 2026?
A) IPL
B) 2026 NCAA March Madness
C) AFCON
D) Pro Kabaddi
Answer: B.
Q27. Which sanctuary’s watershed and ecological indicator role was highlighted in 19 March 2026 biodiversity news?
A) Meghamalai
B) Periyar
C) Gir
D) Kaziranga
Answer: A.
