Geopolitics & International Relations (Questions 1–11)
Q1. On 21–22 March 2026, US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social threatening to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants unless a key maritime chokepoint is fully reopened within 48 hours. Which chokepoint?
A) Bab-el-Mandeb
B) Strait of Hormuz
C) Malacca Strait
D) Suez Canal
Correct: B.
Explanation: Trump specifically demanded Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz (through which ~20% of global oil passes) after Iran closed it in response to US-Israeli strikes. Oil prices surged; India’s energy imports heavily impacted.
Q2. Iran responded to Trump’s threat by vowing retaliation against which categories of infrastructure?
A) Only Israeli military bases
B) Only Chinese BRI projects
C) US & Israel-linked energy, IT & desalination plants
D) NATO headquarters
Correct: C.
Explanation: Tehran explicitly mentioned energy/IT infrastructure and desalination plants in the region.
Q3. Which Indian action on 21 March 2026 was directly linked to the West Asia crisis?
A) Appointment of new ambassador to China
B) PM Modi’s call with Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian, who sought India’s BRICS role to halt hostilities
C) Withdrawal of troops from Maldives
D) Signing of QUAD 3.0
Correct: B.
Q4. India evacuated 882 nationals and reported 7 deaths amid the Iran conflict primarily from which country/region?
A) Ukraine
B) Bangladesh
C) Myanmar
D) West Asia
Correct: D.
Q5. Who was appointed India’s new Ambassador to China on/around 22 March 2026 amid efforts to rebuild ties post-Ladakh standoff?
A) Vikram Misri
B) Vikram Doraiswami
C) T.S. Tirumurti
D) Harsh Vardhan Shringla
Correct: B.
Q6. UAE assured India that safety of Indians in the Gulf is a “priority” and they are treated “like family” because of attacks on which emirate?
A) Dubai
B) Abu Dhabi
C) Riyadh
D) Doha
Correct: B.
Q7. The ongoing US-Israel-Iran war began with strikes on Iran’s Natanz facility; Iran retaliated by hitting Israel’s:
A) Dimona nuclear site
B) Tel Aviv airport
C) Haifa port
D) Jerusalem Knesset
Correct: A.
Q8. UK PM Keir Starmer called an emergency meeting on 22 March 2026 primarily because of:
A) Brexit fallout
B) Scottish independence vote
C) Economic fallout from Iran war & Hormuz blockade
D) Euro currency crisis
Correct: C.
Q9. Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath highlighted India-UAE backed redevelopment of which WWII-era facility as permanent energy solution?
A) Colombo port
B) Trincomalee oil tank farms
C) Hambantota
D) Jaffna refinery
Correct: B.
Q10. Which BRICS-related request did Iran President make to India on 21 March?
A) India to mediate directly
B) India to exit BRICS
C) India to supply arms
D) India, as BRICS chair, to play independent role to halt hostilities
Correct: D.
Q11. Impact on India from Hormuz closure includes all EXCEPT:
A) 882 evacuations + 7 deaths
B) Stranded sailors & disrupted energy imports
C) Rupee appreciated sharply
D) Surging ATF prices affecting aviation
Correct: C.
World News India + Economy (Questions 12–19)
Q12. Centre withdrew airfare caps on 22 March 2026 (effective next day) that were imposed in December 2025 due to:
A) IndiGo widespread cancellations
B) Fuel subsidy removal
C) Airport privatisation
D) High-speed rail launch
Correct: A.
Explanation: Caps removed as operations normalised; airlines warned to maintain pricing discipline or face re-imposition.
Q13. Air India CEO Campbell Wilson warned of possible flight cuts due to:
A) Rising ATF costs triggered by West Asia conflict
B) Pilot shortage
C) New DGCA rules
D) Competition from Akasa
Correct: A.
Q14. Indian rupee closed at what level against USD on 22 March 2026 amid global oil shock?
A) 83.20
B) 93.71 (dropped 82 paise)
C) 75.50
D) 88.10
Correct: B.
Q15. IMD issued orange alert for thunderstorms & winds up to 50 km/h in:
A) Delhi only
B) Chennai
C) Kolkata
D) Guwahati
Correct: C.
Q16. Safety of Indians in UAE declared priority by:
A) UAE envoy to India
B) US State Dept
C) Chinese ambassador
D) Iranian FM
Correct: A.
Q17. 55 Indian migrant workers returned from Russia were scammed while dreaming of jobs in:
A) Gulf
B) Europe
C) Australia
D) Japan
Correct: B.
Q18. Parliamentary Standing Committee directed EC NOT to remove genuine voters during:
A) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls
B) Delimitation
C) Aadhaar linking
D) Voter ID renewal
Correct: A.
Q19. EC formed how many Appellate Tribunals in West Bengal ahead of Assembly polls?
A) 9
B) 39
C) 29
D) 19
Correct: D.
Indian Polity & Governance (Questions 20 –30)
Q20. For the first time in 20 years, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar skipped Eid namaz congregation at Patna’s:
A) Patna Masjid
B) Gandhi Maidan
C) Hazratbal
D) Jama Masjid
Correct: B.
Explanation: Son Nishant Kumar represented him; Nitish visited khanqahs instead. Signalled possible shift before Rajya Sabha move.
Q21. Supreme Court ruled that states cannot impose “arbitrary ceiling” on disability percentage under:
A) RPwD Act 2016
B) SC/ST Act
C) POCSO
D) NDPS
Correct: A.
Q22. Over 100 feminists & lawyers urged MPs to reject amendments to which Act on 21 March 2026?
A) Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill 2026
B) Citizenship Amendment
C) UAPA
D) FCRA
Correct: A.
Q23. Supreme Court Justice B.V. Nagarathna remarked that the government is the biggest litigant feeding court backlog on:
A) Republic Day
B) 15 August 2025
C) 21 March 2026
D) Gandhi Jayanti
Correct: C.
Q24. Omar Abdullah & Mehbooba Mufti slammed closure of Srinagar’s Jama Masjid on Eid and omission of special prayers for:
A) Only Russia
B) Only Israel
C) Only China
D) Iran & Palestine
Correct: D.
Q25. Chhattisgarh Assembly passed ‘Chhattisgarh Public Recruitment and Professional Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill 2026’ providing up to:
A) 3 years jail
B) 10 years jail & ?1 crore fine
C) Only fine
D) Life term
Correct: B.
Q26. Under the new Chhattisgarh exam bill, candidates using unfair means can be debarred for up to:
A) 1 year (extendable to 3 years)
B) Permanently
C) 6 months
D) No bar
Correct: A.
Q27. Jal Jeevan Mission review was announced during World Water Day conclave hosted by:
A) NITI Aayog alone
B) MoEFCC
C) Ministry of Jal Shakti
D) PMO
Correct: C.
Q28. Which state passed both anti-cheating bill AND a new stricter anti-conversion bill in March 2026?
A) Uttar Pradesh
B) Chhattisgarh
C) Madhya Pradesh
D) Gujarat
Correct: B.
Q29. EC’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has raised concerns of deleting genuine voters in:
A) Only Assam
B) Only Tamil Nadu
C) Only Kerala
D) West Bengal & other states
Correct: D.
Q30. Theme of World Water Day observed on 22 March 2026:
A) Water for Peace
B) Water and Gender (“Where water flows, equality grows”)
C) Glacier Preservation
D) Water & AI
Correct: B.
Explanation: Focus on women’s leadership in water decisions; Jal Shakti hosted Conclave in New Delhi reviewing JJM, Atal Bhujal, AMRUT 2.0.
