Geopolitics & World News Involving India (Questions 1-12)
Q1. On 5 March 2026, India condoled the death of which Iranian leader?
A) President Masoud Pezeshkian
B) Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
C) Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi
D) IRGC Commander Hossein Salami
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri signed the condolence book at the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi.
Q2. Which Iranian warship was sunk by a US submarine near Sri Lanka on 5 March 2026 while returning from an Indian naval event?
A) IRIS Makran
B) IRIS Jamaran
C) IRIS Dena
D) IRIS Sahand
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: The vessel was returning from India; India rejected reports of its ports being used by the US in the Iran conflict.
Q3. What stand did India reiterate on 5 March 2026 regarding the political crisis in Myanmar?
A) Support for UN-led intervention
B) Support for a Myanmar-led and Myanmar-owned peace process
C) Support for ASEAN-led mediation only
D) Neutrality with no public statement
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: This reflects India’s consistent policy on neighbourhood stability (GS2 IR).
Q4. India and Canada signed a $1.9 billion uranium supply deal on/around 5 March 2026 during the visit/meeting involving which Canadian leader?
A) Justin Trudeau
B) Jagmeet Singh
C) Chrystia Freeland
D) Mark Carney
Correct Answer: D.
Explanation: The 10-year agreement strengthens India’s nuclear energy programme (GS2 IR).
Q5. The 11th Raisina Dialogue 2026 began in New Delhi on 5 March 2026 under the theme “Samskara: Assertion, Accommodation, Advancement”. Who was the Chief Guest?
A) Finnish President Alexander Stubb
B) US Vice President JD Vance
C) Australian PM Anthony Albanese
D) Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba
Correct Answer: A.
Explanation: PM Modi inaugurated the flagship geopolitics & geo-economics conference.
Q6. At the Raisina Dialogue 2026, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau stated that the US would not repeat the “China mistake” in its economic ties with which country?
A) Vietnam
B) Indonesia
C) India
D) Philippines
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: He highlighted progress on a bilateral trade deal.
Q7. On which date in 2026 did Nepal hold its General Election, as reported on 5 March?
A) 1 March
B) 5 March
C) 10 March
D) 15 March
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: First general election since Gen-Z protests toppled the previous government.
Q8. The ongoing US-Iran conflict has disrupted Indian exports of which commodity to West Asia, with nearly four lakh tonnes stuck?
A) Wheat
B) Cotton
C) Sugar
D) Basmati rice
Correct Answer: D.
Explanation: Trade disruptions and force majeure notices also affected LNG supplies.
Q9. India described reports that its ports were being used by the US in the war against Iran as:
A) Baseless and fabricated
B) Partially true
C) Under review
D) A strategic necessity
Correct Answer: A.
Explanation: Official rejection to maintain strategic autonomy.
Q10. Amid West Asia tensions, which airline resumed over 100 flights on a reduced schedule on 5-6 March 2026?
A) Qatar Airways
B) Air India
C) Emirates
D) Etihad
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: Dubai-based carrier affected by Iran-Israel airstrikes since late February.
Q11. The strategic importance of which waterway was highlighted in Indian media on 5 March 2026 due to US-Iran war risks?
A) Malacca Strait
B) Strait of Hormuz
C) Bab-el-Mandeb
D) Suez Canal
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: Vital for global energy and India’s oil imports.
Q12. India expressed “great anxiety” over developments in the Gulf region primarily due to risks to:
A) 10 million Indians in the Gulf
B) Only oil prices
C) Defence exports
D) Space cooperation
Correct Answer: A.
Explanation: Potential casualties and supply chain disruptions reported.
Indian Polity & Governance (Questions 13-20)
Q13. On 5 March 2026, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar filed his nomination for Rajya Sabha polls in Patna as part of the NDA slate. How many NDA candidates filed that day?
A) Three
B) Seven
C) Five
D) Two
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: Including BJP president Nitin Nabin and others; opposition alleged pressure.
Q14. Union Home Minister Amit Shah soft-launched digital tools and mascots on 5 March 2026 for which upcoming national exercise?
A) National Population Register
B) Aadhaar linkage 2.0
C) Voter ID updation drive
D) First fully digital Census 2027
Correct Answer: D.
Explanation: Phase-1 begins 1 April 2027.
Q15. The Bombay High Court ruled on 5 March 2026 that offering prayers at any spot is not a fundamental religious right in the context of security concerns near:
A) Gateway of India
B) Siddhivinayak Temple
C) Mumbai airport
D) Marine Drive
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: Denied relief to drivers seeking namaz space during Ramzan.
Q16. On 5 March 2026, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant met the King of which country to discuss digitisation of judicial processes?
A) Nepal
B) Bhutan
C) Maldives
D) Sri Lanka
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck in Thimphu.
Q17. Amit Shah arrived in Odisha on 5 March 2026 to attend which event?
A) CISF Raising Day in Cuttack
B) BJD foundation day
C) Jagannath Rath Yatra preview
D) State Budget session
Correct Answer: A.
Explanation: Key internal security event.
Q18. Which state’s education portal suffered a cyber breach on 5 March 2026 due to a stolen password, affecting 58 schools?
A) Tamil Nadu
B) Maharashtra
C) Karnataka
D) Andhra Pradesh
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: Alleged insider involvement reported.
Q19. On 5 March 2026, schools in which state were ordered closed for two days by the government?
A) Uttar Pradesh
B) Bihar
C) Rajasthan
D) Gujarat
Correct Answer: A.
Explanation: Administrative directive.
Q20. The 16th Finance Commission (Chairman: Arvind Panagariya) recommended what vertical devolution percentage of central taxes to states?
A) 42%
B) 45%
C) 38%
D) 41%
Correct Answer: D.
Explanation: Accepted recommendation; new GDP weightage in horizontal devolution.
Defence, Sports & Other Current Affairs (Questions 21-29)
Q21. The Ministry of Defence signed contracts worth ?5,083 crore on 5 March 2026 for procurement of ALH Mk-III helicopters and which missile system?
A) Barak-8
B) VL-Shtil
C) Akash
D) BrahMos
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: To strengthen Indian Navy and Coast Guard maritime security.
Q22. The VL-Shtil missile system is:
A) Indigenous DRDO product
B) Russian-developed ship-borne Vertical Launch SAM
C) Israeli joint venture Russian-developed ship-borne Vertical Launch SAM
D) French technology
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: Range 3.5-50 km; enhances layered air defence.
Q23. In the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final played on 5 March 2026 at Wankhede, Mumbai, India defeated England by:
A) 17 runs
B) 7 runs
C) 42 runs
D) 5 wickets
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: India advanced to the final against New Zealand.
Q24. According to the World Obesity Atlas 2026 (reported 5 March), India ranks ________ globally in the number of children living with obesity.
A) Second
B) First
C) Third
D) Fifth
Correct Answer: A.
Explanation: Major public health concern (GS2 Health).
Q25. South Africa joined the WTO’s MSME Group as its ________ member on 5 March 2026.
A) 100th
B) 110th
C) 95th
D) 105th
Correct Answer: D.
Explanation: Strengthens global trade rules for micro, small & medium enterprises.
Q26. A charter flight was arranged on 5 March 2026 for the West Indies cricket team stranded due to flight disruptions caused by:
A) Cyclone
B) Airport strike in Dubai
C) US-Israel strikes on Iran
D) Volcanic activity
Correct Answer: C.
Explanation: Team had been knocked out of T20 World Cup.
Q27. The Dusky Eagle-Owl was sighted after 15 years in which Indian state/region on 5 March 2026?
A) Western Ghats, Kerala
B) Terai West forest division, Uttarakhand
C) Sundarbans, West Bengal
D) Ranthambore, Rajasthan
Correct Answer: B.
Explanation: Indicates healthy riparian ecosystem (GS3 Environment).
Q28. Central Warehousing Corporation celebrated its 70th Foundation Day on 2 March 2026 (reported 5 March). Under which ministry does it function?
A) Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
B) Ministry of Commerce
C) Ministry of Agriculture
D) Ministry of Railways
Correct Answer: A.
Explanation: Key role in food security and PDS.
Q29. The first phase of India’s fully digital Census is scheduled to begin on:
A) 1 January 2027
B) 26 January 2027
C) 15 August 2027
D) 1 April 2027
Correct Answer: D.
Explanation: Digital tools soft-launched by Amit Shah on 5 March 2026.
