1. What is the primary environmental objective of implementing the straw checkerboard technique?
(a) To increase the nutritional value of arid soil for commercial crops
(b) To fix shifting sand dunes and control wind erosion
(c) To facilitate large-scale artificial groundwater recharge
(d) To create organic mulching layers for intensive forest farming
2. With reference to the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023, consider the following statements:
- It seeks to promote exports through digital procedures and reduced transaction costs.
- It aims to encourage greater participation of districts, small firms and e-commerce exporters in exports.
- It is administered by the Ministry of External Affairs.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1and2 only
(b) 2and3only
(c) 1and3only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
3. With reference to Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) batteries, consider the following statements:
- Advanced Chemistry Cell refers to a technology-neutral category of modern energy-storage cells rather than one particular battery chemistry.
- Thermal runaway occurs when uncontrolled heat generation inside a battery triggers further heating and may spread to neighbouring cells.
- Thermal runaway is confined exclusively to lead-acid batteries and cannot occur in lithium-ion batteries.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1only
(b) 1and2only
(c) 2and3only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
4. With reference to desertification and land degradation, consider the following statements:
- Desertification refers to land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from climatic variations and human activities.
- Land Degradation Neutrality seeks to balance newly degraded land through prevention, reduction of degradation and restoration of degraded land.
- Land degradation is a broader concept than desertification and can occur in any climatic region.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
5. With reference to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), consider the following statements:
- It is one of the three Rio Conventions, along with the conventions dealing with climate change and biological diversity.
- It is not a legally binding international convention.
- It deals exclusively with the expansion of existing deserts and does not address drought or wider land degradation.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
6. With reference to ring-shaped molecules, consider the following statements:
- Their relatively rigid structure can help them bind selectively with biological targets.
- They are used only in medicines and have no industrial applications.
- They can serve as basic molecular scaffolds for developing different drug compounds.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
7. Consider the following pairs regarding Semiconductor Value Chain:
| Term | Meaning |
| 1. Fab | Facility where semiconductor circuits are manufactured on wafers |
| 2. Fabless company | Company that designs chips but outsources their fabrication |
| 3. Foundry | Company that manufactures chips designed by other firms |
| 4. ATMP | Mining and purification of silicon from mineral ores |
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
8. With reference to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), consider the following statements:
- It is chaired by the Prime Minister.
- It is a constitutional body established directly under the Constitution of India.
- It considers major economic policies, investment proposals and infrastructure projects requiring Cabinet-level approval.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
9. Which one of the following best describes the Hybrid Annuity Model used in highway development?
(a) The government finances the entire project, while the private developer collects toll revenue for a fixed period.
(b) The private developer bears the entire construction cost and recovers it directly by collecting tolls from road users.
(c) The government provides a portion of the construction cost, while the developer finances the remainder and receives fixed periodic payments from the government.
(d) The government provides only land, while the private developer bears construction, financing and traffic risks.
10. With reference to the Trade Deficit and Current Account Deficit (CAD), consider the following statements:
- A trade deficit occurs when the value of merchandise imports exceeds merchandise exports.
- The current account includes trade in goods, trade in services, income payments and transfers such as remittances.
- A merchandise trade deficit necessarily results in an equal Current Account Deficit.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
ANSWERS for Daily Current Affairs Prelims Practice (16-07-2026):
- Answer: (b)
- Answer: (a)
- Answer: (b)
- Answer: (d)
- Answer: (a)
- Answer: (b)
- Answer: (c)
- Answer: (b)
- Answer: (c)
- Answer: (b)
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