MCQs on Current Affairs 03.02.2026

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Q1. Which of the following new areas of cooperation were explored during the 4th India–Tanzania Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting?

  1. Counter-terrorism
  2. Peacekeeping training
  3. Space-based surveillance cooperation
  4. Capacity building in Electronic Warfare (EW), Cyber and AI

Options:

  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 1, 2 and 4 only
  3. 2, 3 and 4 only
  4. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Correct Option: 2. 1, 2 and 4 only
Explanation:
• The meeting explored counter-terrorism and peacekeeping training as new areas of cooperation.
• It also emphasized capacity building in niche domains such as Electronic Warfare (EW), Cyber, and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Q2. The Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology demonstrated by DRDO is significant because:

  1. It uses a liquid oxidizer to achieve hypersonic speeds.
  2. It is an air-breathing propulsion system that allows sustained supersonic flight.
  3. It can only be launched from submarines.
  4. It replaces fighter jets in air combat missions.

Correct Option: 2. It is an air-breathing propulsion system that allows sustained supersonic flight.
Explanation:
• SFDR is a hybrid air-breathing propulsion system: it uses atmospheric oxygen for combustion instead of carrying an oxidizer like conventional rockets.
• It allows missiles to maintain high speed (supersonic) over longer ranges.
• Option 1 is incorrect because SFDR uses solid fuel and air-breathing combustion, not a liquid oxidizer.
• Option 3 is incorrect because SFDR is designed for air-to-air missiles, typically launched from aircraft.
• Option 4 is incorrect because SFDR is a propulsion technology for missiles, not a replacement for fighter jets.

Q3. Which of the following statements regarding India’s rare earth resources is/are correct?

  1. The majority of India’s rare earth resources are found in hard rock deposits.
  2. Monazite is classified as a prescribed substance due to its association with radioactive elements.
  3. India’s rare earth deposits predominantly contain heavy rare earth elements (HREEs).

Select the correct answer using the code below:

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. 1 and 3 only
  4. 2 and 3 only

Correct Option: 2. 2 only.
Explanation:
• Statement 1 – Incorrect
The article clearly states that 136 deposits of Beach Sand Minerals (BSM) contain 7.23 Mt REO, whereas only 3 hard rock deposits contain 1.29 Mt REO. Hence, the majority are in placer/beach sand deposits, not hard rock.
• Statement 2 – Correct
Monazite contains thorium and uranium, which are radioactive. Therefore, it is classified as a prescribed substance, and its mining and processing are kept under government control.
• Statement 3 – Incorrect
The article specifies that Indian resources predominantly contain light rare earth elements (LREEs), not heavy rare earth elements.

Q4. Under the National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage, the earmarked 10 GWh capacity is for:

  1. Co-located solar projects only
  2. Fossil fuel backup storage
  3. Electric vehicle batteries only
  4. Grid-scale stationary storage

Correct Option: 4. Grid-scale stationary storage.
Explanation:
• The National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage is focused on promoting domestic manufacturing and deployment of advanced battery systems.
• 10 GWh of capacity under this programme is earmarked specifically for grid-scale stationary storage applications, not electric vehicles.
• Grid-scale storage enhances grid stability, allows peak-hour supply management, and ensures that renewable energy can be stored and dispatched efficiently.
• This distinction is important because EV battery manufacturing and grid storage applications have different technical requirements and usage profiles.

Q5. What is the primary reason the Indian one-horned rhinoceros became concentrated in Kaziranga National Park?

  1. Northeastern India had lower human pressure and climatic stability.
  2. Rhinoceroses were introduced by conservation programs in the 20th century.
  3. Rhinoceroses preferred wetlands only found in Kaziranga.
  4. Northwestern India banned hunting earlier than northeastern India.

Correct Option: 1. Northeastern India had lower human pressure and climatic stability.
Explanation:
• Fossil and pollen records from Kaziranga National Park show that the species was once widely distributed across the Indian subcontinent.
• Over the last ~3300 years, climate deterioration, habitat loss, and overhunting in northwestern India forced rhinoceroses to migrate east.
• Northeastern India remained relatively climatically stable and experienced lower human pressure, allowing the species to survive and concentrate in Kaziranga.
• This demonstrates the role of refugia—regions with favorable ecological conditions—in the long-term survival of megaherbivores.

Q6. Which method did scientists use to reconstruct the historical distribution and ecology of rhinoceroses in Kaziranga?

  1. Satellite imagery of forest cover
  2. Pollens and fungal spores from sediment cores
  3. GPS collar tracking of live animals
  4. Oral histories from local communities

Correct Option: 2. Pollens and fungal spores from sediment cores.
Explanation:
• Researchers from Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) extracted a ~1 metre sediment core from the Sohola swamp in Kaziranga.
• Sediment layers preserved microscopic traces of plants and fungi, including spores from herbivore dung, providing insights into past vegetation and herbivore activity.
• This palaeoecological approach allowed scientists to reconstruct long-term herbivore presence, migration, and habitat changes, which cannot be inferred from modern observations alone.
• It is an example of how palaeoecological methods inform conservation strategies by showing historical species distribution and environmental pressures.

Q7. Which of the following schemes announced in Union Budget 2026–27 aligns with the Bharat Container Shipping Line (BCSL) initiative?

  1. Ship Recycling Promotion Scheme
  2. Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme (CMAS)
  3. National Maritime Heritage Scheme
  4. Coastal Road Development Scheme

Correct Option: 2. Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme (CMAS)
Explanation:
• The Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme (CMAS) was announced in the Union Budget 2026–27 to support the domestic production of shipping containers.
• BCSL is aligned with CMAS as it seeks to develop a domestically anchored container ecosystem, reducing reliance on imported containers and foreign shipping lines.
• The scheme complements Sagarmala Programme objectives, including modernizing ports and boosting India’s strategic presence in container shipping.
• Options 1, 3, and 4, while related to maritime or infrastructure development, are not directly linked to the BCSL initiative.

Q8. Which of the following government programs supports the organic cultivation and production of raw materials for eco-friendly textiles?

  1. Circular Samvaad
  2. Mega Cluster Development Programme
  3. ESG Task Force
  4. Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER)

Correct Option: 4. Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER)
Explanation:
• MOVCDNER, along with Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare through State/UT Governments.
• These programs promote organic cultivation via cluster-based approaches, supporting:
  •Production of bio-fibres
  •Processing, certification, and marketing
• ESG Task Force focuses on sustainable production and exports, Circular Samvaad is an industry platform, and Mega Cluster Development Programme supports infrastructure and natural dye promotion, not organic cultivation.

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