Current Affairs MCQs – August 03, 2026

Consider the following statements regarding Leptospirosis:

It is a bacterial zoonotic disease that commonly spreads through water or soil contaminated with the urine of infected animals.
Heavy rainfall, flooding, and waterlogging increase the risk of its transmission, making outbreaks more common during the monsoon season.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

Leptospirosis is caused by the spirochete bacterium Leptospira and is a zoonotic bacterial disease. Humans acquire the infection through direct contact with the urine of infected animals or through water, soil, or food contaminated with such urine.

Statement 2 is correct

The disease is more common in tropical regions and often shows seasonal peaks during the monsoon, as flooding and waterlogging facilitate exposure to contaminated water, increasing transmission.

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2; Difficulty Level: Easy

With reference to the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, consider the following statements:

Births and deaths are required to be reported to the local registrar within 21 days of their occurrence.
Registration of a birth or death delayed by more than two years can be authorised only by a Judicial Magistrate of the First Class.
The amendment transfers the power to decide all delayed registrations from executive authorities to judicial magistrates.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

Under the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, births and deaths must be reported to the local registrar within 21 days of their occurrence. Registrations made within this prescribed period follow the standard registration process.

Statement 2 is correct

The Bill introduces stricter scrutiny for long-delayed registrations. Where the delay exceeds two years, registration can be authorised only on the order of a Judicial Magistrate of the First Class (JMFC). This replaces the earlier executive-led process for such cases and aims to prevent fraudulent retrospective registrations.

Statement 3 is incorrect

The amendment does not transfer the power to decide all delayed registrations to judicial magistrates. Registrations delayed between one and two years continue to require approval from the District Magistrate (DM), Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), or an authorised Executive Magistrate. Only cases involving a delay of more than two years require an order from a Judicial Magistrate of the First Class. Hence, the executive retains its role in handling delays of up to two years.

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only; Difficulty Level: Medium

With reference to the PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PMVBRY), consider the following statements:

The scheme provides a one-time incentive to first-time employees earning up to ₹1,00,000 per month, equivalent to one month’s EPF wage subject to a prescribed ceiling.
Employers are eligible for incentives only if the additional employees are retained for at least six months, with extended incentive support for the manufacturing sector.
Incentives under the scheme are credited automatically upon EPFO registration without requiring authentication of the Universal Account Number (UAN).

How many of the statements given above is/are not correct?

Only one
Only two
All three
None

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

First-time employees earning up to ₹1,00,000 per month are eligible for a one-time incentive equivalent to one month’s EPF wage, capped at ₹15,000.

Statement 2 is correct

Employers receive incentives for eligible additional employees retained for at least six months. While the incentive is available for two years in general, it is extended to the third and fourth years for the manufacturing sector.

Statement 3 is incorrect

Incentives are not released merely on EPFO registration. The Universal Account Number (UAN) must be authenticated using Face Authentication Technology through the UMANG App before incentives are disbursed.

Answer: (a) Only one; Difficulty Level: Medium

With reference to the ‘Samudra Manthan’ (National Offshore Exploration Scheme), consider the following statements:

It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
The scheme provides 75% central financial assistance for exploratory drilling in deepwater and ultra-deepwater offshore basins.
The scheme is intended exclusively for public sector oil and gas companies engaged in offshore exploration.

How many of the statements given above is/are correct?

Only one
Only two
All three
None

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

Samudra Manthan is a 100% Centrally Funded Central Sector Scheme under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Since it is fully financed by the Central Government, it is not a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, which involves cost-sharing between the Centre and States.

Statement 2 is incorrect

Under the Risk Drilling component, the scheme provides 50% central financial assistance, subject to a maximum of ₹675 crore per exploratory well, for drilling in deepwater and ultra-deepwater offshore basins. It does not provide 75% financial assistance.

Statement 3 is incorrect

sThe scheme is not restricted to public sector oil and gas companies. It is open to all eligible Exploration and Production (E&P) companies that have been awarded offshore blocks in previous Open Acreage Licensing Programme (OALP) rounds as well as ongoing bidding rounds, thereby encouraging wider participation in offshore hydrocarbon exploration.

Answer: (d) None; Difficulty Level: Hard

Consider the following statements regarding the evolution of the Collegium System in India:

In the First Judges Case (1981), the Supreme Court held that “consultation” with the Chief Justice of India did not mean “concurrence,” thereby granting the executive primacy in judicial appointments.
In the Third Judges Case (1998) Supreme Court upheld the primacy of the collegium and National Judicial Appointments Commission Act was struck down.
High Court collegiums are led by the incumbent Chief Justice and the two other seniormost judges of that court.
The Justice M N Venkatachaliah Commission, appointed by former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao recommended the creation of a National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC).

How many of the statements given above are correct?

Only one
Only two
Only three
All four

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

Evolution of the Collegium System
First Judges Case (1981):
- SC held that the CJI does not have primacy over the opinion of the Chief Justice of the HC in the matter of appointment and transfer of judges.
- The CJI and Chief Justice of the High Court are equally important in the consultation process.
- Held that “consultation” did not mean “concurrence,” giving the executive the final say.
Second Judges Case (1993):
- SC overruled the First Judge Case and held that the CJI has the greatest significance in appointing and transferring judges.
- The Chief Justice of the HC must consult the CJI before recommending to the government.
- Established the Collegium System, transferring appointment power to the judiciary.

Statement 2 is incorrect

Third Judges Case (1998):
- SC held that the recommendation without consultation of the collegium by the CJI for the appointment of SC and HC judges is not binding on the government.
- Expanded the Collegium to five judges, reinforcing judicial primacy.
Fourth Judges Case (2015):
- SC upheld the primacy of the collegium.
- The NJAC Act was struck down with a 4:1 majority in 2015 as unconstitutional.
- Dissenting View (Justice Chinamasa): Criticized collegium secrecy & favored transparent NJAC.

Statement 3 is correct

The Supreme Court collegium is a five-member body headed by the incumbent Chief Justice of India (CJI), and comprising the four other seniormost judges at that time.
High Court collegiums are led by the incumbent Chief Justice and the two other seniormost judges of that court.
The SC collegium recommends the names of judges to be appointed to the apex court. So do HC collegiums (for their respective High Courts), although their recommendations must be approved by the SC collegium.

Statement 4 is incorrect

The Justice M N Venkatachaliah Commission, appointed by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2000, recommended the creation of a National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) to replace the collegium.