Current Affairs MCQs – September 01, 2026

With reference to the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), consider the following statements:

1. It allocates the waters of the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej primarily to India.
2. It completely prohibits India from using the waters of the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab.
3. Under its dispute-resolution mechanism, a “difference” may be referred to a Neutral Expert, while a “dispute” may be referred to a Court of Arbitration.
4. The World Bank is a signatory to the Treaty for specified purposes, but it does not act as its guarantor.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. Only three
4. All four

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The Treaty broadly allocates the three Eastern Rivers—Ravi, Beas and Sutlej—to India.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Although the Western Rivers—Indus, Jhelum and Chenab—are primarily allocated to Pakistan, India is permitted limited uses, including domestic use, non-consumptive use, specified agricultural use and hydroelectric power generation, subject to treaty conditions.

Statement 3 is correct

• Questions are initially handled through the Permanent Indus Commission; differences may be referred to a Neutral Expert, while disputes may be submitted to a Court of Arbitration.

Statement 4 is correct

• The World Bank signed the Treaty for certain specified purposes. Its role is primarily procedural, particularly in facilitating appointments under the dispute-resolution mechanism; it is not the Treaty’s guarantor.

Answer: (c) Only three; Difficulty Level: Medium

Which one of the following best describes the “Northern Sea Route”, recently seen in the news?

1. A maritime corridor connecting the North Atlantic Ocean with the Baltic Sea through the waters of Scandinavia
2. A shipping route running along Russia’s Arctic coast between the Kara Sea and the Bering Strait
3. A trans-Arctic route passing directly over the North Pole and connecting Canada with northern Europe
4. An inland waterway connecting the Caspian Sea with the Arctic Ocean through Russia

Explanation

• Northern Sea Route in the Arctic is emerging as a seasonal alternative to the Suez Canal for Asia-Europe shipping, cutting distances by up to 40% and reducing transit time to 18–20 days.
• NSR is a 5,600-km maritime corridor extending from the Kara Gate (the boundary between the Barents and Kara Seas) to the Bering Strait between Siberia and Alaska.
• Significance: Shortest maritime link between Western Eurasia and Asia-Pacific along Russia’s Arctic coast.
• Key Ports: Sabetta, Dikson, Dudinka, Khatanga, Tiksi, and Pevek.
• Regulation: Russia requires vessels to obtain permission from the Northern Sea Route Administration and pay fees for nuclear-powered icebreaker escorts.
  • Counter-Claim: Western nations cite UNCLOS provisions on “international straits” to assert freedom of navigation through the NSR.

Answer: (b) A shipping route running along Russia’s Arctic coast between the Kara Sea and the Bering Strait; Difficulty Level: Medium

 Consider the following agricultural products:

1. Sugarcane juice
2. B-heavy molasses
3. Maize
4. Surplus rice available with the Food Corporation of India
5. Damaged foodgrains

How many of the above are permitted feedstocks for ethanol production under India’s Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme?

1. Only two
2. Only three
3. Only four
4. All five

Explanation

• EBP is an initiative by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas that blends ethanol derived from agricultural feedstocks with automotive petrol.
• Objectives: To curtail crude import dependence and transportation emissions while creating a stable, remunerative market for agricultural surplus.
• Operational Mechanism: Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) procure ethanol directly from private and cooperative distilleries at fixed, feedstock-differentiated prices.
• Feedstock: Initially reliant on molasses, the 2018 National Biofuels Policy expanded procurement to include sugarcane juice, surplus FCI rice, maize, and damaged foodgrains.
• Incentives: Ethanol Interest Subvention Scheme (EISS) supports expansion of distillery capacity, and the PM-JI-VAN Yojana promotes advanced biofuels.
• Key Gains: Achieved over ₹1.97 lakh crore in foreign exchange savings, paid ₹1.66 lakh crore to farmers and distilleries, and reduced over 950 lakh metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions.

Answer: (d) All five; Difficulty Level: Hard

Consider the following description:

1. She was the queen-regent of Ramgarh in present-day Madhya Pradesh.
2. During the Revolt of 1857, she mobilised neighbouring rulers and tribal chiefs in the Narmada region against British authority.
3. At the Battle of Kheri, she led an army of nearly 4,000 soldiers against the British forces commanded by Deputy Commissioner Charles Waddington.
4. She died fighting the British in 1858.

Which one of the following personalities is described above?

1. Rani Durgavati
2. Rani Avantibai Lodhi
3. Rani Lakshmibai
4. Jhalkari Bai

Explanation

• Rani Avantibai Lodhi was an Indian queen-regent and freedom fighter in the Indian Rebellion of 1857. She was the queen of Ramgarh in Madhya Pradesh. She is considered one of the heroic Indian women warriors in the 1857 rebellion. She died in 1858 while fighting against the British.
• Rule of Ramgarh: After the death of her husband, King Vikramaditya Singh, and given the minor status of their sons, the British sought to annex her state under the Doctrine of Lapse, instead of recognizing Avantibai’s right to govern.
• Defiance of British Authority: Rani Avantibai deposed the British-appointed administrator, seized control of the state, and mobilized neighboring kingdoms and tribal chieftains in the Narmada region to join the 1857 uprising.
• Battle of Kheri: In 1857, she personally led an army of 4,000 soldiers to victory against British forces led by Deputy Commissioner Charles Waddington near Mandla.

Answer: (b) Rani Avantibai Lodhi; Difficulty Level: Hard

 Consider the following countries:

1. Bhutan
2. France
3. Nepal
4. Uzbekistan
5. Japan
6. Saudi Arabia

In how many of the above countries have UPI-based payments been enabled for cross-border merchant transactions?

1. Only two
2. Only three
3. Only four
4. Only five

Explanation

• NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL) signed a commercial agreement with Uzbekistan’s National Interbank Processing Center (NIPC) to enable UPI payments across Uzbekistan.
• Uzbekistan became the 11^th country to accept UPI for cross-border merchant transactions. Other countries: Bhutan (First), UAE, Singapore, Nepal, Sri Lanka, France, Mauritius, Qatar, Cambodia, and Greece.
• Japan and Saudi Arabia are not included in the specified list of countries accepting UPI for cross-border merchant transactions.

Answer: (c) Only four; Difficulty Level: Medium

Suppose the revenue expenditure is ₹80,000 crores and the revenue receipts of the Government are ₹60,000 crores. The Government budget also shows borrowings of ₹10,000 crores and interest payments of ₹6,000 crores. Which of the following statements are correct?

1. Revenue deficit is ₹20,000 crores.
2. Fiscal deficit is ₹10,000 crores.
3. Primary deficit is ₹4,000 crores.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Explanation

• The central government’s fiscal deficit for 2026-27 stood at 26.8% of the full-year target at the end of July, according to data released by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA).
• The Centre has set a fiscal deficit target of 4.3% of GDP for FY 2026–27. In absolute terms, the targeted fiscal deficit is approximately ₹16.96 lakh crore.

Statement 1 is correct

• Revenue Deficit = Revenue Expenditure – Revenue Receipts;
  • (₹80000-₹60000 = ₹20000 crores)

Statement 2 is correct

• Fiscal Deficit = Total Expenditure – Total Receipts except Borrowing and Other liabilities;
  • (₹80000-₹60000-₹10000 (exclude borrowings)) assuming capital expenditure “0” = ₹10000 crores.

Statement 3 is correct

• Primary Deficit = Fiscal Deficit – Interest Payment;
  • (₹10000-₹6000) = ₹4000 crores.

Answer: (d)1, 2 and 3; Difficulty Level: Easy