UPSC Daily Current Affairs Quiz : 06 February 2026

Question 1:  With reference to rat-hole coal mining in Meghalaya, consider the following statements:

1. Rat-hole mining was banned by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2014 primarily due to environmental and safety concerns.
2. The ban imposed by the NGT on rat-hole mining was later struck down by the Supreme Court of India.
3. Rat-hole mining involves digging narrow horizontal tunnels that are large enough for only one person to work in a squatting position.
4. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act provides a legal framework to regulate illegal mining activities in India.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Question 2: With reference to the recent Supreme Court direction to the West Bengal government regarding Dearness Allowance (DA), consider the following statements:

1. The Supreme Court held that payment of Dearness Allowance to government employees is a legally enforceable right.
2. The Court directed the State to immediately clear 100% of the outstanding DA in a single instalment.
3. The Court constituted a committee including retired Supreme Court judges to oversee compliance with its order.

4. Dearness Allowance is intended to offset the impact of inflation on government employees’ salaries.
   

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Question 3: With reference to the recent decision of the Himachal Pradesh government regarding mobile phone usage in schools, consider the following statements:

1. The prohibition on mobile phones applies only to government schools in the State.
2. Students found carrying mobile phones in school premises may face monetary penalties and confiscation of the device.
3. Parents of violating students may be required to attend mandatory counselling sessions.
4. The State Education Department has been tasked with framing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to address repeated violations.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Question 4:  With reference to air pollution management in the National Capital Region (NCR), consider the following statements:

1. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) was constituted as a statutory body in 2020 to coordinate air pollution control in the NCR and adjoining areas.
2. The CAQM currently prioritises vehicular emissions, road dust, and industrial pollution over stubble burning as key focus areas.
3. Air quality monitoring stations in Delhi are maintained by the Commission for Air Quality Management.
4. Population growth and rapid urbanisation can offset gains made in pollution control measures.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Question 5: With reference to the recent Kerala Assembly resolution on rural employment policy, consider the following statements:

1. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) is a rights-based programme guaranteeing wage employment to rural households.
2. Under the proposed Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB–G RAM G), States may be required to bear a fixed share of the financial burden, including unemployment wages and delayed payment compensation.
3. MGNREGS is implemented under a constitutional amendment that makes it mandatory for States to provide employment.
4. Fiscal burden-sharing between the Union and the States in centrally sponsored schemes is a recurring source of Centre–State tension.

Which of the statements given above are correct?