UPSC Daily Current Affairs Quiz : 07 February 2026

Correct Answer: D. 1 and 2 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct. In December 2025, India’s crude oil imports from Russia fell to about 24.9% of its total oil imports - a 38-month low - as the country diversified its energy sources and reduced dependency on a single supplier.
• Statement 2 is correct. India imported 1.1 million tonnes of crude oil from the United States in December 2025 - an increase of about 58% over December 2024 - indicating a rising share of U.S. oil in India’s import basket.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. While political claims were made (especially by the U.S. side) that India would stop buying Russian oil in exchange for lower U.S. tariffs, India officially has not confirmed that it has ceased all purchases of Russian oil as part of any such trade deal. New Delhi has maintained that its decisions on oil imports are driven by market conditions, security of supply, and evolving global dynamics rather than political pressure. 

Correct Answer: A. 1 and 2 only

Explanation

• Statement 1 is correct. India informed Parliament that it has fully paid the $120 million commitment for port equipment procurement under the 10-year MoU signed with Iran in May 2024. This indicates fulfilment of its financial obligation despite geopolitical uncertainty.
• Statement 2 is correct. The U.S. has extended a conditional sanctions waiver until 26 April 2026, allowing India limited engagement with the Chabahar project. The waiver is critical because the port would otherwise fall under U.S. sanctions on Iran.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. India has zeroed out crude oil imports from Iran since 2019–20 due to U.S. sanctions and has not resumed them. Chabahar is being used mainly for connectivity to Afghanistan and Central Asia, not oil trade.

Correct Answer: d. 1 and 2 only

Explanation

• Statement 1 is correct. The government has reiterated the need to align education, skilling, and employment to achieve the long-term goal of Viksit Bharat 2047. Budget announcements and recent policy messaging emphasise synergy between formal education and employable skills.
• Statement 2 is correct. The Prime Minister highlighted that professional skills have no upper limit and must evolve continuously due to rapid technological change (AI, medicine, robotics, etc.), whereas life skills such as discipline and adaptability form a foundational base.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. Pariksha pe Charcha is an annual interaction programme where the Prime Minister engages with students, teachers, and parents about exam stress, study strategies, and personal development. It is not a vocational training programme for industrial workers.

Correct Answer: A. 1 and 3 only

Explanation

• Statement 1 is correct. The integration of education and skills is being framed as part of the broader national objective of achieving Viksit Bharat 2047, highlighting employability, adaptability, and productivity of the youth.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. The Prime Minister clarified the reverse: life skills (discipline, confidence, adaptability) form a foundational base to be fully cultivated, while professional skills are open-ended and require lifelong learning due to technological change.
• Statement 3 is correct. The Finance Minister announced a committee on education, employment, and entrepreneurship, signalling policy-level efforts to align learning with job markets.

Correct Answer: A. 1 and 2 only

Explanation

• Statement 1 is correct. The notification defines deep tech start-ups as companies built on scientific/engineering breakthroughs, with heavy emphasis on R&D spending, creation of novel intellectual property, and long gestation cycles involving technical uncertainty.
• Statement 2 is correct. A normal start-up is recognised up to 10 years with a turnover of up to ₹200 crore, whereas a deep tech start-up gets an extended runway of up to 20 years and ₹300 crore turnover, acknowledging longer development timelines.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. The notification prohibits investment in speculative or unrelated activities (real estate, securities, speculative assets) unless directly linked to the company’s knowledge-production mandate.