UPSC Daily Current Affairs Quiz : 23 February 2026

Question 1: With reference to the recent visit of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to India, consider the following statements:

1. He suggested that countries facing high tariffs should negotiate collectively rather than individually with major economies.
2. He supported India’s bid for permanent membership in the UN Security Council.
3. He stated that Brazil had become a creditor to the IMF after building large foreign exchange reserves.
   

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Question 2: With reference to the recent remarks of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in New Delhi and the broader geopolitics of trade, consider the following statements:

1. The call for “unionisation” of nations facing tariffs reflects a strategy of forming negotiating blocs to enhance bargaining power against major economies.
2. The proposal for reform of the UN Security Council aligns with the long-standing G4 initiative that includes India, Brazil, Germany and Japan.
3. Accumulation of large foreign exchange reserves enhances a country’s macroeconomic sovereignty by reducing vulnerability to external conditionalities from institutions such as the IMF.
4. If small countries negotiate trade agreements individually with major powers, economic theory suggests they are structurally likely to secure more favourable terms due to comparative advantage.
5. The imposition of high tariffs by a major economy on members of plurilateral groupings such as BRICS illustrates the increasing use of trade policy as an instrument of geopolitical leverage.
   

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Question 3: With reference to the recent remarks made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, consider the following statements:

1. The Prime Minister criticised the Congress for staging a protest during the AI Impact Summit, calling it inappropriate for a national event.
2. He clarified that his criticism was directed at the Congress alone and not at other Opposition parties such as the TMC, DMK, BSP or NC.
3. The AI Impact Summit was described by the Prime Minister as a party event organised by the BJP and NDA.
   

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Question 4: With reference to the regulation of satellite communication devices in Indian waters, consider the following statements:

1. The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) permits the use of Iridium-based satellite communication equipment in Indian waters exclusively for Distress and Safety Communications under the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), subject to conditions.
2. The use of Thuraya satellite equipment is permitted in Indian waters provided it is declared to authorities.
3. Personal satellite communication devices carried by crew members are allowed for unrestricted use if they are not connected to the ship’s GMDSS system.
   

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Question 5: With reference to recent developments in India’s biotechnology sector, consider the following statements:

1. The Union Budget 2026–27 announced a ₹10,000 crore investment to promote biotechnology, including boosting the production of biologics and biosimilars under the initiative “Biopharma Shakti.”
2. Personalised medicine primarily focuses on providing uniform treatment protocols for all patients suffering from the same disease.
3. Technologies such as genomics, bioinformatics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning are increasingly being integrated into drug discovery and personalised healthcare.
   

Which of the statements given above are correct?