UPSC Daily Current Affairs Quiz : 26 February 2026

Answer: (a) 1, 3 and 4 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct. During his address to the Knesset, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas as a “barbaric terrorist attack” and reiterated India’s consistent and uncompromising policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism, with no double standards. He also referenced India’s own experience with terrorism, including the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. India did not oppose the Gaza Peace Initiative. On the contrary, the Prime Minister expressed firm support for the Gaza Peace Initiative endorsed by the UN Security Council, stating that it offers a pathway toward a just and durable peace, including addressing the Palestine issue.
• Statement 3 is correct. India has supported Israel’s efforts to normalize relations with Arab countries under the Abraham Accords, describing them as reflecting courage and vision and contributing to regional peace-building.
• Statement 4 is correct. India and Israel are working to enhance bilateral cooperation across sectors such as water management, agriculture, and talent partnerships. Both countries are negotiating an ambitious Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and exploring cross-border financial linkages through Digital Public Infrastructure. Thus, statements 1, 3, and 4 are correct.

Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 3 only

Explanation: 

• Statement 1 is correct. Trump’s State of the Union address on February 24, 2026 lasted approximately 1 hour 48 minutes (about 108 minutes), making it the longest State of the Union speech in United States history, surpassing previous records.
• Statement 2 is correct. During the address, Trump defended his tariff policies even after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down elements of those tariffs. He said he would pursue alternative legal methods to maintain tariff measures and insisted that trade partners were interested in preserving deals made under his policies.
• Statement 3 is correct. A key purpose of the speech was to bolster public confidence in the U.S. economy and persuade voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, especially as Trump’s approval ratings were under pressure. He also took aim at Democrats, emphasised immigration enforcement, and spotlighted achievements such as economic claims, foreign policy actions, and national security positions.
• Statement 4 is incorrect. The speech did not receive near-unanimous bipartisan support. In fact, Democratic responses were mixed, with some lawmakers boycotting or protesting sections of the address as partisan or misleading. While there were moments of applause (e.g., for certain guests), many Democratic members did not applaud and some Democrats left early or criticised the content.

Answer:(a) 1, 3 and 4 only

Explanation

• Statement 1 is correct. NVS-02 was the second satellite in the NVS series and part of India’s Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system. It was launched aboard the GSLV-F15 rocket from Sriharikota.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. The launch vehicle performed successfully and placed the satellite into an elliptical transfer orbit. The failure occurred later during orbit-raising manoeuvres, not during lift-off.
• Statement 3 is correct. The apex committee concluded that the signal meant to activate a key valve in the engine’s oxidiser line did not reach it. The likely reason was a loose or failed electrical connector in both primary and back-up lines, which prevented the engine from firing to raise the orbit.
• Statement 4 is correct. The committee recommended enhancing redundancy and reliability of pyro system operations. These improvements were implemented in the CMS-03 (GSAT-7R) mission, launched by LVM-3 M5, which successfully reached its intended orbit.

Answer: (a) 1, 3 and 4 only

Explanation

• Statement 1 is correct. The RTI application sought records of pre-legislative consultations with State governments, technical workshops, and multi-stakeholder discussions that were reportedly conducted before the introduction of the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. The Ministry did not reject the plea on grounds of full implementation. Instead, it stated that the scheme had not yet been formally notified by States/UTs and had not become operational. Therefore, the matter had not attained finality.
• Statement 3 is correct. The Ministry argued that disclosing the information at this stage would involve sharing records of ongoing deliberations and policy implementation processes, implying exemption under provisions relating to incomplete or ongoing decision-making.
• Statement 4 is correct. The applicant also requested internal notes and documentation showing how inputs from consultations were incorporated into drafting the Act.

Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 4 only

Explanation

• Statement 1 is correct. India’s nationwide HPV vaccination programme targets girls aged 14 and adopts a single-dose regimen, in line with recommendations of the World Health Organization. The move aligns India with over 90 countries implementing single-dose schedules.
• Statement 2 is correct. High-risk HPV types 16 and 18 are responsible for more than 80% of cervical cancer cases in India. Persistent infection with these strains is the principal cause of cervical cancer.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. Cervical cancer remains a major public health burden in India. Screening coverage is extremely low — only about 1.9% of women aged 30–49 years are tested. India contributes more than 65% of the cervical cancer burden in the WHO South-East Asia Region (SEARO).
• Statement 4 is correct. The vaccination will be administered exclusively at designated government health facilities under trained medical supervision, with post-vaccination observation and monitoring of Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI). This is especially significant given past concerns arising from the 2009–10 HPV vaccine trial, where deaths were reported (though later investigations suggested they were most probably unrelated to the vaccine).