UPSC Daily Current Affairs Quiz : 26 May 2026

Correct Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: The article explicitly states that the FQAHE was achieved without using a magnetic field. The 'A' in FQAHE stands for 'anomalous', meaning the effect was recreated by mimicking the field's effects through the material's internal structure (the moiré superlattice).
• Statement 2 is correct: The article explains that in the FQHE, electrons form a collective quantum state (like an ocean) where it is impossible to distinguish individual electrons. This state gives rise to quasiparticles called anyons, which behave as if they possess only a fraction of an electron's charge.

Statement 3 is correct: The article describes how the moiré superlattice in graphene significantly slows electrons down. When their kinetic energy drops enough, the particles' mutual repulsion becomes the dominant interaction, leading to the strongly collective quantum state necessary for the FQHE/FQAHE.

Correct Answer: (a) 1 and 3 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: The article explains that the 16th FC applied a square-root transformation to State GSDP shares with only a 10% weight (far below the expected 25%), which significantly reduced the advantage of economically stronger States like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: The article clearly states that the 16th FC retained the vertical devolution share at 41% for States, despite demands for a 50% share. The vertical share was not increased.
• Statement 3 is correct: The article provides detailed alternative scenarios showing that had the Commission used the actual GSDP share with 25% weight (and reduced the income distance weight to 27.5%), Maharashtra's share would have increased to 8.698% — a 2.392 per

Correct Answer: (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

Explanation:

• Assertion (A) is true: The article explicitly states that "The notion of a 'level playing field' between these two systems is hence a misframing of the problem."
• Reason (R) is true and correctly explains A: The article provides the farm size comparison - "The average Indian farm is about 0.73 hectares; the average Australian farm exceeds 1,400 hectares" - to illustrate the structural asymmetry between the two agricultural realities. It further explains that Indian farmers "remain structurally exposed to monsoon variability, fragmented landholdings and thin margins," while Australia operates at an industrial scale. This fundamental structural difference is precisely why demanding parity or a level playing field in market access is a misframing, as the two systems cannot be equated. Therefore, R correctly explains A.

Correct Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: The article states that "Over the last two decades, the number of Census towns has jumped from 1,362 to 3,784, a 178% increase. These are not villages anymore, but neither are they recognised as cities."
• Statement 2 is correct: The article recommends that "State governments must constitute Nagar Panchayats for all Census towns, as the 74th Constitutional Amendment envisioned."
• Statement 3 is incorrect: The article cites the example of Rawta village on the edge of Delhi, where residents receive water only on alternate days and private vendors exploit this gap. The Jal Jeevan Mission has brought tap water to nearly eight out of 10 rural households, but peri-urban areas continue to face water access challenges.

Correct Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: The article states that "India has consistently run a merchandise trade deficit, with imports of goods (especially oil) exceeding exports."
• Statement 2 is correct: The article mentions that "the deficit in its merchandise trade account is partially offset by a surplus in India's invisibles... mainly thanks to foreign currency inflows from the export of services, particularly software, and to the large remittance inflows from migrant workers."
• Statement 3 is incorrect: The article clearly says that "India's current account... has been in deficit," not surplus. The gap is bridged by capital account inflows.