16 June 2026 — Questions & Answers

Explanation

The article explicitly states France is the current chair of the G7 and is hosting the G7 summit in Evian in June 2026. This is a key fact for international relations static GK.

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Statement 1 is correct: The Year of Innovation was inaugurated during Macron's India visit for the AI Summit. Statement 2 is incorrect: 'Bharat Innovates' was in Nice, not Paris (VivaTech is in Paris). Statement 3 is correct as per the article. This tests precise location and event linkage.

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The article specifically mentions the postponement of the India-Africa Forum Summit scheduled for May 2026. This is a direct data point for factual recall.

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The article explicitly states that the potential for Franco-Indian cooperation in Africa 'has not been fully exploited' and must get attention, highlighting it as a significant new area. Other options are not mentioned in the article.

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The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is the nodal ministry for India's internal security, law and order, and citizenship-related issues. The article discusses a committee formed on demographic change framed as a security challenge, which falls under the MHA's purview.

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Statement 1 is correct: The committee is chaired by retired Supreme Court judge Justice P.P. Naolekar. Statement 2 is correct: The article states the committee is to 'recommend a time-bound solution'. Statement 3 is correct: The PM announced the proposal in his Independence Day address in 2025. Hence, all three statements are correct.

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The article explicitly mentions: 'On June 14, Switzerland held a referendum and rejected a proposal to cap the country’s population at 10 million.' This example was cited in the context of global debates on population management.

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The article highlights critical concerns that the securitized approach, based on assessing 'abnormal shifts' among religious communities, could lead to 'communal profiling of Muslims' and, through reliance on documentation for establishing facts, might 'create a large stateless population'. This is presented as a significant human cost.

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While Article 21 guarantees protection of life and personal liberty, the specific provisions regarding preventive detention, including safeguards against such detention, are detailed in Article 22 of the Constitution. This is a core static polity fact.

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Statement 1 is correct as the petitioner was a physically challenged Dalit advocate. Statement 2 is incorrect; the figure of 2,500 was for the period from May 2025 to April 2026 (nearly a year), not a single month. Statement 3 is correct as per the article's mention of recovery from salary after a disciplinary hearing.

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The article explicitly states that "around 2,500 people were reportedly subjected to preventive detention proceedings in Ghaziabad" during the specified period. This is a key data point from the news.

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The article directly states that "the executive has been historically reluctant to penalise its personnel" as a key reason why implementing the ruling (which includes recovering compensation from officials) will be difficult. This highlights the challenge of accountability within the administration.

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The article repeatedly mentions the IAEA in the context of monitoring Iran's nuclear programme, access for its inspectors, and the importance of robust IAEA verification for any agreement.

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Statement 1 is incorrect. The MoU, as reported, states that the U.S. agrees to allow dilution 'on Iranian soil', not abroad. Statement 2 is incorrect; the negotiation window is 60 days, not 90. Statement 3 is correct as the article explicitly states Pakistan mediated the negotiations.

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The article states, 'The Donald Trump administration and Iranian negotiators finalised a preliminary Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 14...' June 19 is the signing date, and June 16 is the publication date.

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The article clearly states: '...after which the Strait of Hormuz will be reopened and the U.S. naval blockade will be lifted.' The other options are not mentioned as immediate consequences; nuclear facility status and sanctions relief are subjects for the 60-day negotiations.

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The article explicitly states the report was 'produced in collaboration with the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai.' This is a factual recall question testing attention to detail regarding institutions mentioned in the news.

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Statement 1 is incorrect: The report states trust is at its 'lowest level globally since 2015,' not the highest. Statement 2 is correct as per the article: 'while this trend is more evident among younger audiences, it is prevalent across all age groups.' Statement 3 is incorrect: The article states creators are 'rated lower on trust and impartiality' but are seen as 'more entertaining.'

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The article provides the exact figure: '10% of respondents globally now using them.' This is a classic data-centric question where the examiner tests the candidate's ability to memorize precise statistics from important reports.

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The article states: 'Paradoxically, while traditional news sources decline amid the emergence of platforms, people are also more concerned about misinformation and put less trust in the news they come across.' This captures the core contradiction between ease of access and credibility, a key analytical point for mains answers on media and governance.

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The Power System Development Fund (PSDF) is administered by the Ministry of Power, Government of India. It is used to support financially critical projects related to power system development, including grid stability and integration of renewable energy.

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Statement 1 is correct as per the article which states KSEB has given October 2026 as the COD for all five projects. Statement 2 is incorrect; the article clarifies that MW denotes the maximum power a BESS can deliver at any moment, while MWh indicates the total energy it can store. Statement 3 is correct as the Brahmapuram project is approved with VGF through the PSDF scheme.

Explanation

The article explicitly mentions that the first BESS in Kasaragod district is coming up at Mylatti with a proposed capacity of 125 megawatts (MW)/500 megawatt hours (MWh). The 250MW/500MWh option refers to the separate Brahmapuram project.

Explanation

The article states that Kerala often has surplus electricity during daytime due to solar generation but lacks large storage systems. This forces expensive power purchases during high-demand non-solar hours. The BESS projects aim to store the daytime surplus ('time-shifting') to address this specific grid management challenge.

Explanation

The article explicitly mentions the 'Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) of 2015' as the previous US-Iran agreement focused on Iran's nuclear programme. IAEA is the International Atomic Energy Agency, OPEC is the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, and UNSC is the United Nations Security Council.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect as the article calls it a 'memorandum of understanding (MoU)', which is typically a non-binding agreement, and it is to be signed by the US Vice President, not the President. Statement 2 is correct as per the article which states it 'appears to go well beyond the nuclear question'. Statement 3 is incorrect as the article mentions 'strong opposition in Israel, considerable criticism in Washington, and some dissent in Tehran'.

Explanation

The article clearly states that US Vice President J D Vance 'is expected to sign the MoU in Geneva on Friday'. Vienna was the venue for JCPOA negotiations, New York hosts the UN, and Doha is a common diplomatic hub, but the article specifies Geneva for this MoU.

Explanation

The article directly states that for India, defusing conflict 'is enormously welcome — from the interest of its diaspora to the imperatives of its energy security.' The other options, such as arms exports, new military alliances, or reducing Russian oil dependence, are not mentioned as primary Indian interests in this context.

Explanation

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow channel that links the Persian Gulf (where major oil producers like Saudi Arabia, Iran, UAE are located) with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, making it a vital passage for global oil shipments.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct as per the article: 'Around 40% of India's crude oil imports... came from West Asia through the strait.' Statement 2 is correct: 'The country's import dependence stands at over 88% for oil, 60% for LPG...' The article states 60% import dependence for LPG, not over 90%. The 90% figure refers to the share of LPG imports that come from West Asia, not overall import dependence. Therefore, statement 2 is incorrect. Statement 3 is directly mentioned: 'every 10% increase in oil prices typically widens India's current account deficit by 0.4% of GDP.' Hence, only statements 1 and 3 are correct.

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The article states: 'Oil prices tumbled Monday after the US and Iran announced that they had reached a peace agreement... with Brent futures down about 5% at around $83 per barrel by evening.' This reflects the market's immediate optimistic reaction to the potential easing of supply constraints.

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The article emphasizes that 'it will take months for energy flows to recover to pre-war levels' because 'the war forced major Gulf energy producers to shut in large volumes of oil and gas production.' Experts like Prashant Vasisht note that Gulf energy infrastructure 'could take months, even years in some cases, to return to normal production.' This supply-side constraint, not demand or sanctions, is highlighted as the key reason for the slow normalization.

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The article states that trade data was released by the 'Commerce and Industry' on Monday. The Department of Commerce under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry is responsible for compiling and releasing India's foreign trade statistics.

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Statement 1 is correct: Exports were $45.2 billion, up 18%. Statement 2 is incorrect: The trade deficit widened to $28.21 billion from $22.56 billion. Statement 3 is correct: Imports from the US surged 54.43% to $5.87 billion.

Explanation

The article explicitly states that the country's trade deficit swelled to $28.21 billion in May 2026. The other options are distractors: $22.56 billion was the deficit in May 2025, while $25.10 billion and $30.50 billion are not mentioned.

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The GJEPC Chairman, Kirit Bhansali, is quoted saying the decline in plain gold jewellery exports is due to 'the tightening of gold imports, which has affected the availability of gold for export manufacturing.' The other factors are not mentioned in the article.

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The article explicitly states that the US-India Business Council (USIBC) launched the Critical Minerals Security Task Force. This body works to deepen commercial ties between the two countries.

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Statement 1 is correct as per the article. Statement 2 is incorrect; the overlap is 26 minerals, not 20. Statement 3 is correct as the five priority areas include lithium refining and cathode active materials (CAM), recycling, feedstock corridors, synthetic graphite production, and rare earth processing and magnet manufacturing.

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The article states that India has announced a scheme to support 6,000 metric tonnes per annum (MTPA) of integrated REPM production capacity. This is a precise data point for factual recall.

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The article emphasizes growing concerns over China's dominance over the supply chain, which it uses as leverage in trade disputes. The cooperation aims to combine India's industrial strengths with US technology and capital to build resilient supply chains together, reducing dependence.

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The article explicitly states that PM Janman Yojana supports 'Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups' with housing, roads, healthcare, and education. PVTGs are a recognized sub-category of Scheduled Tribes requiring special attention.

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Statement 1 is correct as per the article. Statement 2 is incorrect; the article states the amount is ₹1,000 monthly, not ₹2,000. Statement 3 is correct as mentioned. Hence, option C is correct.

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The article provides the specific data: '2.43 lakh urban houses have been approved and 2.16 lakh completed in Chhattisgarh.' The other options are close distractors based on the approved number or incorrect figures.

Explanation

The article states that security camps are being converted into 'Veer Shaheed Gundadhur Seva Deras' for better service delivery under the Niyad Nellanar Yojana. This is a core strategy to leverage existing security infrastructure for developmental outreach.