5 Daily Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC Prelims: 14 August 2026

1. With reference to the legal, ethical, and regulatory debates surrounding digital platforms and the design of social media interfaces, consider the following statements:

1. Infinite scrolling, autoplay features, and algorithmic reinforcement are classified as "dark patterns"—user interface designs deliberately engineered to manipulate user behaviour and maximize digital engagement, particularly targeting children and teenagers.

2. Under current Indian data protection architecture, the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, explicitly mandates verifiable parental consent before processing the personal data of children, carrying penal consequences for platforms that fail to ensure child safety.

3. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) is legally empowered under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, to take suo motu cognizance of deceptive interface designs and addictive dark patterns that constitute unfair trade practices.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2, and 3

2. With reference to flash floods in India, consider the following statements:

1. Unlike conventional riverine floods that develop over days or weeks, flash floods are characterized by a rapid surge of water occurring within minutes or hours of a triggering event.

2. The primary triggers for flash floods are restricted to meteorological phenomena such as cloudbursts and torrential monsoon downpours, precluding any geological or anthropogenic triggers.

3. Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs)—caused by the sudden breaching of natural moraine dams—represent a major source of catastrophic flash floods in high-altitude Himalayan regions.

4. Unchecked urbanization and extensive paving with impermeable surfaces (concrete and asphalt) can exacerbate flash flood risks even in non-mountainous urban landscapes by drastically accelerating surface runoff.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1, 3, and 4 only

(b) 3 and 4 only

(c) 1, 2 and 3 only

(d) 1 and 2 only

3. With reference to Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models in infrastructure development, consider the following statements regarding the Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer (BOOT) model:

1. Under the BOOT model, the private sector partner is responsible for financing, constructing, and owning the infrastructure facility during the operational concession period.

2. The private entity generates revenue during the concession period by charging user fees or tolls directly from consumers or through government-backed annuity payments.

3. Upon the expiration of the concession period, ownership and operational control of the facility are permanently retained by the private entity.

4. Unlike the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model, the private partner legally holds the title (ownership) of the asset for the duration of the concession before transferring it back.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1, 2, and 4 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3 only

4. With reference to the Indian economy and infrastructure financing models, consider the following statements:

1. Under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM), the private developer bears 100% of the traffic risk, while the government provides all upfront capital construction grants during the building phase.

2. The National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) was established to provide a roadmap for world-class infrastructure across the country and improve project preparation, with capital expenditure shared across the central government, state governments, and the private sector.

3. Sovereign Green Bonds issued by the Government of India are designed to mobilize resources for green infrastructure projects, with some parts of the proceeds utilized to finance carbon-intensive fossil fuel extraction projects to offset national energy deficits.

4. Asset Monetization refers to the process of creating new public infrastructure by liquidating existing public assets through privatization and permanent transfer of ownership.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 4 only

(d) 1, 3, and 4 only

5. With reference to wildlife conservation, endemic species, and ecological threats in India, consider the following statements:

1. The Black-necked Crane, designated as the state bird of Ladakh, faces severe conservation challenges in its alpine wetland breeding grounds due to predation of its eggs and chicks by feral dogs.

2. The Great Indian Bustard, critically endangered and largely restricted to the scrublands of Rajasthan, is severely impacted by habitat fragmentation and mortality caused by collision with high-voltage overhead transmission lines.

3. The Sangai deer (Dancing Deer), endemic to the floating phumdis of Loktak Lake in Manipur, faces threats from hydro-electric water level fluctuations, shrinking habitat space, and anthropogenic encroachment.

4. The Lion-tailed Macaque, an arboreal primate found exclusively in the trans-Himalayan cold desert region, is heavily threatened by the extensive commercial cultivation of tea and coffee plantations.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1, 2, and 3 only

(c) 2, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 3, and 4 only