5 High-Yield Daily Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC Prelims: 11 August 2026

1. With reference to the Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo persica) in India, consider the following statements:

1. India's Gir landscape and its surrounding region in Gujarat constitute the only natural habitat for Asiatic lions in the wild.

2. A distinctive morphological feature of the Asiatic lion compared to the African lion is the presence of a longitudinal fold of skin running along its belly.

3. Under Project Lion, the Barda Wildlife Sanctuary has been identified as a key location to serve as a second home for Asiatic lions within Gujarat.

4. The Asiatic lion is currently listed as 'Critically Endangered' on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1, 2, and 3 only

(c) 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, and 4

2. With reference to the management and removal of Invasive Alien Plant Species (IAPS) in Reserved Forests in India, consider the following statements:

1. The Forest Survey of India (FSI) has compiled a dedicated album identifying 45 major invasive plant species to monitor their occurrence in Reserved Forest Areas.

2. The Botanical Survey of India (BSI) has submitted a state-wise inventory of invasive species to the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) to facilitate the drafting of a National Management Plan.

3. The direct execution, removal, and post-clearing regeneration drives in Reserved Forests fall under the exclusive executive mandate of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

4. The National Working Plan Code, 2023 provides for ecosystem-based forest management and mandates preference for site-specific native species during forest regeneration.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 1, 2, and 4 only

(c) 2, 3, and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, and 4

3. With reference to the PAIMANA (Project Assessment, Infrastructure Monitoring and Analytics for Nation-Building) framework, consider the following statements:

1. PAIMANA replaces the legacy OCMS-2006 platform to monitor ongoing Central Sector infrastructure projects.

2. The PAIMANA-CRIP module replaces DPIIT’s Integrated Project Monitoring Portal (IPMP) to function as the Central Repository of Infrastructure Projects.

3. The platform was developed and implemented by the Department of Economic Affairs to oversee state-funded capital expenditure projects.

4. The Infrastructure Performance Monitoring Dashboard evaluates projects solely based on physical and financial outputs, excluding qualitative or cost-revenue parameters.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1, 3, and 4 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, and 4

4. With reference to the Full-Flow Staged Combustion (FFSC) rocket engine 'EVEREST', recently developed by the Indian private space sector, consider the following statements:

1. In a Full-Flow Staged Combustion cycle, 100% of both fuel and oxidizer flow pass through the pre-burners and turbines before entering the main combustion chamber.

2. The EVEREST engine uses a hypergolic propellant combination of Unsymmetrical Dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) and Nitrogen Tetroxide to ensure rapid re-ignition.

3. The development of this engine received institutional backing under the Technology Adoption Fund (TAF) of IN-SPACe.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2, and 3

5. With reference to fuel properties and recent findings on ethanol blending in diesel, consider the following statements:

1. The flash point of a fuel refers to the minimum temperature at which its liquid phase spontaneously ignites without requiring an external spark or flame.

2. Diesel inherently possesses a significantly higher flash point than petrol, making raw diesel safer for bulk storage and transport.

3. Blending ethanol with diesel causes a sharp reduction in the mixture's flash point, leading to its failure in meeting mandatory safety standards.

4. Isobutanol is currently used as a standard commercial substitute for ethanol in diesel blending across Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 4 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1, 2, and 3 only

(d) 2, 3, and 4 only