9 August 2026, Daily Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC Prelims: 5 High-Yield Questions (The Hindu, The Indian Express, PIB, etc.)

1. With reference to Pingali Venkayya and the historic evolution of the Indian National Flag, consider the following statements:

1. Pingali Venkayya first designed the Swaraj Flag—featuring red and green bands representing the two major religious communities—which was presented to Mahatma Gandhi at the Vijayawada session of the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1921.

2. The flag design officially adopted by the Indian National Congress in 1931 replaced the original colours with saffron, white, and green, featuring a central Charkha (spinning wheel) as a symbol of self-reliance.

3. The Ad Hoc Committee on the National Flag, headed by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, recommended adopting the Tricolour in July 1947 by replacing the Charkha with the Ashoka Chakra (Dharma Chakra).

Which of the statements given above is/are CORRECT?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

2. With reference to the indigenous tribal communities and unique socio-ecological heritage of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, consider the following statements:

1. The Todas are a pastoral community known for their sacred water buffalo cult, barrel-shaped bamboo huts (munds), and GI-tagged Pukhoor embroidery.

2. The Kotas have traditionally served as artisan-craftsmen (potters, blacksmiths, musicians) in the symbiotic socio-economic barter network (Kudumbam) of the Nilgiri plateau.

3. The Kurumbas are traditionally recognized across the region for their specialized knowledge of forest herbal medicine, honey collection, and indigenous sorcery/sorcery-related ritual arts.

4. The Paniyars and Irulas are exclusively high-altitude pastoralists who inhabit the sub-alpine Shola grasslands above 2,000 meters elevation.

Which of the statements given above are CORRECT?

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

3. With reference to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI), consider the following statements:

1. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a house-to-house physical verification exercise carried out under Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

2. Unlike the routine Annual Summary Revision (SSR), an SIR involves preparing fresh electoral rolls from scratch through door-to-door enumeration forms and self/progeny mapping to establish citizen eligibility.

3. Any deletion of an elector's name during the SIR due to permanent shifting or non-traceability can be executed by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) without prior notice.

Which of the statements given above are CORRECT?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 1 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

4. With reference to the constitutional provisions governing the delimitation of constituencies and the allocation of seats in the Lok Sabha, consider the following statements:

1. Under Article 82 of the Constitution, Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act after every decennial census to readjust the allocation of seats to states and the division of each state into territorial constituencies.

2. The 84th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002 froze the total number of seats allocated to each state in the Lok Sabha based on the 1971 Census figures until the first census taken after the year 2026.

3. The internal readjustment and territorial rationalization of constituencies within each state currently remain frozen based on the 1971 Census data.

Which of the statements given above are CORRECT?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 1 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

5. With reference to Quantum Communication and the targets specified under India's National Quantum Mission (NQM), consider the following statements:

1. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) transmits sensitive encrypted user payload data directly inside entangled photon states across long-distance optical fiber links.

2. The No-Cloning Theorem of quantum mechanics ensures that any unauthorized attempt by an eavesdropper to measure or intercept a quantum key alters its state, immediately alerting the communicating parties.

3. Under the National Quantum Mission, India aims to establish satellite-enabled quantum-secured communication between ground stations over a range of 2,000 kilometers.

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