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Daily-mcqs 18 Jul 2026

Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC & State PSC Exams 18 Jul 2026

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Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC & State PSC Exams

Q1:

Consider the following statements regarding the working mechanism of India's first hydrogen-powered train, the NaMo Green Rail:

  1. The train generates electricity onboard through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and atmospheric oxygen.
  2. The only by-product released during this power generation process is oxygen and water vapour.
  3. It utilizes a propulsion system that solely relies on hydrogen fuel cells without requiring any batteries.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A: 1 only

B: 1 and 3 only

C: 2 and 3 only

D: 1, 2, and 3

Answer: A

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The NaMo Green Rail generates its electricity onboard using a hydrogen fuel cell. This cell facilitates an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and atmospheric oxygen to produce electricity for propulsion.


Statement 2 is incorrect: While water vapour is indeed released as a by-product, oxygen is consumed in the reaction, not released.


Statement 3 is incorrect: The hydrogen train's power system does not solely run on fuel cells. It is hybrid in nature, equipped with hydrogen storage cylinders, fuel cells, and lithium iron phosphate batteries to provide stable energy delivery.


                            

Q2:

With reference to India's first hydrogen-powered train, the NaMo Green Rail, consider the following statements:

  1. It has been completely designed, engineered, and manufactured domestically under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
  2. The train was designed by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) and manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai.
  3. The launch of this train aligns with the objectives of the National Green Hydrogen Mission.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A: 1 and 2 only

B: 1 and 3 only

C: 2 and 3 only

D: 1, 2, and 3

Answer: D

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The NaMo Green Rail reflects India's focus on technological self-reliance and indigenous manufacturing capabilities under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, reducing dependence on imported railway systems.


Statement 2 is correct: The hydrogen-powered passenger train was designed by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) and manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai.


Statement 3 is correct: The project is a major step in fulfilling the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which seeks to establish India as a global hub for green hydrogen production and usage, thereby lowering greenhouse gas emissions and reducing fossil fuel dependency.


                            

Q3:

With reference to the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) and its role in global trade, consider the following statements:

  1. Codex standards are automatically binding on all World Trade Organization (WTO) member countries without requiring domestic legal adoption.
  2. Under the WTO Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures, Codex standards serve as the internationally recognized benchmark for food safety.
  3. If Indian agricultural exports comply with Codex standards, importing countries cannot reject consignments as "unsafe" without valid scientific evidence.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A: 1 and 2 only

B: 1 and 3 only

C: 2 and 3 only

D: 1, 2, and 3

Answer: C

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: Codex standards are voluntary guidelines and do not automatically become binding legal obligations. Member countries (including India) are not legally forced to adopt them, though the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) does harmonize its domestic regulations with Codex to ensure global competitiveness.


Statement 2 is correct: The WTO Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures explicitly identifies the standards, guidelines, and recommendations of the Codex Alimentarius Commission as the international reference point for food safety.


Statement 3 is correct: Because Codex is the international benchmark for food safety under the WTO SPS Agreement, it acts as a protective shield. If an Indian spice or food export fully complies with Codex norms, an importing country cannot arbitrarily reject it as unsafe without valid, objective scientific evidence. Any unjustified Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) can be challenged by India through the WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism.


                            

Q4:

Consider the following statements regarding China’s recent sea-based Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) test and its nuclear capabilities:

  1. The recent test involved a Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) travelling approximately 7,300 km into the Southern Pacific Ocean.
  2. A robust nuclear triad enables a country to launch nuclear weapons from land-based missiles, sea-based missiles, and strategic bombers.
  3. China’s shift towards expanding its submarine-based forces primarily strengthens its "first-strike capability" to preemptively disarm its adversaries.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A: 1 and 2 only

B: 2 only

C: 2 and 3 only

D: 1, 2, and 3

Answer: A

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: On July 6, China conducted its first known sea-based long-range ballistic missile test in international waters, launching an SLBM (most likely a JL-2 or advanced JL-3) that traveled roughly 7,300 km before landing in the Southern Pacific Ocean.


Statement 2 is correct: By definition, a nuclear triad refers to a country's ability to deliver nuclear weapons via three distinct platforms: land-based ICBMs, sea-based SLBMs carried by nuclear submarines, and strategic bombers. This diversification guarantees survivability.


Statement 3 is incorrect: Expanding submarine-based nuclear forces is universally viewed as a move to strengthen a nation's second-strike capability—the ability to endure a devastating first attack and still retain the capacity to retaliate. Because nuclear submarines are incredibly difficult to detect, they serve as the ultimate deterrent against a first-strike attack, rather than a first-strike weapon.


                            

Q5:

With reference to the recent Chinese sea-based ICBM test and its implications for the Indo-Pacific region, consider the following statements:

  1. The missile's trajectory passed over the Southern Pacific Ocean, an area covered by the Treaty of Rarotonga (South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone).
  2. The Treaty of Rarotonga strictly prohibits all forms of ballistic missile testing and the overflight of nuclear-capable missiles in the region.
  3. For India, this development highlights the need to rapidly improve its anti-submarine warfare capabilities and expand its own fleet of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A: 1 and 2 only

B: 2 only

C: 1 and 3 only

D: 1, 2, and 3

Answer: C

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The dummy warhead splashed down in the Southern Pacific Ocean, an area designated as the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone under the Treaty of Rarotonga.


Statement 2 is incorrect: While the Treaty of Rarotonga does prohibit the testing, manufacturing, and stationing of nuclear explosive devices, it does not ban the overflight of international waters or the testing of ballistic missiles without nuclear warheads. Because the Chinese missile carried a dummy warhead, it is not legally classified as a nuclear explosion under the treaty.


Statement 3 is correct: China's growing nuclear and naval footprint signifies a widening strategic gap that directly affects India’s security environment. To maintain strategic stability and ensure Credible Minimum Deterrence, India must enhance its seabed domain awareness in the Indian Ocean, develop longer-range SLBMs (like the K-5 and K-6), and expand its SSBN fleet.


                            
Aliganj Gomti Nagar Prayagraj