Polity

UPSC 2026 GS Paper 1 | Q522026

In a multi-ethnic district where both economic competition and historical grievances frequently led to community tensions, a flashpoint has arisen with the Government's decision to allocate land for a waste management facility near a tribal hamlet, sparking protests by the tribal community, which claimed that the land was sacred and critical to their cultural identity. At the same time, urban residents and local industries supported the project, citing severe solid waste challenges and health concerns due to lack of a proper disposal site. The conflict has escalated with road blockades, social media campaigns, and allegations of police excesses. As a responsible Government official, you are tasked with resolving the situation through mediation, ensuring a sustainable outcome that balances environmental needs, tribal rights, and urban public health. Consider the following statements with reference to the above: 1. A successful conflict resolution process must begin with acknowledging the cultural concerns of the protesting tribal community before discussing technical alternatives. 2. The Government should move ahead with the project without delay to address urban health concerns, which outweigh the sentiments of a small group. 3. Creating a multi-stakeholder dialogue platform including tribal leaders, environmental experts, and municipal representatives will build mutual understanding and help de-escalate tensions. 4. Conducting an independent Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and sharing findings transparently with both sides will facilitate evidence-based decision making. Which of the statements given above would contribute to the resolution process?

UPSC 2026 GS Paper 1 | Q532026

Ms. X, a mid-level civil service official working in the urban development department of a major city. Recently, she was involved in approving a contract for a public infrastructure project—a new community park. During the approval process, she received a piece of confidential information indicating that one of the shortlisted contractors had a history of poor workmanship and allegations of corruption in other cities, though nothing had been legally proven. The Head of the Department, Mr. Y, advised her not to disclose this information to the project committee or the public because it could delay the project and damage the city's reputation. However, Ms. X believed that withholding such information compromised transparency and public trust. What amongst the following should Ms. X do now? 1. Immediately disclose the information to the project committee and the public. 2. Recommend removing the contractor from the shortlist to protect the project's integrity. 3. Propose 'limited disclosure' to an oversight committee, while keeping the information confidential from the public for the time being. Select the answer using the code given below:

UPSC 2026 GS Paper 1 | Q542026

X was addressing a seminar on the meaning of the term 'law' as provided under Article 13, Part III of the Constitution of India. X explained that the meaning of the term 'law' in the Constitution of India was very comprehensive. It included ordinances, orders and even rules and regulations. Y pointed out that the term 'law' in Article 13 also included custom or usage having in the territory of India the force of law, to which X was not convinced. Based on the above, select the correct conclusion from the options given below:

UPSC 2026 GS Paper 1 | Q552026

Consider the following statements with reference to the Constitution of India: 1. There is no Article in the Constitution of India that specifies that the Constitution of India will be officially called the 'Constitution of India'. 2. There is no Article in the Constitution of India that specifies that the Indian Independence Act, 1947 and the Government of India Act, 1935 stand repealed. 3. There is no Article in the Constitution of India that mentions 26th January, 1950 as the date of the commencement of the Constitution of India. Which one of the following conclusions based on the above statements is correct?

UPSC 2026 GS Paper 1 | Q562026

Which of the following statements with regard to the persons with disabilities in India is/are correct? 1. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, an Act passed by the Parliament of India in 2018, mandates reservation in education and employment, and places a legal duty on Governments to ensure accessibility and non-discrimination. 2. The Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan focuses on achieving universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities across three key domains: built infrastructure, transport systems and information and communication technology. 3. The National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC) is a public sector organisation set up by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs as a not-for-profit company to promote entrepreneurship among Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). Select the answer using the code given below:

UPSC 2026 GS Paper 1 | Q572026

Consider the following statements about the provisions pertaining to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in India: 1. Provisions regarding the administration of the Tribal Areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram are given in the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India. 2. Some tribes of India are entitled to exemption from paying Income Tax on certain incomes. 3. The Constitution of India provides for reservation of seats in Panchayats for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. Which one of the following conclusions based on the above statements is correct?

UPSC 2026 GS Paper 1 | Q582026

Consider the following statements in respect of questions asked by the Members in the Parliament of India: 1. Unstarred questions are those to which a Member desires an oral answer in the House. 2. Starred questions are those to which a Member desires a written answer. 3. No supplementary question can be asked on an unstarred question. Which one of the following conclusions based on the above statements is correct?

UPSC 2026 GS Paper 1 | Q592026

Consider the following statements about the Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes of the Parliament of India: 1. Although members of this Committee are elected from both Houses of Parliament, the Chairperson of this Committee is appointed by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. 2. Twenty members are elected by the Rajya Sabha and ten members by the Lok Sabha. 3. No Minister, except for the Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, is eligible to be a member of this Committee. 4. Members are elected for a fixed term of two years from the date they enter their office. Which one of the following conclusions based on the above statements is correct?

UPSC 2026 GS Paper 1 | Q622026

Which of the following statements about Zero First Information Report (Zero FIR) under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 is/are correct? 1. Zero FIR can be lodged at any police station even though the place of commission of the cognizable offence is outside the territorial jurisdiction of that police station. 2. The Officer-in-Charge of the police station where Zero FIR has been lodged may, with the permission of the competent authority, initiate preliminary enquiry. 3. Under Zero FIR, it is obligatory for the informant to furnish information electronically. Select the answer using the code given below:

UPSC 2026 GS Paper 1 | Q642026

Which of the following international conventions have not been ratified by India? 1. Employment Policy Convention 2. Abolition of Forced Labour Convention 3. International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families 4. Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War 5. Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness Select the answer using the code given below:

UPSC 2026 GS Paper 1 | Q742026

Which of the following statements with respect to the Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) is/are correct? 1. The period of its implementation is 1st April, 2022 to 31st March, 2026. 2. The key objective of the Revamped RGSA is to develop the governance capabilities of the Panchayati Raj Institutions to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals. 3. The share of the Central funding for the Revamped RGSA is 100% for all States and Union Territories. Select the answer using the code given below:

UPSC 2026 GS Paper 1 | Q782026

The Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany visited India in early 2026. Which of the following is/are not correct in terms of outcomes of this visit? 1. Signing of Memorandum of Understanding between the All India Institute of Ayurveda and the University of Hamburg 2. Signing of Memorandum of Understanding on Youth Hockey Development between Hockey India and the German Hockey Federation 3. Establishment of a bilateral dialogue mechanism on the Indo-Pacific 4. Opening of an Honorary Consul of Germany in Lucknow Select the answer using the code given below:

UPSC 2026 GS Paper 1 | Q842026

Which of the following statements with regard to India's indigenous high resolution weather model, the 'Bharat Forecast System', is/are correct? 1. Its objective is to generate forecasts at the Panchayat cluster level. 2. It was developed by IIT Delhi. Select the answer using the code given below:

UPSC 2026 GS Paper 1 | Q982026

With reference to different Committees in India, consider the following details: 1. R.N. Malhotra Committee : Comprehensive reforms of Insurance sector in India (Organization: Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India) 2. L.C. Gupta Committee : Preparing a roadmap for introduction of derivatives trading in India (Organization: Securities and Exchange Board of India) 3. Urjit R. Patel Committee : Preparing roadmap for reforming bank lending to the Housing sector (Organization: Reserve Bank of India) 4. Y.H. Malegam Committee : Preparing a roadmap for reforms in Microfinance sector in India (Organization: Reserve Bank of India) In which of the above rows are all the details correctly matched?