1) Answer: (C)
India's crude oil import dependence is indeed rising, primarily due to increasing domestic fuel
demand (driven by economic growth, rising vehicle ownership, transportation needs,
industrialization, and India becoming the world's largest driver of oil demand growth in recent
years) and stagnant (or even declining) domestic production. Recent data from the Petroleum
Planning & Analysis Cell (PPAC) shows import dependence reaching 88.6% in the first 10
months of FY26 (up from 88.2% in the same period of FY25 and 88.3% for full FY25),
marking a continuing upward trend and approaching record highs. Domestic crude oil
production has remained largely flat or shown declines in recent years (e.g., averaging around
700 kb/d in 2023 with projections for further gradual decline), failing to keep pace with
surging consumption. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
High dependence on imported crude oil significantly widens India's trade deficit (as crude oil
remains one of the largest single items in the import basket, increasing the import bill when
volumes or prices rise) and exerts downward pressure on the rupee (due to higher demand for
US dollars to pay for imports, contributing to rupee depreciation amid widening current

2) Consider the following statements regarding the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023:
1. It applies to companies outside India if they offer goods or services to individuals
located within India.
2. It allows the processing of personal data for certain legitimate uses without explicit
consent.
3. It recognizes the right of individuals to seek correction and erasure of their personal
data to protect their privacy.

2) Answer: (D)
The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 is India’s primary law governing the
processing of digital personal data. It aims to balance an individual’s right to privacy with
the need to process data for lawful purposes.
The Act has extra-territorial application.
It applies not only to entities within India but also to foreign companies if they process
personal data in connection with:
●
Offering goods or services to individuals in India, or
●
Profiling individuals within India.
This ensures that global tech platforms and foreign e-commerce companies handling Indian
users’ data are covered under Indian law. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
While consent is the primary basis for processing personal data, the Act allows certain
“legitimate uses” where consent is not required.
These include:
●
State functions (e.g., subsidies, benefits, licenses)
●
Compliance with law or court orders
●
Medical emergencies
●
Employment-related purposes
●
Public interest situations (e.g., disaster response)
Hence, statement 2 is correct.
The Act recognizes individuals as Data Principals and grants them specific rights:
●
Right to access information about their personal data
●
Right to correction and updating
●
Right to erasure (when purpose is complete or consent is withdrawn)
●
Right to grievance redressal
●
Right to nominate another person (in case of death/incapacity)

3) Consider the following statements regarding the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
(TRAI)
1. TRAI is a statutory body that has the authority to regulate tariffs and pricing of
telecom services
2. 3. TRAI functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Communications.
Appeals against the decisions of TRAI lie before the Telecom Disputes Settlement and
Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT).

3) Answer: (B)
TRAI stands for Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. It is the regulatory body for
telecommunications in India. It was established under the Telecom Regulatory Authority
of India Act, 1997.
Its main responsibilities include:
●
Regulating tariffs to ensure fair pricing for telecom services.
●
Monitoring service quality to protect consumer interests.
●
Promoting competition among service providers to prevent monopolies and
encourage innovation. Essentially, TRAI ensures that telecom services are affordable,
reliable, and competitive. Hence statement 1 is correct.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is an independent statutory body that
functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Communications,
Government of India.
While it advises the government on policy matters, spectrum allocation, and technology
adoption, it does not directly implement government policies. This independence allows
TRAI to act impartially in regulating the sector and resolving disputes between operators.
Hence statement 2 is incorrect.
Decisions made by TRAI can be challenged through appeals, which are heard by the
Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT).
TDSAT is a quasi-judicial body created to resolve disputes related to licensing, tariffs, and
service quality between telecom operators, service providers, and consumers. Any further
appeal from TDSAT’s orders can only be made to the Supreme Court, ensuring a clear legal
hierarchy. Hence statement 3 is correct.
Therefore option B is the correct answer

4) Consider the following statements regarding the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC):
1. It is a regional intergovernmental political and economic union.
2. Iraq and Iran are members of GCC.
3. The GCC is currently India’s largest trading partner bloc.

4) Answer: (B)
●
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a regional intergovernmental political and
economic union established in 1981. It was created to foster coordination and
integration among its member states in the fields of economy, commerce, and
politics. Hence statement 1 is correct.
●
Neither Iraq nor Iran are members of the GCC. The council consists of six specific
Arab monarchies: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Qatar,
Bahrain, and Oman. Iraq is a Gulf Arab nation but has been historically excluded
due to political differences, and Iran is a non-Arab state. Hence statement 2 is
Incorrect.
●
The GCC is India’s largest regional-bloc trading partner, a position it has
maintained through consistent growth. In 2017–18, bilateral trade stood at $104
billion (a 7% increase from the previous year), outperforming India's trade with both
the EU and ASEAN. Hence statement 3 is correct.
●
Therefore, Option B is the correct answer.

1) 2) 3) Daily MCQ: 28.02.2026
Consider the following statements :
1. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is under a severe humanitarian crisis due
to ongoing civil war .
2. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of the world's leading producers of
copper.
3. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is bordered by Angola and Rwanda

1) Answer: (D)
●
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is under severe humanitarian crisis due to
ongoing civil war.As of early 2026, the DRC is experiencing its most critical humanitarian
emergency in decades. Conflict involving the M23 rebel group (part of the Alliance Fleuve
Congo) and various other armed factions in the eastern provinces has led to nearly 9 million
internally displaced persons (IDPs). International bodies like the UN and HRW report
widespread violence, food insecurity affecting 26 million people, and the collapse of health
systems. While the government officially labels the rebellion as an "insurrection," it is
globally recognized as a high-intensity civil conflict or "Third Congo War."Hence, Statement
1 is correct.
●
The DRC is a global mining powerhouse. In 2023–2024, it surpassed Peru to become the
world's second-largest producer of copper, trailing only Chile. By 2026, its output
continues to grow significantly (exceeding 3 million tonnes annually), driven by world-class
projects like the Kamoa-Kakula Complex. It is also the world's leading producer of cobalt, a
key byproduct of its copper mining.Hence, Statement 2 is correct.
●
Geographically, the DRC is a massive Central African nation bordered by nine
countries(Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda,
South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.). Angola shares its longest land border to the
southwest and south (including the Cabinda exclave). Rwanda borders the DRC to the east,
along the volatile North and South Kivu provinces where much of the current conflict is
concentrated.Hence, Statement 3 is correct.
●
Therefore, option D is the correct answer.

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1) Daily MCQ: 02.03.2026
With reference to coconut cultivation, consider the following statements:
1. The coconut tree is native to India.
2. The coconut is an equatorial plantation crop that requires high humidity and
well-distributed annual rainfall.
3. The Coconut Development Board (CDB) is a statutory body functioning under the
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

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https://www.dtnext.in/edit/the-liberty-argument-why-divided-power-safeguards-freedom-2

1) Answer: (B)
●
While the coconut has been grown in India for thousands of years and is central to
its culture, botanical and genetic research identifies its primary center of origin as
the Central Indo-Pacific (Southeast Asia and the Melanesian islands). It is
considered "naturalised" in India rather than strictly native to the subcontinent.
Hence, statement 1 is Incorrect.
●
Coconut is an equatorial plantation crop. It thrives in tropical conditions
characterized by:
High Humidity: Usually above 60%.
Rainfall: It requires a well-distributed annual rainfall of 1300–2300 mm.
Temperature: An ideal mean annual temperature of 27°C. It does not tolerate
extreme heat or prolonged cold. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
●
The Coconut Development Board (CDB) is indeed a statutory body. It was
established by the Government of India under the Coconut Development Board Act,
1979. It functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Agriculture
and Farmers Welfare, with its headquarters located in Kochi, Kerala.Hence,
statement 3 is correct.
●
Therefore,option B is the correct answ

2) Consider the following countries:

2) Answer: (B)
Iran shares land borders with seven countries: Iraq and Turkey to the west/northwest;
Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan to the north; and Afghanistan and Pakistan to
the east. Kazakhstan does not share a land border with Iran; the two countries are separated
by the Caspian Sea and Turkmenistan.
It also has maritime borders in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman with Kuwait, Saudi
Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and the UAE