The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on 31 August–1 September 2026. The SCO also marked its 25th anniversary in 2026.
India’s participation: Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the summit and highlighted India’s priorities of Security, Connectivity and Opportunity (S-C-O).
Important for UPSC: Remember SCO – 2001 – Shanghai – Eurasia – Security/Connectivity – India became a full member in 2017 – 26th Summit 2026: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
India’s participation: Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the summit and highlighted India’s priorities of Security, Connectivity and Opportunity (S-C-O).
Important for UPSC: Remember SCO – 2001 – Shanghai – Eurasia – Security/Connectivity – India became a full member in 2017 – 26th Summit 2026: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
ntroduced in 2014–15, Price Stabilisation Fund enables the government to intervene in markets when prices rise sharply or fall significantly.
The government procures and maintains buffer stocks of selected commodities and releases them into the market when prices rise.
The government procures and maintains buffer stocks of selected commodities and releases them into the market when prices rise.
Consider the following statements regarding the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026:
1. A uniform tax framework applies to mining activities under the amended framework.
2. No tax or cess shall be imposed by a State Government on mineral rights or mineral-bearing lands.
3. Minor minerals do not remain entirely under the control of State Governments.
1. A uniform tax framework applies to mining activities under the amended framework.
2. No tax or cess shall be imposed by a State Government on mineral rights or mineral-bearing lands.
3. Minor minerals do not remain entirely under the control of State Governments.
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Answer: A
Explanation
Statement 1 — Correct: The MMDR Amendment Act, 2026 seeks to establish a more uniform and predictable fiscal framework for the mineral sector by restricting disparate State-level taxes, cesses and other levies.
Statement 2 — Correct: Under Section 9D(1), States cannot impose a tax, cess or other levy on mineral rights or mineral-bearing lands, whether based on mineral quantity, mineral value, royalty payable or otherwise, except in accordance with conditions/restrictions prescribed by the Central Government.
Statement 3 — Incorrect: The amendment does not remove the existing distinction between major and minor minerals or transfer all control over minor minerals to the Centre. State Governments continue to have substantial regulatory powers over minor minerals under the MMDR framework.
Explanation
Statement 1 — Correct: The MMDR Amendment Act, 2026 seeks to establish a more uniform and predictable fiscal framework for the mineral sector by restricting disparate State-level taxes, cesses and other levies.
Statement 2 — Correct: Under Section 9D(1), States cannot impose a tax, cess or other levy on mineral rights or mineral-bearing lands, whether based on mineral quantity, mineral value, royalty payable or otherwise, except in accordance with conditions/restrictions prescribed by the Central Government.
Statement 3 — Incorrect: The amendment does not remove the existing distinction between major and minor minerals or transfer all control over minor minerals to the Centre. State Governments continue to have substantial regulatory powers over minor minerals under the MMDR framework.
Consider the following statements regarding Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems:
1. It is a combined software and hardware architecture used to monitor, gather real-time data, and control large-scale industrial processes from remote locations.
2. Modern SCADA systems run on their own closed-off networks, making them pretty much safe from online hackers.
3. In India, the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) is the designated nodal agency for protecting SCADA networks deployed in critical sectors like power and telecommunications.
1. It is a combined software and hardware architecture used to monitor, gather real-time data, and control large-scale industrial processes from remote locations.
2. Modern SCADA systems run on their own closed-off networks, making them pretty much safe from online hackers.
3. In India, the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) is the designated nodal agency for protecting SCADA networks deployed in critical sectors like power and telecommunications.
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Answer: C
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: SCADA systems rely on components like Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) to interface with physical machinery (like valves or pumps in a water treatment plant) and send that data back to a central
supervisory system for remote control and monitoring.
Statement 2 is incorrect: While early SCADA systems were isolated ("air-gapped"), modern ones are heavily connected to standard IT networks, the cloud, and the internet. This makes them highly vulnerable to online hackers and cyber threats (like the Stuxnet worm or ransomware attacks on power grids).
Statement 3 is correct: Created under Section 70A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, the NCIIPC is the nodal agency in India responsible for defending the country's Critical Information Infrastructure (CII), which is largely driven by SCADA and other Industrial Control Systems (ICS).
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: SCADA systems rely on components like Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) to interface with physical machinery (like valves or pumps in a water treatment plant) and send that data back to a central
supervisory system for remote control and monitoring.
Statement 2 is incorrect: While early SCADA systems were isolated ("air-gapped"), modern ones are heavily connected to standard IT networks, the cloud, and the internet. This makes them highly vulnerable to online hackers and cyber threats (like the Stuxnet worm or ransomware attacks on power grids).
Statement 3 is correct: Created under Section 70A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, the NCIIPC is the nodal agency in India responsible for defending the country's Critical Information Infrastructure (CII), which is largely driven by SCADA and other Industrial Control Systems (ICS).
In which of the following are lithium carbonate or its precursor derivatives used?
1. Production of cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries
2. Medical treatment of bipolar disorder and manic depression
3. Manufacturing of specialized heat-resistant glass and ceramics
1. Production of cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries
2. Medical treatment of bipolar disorder and manic depression
3. Manufacturing of specialized heat-resistant glass and ceramics
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Answer: D
1. Production of cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries — Correct Lithium carbonate is an important lithium compound used as a lithium source in the manufacture of cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries.
2. Medical treatment of bipolar disorder and manic depression — Correct Lithium carbonate is used as a mood stabiliser, particularly in the treatment and management of bipolar disorder and manic episodes.
3. Manufacturing of specialised heat-resistant glass and ceramics — Correct Lithium compounds are used in specialised glass and ceramic manufacturing because lithium can improve properties such as thermal shock resistance and thermal expansion characteristics.
Hence, option D is the correct answer.
1. Production of cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries — Correct Lithium carbonate is an important lithium compound used as a lithium source in the manufacture of cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries.
2. Medical treatment of bipolar disorder and manic depression — Correct Lithium carbonate is used as a mood stabiliser, particularly in the treatment and management of bipolar disorder and manic episodes.
3. Manufacturing of specialised heat-resistant glass and ceramics — Correct Lithium compounds are used in specialised glass and ceramic manufacturing because lithium can improve properties such as thermal shock resistance and thermal expansion characteristics.
Hence, option D is the correct answer.
Consider the following statements regarding Land Subsidence:
1. Reduction in pore-water pressure due to excessive groundwater extraction can
transfer a greater share of the overburden load to the sediment skeleton, resulting in irreversible compaction.
2. Subsidence caused by groundwater extraction is generally confined to the area immediately surrounding the pumping well and does not extend across wider aquifer systems.
3. Dissolution of soluble rocks beneath the surface can create underground cavities, potentially leading to sudden or progressive collapse of the overlying ground.
1. Reduction in pore-water pressure due to excessive groundwater extraction can
transfer a greater share of the overburden load to the sediment skeleton, resulting in irreversible compaction.
2. Subsidence caused by groundwater extraction is generally confined to the area immediately surrounding the pumping well and does not extend across wider aquifer systems.
3. Dissolution of soluble rocks beneath the surface can create underground cavities, potentially leading to sudden or progressive collapse of the overlying ground.
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Answer: (A)
Statement 1 is correct: When groundwater is extracted excessively, the fluid pressure (pore-water pressure) inside the aquifer decreases. This reduction transfers the weight of the overlying soil and rock (overburden load) directly to the solid sediment skeleton, causing grains to consolidate and compact permanently.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Land subsidence caused by groundwater pumping is not confined just to the immediate area around a pumping well. Regional aquifer systems are interconnected; large-scale or continuous groundwater depletion leads to widespread
regional subsidence extending across broad basin areas (e.g., California's Central Valley or Mexico City).
Statement 3 is correct: Dissolution of soluble rocks (such as limestone, gypsum, or salt) by groundwater creates underground voids and karst topographies. When the structural integrity of these cavities fails, it leads to progressive settling or sudden sinkhole collapses.
Statement 1 is correct: When groundwater is extracted excessively, the fluid pressure (pore-water pressure) inside the aquifer decreases. This reduction transfers the weight of the overlying soil and rock (overburden load) directly to the solid sediment skeleton, causing grains to consolidate and compact permanently.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Land subsidence caused by groundwater pumping is not confined just to the immediate area around a pumping well. Regional aquifer systems are interconnected; large-scale or continuous groundwater depletion leads to widespread
regional subsidence extending across broad basin areas (e.g., California's Central Valley or Mexico City).
Statement 3 is correct: Dissolution of soluble rocks (such as limestone, gypsum, or salt) by groundwater creates underground voids and karst topographies. When the structural integrity of these cavities fails, it leads to progressive settling or sudden sinkhole collapses.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Belgian PM Bart De Wever in New Delhi during his official visit to India. It was De Wever’s first visit to India and the first visit by a Belgian PM in nearly two decades.
Both sides agreed to double bilateral trade in the next five years and establish an Investment Fast-Track Mechanism to facilitate Belgian investments in India.
Important for UPSC: India–Belgium relations + India–EU FTA + Antwerp diamond trade + defence cooperation + critical minerals + semiconductors.
Both sides agreed to double bilateral trade in the next five years and establish an Investment Fast-Track Mechanism to facilitate Belgian investments in India.
Important for UPSC: India–Belgium relations + India–EU FTA + Antwerp diamond trade + defence cooperation + critical minerals + semiconductors.