Current Affairs September 2026 - Part 3 - Topic Guide and MCQs

1. Veer Guardian 2026, held at Air Force Station Jodhpur, was a bilateral air exercise between India and which country?

   1. France
   2. Japan
   3. USA
   4. Australia
   Show answer

   Answer: (B) Japan

   Explanation: Veer Guardian 2026 was an India–Japan bilateral air exercise at Air Force Station Jodhpur; Japan fielded F-2A fighters.

2. VARUNA, in which INS Trishul took part at Toulon in 2026, is a bilateral naval exercise between India and which country?

   1. USA
   2. Sri Lanka
   3. Malaysia
   4. France
   Show answer

   Answer: (D) France

   Explanation: VARUNA is the India–France bilateral naval exercise; the 2026 edition was held at Toulon, France.

3. The 22nd India–US army exercise Yudh Abhyas was held in a two-theatre format at Mahajan (Rajasthan) and which other location?

   1. Auli (Uttarakhand)
   2. Pithoragarh (Uttarakhand)
   3. Pokhran (Rajasthan)
   4. Jodhpur (Rajasthan)
   Show answer

   Answer: (A) Auli (Uttarakhand)

   Explanation: Yudh Abhyas 2026 (22nd edition) was held at Mahajan (Rajasthan) and Auli (Uttarakhand); it saw the first Indian deployment of the MLIDS counter-drone system.

4. IPS officer Sanjukta Parashar became the first woman officer to lead which specialised unit of the CRPF?

   1. Rapid Action Force (RAF)
   2. Special Duty Group
   3. CoBRA
   4. Mahila Battalion
   Show answer

   Answer: (C) CoBRA

   Explanation: Sanjukta Parashar is the first woman to head CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) of the CRPF, which works under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

5. INS Nipun, commissioned by the Indian Navy, is the second vessel of which class of Diving Support Vessels?

   1. Kalvari class
   2. Nistar class
   3. Arnala class
   4. Delhi class
   Show answer

   Answer: (B) Nistar class

   Explanation: INS Nipun is the 2nd Nistar-class Diving Support Vessel, built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam, for deep-sea diving and submarine rescue support.

6. Under its first high-value deep-tech deal through the Technology Development Fund (TDF), DRDO partnered with Zero MK India to develop what?

   1. A 30-kW class laser weapon
   2. An engine for a UAV programme
   3. A cryogenic rocket engine
   4. An indigenous dilution refrigerator for quantum technologies
   Show answer

   Answer: (D) An indigenous dilution refrigerator for quantum technologies

   Explanation: DRDO's first high-value TDF deep-tech deal with Zero MK India is for an indigenous dilution refrigerator targeting 20 millikelvin, for quantum technologies.

7. The 18th edition of Nomadic Elephant, the India–Mongolia army exercise, began at which place?

   1. Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand
   2. Jodhpur, Rajasthan
   3. Pokhran, Rajasthan
   4. Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
   Show answer

   Answer: (A) Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand

   Explanation: Nomadic Elephant (18th edition), the India–Mongolia army exercise, began at Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand.

8. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), which cleared proposals worth about Rs 1.10 lakh crore, is chaired by whom?

   1. Prime Minister
   2. Chief of Defence Staff
   3. Defence Minister
   4. National Security Advisor
   Show answer

   Answer: (C) Defence Minister

   Explanation: The DAC is chaired by the Defence Minister; it approved proposals worth about Rs 1.10 lakh crore as Acceptance of Necessity (AoN).

9. Which rocket launched NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope?

   1. Ariane 6
   2. SpaceX Falcon Heavy
   3. Atlas V
   4. Space Launch System (SLS)
   Show answer

   Answer: (B) SpaceX Falcon Heavy

   Explanation: The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope was launched on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy; it will study dark energy, dark matter and exoplanets.

10. Which earth observation satellite did ISRO launch aboard GSLV-F17 on 4 September 2026?

    1. EOS-08
    2. NISAR
    3. EOS-05
    4. RISAT-2
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) EOS-05

    Explanation: GSLV-F17 carried EOS-05 and was launched on 4 September 2026 from Sriharikota.

11. ISRO's Advanced Radar Research Centre under Project NETRA, meant to track objects in orbit, is being set up at which location?

    1. Challakere, Karnataka
    2. Mount Abu, Rajasthan
    3. Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh
    4. Chandrapur, Assam
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) Chandrapur, Assam

    Explanation: The centre is at Chandrapur, Assam, under Project NETRA (space situational awareness); it should detect objects as small as 10 cm from up to 2,000 km.

12. Which institution developed India's first working, indigenously designed micro-GPU?

    1. IIT Madras
    2. IISc Bengaluru
    3. IIT Delhi
    4. IIT Bombay
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) IIT Delhi

    Explanation: IIT Delhi built India's first working and demonstrable micro-GPU, fully indigenously designed.

13. The 82.6 GHz, 400 kW gyrotron installed on the SST-1 tokamak belongs to which institute?

    1. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai
    2. Institute for Plasma Research, Gandhinagar
    3. Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology, Indore
    4. Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Institute for Plasma Research, Gandhinagar

    Explanation: SST-1 (Steady State Superconducting Tokamak) is at the Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), Gandhinagar, Gujarat; the gyrotron advances nuclear-fusion research.

14. Djibouti became the 72nd country and 8th African nation to sign which agreement on peaceful space exploration?

    1. Outer Space Treaty
    2. Artemis Accords
    3. Moon Agreement
    4. International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) pact
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Artemis Accords

    Explanation: Djibouti became the 72nd signatory of the Artemis Accords, launched by NASA in 2020; India signed in 2023.

15. India's HPV vaccination programme crossed 80 lakh doses. The HPV vaccine mainly protects against which disease?

    1. Cervical cancer
    2. Breast cancer
    3. Oral cancer
    4. Lung cancer
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) Cervical cancer

    Explanation: The HPV vaccine protects mainly against cervical cancer; India's programme crossed 80 lakh doses.

16. An IIT Mandi study flagged 9–12 potentially critical glacial lakes with GLOF risk in which state?

    1. Uttarakhand
    2. Sikkim
    3. Arunachal Pradesh
    4. Himachal Pradesh
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) Himachal Pradesh

    Explanation: IIT Mandi examined over 2,000 lakes in Himachal Pradesh and flagged 9–12 as potentially critical for Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF).

17. Ingerana aizawl, discovered near the Mizoram University campus, is a new species of which type?

    1. Frog
    2. Orchid
    3. Lichen
    4. Wild cat
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) Frog

    Explanation: Ingerana aizawl is a new frog species found near Mizoram University campus in Mizoram.

18. Kuno National Park, known for Project Cheetah, is located in which district of Madhya Pradesh?

    1. Mandsaur
    2. Sheopur
    3. Neemuch
    4. Panna
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Sheopur

    Explanation: Kuno National Park is in Sheopur district, Madhya Pradesh, and is known for Project Cheetah.

19. In which year was the Ramsar Convention on wetlands adopted at Ramsar, Iran?

    1. 1975
    2. 1982
    3. 1971
    4. 1992
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) 1971

    Explanation: The Ramsar Convention, which protects wetlands, was adopted in 1971 at Ramsar, Iran.

20. What is the IUCN status of the Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens)?

    1. Vulnerable
    2. Critically Endangered
    3. Near Threatened
    4. Endangered
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) Endangered

    Explanation: The Red Panda is listed as Endangered by the IUCN; in India it is found in the Eastern Himalayas.

21. Which ISRO launch vehicle is called the 'workhorse of ISRO'?

    1. PSLV
    2. GSLV
    3. LVM3
    4. SSLV
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) PSLV

    Explanation: The PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) is called the workhorse of ISRO.

22. Where is the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, which develops ISRO's launch vehicles, located?

    1. Bengaluru, Karnataka
    2. Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh
    3. Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
    4. Ahmedabad, Gujarat
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

    Explanation: Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre is in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, and develops launch vehicles; ISRO HQ is in Bengaluru.

23. ISRO's heavy-lift launch vehicle LVM3 was earlier known by which name?

    1. GSLV Mk II
    2. GSLV Mk III
    3. PSLV-XL
    4. ASLV
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) GSLV Mk III

    Explanation: LVM3 was earlier called GSLV Mk III; its upper stage is powered by the CE20 cryogenic engine.

24. Under the GI of Goods Act, 1999, India's Geographical Indications Registry is located in which city?

    1. New Delhi
    2. Mumbai
    3. Kolkata
    4. Chennai
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) Chennai

    Explanation: The GI Registry is in Chennai; a GI tag is valid for 10 years and can be renewed.

25. In which year was the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (West Bengal) declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

    1. 1999
    2. 2005
    3. 1987
    4. 2008
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) 1999

    Explanation: The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, opened in 1881, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

Current Affairs September 2026 - Part 3 is factual rather than analytical: you either recall it in seconds or you lose the mark to somebody who did. That makes it one of the cheapest sections to convert - a handful of short sittings usually settles the whole cluster.

Expect one-line recall questions - definitions, stand-for expansions, identifiers and the ordering of things. Practise the wording as well as the concept: these papers test terminology, and the set above uses the same four-option shape they do.

Past papers reuse clusters like this almost verbatim across years and posts. Run the same set until every distractor is familiar - previous-year style questions stop being recall and start being free marks.