Current Affairs Quiz 19 February 2026

Q1. With reference to Articles 124 and 130 of the Constitution of India, consider the following statements:

1. Article 124 provides for the establishment of the Supreme Court and the appointment of its judges by the President.
2. Article 130 mandates the establishment of permanent regional benches of the Supreme Court.
3. The Supreme Court may sit at a place other than Delhi with the approval of the President.

How many of the above statements are correct?

A) Only one
B) Only two
C) All three
D) None

Q1. (B)

Explanation:

• Statement 1 – Correct.
  Article 124 deals with:
  • Establishment of the Supreme Court
  • Composition
  • Appointment of judges by the President
  • Qualifications and tenure
• Statement 2 – Incorrect.
  Article 130 permits the Supreme Court to sit elsewhere, but does not mandate permanent regional benches.
  UPSC Trap: “Permits” ≠ “Mandates”.
• Statement 3 – Correct.
  The Chief Justice of India, with the approval of the President, may appoint a place other than Delhi for sitting of the Court.

Q2. The phrase “Last Village – First Village” under the Vibrant Village Programme primarily signifies:

A) Relocation of villages away from borders
B) Militarisation of border settlements
C) Strategic prioritisation of frontier development
D) Creation of special economic zones in border districts

Q2. (C)

Explanation:

• The phrase reframes border villages as strategic assets, not peripheral liabilities.
• It emphasises:
  • Infrastructure development
  • Livelihood generation
  • Population retention
  • Development-led security
• A – Incorrect (No relocation objective).
• B – Incorrect (Development-led, not militarisation-led).
• D – Incorrect (Not SEZ-based policy).

Q3. Which of the following climate-related factors directly affect loggerhead turtle populations?

1. Ocean warming
2. Decline in chlorophyll concentration
3. Sea-level rise
4. Increased atmospheric ozone levels

Select the correct answer:

A) 1, 2 and 3 only
B) 1 and 4 only
C) 2 and 3 only
D) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. (A)

Explanation:

• 1 – Correct: Ocean warming alters migration and nesting timing.
• 2 – Correct: Decline in chlorophyll reduces marine primary productivity → less prey availability.
• 3 – Correct: Sea-level rise erodes nesting beaches.
• 4 – Incorrect: Ozone levels are not directly linked to turtle reproductive biology.

Q4. The headquarters of the International Solar Alliance is located at:

A) New Delhi
B) Gurugram
C) Paris
D) Bonn

Q4. (B)

Explanation:

• ISA HQ: Gurugram, Haryana, India
• Launched: 2015 (Paris COP21 initiative)
• India plays host nation and key diplomatic driver.
• Bonn → UNFCCC Secretariat
• Paris → OECD / COP21
• Gurugram → ISA

Q5. With reference to the lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus), consider the following statements:

1. It is endemic to the Western Ghats.
2. It is classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN.
3. It is primarily arboreal and canopy-dependent.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A) 1 and 3 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 and 2 only
D) 1, 2 and 3

Q5. (A)

Explanation:

• Statement 1 – Correct: Endemic to Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot.
• Statement 2 – Incorrect: IUCN status = Endangered, not Critically Endangered.
  UPSC Trap: Status exaggeration.
• Statement 3 – Correct: Strictly arboreal rainforest species; canopy connectivity critical.

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