Current Affairs Quiz 07 March 2026

Q1. Consider the following statements:

1. Regulation of digital intermediaries in India is primarily governed by the Information Technology Act, 2000.
2. State governments have exclusive authority to regulate social media platforms operating within their territory.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2

Q1. (A)

Explanation:

• Statement 1 – Correct: Digital intermediaries such as social media platforms are regulated under the Information Technology Act, 2000 and subordinate legislation like the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
• Statement 2 – Incorrect: Regulation of internet services, digital intermediaries and telecommunications largely falls under the Union domain, raising federal concerns if states attempt direct regulation of social media platforms.

Q2.

Assertion (A): The Strait of Hormuz is strategically important for India’s energy security.

Reason (R): More than 55% of India’s crude oil imports pass through this maritime chokepoint.

A. Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A
B. Both A and R are correct but R is not the correct explanation of A
C. A is correct but R is incorrect
D. A is incorrect but R is correct

Q2. (A)

Explanation:

• The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
• A majority of India’s crude oil imports from the Middle East pass through this chokepoint.
• Hence, disruption in the Strait of Hormuz can significantly affect India’s energy security and oil supply chains.

Q3. Consider the following statements regarding women borrowers in India’s credit market:

1. Women borrowers account for more than one-fourth of India’s total retail credit portfolio outstanding.
2. Women borrowers have recorded Higher year-on-year growth in credit portfolios than male borrowers in recent years.
3. Delinquency rates among women borrowers are higher than those among male borrowers.
4. The number of women borrowers in India reached nearly 9 crore by December 2025.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

Q3. (C)

Explanation:

• Statement 1 – Correct: Women account for about 27.6% of India’s retail credit portfolio, which is more than one-fourth.
• Statement 2 –Correct: Women borrowers recorded higher credit growth (23.4%) compared to 11.8% among men.
• Statement 3 – Incorrect: Women borrowers show lower delinquency rates (2.8%), indicating stronger repayment behaviour.
• Statement 4 – Correct: The number of women borrowers reached 8.9 crore by December 2025.

Q4. Consider the following statements regarding Alcohol by Volume (ABV)-based taxation:

1. Alcohol by Volume (ABV) measures the percentage of ethanol present in an alcoholic beverage.
2. Under ABV-based taxation, beverages with higher alcohol content attract higher excise duty.
3. Alcoholic liquor for human consumption is included within the Goods and Services Tax (GST) framework in India.
4. State governments have the power to levy excise duty on alcoholic liquor for human consumption.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

A. Only One
B. Only Two
C. Only Three
D. All Four

Q4. (C)

Explanation:

• Statement 1 – Correct: ABV indicates the ethanol concentration in alcoholic beverages.
• Statement 2 – Correct: ABV-based taxation taxes alcohol according to ethanol content, meaning stronger drinks attract higher tax.
• Statement 3 – Incorrect: Alcohol for human consumption is excluded from GST and falls under state taxation powers.
• Statement 4 – Correct: States levy excise duty under Entry 51 of the State List (Seventh Schedule).

Q5. Consider the following statements:

1. The Black Death pandemic (1347–1353) was caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis.
2. The Black Death led to an increase in plant biodiversity across Europe due to large-scale abandonment of agricultural land.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2

Q5. (A)

Explanation:

• Statement 1 – Correct: The Black Death was caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, transmitted mainly by fleas carried by rats.
• Statement 2 – Incorrect: A recent University of York study (2026) found that plant biodiversity declined after the Black Death, as farmland abandonment led to uniform forest expansion and reduced habitat diversity.

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