Current Affairs Quiz 17 March 2026

Q1. With reference to NavIC (IRNSS), consider the following statements:

1. It provides global navigation coverage similar to GPS.
2. It offers coverage over India and surrounding regions up to about 1500 km.
3. It requires a constellation of seven satellites for optimal functioning.
4. It is operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. Only One
B. Only Two
C. Only Three
D. All Four

Q1. (C)
Explanation:

• Statement 1: Incorrect – NavIC is regional, unlike global systems (GPS, BeiDou).
• Statement 2: Correct – Coverage extends to ~1500 km beyond India.
• Statement 3: Correct – Requires 7-satellite constellation.
• Statement 4: Correct – Operated by ISRO.

Q2. With reference to the Strait of Hormuz, consider the following statements:

1. It connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman.
2. It is one of the widest maritime chokepoints in the world.
3. A significant proportion of global oil trade passes through it.
4. It lies entirely within the territorial waters of a single country.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. Only One
B. Only Two
C. Only Three
D. All Four

Q2. (B)
Explanation:

• Statement 1: Correct – Key connector between Persian Gulf & Gulf of Oman.
• Statement 2: Incorrect – It is narrow (~20 nautical miles) → strategic vulnerability.
• Statement 3: Correct – Major global energy chokepoint.
• Statement 4: Incorrect – Shared maritime space (Iran–Oman region).

Q3. With reference to the Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), consider the following statements:

1. It is adapted to fast-flowing riverine ecosystems.
2. It constructs nests primarily on rocky substrates.
3. It is endemic to the Indian subcontinent.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. Only One
B. Only Two
C. All Three
D. None

Q3. (B)
Explanation:

• Statement 1: Correct – Prefers lotic (flowing river) systems.
• Statement 2: Incorrect – Nests on sandbanks, not rocky surfaces.
• Statement 3: Correct – Endemic species.

Q4.
Assertion (A): The Jnanpith Award recognises literary works across multiple Indian languages.
Reason (R): The award is restricted only to classical languages of India.

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

Q4. (C)
Explanation:

• Assertion: Correct – Covers Eighth Schedule languages.
• Reason: Incorrect – Not limited to classical languages; includes modern Indian languages.

Q5. With reference to the nationwide Manuscript Mapping Exercise, consider the following statements:

1. It seeks to integrate legacy digitised collections with newly identified manuscripts.
2. The exercise follows a purely centralised archival model.
3. It aims to address intellectual piracy of traditional knowledge.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 3 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. (A)
Explanation:

• Statement 1: Correct – Integration of ~10 lakh digitised manuscripts.
• Statement 2: Incorrect – Follows bottom-up decentralised approach.
• Statement 3: Correct – Targets protection of traditional knowledge & anti-piracy.