UPSC GK Questions 2026

Addressing the India-Belgium High-Level Dialogue in Mumbai, the Commerce and Industry Minister said the India-EU Free Trade Agreement brings together 2 billion people, representing a quarter of global GDP, a third of world trade and a market of USD 24 trillion.

The correct answer is that crude steel production grew by 8 per cent to 1.68 MT, against 1.55 MT in the corresponding period last year.

The release records that during August 2026 SAIL further strengthened its financial position by reducing borrowings by this amount from the level of 31.03.2026.

The release states that SAIL achieved double digit year-on-year growth in overall sales volumes in August 2026, with total sales at this level, registering a rise of 13 per cent over the corresponding period last year.

The release states plainly that the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation inaugurated the Archery Association of India's World Archery Para Series through video conferencing.

Speaking at the inauguration, the Union Home Minister said that the 2030 Commonwealth Games will mark the centenary edition of those Games, and that it is a matter of great joy that Ahmedabad will host the event.

The release records that the Union Home Minister extended his best wishes to the 108 athletes from 19 countries participating in the World Archery Para Series, and that the participating nations include Bhutan, the United Kingdom, China, Bangladesh, France, Germany, Indonesia and the United States.

The release explains that the Earth Science Olympiad journey begins with an all-India test facilitated by this body, in which roughly 17,800 students appeared across 500 centres nationwide.

The medals were won across the Written and Practical examinations, the International Team Field Investigation and the Earth Science Project categories.

The release records that Indian student delegates delivered their best-ever performance at the 19th International Earth Science Olympiad, held under the aegis of the International Geoscience Organisation in Turin, Italy, from 20 to 27 August 2026.

The release recalls that India and France have shared a close space partnership spanning nearly six decades, and that cooperation between ISRO and CNES has included the joint satellite missions Megha-Tropiques and SARAL.

The release says clearly that this office holder has been invited to deliver the opening keynote, and that the subject of the keynote is India's future human spaceflight in Low Earth Orbit.

The release states that the virtual bilateral meeting between Dr Jitendra Singh and Prof Philippe Baptiste took place ahead of the International Space Summit, which is scheduled in Paris on 9 and 10 September 2026.

The release was issued by the Prime Minister's Office and records that Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the launch as yet another outstanding achievement by ISRO and a proud moment for the nation.

The distinction claimed for EOS-05 in this release is precisely this: it is India's first-ever imaging satellite from Geosynchronous orbit.

The release records that ISRO carried out the successful launch of GSLV-F17 carrying EOS-05, and that the Prime Minister praised the space agency for the achievement.

The Plan uses NABARD's special refinance facility to lighten the burden on participating cooperatives, and when that is combined with the 3 per cent interest subvention available under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, the effective loan interest rate for a PACS comes down to 1 per cent.

The backgrounder reports that as of July 2026 godown construction had been completed in that many PACS across the country, creating more than 1.80 lakh metric tonnes of storage capacity.

The backgrounder names it as the implementing agency, supported by coordination at the national, state and district levels through an Inter-Ministerial Committee, a National Level Coordination Committee, and State and District Cooperative Development Committees.

The backgrounder describes farmers there voluntarily dedicating 5 per cent of their agricultural land for recharge ponds and terraced pits under the Aawa Paani Jhoki movement, and holds the model up as proof that sustainable water management needs neither large-scale displacement nor heavy capital.