You are one aspirant with your own strong and weak areas. Here every previous-year question is linked to its syllabus topic, its explainer and the news behind it, so one question opens up a whole subject. Attempt, see why each option is right or wrong, and find exactly where you need work.
National current affairs with why it matters and the UPSC angle.
At a curtain raiser on 19 October 2026, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar announced the fifth edition of Swavlamban, the Navy’s flagship innovation and indigenisation seminar. It will be held on 26–27 October at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi, where the Navy will release the NAUSETU interface standards and a technology compendium.
In a judgment of 16 October 2026, a Supreme Court Bench of Justices S.V.N. Bhatti and N.V. Anjaria held that investigating a bribe demand by a public servant does not need prior approval under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Asking for a bribe, the court said, is not part of discharging official duties.
A PIB backgrounder of 19 October 2026 explains how pumped storage projects (PSPs) will store solar and wind power for India’s grid. India runs 7.43 GW of pumped storage today, is building 15.87 GW more and has an assessed potential of 345.38 GW. A roadmap aims to add about 100 GW between 2025-26 and 2035-36.
Every syllabus line leads to its PYQs, explainers and current affairs.
Attempt a real previous-year question. Instant feedback, option-wise reasons.
The Government enacted the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act in 1996. Which one of the following is *not* identified as its objective?
Creating autonomous regions is not a PESA objective (c). PESA (1996) extends Part IX on panchayats to Fifth Schedule areas, with changes that give tribal communities self-governance through the Gram Sabha (a), respect their customary and traditional rights over resources (b), and protect them from exploitation such as land alienation and money-lending (d). Option (c) is wrong: autonomous district councils belong to the Sixth Schedule areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram, not PESA.
Notice the coverage: PESA applies to Fifth Schedule areas in ten states, including Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha; Jharkhand notified its PESA rules only in January 2026. The Bhuria Committee (1995) recommended the law. Trap: Fifth and Sixth Schedules are easily mixed up.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
From the official notification. Always re-check the current year's notice.
| Paper | Format | Note |
|---|---|---|
| GS Paper I | 100 Q · 200 marks · 2 h | Counts for merit |
| GS Paper II (CSAT) | 80 Q · 200 marks · 2 h | Qualifying, 33% |
Negative marking: one-third of the marks for that question, per wrong answer.
| Paper | Marks | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Paper A: Indian language | 300 | Qualifying |
| Paper B: English | 300 | Qualifying |
| Essay | 250 | |
| GS I: Heritage, culture, history, geography, society | 250 | |
| GS II: Governance, Constitution, polity, social justice, IR | 250 | |
| GS III: Technology, economy, environment, security, disaster management | 250 | |
| GS IV: Ethics, integrity & aptitude | 250 | |
| Optional Paper I | 250 | |
| Optional Paper II | 250 |
Written 1750 + Personality Test 275 = 2025 marks
Computed from the Battle IAS UPSC PYQ bank.
Original MCQs from recent current affairs.
Consider the following statements:
1. Swavlamban is organised by the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation.
2. Swavlamban 2026 is the first edition of the seminar.
3. NAUSETU is a set of interface standards.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Swavlamban 2026 is the fifth edition (PIB).
With reference to the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, consider the following statements:
1. Section 17A requires prior approval before investigating any offence by a public servant.
2. Section 19 deals with sanction for prosecution.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Section 17A applies only to offences relatable to decisions or recommendations made in discharge of official duties, as the Supreme Court reiterated on 16 Oct 2026.
Subjects aren't silos. Every PYQ links to related questions, explainers and news.
