Daily Challenge
Monday, 26 October 2026
Daily Challenge — 26 October 2026
Three UPSC Prelims-pattern questions — one each from the GS I, GS II and GS III subject areas. Attempt all three before checking your answers.
Geomorphology
Consider the following statements:
- The ocean floor is generally younger than the continental crust.
- Rocks near mid-ocean ridges are older than rocks near ocean trenches.
- Bands of alternating magnetic polarity are found symmetrically on both sides of mid-ocean ridges.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Correct answer: C
Statement 1 is correct: ocean-floor rocks are nowhere older than about 200 million years, while some continental rocks are over 3,000 million years old. Statement 2 is wrong: new crust forms at the ridges, so rocks there are the youngest and they grow older towards the trenches. Statement 3 is correct: symmetrical magnetic striping was the key evidence for sea-floor spreading.Regional and Global Groupings
How many of the following countries joined BRICS as full members in January 2024: Egypt, Argentina, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia?
Correct answer: B
Egypt and the UAE joined in January 2024 (with Ethiopia and Iran). Argentina was invited but declined. Indonesia joined later, in January 2025. So only two of the listed countries joined in January 2024.Terrorism and Insurgency
Arrange the following laws in the chronological order of their enactment:
- Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act
- Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act
- Prevention of Terrorism Act
- National Investigation Agency Act.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Correct answer: B
UAPA was enacted in 1967, TADA in 1985, POTA in 2002 and the NIA Act in 2008, giving 2-1-3-4. The trap is to assume UAPA is recent because it became the main anti-terror law only after POTA’s repeal in 2004.