Daily current-affairs MCQs for the RPSC RAS exam, dated 13 July 2026 — with answers and explanations.
International Relations / Law
1. With reference to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the South China Sea, consider the following statements:
(I) UNCLOS defines a coastal state's territorial sea and a 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
(II) In 2016, an arbitral tribunal ruled against China's expansive 'nine-dash line' claim in the South China Sea.
(III) India has ratified UNCLOS.
(IV) India is not a party to UNCLOS.
Select the correct answer using the codes below:
I and IV only
II and IV only
I, II and III only
I, II, III and IV
Answer: C. I, II and III only — Statement IV is false: India has ratified UNCLOS. Statements I-III are correct — UNCLOS defines the territorial sea and the 200-nm EEZ, and the 2016 tribunal ruled against China's nine-dash line.
Source: UNCLOS, 1982 (static)
Polity / Judiciary
2. With reference to Lok Adalats, consider the following statements:
(I) They have statutory status under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
(II) The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) organises legal services and Lok Adalats.
(III) An award of a Lok Adalat is final and binding, and no appeal lies against it.
(IV) An appeal against a Lok Adalat award lies to the High Court.
Select the correct answer using the codes below:
I and IV only
II and IV only
I, II and III only
I, II, III and IV
Answer: C. I, II and III only — Statement IV is false: a Lok Adalat award is final and binding with NO appeal (parties may instead approach a regular court afresh if no settlement is reached). Statements I-III are correct.
3. With reference to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), consider the following statements:
(I) El Niño refers to the abnormal warming of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean.
(II) La Niña is the cool phase of the ENSO cycle.
(III) El Niño years are often associated with weak or deficient Indian summer monsoon rainfall.
(IV) El Niño is a phenomenon of the Indian Ocean.
Select the correct answer using the codes below:
I and IV only
II and IV only
I, II and III only
I, II, III and IV
Answer: C. I, II and III only — Statement IV is false: El Niño is a phenomenon of the Pacific Ocean, not the Indian Ocean (the Indian Ocean has its own 'Indian Ocean Dipole'). Statements I-III are correct.
Source: Static geography / IMD (static)
International Relations / Geography
4. With reference to Chabahar Port, consider the following statements:
(I) It is located in Iran, on the Gulf of Oman.
(II) India is developing the Shahid Beheshti terminal at the port.
(III) It gives India a transit route to Afghanistan and Central Asia bypassing Pakistan.
(IV) Chabahar Port is located in Pakistan.
Select the correct answer using the codes below:
I and IV only
II and IV only
I, II and III only
I, II, III and IV
Answer: C. I, II and III only — Statement IV is false: Chabahar Port is in Iran (Sistan-Baluchistan province), not Pakistan. Statements I-III are correct.
Source: Ministry of External Affairs (static)
Science & Technology
5. With reference to noble gases, consider the following statements:
(I) They form Group 18 of the periodic table.
(II) They are chemically very unreactive (inert).
(III) Argon is the most abundant noble gas in the Earth's atmosphere.
(IV) Noble gases are highly reactive metals.
Select the correct answer using the codes below:
I and IV only
II and IV only
I, II and III only
I, II, III and IV
Answer: C. I, II and III only — Statement IV is false: noble gases are inert non-metallic gases, not reactive metals. Statements I-III are correct — they form Group 18, are chemically inert, and argon is the most abundant noble gas in the atmosphere (~0.93%).