Consider the following statements about the HPCL Rajasthan Refinery project, whose revised cost was approved by the CCEA in April 2026:
1. Its cost was revised from Rs 43,129 crore to Rs 79,459 crore.
2. It is located at Pachpadra in Balotra district.
3. The Government of Rajasthan holds a 74% stake in the joint venture.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(1)1 and 2 only✓ Correct answer
(2)2 and 3 only
(3)1 and 3 only
(4)1, 2 and 3
Answer: (1) 1 and 2 only
Explanation
HPCL holds 74% and the Rajasthan government 26% in HRRL, so statement 3 is wrong; statements 1 and 2 are correct.
Q2
In April 2026, the World Bank approved USD 225 million for the Rajasthan Highway Modernisation Project. What is notable about the financing instrument used?
(1)It is India's first green bond for state highways
(2)It is a grant that need not be repaid
(3)It is the first Step-Up Loan (SuL) in India✓ Correct answer
(4)It is a loan given directly to private toll operators
Answer: (3) It is the first Step-Up Loan (SuL) in India
Explanation
The project pioneers the first Step-Up Loan in India, with lower pricing in the early phase and higher pricing later; the IBRD loan has a 35-year maturity.
Q3
Who topped the RAS 2024 final merit list declared by the RPSC on 18 April 2026?
(1)Virendra Charan of Jaisalmer
(2)Dinesh Bishnoi of Barmer✓ Correct answer
(3)Navneet Sharma of Jaipur
(4)Dinesh Vishnoi of Jodhpur
Answer: (2) Dinesh Bishnoi of Barmer
Explanation
Dinesh Bishnoi of Barmer topped with 351.50 marks; Virendra Charan of Jaisalmer was second with 351 marks.
Q4
The 15th Great Indian Travel Bazaar (GITB), held in Jaipur from 26 to 28 April 2026, is organised by the Union Ministry of Tourism, Rajasthan's Department of Tourism and:
(1)CII
(2)ASSOCHAM
(3)ITDC
(4)FICCI✓ Correct answer
Answer: (4) FICCI
Explanation
GITB is organised by the Union Ministry of Tourism, the Rajasthan Department of Tourism and FICCI; the 2026 edition was the 15th.
Q5
On 27 April 2026, the Supreme Court upheld the relocation of spotted deer from Delhi's A.N. Jha Deer Park to which two tiger reserves of Rajasthan?
(1)Ranthambore and Sariska
(2)Mukundra Hills and Ramgarh Vishdhari✓ Correct answer
(3)Sariska and Dholpur-Karauli
(4)Ranthambore and Mukundra Hills
Answer: (2) Mukundra Hills and Ramgarh Vishdhari
Explanation
The bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta upheld relocation to Mukundra Hills and Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserves, allowing up to 38 deer to stay in the park.
Q6
On Ambedkar Jayanti in April 2026, the Rajasthan Chief Minister announced an Ambedkar Residential Coaching Centre for competitive-exam aspirants. Where is it to be set up?
The centre is to be set up at Ambedkar Peeth in Mundla, Jaipur; the CM also announced 200 Ambedkar e-libraries in urban areas.
Q7
In April 2026, five new districts were created in the Union Territory of Ladakh. Which of the following is NOT one of them?
(1)Nubra
(2)Zanskar
(3)Changthang
(4)Hanle✓ Correct answer
Answer: (4) Hanle
Explanation
The new districts are Nubra, Sham, Changthang (from Leh) and Zanskar, Drass (from Kargil); Ladakh now has seven districts. Hanle is not a new district.
Q8
Through an ordinance promulgated in April 2026, which two languages were made official languages of Meghalaya alongside English?
(1)Khasi and Mizo
(2)Garo and Bodo
(3)Khasi and Garo✓ Correct answer
(4)Jaintia and Hajong
Answer: (3) Khasi and Garo
Explanation
The Meghalaya Official Languages Ordinance, 2026 (27 April) made Khasi and Garo official languages with English; earlier they had only associate status.
Q9
In April 2026, Parliament passed the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026. What does it provide?
(1)Three capitals for Andhra Pradesh
(2)Statutory status to Amaravati as the sole capital✓ Correct answer
(3)Hyderabad as common capital for five more years
(4)Visakhapatnam as the executive capital
Answer: (2) Statutory status to Amaravati as the sole capital
Explanation
Passed on 2 April 2026, the Bill gives statutory status to Amaravati as the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh.
Q10
In Hungary's parliamentary election held on 12 April 2026, the Tisza Party won a two-thirds majority, ending Viktor Orbán's rule. Who leads the Tisza Party?
(1)Péter Magyar✓ Correct answer
(2)Katalin Novák
(3)Gergely Karácsony
(4)Tamás Sulyok
Answer: (1) Péter Magyar
Explanation
Péter Magyar's Tisza Party won 141 of the 199 seats; Orbán's Fidesz-KDNP fell to 52.
Q11
In April 2026, the United Arab Emirates announced its exit from OPEC and OPEC+. From which date was the exit to take effect?
(1)28 April 2026
(2)1 June 2026
(3)1 May 2026✓ Correct answer
(4)1 January 2027
Answer: (3) 1 May 2026
Explanation
Announced on 28 April 2026, the UAE's exit took effect on 1 May 2026; it had joined OPEC in 1967.
Q12
Consider the following statements about the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR), which attained first criticality in April 2026:
1. It is located at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu.
2. It uses liquid sodium as coolant.
3. It belongs to the third stage of India's nuclear power programme.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(1)1 and 3 only
(2)2 and 3 only
(3)1, 2 and 3
(4)1 and 2 only✓ Correct answer
Answer: (4) 1 and 2 only
Explanation
The 500 MWe PFBR at Kalpakkam uses MOX fuel and liquid sodium coolant; it represents the second stage, not the third, of India's three-stage programme.
Q13
The Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool, approved by the Union Cabinet in April 2026, is backed by a sovereign guarantee of:
(1)Rs 950 crore
(2)Rs 12,980 crore✓ Correct answer
(3)Rs 2,183 crore
(4)Rs 19,600 crore
Answer: (2) Rs 12,980 crore
Explanation
The BMI Pool has a sovereign guarantee of Rs 12,980 crore; Rs 950 crore is the approximate combined underwriting capacity of member insurers.
Q14
In April 2026, Sawan Barwal set a new Indian national record in the marathon. Whose 1978 record did he break, and at which race?
(1)Shivnath Singh's, at the Rotterdam Marathon✓ Correct answer
(2)Milkha Singh's, at the Boston Marathon
(3)Shivnath Singh's, at the London Marathon
(4)Gopi Thonakal's, at the Rotterdam Marathon
Answer: (1) Shivnath Singh's, at the Rotterdam Marathon
Explanation
Barwal ran 2:11:58 at the Rotterdam Marathon, beating Shivnath Singh's 2:12:00 from 1978, India's oldest national athletics record.
Q15
In April 2026, Harivansh was elected unopposed as Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha for a third term. In what capacity was he a member of the Rajya Sabha at the time of this election?
(1)Elected from Bihar
(2)Elected from Jharkhand
(3)Nominated by the President✓ Correct answer
(4)Elected from Uttar Pradesh
Answer: (3) Nominated by the President
Explanation
His elected term ended on 9 April 2026; the President then nominated him in the vacancy left by Ranjan Gogoi's retirement, so he was a nominated member when re-elected Deputy Chairman.