APSC MCQs / APSC Prelims Practice Questions based on Assam Tribune (Daily) –19/08/2026

For APSC CCE and other Assam Competitive examinations aspirants, practicing Daily MCQs is vital. This blog covers most important Prelims questions from the Assam Tribune today (19-08-2026). These issues are key for both APSC Prelims syllabus, offering insights into the important topics of current affairs.

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APSC MCQs / APSC Prelims Practice Questions (Date: 19/08/2026)

Topic 1: Hydrocarbon Exploration & Upstream Petroleum Sector

Q1. With reference to India’s hydrocarbon exploration and licensing framework, consider the following statements:

1. Under the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP), a single uniform license is provided for exploring and producing all forms of hydrocarbons, including conventional and unconventional resources.
2. The Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) allows prospective bidders to carve out exploration blocks of their choice without waiting for formal government bid rounds.
3. The National Data Repository (NDR) is maintained by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) to archive exploration data.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a)

Explanation: Statements 1 and 2 are correct. HELP introduced a uniform licensing regime and the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP). Statement 3 is incorrect because the National Data Repository (NDR) is established and maintained by the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH), the technical regulatory arm under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, not ONGC.

Q2. With reference to the regulatory and operational structure of the petroleum sector in India, consider the following statements:

1. Petroleum Exploration Licences (PEL) grant the right for commercial extraction, whereas Petroleum Mining Leases (PML) authorize exploratory drilling.
2. For onshore/inland blocks, Petroleum Mining Leases are formally granted by the concerned State Governments under the relevant Union regulatory framework.
3. Refining and marketing of petroleum products fall strictly under the upstream sector of the oil and gas value chain.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b)

Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect because PEL permits exploration/geophysical surveys, while PML authorizes commercial extraction/production. Statement 2 is correct as inland PMLs are granted by the respective State Government under central rules. Statement 3 is incorrect because refining and marketing constitute the downstream sector (Upstream = Exploration & Production; Midstream = Transportation & Storage).

Q3. Consider the following statements regarding the geological setting and hydrocarbon reserves of Assam:

1. Assam’s hydrocarbon-bearing sedimentary basins are geographically and tectonically associated with the Assam–Arakan Fold Belt.
2. Digboi, Naharkatiya, and Moran are historically significant petroleum-bearing structures located primarily in Lower Assam.
3. Dima Hasao is predominantly known for significant limestone reserves rather than major commercial hydrocarbon production.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b)

Explanation: Statement 1 is correct as Assam forms part of the Assam–Arakan geological province. Statement 2 is incorrect because Digboi, Naharkatiya, Moran, and Sivasagar are prominent fields situated in Upper Assam. Statement 3 is correct as Dima Hasao is known for major limestone deposits rather than commercial crude reserves.

Q4. Consider the following pairs of institutions/initiatives and their primary mandates:

1. Assam Hydrocarbon & Energy Company Limited (AHECL): State-level enterprise for oil, gas, and energy exploration in Assam.
2. Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH): Statutory environmental tribunal granting wildlife clearances for drilling.
3. Tripartite Agreement (2026): Framework between Centre, Assam, and Nagaland for cooperative mineral-oil operations in border sectors.

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) Only one pair

(b) Only two pairs

(c) All three pairs

(d) None of the pairs

Answer: (b)

Explanation: Pairs 1 and 3 are correctly matched. Pair 2 is incorrectly matched because the DGH is the upstream technical regulator promoting E&P and managing OALP/NDR; environmental and wildlife clearances are administered by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and NBWL.

Topic 2: India–Bangladesh Bilateral Relations, Border & Connectivity

Q5. With reference to the geography of the India–Bangladesh border and its demarcation, consider the following statements:

1. Bangladesh shares an international land border with four Indian states: West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, and Tripura.
2. The 100th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2015 was enacted to give effect to the acquiring of certain territories by India and transfer of certain other territories to Bangladesh under the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement.
3. Bangladesh forms India’s longest international land boundary.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b)

Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect because Bangladesh shares its land border with five Indian states: West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. Statements 2 and 3 are correct (the land boundary measures 4,096.7 km, and the 100th Amendment operationalized the LBA and its 2011 Protocol).

Q6. Consider the following statements regarding transboundary water-sharing mechanisms between India and Bangladesh:

1. The Ganga Water Sharing Treaty, signed in 1996, governs the sharing of the waters of the Ganga River at Farakka during the dry/lean season.
2. The Teesta River originates in Sikkim, flows through West Bengal, and enters Bangladesh before merging into the Brahmaputra (Jamuna).
3. In 2022, India and Bangladesh signed an MoU on water sharing of the Kushiyara River, which is a distributary of the Barak River.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (d)

Explanation: All three statements are correct. The 1996 Treaty governs the Ganga; the Teesta flows through Sikkim and West Bengal into Bangladesh; the Kushiyara MoU was concluded in 2022 to withdraw water from the common border river Kushiyara (Barak branch).

Q7. Consider the following cross-border infrastructure and transit projects between India and Bangladesh:

1. Akhaura–Agartala Rail Link: Connects the state of Assam directly to the port of Chittagong.
2. Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT): Enables movement of cargo vessels through designated river routes connecting the Brahmaputra and Barak systems.
3. India–Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline: Transports high-speed diesel from Siliguri in India to Parbatipur in Bangladesh.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b)

Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect because the Akhaura–Agartala rail link connects Agartala (Tripura) with Akhaura (Bangladesh), not Assam directly. Statements 2 and 3 are correct.

Q8. Which of the following regional and bilateral mechanisms involve both India and Bangladesh as participating members?

1. BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement
2. BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation)
3. Colombo Security Conclave

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a)

Explanation: Both India and Bangladesh are active members of the BBIN sub-regional grouping and BIMSTEC. The founding/core full members of the Colombo Security Conclave are India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Mauritius (with Bangladesh joining as an observer/subsequent entrant, but BBIN and BIMSTEC are the primary standard regional economic/transit pacts involving both). Thus, 1 and 2 are unequivocally correct.

Topic 3: Multimodal Logistics & Inland Waterways (Jogighopa MMLP & NW-2)

Q9. With reference to National Waterway-2 (NW-2) in India, consider the following statements:

1. It is declared on the Brahmaputra River, spanning from Dhubri near the Bangladesh border to Sadiya in Upper Assam.
2. The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is the statutory authority responsible for the development and regulation of NW-2.
3. NW-2 connects directly with the maritime sea routes of the Bay of Bengal exclusively through the Indian inland river system without passing through Bangladesh territory.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b)

Explanation: Statements 1 and 2 are correct (NW-2 covers 891 km on the Brahmaputra between Dhubri and Sadiya under IWAI). Statement 3 is incorrect because transit from NW-2 to the Bay of Bengal and Kolkata port relies on the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) routes passing through Bangladesh waterways.

Q10. Consider the following statements regarding the Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) framework in India:

1. MMLPs are developed to transition India’s freight transportation system from an integrated hub-and-spoke model to a fragmented point-to-point network.
2. The Jogighopa MMLP in Bongaigaon district is designed to integrate rail, road, and inland waterway transit modes.
3. Developing MMLPs is a flagship component under the Bharatmala Pariyojana and PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b)

Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect because MMLPs aim to do the reverse—transitioning from fragmented point-to-point freight haulage toward an efficient, integrated hub-and-spoke model. Statements 2 and 3 are correct.

Q11. With reference to the strategic and cross-border connectivity of the Jogighopa logistics node, consider the following statements:

1. Jogighopa has an Inland Waterways Transport (IWT) terminal designated as an international port of call for trade with Bangladesh and Bhutan.
2. The newly completed Goods Cargo Terminal (GCT) rail siding connects Jogighopa directly to the broad-gauge network of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).
3. Bhutan, being a landlocked country, can access riverine cargo movement through the Jogighopa terminal via road-waterway multimodal transit.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (d)

Explanation: All statements are correct. Jogighopa functions as an international port of call, possesses a 3.76 km dedicated rail siding linked to NFR, and provides landlocked Bhutan with riverine multimodal access via Assam to Bangladesh and the sea.

Q12. What distinguishes “Multimodal transport” from “Intermodal transport” in logistics?

(a) Multimodal transport uses only non-fossil fuel transport modes, whereas intermodal uses conventional fuel modes.

(b) Multimodal transport involves carriage of goods by at least two different modes under a single contract, whereas intermodal transport specifically involves moving goods in one and the same loading unit (container) across multiple modes without handling the goods themselves.

(c) Multimodal transport is restricted within national borders, whereas intermodal transport applies exclusively to international transboundary shipping.

(d) Intermodal transport does not permit the use of railways or inland waterways.

Answer: (b)

Explanation: Option (b) represents the precise technical distinction: Multimodal involves multiple modes under a unified transport contract/document, while Intermodal is a specialized subset where cargo stays inside the same standardized container unit during mode transfers without individual cargo repacking.

Topic 4: Agrometeorology, Digital Agriculture & Climate-Resilient Farming

Q13. Consider the following mobile applications/platforms and their primary institutional developers:

1. Meghdoot: Jointly developed by IMD, IITM, and ICAR to provide district- and block-level agromet advisories.
2. Sashya Rakshyak: Developed by Assam Agricultural University (AAU) specifically for crop pest and disease diagnosis.
3. DAMINI: Developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research exclusively for soil fertility mapping.

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a)

Explanation: Pairs 1 and 2 are correctly matched. Pair 3 is incorrectly matched because DAMINI is a mobile app developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, for providing lightning early warnings and alerts, not soil fertility mapping.

Q14. With reference to the institutional agrometeorological system in India, consider the following statements:

1. The Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) scheme operates under the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue weather-based crop advisories.
2. Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) act as grassroots institutional nodal points for field-level dissemination of agrometeorological advisories.
3. Agrometeorology focuses solely on historical paleoclimatic analysis and excludes short-to-medium range farm weather predictions.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a)

Explanation: Statements 1 and 2 are correct (GKMS is run by IMD in collaboration with ICAR/KVKs). Statement 3 is incorrect because agrometeorology is the practical application of real-time, short, medium, and extended-range weather information and forecasts to farm operations (sowing, spraying, irrigation, harvesting).

Q15. Consider the following statements regarding digital agricultural initiatives in Assam:

1. Pathar Bazar was developed under the aegis of KVKs under Assam Agricultural University (AAU) to provide integrated market, weather, and crop advisory services.
2. Krishi Bikash–Barak Valley was launched by Assam University as a multilingual, voice-enabled app tailored for low-cost smartphones and weak internet connectivity.
3. Agrimet is a digital platform hosted by the Tea Board of India exclusively for large corporate tea estates.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a)

Explanation: Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is incorrect because Agrimet is the dedicated agrometeorology and weather data portal developed and operated by Assam Agricultural University (AAU) for Assam’s farming community at large, not the Tea Board.

Q16. With reference to climate impacts on agriculture and emerging precision tools, consider the following statements:

1. Higher ambient temperatures during the reproductive stage of rice can lead to spikelet sterility and yield decline.
2. The KALP (Krishi Advisory based on Location Specific Weather Prediction) system represents a transition from broad regional bulletins to hyperlocal, block-level agricultural advisories.
3. High relative humidity combined with moderate-to-high temperatures generally suppresses the propagation of fungal and bacterial crop pathogens.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a)

Explanation: Statements 1 and 2 are correct (temperature spikes reduce rice yield through floret sterility, and KALP delivers location-specific advisories). Statement 3 is incorrect because elevated humidity combined with warm temperatures creates favorable microclimatic conditions that promote and accelerate fungal spore germination and bacterial blight infestations.

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