Practice APSC Current Affairs MCQs for 22 October 2026 on SUVIKALP and PRISM, PM-DAKSH Scheme, Five Eyes Alliance, AUSTRAHIND, AUSINDEX and Exercise Pitch Black, SUVIKALP CCO, PRISM mine repurposing, PM DAKSH Scheme, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Five Eyes Alliance, UKUSA Agreement, AUSTRAHIND exercise, AUSINDEX exercise, Pitch Black exercise, India Australia military exercises, APSC Prelims Current Affairs, UPSC Current Affairs 2026
Strengthen your APSC CCE and UPSC Current Affairs preparation with the Daily Current Affairs Challenge – 22 October 2026.
Today’s set contains 4 exam-oriented MCQs covering mine repurposing and sustainable transition, skill development for disadvantaged groups, international intelligence cooperation, and India–Australia defence exercises.
Topics Covered: SUVIKALP and PRISM; PM-DAKSH Scheme; Five Eyes Alliance; AUSTRAHIND, AUSINDEX and Exercise Pitch Black.
Question 1 | Current Affairs
Consider the following statements regarding SUVIKALP, an initiative of the Coal Controller Organisation (CCO):
- SUVIKALP evaluates mine repurposing projects using technical, environmental, social and economic criteria.
- PRISM provides implementation pathways, sample Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), tender documents and case studies for post-mining repurposing projects.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Explanation: Both statements are correct.
SUVIKALP supports the data-driven evaluation and ranking of mine repurposing projects. The assessment takes into account multiple dimensions, including technical, environmental, social and economic considerations.
PRISM, meanwhile, provides practical resources that can assist stakeholders in planning and implementing post-mining repurposing projects. These include implementation pathways, sample Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), tender documents and relevant case studies.
The topic is relevant to broader themes such as sustainable mining, mine closure, environmental rehabilitation, just transition and productive reuse of post-mining land.
Question 2 | Current Affairs
Consider the following statements regarding the PM-DAKSH Scheme:
- The PM-DAKSH Scheme was implemented under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
- The scheme provides short-term training, upskilling/reskilling, entrepreneurship development and long-term training programmes to eligible target groups.
- The scheme is implemented exclusively by the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC).
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
Correct Answer: A — 1 and 2 only
Explanation: Statements 1 and 2 are correct, while Statement 3 is incorrect.
PM-DAKSH was implemented in 2020–21 under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
The scheme provides four broad types of skill-development interventions:
Short-term training
Upskilling and reskilling
Entrepreneurship development programmes
Long-term training programmes.
Statement 3 is incorrect because implementation is not confined to NSFDC. According to the supplied material, the scheme is implemented through three corporations:
National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC)
National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC)
National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC).
Question 3 | Current Affairs
Consider the following statements regarding the Five Eyes Alliance:
- The Five Eyes Alliance originated from the UK-USA Agreement, which was signed in 1946, with Canada joining in 1949 and Australia and New Zealand joining in 1956.
- The Five Eyes Intelligence Oversight and Review Council was established in 2016 to facilitate intelligence sharing among the five countries.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer: A — 1 only
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct, while Statement 2 is incorrect.
The Five Eyes Alliance traces its institutional origins to the UKUSA Agreement signed in 1946. According to the supplied material, Canada joined in 1949, followed by Australia and New Zealand in 1956.
The five countries associated with the Five Eyes grouping are therefore:
United States
United Kingdom
Canada
Australia
New Zealand
Statement 2 is incorrect because the Five Eyes Intelligence Oversight and Review Council, established in 2016, is concerned with intelligence oversight, review and security, rather than being the mechanism through which intelligence sharing itself was established.
Question 4 | Current Affairs
Which of the following statements regarding India–Australia military exercises are correct?
- AUSTRAHIND is a bilateral military exercise between India and Australia.
- AUSINDEX is a bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian and Australian navies.
- Exercise Pitch Black is a bilateral naval exercise conducted by India and Australia.
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
Correct Answer: A — 1 and 2 only
Explanation: Statements 1 and 2 are correct, while Statement 3 is incorrect.
AUSTRAHIND is a bilateral military exercise between India and Australia.
AUSINDEX is a bilateral maritime exercise involving the Indian Navy and the Royal Australian Navy.
Statement 3 is incorrect because Exercise Pitch Black is a multilateral air-combat exercise hosted by Australia. It is neither a bilateral India–Australia exercise nor a naval exercise.
For Prelims, remember the distinction:
AUSTRAHIND → India–Australia → Bilateral military exercise
AUSINDEX → India–Australia → Bilateral maritime/naval exercise
Pitch Black → Australia-hosted → Multilateral air exercise
This is a typical exercise–country–service matching area from which APSC and UPSC can frame statement-based questions.
Quick Revision – 22 October 2026: SUVIKALP evaluates and ranks mine-repurposing projects, while PRISM provides implementation resources for post-mining projects. PM-DAKSH operates under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and provides multiple forms of skill development. The Five Eyes Alliance comprises the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand and traces its origins to the UKUSA Agreement. In India–Australia defence cooperation, AUSTRAHIND is a bilateral military exercise and AUSINDEX a bilateral maritime exercise, whereas Pitch Black is an Australian-hosted multilateral air exercise.
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