UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | February 2 to February 8, 2025

QUESTION 1

Which of the pursuing correctly describes the services provided by NavIC?

(a) Standard Positioning Service (SPS) for civilian usage and Precision Positioning Service (PPS) for subject use 

(b) Global Positioning Service (GPS) for civilians and Encrypted Positioning Service for the military 

(c) Standard Positioning Service (SPS) for wide usage and Restricted Service (RS) for subject use

(d) Restricted Service (RS) for civilians and Navigation Enhancement Service (NES) for subject use 

EXPLANATION

The NavIC satellites supply 2 types of services – Standard Positioning Service which is for wide and commercialized use, and Restricted Service which is meant for the defence forces – implicit the Indian landmass and neighbouring regions.

According to A S Ganeshan, a erstwhile manager of ISRO’s Satellite Navigation Program, the indigenous strategy provides positioning information “at each times with presumption accuracy amended than 20 metres during each upwind conditions, anyplace wrong India and a portion extending astir 1,500 km astir India connected dual frequencies successful L5 and S band”. (‘Benefits of an Indian Navigation System’, Science and Culture, 2017)

Therefore, (c) is the close answer. 

QUESTION 2

Match the pursuing outer navigation systems with their respective countries/regions:

Select the close reply utilizing the codification below:

(a) 1-C, 2-A, 3-D, 4-E, 5-B, 6-F

(b) 1-A, 2-C, 3-B, 4-E, 5-D, 6-F

(c) 1-C, 2-D, 3-A, 4-B, 5-E, 6-F

(d) 1-B, 2-E, 3-D, 4-C, 5-A, 6-F

EXPLANATION

A superior crushed to make an indigenous outer navigation strategy similar the IRNSS contempt the beingness of planetary systems specified arsenic the GPS (US), GLONASS (Russia), Galileo (Europe), Beidou (China), and QZSS (Japan), is the reliability that it offers successful defence use.

Therefore, (a) is the close answer. 

QUESTION 3

The word “H-1B visa” refers to:

(a) A visa issued for tourists and impermanent visitors.

(b) A overseas idiosyncratic visa for specialty occupations successful the United States.

(c) A pupil visa issued to overseas nationals for world programs.

(d) A visa for individuals seeking imperishable residency successful the United States.

EXPLANATION

Between October 2022 and September 2023, arsenic galore arsenic 72% of the astir 4 lakh visas issued by the US nether its H-1B program (foreign idiosyncratic visas for specialty jobs) went to Indian nationals. 

Therefore, (b) is the close answer. 

QUESTION 4

Which of the pursuing wetlands successful India is simply a cardinal situation for the Indus River Dolphin?

(a) Harike Wetlands

(b) Ranjit Sagar Wetlands

(c) Beas Conservation Reserve

(d) Kanjli Wetlands

EXPLANATION

The Beas Conservation Reserve, located on the Beas River, is simply a cardinal situation for the Indus River Dolphin, a taxon that is critically endangered.

Therefore, (c) is the close answer. 

QUESTION 5

Which of the pursuing caller Ramsar sites were announced by India successful 2025, up of World Wetlands Day?

1. Udhwa Lake (Jharkhand)

2. Theerthangal (Tamil Nadu)

3. Sakkarakottai (Tamil Nadu)

4. Khecheopalri (Sikkim)

Select the close reply utilizing the codification fixed below:

(a) 1, 2, and 3 only

(b) 1, 3, and 4 only

(c) 1, 2 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 

EXPLANATION

February 2 is annually marked arsenic World Wetlands Day to dispersed consciousness astir conserving 1 of the astir captious ecosystems connected the planet. This year, the taxable was “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future”. Ahead of the day, India announced 4 caller Ramsar sites nether the planetary statement Ramsar Convention connected Wetlands – Udhwa Lake successful Jharkhand, Theerthangal and Sakkarakottai successful Tamil Nadu and Khecheopalri successful Sikkim.

Therefore, (d) is the close answer. 

QUESTION 6

Which athletics is the caller 3×15 scoring strategy related to?

a) Tennis

b) Badminton

c) Basketball

d) Volleyball

EXPLANATION

A caller scoring strategy could beryllium successful spot for badminton, arsenic the Badminton World Federation has said this week that its main decision-making assemblage (BWF Council) has endorsed the 3×15 scoring system to regenerate the existent 3×21 system. The determination was taken astatine the BWF Council’s gathering connected November 9, 2024 successful Kuala Lumpur.

Therefore, (b) is the close answer. 

QUESTION 7

A committee headed by erstwhile ISRO main K Radhakrishnan was constituted by the Ministry of Education successful November 2022, to urge measures to fortify the accreditation system. 

What important alteration successful the accreditation process was recommended by the K. Radhakrishnan committee successful 2022?

a) Transition to a 10-point grading system

b) Introduction of binary accreditation 

c) Decreased accent connected adjacent squad visits

d) Addition of a caller appraisal parameter for teaching quality

EXPLANATION

The CBI past week arrested 10 people, including members and chairperson of a National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) inspection squad and office-bearers of Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation (KLEF), a deemed-to-be assemblage successful Andhra Pradesh, successful a lawsuit of bribery for a favourable NAAC rating.

What changes person been projected to the NAAC grading system?

The National Education Policy 2020 envisions that “in the agelong run, accreditation volition go a binary process, arsenic per the extant planetary practice”.

A committee headed by erstwhile ISRO main K Radhakrishnan was constituted by the Ministry of Education successful November 2022, to urge measures to fortify the accreditation system. It suggested that the contiguous eight-point grading strategy modulation into a binary accreditation strategy — the instauration volition beryllium identified arsenic ‘accredited’, ‘awaiting accreditation’, oregon ‘not accredited.’

It besides suggests that accredited institutions beryllium “encouraged” to “raise their bar…from ‘Level 1’ to ‘Level 4’ Institutions of National Excellence, and past to ‘Level-5’ i.e. Institutions of Global Excellence for Multi-Disciplinary Research and Education.”

Therefore, (b) is the close answer. 

QUESTION 8

The “M23 rebels,” precocious seen successful the news, are associated with which of the pursuing countries?

(a) Sudan

(b) Democratic Republic of the Congo

(c) Central African Republic

(d) Ethiopia

EXPLANATION

Rwandan-backed M23 rebels successful the Democratic Republic of Congo are seeking to beforehand southbound towards Bukavu, the superior of South Kivu province, successful an effort to grow their country of power successful the country’s eastbound aft capturing the metropolis of Goma. The latest warring is portion of a large escalation of a decades-old struggle implicit power, identity, and resources that has killed hundreds of thousands of radical and displaced much than 1 cardinal since its caller resurgence.

Therefore, (b) is the close answer. 

QUESTION 9

Consider the pursuing statements with notation to Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton.

Statement 1: Cotton farmers successful India person been reluctant to follow Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton.

Statement 2: ELS fabric requires little h2o and inputs compared to regular cotton, making it unsuitable for large-scale cultivation.

(a) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are true, and Statement 2 is the close mentation of Statement 1.

(b) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are true, but Statement 2 is not the close mentation of Statement 1.

(c) Statement 1 is true, but Statement 2 is false.

(d) Statement 1 is false, but Statement 2 is true.

EXPLANATION

Why is ELS cotton not grown successful India?

For the 2024-25 season, the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of mean staple fabric was Rs 7,121 (per quintal) portion that of agelong staple fabric was Rs 7,521.

Nonetheless, fabric farmers successful India person frankincense acold been reluctant to follow ELS cotton. This is chiefly owed to little than mean per acre yields, experts say. While the mean staple assortment yields betwixt 10 and 12 quintals per acre, ELS fabric has a output of lone 7-8 quintals.

Additionally, farmers increasing ELS fabric are often incapable to marketplace their premium nutrient astatine premium prices. “The marketplace linkages indispensable are not disposable easily,” said 1 trader.

Therefore, (c) is the close answer. 

QUESTION 10

Consider the pursuing statements regarding Parole and Furlough:

1. Parole and furlough are some forms of conditional merchandise granted by the judiciary.

2. When a captive is released connected furlough, the condemnation continues to tally during the merchandise period.

3. Parole is mostly granted for short-term imprisonment successful circumstantial exigencies, whereas furlough is usually granted for semipermanent imprisonment.

Which of the statements fixed supra is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2, and 3

EXPLANATION

Convicts of the Hashimpura massacre person moved the Delhi High Court against a Delhi situation regularisation astir furloughs. The regularisation vests powerfulness to assistance furlough with the tribunal wherever the entreaty against condemnation is pending.

Generally, the powerfulness of granting furlough is exercised by the executive. 

What is the difference betwixt parole and furlough?

Both furlough and parole stem from jailhouse manuals and situation regularisation and are successful the domain of the executive. Both are conditional releases, taxable to bully behaviour successful situation and to not committing circumstantial offences.

In furlough, the condemnation continues to tally contempt the convict being released from situation for a specified play of time. For example, if a idiosyncratic has been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment and is released connected furlough for 30 days, successful effect helium volition beryllium successful jailhouse for 9 years 11 months and yet volition beryllium deemed to person completed the sentence.

When the convict is released connected parole, the condemnation is suspended and the quantum of condemnation remains intact.

Paroles are granted successful short-term imprisonment, to supply alleviation to prisoners successful definite specified exigencies specified arsenic illness, sowing and harvesting of crops, and to prosecute an entreaty against condemnation successful the SC.

Furlough is usually granted successful lawsuit of semipermanent imprisonment and aft spending a definite play of clip incarcerated. It is aimed to forestall solitude of prisoners, let them to found household and societal ties, a mode of information for maintaining bully conduct, and to stay disciplined successful prison.

Therefore, (b) is the close answer. 

QUESTION 11

Consider the pursuing statements regarding the Governor’s relation successful lawmaking nether Article 200 of the Indian Constitution:

1. The Governor tin withhold assent to a Bill and nonstop it backmost to the Assembly for reconsideration lone once.

2. If the Assembly passes the Bill again without immoderate changes, the Governor is inactive empowered to withhold assent indefinitely.

3. The Governor tin reserve immoderate Bill for the information of the President astatine their discretion.

Which of the statements fixed supra is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2, and 3

EXPLANATION

Governor’s role successful lawmaking

The Constitution envisages the bureau of the Governor arsenic an apolitical entity. Over the years, the SC successful respective rulings has constricted the Governor’s workout of the powers successful a permissive manner. Broadly, the Governor is bound to enactment connected the assistance and proposal of a state’s Council of Ministers. However, determination are a fewer exceptions to this. For instance, successful recommending the imposition of the President’s regularisation nether Article 356 of the Constitution, and successful granting assent to Bills nether Article 200.

After a Bill has been passed by a authorities Assembly, it is presented to the Governor for her assent. 

Article 200 envisages 3 scenarios wherever the Governor can:

1. Give assent to the Bill, successful which lawsuit it becomes authorities law.
2. Withhold assent to the Bill and nonstop it backmost for reconsideration by the authorities Assembly.
3. Reserve the Bill for information by the President of India.

If the Governor withholds assent and sends the Bill backmost for reconsideration, the Assembly tin amend the Bill oregon walk it again arsenic is. When the peculiar Bill is presented to the Governor again, she “shall not withhold assent therefrom”, mandating the Bill’s passage, but successful cases wherever the Bill, successful the sentiment of the Governor, could “derogate from the powers of the High Court.” In that case, the Bill shall beryllium reserved for the President’s consideration.

Therefore, (b) is the close answer. 

QUESTION 12

Consider the pursuing statements regarding Potash:

1. Potash is chiefly utilized successful the accumulation of fertilizers.

2. Sulphate of Potash (SOP) contains chloride, which makes it suitable for carbohydrate-type crops.

3. Muriate of Potash (MOP) is commonly utilized for crops specified arsenic wheat.

Which of the statements fixed supra is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2, and 3

EXPLANATION

On Thursday (February 6), Punjab Mining Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal said the authorities volition explore potash mining successful Fazilka and Sri Muktsar Sahib districts, wherever surveys antecedently detected ample mineral reserves successful 3 mining blocks.

Surveys of the Geological Survey of India (GSI) person besides identified reserves successful parts of Rajasthan. These findings item the imaginable for potash mining successful some states, reducing India’s dependence connected imports and bolstering the home fertilizer industry. However, immoderate concerns person been flagged. We explain.

What is potash?

Potash refers to potassium-bearing minerals that are chiefly utilized successful fertilisers. Over 90% of potash is utilized arsenic fertilizer and it is 1 of the 3 superior cultivation nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium oregon N-P-K). According to the authoritative Indian Minerals Yearbook for 2021, “Potash tin beryllium utilized connected each plants to boost works wellness and nutrition arsenic good arsenic to summation harvest yields. While each potash fertilizers incorporate potassium determination are a fig of antithetic forms successful which it exists.”

Among these forms is Sulphate of Potash (SOP), a premium potash fertilizer that is escaped of chloride (a compound considered harmful to plants). On the different hand, Muriate of Potash oregon MOP contains immoderate chloride. While SOP is utilized chiefly connected high-value crops, usually leafy plants, fruits and vegetables, MOP is commonly utilized connected carbohydrate-type crops, specified arsenic wheat.

Therefore, (b) is the close answer. 

QUESTION 13

Consider the pursuing statements:

Statement 1: The Arctic portion is experiencing warming astatine a complaint importantly higher than the planetary average.

Statement 2: The albedo effect reduces arsenic oversea crystal melts, starring to greater absorption of star radiation by exposed onshore and water.

In the discourse of the statements above, which 1 of the pursuing is correct?

(a) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are true, and Statement 2 is the close mentation of Statement 1.

(b) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are true, but Statement 2 is not the close mentation of Statement 1.

(c) Statement 1 is true, but Statement 2 is false.

(d) Statement 1 is false, but Statement 2 is true.

EXPLANATION

Since 1979, the Arctic has warmed 4 times faster than the planetary average. This is an contented due to the fact that the portion acts arsenic a refrigerator for the remainder of the satellite — it helps chill the planet. If temperatures proceed to soar astatine this rate, it tin pb to terrible planetary impacts including rising oversea levels and disruption of upwind patterns. 

Why did the northbound rod acquisition specified precocious temperatures?

The existent unusually mild temperatures successful the region during the depths of the polar wintertime (it is from November to February) were owed to a heavy low-pressure strategy — a portion wherever the atmospheric unit is little than that of surrounding locations — implicit Iceland. The strategy opened gates for the accomplishment of warmer aerial from little latitudes, efficaciously bringing vigor to the region.

Why has the Arctic warmed faster than the planetary average?

The planetary temperatures person accrued by astir 1.3 degrees Celsius compared to the 1850-1900 baseline. However, this emergence successful temperatures is not azygous crossed the planet. For instance, the Arctic has warmed 3.8 times faster than the planetary mean since the precocious 1970s, according to a 2022 study.

There are aggregate factors down the Arctic’s accelerated warming. One of the astir salient factors is the albedo effect oregon however overmuch sunlight a aboveground reflects. Sea crystal keeps temperatures down successful the polar regions, arsenic its bright, achromatic aboveground reflects much sunlight backmost to abstraction than liquid water. As the crystal screen successful the Arctic is melting, much onshore oregon h2o is getting exposed to the Sun and much vigor is getting absorbed, starring to a emergence successful temperatures.

The deficiency of convection successful higher latitudes specified arsenic the Arctic is different reason. Convection occurs erstwhile aerial adjacent to the crushed is heated by the lukewarm aboveground of the Earth. In the tropics, wherever much sunlight tin scope the aboveground compared to the Arctic, beardown convection takes place, causing lukewarm aerial to rise. This vertical mixing distributes vigor passim the atmosphere.

However, successful the Arctic, owed to anemic convection, the other warming from the greenhouse gases is not capable to premix vertically and the vigor remains concentrated adjacent the surface.

Therefore, (a) is the close answer.

QUESTION 14

Consider the pursuing statements regarding FEAST software:

1. It is simply a bundle based connected the Finite Element Method utilized for structural and vigor transportation analysis.

2. It has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Which of the statements fixed supra is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

EXPLANATION

FEAST- Finite Element Analysis of Structures is the structural and vigor transportation investigation bundle based connected finite constituent method realized by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre / Indian Space Research Organisation.

Therefore, (a) is the close answer.

(source: feast.vssc.gov.in)

QUESTION 15

The word ‘Dunki Route’ is related to:

(a) A caller railway corridor successful India

(b) An amerciable migration method

(c) A commercialized way betwixt India and Europe

(d) A defence strategy

EXPLANATION

A US subject craft carrying 104 deported Indian nationals landed astatine Amritsar airdrome connected 5th February 2025. According to the deportees, they spent betwixt Rs 30 lakh and Rs 1 crore successful expenses and cause fees successful their efforts to scope the US, mostly done what is known arsenic the “dunki route”.

“Dunki” oregon “donkey journey” refers to the long-winding, often unsafe routes that radical crossed the satellite instrumentality to scope the places they privation to immigrate to. These hard journeys are undertaken owed to a deficiency of requisite ineligible permits oregon fiscal resources. The American authorities person deported those who person taken this amerciable way to scope America.

Therefore, (b) is the close answer.

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