UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 2 April 2025

Solution: a)

• The 1970 UNESCO Convention is the cornerstone legal instrument that enables member states to reclaim cultural property that has been illicitly imported, exported, or transferred.
• India ratified this Convention in 1980 and increasingly uses it as a diplomatic and legal basis for demanding the return of stolen antiquities.
• The Heritage Repatriation Fund, recently proposed by a parliamentary panel, is expected to provide the financial and legal muscle to invoke such international frameworks effectively.
• It would help pursue claims, enter bilateral cultural property agreements, and engage legal experts across jurisdictions.
• Other conventions, like the Hague Convention, apply in armed conflict scenarios, while the CBD deals with genetic resources. Thus, option a is correct.

• What is Heritage Repatriation Fund?
o A proposed financial initiative to facilitate the recovery and return of stolen Indian cultural artifacts from abroad.
• Proposed by: Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism, and Culture.
• Ministry: Under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
• Aim: To support efforts in reclaiming India’s stolen or illegally exported antiquities from other nations.
• Features and Functions:
o Funding Sources: Accept contributions from corporations, wealthy individuals, and Indian diaspora through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).
o Legal Support: Finance legal actions, negotiations, and purchases of disputed cultural objects.
o Technological Integration: Use advanced imaging, DNA testing, and AI databases to authenticate and establish the provenance of artifacts.
o Logistics & Conservation: Fund safe transportation and proper conservation of repatriated items.
o Heritage Recovery Task Force: A dedicated multidisciplinary team comprising diplomats, legal experts, and art historians to identify and recover artifacts worldwide.
o International Agreements: Advocate more Cultural Property Agreements (CPAs) to prevent illicit trafficking, similar to recent agreements with the USA.

Solution: b)

Statements 2 and 3 are correct.
• Silvaguard is built for autonomous operation and is integrated with Silvanet, Dryad’s IoT forest sensor network. These sensors are mounted in the forest environment to detect early-stage wildfires, even before flames or smoke are visible from above. The system is meant to bridge the time gap between ignition and firefighting response.
• Statement 1 is incorrect—underwater drones are not part of this system. Silvaguard’s technology is entirely terrestrial and aerial, focused on drone deployment in forested environments, not aquatic ecosystems.

• What is Silvaguard?
o Silvaguard is a prototype drone-based wildfire detection and suppression system developed to autonomously locate and extinguish early-stage wildfires.
• Developed by: Dryad Networks, a Berlin-based climate-tech company specializing in forest monitoring and environmental sensor networks.
• Aim: To deliver a rapid, autonomous wildfire response system that reduces fire damage and prevents large-scale CO₂ emissions from forest fires.
• Key Features of Silvaguard:
o Integration with Silvanet: Works with Dryad’s Silvanet IoT sensor network deployed across forests to detect fires even before visible flames emerge.
o Autonomous Launch: Upon fire detection, drones are launched automatically from solar-powered hangars.
o Real-Time Imaging: Equipped with thermal cameras, obstacle avoidance systems, and infrared sensors to provide live visuals and precise fire location.
o Fire Suppression Capability: Future versions to use sonic wave technology to extinguish fires using sound frequencies.

Solution: d)

• The Nag Missile System (NAMIS) is a third-generation fire-and-forget Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) developed by DRDO.
• Its key attribute is autonomy post-launch—no manual guidance is required after firing. It is mounted on the NAMICA (Nag Missile Carrier), a tracked and amphibious armoured vehicle that allows it to operate effectively across varied terrains.
• The missile is equipped with an Imaging Infrared (IIR) seeker and a tandem High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) warhead, capable of defeating armour protected by Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA).
• The system plays a key role in armour deterrence and is integral to mechanized infantry operations.

About Nag Missile System (NAMIS):
• What is NAMIS?
o NAMIS (Tracked version) is a third-generation, fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system designed for the Indian Army.
• Developed By:
o Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
o Procurement carried out through Armoured Vehicle Nigam Limited.
• Features of Nag Missile (Mark 2):
o Fire-and-Forget Capability: Allows target engagement without post-launch guidance.
o High Precision Targeting: Capable of defeating tanks with Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA).
o Platform Integration: Mounted on NAMICA (Nag Missile Carrier) for greater mobility.
o Indigenous Design: Fully developed under the ‘Buy (Indian-IDDM)’ category to promote self-reliance.

Solution: c)

• Statement-I is correct—Maasai pastoralism is a classic example of ecological adaptation, relying on communal grazing, mobility, and deep knowledge of vegetation and climate cycles. Their resilience in the semi-arid savannas of the Great Rift Valley shows their integration with the ecosystem.
• Statement-II is incorrect—the Horn of Africa, particularly the desert basins and salt flats of Djibouti, Eritrea, and eastern Ethiopia, are not traditional Maasai zones. The Maasai inhabit the more temperate savannas and grasslands of southern Kenya and northern Tanzania.
About the Maasai Tribe:
• Who They Are:
•
o The Maasai are semi-nomadic pastoralists and one of the most prominent indigenous communities of East Africa.
o They speak Maa, a language from the Eastern Sudanic branch of the Nilo-Saharan language family.
• Found In: Tanzania and Kenya, particularly along the Great Rift Valley and semi-arid savannas.
• Key Features:
o Physical Characteristics & Identity:
 Known for their distinct dress, beadwork, and warrior traditions.
 Morans (young men aged 14–30) undergo bush training to build courage, endurance, and tribal discipline.
o Social Structure:
 Society is patrilineal with clans divided into two moieties.
 Operates through age-set systems, with stages from junior warriors to senior elders over ~15-year intervals.
o Livelihood:
 Dependent on livestock—mainly cattle, sheep, and goats—for meat, milk, and blood.
• Traditional Maasai pastoralists do consume blood as part of their cultural diet.
o Practice transhumance, moving in search of pasture and water throughout the year.
o Reside in kraals, circular enclosures with mud-dung houses and thorn fences.

Solution: c)

• Exercise Prachand Prahaar was a tri-service military drill hosted in the high-altitude terrain of Arunachal Pradesh, focusing on multi-domain operations involving land, air, and space-based assets.
• It validated the Indian military’s ability to conduct integrated surveillance, command and control, and precision strikes using UAVs, loitering munitions, swarm drones, and fighter aircraft.
• It was not related to ASEAN, missile testing in deserts, or economic cyber-resilience. Hence, option c is correct.

Solution: c)

All three statements are incorrect.
• Statement 1 is wrong because Vikramashila is located in Antichak village, Bhagalpur district, Bihar, India, not Nepal.
• Statement 2 is false; Vikramashila was destroyed by Bakhtiyar Khilji in the late 12th century, the same invader who ravaged Nalanda. This happened centuries before the Mughal Empire.
• Statement 3 is incorrect because while Pali was used in early Buddhism, Sanskrit was the medium of instruction in most Mahaviharas, including Vikramashila, especially in Vajrayana and Mahayana teachings.

• What is Vikramashila?
o It is an ancient Buddhist monastery and leading centre of learning in medieval India.
o Location: Situated at Antichak village near Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur district, Bihar.
• Established by: Founded by King Dharmapala of the Pala dynasty in the late 8th or early 9th century CE.
• Historical Significance:
o Vikramashila ranks among India’s most distinguished Buddhist mahaviharas, alongside Nalanda and Odantapuri (Bihar).
o Primarily known through Tibetan historical accounts, especially those authored by Tāranātha, a renowned Tibetan monk-historian (16th–17th century).
o Noted for scholars like Atisha Dipankara, founder of the Sarma traditions in Tibetan Buddhism.
o At its height during King Chanaka’s reign (955–983 CE), Vikramashila gained prominence for its structured hierarchy, as highlighted by historian Sukumar Dutt.
• Major Academic and Cultural Features:
o Renowned as a prominent centre of Vajrayana Buddhism, employing eminent Tantric teachers such as Buddhajñānapāda, Dīpaṁkarabhadra, and Jayabhadra.
o Specialized in Buddhist Tantra, philosophy, grammar, metaphysics, logic, and occult studies.
• Architectural Highlights:
o Features a central cruciform stupa surrounded by 208 cells (52 cells on each side) for monks.
o Hosted an advanced library with a cooling system designed for manuscript preservation.

Solution: d)

• Statement I is incorrect. While deep-sea fishing is encouraged, the Blue Economy Policy does not aim for maximum exploitation. Instead, it focuses on sustainable harvesting, ecosystem conservation, and inclusive growth.
• Statement II is correct. India’s Blue Economy Vision 2030, aligned with SDG 14 (Life Below Water), emphasizes resource use that is ecologically sustainable, economically viable, and socially inclusive.

Solution: a)

• Statement 1 is correct. Vikramashila was established by King Dharmapala, a key Pala ruler.
• Statement 2 is incorrect—it rose to prominence in the Pala era, not the Gupta period.
• Statement 3 is also incorrect, as Vikramashila is primarily known from Tibetan sources, particularly from the works of Tāranātha, not Persian or Arab accounts.

Solution: b)

• Statement 1 is incorrect—IFAW does not limit itself to UNEP-declared parks; it works in a wide array of protected areas, community lands, and even disaster-affected zones. Hence, option a is correct.
• IFAW is headquartered in the USA and works globally, including in Africa, Asia, the Americas, and the Arctic.
• It is known for its “Room to Roam” strategy, which encourages wildlife corridors, community partnerships, and conflict mitigation.
• It actively lobbies for policy reform, especially under CITES and domestic wildlife laws, to curb illegal trade and boost rescue networks.

About International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW):
• What is IFAW?
o A leading global non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to animal welfare and conservation.
o Established: In 1969 by Brian Davies.
o Headquarters: Based in the USA, with operations spanning over 40 countries.
• Objective:
o Protect and rescue individual animals and wildlife populations globally.
o Conserve natural habitats to maintain ecological balance.
• Key Functions:
o Wildlife Rescue: Saving animals from emergencies, natural disasters, or exploitation.
o Habitat Preservation: Ensuring safe ecosystems through habitat restoration projects.
o Advocacy: Promoting strong legal frameworks and public policies to protect animals.
o Public Awareness: Educating communities on coexistence and animal welfare.