UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 10 April 2025

Solution: a)

• Statement 1 is incorrect- CAPTCHA works passively. In reality, users are typically required to interact with CAPTCHA challenges.
• Statement 2 correct — CAPTCHA is a common defense against brute-force login attempts and bot traffic, as it introduces complexity that automated scripts struggle to handle.
• Statement 3 is incorrect- because CAPTCHA is not a tool for phishing detection. Its role is to prevent bot-based abuse, not identify malicious sites. Phishing detection requires separate browser-based or cybersecurity tools.

• What is CAPTCHA?

• • CAPTCHA stands for “Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart.”
  • It is a human verification tool designed to distinguish between real users and automated bots.

• How CAPTCHA Works?

• • Users are prompted to solve puzzles, like identifying distorted text or selecting images (e.g., traffic lights or cars).
  • reCAPTCHA, introduced in 2009, used scanned words from books to aid in digitization.
  • Invisible reCAPTCHA (2014) detects human presence using mouse movement and user behaviour.

• Significance of CAPTCHA:

• • Protects websites from spam, fake registrations, and automated attacks.
  • Adds a security layer to sensitive actions like logins, payments, and data recovery.
  • Used in online forms, comment sections, polls, and e-commerce for human validation.
  • Supported by major tech players, including Google, and deployed across thousands of platforms.

• Limitations of CAPTCHA

• • Accessibility issues for people with visual or auditory impairments.
  • Can be frustrating for users, especially on mobile devices.
  • Advanced bots using AI and machine learning can bypass certain CAPTCHA systems.
  • Adds an extra verification step, which may deter users or lower UX quality.

Solution: a)

• Both statements are correct, and Statement-II explains Statement-I.
• As apex predators, tigers regulate the population of herbivores, which in turn protects vegetation and stabilizes soil and water systems. This top-down control ensures healthy prey dynamics, indirectly preserving wetlands, riparian zones, and forests—all of which are key to freshwater availability and carbon sequestration.
• Thus, tiger conservation protects entire ecosystems, making it a linchpin for biodiversity corridors and climate resilience.

Solution: c)

• Channapatna Toys are wooden toys from Karnataka, known for their lacquered finish.
• Banarasi Sarees are iconic silk weaves from Uttar Pradesh.
• Pattachitra is a traditional cloth-based painting from Odisha.

Solution: a)

• Both statements are correct and Statement II explains Statement I.
• The Dhansiri River flows through ecologically sensitive zones like Intanki National Park and Dhansiri RF, supporting tributaries, wetlands, and fish-bird biodiversity.
• This connectivity across districts and forest patches forms a critical corridor in the southern Brahmaputra basin, aiding migration and gene flow of wildlife.

Solution: b)

Only Statement 3 is correct.

• The Sanchi Stupa, commissioned by Ashoka, represents Dharma Chakra (Wheel of Law) and cosmic balance through its harmika, toranas, and chatra atop the dome.
• Statement 1 is incorrect—Gandhara art, influenced by Greco-Roman styles, used stone and stucco, and portrayed the Buddha in human form, not just nature.
• Statement 2 is incorrect—Ajanta Caves were developed from the 2nd century BCE to 6th century CE, mostly under the Satavahanas and Vakatakas, not Mauryas.

Solution: b)

• The conical shape of an Ice Stupa is a deliberate design innovation to reduce the surface area exposed to direct sunlight, especially during spring. In high-altitude areas like Ladakh or Gilgit-Baltistan, sun exposure leads to premature melting of horizontally spread ice.
• A vertical cone has a low surface-area-to-volume ratio, limiting sunlight absorption and retaining ice longer. Additionally, because it melts gradually from the top downward, it provides a timed release of water during critical agricultural months.
• This shape does not trap air or circulate wind—its primary role is passive heat resistance.

Solution: d)

• Project Varsha is a top-secret Indian Navy infrastructure program aimed at building INS Varsha, a dedicated nuclear submarine base near Rambilli, south of Visakhapatnam. The project is part of India’s broader strategy to secure the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean Region (IOR), especially in the face of growing Chinese naval presence.
• The base will feature underground pens and tunnels, shielding submarines from aerial and satellite surveillance, thereby enhancing stealth operations.
• It can dock up to 12 nuclear submarines, significantly boosting India’s second-strike capability, a core pillar of the nuclear triad. Located close to BARC’s Atchutapuram facility, it allows access to nuclear support infrastructure.
• Project Varsha is designed to ensure that India maintains credible deterrence and rapid deployment capability, particularly near key maritime chokepoints like the Strait of Malacca.

Solution: d)

Statement I is incorrect—the regulation is not about reducing foreign degree dominance, but rather enabling their fair recognition under a standardized system.
Statement II is correct—UGC’s new framework introduces a transparent, accountable, and timely mechanism for evaluating foreign academic qualifications, aligning with NEP 2020.

Solution: c)

• The Restatement of Values of Judicial Life, adopted in 1997 by the Supreme Court of India, is a non-binding but morally persuasive code of conduct for judges of the higher judiciary. It is not a statute but serves as an ethical guideline to uphold the dignity, independence, and impartiality of the judiciary.
• The code comprises 16 points, including principles like avoiding close contact with lawyers, not giving interviews to the media, and refraining from commenting on pending cases.

It seeks to reinforce public confidence in the judiciary and ensure that judges do not act in ways that would erode institutional credibility. This framework operates in the absence of a statutory judicial accountability law, hence serving as a moral foundation rather than legal regulation.

Solution: b)

• The Ionian Islands lie off the west coast of Greece, extending southward from Albania toward the Peloponnese and Italy.
• This location gives them a dual significance: (1) proximity to major Mediterranean maritime routes, and (2) location along seismically active fault lines in the Hellenic arc.
• The islands are known for their natural harbors, making them historically important for trade and naval control. Their tectonic location also subjects them to frequent earthquakes, such as the catastrophic 1953 quake that devastated Cephallenia and Zakynthos.

They are not connected to the Bosporus or the Black Sea, so options (c) and (d) are incorrect. Nor do they form a “land bridge” (option a), being a chain of islands.