UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 18 April 2025

Solution: a)

• The New Development Bank (NDB), originally established by the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), aims to support infrastructure and sustainable development projects.
• Statement 1 is incorrect because NDB’s membership has expanded beyond BRICS to include countries like Bangladesh, the UAE, Egypt, and Uruguay, and it funds projects in these countries as well—hence, its operations are not exclusive to BRICS members.
• Statement 2 is correct: NDB actively supports de-dollarization by issuing local currency bonds (such as masala bonds in India and yuan bonds in China), reducing reliance on the US dollar and mitigating foreign exchange risks.
• Statement 3 is also correct: NDB provides both sovereign loans (to governments) and non-sovereign loans (to private or sub-sovereign entities), which broadens its development financing scope.

Solution: b)

• Statement 1 is incorrect. GDM is not typically diagnosed early; it is generally screened between 24–28 weeks of pregnancy.
• Statements 2 is correct. Foetal hyperinsulinemia, caused by maternal hyperglycaemia in GDM, programs the foetus to store more fat, increasing the risk of childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. While GDM usually resolves post-delivery, 50–60% of women with GDM develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years, making it a precursor to chronic metabolic disease.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a high risk for type 2 diabetes in mothers and metabolic disorders in children. GDM is usually diagnosed between 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy. An early intervention that would help prevent foetal hyperinsulinemia, a metabolic disturbance that occurs in the 11th week, might avoid this and reduce the risk of the child developing diabetes and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) later in life.

Solution: a)

Only Statement 3 is correct.

• Statement 1 is incorrect: India has no operational thorium reactor yet; all thorium-based technologies, including AHWR and SMRs, remain in the experimental or pre-commercial stage.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: Nuclear energy is on the Union List, and even if a state-level agency like MAHAGENCO leads the initiative, the plant must still conform to AERB norms and Central nuclear safety protocols.
• Statement 3 is correct: Thorium fuels generate less transuranic waste, particularly plutonium and americium, making them environmentally safer in the long run.

About Thorium-Based Small Modular Reactor (SMR):

• What is it?
  • A Small Modular Reactor (SMR) is a compact, scalable nuclear reactor designed for safe, efficient, and flexible power generation.
  • Thorium-based SMRs utilise Thorium-232, a fertile material, to generate Uranium-233 fuel through transmutation.
• Institutions Involved: MAHAGENCO (Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Ltd) and ROSATOM (Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation).
• Key Features of Thorium-Based Small Modular Reactor (SMR):
  • Fuel Type – Thorium-232 → Uranium-233: Uses thorium, which converts into Uranium-233 through nuclear reaction for clean energy.
  • Modular Design: SMRs are built in small units, allowing phased and cost-effective deployment.
  • Compact Size: Suitable for remote and smaller regions due to its small footprint and setup ease.
  • Passive Safety Systems: Designed to shut down automatically in emergencies, reducing accident risks.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Follows Indian nuclear safety norms under AERB and Central guidelines.
• Significance:
  • Thorium Abundance: India has 25% of world’s thorium, mainly in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, offering energy independence.
  • Energy Security: Reduces dependency on imported uranium and enhances long-term fuel security.
  • Eco-Friendly Option: Produces less nuclear waste compared to conventional uranium reactors.
  • Decentralised Clean Power: Can provide electricity to off-grid or underserved areas in a clean and reliable way.
  • State-Level Innovation: Maharashtra becomes the first state to enter nuclear space, supporting ‘Make in India’.
• Limitations:
  • No Operational Reactor Yet: Thorium-based SMRs are still in testing phase with no active deployment worldwide.
  • Needs Central Approval: Nuclear energy is under Central domain; states can’t implement it independently.
  • High Setup Cost: Building reactors and safety infrastructure needs large investment and time.
  • Weak Fuel Cycle Infra: India lacks full reprocessing systems for thorium; tech is still under development.
  • Public Fear of Nuclear: Safety concerns and nuclear accidents in the past may affect public acceptance.

Solution: b)

• Statement 1 is incorrect. Golden tigers are not recognized as a subspecies. They are a color variant of the Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), not a taxonomic classification in IUCN or zoological terms.
• The golden coloration results from a recessive mutation in the wideband gene, requiring both parents to be carriers.
• The presence of multiple golden tigers in one region like Kaziranga is indicative of inbreeding, which arises in small, closed populations, leading to low genetic diversity.

About Golden Tiger:

• What it is: Golden tiger or “golden tabby” is a rare colour variant of the Bengal tiger, not a separate subspecies.
• Location: Only four are known in the wild, all found in Kaziranga National Park, Assam.
• Scientific Reason:
  • Caused by a mutation in the wideband gene that extends reddish-yellow pigment production (pheomelanin).
  • Both parents must carry the mutated gene for the golden color to appear.
  • Color is harmless, but inbreeding may cause genetic weaknesses.

Solution: c)

• Statement 1 is correct: BirdLife International has designated Kaziranga as an Important Bird Area (IBA) due to its high avian diversity, including both resident and migratory birds.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: Kaziranga lies in Assam, specifically in Golaghat and Nagaon districts, not Arunachal Pradesh.
• Statement 3 is correct: Kaziranga has diverse habitats, including tall grasslands, marshes, and tropical moist forests, supporting wide-ranging fauna.
• Statement 4 is correct: Geographically, Kaziranga lies at the intersection of the Eastern Himalayas and the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, making it ecologically strategic.

Solution: d)

• The Rules of Origin (RoO) under AITIGA ensure that only goods originating in the ASEAN region or India receive preferential tariff treatment.
• This prevents third-party countries (like China or the USA) from routing their products through ASEAN to exploit low tariffs, thereby protecting the spirit of the FTA.

About ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA):

• What is AITIGA?

• • A free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the 10 ASEAN member states.
  • Covers trade in physical goods, eliminating tariffs and reducing non-tariff barriers.
  • Aims to enhance economic integration and bilateral trade.

• Origin:

• • Signed in 2009 at the 7th ASEAN-India Economic Ministers’ Meeting in Bangkok.
  • Implemented in 2010, often termed the ASEAN-India FTA.
  • 2014: ASEAN and India signed a separate Trade in Services Agreement.

• Key Features:

• • Tariff Liberalization: Gradual reduction of import duties on over 75% of traded goods.
  • Rules of Origin: Ensures only ASEAN-India goods get preferential treatment.
  • Exclusion Lists: Sensitive items (e.g., agriculture, auto parts) excluded from tariff cuts.
  • Trade Expansion: Bilateral trade reached $121 billion (2023-24), making ASEAN 11% of India’s global trade.

• Recent Developments:

• • Ongoing Review: Discussions to modernize AITIGA for better usability and trade facilitation.
  • 8th Joint Committee Meet (2024): Focused on making the agreement more trade-friendly and effective.

Solution: d)

• Phawngpui National Park, also known as the Blue Mountain National Park, is the only known Indian habitat of the Mount Victoria Babax, a bird species otherwise found in Myanmar’s Mount Victoria region.
• This makes it ecologically unique and a cross-border avian biodiversity hotspot.
• Option (a) refers to Namdapha, not Phawngpui.
• Option (c) is incorrect because Phawngpui features Montane sub-tropical forests, not dry deciduous ones.
• Option (b) is factually incorrect—glacial lakes are found in parks like Khangchendzonga, not here.

Solution: c)

• Statement-I is correct: India’s vast thorium reserves can support energy self-sufficiency, especially when paired with SMR technology that allows distributed power generation.
• Statement-II is incorrect: India’s reprocessing and U-233 handling capabilities are still under development. The thorium fuel cycle involves complex separation, purification, and radiation shielding due to U-232 contamination, requiring further R&D.

Solution: c)

• Statement I is correct: DEWs are vital for asymmetric and hybrid warfare, especially against drones, swarms, and stealth targets.
• Statement II is incorrect: One of the greatest advantages of DEWs is their low per-shot cost and modular logistics, making them tactically ideal, especially for repeated engagements.

About Mk-II(A) Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) System:

• What it is: A high-powered laser-based weapon system that uses directed energy to neutralize aerial threats such as drones, missiles, and sensors.
• Developed by: Centre for High Energy Systems & Sciences (CHESS), a DRDO lab in Hyderabad, in collaboration with other DRDO entities, industry, and academia.
• Purpose: Designed to offer cost-effective, rapid-response air defense against drones, surveillance systems, and potentially missiles with minimal collateral damage.

How the Laser-DEW Works?

• Detection: Targets are tracked using radar or an inbuilt Electro-Optic (EO) system.
• Engagement: A focused laser beam travels at the speed of light, slicing through the target’s surface, disabling or destroying it through structural failure.

Key Features

• Power Output: 30-kilowatt laser — capable of targeting fixed-wing UAVs and swarming drones.
• Speed: Instantaneous engagement — precision hit in seconds.
• Cost-Effective: Firing cost = few litres of petrol, significantly cheaper than conventional missiles.
• Mobility: Vehicle-mounted, adaptable for both land and future air/space platforms.

Significance:

• Strategic Edge: Places India alongside the US, China, and Russia in possessing advanced laser-DEW capabilities.
• Low Collateral Damage: Ideal for neutralizing threats without large-scale destruction.
• Force Multiplier: Enhances India’s counter-drone and missile defense capacity in a cost-effective and sustainable way.
• Indigenization Boost: Reinforces India’s path towards Atmanirbhar Bharat in defense tech.

Solution: b)

• BatEchoMon’s core innovation is its AI-powered acoustic monitoring of bat echolocation calls in real-time. Developed by the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS), it uses a convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithm running on a Raspberry Pi processor to record, analyze, and classify bat sounds.
• These sounds—ultrasonic echolocation pulses—are species-specific, enabling identification and ecological tracking.
• It also generates spectrograms for visual analysis and supports solar-powered, autonomous field deployment.
• Options (a), (c), and (d) either misrepresent the species (bats, not birds), sensor type (ultrasound vs infrared), or intended purpose (bioacoustics, not motion tracking).

• What is BatEchoMon?
  • Definition: BatEchoMon (Bat Echolocation Monitoring) is an autonomous, AI-powered acoustic monitoring system that detects, analyses, and classifies bat echolocation calls in real-time.
  • Developed by: Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS), Bengaluru.