UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 26 June 2025

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is incorrect. The DAJA campaign is specifically targeted at tribal communities and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in over one lakh tribal villages and habitations. It is not a universal campaign for all rural villages in India.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. The campaign was launched by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, reflecting its specific focus on tribal welfare and empowerment, not the Ministry of Rural Development.
• Statement 3 is correct. A key feature of the Abhiyan is the integration and convergence of services. It aims to provide last-mile delivery of schemes such as Aadhaar, Ayushman Bharat, PM Kisan, PM Ujjwala, Jan Dhan, and facilitate Forest Rights Act (FRA) claims, all through a single, coordinated effort.

Statement 4 is correct. The campaign explicitly aims to honour the legacy of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, who is reverentially known as ‘Dharti Aaba’ (Father of the Earth).

Solution: C

Statement-I is correct. The Defence Minister has authorised the CDS, in his capacity as the Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), to issue joint instructions and orders. This is a significant move away from the previous system where each service issued its own orders for joint activities, and it is aimed at enhancing synergy and streamlining command flow for inter-service matters.

Statement-II is incorrect. The CDS does not exercise direct military command over the three service chiefs, who retain full operational control of their respective forces. The CDS’s role is to act as the Principal Military Adviser, ensure jointness, and head the DMA. The new power pertains to issuing joint instructions for synergy and administrative efficiency in tri-service matters, not assuming direct command, which remains with the individual chiefs.

Solution: D

Statement 1 is correct. A unique and defining feature of Indian coffee is that 100% of it is shade-grown. It is cultivated under a diverse canopy of over 50 types of trees, which contributes to its mild acidity, full-bodied flavour, and distinct aroma, setting it apart from sun-grown coffee from other regions.

Statement 2 is incorrect. While Karnataka is the largest producer, contributing approximately 70% of India’s coffee, the second-largest producer is Kerala, not Andhra Pradesh. Tamil Nadu is the third-largest producer.

Statement 3 is correct. The shade-grown cultivation method makes Indian coffee plantations a model of high biodiversity. These plantations are not monocultures; they are often integrated ecosystems where various spices such as pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, and vanilla are grown alongside the coffee plants. This practice contributes to both the unique flavour profile of the coffee and the economic sustainability of the farms.

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is incorrect. The PMML is an autonomous institution governed by the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library Society, which operates under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture, not the Prime Minister’s Office. Its governance structure is distinct from the executive office of the PM.
• Statement 2 is correct. The PMML is located at the historic Teen Murti House. This estate served as the official residence of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, from 1948 until his death in 1964, after which it was converted into a museum and library dedicated to his memory, and later expanded to include all Prime Ministers.

Statement 3 is incorrect. While it was originally established as the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library with a focus on Jawaharlal Nehru, its objective has been broadened. It is now dedicated to scholarly research on modern and contemporary Indian history and governance, with a scope that encompasses the lives and contributions of all Prime Ministers of India, not just Nehru.

Solution: A

Statement-I is correct. Amid rising security concerns, particularly stemming from the war in Ukraine, NATO members are set to discuss and potentially adopt a new, more ambitious spending target of 5% of their combined GDP on defence and security. This marks a significant increase from the previous 2% target.

Statement-II is also correct. The proposed 5% target is not solely for traditional military expenditure. It has a structured composition: 3.5% of GDP is allocated for core military spending (personnel, equipment), while the remaining 1.5% is designated for broader security investments, including critical areas like cyber defence, protecting energy infrastructure, and enhancing overall national resilience.

Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I because it clarifies the nature and composition of the new 5% target mentioned in Statement-I.

Solution: C

• Statement 1 is correct. The Kosi River is a trans-boundary river. Its headwaters, including the Arun, Sun Kosi, and Tamur rivers, originate in the Himalayas of Tibet (China) and Nepal. The combined stream then flows through Nepal before entering the plains of India.
• Statement 2 is correct. Within India, the Kosi River flows primarily and almost entirely through the state of Bihar, where it has its most significant impact, before merging with the Ganges.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. The Kosi River is a major left-bank tributary of the Ganges River. It joins the Ganges from the north, near Kursela in the Katihar district of Bihar. Right-bank tributaries of the Ganga include the Yamuna and Son.

Statement 4 is correct. The Kosi carries a massive sediment load from the Himalayas, leading to the formation of a large alluvial fan. This causes its channel to be highly braided and to shift its course frequently and unpredictably, resulting in catastrophic floods.

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is correct. The position of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) has two key roles. The CDS heads the newly created Department of Military Affairs (DMA) within the Ministry of Defence, and simultaneously serves as the Principal Military Adviser to the Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister) on all tri-service matters. This dual role is central to the mandate of the CDS.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. The primary objective of creating Integrated Theatre Commands is the opposite of what is stated. It is meant to integrate the capabilities of the three services (Army, Navy, and Air Force) under a single commander for a specific geographical area. The goal is to promote jointness and synergy, building joint war-fighting capabilities, not enhancing their separate or individual capacities.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is incorrect. Quantum 5G FWA is a wireless Its primary advantage is that it provides high-speed, fibre-like internet without the need for physical fibre connections to the premises. It uses 5G radio waves to transmit data from the tower to the Customer Premises Equipment (CPE), making it ideal for areas where laying fibre is difficult or costly.
• Statement 2 is correct. A key feature of this service, aligned with the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative, is its fully indigenous technology stack. The core network, Radio Access Network (RAN), and the CPE have been developed and integrated by Indian vendors, ensuring data sovereignty and technological self-reliance.

Statement 3 is incorrect. The service was soft-launched first in Hyderabad. While there is a roadmap for expansion to other pilot cities like Bengaluru, Pune, and Chandigarh by September 2025, the initial launch was not a simultaneous multi-city rollout.

Solution: C

• Statement I is correct. The Fordow Nuclear Facility is of immense strategic importance and a point of major concern for international bodies and other nations due to its role in Iran’s nuclear activities. Its resilience makes it a difficult target.
• Statement II is also correct and directly explains why Fordow is a critical and challenging target (Statement I). It is not a surface-level facility. It is buried approximately 80 metres deep inside a mountain near the city of Qom. This deep underground construction, reinforced with concrete and rock, combined with extensive and sophisticated air defence systems, makes it highly resistant to conventional military strikes.

Statement III is incorrect. While Iran maintains its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, the Fordow facility is not primarily for civilian power generation research. It has been used for enriching uranium to higher purity levels (up to 60%), which is significantly closer to the weapons-grade threshold (around 90%). This function is what makes it a central element in discussions about Iran’s potential nuclear weapons breakout capability, not its contribution to civilian energy.

Solution: D

• Statement 1 is incorrect. The eligibility for the Digital Payments Award is broad and not exclusive. It is open to a wide range of financial service providers, including banks, payments banks, fintech companies, and other institutions that are actively promoting digital payments in India.
• Statement 2 is correct. The award’s objective goes beyond just transaction volumes. It aims to honor organizations that are building a holistic and sustainable digital ecosystem. This includes promoting financial literacy to onboard new users, ensuring the security of transactions to build trust, and enhancing the accessibility of digital payment services.
• Statement 3 is correct. The evaluation criteria for the award are comprehensive. Entities are assessed based on a performance index which quantitatively measures their contribution. Key parameters include the level of innovation in their products or delivery channels and the effectiveness of their outreach efforts, especially in underserved regions, to ensure inclusive growth.