UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 30 June 2025

Solution: C

• Statement 1 is correct: The Kolhapuri chappal was granted a GI tag in 2019. Importantly, this registration is not limited to Kolhapur district in Maharashtra but is a joint tag covering artisans in several districts of both Maharashtra and Karnataka, including Belgaum, Bagalkot, and Dharwad, acknowledging the craft’s regional spread.
• Statement 2 is correct: The uniqueness of the Kolhapuri chappal lies in its traditional, eco-friendly production method. It is crafted using vegetable-tanned buffalo hide, which makes it biodegradable. A defining feature is that the pieces are stitched and braided together, and the entire footwear is made without the use of any nails, which contributes to its flexibility and comfort.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: This statement highlights a critical limitation of IP laws concerning community crafts. The GI protection primarily safeguards against the misuse of the registered name (e.g., marketing a product as “Kolhapuri” when it’s not from the designated region). It does not automatically permit monetary claims for design imitation if the protected name is not used. As seen in the Prada issue, since the brand did not use the term “Kolhapuri,” infringement claims under the current GI framework are weak.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is incorrect: The primary objective of the Sugamya Bharat App is not job applications. Its main purpose is to make India more accessible for Persons with Disabilities and the elderly. It functions as a crowdsourcing platform where users can report accessibility-related issues in infrastructure, transport, and ICT systems, thereby fostering an inclusive environment.
• Statement 2 is correct: The app was launched by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. A key feature is its reliance on citizen participation (Jan-Bhagidari), where users can report barriers, effectively crowdsourcing data on inaccessibility across the country as part of the Accessible India Campaign.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: The app features a comprehensive complaint redressal system. Users can upload geo-tagged photos to report issues, and the system allows for tracking the status of these complaints. A high resolution rate (1,897 out of 2,705 complaints resolved by June 2025), indicates that the mechanism includes resolution and not just flagging.

Solution: A

• Statement-I is correct: India has officially gone on record to reject the “supplemental award” issued by the Court of Arbitration (COA). India’s position is that this award has no legal standing and is not binding, as it emanates from a body whose very formation is contested.
• Statement-II is correct: The fundamental reason for India’s rejection lies in its stance on the court’s legitimacy. India maintains that the Court of Arbitration was “illegally constituted”. This is because it was formed unilaterally at Pakistan’s behest, bypassing the graded mechanism of dispute resolution outlined in the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). The IWT requires mutual agreement for such a court to be formed under Annexure G.
• Statement-II provides the direct and primary explanation for Statement-I.

Solution: D

• Statement 1 is incorrect: The Dhole (Cuon alpinus) is classified as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List, not ‘Vulnerable’. This higher threat category reflects its declining population due to habitat loss, prey depletion, and disease.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: The distribution of dholes in India is not limited to just two locations. While they are found in the Western Ghats and have reappeared in the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Landscape, their habitat also includes the Eastern Ghats, parts of central India, and the northeast, indicating a wider, albeit fragmented, distribution.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: Dhole packs are known to be matriarchal, meaning they are typically led by a dominant female, not a male. While they are highly coordinated and effective hunters, this detail about their social structure is a key characteristic of the species. They are vital for maintaining ecological balance by regulating prey populations.

Solution: C

‘Operation Deep Manifest’ was a targeted enforcement operation conducted by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). The primary objective of this operation was to identify and dismantle sophisticated smuggling networks. These networks were attempting to circumvent India’s import ban on Pakistani goods, which was imposed for security and political reasons.

The operation successfully intercepted dozens of containers where goods originating from Pakistan were being falsely declared as originating from other countries, such as the UAE, and routed through third-country ports like Dubai’s Jebel Ali. The operation highlighted the use of data analytics and intelligence by the DRI to protect India’s economic security and enforce its trade policies.

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is incorrect: The Ratle Hydroelectric Project is indeed a run-of-the-river project, but it is situated on the Chenab River in the Kishtwar district, not the Jhelum river.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: The Kishenganga Hydroelectric Project diverts water from the Kishenganga River (a tributary of the Jhelum). However, the water is diverted into the Jhelum basin (specifically to Bonar Nallah, another tributary of Jhelum) to maximize the hydraulic head for power generation. It is not diverted to the Chenab basin.
• Statement 3 is correct: Both projects are located in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The Ratle project is in the Kishtwar district, and the Kishenganga project is in the Bandipora district. Their location in this sensitive region underlines their strategic importance for energy security and regional development.

Solution: A

• Statement I is a factual premise about India’s stated position. India has indicated that it might suspend the IWT, linking this to what it considers Pakistan’s failure to prevent cross-border terrorism, which India views as a breach of mutual trust and obligations.
• Statement II is correct and directly relates to Statement I. The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (Article 60) is the primary international legal instrument that codifies the principle of responding to a breach. It explicitly allows a party to invoke the material breach of a treaty by another party as a ground for suspending its operation. This is the legal basis India cites for its position. Therefore, Statement II correctly explains the legal foundation for the action mentioned in Statement I.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is incorrect: Litchi is native to Southern China, not the Indian subcontinent. Furthermore, its ideal agro-climatic condition is not uniformly tropical; it specifically requires dry, cool winters for successful flowering, followed by warmer temperatures for fruit growth. Continuous high humidity is not ideal.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: Bihar is the largest producer of litchi in India in terms of total output (~221.7 thousand MT). West Bengal is noted for its high productivity (output per hectare), but not for being the largest producer overall. Punjab is also a significant producer but not the leader in either category mentioned in the statement.
• Statement 3 is correct: Government initiatives like the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme are designed to promote products with specific regional identities. This initiative plays a role in promoting litchi from areas like Pathankot (Punjab), helping farmers by creating export opportunities and connecting them with global markets, as seen in the consignment to Qatar.
• Statement 4 is correct: Litchi is a highly perishable fruit. To export it while preserving its quality and freshness, specialized logistics are essential. The use of reefer pallets (refrigerated pallets) is a standard practice in the cold chain to maintain a controlled temperature during transit, which is crucial for high-value horticultural exports.

Solution: D

The Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Landscape (KKAL) is a vast, continuous forest patch crucial for the long-term survival of many species in Northeast India.

• 1. Kaziranga National Park: This is the core and most famous component of the landscape, lying to the north of the Karbi Anglong hills.
• 2. Ntanki National Park: The KKAL provides linkages to several protected areas, including Ntanki National Park, which is located in Nagaland. This highlights the trans-state nature of this ecological corridor.
• 3. Brahmaputra River: The landscape is explicitly described as lying to the south of the Brahmaputra River. The river forms the northern boundary of Kaziranga, making it a defining geographical feature of the entire landscape.
• 4. Pakke Tiger Reserve: Pakke Tiger Reserve (in Arunachal Pradesh) is one of the protected areas to which the KKAL is linked, facilitating genetic exchange and movement of animals like tigers and elephants.

Solution: D

• Statement 1 is incorrect: The IWT provides a graded, three-tier mechanism for dispute resolution. The first step involves raising the issue at the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC). If the PIC cannot resolve the “question,” it can be taken to a ‘Neutral Expert’. The Court of Arbitration is the final and third step in the process, meant for resolving “disputes” rather than “questions,” and its formation has strict procedural requirements. It is not the first step.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: The IWT allocates the waters of the Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan. India is permitted certain uses, including domestic, non-consumptive, and agricultural use, and importantly, for run-of-the-river hydroelectric projects. However, these uses are subject to strict conditions and limitations on design and storage capacity to ensure unrestricted flow to Pakistan. The use is not unconditional.