UPSC Editorials Quiz : 30 June 2025

Solution: D

‘Operation Bihali’ was a counter-terrorism operation launched in the Basantgarh area of Udhampur district in Jammu & Kashmir. It was a joint effort by the Indian Army’s Para Commandos and the Jammu & Kashmir Police, operating under the command of the White Knight Corps. The specific objective was to track and neutralize a group of four terrorists belonging to the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) outfit.

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is correct. Orographic lifting is a primary condition favouring cloudbursts. This occurs when moisture-laden winds encounter steep mountainous terrain, forcing the air to ascend rapidly, cool, and form large cumulonimbus clouds.
• Statement 2 is correct. Condensation of water vapor releases a significant amount of energy in the form of latent heat. High latent heat release is a key factor, as it warms the surrounding air, making it more buoyant and further enhancing the vertical development of clouds and the intensity of precipitation.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. The Clausius-Clapeyron law implies that warmer air can hold more moisture, not less. A 1°C rise in temperature allows the air to hold about 7% more moisture, which intensifies potential rainfall, not decrease it.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is correct. RUPPs are political entities that are duly registered with the Election Commission of India under the provisions of Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. This registration is the first step for any political association to be recognized as a political party.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. One of the defining features of RUPPs is that they can exist without electoral participation. They can receive donations even without electoral participation. While they are supposed to file mandatory financial disclosures, most do not, which is a compliance issue rather than a condition for their existence as an RUPP.

Statement 3 is correct. RUPPs enjoy certain privileges, one of the most significant being exemption from income tax on their income. They are also permitted to receive political donations from individuals, companies, or other entities, which contributes to their financial operations. The combination of tax exemption and the ability to accept donations without the obligation to contest elections makes this a unique category of political entities.

Solution: A

• Statement-I is correct. According to the Election Commission’s criteria, a party automatically qualifies for recognition as a National Party if it is recognized as a State Party in four or more states. This is one of the three alternative conditions for a party to achieve national status. The other two conditions relate to securing a certain percentage of votes and seats in Lok Sabha or Assembly elections across multiple states.
• Statement-II is also correct. The rationale behind the criterion mentioned in Statement-I is that being recognized as a State Party in four states demonstrates a substantial presence and political influence beyond a single state. It signifies that the party’s ideology and support base are not confined to a specific region, thereby giving it a national character. This widespread influence is the core principle underpinning its elevation to a National Party status.
• Statement-II provides the correct explanation for Statement-I.

Solution: C

• Statement 1 is correct. The definition of CRVS is the continuous, permanent, universal, and compulsory recording of key life events. This process is not optional but is established and governed by the legal frameworks of a country.
• Statement 2 is correct. The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) is the lead organization. The overarching goal is to ensure everyone has a legal identity from birth to death, which directly corresponds to SDG Target 16.9 (“By 2030, provide legal identity for all, including birth registration”).
• Statement 3 is incorrect. While the CRVS system has an inclusive approach that specifically aims to cover marginalised populations, it is not exclusively for them. The system is universal, meaning it is intended for every single individual in the population, regardless of their social or economic status.
• Statement 4 is correct. Modernisation of CRVS heavily relies on digital technology. The adoption of online portals, DigiLocker, and AI tools is to make the registration process more efficient, secure, and user-friendly, and to improve data governance.