UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 6 August 2025

Solution: C

• Statement 1 is incorrect as the Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) City Index 2025 is published by the market research firm Counterpoint Research, not the World Economic Forum.
• Statement 2 is correct; Bengaluru secured the 26th rank, making it the only Indian city in the top 30 and highlighting its position as a leading hub for AI research and development and data centers in the country.

Statement 3 is also correct as the index’s objective is to identify and rank leading global urban centers by evaluating their capabilities across various parameters, including R&D ecosystems, investment inflows, public-private partnerships, and the application of AI in different sectors.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is incorrect as the festival was hosted in New Delhi, India, at Bharat Mandapam.
• Statement 2 is correct; the theme was indeed “SaptaSur: Seven Nations, One Melody”, which aptly captures the spirit of unity in diversity among the seven BIMSTEC nations.
• Statement 3 is incorrect because the festival was organized by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) under the Ministry of External Affairs, not the Ministry of Culture.

Statement 4 is correct; the festival was an implementation of a commitment made by the Prime Minister of India at the BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand in April 2025.

Solution: D

• The LEAP-1 (Launch, Experiment, Analyze, Progress) mission by Dhruva Space is a commercial satellite mission with specific technological and business objectives. Its primary goal is not a lunar mission, rural communication, or deep-space observation. Instead, it is focused on demonstrating cutting-edge capabilities like real-time geospatial AI processing in orbit.

This involves testing an AI/ML module that can analyze data directly in space. Additionally, the mission serves to showcase Dhruva Space’s P-30 satellite platform as a viable and cost-effective option for carrying hosted payloads for international clients, thereby paving the way for future commercial ventures in the space sector.

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is incorrect. The Asian Giant Tortoise (Manouria emys) is listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List due to severe threats from habitat loss and hunting.
• Statement 2 is correct. This species exhibits a unique reproductive behavior among tortoises; the female constructs a large nest mound from leaf litter and other forest debris and is known to guard it, which is a rare form of parental care in the tortoise world.

Statement 3 is incorrect. The Asian Giant Tortoise is listed under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, not Schedule I. Schedule I provides the highest level of protection, which is not accorded to this species, although it is critically endangered globally.

Solution: C

• Restitutionary damages are fundamentally restorative, not punitive. The key feature highlighted by the Supreme Court is their preventive and precautionary Unlike fines that punish past violations, these damages can be imposed ex-ante (beforehand) based on the risk or likelihood of environmental harm. This aligns with the precautionary principle, a cornerstone of environmental jurisprudence.
• The Supreme Court has empowered Pollution Control Boards to impose these damages under the Water and Air Acts, not just the National Green Tribunal.
• They are not a tax but a direct financial liability on a potential polluter to fund the restoration or protection of the environment, based on the ‘polluter pays’ principle.

Solution: A

• Statement I correctly identifies the naval exercise as an application of the ‘Necklace of Diamonds’ strategy. This exercise represents a practical step in building stronger maritime partnerships with key countries in the region.

Statement II accurately defines the ‘Necklace of Diamonds’ strategy as India’s strategic initiative to enhance its maritime presence and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific to counterbalance China’s growing influence, often referred to as the ‘String of Pearls’ strategy. The joint naval drill with the Philippines perfectly aligns with this strategic objective of fostering security cooperation with like-minded nations in China’s maritime periphery.

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is correct. The festival featured participation from artists from all seven BIMSTEC member nations: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. The festival’s origin is traced back to a commitment made by the Indian Prime Minister at the April 2025 BIMSTEC Summit, not a specific anniversary.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. The event was free and open to all, with no entry fee. The goal was to maximize public engagement and cultural outreach, not to generate revenue.

Solution: B

• Statement I is correct. The key partners involved in the conservation project: the state’s forest department and a specialized conservation organization, the ITCP.
• Statement II is also correct. The reintroduction site is the Zeliang Community Reserve. This choice of location underscores the strategy of involving local communities in conservation, which is often crucial for the long-term success of such initiatives.
• However, Statement II does not explain why the joint initiative was formed.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is incorrect. The South China Sea is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, not the Indian Ocean.
• Statement 2 is correct. The Mekong River, along with others like the Pearl River and the Red River, drains into the South China Sea, contributing significant freshwater and sediment.
• Statement 3 is correct. These nations, along with Taiwan and Indonesia, are the littoral states bordering the South China Sea and are involved in the complex territorial claims in the region.
• Statement 4 is incorrect. The South China Sea is connected to the Indian Ocean via the Strait of Malacca, not the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea.

Solution: D

• The core principle of a fiat-collateralised stablecoin is to maintain price stability by pegging its value to a traditional fiat currency, such as the US dollar. To achieve this, the issuer holds reserves of the corresponding fiat currency or highly liquid, low-risk assets equivalent to the value of the stablecoins in circulation.
• This reserve mechanism ensures that for every digital coin issued, there is a corresponding real-world asset held in custody.
• This backing allows users to redeem their stablecoins for the underlying fiat currency, which instills confidence and maintains the 1:1 peg.