UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 13 September 2025

Solution: D

• The ‘Samudra Pradakshina’ expedition is a significant initiative with multiple objectives, but its primary aim is to be a symbol of ‘Nari Shakti’ (women empowerment) by having an all-women crew from the Army, Navy, and Air Force circumnavigate the globe. This also serves to promote jointness and synergy among the three services.

While it does have diplomatic and scientific research objectives, these are secondary to the main goal of highlighting the capabilities of women in the armed forces and fostering inter-service cooperation.

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is incorrect. The All India Debt and Investment Survey (AIDIS) is a decadal survey, not biennial. It is conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO), MoSPI, although the RBI is a key user of its data.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. The survey covers both rural and urban households to provide a comprehensive picture of household finance across the country. It was expanded to include the urban sector in 1961-62.
• Statement 3 is correct. The AIDIS has its roots in the All India Rural Credit Survey, which was first conducted in 1951-52 to study the credit needs and sources in rural India.

Solution: C

• Statement 1 is correct. Mahatma Gandhi chose Acharya Vinoba Bhave as the first Individual Satyagrahi in 1940 to symbolize the moral and non-violent opposition to British rule.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. The Bhoodan Movement was initiated by Acharya Vinoba Bhave in 1951 at Pochampally village, which is in present-day Telangana (formerly part of Andhra Pradesh), not Maharashtra.
• Statement 3 is correct. He was a prolific writer and translated the Bhagavad Gita into Marathi, which he named ‘Geetai’ (Mother Gita), making it accessible to the common people.
• Statement 4 is correct. He was a firm believer in the Sarvodaya philosophy, which means ‘welfare of all’. This philosophy, also championed by Gandhi, guided his social and reform movements.

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is incorrect. The Border Wing Home Guards (BWHGs) are a voluntary auxiliary force, not a part of the regular Indian Army. They are drawn from the local civilian population living in border areas.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. The cost is shared, with 25% of the cost being borne by the Central Government, and the rest by the State Governments.
• Statement 3 is correct. The BWHGs are considered a ‘force multiplier’ as they augment the presence of regular forces like the Army and ITBP, assist in intelligence gathering, and build a bridge between the local community and security agencies.

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is incorrect. Light-based, or optical, computers use photons (light particles) to process information, not electrons. This is the fundamental difference from conventional electronic computers.
• Statement 2 is correct. Optical computers can handle multiple data streams simultaneously. Different colors of light can represent different signals, enabling a high degree of parallel processing.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. The technology has been practically demonstrated. Researchers have successfully used light pulses in optical fibers to perform AI tasks like image recognition with high accuracy, proving its viability.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is incorrect. The primary cause of land subsidence on the island of Pugad and the surrounding Bulacan province is the over-extraction of groundwater, not tectonic activity.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. The sea-level rise in the Philippines is significantly faster than the global average, at about three times the rate. This exacerbates the problem of land subsidence.
• Statement 3 is correct. Mangrove forests act as a natural barrier against storm surges and coastal erosion. Their removal for aquaculture has left the island more exposed and vulnerable to the impacts of typhoons and floods.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is correct. The Situation Assessment Survey (SAS) is conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO) in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. A key feature of the SAS is that it covers all agricultural households, including landless households that are engaged in farming activities.
• Statement 3 is correct. The data from the SAS is a crucial input for various bodies, including NITI Aayog, the Ministry of Agriculture, research institutions, and banks, for designing and evaluating policies related to agriculture and rural development.

Solution: C

The Bhoodan Movement was a unique land reform movement that was based on the principle of voluntary land donation. Acharya Vinoba Bhave walked across the country, appealing to landlords to donate a portion of their land to be redistributed among the landless. The movement collected millions of acres of land through these voluntary gifts. While it contributed to the discourse on land reform, it was distinct from legislative actions like the abolition of the Zamindari system.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is correct. The Border Wing Home Guards were raised under the provisions of the Home Guards Act, 1962.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. Although seven states are authorized to have BWHGs, they are currently operational only in Rajasthan.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. The members are enlisted on a voluntary basis for a tenure of 3–4 years, not on a permanent basis.
• Statement 4 is correct. The BWHGs were instrumental during ‘Operation Sindoor’, where they proved effective in ground-level intelligence gathering and communication.

Solution: D

• Statement 1 is incorrect. The findings are potential biosignatures, not conclusive proof. They suggest the possibility of ancient microbial life, not complex life forms. Further analysis of the samples on Earth is needed for confirmation.
• Statement 2 is correct. The significance of the discovery lies in the combination of evidence. The presence of organic carbon compounds, along with specific minerals and rock textures that on Earth are associated with microbial activity, strengthens the case for a biological origin.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. The discoveries were made in the Jezero Crater, which is believed to have been an ancient lakebed. The presence of past water is a key reason why this area was chosen for exploration, as it would have been a habitable environment.