UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 20 September 2025

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is correct: The initiative is led by the Department of Fisheries and is a key component supported by the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). It also receives technical backing from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), highlighting a collaborative approach to fisheries development.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: The framework has a much broader scope than just ecological protection. While it includes eco-friendly infrastructure, it equally emphasizes Smart Technology Integration (like IoT, AI, 5G), operational efficiency through digital platforms, and social inclusion with safer, women-friendly infrastructure. Its focus is holistic, covering economic, social, and environmental dimensions.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: The pilot phase is targeted and specific, not encompassing all major ports. It has been initiated at three select fishing harbours: Vanakbara (Diu), Jakhau (Gujarat), and Karaikal (Puducherry) to test and refine the model before potential expansion.

Solution: A

Mawmluh Cave, located in Meghalaya, holds a unique and globally recognized position in Earth’s geological history.

• Option (a) is the correct answer. The cave is designated as the Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the Meghalayan Age, which is the most recent subdivision of the Holocene Epoch, starting about 4,200 years ago. A GSSP is a reference point agreed upon by the international scientific community to define the lower boundary of a stage on the geologic time scale.
• Option (b) describes the Deccan Traps in Maharashtra.
• Option (c) refers to the Natural Heritage of Tirumala Hills, which is known for the Eparchaean Unconformity.
• Option (d) is characteristic of St. Mary’s Island Cluster in Karnataka. This question tests the precise geological importance associated with each nominated site.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is correct: The Yellow-Crested Cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea) is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Its native range is endemic to Indonesia and Timor-Leste, where it inhabits tropical forests and woodlands.
• Statement 2 is correct: This species exhibits distinct social behaviours. It is highly gregarious, often seen in noisy flocks. Furthermore, it is known to form strong pair-bonds, which are typically lifelong and monogamous, a common trait among many cockatoo species.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: The Yellow-Crested Cockatoo is a mostly sedentary species. While it may undertake minor local movements to find food, water, or nesting sites, it does not engage in long-distance annual migrations. It typically remains within an established home range throughout the year.

Solution: C

• Statement 1 is correct: The summit is a major initiative organised by the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), positioning India as a global leader in responsible AI.
• Statement 2 is correct: The summit’s vision is framed around three core guiding principles or ‘Three Sutras’: People (human dignity and inclusion), Planet (sustainability), and Progress (democratised resources and equitable benefits).
• Statement 3 is correct: Among its flagship initiatives, the summit features the ‘AI by HER’ challenge, which is specifically designed to encourage and showcase innovations in artificial intelligence led by women.

Solution: C

• Erra Matti Dibbalu is located in Andhra Pradesh (B). These are red sand dunes (ii) that are of significant geological interest as they preserve evidence of past climatic conditions and coastal geomorphological processes. So, 1-B-(ii) is a correct match.
• The Naga Hill Ophiolite is situated in Nagaland (A). An ophiolite is a section of the Earth’s oceanic crust and the underlying upper mantle that has been uplifted and exposed on land. This makes it crucial for studying plate tectonics. Thus, (iii) Uplifted oceanic crust is its key feature. So, 2-A-(iii) is a correct match.
• The Varkala Cliffs are located in Kerala (C). These are spectacular coastal cliffs that expose the Warkalli Formation (i), a sedimentary geological formation, and are also known for their natural springs. So, 3-C-(i) is a correct match.

Solution: D

• Statement 1 is incorrect: El Niño involves the unusual warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, not the western Pacific. The warm water pool shifts eastwards from its normal position near Indonesia.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: A defining characteristic of El Niño is the weakening, or even reversal, of the easterly trade winds. It is this weakening that allows the warm surface water to shift from the western Pacific towards South America. Stronger trade winds are characteristic of the opposite phase, La Niña.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: El Niño suppresses the upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water off the coast of South America. The eastward shift of warm surface water deepens the thermocline (the boundary between warm surface water and cold deep water), preventing the colder water from reaching the surface. This has devastating impacts on local fisheries.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is correct: The summit is highlighted as the first of its kind hosted by a Global South nation, which positions India as a thought leader in shaping a global vision for responsible and inclusive AI adoption beyond the developed world.
• Statement 2 is correct: A major deliverable of the summit is the launch of 8 Indigenous Foundational AI Models. These models are tailored for critical sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, governance, industry, and multilingual applications, showcasing India’s capabilities in building core AI technologies.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: The IndiaAI Fellowship Programme has been significantly expanded, but it is not restricted to higher-level researchers. The program now covers 13,500 scholars across undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG), and PhD levels, aiming to create a broad and robust talent pipeline across various disciplines, not just elite research.

Solution: D

• Option (d) accurately reflects the study’s conclusion. It confirms the long-understood correlation that El Niño generally suppresses the overall quantum of Southwest monsoon rainfall, often leading to drought-like conditions. However, it adds a critical new insight: despite the overall deficit, the probability of extreme daily rainfall events significantly increases (by nearly 50%), particularly across central India. This paradox—less total rain but more intense downpours—raises new challenges for flood and disaster management.
• Option (a) is incorrect because the impact is not uniform.
• Option (b) is incorrect as El Niño generally reduces, not increases, overall rainfall.
• Option (c) is incorrect because it is associated with erratic, not even, distribution.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is correct: The Global Innovation Index is a flagship annual publication launched by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), in collaboration with other partners.
• Statement 2 is correct: The GII’s methodology is built upon a robust conceptual framework that balances two sub-indices. ‘Innovation Inputs’ measure elements of the national economy that enable innovative activities (e.g., Institutions, Human Capital, Infrastructure). ‘Innovation Outputs’ capture the actual results of innovative activities (e.g., Knowledge & Technology Outputs, Creative Outputs).
• Statement 3 is incorrect: The report identifies the top three innovative nations for 2025 as Switzerland (1st), Sweden (2nd), and the United States (3rd). China, while a strong performer and consistently rising in ranks, was not in the top three for this edition.

Solution: D

• Statement 1 is incorrect because voters (MPs) are permitted to mark their preferences on the ballot paper using international numerals, Roman numerals, or the numerals used in any Indian script. The preference cannot be written out in words (e.g., “one”).
• Statement 2 is incorrect. The election follows the single transferable vote system, which requires the winning candidate to secure a specific quota of votes, calculated as [(Total Valid Votes Cast) / 2] + 1. If no candidate secures this quota with first-preference votes, a process of vote transfer begins where the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their votes are redistributed according to the next preference marked. Securing a simple plurality of first-preference votes is not sufficient to win.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. The Electoral College for the Vice-Presidential election consists only of the members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Unlike the Presidential election, members of State Legislative Assemblies have no role in this process.