UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 30 September 2025

Solution: B

Statements 1 and 2 are correct. The deep-winter heatwave in Antarctica could lead to a reduction in the Antarctic Ice Sheet, raising global sea levels, and might disrupt the global ocean circulation system, which plays a crucial role in regulating climate.

Statement 3 is incorrect because the heatwave is associated with a weakening, not strengthening, of the polar vortex.

Solution: B

The Maneka Gandhi vs. Union of India case expanded the interpretation of Article 21, which initially only protected against the deprivation of life and personal liberty, to include the right to live with dignity, ensuring that any law affecting this right must be fair, just, and reasonable.

Solution: A

India is unique in producing all five major types of commercially important silk, which are derived from different species of silkworms. These types include Mulberry, Oak Tasar, Tropical Tasar, Muga, and Eri.

Among these, Mulberry silk is cultivated, while the others, known as vanya silks, are wild silks.

Solution: B

Statement 1 is correct as an extraordinary event that poses a public health risk to other states through the international spread of disease is a key criterion for declaring a PHEIC.

Statement 3 is also correct because a PHEIC may require a coordinated international response.

Statement 2 is incorrect because a high fatality rate is not a necessary criterion for declaring a PHEIC.

Solution: B

Only Statement 2 is correct.

• “Super Blue Moon“ combines two rare phenomena: a “blue moon” and a “super moon.”
• Blue Moon: Contrary to what the term suggests, a blue moon isn’t necessarily blue in color. It refers to a second full moon within a single calendar month, or, less commonly, the third full moon in a season with four full moons.This phenomenon happens every two or three years.
• Super Moon: This occurs when a full moon is at its closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit, known as perigee.This proximity makes the moon appear about 14% larger and 30% brighter compared to when it’s at its farthest point, or apogee.
• While the term “blue moon” might imply a rare occurrence, the sighting of a supermoon and blue moon together is indeed rare.

Solution: C

• Prokaryotes, including bacteria and archaea, play a fundamental role in marine ecosystems by facilitating nutrient cycling, carbon fixation, and decomposition. They form the base of the microbial food web, supporting marine food chains by serving as primary producers (through processes like chemosynthesis and nitrogen fixation) and decomposers (breaking down organic matter).
• Prokaryotes drive major biogeochemical cycles, including the carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles, regulating ocean chemistry and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
• They act as primary decomposers, breaking down organic matter and recycling nutrients for higher trophic levels.
• As ocean temperatures rise, marine biodiversity is expected to decline, but prokaryotes may show resilience due to their adaptability, potentially increasing their dominance in marine ecosystems.

Solution: C

Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction. It can happen seconds or minutes after you’ve been exposed to something you’re allergic to.

• Peanuts or bee stings are examples.

In anaphylaxis, the immune system releases a flood of chemicals that can cause the body to go into shock.

Solution: A

Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) are key community health workers under the National Health Mission (NHM), playing a crucial role in last-mile healthcare delivery.

• Statement 1 is correct: ASHAs are selected from within their local communities to foster better trust and communication with the people they serve. Their familiarity with the region, culture, and language enhances their effectiveness in providing healthcare support, spreading awareness, and mobilizing communities for health initiatives.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: ASHAs do not receive a fixed salary but are paid through performance-based incentives. These incentives are provided for services such as promoting institutional deliveries, ensuring child immunization, and encouraging family planning measures.
• Statement 3 is correct: ASHAs play a significant role in disease surveillance and outbreak prevention by identifying early symptoms of infectious diseases, reporting cases to health authorities, and assisting in vaccination drives and community health programs. Their grassroots-level engagement helps in controlling disease spread effectively.

Solution: A

The UNESCO Tentative List is an essential step in the process of getting a site inscribed as a World Heritage Site. Each country submits its list of potential sites, which may later be nominated for official recognition.

• Statement 1 is incorrect: A site does not have to be owned by the national government to be included in the Tentative List. It can be privately owned or managed by local or state governments, as long as it holds cultural or natural significance and meets the eligibility criteria.
• Statement 2 is correct: Countries can modify their Tentative List over time by adding or removing sites based on new findings, conservation priorities, or changes in site conditions. This flexibility allows them to refine their nominations.
• Statement 3 is correct: The World Heritage Committee of UNESCO is responsible for evaluating nominations and making the final decision on whether a site gets inscribed as a World Heritage Site.
• Statement 4 is incorrect: Being on the Tentative List does not guarantee UNESCO funding. While inclusion is a prerequisite for nomination, financial assistance for conservation depends on additional approvals, grant applications, and UNESCO’s World Heritage Fund allocations.

Solution: C

Chausath Yogini Temples are significant Hindu temples associated with Tantric worship, known for their unique architectural and religious aspects.

• Statement 1 is incorrect: Unlike most traditional Hindu temples, Chausath Yogini temples follow a circular architectural layout rather than a linear one. The circular design is believed to facilitate tantric rituals and meditation, with the central deity often placed in the middle. Examples include the Chausath Yogini temples at Mitawali (Madhya Pradesh) and Hirapur (Odisha).
• Statement 2 is incorrect: These temples are dedicated to the 64 Yoginis, who are considered fierce manifestations of the Goddess Shakti in Hinduism. There is no direct connection to Buddhist deities or Mahayana Buddhism, as the Yogini cult is firmly rooted in Tantric Hindu traditions.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: The Chausath Yogini temples were primarily built between the 9th and 12th centuries during the Kalachuri and Chandela dynasties, mostly in North and Central India. The Chola dynasty, which ruled in South India, did not construct these temples.