UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 1 October 2025

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is incorrect. The arrangement is a voluntary, non-binding mechanism. It is not a formal treaty and operates outside the direct framework of the United Nations. Participating states implement its guidelines through their national laws and policies.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. China is not a member of the Wassenaar Arrangement. Its potential membership has been a topic of discussion but has not materialized. India, however, was admitted as the 42nd participating state in December 2017.
• Statement 3 is correct. The arrangement operates on the principle of consensus. All participating states must agree on any decision, whether it relates to admitting a new member, amending the control lists, or adopting new guidelines. This ensures that the national discretion of each member is respected.
• Statement 4 is correct. Recognizing the growing threat from digital tools, the scope was expanded in 2013 to include intrusion software and other cyber-surveillance tools in its dual-use goods and technologies list, aiming to prevent their misuse.

Solution: D

• Statement-I is incorrect. The apex advisory body on national security is the National Security Council (NSC), which is chaired by the Prime Minister. The National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) is the secretariat that serves the NSC. It acts as the core strategic planning and coordinating body, but the advisory function to the Prime Minister rests with the Council itself. The NSCS provides critical inputs and facilitates the Council’s functioning.
• Statement-II is correct. The National Security Advisor (NSA) is the head of the NSCS and is the chief executive of this body. The NSA also serves as the Secretary to the National Security Council. The position of the NSA has been elevated to the rank of a Cabinet Minister, which grants it considerable influence and the authority to coordinate effectively across various ministries and agencies, access Cabinet papers, and participate in high-level policy formulation. This high rank is crucial for the effective functioning of the national security mechanism.

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is incorrect. Saddle Peak, located on North Andaman Island, is the highest point in the archipelago. However, it is not a volcano. The only confirmed active volcano in India is on Barren Island, and a dormant one is on Narcondam Island, both of which are part of the Andaman island chain but are distinct from Saddle Peak’s geological formation (which is primarily sandstone and limestone).
• Statement 2 is correct. The Onge tribe, residing primarily in Little Andaman, is one of the designated Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in the Andaman Islands. Their population has seen a drastic decline, and they are under special protection due to their unique culture and vulnerability. Other PVTGs in the islands include the Great Andamanese, Jarawas, Sentinelese, and Shompen.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. The Ten Degree Channel is a significant maritime line that separates the Andaman Islands from the Nicobar Islands. The Andaman Islands are separated from Myanmar by the Coco Channel.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is incorrect. Venezuela shares land borders with Colombia to the west, Brazil to the south, and Guyana to the east. It does not share a border with Suriname.
• Statement 2 is correct. The Orinoco River and its tributaries form a vast basin that covers a large part of Venezuela. It flows in a wide arc before forming a large delta and emptying into the Atlantic Ocean, playing a vital role in the country’s ecology and economy.
• Statement 3 is correct. Despite its immense oil wealth, Venezuela has historically relied heavily on hydropower for electricity. The Guri Dam (Simón Bolívar Hydroelectric Plant) on the Caroní River is one of the largest hydroelectric plants in the world and has been the backbone of the nation’s power grid, although the system has faced significant challenges in recent years.

Solution: D

• (a) This is incorrect. A major feature of OALP is that it allows companies to carve out their own blocks and submit an Expression of Interest (EoI) at any time of the year, moving away from the fixed bidding round system.
• (b) This is incorrect. OALP is the opposite of this. It gives companies the freedom to study geological data and nominate any area they find promising for exploration, which is then put up for auction.
• (c) This is incorrect. OALP operates under a revenue-sharing model, not a production-sharing model. Companies bid on the percentage of revenue they are willing to share with the government. This is considered simpler and more transparent than the complex cost-recovery mechanisms of the previous production-sharing contracts.
• (d) This is correct. OALP is part of the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP). A cornerstone of HELP is the provision of a uniform license. This means a single license covers the exploration and production of conventional oil and gas, coal-bed methane, shale gas/oil, and gas hydrates. This provides operational flexibility to companies, as they do not need separate licenses for different hydrocarbons found in a block.

Solution: A

• Assertion (A) is true. The technology is highlighted as being significant for water security in remote, water-stressed, and off-grid regions. Its scalability, low maintenance (due to anti-clogging design), and sustainability make it an ideal solution for coastal villages, island nations, and for deployment during disaster relief operations where infrastructure is compromised.
• Reason (R) is also true. The system’s design emphasizes affordability and sustainability. It is constructed from low-cost, readily available materials like aluminum and fabric. Critically, its thermal process can be driven by renewable energy sources such as solar heat or even industrial waste heat. This independence from a conventional electrical grid is precisely what makes it “off-grid compatible.”
• R is the correct explanation of A.

Solution: C

The core principle of Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT) is to provide flexibility to developing and least-developed countries to help them integrate into the global trading system.

(a) is incorrect. S&DT is the antithesis of uniform policies; it allows for asymmetry in commitments.

(b) is incorrect. S&DT provisions are meant to benefit developing countries, not to be used against them. Developed countries are encouraged to provide preferential market access.

(c) is correct. S&DT provisions grant developing economies greater policy space, longer transition periods to implement their commitments, and technical assistance. This is done to address their structural disadvantages and ensure that trade liberalization supports their domestic development priorities.

(d) is incorrect. While the implementation of S&DT provisions is a subject of ongoing negotiations, the principle itself has not been phased out. It was, in fact, reinforced in the Doha Development Agenda.

Solution: C

• The key to the MiG-21’s extended service life was its remarkable adaptability. While the original 1950s design was simple, the airframe proved robust enough to accommodate numerous upgrades over the decades.
• The most significant of these was the MiG-21 Bison upgrade in the 2000s, which equipped the aging jet with modern avionics, a new radar system, and the capability to fire beyond-visual-range (BVR) missiles like the Derby and Astra. This transformed it from a simple interceptor into a more capable fighter, allowing it to remain relevant in a modernizing air combat environment.

Solution: C

• Statement 1 is correct. The Prayas Neuro Rehabilitation Centre is described as a novel, multi-disciplinary centre that offers holistic care by unifying Ayurveda, Physiotherapy, Yoga, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and modern Paediatrics under a single umbrella, with a focus on paediatric neuro care.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. The centre was launched by the Ministry of Ayush, not the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• Statement 3 is correct. The Prayas Neuro Rehabilitation Centre is hosted at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in Goa, making it a significant addition to the healthcare infrastructure in the region.
• Statement 4 is correct. A key aim of the centre is to create evidence-based solutions by combining the best of traditional knowledge (Ayurveda, Yoga) with modern rehabilitation sciences. This approach seeks to validate and standardize traditional practices for wider acceptance and application.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is correct. The structure of the NSCS is designed to integrate expertise from different domains of national security. It is staffed by three Deputy NSAs, who are typically senior officers from the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) for diplomacy, the Indian Police Service (IPS) for internal security, and the Armed Forces for military matters. This tri-service representation ensures a holistic approach.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. The National Maritime Security Coordinator (NMSC) is a position within the NSCS, not the Ministry of Defence. The NMSC reports to the National Security Advisor. This position was created to ensure seamless coordination between various maritime security stakeholders, including the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, coastal states, and intelligence agencies.
• Statement 3 is correct. Unlike many advisory bodies, the NSCS is not just a think tank. It possesses significant bureaucratic power, including the authority to access all Cabinet papers and generate its own Cabinet notes. This allows the NSCS to actively shape and steer policy discussions and decisions at the highest level of government, making it a pivotal part of the security ecosystem.