UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 8 October 2025

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is incorrect. The proposal explicitly states that the ISF will operate outside a United Nations mandate. It is conceived as a multinational force but under a framework led by the United States, representing a non-UN model for stabilization.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. While the plan involves Arab and international partners, the ultimate control and oversight of the ISF will be with the United States, under the supervision of a “Board of Peace” chaired by the U.S. President. It is not managed by a coalition of Arab nations.
• Statement 3 is correct. One of the principal aims of the ISF is to create a secure environment that allows for the phased withdrawal of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). The ISF would assume responsibility for law and order and security in areas vacated by the IDF, thereby preventing a power vacuum and the re-emergence of armed groups. This function is central to the de-escalation and transition process outlined in the plan.

Solution: D

• The primary objective of the “Trade Watch Quarterly” report is to serve as an analytical tool. It provides a detailed, evidence-based assessment of India’s trade performance, covering merchandise and services, on a quarterly basis. The report analyzes trends, identifies sectoral challenges, and examines export competitiveness. This information is intended to guide policy interventions by the government to strengthen manufacturing, boost exports, and improve India’s integration into global value chains. It is a diagnostic and advisory publication, not a regulatory or executive one.
• Option (a) is incorrect as target-setting is a function of executive ministries.
• Option (b) is incorrect as regulating foreign exchange is the domain of the Reserve Bank of India.
• Option (c) is incorrect as trade negotiations are conducted by the Ministry of Commerce.

Solution: D

• Project Sloth Bear: This is the first-ever national conservation framework for sloth bears, addressing threats like habitat loss and poaching. This matches with description 3.
• Project Gharial: This project aims to strengthen the recovery of the critically endangered gharial, a reptile found in river ecosystems like the Chambal and Gandak. This matches with description 4.
• Project Dolphin (Phase II): This initiative focuses on the conservation of river and marine cetaceans, which includes aquatic mammals like the Ganga River Dolphin. This matches with description 1.
• TOTR Project: The Tigers Outside Tiger Reserves project is specifically designed to manage tigers that move into human-dominated landscapes, aiming to reduce human-tiger conflict. This matches with description 2.

Solution: C

• The most significant strategic concern for India stems from Pasni’s geographical location. The port is situated very close to the India-backed Chabahar Port in Iran (≈300 km). The development of Pasni with US involvement could introduce a new strategic player in India’s immediate maritime vicinity. This could potentially affect the operational dynamics of Chabahar, which is crucial for India’s connectivity to Afghanistan and Central Asia.
• Furthermore, a new, technologically advanced port so close to India’s western seaboard could have implications for maritime surveillance, logistics, and intelligence gathering in the Arabian Sea.

Solution: B

• The core significance of the FOXP3 gene discovery lies in its role as a master regulator or “switch”. Research on “scurfy” mice demonstrated that a single faulty FOXP3 gene was responsible for their severe autoimmune diseases. This established that FOXP3 is the critical factor that instructs a conventional T cell to become a regulatory T cell (Treg). Without a functional FOXP3 gene, Tregs cannot be formed, leading to a breakdown of peripheral immune tolerance (the body’s ability to tolerate its own tissues).

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is incorrect. The “Trade Watch Quarterly” is a flagship analytical publication solely from NITI Aayog. While it analyzes trade data, it is not a collaborative effort with the Reserve Bank of India, which has its own publications and mandate related to foreign exchange management.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. While imports from China did surge, the report specifies that this was due to higher demand for electronics and machinery, not agricultural products and textiles.
• Statement 3 is correct. The report explicitly states that services exports reached a record $387.5 billion. This highlights a strong performance and robust growth in the services sector, which is a major contributor to India’s overall trade. Key drivers included IT, aviation, and financial services.

Solution: B

• The primary role of the Centre of Excellence for Human–Wildlife Conflict Management is to function as a specialized research and policy hub. Its mandate is to focus on developing scientific and data-driven solutions to mitigate conflict.
• This includes creating AI-based conflict prediction models, designing effective field-based mitigation tools, and providing capacity-building for forest officials and communities. It is an institution focused on research, strategy, and policy development rather than direct management activities like animal relocation (c), sample storage (a), or veterinary certification (d).
• Its purpose is to provide the knowledge and tools needed by on-ground managers to better handle human-wildlife interactions.

Solution: C

• Statement I is correct. The Kokrajhar–Gelephu Special Railway Project (SRP) is a historic initiative that aims to provide Bhutan with its first-ever railway connectivity. This cross-border project will connect Kokrajhar in Assam, India, with Gelephu in Bhutan.
• Statement II is correct and it explains Statement I. The project is being implemented by the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) and is supported by the Government of India. It is a key component of India’s ‘Act East Policy’, which aims to enhance connectivity and integration with its eastern neighbors. The implementation by an Indian railway zone and its alignment with a major foreign policy initiative explain how the project is being realized.
• Statement III is incorrect. The project is supported by the Government of India and is being implemented by an Indian agency. The estimated cost of approximately ₹3,500 crore is being borne by India, not solely by Bhutan. This project is a reflection of the strong bilateral ties between the two countries.

Solution: B

• The Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve is a significant high-altitude ecosystem in India.
• Statement 1 is incorrect as the reserve is located in the Lahaul-Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, not Ladakh. It lies within the Trans-Himalayan region, which is characterized by its arid conditions and extreme temperatures.
• Statement 2 is correct; with its inclusion in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) in 2025, it became India’s first high-altitude cold desert site to receive this global recognition, highlighting its unique biodiversity and cultural heritage.
• Statement 3 is also correct. The biosphere reserve is an amalgamation of several protected areas, including the Pin Valley National Park, Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Chandratal Wetland, creating a large, contiguous conservation landscape. This integrated approach helps in balancing biodiversity conservation with the traditional livelihoods of the local communities, such as pastoralism and the practice of Sowa Rigpa medicine.

Solution: A

• India has been actively expanding its network of wetlands of international importance.
• Statement I is correct as Gokul Jalashay in Buxar and Udaipur Jheel in West Champaran have been designated as Ramsar sites. These sites are crucial for their ecological roles, including flood mitigation and providing habitat for numerous bird species.
• Statement II is also correct; both these newly designated wetlands are located in Bihar, adding to the state’s recognized ecologically significant areas.
• However, Statement III is incorrect. While these additions increase Bihar’s tally of Ramsar sites to five, it does not have the highest number in India. As of 2025, India has 93 Ramsar sites, with the United Kingdom (176) and Mexico (144) having more globally. As of 2025, Tamil Nadu has the highest number of Ramsar sites in India, with 16 wetlands designated under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The increase in Ramsar sites reflects a growing commitment to the conservation and wise use of wetlands, which are vital for biodiversity and human well-being.