UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 20 November 2025

Solution: A

• The National Industrial Classification (NIC) 2025 represents a significant structural update to reflect the evolving nature of the Indian economy.
• Statement-I is correct because the classification has been granularly expanded to explicitly include modern and emerging sectors like cloud services, blockchain, platform-based services, renewable energy, waste management, and AYUSH.
• Statement-II is correct and explains Statement-I. The revision was necessitated by the need to align with global standards, specifically the UN’s International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC) Revision 5. By aligning with ISIC Rev 5, India adopts a framework that recognizes these new technological and service-oriented sectors, thereby explaining why specific new classes for cloud services or blockchain were introduced. The alignment allows for better international comparability and policy design.

Solution: A

The Sentinel-6B is a critical asset for global climate monitoring.

• Statement 1 is incorrect: The mission is not led by ISRO. It is a joint mission involving NASA, NOAA, the European Space Agency (ESA), Eumetsat, and the European Commission, with support from CNES.
• Statement 2 is correct: The satellite features a Radar Altimeter which measures sea-surface height by timing radar pulses, achieving millimetre accuracy. This is essential for tracking sea-level rise.
• Statement 3 is correct: To ensure precision, it carries an Advanced Microwave Radiometer. This instrument corrects errors in altimetry data that occur due to atmospheric water vapour, which can distort radar signals.

The satellite orbits Earth at approximately 2 km/s and is part of the legacy line of Topex-Poseidon and Jason satellites.

Solution: C

The Blackbuck is a species of antelope native to the Indian subcontinent.

• Statement 1 is incorrect: The Blackbuck prefers open short grasslands, semi-desert areas, and agricultural margins. It explicitly avoids dense forests as its primary defense mechanism is speed, which requires open terrain.
• Statement 2 is correct: It is afforded the highest level of protection in India, listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Statement 3 is correct: The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism. Only mature males possess the long, spirally twisted horns and the dark coat; females are generally fawn-colored and hornless.
• Statement 4 is correct: Socially, territorial males mark their exclusive territories using dung middens and secretions from preorbital glands deposited on grass and twigs.

Solution: B

The YUVA AI for ALL initiative is a strategic move to enhance digital literacy.

• Statement 1 is incorrect: The course is completely free, not paid. Furthermore, it is designed for a broad audience (aiming to empower 1 crore Indians), including students, professionals, and curious learners, not just engineering students. It was launched by MeitY (Ministry of Electronics and IT), not the Ministry of Education.
• Statement 2 is correct: A key feature of the course is its focus on democratizing AI literacy by using Indian examples to make the learning relatable and practical for the domestic population.
• Statement 3 is correct: The initiative was launched by MeitY under the IndiaAI Mission, highlighting the government’s focus on creating a future-ready workforce.

Solution: A

NAP-AMR 2.0 (2025–29) is India’s updated response to the AMR crisis.

• Statement 1 is incorrect: The plan is fundamentally multi-sectoral. It is not exclusive to the Health Ministry; it involves a “Whole-of-Government” approach.
• Statement 2 is correct: It is built on the One Health framework, recognizing that AMR is a connected issue involving human health, animals, agriculture, and the environment.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: The plan aims to regulate and reduce misuse/overuse of antimicrobials and pesticides in crops and livestock, but it does not impose a blanket prohibition on all antibiotic use, as legitimate therapeutic use is still necessary.

Solution: D

Brazil is the largest country in South America and shares borders with every South American nation except two.

• The exceptions are: Chile and Ecuador. These two countries do not touch Brazil’s border.
• Bordering Nations: Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru (5), Colombia (3), Venezuela (4), Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana.

Solution: B

The Codex Alimentarius Commission sets global food standards.

• Statement 1 is correct: Codex standards are scientifically based and are recognized by the WTO’s Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement as the international reference points for food safety.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: The commission is a massive global body with 189 members (188 countries + the EU), far exceeding 100.

Statement 3 is correct: India is a long-standing member, having joined in 1964. India also plays a leadership role, as evidenced by its recent re-election to the Executive Committee.

Solution: D

• 1 is correct: It focuses on expanding diagnostic networks and strengthening laboratory surveillance to track pathogens.
• 2 is correct: It includes Antibiotic Stewardship, which involves measures like prescription auditing to control irrational use.
• 3 is correct: The plan emphasizes an Innovation & Research Push, specifically strengthening the India AMR Innovation Hub for new diagnostics and technologies.
• 4 is correct: Under the environmental aspect of the “One Health” approach, it includes monitoring pharmaceutical waste and regulating antimicrobial usage in crops.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is incorrect: Blackbucks are diurnal (active during the day) antelope, not nocturnal.
• Statement 2 is correct: They are renowned for their speed and agility, capable of reaching speeds up to 80 km/h. This is their primary adaptation against predators like cheetahs (historically) and wolves.
• Statement 3 is correct: Their social structure is fluid. They form three types of groups: female herds with young, bachelor male herds, and territorial males.

Solution: C

• Statement-I is correct: The NSSO is the premier agency responsible for conducting large-scale surveys, including the key Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) and the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), which provides employment data.
• Statement-II is incorrect: The NSSO is not fully autonomous in the sense of being outside a ministry. It operates under the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) and is headed by a Director General who reports within this framework. While it aims for data neutrality, structurally it is a wing of the Ministry.