UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 3 December 2025

Solution: D

• Statement-I is incorrect. International IDEA is not a specialized agency of the United Nations. While it holds UN General Assembly Observer Status (since 2003), it is an independent intergovernmental organization based in Stockholm. Furthermore, its mandate is not to “certify” results but to strengthen institutions and processes.
• Statement-II is correct. Established in 1995, its core mission is to advance sustainable democracy by generating comparative knowledge, training Election Management Bodies (EMBs), and facilitating dialogue. It is the only global intergovernmental organization with a sole mandate to support democracy.

Solution: A

• Statement I is the core definition: Masala Bonds are rupee-denominated but issued offshore.
• Statement II is correct and explains why they are structured this way (rupee-denominated): the issuer (Indian entity) is protected from currency fluctuation, transferring that risk to the offshore investor.
• Statement III is also correct and explains the broader implication or strategic reason for the existence of such bonds (Statement I). By creating a global market for rupee-denominated debt, these bonds directly contribute to the internationalization of the rupee.
• Therefore, both II (the mechanism of risk transfer inherent in the denomination) and III (the strategic outcome of such issuance) explains the nature and purpose of Statement I.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is incorrect. The platform is developed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), not NITI Aayog.
• Statement 2 is correct. The Chakshu tool is specifically designed to enable reporting of suspected fraud communications, including fake KYC alerts, impersonation, and phishing.
• Statement 3 is correct. A core feature of the platform is identity management, allowing users to view all SIMs linked to their name.
• Statement 4 is incorrect. The platform explicitly includes Device Authenticity Verification to check if a handset’s IMEI is genuine or blacklisted, which is crucial for the second-hand market. It is not limited only to blocking lost phones.

Solution: C

• Statement-I is correct. The BWC is the first multilateral disarmament treaty banning an entire category of Weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) (Articles I-III). However, a major and widely acknowledged limitation is the absence of a formal verification mechanism to inspect and confirm compliance.
• Statement-II is incorrect. The BWC relies on political enforcement rather than automatic legal sanctions. While there is a complaints mechanism (Article VI) that can be lodged with the Security Council, there is no automatic legal mechanism for sanctions written into the treaty itself, and enforcement is often subject to geopolitical dynamics (e.g., veto powers).

Solution: B

Option (b) is correct. Paraná Valles is identified as one of Mars’ major ancient fluvial drainage systems. It consists of networks of valleys and sedimentary channels situated in the Margaritifer Terra region (Southern Hemisphere of Mars). Its discovery is significant because the branching valley networks and sediment deposits provide strong geological evidence that Mars once possessed a warmer climate capable of sustaining rainfall and surface runoff, comparable to large river basins on Earth.

Solution: D

• Statement I is incorrect. The BWC does not prohibit transfer for peaceful purposes. In fact, it explicitly promotes international cooperation.
• Statement II is correct. Article X is a crucial pillar of the convention that mandates the facilitation of the “fullest possible exchange” of equipment, materials, and scientific information for the use of bacteriological agents for peaceful purposes (like vaccine development and disease research). This is particularly important for the Global South/developing nations to build capacity.

Solution: C

The Teevardev Buddha Vihara (8th century) is a large monastery with a monolithic Avalokiteshvara statue. This structure “Shows rare blending of Buddhist and Hindu iconography.” This syncretism is a key feature of Sirpur’s architectural legacy.

Options (a) and (b) are incorrect as Teevardev is explicitly identified as a Buddha Vihara (monastery), not a Hindu or Jain temple (though Sirpur has those too). Option (d) is incorrect; it is a religious/monastic site, not a military fort.

Solution: B

Mount Semeru is the tallest volcano on Java Island, specifically located in Eastern Java. It sits at the southern end of the Tengger Volcanic Complex. Geologically, it is situated in a major subduction zone where the Indo-Australian Plate sinks beneath the Eurasian Plate. This subduction process creates the magma that fuels the stratovolcano. It is distinct from Sumatra or the Sunda Strait (Krakatau) locations.

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is correct. While formed in 1999 for Finance Ministers, the G20 was upgraded to the Leaders’ Summit level in 2008–09 specifically to coordinate a global response to the financial crisis.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. The membership now includes the African Union (AU) in addition to the 19 countries and the European Union. The inclusion of the AU was a significant recent development.

Solution: C

• Statement 1 is incorrect. ICDS is a “centrally sponsored scheme”. In Centrally Sponsored Schemes, the funding is shared between the Centre and the States, unlike Central Sector Schemes which are fully funded by the Centre.
• Statement 2 is correct. The aim is explicitly stated to improve health/nutritional status and reduce child mortality, morbidity, malnutrition, and school dropouts.
• Statement 3 is correct. The delivery mechanism is the vast network of Anganwadi Centres (approx 14 lakh) staffed by local workers and helpers.
• Statement 4 is correct. The scheme provides a package of six core services: Supplementary nutrition, pre-school education, health check-ups, immunization, referral services, and nutrition-health education.