UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 5 December 2025

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is correct: The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) was originally set up as a statutory body under the NCBC Act, 1993. It functioned under this statute until it was conferred constitutional status through the 102nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2018. This amendment inserted Article 338B (dealing with structure, powers, and functions) and Article 342A into the Constitution.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: While Article 342A was inserted by the 102nd Amendment, it does not empower the Commission to publish the final The President may notify the list of SEBCs in consultation with the Governor for a State. However, any subsequent inclusion or exclusion in the Central List of SEBCs can only be done by a law enacted by Parliament, not by the Commission itself. The Commission’s role is advisory regarding inclusion/exclusion.
• Statement 3 is correct: Under Article 338B, while investigating matters or inquiring into complaints, the NCBC has all the powers of a civil court trying a suit. This includes summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person, requiring the discovery and production of documents, and receiving evidence on affidavits.

Solution: C

• Statement 1 is correct: PM-WANI allows entities called PDOs (Public Data Offices) to set up Wi-Fi hotspots without any license, fee, or registration. PDOAs (Aggregators) assist these PDOs. This deregulation is a core feature to encourage small entrepreneurs.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: While C-DoT maintains the Central Registry (which records details of App Providers, PDOAs, and PDOs), the Authentication and Accounting of users is the specific function of the PDOAs, not the Central Registry. The App Providers facilitate the discovery of hotspots and display them to users.
• Statement 3 is correct: To ensure financial viability, PDOs are permitted to use regular FTTH (Fibre-to-the-Home) broadband connections. They do not need expensive commercial leased lines, which significantly reduces the operational expenditure (OpEx) for small shopkeepers acting as PDOs.
• Statement 4 is correct: To maintain affordability, TRAI has mandated that retail fibre broadband plans (up to 200 Mbps) must be sold to PDOs at a price not exceeding twice the consumer tariff. This prevents Internet Service Providers from overcharging PDOs under commercial rates.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is correct: TPUs are custom ASICs developed by Google. They are specifically architected to accelerate machine learning workloads, particularly deep neural networks. They were optimized for TensorFlow, though they now support other frameworks like JAX and PyTorch via Google Cloud.
• Statement 2 is correct: This is the core architectural advantage. CPUs are scalar processors (one instruction at a time). TPUs rely on large Matrix-Multiply Units (MXUs). They use a systolic array architecture that allows them to perform tens of thousands of multiply-accumulate operations in parallel per clock cycle, making them ideal for the matrix math inherent in AI.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: TPUs are more power-efficient than General Purpose GPUs (GPGPUs) for specific ML tasks. This is because TPUs are domain-specific; they strip away the hardware required for graphics rendering and general-purpose computing (which GPUs must retain). This “purpose-built” nature allows for higher performance per watt.

Solution: D

Option (d) is correct: The Hornbill Festival is known as the “Festival of Festivals.” It is organized annually (Dec 1-10) by the Government of Nagaland at the Kisama Heritage Village. The primary aim is to revive, preserve, and promote the rich culture of the 17 major Naga tribes, foster inter-tribal interaction (unity), and boost tourism.

Solution: C

Thailand is located in the center of mainland Southeast Asia.

• It is bordered to the north by Myanmar and Laos.
• It is bordered to the east by Laos and Cambodia.
• It is bordered to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia.
• It is bordered to the west by the Andaman Sea and Myanmar.

Vietnam (2) does not share a land border with Thailand; it is separated from Thailand by Laos and Cambodia.

Solution: C

• Statement 1 is correct: The first ministerial meeting of BRIC was in 2006, and the first summit was in 2009. South Africa joined in 2011, changing the acronym to BRICS.
• Statement 2 is correct: Following the rotation of the presidency, India is set to host the 18th BRICS Summit in 2026, taking over the presidency from Brazil.
• Statement 3 is correct: Thailand has formally expressed its intention to join BRICS and is seeking India’s support for this bid.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is incorrect: LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) is an initiative conceptually led by India (Prime Minister of India), not a pre-existing UNEP ban program. While it involves global cooperation, its origin and push are Indian.
• Statement 2 is correct: India pledged to promote the LiFE movement as part of its climate commitments (NDCs). It aims to move away from “mindless consumption” to “mindful utilization.”
• Statement 3 is correct: The core philosophy of LiFE is behavioural change. It encourages individuals and communities to adopt simple, eco-friendly acts (like saving energy, water, reducing waste) to create a significant impact on low-carbon consumption and resource efficiency.

Solution: D

Option (d) is correct: Kisama Heritage Village is a purpose-built heritage complex located near Kohima. It serves as the permanent venue for the annual Hornbill Festival (Dec 1-10). The village is designed to showcase the traditional dormitories (Morungs) and architecture of the various Naga tribes in one place, acting as a window to Nagaland.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is correct: Under Article 338B, the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and other Members are appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: The Constitution (Article 338B) states that the conditions of service and tenure of office shall be such as the President may by rule determine, not Parliament by law.
• Statement 3 is correct: Article 338B(9) explicitly mandates that the Union and every State Government shall consult the Commission on all major policy matters affecting the socially and educationally backward classes.

Solution: A

Statement 1 is correct: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the authority that publishes the Indian Standard (IS) codes, including the revised Earthquake Design Code, 2025 (IS 1893).

Statement 2 is incorrect: The revised code has tightened, not removed, the norms. It introduces mandatory structural and non-structural safety requirements. Specifically, it mandates proper anchoring for parapets, ceilings, tanks, façades, and HVAC units if their weight exceeds 1% of the total load, ensuring they do not become falling hazards during a quake.