UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 20 December 2025

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is incorrect because while DHRUV64 is India’s first indigenously designed 64-bit dual-core microprocessor, it is based on the RISC-V open-source architecture, not the proprietary ARM architecture.
• Statement 2 is correct as the project was designed by C-DAC and guided by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under the Microprocessor Development Programme (MDP).
• Statement 3 is incorrect because DHRUV64 is the third chip fabricated under the DIR-V Programme, following the earlier successful fabrication of THEJAS32 and THEJAS64. The development of such processors is vital for technological sovereignty, reducing reliance on imported silicon and providing a secure platform for strategic sectors like defence and telecommunications.
• RISC-V is an open standard Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) that allows for customization without licensing fees.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is correct; the Erivan Anomalous Blue is a rare butterfly species endemic to Armenia (specifically southern Transcaucasia), inhabiting calcareous grasslands.
• Statement 2 is correct as Armenia, the host of COP17 of the CBD (scheduled for 2026), unveiled a logo featuring this butterfly to symbolize the link between local biodiversity and global conservation targets.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. While the species is listed as Endangered in the Red Book of Animals of Armenia (2010), it is not yet listed in the Global or European IUCN Red Lists. The lack of data regarding its larval host plant makes a full ecological assessment difficult, yet it remains a critical indicator species for the health of high-elevation ecosystems.

Solution: C

• RRBs were established in 1975 following the Narasimham Working Group report to provide institutional credit to rural sectors. The Regional Rural Banks Act, 1976, defines the unique equity structure: Central Government (50%), State Government (15%), and Sponsor Bank (35%).
• To improve operational efficiency and scale, the government has pursued a policy of progressive amalgamation, reducing the number of RRBs from 196 to a projected 28 by 2025.
• The recent “One RRB, One Logo” initiative, launched by the Government and NABARD, provides a common visual identity (upward arrow, hands, and flame) to reflect their role in financial inclusion and rural empowerment.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is correct because during El Niño, warm water piles up in the eastern Pacific, causing the thermocline to deepen, which suppresses the upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water.
• Statement 2 is incorrect; El Niño is actually marked by the weakening or reversal of trade winds and the Walker Circulation.
• Statement 3 is correct; the Oceanic Niño Index (ONI) defines El Niño as SST anomalies of ≥ +0.5°C for at least five consecutive three-month periods. These changes lead to a global warming boost and significantly disrupt weather patterns, often leading to monsoon failures in India and heavy rainfall in South America.

Solution: C

• Agentic AI represents a shift from passive AI (which generates content based on prompts) to autonomous, goal-driven agents. These systems can reason, plan, and execute a sequence of actions to achieve a specific objective. They perceive their environment via sensors or APIs, set sub-goals, and use external tools (like software or databases) to complete tasks.
• Unlike standard LLMs that require step-by-step prompting, Agentic AI can handle end-to-end automation of complex workflows. In multi-agent systems, different specialized agents coordinate through AI orchestration to solve problems in fields like healthcare, logistics, and software development.

Solution: B

Statement 1 is incorrect because the DIR-V Programme specifically promotes open-source architecture (RISC-V) to avoid the high costs and dependencies associated with proprietary/licensed architectures like Intel or ARM.

Statement 2 is correct as the programme encompasses a range of processors (like the 32-bit THEJAS and 64-bit DHRUV) intended for diverse uses, from IoT and 5G to defence systems.

Solution: A

• Monazite is a phosphate mineral that is the primary source of rare earth elements in India’s beach sands; it contains 55–60% Rare Earth Oxides.
• Neodymium is a specific “light” rare earth element (LREE) used to create high-strength permanent magnets essential for electric vehicle motors and wind turbines.
• Thorium is found within monazite (8–10%) and is the cornerstone of India’s three-stage nuclear power programme, as it can be converted into fissile Uranium-233.
• The Andhra Rare Earth Corridor (Srikakulam to Nellore) is strategically significant because it provides a complete suite of these critical minerals required for the green energy transition and high-tech manufacturing.

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is correct; indicator species act as “canaries in the coal mine,” providing early warnings of environmental change.
• Statement 2 is correct; butterflies like the Erivan Anomalous Blue are highly sensitive to climate and habitat changes, making them excellent indicators for the health of the Armenian grasslands.

Statement 3 is incorrect; many non-vertebrates, including insects (like butterflies), lichens, and fungi, are among the most common and effective indicator species due to their rapid response to chemical or physical changes in their surroundings.

Solution: D

Detailed Explanation:

• Option (d) is correct: The Horst–graben structures form as blocks of crust drop down to form grabens (the valley/trough) while adjacent blocks appear to rise or remain high to form horsts.
• Option (a) is incorrect: It reverses the definitions.
• Option (b) is incorrect: They are formed by tensional (extensional/stretching) forces, not compressional forces.
• Option (c) is incorrect: They are structural/tectonic features caused by faulting, not purely volcanic features (though volcanism occurs there).

Solution: D

The Ghotul is a youth dormitory system that plays a vital role in the socialization, cultural transmission, and community cohesion of the Dandami Maria (and broader Gond) tribes. It is a central institution in their social life where youth gather.

Option (a), (b), and (c) are incorrect as the Mutharaiyars, Pallavas, and Cholas are dynastic or historical ruling groups associated with temple building and administration in Tamil Nadu.