UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 26 January 2026

Solution: B

Statement 1 is incorrect.

• The Global Future Councils (GFCs) represent the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) flagship multistakeholder knowledge network. A critical distinction is that these are time-bound and invitation-only think tanks, not permanent or open-membership bodies as suggested in Statement 1. Members typically serve two-year terms, with the current cycle running from March 2025 to December 2026. This structure ensures a fresh influx of ideas and prevents stagnation in policy recommendations.
• Regarding Statement 2, the GFCs are characterized by an evidence-based approach. They prioritize data, research, and factual analysis over mere opinion to ensure that the policy-relevant insights provided to governments and institutions are robust and credible. Their interdisciplinary nature allows for “systems thinking,” bridging silos to address complex, interconnected global challenges like climate change and technological disruption.

Statement 3 is correct as per recent developments where the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the WEF signed a Memorandum of Understanding. Under this agreement, Dubai will host the annual GFC meetings for the next five years (2026–2030). This partnership underscores the UAE’s role as a global hub for future-oriented dialogue. Since its inception in 2013, the network has grown significantly, engaging over 12,000 experts across 900 councils.

Solution: B

• The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development was instituted in 1985 by the Government of India.
• Statement 1 is correct; it is an annual international award given to individuals or organizations for outstanding contributions to global peace, disarmament, and human welfare. Recent recipient Graça Machel (2026), a humanitarian from Mozambique, highlights the prize’s focus on social justice and women’s rights.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. The prize is not funded by the UNDP. It is administered by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust, New Delhi, and the funding source is an endowment provided by the Government of India to the Trust. The prize reflects India’s post-colonial foreign policy ethos and its historical leadership in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), emphasizing equitable global development and South-South cooperation.
• Statement 3 is correct. The award consists of a cash prize of ₹10 million and a unique trophy. The trophy is crafted from Haematite Jasper, which is the stone used at Indira Gandhi’s memorial, Shakti Sthal. It also features a silver-rimmed portrait in the Jaipur miniature style. The selection is made by an international jury of 5 to 9 members, and only living persons or active organizations are eligible for nomination.

Solution: D

• In the context of the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for White Goods, Statement I is incorrect because the scheme does not provide incentives for the assembly of finished goods (end-products). Instead, it targets the manufacturing of components and sub-assemblies. For Air Conditioners, this includes high-value intermediates like compressors and copper tubes; for LED lights, it includes LED chip packaging and ICs. The goal is to move away from “screw-driver electronics” toward deep manufacturing.
• Statement II is correct. The scheme’s core design is to deepen the domestic supply chain and reduce strategic dependence on imports. By focusing on capital-intensive core inputs that drive value addition, the government aims to create a robust industrial ecosystem in India.
• The scheme uses FY 2019-20 as the base year to measure performance. The incentives (ranging from 4% to 6%) are paid on the incremental sales of goods manufactured in India. By selecting companies for a fourth round of investments, the government is signaling a long-term commitment to the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative. The scheme is monitored by the Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGoS), ensuring high-level accountability and fiscal discipline within the approved outlay of ₹6,238 crore.

Solution: D

• The Asiatic Wild Dog, or Dhole (Cuon alpinus), is a unique canid native to South and Southeast Asia.
• Statement 1 is incorrect because while they can be found in various terrains, their preferred habitats are dense forests, forest-grassland mosaics, and hilly landscapes, particularly in central India and the Western/Eastern Ghats. The recent camera-trapping of a Dhole in the Ratapani Tiger Reserve (Madhya Pradesh) confirms their presence in central Indian deciduous forests rather than being restricted to Himalayan alpine meadows.
• Statement 2 is correct. The Dhole is listed as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List. This status is due to habitat loss, depletion of prey base, and susceptibility to diseases from domestic dogs. They require large, connected landscapes because packs range widely to find adequate food.
• Statement 3 is correct. Dholes are obligate social hunters, meaning they almost always hunt in cooperative packs. This teamwork allows them to take down prey much larger than themselves, such as chital and sambar. While they coexist with tigers and leopards, they often overlap in prey selection. However, they manage this competition through specific pack behaviors and hunting strategies, which are vital for maintaining the trophic balance and biodiversity stability of the ecosystem.

Solution: A

• The PLI Scheme for White Goods is specifically designed to avoid incentivizing the assembly of finished products, which is a common misconception. Therefore, finished LED bulbs for retail sale (Point 3) are not covered under the incentive structure. The scheme’s focus is on the “upstream” part of the value chain to ensure genuine industrial deep-rooting in India.
• The components that are covered include core components like LED chip packaging, Integrated Circuits (ICs), resistors, and fuses. These are the critical electronic elements that determine the efficiency and lifespan of the lighting product. Additionally, the scheme supports other components such as LED drivers, modules, and wire-wound inductors. These parts are essential for the functionality of the end-product but require specialized manufacturing processes that the government wants to promote domestically.
• By focusing on these intermediates, the scheme aims to increase the domestic value addition from current low levels to significantly higher percentages. The scheme provides a financial incentive of 4% to 6% on the incremental sales of these components over the base year (FY 2019-20). This targeted approach helps in building a globally competitive component ecosystem in India, reducing the reliance on imported kits.

Solution: C

• Dholes function as apex or meso-level predators depending on the presence of larger carnivores such as tigers or leopards. Even when they are not the absolute top predator, their cooperative pack-hunting behaviour allows them to regulate populations of medium-sized ungulates and other prey species. This helps prevent overgrazing, maintains vegetation structure, and stabilises energy flow across trophic levels, thereby contributing to overall ecosystem balance.
• The presence of Dholes is widely regarded by ecologists as an indicator of high-quality habitat. They are highly sensitive to habitat fragmentation, human disturbance, and depletion of prey species. Sustaining Dhole populations requires large, contiguous forest landscapes with adequate prey density and minimal anthropogenic pressure. Therefore, their occurrence in a protected area usually reflects intact ecological processes, good prey availability, and effective conservation management. Together, these characteristics make Dholes an important umbrella and indicator species in forest ecosystems, validating both statements.

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is correct: Silver is a noble metal, a group of metals that are resistant to corrosion and oxidation.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: Silver has the highest electrical conductivity among all metals, even higher than copper. It also has the highest thermal conductivity. This makes it an ideal, albeit expensive, material for high-end electronics.
• Statement 3 is correct: Due to its unique physical properties, silver is essential in the photovoltaic (solar) industry and for precision instruments. Its malleability and ductility also allow it to be used in various alloys and jewelry. Global demand is currently rising specifically due to its role in green technologies like solar PV and Electric Vehicles (EVs).

Solution: D

• Metadon ghorpadei and Metadon reemeri are two new, extremely rare species of ant flies (subfamily Microdontinae). They are renowned for myrmecophily, a condition where their larvae live inside ant nests and feed on the ant brood. Metadon ghorpadei was discovered in the Northern Ridge Forest of Delhi, illustrating that even disturbed urban forests can harbor significant hidden biodiversity. Metadon reemeri was discovered in the Siruvani Hills of the Western Ghats. These discoveries are significant as only about 27 species of this subfamily are known from the Indian subcontinent, highlighting the need for targeted surveys of lesser-known insect taxa.

Solution: B

The Lok Sabha is transitioning from the traditional practice of signing a lobby register (placed outside the chamber) to a seat-based digital biometric attendance system. Under the new system, MPs must mark their attendance from their designated seats using thumb verification. This change, announced by Speaker Om Birla, ensures that attendance reflects the physical presence of the member inside the House during proceedings. It eliminates the possibility of “proxy marking” or members signing the register and leaving immediately. The system is also linked to the daily allowance, creating a financial accountability mechanism for legislative participation.

Solution: C

• The UNESCO MIL Alliance is focused on the human and cognitive side of the digital world. Its primary objective is to empower citizens through Media and Information Literacy. By bringing together experts and organizations, it aims to create strategies that help individuals critically evaluate information, thereby countering the spread of disinformation, misinformation, and hate speech.
• The Alliance helps shape global, regional, and national policies, ensuring that MIL becomes a core component of digital citizenship. The recent launch of its Global Board and the Cartagena Declaration are steps toward institutionalizing these efforts globally.