UPSC Editorials Quiz : 10 March 2026

Solution: C

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect – The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is not legally binding. It is a set of ethical guidelines issued by the ECI, but violations are not punishable under electoral laws unless they overlap with existing laws (e.g., bribery, hate speech).
• Statement 2 is correct – The Supreme Court mandated that all candidates must disclose criminal antecedents in their nomination forms.
• Statement 3 is correct – The introduction of VVPAT was directed by the Supreme Court to increase transparency and allow voters to verify that their votes were cast correctly.
• Statement 4 is correct – Candidates must disclose their assets and liabilities, and failure to do so can lead to disqualification by the ECI under the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

Solution: B

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct – The CAG audits all financial transactions of the Union, States, and PSUs.
• Statement 2 is incorrect – The CAG submits reports to the President or Governors, who then present them to Parliament or State Legislatures.
• Statement 3 is correct – The CAG can audit private companies if they receive significant government funds.
• Statement 4 is correct – The CAG functions as an agent of Parliament, ensuring financial accountability.

• What is the CAG?

• • The CAG is India’s apex constitutional audit authority, known as the watchdog of the public purse.
  • It oversees the financial accountability of both Union and State governments and reports to Parliament.

• Constitutional Article: Articles 148 to 151 (Part V) of the Indian Constitution define the appointment, powers, duties, and audit reporting process of the CAG.
• Appointment Process:

• • The President of India appoints the CAG by warrant under his hand and seal (Article 148).
  • Current practice is executive-controlled; calls for reform suggest an independent panel including the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition, and Chief Justice of India.

• Term of Office:

• • Six years or until the age of 65, whichever is earlier.
  • The CAG is ineligible for any future office under the Government of India or any State after demitting office.

• Service Conditions:

• • Salary is equal to that of a Supreme Court judge, determined by Parliament.
  • Administrative expenses are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India, ensuring financial independence.
  • Service conditions for staff are prescribed by the President in consultation with the CAG.

• Removal Process:

• • Can be removed only by the President, following the same grounds and process as a Supreme Court judge.
  • Removal requires a special majority resolution in both Houses of Parliament for proven misconduct or incapacity.

• Powers and Functions:

• • Audit Authority:
    • Audits all expenditures from the Consolidated Fund of India and State funds.
    • Audits accounts of government corporations, PSUs, and government-funded bodies.
  • Reporting Role:
    • Submits audit reports to the President or Governors, who lay them before Parliament or State Legislatures.
    • Reports are scrutinized by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
  • Fiscal Oversight:
    • Certifies the net proceeds of taxes and duties.
    • Reviews government transactions related to debts, advances, and suspense accounts.
  • Legal and Discretionary Audits:
    • Conducts compliance audits, performance audits, and financial audits.
    • Can conduct propriety audits to evaluate the wisdom, faithfulness, and economy in government spending.
  • Role in Accountability:
    • Acts as an agent of Parliament, ensuring public funds are used legally and efficiently.
    • Does not control fund issuance (unlike Britain’s CAG), functioning solely as Auditor-General.

Solution: C

Explanation:

• The CAG’s office began as the Accountant General to the Government of India after power transferred from the East India Company to the British Crown.
• The Montague-Chelmsford Reforms (1919) and the Government of India Act (1935) strengthened its autonomy, but it did not gain constitutional status until the framing of the Indian Constitution in 1949.
• The CAG Act of 1971 codified the powers of CAG but did not establish it.

Solution: A

White hydrogen is a naturally occurring form of hydrogen found beneath the Earth’s surface due to geological reactions between minerals and water. It is distinct from Green Hydrogen, which is produced through electrolysis, and Grey Hydrogen, which is derived from fossil fuels like methane. Nuclear fusion does not produce White Hydrogen, making options (b) (c) and (d) incorrect.

About White Hydrogen:

• What it is:
  • White hydrogen is naturally occurring pure hydrogen found underground, formed due to geological reactions. It emerges when minerals react with water deep beneath the Earth’s crust.
• Key Features:
  • Zero-emission: It occurs naturally without requiring industrial production, avoiding CO₂ emissions.
  • Low cost: White hydrogen production costs around $1 per kilogram, making it highly affordable.
  • Renewable source: White hydrogen constantly regenerates within the Earth, unlike exhaustible fossil fuels.
  • Combustion output: When used as fuel, white hydrogen produces only water vapor after combustion.
• Significance:

• • Clean energy alternative: Can reduce reliance on fossil fuels for heavy industries like aviation, shipping, and steel.
  • Energy security: Potential game-changer for energy independence in hydrogen-importing countries.
  • Cost-effectiveness: Could significantly lower global hydrogen prices compared to synthetic alternatives.
  • Sustainability: Supports climate action with its low carbon footprint and renewable nature.

• Limitations:

• • Exploration difficulty: Hard to locate deposits due to specific geological conditions.
  • Environmental risks: Potential hydrogen leakage could disrupt greenhouse gas reduction efforts.
  • Storage and transport challenges: Requires extremely low liquefaction temperatures (-253°C) and robust pipelines.
  • Regulatory barriers: Absence of clear guidelines for extraction and safe handling.

Solution: B

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect – Flareless CMEs can still impact satellites and power grids if directed toward Earth.
• Statement 2 is correct – They are harder to detect, making forecasting difficult.
• Statement 3 is incorrect – Their formation is linked to solar magnetic field changes.

• What is a Flareless Coronal Mass Ejection?
  • A flareless CME is a massive ejection of plasma and magnetic field from the Sun’s corona that occurs without an associated solar flare.
  • Unlike typical CMEs, it does not release intense electromagnetic radiation before the eruption.
  • It challenges existing models of solar activity, requiring new insights into magnetic instabilities.
• How Flareless CMEs Form?
  • Magnetic Reconnection: Occurs when magnetic field lines rearrange in the Sun’s atmosphere, leading to energy release.
  • Gradual Magnetic Build-up: Magnetic stress accumulates over time, eventually releasing plasma without a sudden energy burst.
  • Flux Rope Eruption: A pre-existing twisted magnetic structure in the corona slowly becomes unstable and erupts outward.
  • No Preceding Flare: Unlike typical CMEs, no strong X-ray or UV burst precedes the plasma ejection.
  • Sunspot Influence: Often linked to regions with weak or decaying magnetic fields, where flare energy is insufficient.
• Key Features of Flareless CMEs:
  • Low Energy Signature: No significant X-ray or radio emissions, making early detection difficult.
  • Slower Ejection Speeds: Travels at lower velocities (~400–1,000 km/s) than flare-associated CMEs.
  • Magnetically Driven: Initiated by gradual destabilization of coronal magnetic fields rather than impulsive energy release.
  • Space Weather Impact: Can still trigger geomagnetic storms on Earth, affecting satellites and communication systems.
  • Rare Phenomenon: Less frequently observed compared to flare-associated CMEs, requiring continuous solar monitoring.