UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 13 March 2026

Solution: C

• Kavach 4.0 is India’s indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) Developed by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in collaboration with Indian industry, it is a state-of-the-art electronic safety system. Its primary goal is to achieve “Zero Accidents” on the Indian Railways network.
• The system functions by automatically applying brakes if the loco pilot fails to respond to a red signal (Signal Passing at Danger – SPAD) or exceeds the permitted speed limit. It is particularly effective during adverse weather conditions like dense fog, where human visibility is compromised. Kavach uses a combination of RFID tags on tracks, on-board equipment in locomotives, and radio towers at stations to monitor train movements in real-time.
• The recent version 4.0 offers enhanced precision in complex railway yards and seamless integration with electronic interlocking systems. By eliminating human error in critical safety maneuvers, Kavach significantly enhances the operational safety of the high-density corridors like Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is correct. The core mandate of the Jal Jeevan Mission, launched in 2019, is to ensure “Har Ghar Jal” (Water in Every Home). It targets the provision of 55 liters of potable water per capita per day through individual tap connections (FHTCs).
• Statement 2 is incorrect. The recent extension of the mission until 2028 (often termed JJM 2.0) marks a strategic shift from infrastructure creation to sustained service delivery. While the initial phase focused on laying pipes and building tanks, the current focus is on ensuring that these systems actually deliver water 24×7 through utility-based reforms and MoUs with states.
• Statement 3 is correct. To enhance transparency and monitoring, the government introduced the Sujalam Bharat digital framework. Under this, every village is assigned a Sujal Gaon ID, allowing for the digital mapping of the entire water supply chain. This ensures that the water quality and quantity are monitored from the source to the end-user’s tap, reducing leakages and ensuring accountability.

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is incorrect. The ECA does not have a fixed definition or a permanent list. Instead, the Schedule of the Act contains a list that the Central Government can expand or shrink via notified orders based on the prevailing market situation. For instance, masks and sanitizers were added during the COVID-19 pandemic and later removed.
• Statement 2 is correct. This is a classic example of cooperative federalism in economic regulation. The Centre notifies the orders and sets the broad policy, but the actual implementation—monitoring stock limits, conducting raids on hoarders, and seizures—is delegated to the State Governments.

Statement 3 is correct. The 2020 Amendment sought to provide more freedom to farmers and traders by stipulating that agricultural items (like cereals, pulses, and onions) can only be regulated under extraordinary conditions. These include war, famine, extraordinary price rises (100% for perishables or 50% for non-perishables), or natural calamities. This was intended to encourage investment in storage infrastructure by reducing the “inspector raj” and the fear of arbitrary stock limits.

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is correct. Black rain is a severe form of environmental fallout. It occurs when massive quantities of particulate matter (soot) and unburned hydrocarbons are pushed into the atmosphere—typically from oil refinery fires. These particles act as nuclei for water droplets, resulting in dark, oily precipitation.
• Statement 2 is correct. The combustion of petroleum releases Sulfur Oxides (SOx) and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx). When these react with water vapor and oxygen in the atmosphere, they form sulfuric and nitric acids. Thus, black rain is often highly acidic, causing damage to infrastructure and vegetation.

Statement 3 is incorrect. Black rain is far from being a “visual only” issue. It carries long-term environmental hazards. It contains “Forever Chemicals” (PFAS) and carcinogens like Benzene. These toxins can settle into the soil and seep into groundwater, entering the food chain through crops. The environmental damage can persist for decades because many of these chemicals do not degrade naturally. It also poses immediate health risks, including respiratory distress and skin burns.

Solution: B

• Israel’s missile defense is a sophisticated multi-layered architecture.
• Pair 1 is correctly matched; the Iron Dome is the world’s most famous short-range defense system.
• Pair 3 is also correctly matched; the Iron Beam is a newer directed-energy system that uses lasers to disable threats like drones and rockets at a significantly lower cost per “shot” compared to traditional missiles.
• However, Pair 2 is incorrectly matched; while the Arrow system handles long-range threats, Arrow-3 is exo-atmospheric (intercepts outside the atmosphere), whereas Arrow-2 operates within it.
• Pair 4 is incorrectly matched; David’s Sling is a mid-range interceptor (100–200 km) for cruise missiles and aircraft, not for long-range intercontinental missiles (which are handled by the Arrow system).

Solution: C

• The PAT (Perform, Achieve and Trade) scheme is a flagship program of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). It is a market-based mechanism designed to improve the energy efficiency of Designated Consumers (DCs)—which are large, energy-intensive industries like cement, steel, and fertilizers.
• Under this scheme, the government sets specific energy reduction targets for these industries. Those that over-achieve their targets are issued Energy Savings Certificates (ESCerts), which can then be traded and purchased by those who find it difficult to meet their own targets.
• This creates a financial incentive for industrial energy conservation, contributing significantly to India’s goal of reducing the overall energy intensity of its economy. It is not related to security operations or space technology.

Solution: A

• Operation Epic Fury is a recent geopolitical development in West Asia.
• Statement 1 is incorrect because the operation is led by the United States (Pentagon) in coordination with Israel, not the European Union. It represents a formalization of U.S. military strikes in the region.
• Statement 2 is correct; the campaign is aimed at neutralizing perceived threats from Iran’s military and missile infrastructure, as well as constraining its nuclear capabilities.
• Statement 3 is incorrect; while the Iron Beam is part of the regional security context, Operation Epic Fury was not “caused” by it. Instead, the operation is driven by long-standing disputes over Iran’s nuclear program and regional influence. The operation highlights the escalating military confrontation between the U.S.–Israel alliance and Iran.

Solution: D

• Constitutional morality is comprised of several key pillars that ensure a healthy democracy.
• Match 1 is correct; Institutional Restraint is essential to the “Separation of Powers,” ensuring the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary operate within their constitutional limits.
• Match 2 is correct; Non-Arbitrariness is a core component of the “Rule of Law,” requiring that the government acts based on clear, reasoned laws rather than the personal whims of leaders.
• Match 3 is correct; a vital function of constitutional morality is the Protection of Minorities, which prevents the “Tyranny of the Majority” by upholding fundamental rights regardless of popular sentiment.

Solution: B

• The BEE’s role has evolved from simple labeling to complex market systems.
• Statement 1 is incorrect; while BEE promotes energy efficiency in buildings (like the Energy Conservation Building Code), it does not mandate energy audits for all residential buildings. Audits are primarily mandated for designated energy-intensive industries.
• Statement 2 is correct; the Star Label App is a digital tool designed to increase consumer awareness, allowing users to compare the energy savings and costs of different appliances.
• Statement 3 is correct; moving beyond the PAT scheme, the BEE is playing a central role in India’s transition to a national carbon market through the CCTS, which aims to align industrial emissions with India’s Net Zero targets.

Solution: D

• Iran’s geography is diverse and strategically important.
• 1 is correct; the Zagros Mountains are the country’s largest mountain range.
• 2 is correct; Lake Urmia, located in the northwest, was once one of the largest saltwater lakes in the world.
• 3 is correct; the Dasht-e Lut (Lut Desert) is a large salt desert and is one of the hottest places on Earth.
• 4 is correct; the Karun River is Iran’s most effluent and only navigable river, which is crucial for the region’s economy and agriculture. Additionally, Iran is a highly seismic region due to its location at the intersection of several tectonic plates, leading to frequent and often devastating earthquakes.