UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 24 March 2026

Solution: B

Statement 1 is incorrect because, while the no-harm rule is a foundational principle in international environmental law, it is not automatically enforceable in all treaties. Its application depends on the specific terms agreed upon by the treaty parties. States may include the no-harm obligation explicitly in a treaty, making it binding for those parties.

Statement 2 is correct, as equitable and reasonable utilization (ERU) is widely recognized in customary international law, particularly in the context of shared water resources. ERU emphasizes balanced resource use, ensuring that no single state exploits shared watercourses to the detriment of others.

Statement 3 is also correct. Customary law obliges states to conduct Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for projects with potential cross-border impacts, promoting transparency and minimizing risks to neighbouring states.

Solution: A

Only statement 3 is correct. In T.M.A Pai Foundation v. State of Karnataka (2002), the Supreme Court laid down guidelines to determine the minority status of institutions and the extent of their administrative autonomy.

Statement 1 is incorrect as the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions Act, 2004, provides safeguards and legal recognition but does not grant absolute immunity from state regulation.

Statement 2 is also incorrect because institutions established before the Constitution came into force can also claim minority status if they meet the criteria.

Solution: C

Terahertz (THz) frequencies are extremely high-frequency waves that can carry massive amounts of data, though they suffer from limited range, making them suitable for specific, localized applications or indoor environments.

Integrated Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces (IIRS) help boost signal quality by reflecting signals towards areas with low coverage, ensuring stronger and more reliable connections.

Massive MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) technology enhances the capacity and efficiency of wireless networks by using multiple antennas to support a higher number of simultaneous connections, which is crucial for the expansive connectivity needs of 6G.

Solution: A

Only Statement 1 is correct.

CSR compliance is mandatory for companies with a net worth of ₹500 crore or more, an annual turnover of ₹1,000 crore or more, or a net profit of ₹5 crore or more.

Statement 2 is incorrect because both the company and responsible officers may face penalties for non-compliance. Officers can be fined or even face imprisonment for failing to meet CSR obligations.

Statement 3 is also incorrect as per the 2019 amendment; unspent CSR funds must be transferred to a specified fund by the end of the fiscal year and utilized within three years. If unutilized, these funds must be deposited into a government-specified fund, ensuring timely and effective CSR expenditure.

Solution: A

Statement 2 is incorrect.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was instrumental in the establishment of premier educational institutions like the IITs and also promoted liberal, universal education for a progressive India.

However, he was not the founder of the Indian Statistical Institute, which was founded by Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis. Azad’s efforts in education significantly shaped India’s academic landscape.

Solution: B

• Statement 3 is correct, making only one statement accurate. Certain fungal species, including some Aspergillus and Penicillium strains, have shown the potential to degrade synthetic plastics, such as polyurethane. This finding is significant in the context of bioremediation and sustainable waste management, as plastic pollution has become a global environmental crisis.
• Statement 1 is incorrect because fungi are eukaryotic organisms. They possess a membrane-bound nucleus, mitochondria, and other organelles, distinguishing them from prokaryotes like bacteria, which lack these features. Eukaryotic nature is a defining trait of the fungal kingdom.
• Statement 2 is also incorrect — lichens are symbiotic associations between a fungal partner (usually an ascomycete) and a photosynthetic partner, which may be either green algae or cyanobacteria. This mutualistic relationship allows lichens to colonize harsh environments by combining the fungus’s structural support with the photosynthetic partner’s energy production.

Solution: B

• Light fishing is a practice that uses artificial lighting to attract fish toward nets or traps, and while it increases short-term catch efficiency, it raises several ecological concerns.
• Statement 1 is incorrect — light fishing is not typically practiced during the monsoon, when sea conditions are rough and fish populations are naturally abundant. Instead, it is predominantly used during lean fishing months, especially between December and February, when fish catch is low. The artificial attraction of fish during these periods boosts economic returns but comes at a cost.
• Statement 2 is correct — artificial lights can disrupt the natural behavioral and reproductive cycles of marine organisms. Many fish species rely on natural light cues for spawning, migration, and feeding rhythms, and the presence of continuous artificial light can lead to physiological stress or failure to spawn.
• Statement 3 is also correct — artificial lights attract not only target species but a wide range of marine life, including juveniles and non-target species, thereby increasing the incidence of bycatch and contributing to biodiversity loss in marine ecosystems.

Solution: C

• Statement-I is correct. The Parker Solar Probe (PSP) is a groundbreaking NASA mission designed to study the outer atmosphere of the Sun, particularly the solar corona. By measuring the speed, density, and electric/magnetic fields of solar wind particles, PSP provides critical data that enhances our understanding and forecasting of space weather. This forecasting capability is vital for anticipating solar storms that can affect both space and Earth-based systems.
• Statement-II is incorrect. Contrary to the claim, space weather does not have a minimal effect—it can have severe consequences on satellite communications, GPS navigation, power grids, aviation systems, and even oil pipeline operations. Solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and geomagnetic storms can disrupt satellite electronics, induce currents in power lines, and lead to costly infrastructure failures. PSP’s insights allow scientists to model and predict such events more accurately, enabling better preparedness.

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is incorrect — xenotransplantation involves the transplantation of live tissues, organs, or cells from a non-human animal to a human, not from one human to another. The latter is called allotransplantation. Xenotransplantation represents a potential solution to the global shortage of human donor organs, especially for vital organs such as the heart, liver, and kidneys.
• Statement 2 is correct — this is the central promise of xenotransplantation. By using genetically modified animal organs (primarily from pigs due to their physiological similarities to humans), the technique could significantly reduce wait times and mortality rates for patients on transplant lists.
• Statement 3 is also correct — gene-editing tools such as CRISPR-Cas9 are used to eliminate or modify specific pig genes that trigger immune responses in humans. These genetic alterations reduce the likelihood of hyperacute or delayed rejection, increasing the viability of animal-to-human transplants.

Solution: B

• Green Grabbing refers to the appropriation of land, forests, water bodies, and resources under the pretext of achieving environmental goals, such as afforestation, carbon offsetting, or conservation.
• Often backed by governments, corporations, or international environmental regimes, such projects displace local or indigenous communities, threatening their livelihoods, food security, and traditional ecological knowledge systems.
• Unlike genuine community-based conservation, green grabbing commodifies nature for profit or global climate targets, frequently excluding local participation.