UPSC Editorials Quiz : 9 April 2026

Solution: D

• Statement 1 is incorrect; Manipur is not entirely governed under the Sixth Schedule. While there are autonomous structures in the hill areas, the extension of the Sixth Schedule remains a point of intense political contention, and the Meitei majority predominantly resides in the valley area, which is under the regular state administration.

Statement 2 is incorrect; while the government can suspend the internet under the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, there is no constitutional requirement to do so just because a state is under AFSPA. It is a discretionary security measure.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is incorrect; Article 22 (2) requires every person who is arrested and detained to be produced before the nearest magistrate within a period of 24 hours (not 48 hours), excluding the time necessary for the journey.
• Statement 2 is correct; the right to legal counsel is a fundamental right enshrined in Article 22.
• Statement 3 is correct; the K. Basu v. State of West Bengal (1997) case provided the benchmark procedures, such as the preparation of an arrest memo and notifying a relative, specifically designed to curb custodial violence.

Solution: A

• The Union Ministry of Education granted the NCERT university status in late March 2026 following recommendations from the UGC.
• Statement I is correct; the notification specifically places NCERT in the ‘De Novo’ category of deemed universities.
• Statement II is also correct and provides the definition of the term. A ‘De Novo’ institution is an institution that focuses on unique and emerging areas of knowledge that are not typically offered by existing traditional universities. This status was chosen for NCERT because of its specialized and pioneering role in school curriculum, teacher training, and educational research.

Statement II explains Statement I because the unique and specialized nature of NCERT’s work in the educational ecosystem is the primary reason why it was categorized as a ‘De Novo’ institution rather than a standard general university.

Solution: B

• In the context of nuclear physics and reactor operations, ‘criticality’ is a technical milestone. It is the precise state where the nuclear chain reaction becomes self-sustaining. This means that each fission event (the splitting of an atom) releases exactly enough neutrons to trigger exactly one more fission event, maintaining a steady and controlled rate of energy release.

It does not mean the plant is immediately generating electricity (Option a); that happens after further low-power tests and turbine synchronization. While the Kalpakkam PFBR is a “breeder” reactor that will eventually produce more fuel than it burns (Option c), the term ‘criticality’ itself refers to the operational state of the reaction, not the fuel-breeding ratio.

Solution: A

• Mexico’s geography is a blend of tectonic activity and diverse landforms.
• Statement 1 is correct; its location on the edge of the Pacific plate makes it one of the most seismically active regions in North America.
• Statement 2 is correct; the Rio Grande (Río Bravo) is a significant hydrological and political boundary.

Statement 3 is incorrect; the Sierra Madre Occidental (West) runs along the western coast, while the Sierra Madre Oriental (East) runs along the eastern coast. The mechanism of its resource wealth, including silver and petroleum, is tied to this complex tectonic history.