UPSC Editorials Quiz : 10 April 2026

Solution: D

• Statement-I is incorrect because the SITAA Scheme (Scheme for Innovation and Technology Association with Aadhaar) was launched by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), not directly by MeitY, although UIDAI operates under MeitY.
• Statement-II is correct. The primary aim of SITAA is to fortify India’s digital identity ecosystem against emerging threats like deepfakes and presentation attacks. It brings together startups, academia, and industry to co-develop advanced solutions.

The scheme specifically features challenges like Face Liveness Detection (using AI to detect photos, videos, or masks) and Presentation Attack Detection (detecting fake biometric inputs in real-time). Strategic partners for the scheme include the MeitY Startup Hub (MSH) and NASSCOM.

Solution: C

• Aadi Vaani is an innovative AI-powered translation tool launched by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. It is billed as India’s first AI translator dedicated to tribal languages, developed to preserve linguistic diversity and improve communication in remote tribal regions.
• Statement 2 is correct; it enables real-time translation between major languages like Hindi/English and low-resource tribal languages like Santali, Bhili, and Mundari, while others like Garo and Kui are under development.

The project is part of the Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh celebrations to empower tribal communities and strengthen constitutional values of cultural diversity. Aadi Vaani is being tested through the ‘Adi Karmayogi’ initiative, a nationwide capacity-building program covering 1 lakh villages. It also aims to digitally preserve tribal folklore and oral traditions for future generations.

Solution: A

• A-2-ii: Skimmers are mechanical devices designed to physically remove oil from the water surface. Their primary advantage is that they recover oil without introducing chemicals, making them suitable for surface spills where the oil remains buoyant and has not emulsified.
• B-3-iii: Bioremediation involves using microbes (bacteria/fungi) to metabolize (digest) hydrocarbons into non-toxic byproducts like CO2. It is considered an eco-friendly method, particularly useful for treating residual oil in sensitive habitats like mangroves or marshes where mechanical tools cannot reach.
• C-1-i: Dispersants are chemical surfactants that break the oil slick into tiny droplets. This process increases the surface area of the oil, which enhances the rate of natural microbial degradation. However, they are controversial because they move the pollution into the water column and can be toxic to marine life.

Solution: A

• Statement I is correct: Nanoplastics are widely regarded as more dangerous than microplastics. While microplastics primarily cause localized irritation in the gut or lungs, nanoplastics can be distributed throughout the entire body, reaching vital organs like the liver, heart, and brain.
• Statement II is correct: The enhanced hazard of nanoplastics is directly tied to their size. Particles in the nanometer range can bypass biological barriers (like the blood-brain barrier or placental barrier) that larger microplastics cannot. They penetrate cell membranes via endocytosis (engulfment by the cell membrane) or direct diffusion, leading to intracellular oxidative stress, DNA damage, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Since this ability to enter the systemic circulation and individual cells is exactly why they are more toxic than the larger, more inert microplastics, Statement II provides a correct and direct explanation for Statement I.

Solution: A

• The Bar-headed Goose is the star visitor of the Pong Dam Lake (Maharana Pratap Sagar) in Himachal Pradesh.
• Statement I is correct. These geese are among the world’s highest-flying birds, capable of crossing the Himalayas at altitudes of 7,000–9,000 meters, where oxygen levels are 50% lower than at sea level.
• Statement II is correct. Their physiological adaptations include a high-affinity hemoglobin, larger lungs, and a strike in mitochondrial enzyme kinetics that allows them to maintain high metabolic rates even in extreme hypoxia.
• Statement III is correct. Despite their unique biological feats, they are globally listed as “Least Concern” by the IUCN because they have a large population and a wide breeding range across Central Asia. In India, they are protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Pong Dam Lake is also a Ramsar site.