UPSC Editorials Quiz : 17 April 2026

Solution: A

• The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam introduces a significant reform by providing one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, and the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
• However, Statement 2 is incorrect. The implementation of this reservation is not immediate. The Act clearly states that the reservation will come into effect only after the completion of the next Census and the subsequent delimitation exercise. Since delimitation determines constituency boundaries and seat allocation, the reservation cannot be operationalized until this process is completed.
• Therefore, it is not guaranteed to apply to the 2029 General Elections; the timeline depends on when the census and delimitation are conducted.

Solution: B

• The 2026 Rules define plastic categories based on their physical properties and recyclability to streamline Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
• Category I refers to Rigid plastic packaging, which includes common items like High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) containers. These are generally the easiest to collect and recycle.
• Category II covers flexible plastics like carry bags and sachets, while Category III is for multi-layered plastics.
• The 2026 amendment is particularly notable for mandating 30% recycled content in Category I rigid packaging for the 2025-26 fiscal year, escalating to 60% by 2028-29. This represents a shift toward a circular economy focused on the reuse of materials.

Solution: A

• Only Statement 3 is correct. The IMD defines “Deficient” rainfall as any seasonal total that falls below 90% of the LPA. This is often a critical indicator for potential drought conditions.
• Statement 1 is incorrect; the current LPA for the southwest monsoon (June–September) is pegged at 87 cm, calculated based on the data for the period 1971–2020. The IMD updates this “normal” every decade to account for the impact of climate change on long-term trends.
• Statement 2 is incorrect because “Normal” is defined as a range—specifically 96% to 104% of the LPA. Deviations within +/- 10% of the LPA on an all-India scale are generally treated as normal or near-normal.

Other categories include “Below Normal” (90-95% of LPA), “Above Normal” (104-110%), and “Excess” (greater than 110%). These benchmarks are vital for the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and agricultural ministries when modeling inflation and crop yields.

Solution: A

• Both statements are correct, and Statement-II provides the scientific reasoning for the phenomenon described in Statement-I.
• The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is an atmospheric-oceanic phenomenon involving a difference in sea surface temperatures between the western and eastern Indian Ocean. A positive IOD (warm west, cool east) is considered highly favorable for India because it strengthens monsoon winds and moisture-bearing currents.
• It can even act as a significant mitigating factor during El Niño years; for instance, in 1997, one of the strongest El Niños on record was neutralized by a powerful positive IOD, resulting in normal rainfall for India. Conversely, a negative IOD (cool west, warm east) suppresses rainfall.
• Other drivers that the IMD monitors to offset negative oceanic conditions include the Northern Hemisphere snow cover, which has an inverse relationship with the monsoon—lower snow cover in winter and spring usually leads to a stronger subsequent summer monsoon.

Solution: B

• The “100-metre rule” has been a contentious issue in matters related to the protection of the Aravalli Range, one of the oldest fold mountain systems in the world. The rule pertains to how landforms are classified as part of the Aravallis based on elevation.
• In certain regulatory and legal contexts, particularly in cases concerning environmental protection and mining restrictions, authorities have used a height threshold of 100 metres to determine whether a land parcel qualifies as part of the Aravalli Hills. Areas above this elevation were treated as ecologically sensitive and thus subject to stricter protection norms, including restrictions on mining and construction.
• This criterion has been challenged in the Supreme Court of India because it is considered arbitrary and scientifically inadequate. Experts argue that the Aravalli ecosystem cannot be defined merely by elevation, as it ignores geological continuity, ecological significance, and degraded hill formations.
• The debate is significant because redefining the Aravallis could open up ecologically fragile zones to mining and urban expansion, especially in states like Haryana and Rajasthan.