UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 22 April 2026

Solution: D

• Rhodamine B is a synthetic industrial dye commonly used in textile dyeing, paper coloring, and laboratory applications such as fluorescent tracers. It produces a bright pink or reddish color and belongs to the group of xanthene dyes.
• However, Rhodamine B is not approved for use in food products because it is considered harmful to human health. Studies have shown that prolonged exposure may cause toxicity, organ damage, and potential carcinogenic effects.
• In recent years, food safety authorities have detected the illegal use of Rhodamine B in certain street foods and processed items to enhance their color and make them appear more attractive. For example, it has sometimes been found in artificially colored sweets, sauces, or chili powder.
• Because of these health risks, regulatory agencies such as the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) strictly prohibit its use in food. Food safety inspections frequently test products to detect such non-permitted synthetic dyes.

Solution: A

• Statement 2 is correct. The Blue Dragon (Glaucus atlanticus) is actually a tiny sea slug (nudibranch), not a lizard. It floats upside down by using the surface tension of the water and a gas bubble in its stomach.
• Statement 1 is incorrect as they are small marine invertebrates, not mythical lizards.
• Statement 3 is also incorrect because they are predators, not herbivores. They feed on venomous siphonophores like the Portuguese Man-O’-War. A fascinating part of their biology is kleptocnidia, where they ingest and store the stinging cells of their prey in their own finger-like appendages to use for defense. This makes their sting more powerful and painful than that of the creatures they eat.
• While usually found in tropical waters, their recent sightings in the Mediterranean (off the coast of Spain) have caused beach closures and are considered a bioindicator of warming sea temperatures and shifting ocean currents.

Solution: B

• Both statements are correct but they describe different aspects of the GI law (validity and rights) without a causal link.
• Statement I correctly identifies the 10-year validity and the provision for indefinite renewal, which is a unique feature of GIs compared to patents.
• Statement II accurately describes the negative right of a GI tag: it gives the registered proprietor the power to stop outsiders from misusing the name of the product. However, the ability to prohibit others (Statement II) is not the reason why the tag is renewable for 10 years (Statement I).
• The renewal is a procedural requirement to maintain the register, while the prohibition is the substantive right granted by the registration itself.

Solution: B

• The “Piracy Paradox” is a concept discussed in the context of cultural appropriation and fashion. It refers to a situation where the rapid imitation or “piracy” of traditional designs—such as those used in Kolhapur chappals or tribal textiles—actually helps drive trends and demand for the “new” look in the fashion industry.

However, this comes at the cost of cultural fairness, as the original, marginalized creators are neither acknowledged nor compensated, while large fashion houses profit from the repurposed designs. This paradox highlights the inadequacy of current IP laws (like the GI Act’s lack of design protection) to safeguard traditional cultural expressions that are often technically in the “public domain”.

Solution: C

• Statement 1 is correct. The National Industrial Classification (NIC) 2025 updates India’s industrial classification framework to reflect emerging economic activities. One of the key changes is the introduction of distinct categories related to the gig economy and platform-based services, such as app-based delivery, ride-hailing, and digital platform work. This update ensures that new forms of employment and economic activity are properly recorded in official statistics and national accounts.
• Statement 2 is also correct. The NIC framework is designed to be “technology-agnostic.” This means industries are classified based on the nature of the economic activity rather than the technology used to perform it. For example, whether a service is delivered through traditional methods or digital platforms, the classification primarily depends on the type of activity or output, ensuring comparability and consistency in economic statistics across time.

Solution: C

• The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) is a statutory corporation established under an Act of Parliament in 1963. Its core mandate is to act as a promotional and developmental financing institution for cooperative societies.
• Its primary function is the planning, promotion, and financing of programs related to the production, processing, marketing, storage, import, and export of agricultural produce, foodstuffs, and certain other notified commodities and services on cooperative principles.
• It provides financial assistance in the form of loans and grants to state governments and directly to eligible cooperatives.
• It does not regulate cooperative banks (which is primarily the RBI’s role), provide direct subsidies to farmers, or conduct elections for cooperative societies.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is incorrect. The H.I.N.E. (Science, Health and Innovation for Nextgen Explorers) initiative is not a scholarship programme for postgraduate biomedical research students. Instead, it is primarily designed as an outreach and awareness initiative aimed at younger students to spark interest in scientific careers related to health and biomedical research.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. The initiative is not a joint programme between the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Ministry of Education. It is largely associated with science outreach efforts led by health research institutions, particularly under bodies linked to biomedical research promotion, rather than a formal collaborative scheme with the Ministry of Education.
• Statement 3 is correct. The main objective of the initiative is to inspire school students to explore careers in health sciences, biomedical research, and innovation. Through interactive sessions, laboratory exposure, mentorship, and outreach activities, the programme seeks to nurture scientific curiosity and encourage the next generation to enter health-related research fields.

Solution: C

• Option (c) is the correct statement. In May 2025, scientists at the CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT) in Palampur reported a landmark technical breakthrough: the first flowering and seed setting of Heeng (Ferula assa-foetida) in India. This event is significant because it proves that the plant has successfully acclimatized to Indian conditions and completed its full reproductive cycle. Historically, India was 100% dependent on imports from Afghanistan, Iran, and Uzbekistan, spending over ₹900 crore annually. Heeng is not a tropical plant; it requires cold and arid (desert) conditions typical of high-altitude regions like Lahaul-Spiti.

Options (b) and (d) are incorrect because India is a consumer, not a producer, and the resin is actually extracted from the taproot and stem of the perennial plant after it reaches maturity in about five years. The mission, launched in 2020, utilized ecological niche modelling to find suitable semi-arid Himalayan sites for these trials.

Solution: D

• Under the Insecticides Act, 1968, the regulatory structure clearly distinguishes between advisory and executive functions. The Central Insecticides Board (CIB) is primarily an advisory body. It advises the Central and State Governments on technical matters related to the administration of the Act, including safety precautions, risk minimization, and regulatory standards. It does not grant registration certificates for insecticides. Therefore, Statement-I is incorrect.

The authority empowered to grant registration certificates for insecticides is the Registration Committee (RC). The RC scrutinizes applications for registration, evaluates data on efficacy and safety, and decides whether a particular insecticide can be manufactured, imported, or sold in India. Hence, Statement-II is also incorrect because advisory functions belong to the CIB, not the RC.

Solution: D

• Sirsi Supari – Karnataka: Sirsi Supari is a famous variety of arecanut grown in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka. It has received Geographical Indication (GI) status due to its unique quality, taste, and processing method specific to the region.
• Kovilpatti Kadalai Mittai – Tamil Nadu: This traditional peanut candy from Kovilpatti in Tamil Nadu is known for its distinct taste derived from locally sourced groundnuts and jaggery. It holds GI status recognizing its regional uniqueness.
• Chakhao – Manipur: Chakhao is the aromatic black rice grown in Manipur. It is nutritionally rich and culturally significant, and it has been granted GI status for its distinctive characteristics.
• Sojat Mehndi – Rajasthan: Sojat Mehndi from Rajasthan is renowned for its high lawsone content and deep staining quality. It has GI recognition for its superior henna leaves cultivated in the Sojat region.