UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 24 April 2026

Solution: D

• The Atal Pension Yojana (APY) is a voluntary and contributory social security scheme, not mandatory, making Statement 1 incorrect. It focuses on providing a steady income stream to the underprivileged in the unorganized sector.
• Statement 2 is correct; a key policy change effective from October 1, 2022, excludes income-tax payers from joining the scheme to ensure benefits are targeted at the non-tax-paying lower-income groups.
• Statement 3 is correct and represents a unique feature of APY—the Government Guarantee. If the actual returns on the pension contributions are insufficient to provide the promised fixed pension (ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹5,000), the Central Government funds the gap. The scheme is regulated by the PFRDA and encourages a savings culture through an auto-debit facility from savings accounts.

Solution: B

• Haemophilia is a rare genetic bleeding disorder.
• Statement 1 is incorrect because it follows an X-linked recessive inheritance pattern. Since males have only one X chromosome, they are predominantly affected. Females, having two X chromosomes, are typically carriers and rarely show severe symptoms.
• Statement 2 is correct; Haemophilia B is caused by a deficiency in Factor IX and is historically referred to as Christmas Disease.
• Statement 3 is correct; while it is mostly inherited, about 33% of cases arise from spontaneous mutations where no family history exists. India has the world’s second-largest burden of this disease. Modern management includes prophylaxis (regular factor infusions) and cutting-edge gene therapy, which aims to enable the body to produce its own clotting factors.

Solution: D

• IN-SLN DIVEX 2026 is the fourth edition of the India–Sri Lanka Diving Exercise. It is a specialized bilateral naval exercise focused specifically on diving and underwater operations. Its primary aim is to enhance the capability of the Indian and Sri Lankan Navies to work together during underwater salvage, search, and rescue
• This exercise is a key component of India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) policy and the MAHASAGAR vision, which positions India as a preferred security partner and first responder in the Indian Ocean Region. During the 2026 edition, India also demonstrated humanitarian outreach by handing over BHISM cubes (portable medical units) and providing ammunition to the Sri Lankan Navy, reinforcing maritime camaraderie.

Solution: C

• Domuhani is the geographically and industrially significant confluence where the Kharkai River meets the Subarnarekha River. This confluence is located in Jamshedpur, East Singhbhum. The Kharkai is the most prominent tributary of the Subarnarekha. This region is the heart of India’s industrial belt, supporting massive copper and steel industries.
• While the Hundru Falls (option b) is another famous feature of the river, and the Bay of Bengal (option a) is its mouth near Talsari, ‘Domuhani’ specifically denotes the meeting of these two vital water bodies. The river’s basin, though relatively small, is critical for the tribal communities of the Chhota Nagpur region.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is incorrect; the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) is the nodal ministry, as the scheme involves heavy coordination with the top 500 companies and corporate processes.
• Statement 2 is correct; to provide a social safety net during the 12-month industry immersion, interns are provided with insurance cover under both the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana. The scheme’s pilot phase, launched in October 2024, focuses on developing workplace competencies like problem-solving and adaptability, transforming youth from students into job-ready professionals.

Solution: C

• Statement 1: Automotive manufacturers have updated engine designs (materials for seals and gaskets) to be E20 compliant.
• Statement 2: Ethanol is corrosive to certain rubbers and metals used in older vehicle fuel systems, potentially leading to wear.
• Statement 3: Ethanol is an “oxygenated” fuel; it contains oxygen in its chemical structure, which promotes cleaner and more complete combustion. This reduces the output of carbon monoxide and unburnt hydrocarbons. These factors combined make E20 a strategic choice for cleaner mobility and reducing oil price volatility impacts on the economy, despite the slight fuel efficiency trade-off.

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is incorrect because Kar Saathi was launched by the Income Tax Department, which falls under the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), not CBIC.
• Statement 3 is incorrect because the platform is explicitly designed to provide 24×7 assistance through its AI-powered interface, allowing taxpayers to get help at any time of day or night.
• Statement 2 is correct; the portal is a strategic tool to help taxpayers navigate the legal and procedural changes introduced in the Income Tax Act, 2025. It simplifies compliance support and return filing, aiming to enhance the overall taxpayer experience through technology-driven governance.

Solution: A

• Statement I is correct because Keynesian economics traditionally focuses on managing demand. In a standard recession, increasing demand lowers unemployment. In standard inflation, decreasing demand lowers prices. However, in Stagflation, both problems exist simultaneously.
• Statement II is correct and provides the fundamental reason for the dilemma described in Statement I. Because the root cause is a negative supply shock (like a 2026 oil blockade), the supply curve shifts left. This means that at any given price, the economy produces less. If the government tries to fix the “stagnation” by pumping money into the economy (increasing demand), they move further up the shifted supply curve, causing even higher inflation.

Thus, Statement II explains why the traditional tools are ineffective and why the dilemma exists. The only effective solution is usually supply-side reform to shift the supply curve back to the right.

Solution: B

• Statement I is correct; tar balls are often mistaken for food by marine life. Ingestion leads to the intake of toxic hydrocarbons and heavy metals, causing internal poisoning. They also coat the feathers of birds, impairing their ability to fly.
• Statement II is also correct; because they are the “heavy” remnants of oil that have already undergone weathering, they are extremely persistent and do not break down easily. However, Statement II is not the explanation for Statement I.
• The harm caused (Statement I) is due to the chemical toxicity and physical stickiness of the tar balls, not simply because they last a long time. While their persistence increases the probability of an encounter, the mechanism of harm is the ingestion/coating itself. Thus, both are independent facts about the nature and impact of tar balls.

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is incorrect because MUDRA (Micro Units Development & Refinance Agency) is not a direct lending bank; it is a refinancing agency. It does not have its own branches that lend directly to the public.
• Statement 2 is correct, as MUDRA provides refinance support to commercial banks, Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Small Finance Banks, NBFCs, and MFIs, which then lend to the end-user.
• Statement 3 is incorrect because the “Shishu” category is for start-ups or early-stage businesses with a loan limit of up to ₹50,000. For diversification and scaling, the “Tarun” and “Tarun Plus” categories are utilized. The PMMY aims to “Fund the Unfunded” by bringing small, non-corporate, and non-farm enterprises into the formal credit system.

By providing collateral-free loans, it reduces the entry barrier for micro-entrepreneurs who previously relied on informal, high-interest moneylenders. The inclusion of the MUDRA Card, a RuPay debit card, allows for flexible management of working capital, which is critical for the liquidity of small units.