UPSC Editorials Quiz : 5 May 2026

Solution: B

• Statement-I is correct. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted a revised greenhouse gas strategy in 2023, setting an ambitious target to achieve net-zero emissions from international shipping by or around 2050. This reflects growing global concern over the contribution of maritime transport to climate change and aligns with broader international decarbonisation efforts.
• Statement-II is also correct. The IMO is indeed a specialized agency of the United Nations, headquartered in London, responsible for regulating shipping in terms of safety, security, and environmental performance. It develops international conventions such as MARPOL (for pollution prevention) and SOLAS (for safety of life at sea).
• However, Statement-II does not explain Statement-I. While Statement-II describes the nature and functions of the IMO, it does not specifically explain why or how the IMO set the net-zero emissions target. The target arises from global climate commitments and negotiations among member states, not merely from the IMO’s institutional identity.

Solution: D

• The circumsporozoite protein (CSP) is a major surface protein found on the sporozoite stage of the malaria parasite (Plasmodium), which is the form transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected Anopheles CSP plays a crucial role in the parasite’s life cycle, particularly in the pre-erythrocytic (liver) stage. After entering the bloodstream, sporozoites rapidly travel to the liver, where CSP facilitates their attachment to and invasion of hepatocytes (liver cells).
• This protein is not a toxin and does not directly cause fever; the fever in malaria is associated with the rupture of red blood cells during the blood stage. CSP is also not a human enzyme, nor is it involved in mosquito host detection.
• Importantly, CSP is a key target for malaria vaccines, such as the RTS,S vaccine, because blocking CSP can prevent the parasite from establishing infection in the liver. Hence, it is best described as a surface protein enabling liver cell invasion.

Solution: C

• Statement 1 is correct: CWD is unique because the “shedding” of prions (via saliva, urine, and feces) contaminates the environment. Plants can actually take up prions through their roots, making the vegetation itself infectious to other deer.
• Statement 2 is correct: This is the most “zombie-like” feature. Because prions are not “alive” (they are just proteins), they don’t “die.” They remain stable and infectious even in extreme weather or when buried in soil.
• Statement 3 is correct: Research has shown that if a scavenger eats an infected deer carcass, the prions can pass through their digestive tract undamaged. The scavenger then moves to a new area and defecates, effectively “seeding” the disease in a previously clean environment.
• This environmental persistence is why “culling” (killing) an infected herd often fails to stop the disease; the land itself remains a “hot zone” for years.

Solution: A

• The 2021–25 estimation highlights shifting demographic patterns among Asian elephants in India.
• Statement 1 is correct as the Western Ghats remains the premier stronghold, accounting for 11,934 individuals out of a total population of 22,446, which is more than 50%.
• Statement 2 is incorrect because while Karnataka holds the top spot (6,013 elephants), Odisha has witnessed a sharp decline of 54% in its elephant population. This decline is attributed to habitat degradation and extensive mining activities, contradicting the idea of a population increase.
• Statement 3 is correct because the Shivalik Hills and Gangetic Plains host 2,062 elephants, whereas the Central India and Eastern Ghats cluster has only 1,891 elephants. This data suggests that the northern landscapes are maintaining or growing their populations more effectively than the fragmented habitats of Central India.
• Interestingly, states like Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh have seen a rise in numbers, largely due to migration from disturbed eastern regions like Jharkhand and Odisha. This reflects a “refugee” movement of elephants seeking safer habitats away from industrial and mining pressure.

Solution: A

• The New Development Bank (NDB) represents a paradigm shift in South-South cooperation.
• Statement-I is correct because the bank was co-founded by the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) specifically to address the financing gaps in emerging markets and to reduce dependence on Western-led financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank. These traditional institutions have often been criticized for their stringent conditionality and Western-centric governance.
• Statement-II is also correct and serves as the explanation for Statement-I. The NDB’s governance structure is uniquely democratic; the initial authorized capital of $100 billion was subscribed equally by the five founding members. By ensuring that no single nation holds a veto and that voting rights remain equal among founders, the NDB structurally differentiates itself from the World Bank’s “weighted voting” system.
• This equality reinforces the bank’s objective of promoting sovereignty and equity in development finance. The bank’s focus on sustainable infrastructure and its pioneering use of local currency lending and green bonds further highlight its role as a reformist entity in the global financial architecture.