UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 13 May 2026

Solution: A

• The SEHAT Mission represents a historic policy shift in India’s approach to public health. Historically, healthcare has been largely reactive, focusing on treating diseases after they manifest.
• Statement I is correct because the mission explicitly aims to transition toward a proactive model, where the focus is on preventing diseases through nutritional interventions.
• Statement II is also correct as it identifies the structural mechanism of this shift: the formal partnership between ICAR (Ministry of Agriculture) and ICMR (Ministry of Health). By integrating agricultural science with medical research, the mission aims to ensure that the food grown on farms is scientifically aligned with the nutritional requirements of the population. This “farm-to-plate” scientific chain addresses the root cause of malnutrition and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
• Statement II serves as the correct explanation for Statement I because the proactive prevention mentioned in the first statement is made possible by the inter-sectoral convergence and the scientific framework described in the second statement. This whole-of-government approach ensures that agricultural policy is not just about yield, but about nutritional security and disease prevention, thereby operationalizing the proactive healthcare model.

Solution: D

• The VB-G RAM G Act, 2025, which is set to replace MGNREGA in July 2026, introduces several structural enhancements to rural employment.
• Statement 1 is correct as it increases the statutory guarantee from the previous 100 days to 125 days, providing a more robust social safety net.
• Statement 2 is correct regarding the “Agricultural Season Pause.” This is a strategic intervention to prevent labor shortages in the primary sector; states are required to notify a 60-day period annually during peak sowing and harvesting when mission works are suspended, ensuring that the employment guarantee does not compete with essential farming activities.
• Statement 3 is correct as the mission emphasizes technology-led transparency. It incorporates face authentication for attendance and biometric authentication for all financial transactions to curb leakages. Furthermore, the use of geospatial technology facilitates real-time monitoring of asset creation.
• The mission shifts focus from mere survival-based manual labor to the creation of productive, durable assets such as water security and livelihood infrastructure, aligned with the Viksit Bharat @2047 By integrating these technological and structural reforms, the mission aims to foster long-term financial resilience in rural India.

Solution: C

• Statements 1, 2, and 3 are correct.
• Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) are complex regulatory hurdles that act as invisible costs in trade. Unlike tariffs, which are direct taxes, NTBs include diverse measures such as SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) and TBT (Technical Barriers to Trade). SPS measures ensure food safety and prevent the spread of diseases (e.g., pesticide limits in grapes), while TBT covers technical specifications like packaging and labeling.
• Statement 4 is incorrect. The World Trade Organization (WTO) does not strictly prohibit NTBs. Instead, it recognizes that many NTBs serve legitimate public policy goals, such as ensuring consumer safety or environmental protection. The WTO’s role is to ensure these measures are not used as disguised protectionism.
• Through the SPS and TBT Agreements, the WTO mandates that such regulations must be based on scientific evidence and applied in a non-discriminatory Member countries are also required to notify the WTO of new regulations to maintain transparency. According to UNCTAD, NTBs now impose higher trade costs than traditional tariffs for the vast majority of countries, acting as a geopolitical tool to secure strategic sectors.

Solution: D

• The Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, located in the Almora district of Uttarakhand, is a vital protected area in the Central Himalayas.
• Statement 1 is correct as the sanctuary was established in 1988 with a focus on conserving the shrinking broad-leaf oak (Quercus) forests, which are essential for the region’s water cycle and biodiversity.
• Statement 2 is correct regarding its historical significance; it was the summer capital for the Chand rulers of Kumaon. Later, during the British era, it remained an administrative and retreat center under figures like Sir Henry Ramsay.
• Statement 3 is correct as Zero Point (Jhandi Dhaar), reaching an altitude of approximately 2,500 meters, is the sanctuary’s summit. It is renowned for offering a 360-degree view of major Himalayan peaks, including Nanda Devi, Kedarnath, Trisul, and Panchachuli. The sanctuary’s topography, characterized by rugged ridges and deep gorges, supports a diverse range of fauna, including leopards, Himalayan gorals, and over 200 bird species.
• The recent 2026 scientific census highlights its continued importance in documenting critical wildlife movement corridors and species like the red fox.

Solution: C

• Statement I is correct as the initiative is designed to integrate judicial information into a single “source of truth.”
• Statement II is also correct and serves as an explanation for how Statement I is achieved; the multi-level synchronization across Taluka, District, and High Courts is what eliminates data fragmentation. By connecting these records, the initiative provides a comprehensive digital trail for every case.
• Statement III is incorrect. While ‘Su Sahay’ is an AI-powered chatbot launched alongside this initiative, its purpose is not to automate judgments for judges. Instead, it is a litigant-centric tool developed by the NIC to help citizens navigate court services. It provides guidelines on filing processes and case statuses, acting as a 24/7 digital helpdesk for the general public. It does not possess the legal authority or function to deliver judicial verdicts.

Solution: B

• The VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 specifies a Centrally Sponsored Scheme funding structure that varies based on the administrative and geographical category of the state or UT.
• Match 1 is correct as North-Eastern states receive 90% central funding.
• Match 2 is correct because Union Territories without legislatures (like Ladakh or Chandigarh) are funded 100% by the Central Government.
• Match 3 is incorrect. Himalayan States (such as Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh) are categorized alongside North-Eastern states for funding purposes, receiving a 90:10 share, not 60:40. The 60:40 ratio is reserved for other general category States and Union Territories that possess their own legislatures (like Delhi or Puducherry). This tiered funding model acknowledges the fiscal constraints and developmental challenges faced by hilly and border regions.
• The mission’s financial structure is designed to support the Viksit Gram Panchayat Plan (VGPP), which integrates local planning with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. By ensuring adequate central support, the mission aims to transition rural employment toward high-impact, durable infrastructure that aids long-term economic growth.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is correct. The National Jute Board (NJB) is a statutory body, governed by the National Jute Board Act of 2008 and formally enacted in February 2009.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. Although the NJB works closely with farmers, it operates under the Ministry of Textiles, not the Ministry of Agriculture. This is because its primary mandate is the overall development of the jute industry, including organized and decentralized sectors, to make them globally competitive.
• Statement 3 is correct. The NJB has a social welfare component; it extends scholastic incentives to the children of workers in the jute sector and addresses health-related issues within the workforce. This holistic approach ensures that the development of the sector includes the well-being of the human capital involved.
• Other functions of the board include Research and Development for innovative jute applications, providing financial assistance for the modernization of mills, and promoting Indian Jute in international markets. By bridging the gap between technological innovations and field-level implementation, the NJB aims to increase India’s share in the global jute market.

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is incorrect. According to the UNCTAD classification, NTMs are divided into Technical and Non-Technical Technical measures include SPS and TBT (safety and standards). Quantitative restrictions, such as quotas or bans, are classified as Non-Technical Measures. These are direct interventions in the volume of trade rather than regulations on the product’s characteristics.
• Statement 2 is correct. Rules of Origin are vital Non-Technical NTMs that determine where a product was manufactured. This is essential for applying customs duties correctly, especially under Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) where products from specific countries enjoy lower rates.
• Statement 3 is correct. Price control measures are used to support domestic prices or counteract unfair trade practices. This includes anti-dumping duties (levied on goods sold below market value) and various administrative fees that increase the cost of imports. Understanding these distinctions is crucial because NTMs function as compliance hurdles. While they can serve legitimate goals like safety, they are also used as tools for strategic protectionism in the modern global economy, often being more restrictive than traditional tariffs.

Solution: B

• Both Statement I and Statement II are correct, but they describe different technological components of the JCIS. Statement I focuses on the macro-monitoring aspect—using satellite data from ISRO to track the overall area and health of the jute crop across various districts. This provides a “bird’s-eye view” and helps in identifying environmental stresses like drought or floods.
• Statement II focuses on the micro-level estimation of yield. Smart sampling for Crop Cutting Experiments (CCE) uses geospatial data to select representative sample plots, which significantly improves the accuracy of production estimates compared to older, manual methods.
• While both are part of the JCIS ecosystem, Statement II does not explain why or how Statement I (satellite imagery) is used. Rather, they are complementary features of a “state-of-the-art” digital platform.
• The JCIS, a collaboration between the National Jute Board, ISRO, and JCI, aims to provide a geo-referenced, evidence-based framework for the jute sector. By integrating real-time weather analytics and digital tools like BHUVAN JUMP and PATSAN, it enables targeted policy interventions and rapid disaster assessment, modernizing the entire crop monitoring process.

Solution: D

• Japan’s geography is a direct product of its position on the Pacific Ring of Fire (1-A), an area characterized by frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
• Mount Fuji (2-B), standing at 12,388 feet, is a classic example of the volcanic activity in the region, forming a near-perfect cone. The mechanism driving this instability is subduction (3-C), where the Pacific Plate and the Philippine Sea Plate sink beneath the Eurasian Plate. This movement creates deep undersea trenches like the Nankai Trough. When these plates slip or snap, they release massive energy, causing earthquakes. If the quake occurs undersea, it can displace huge volumes of water, leading to tsunamis. Japan’s rugged coastline and mountainous terrain are also results of these tectonic forces.
• The country has at least 60 active volcanoes, and many large volcanic depressions, or calderas, have filled with water to form lakes like Lake Towada.