UPSC Editorials Quiz : 28 May 2026

Solution: B

• The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically vital waterway connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It serves as one of the world’s most critical maritime oil transit chokepoints, handling approximately one-fifth of global oil traffic.
• Due to ongoing geopolitical conflicts in West Asia and associated blockades or transit threats in this passage, global oil supply chains have experienced significant pressure. This disruption has directly impacted state-run oil marketing companies in India, leading to multiple retail fuel price hikes in quick succession to compensate for rising costs.
• Securing this chokepoint is vital for India’s macroeconomic stability, as the country imports nearly 90% of its crude oil requirements.

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Solution: B

• The annual transfer of surplus profits from the central bank to the Union Government is legally mandated under Section 47 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. This section specifies that after making provisions for bad and doubtful debts, depreciation in assets, and contributions to staff and superannuation funds, the remaining net profits of the RBI are to be paid to the Central Government.
• For the fiscal year 2025–26, the RBI approved an all-time high surplus transfer of ₹2,86,588 crore, providing significant fiscal relief to the Centre. This allocation is calculated using the Economic Capital Framework (ECF), which was structured based on the recommendations of the Bimal Jalan Committee.
• While the committee originally suggested a Contingent Risk Buffer (CRB) range of 5.5% to 6.5%, the RBI board recently widened the operational buffer range to a more flexible 4.5% to 7.5%. By keeping the CRB at 6.5% for 2025–26, the RBI generated an expansive dividend payout.

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Solution: B

• Statement 1 is incorrect. Cyber warfare generally refers to hostile digital operations targeting another state’s critical infrastructure, communication systems, or information networks. However, such operations are not conducted solely by sovereign states. Non-state actors, proxy groups, hacker collectives, and state-sponsored organizations may also participate in cyber warfare activities. Therefore, restricting cyber warfare exclusively to sovereign-state actions is inaccurate.
• Statement 2 is correct. The Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, adopted under the Council of Europe, is the first international legally binding treaty dealing with cybercrime. It aims to harmonize national cybercrime laws, improve investigative techniques, and facilitate international cooperation and cross-border information sharing among law-enforcement agencies.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. India has not ratified or acceded to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime. India has expressed concerns regarding sovereignty, data-sharing mechanisms, and the fact that the convention was drafted without its participation. Consequently, India prefers developing alternative international cyber governance frameworks under broader multilateral processes such as the United Nations.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is incorrect because ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ was launched by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), rather than the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• Statement 2 is correct as the central objective of this campaign is to promote soil test-based nutrient management and systematically reduce the agricultural sector’s excessive dependence on chemical fertilizers, thereby safeguarding long-term soil health.

Statement 3 is correct because the initiative extensively leverages multi-platform outreach, including local governance institutions, farmer groups, media broadcasts, and social media, to conduct thousands of field demonstrations promoting sustainable options like green manuring and bio-fertilizers.

Solution: C

• Statements 1, 2, and 3 are correct. According to the Sample Registration Survey (SRS), India’s birth rate declined from 21 births per 1,000 population in 2014 to 18.3 in 2024, and the death rate reduced marginally from 6.7 to 6.4.
• The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) showed a sharp improvement, falling significantly from 39 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2014 to 24 in 2024. Additionally, the urban birth rate dropped more sharply (from 17.4 to 14.7) compared to the rural birth rate (from 22.7 to 20.2).
• Statement 4 is incorrect because a substantial rural-urban IMR divide still persists; urban IMR stands at 17, while rural IMR is at 27, demonstrating that rural infant mortality remains much higher than urban levels.