UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 2 June 2026

Solution: A

• Statement I: Pre-monsoon dust storms, traditionally confined to the core semi-arid pockets of Rajasthan, are demonstrating a structural shift. The trajectory of these weather systems is moving much deeper into the highly populated Indo-Gangetic basin, extending the impacts of poor visibility and compromised air quality. Hence, Statement I is correct.
• Statement II: Historically, the continuous altitude and vegetative cover of the Aravalli range acted as an essential physical barrier. Winds reaching these slopes would decelerate and drop their payloads, building unique obstacle dunes. Recent ecological surveys indicate that illegal mining has eliminated dozens of entire hillocks, creating 12 major operational gaps. Hence, Statement II is correct.
• The removal of these topographical barriers directly explains why high-velocity, dust-laden convective winds face no physical resistance, allowing them to carry sand and particulate material thousands of kilometers eastward into the plains. Therefore, Statement II directly provides the causal explanation for Statement I.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is correct: The weapon relies on a multi-stage propulsion cycle. The initial phase uses a solid fuel booster engine to achieve necessary launch velocity and detachment. Once separated, the second phase activates a liquid ramjet engine, which sustains cruise velocities near Mach 2.8.
• Statement 2 is correct: A core engineering feature of BrahMos is its universal platform design. The internal configuration of the missile remains identical across its multiple variants. It is protected and preserved inside a standardized Transport Launch Canister (TLC), allowing it to fit into mobile launchers, surface ships, submarine tubes, or modified aircraft with minor external adaptations.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: To effectively evade modern air defense radar, the missile uses an advanced sea-skimming capability during its terminal approach phase. It can drop its altitude as low as 5 meters above the water line, far below the 100-meter threshold suggested, minimizing radar cross-section visibility.

Solution: D

• Option (a) is incorrect: Monitoring international shipping lanes and tracking assets near the Malacca Strait falls under the operational purview of the Eastern Naval Command, given its geographical positioning.
• Option (d) is correct: The command structure splits responsibilities strategically. The Western Naval
• Option (b) is incorrect: The Eastern Naval Command is headquartered at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, not Kolkata, providing deep-water port access to project power across the wider Bay of Bengal.
• Option (c) is incorrect: Frontline operational commands are commanded by three-star flag officers holding the rank of Vice Admiral. The four-star rank of Admiral is held by a single officer, the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), who serves as the administrative and operational head of the entire branch.

Command (Mumbai) and Eastern Naval Command (Visakhapatnam) manage defensive and offensive operations in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal respectively. The Southern Naval Command, centered in Kochi, is designated as the core training and institutional backbone of the force.

Solution: D

• Statement 1 is incorrect: The designation “Blue” is an administrative calendar term representing a second full moon within one calendar month. It does not imply a physical color change; the moon retains its normal pearly-gray appearance unless rare atmospheric conditions like volcanic ash scatter light wavelengths.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: A Micromoon occurs when a full moon coincides with apogee, which is the farthest point in its elliptical orbit around Earth (approximately 403,945 km). Perigee is the point of closest approach, which characterizes a Supermoon.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: While standard Blue Moons take place every 2 to 3 years, the convergence of a Blue Moon specifically at peak orbital distance (Apogee) to form a Blue Micromoon is rare. The next occurrence of this alignment will not happen until the year 2053.

Solution: A

• Option (a) is correct: Amolops kamal is a true cascade frog found near Singrep village in Nagaland. These amphibians are adapted to turbulent, fast-moving mountain streams and waterfalls. They use large digital discs on their toes to maintain a secure grip on slick rock faces. The study highlights that it is a cryptic species—meaning it looks physically identical to related frogs but possesses a distinct, separate genetic lineage.
• Option (b) is incorrect: The species is a torrent/cascade frog, not a canopy-dwelling tree frog, and it was found in the hills of Nagaland rather than the Western Ghats.
• Option (c) is incorrect: It is adapted to rugged, fast-flowing mountain streams rather than slow-moving low-lying swamps, and its distribution is tied to the mountain ecosystems of Kiphire district.

Option (d) is incorrect: The identification required integrative taxonomy, which combines standard physical body measurements with advanced molecular phylogenetic DNA mapping. It does not belong to a new family but sits within the established genus Amolops (family Ranidae).

Solution: B

• Ruwenzori Range (1-Q): Situated right along the shared frontier with Uganda, this major non-volcanic alpine system contains Margherita Peak (5,109 meters), which is the highest altitude point within the DRC. It is notable for hosting rare equatorial glaciers.
• Virunga Mountains (2-P): This mountain system is a highly active volcanic chain located within the Western Rift Valley framework. It features prominent active volcanoes, such as Mount Nyiragongo, which present ongoing geothermal risks to nearby populations.
• Ubangi-Uele Plateaus (3-R): Located along the northern boundaries of the central low-lying basin, these elevated plateaus form a natural topographic watershed divide. This high ground separates rivers draining into the Congo River system from those feeding the upper Nile River basin.

Solution: C

• Statement I: The ABDM framework uses a data-routing model that prioritizes data privacy. The HIE-CM component acts as a secure operational gateway, ensuring that medical records are only shared when authorized. Hence, Statement I is correct.
• Statement II: The underlying concept of the HIE-CM excludes centralized data storage. It operates on a decentralized infrastructure where records remain with their respective health facilities. It acts as a router rather than a repository, and access requires explicit, electronic, and revocable consent from the patient, meaning insurers cannot view files at will. Hence, Statement II is incorrect.

Solution: A

• Option (a) is correct: To maintain objectivity and prevent potential evaluator bias, the OSM workflow requires that student identifying information, such as roll numbers and barcode sequences, be digitally masked before the scanned booklets are made available on the evaluation portal.
• Option (b) is incorrect: The platform uses auto-tabulation software that automatically aggregates question scores into a final tally, preventing manual arithmetic errors and creating a clear digital log of all inputs.
• Option (c) is incorrect: Booklets are collected at local centers, scanned, and uploaded directly to a secure cloud platform, replacing physical shipping with a digital evaluation canvas.
• Option (d) is incorrect: The contract incorporates a strict Service Level Agreement (SLA) that penalizes software downtime or page-loading lags at a rate of ₹1 lakh per 15 minutes, ensuring system responsiveness.

Solution: C

The DRC sits directly on the Equator in Central Africa. Its northern border is shared with the Central African Republic and South Sudan. In contrast, Zambia and Angola bound the country on its southern and southwestern borders, while Tanzania lies across Lake Tanganyika along the eastern Rift Valley interface.

Solution: B

• Project Deepak is one of the oldest and most vital executive wings of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). It was raised in 1961 with its headquarters in Shimla. Its primary area of responsibility includes the challenging terrains of the Western Himalayas, specifically within the state of Himachal Pradesh.
• Statement (b) is the correct choice as the project is entrusted with the construction and maintenance of over 1,100 km of road network, including the historic Hindustan-Tibet Road and the vital Manali-Leh axis. The project plays a dual role: it ensures national security by providing the Indian Armed Forces with reliable lines of communication and fosters regional development for remote tribal populations in districts like Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur.
• By maintaining all-weather connectivity, Project Deepak facilitates trade, tourism, and access to essential services in high-altitude zones. It operates under the Ministry of Defence, reflecting the strategic nature of border infrastructure. The project also remains in a state of high readiness for disaster management and humanitarian assistance in the ecologically sensitive Himalayan region.