UPSC Editorials Quiz : 12 June 2026

Solution: B

• The report “Climate Investment Opportunities in India’s Cooling Sector” was released as a World Bank-supported study in collaboration with various partners. The report highlighted that rising temperatures and severe heat waves could place nearly 5% of India’s GDP (about USD 329 billion) at risk by 2030 due to heat-stress-induced productivity losses. It emphasized the need for sustainable cooling solutions, expansion of cold-chain infrastructure, energy-efficient cooling technologies, and climate-resilient urban planning.

Source

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is correct. Wet-bulb temperature is the lowest temperature to which air can be cooled through the process of evaporation of water at constant pressure. It is measured using a thermometer whose bulb is covered with a wet cloth and exposed to airflow. Wet-bulb temperature combines the effects of both air temperature and humidity and is therefore a more realistic indicator of heat stress on the human body than dry-bulb temperature alone.
• Statement 2 is correct. A wet-bulb temperature of approximately 35°C has long been considered a theoretical upper limit for human survival. At this level, the human body can no longer effectively dissipate heat through sweating because the surrounding air is already saturated with moisture. Even healthy individuals resting in the shade with unlimited water intake may face life-threatening heat stress if exposed for prolonged periods. Recent research suggests severe health risks may occur even at somewhat lower wet-bulb temperatures, but 35°C remains the widely cited benchmark for survivability.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. High relative humidity increases, rather than lowers, the wet-bulb temperature. When humidity is high, sweat evaporates less efficiently, reducing the body’s ability to cool itself. As a result, heat becomes more dangerous, not safer, for outdoor workers and vulnerable populations.

Source

Solution: D

Statement 1 is incorrect. Ground-level ozone (GLO) is not a primary pollutant directly emitted into the atmosphere. It is a secondary pollutant formed through photochemical reactions involving nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of sunlight. Major sources of these precursor pollutants include vehicular emissions, industrial activities, thermal power plants, and the use of solvents. Thus, ozone itself is not directly released from industrial operations or engines.

Statement 2 is incorrect. Urban forests and green belts do not function as absolute biological sinks that always reduce ozone concentrations. Vegetation can help improve air quality in many situations, but the relationship between plants and ozone is complex. Some plant species emit biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs), which can contribute to ozone formation under suitable atmospheric conditions. Consequently, green areas cannot be assumed to consistently suppress ozone levels in all circumstances.

Statement 3 is incorrect.
Under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), 2009, ozone standards are prescribed for 1-hour and 8-hour averaging periods, not primarily for a continuous 24-hour average. The standards are:

• 1-hour average: 180 µg/m³
• 8-hour average: 100 µg/m³

The value of 100 µg/m³ is associated with the 8-hour average, not a 24-hour average limit.

Therefore, all three statements are incorrect.

Solution: B

• India shares a highly strategic 1,643-kilometer-long international land border with Myanmar. This boundary runs along the rugged terrain of the northeastern region and directly abuts four Indian States: Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram.
• Assam does not share a direct land border with Myanmar, as it is geographically separated by Nagaland and Manipur.

Solution: B

PM SVANidhi is structured as a joint administrative initiative between the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and the Department of Financial Services (DFS). Because street vendors operate primarily within municipal limits, MoHUA handles urban deployment and identification, while the DFS coordinates with banking institutions to ensure smooth, collateral-free credit delivery channels.