UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 16 June 2026

Solution: B

• The India–France ATL Bridge is a high-level bilateral education and technology ecosystem corridor established through a joint partnership between the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog (Government of India), and La Fondation Dassault Systèmes (France).
• Statement 1 is incorrect because the initiative structurally links school-level innovators, educators, and technology frameworks, rather than higher education research institutes or deep-tech incubators. Its main goal is to democratize early-stage engineering, scientific temper, and design thinking among school-aged youth.
• Statement 2 is correct because a key feature of this initiative is exporting India’s grassroots tinkering framework to Europe, which includes establishing France’s first School Innovation Lab by replicating the Indian Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL) model to promote hands-on learning, robotics, AI, and 3D printing. Therefore, only statement 2 is correct.

Solution: A

• Statement-I is correct. Major chipmakers are undergoing a structural supply reallocation, shifting their production capacity away from standard consumer memory chips (like those used in smartphones and laptops) toward high-profit AI-specific chips. This shift has triggered global deficits in budget segments, such as LPDDR4 memory.
• Statement-II is correct and provides the precise underlying reason for this shift. Generative AI and cloud data centers handle massive datasets that cause performance lag when using conventional memory layouts. High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) solves this by vertically stacking multiple memory dies using microscopic through-silicon vias (TSVs). This advanced architecture allows data to stream to AI processors at blistering speeds, bypassing traditional motherboard bus bottlenecks.
• Because the technical necessity outlined in Statement-II is the direct driver behind the industrial reallocation mentioned in Statement-I, Statement-II is the correct explanation.

Solution: B

• Pair 1 is correctly matched. Bhagaiya silk is a traditional textile from Jharkhand known for its natural golden sheen, durability, and eco-friendly wild Tussar silk production.
• Pair 2 is correctly matched. Munda jewellery consists of traditional tribal ornaments handcrafted with unique geometric patterns and nature-inspired motifs, reflecting the centuries-old indigenous metalcraft traditions of the Munda community.
• Pair 3 is incorrectly matched. Kuchai is not a bamboo craft; it is actually a renowned type of traditional wild Tussar silk produced using indigenous hand-reeling techniques. The bamboo craft of Jharkhand is a separate, eco-friendly handicraft that uses local bamboo to create utility items like baskets and mats.

Solution: D

The BRICS Indore Declaration was unanimously adopted during the Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, under India’s BRICS Presidency. It serves as a comprehensive, farmer-centric framework aimed at strengthening food security and climate-resilient farming. All four initiatives are explicit features of the declaration:

• Initiative 1 is included: It establishes a collaborative platform for knowledge-sharing on natural, organic, and regenerative farming practices.
• Initiative 2 is included: It focuses on protecting indigenous seeds, traditional knowledge, and preserving farmers’ rights over seed resources.
• Initiative 3 is included: It encourages joint cooperation in AI, geospatial technologies, and digital public infrastructure within data-driven farming solutions.
• Initiative 4 is included: It facilitates the exchange of agricultural inputs, genetic resources, and technical expertise across the member countries.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is correct. The greater hog badger is the largest of the three globally extant hog badger species and holds a conservation status of Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. It is not confined to the high-altitude alpine meadows of the Western Himalayas; rather, its local range is widely distributed across the ecosystems of Northeast India, particularly within the riverine floodplain network of the Kaziranga landscape in Assam. Globally, its range extends eastward through Myanmar, Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Vietnam, inhabiting forest floors and grasslands with soft soils.
• Statement 3 is correct because, within India, it is granted the highest level of domestic statutory protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

Solution: D

• Statement 1 is incorrect. Bharat Innovates 2026 is hosted and run under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, rather than the Ministry of Science and Technology.
• Statement 2 is correct because its maiden edition was hosted in Nice, France, and the year 2026 is officially celebrated as the India-France Year of Innovation.
• Statement 3 is correct as the primary aim of the programme is to build a high-impact structural bridge that links Indian deep-tech startups and research laboratories with international corporate networks, investors, and overseas alumni.
• Statement 4 is correct because premier academic and scientific institutions like the IITs and IISc participate actively to showcase the country’s domestic research capabilities and foster industry-academia collaboration across 13 frontier technology sectors.

Solution: C

• Statement 1 is incorrect. The trapping of electrons inside an isolated floating gate to ensure permanent data retention when powered down is the defining characteristic of non-volatile NAND Flash memory, not DRAM. DRAM relies on microscopic capacitors that naturally leak electricity and require continuous power to refresh the charge millions of times per second.
• Statement 2 is incorrect because LPDDR4 memory is facing a severe production deficit and supply cuts of over 40%, which is driving up manufacturing costs and causing component shortages for budget and mid-range mobile devices, rather than lowering prices.
• Statement 3 is correct because data centers are adopting frugal infrastructure innovations like closed-loop cooling systems, which can reduce resource pressure by cutting water consumption by nearly 70%.

Solution: C

• Bharat Innovates 2026 brought 120 leading Indian deep-tech startups to Nice, France, to interact directly with global buyers, technology partners, and institutional investors. The innovations showcased during this maiden edition were strictly categorized across 13 frontier technology sectors. According to the framework, these critical sectors span a wide array of advanced scientific disciplines.
• All options listed are explicitly part of this core grouping: Quantum computing and Artificial Intelligence represent the computing stack; Smart mobility covers next-generation transportation solutions; Climate tech handles environmental sustainability; Biotechnology focuses on life sciences; and Space and Defence drive strategic engineering capabilities.

Solution: A

• Statement-I is correct. The oxbow lakes or beels scattered across Kaziranga are permanent and seasonal wetlands that serve a dual ecological purpose. They absorb excess water during monsoon swells to act as natural flood buffers, and they retain moisture during dry spells, turning into key foraging zones for herbivores like wild water buffalo and swamp deer.
• Statement-II is correct. The entire landscape is a product of the Brahmaputra River’s alluvial dynamics, which deposit silt, alter channels, and create these specific water bodies over time.
• Statement-II provides the direct geological explanation for Statement-I, as the riverine matrix and its cyclic flooding are what physically carve out and sustain the network of beels mentioned in Statement-I.

Solution: C

• Statement 1 is incorrect. In India, GI registrations are governed by a specific piece of legislation known as the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, rather than the Patents Act of 1970.
• Statement 2 is correct because a key feature of a GI tag is providing legal protection against duplication, which effectively prevents unauthorized use, counterfeiting, or imitation of the product’s name outside its officially notified geographical zone.
• Statement 3 is incorrect because GI tags focus on preserving traditional, indigenous, and community-based methods linked to a specific place of origin, rather than forcing an automatic shift to capital-intensive electronic automation. It empowers local artisans and boosts livelihoods by certifying authenticity.