UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 22 June 2026

Solution: D

• The Tenth Schedule provides specific nuances for different categories of legislators.
• Statement 1 is incorrect because exceptions exist under the law; a legislator does not lose their seat if their original political party merges with another, provided at least two-thirds of the members of the legislature party agree to the merger.
• Statement 2 is also incorrect because a nominated member is not permanently barred from joining a political party. The framework allows a nominated legislator a grace period of six months from the date they take their seat to join any political party without facing disqualification.
• Statement 3 is correct. An independent member faces immediate disqualification if they choose to join any political party after their election to the house.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is correct because symptoms of SCD generally begin to appear when an infant reaches 5 to 6 months of age.
• Statement 2 is correct because during early infancy, high levels of fetal hemoglobin protect the child; as fetal hemoglobin naturally declines and is replaced by defective adult hemoglobin, cell sickling and symptoms begin.

Statement 3 is incorrect because the disease burden is not evenly distributed; it is heavily concentrated within specific tribal and marginalized communities in certain geographic belts of India.

Solution: C

• Statement 1 is correct because hovercraft ride on a cushion of air, giving them all-terrain maneuverability over sandbars, mudflats, and shallow waters.
• Statement 2 is correct because this unique capability makes them ideal for patrolling difficult marshy frontiers like the Sundarbans and the creeks of Kutch, which are hotspots for maritime smuggling.
• Statement 3 is incorrect because ACVs feature a zero-draft design and rely on large air propellers mounted on top of the craft rather than underwater props, allowing them to glide smoothly over land and dry banks.

Solution: C

• Statement-I is correct. In the Rajendra Singh Rana v. Swami Prasad Maurya (2007) case, the Supreme Court ruled that a member’s conduct outside the house can be a clear indicator of voluntarily giving up membership, making a formal resignation unnecessary for disqualification.

Statement-II is incorrect because the Subhash Desai (2023) judgment explicitly rejected the notion that a legislative majority is the sole factor. The Supreme Court held that the party’s organizational structure, constitution, and leadership must be assessed to determine the real political party, rather than relying merely on which faction holds more seats inside the legislature at a given moment.

Solution: A

• Katchatheevu is a small uninhabited islet located in the Palk Strait between India and Sri Lanka. It has no permanent residents, no settled fishing communities, and lacks natural sources of drinking water. Therefore, Statement 1 is incorrect. Since the statement wrongly portrays the island as supporting permanent habitation, Inference 1 cannot be accepted.
• Statement 2 is correct. Katchatheevu is known for Antony’s Church, an important religious site visited by devotees from both India and Sri Lanka. Under the arrangements governing access to the island, Indian pilgrims are permitted to attend the annual church festival without the requirement of a passport or visa. This clearly indicates the existence of a special bilateral travel concession for religious purposes. Hence, Inference 2 is valid.
• Statement 3 is also incorrect. International maritime boundaries settled through bilateral agreements are governed by international law and cannot ordinarily be altered unilaterally by one country through domestic legislation alone. Any modification would require mutual agreement or recourse to appropriate international legal mechanisms. Therefore, Inference 3 is not valid.

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is correct because the development is executed by Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Limited (BCGCL), which is a corporate joint venture between public sector giants BHEL and CIL.

Statement 2 is incorrect because the project prides itself on using 100% indigenous technology. The specialized fluidised bed gasification system was engineered completely in-house by BHEL, customized to handle the unique high-ash variations found in domestic coal reserves.

Solution: D

• Statement 1 is correct because the Kanchan Devi Committee is an expert panel set up by the Supreme Court to reassess legal guidelines.
• Statement 2 is correct because its direct target is to review the court’s previous decisions regarding the protection and classification of the Aravalli Range.
• Statement 3 is correct because its official aim includes proposing concrete steps for environmental conservation, forest demarcation, and sustainable land-use management inside that fragile eco-system.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is correct because SCD is caused by a genetic mutation in the HBB gene which disrupts the blueprint for making beta-globin, turning flexible red blood cells into rigid crescent shapes.
• Statement 2 is incorrect because the condition follows an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. A person will only develop the symptomatic disease if they inherit two mutated copies of the gene (one from each parent). If they inherit just one copy, they remain a healthy carrier.
• Statement 3 is correct because Hydroxyurea therapy works by elevating fetal hemoglobin levels, which directly prevents cells from clustering and causing painful vaso-occlusive crises.

Solution: D

• When the Anti-Defection Law was originally introduced via the 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act in 1985, Paragraph 3 protected a breakaway group if it constituted at least one-third of the party’s legislative strength (termed a “split”).
• However, this provision was frequently misused to engineering destabilizing splits. To fix this loophole, parliament enacted the 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003, which completely deleted Paragraph 3. Following this change, minor splits are no longer recognized as a valid defense against disqualification, leaving a full two-thirds merger as the only structural exemption.

Solution: C

• Statement 1 is correct. To ensure thorough investigations into judicial misconduct, the Judges Inquiry Committee is legally granted the statutory powers of a Civil Court. This allows the panel to officially summon witnesses, demand the production of confidential state or judicial documents, and examine individuals under oath.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. While the committee holds the powers of a Civil Court for evidence gathering, it is fundamentally an investigative and fact-finding tribunal. It does not possess criminal jurisdiction, meaning it cannot issue arrest warrants or directly sentence individuals to criminal imprisonment for non-compliance. Issues of contempt or non-compliance must be referred through proper judicial or parliamentary channels.
• Statement 3 is correct. The framework requires the committee to strictly adhere to the principles of natural justice. This ensures that the accused judge receives a fair trial. The specific charges must be served formally, and the judge must be given a clear opportunity to submit a comprehensive written defense, review evidence, and cross-examine witnesses through legal counsel.