UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 30 June 2026

Solution: A

Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Black panthers (melanistic leopards or jaguars) are found across Asia, Africa, and the Americas, and their dark color provides better camouflage in dense forests. Statement 2 is incorrect because black panthers are not a separate subspecies but a melanistic variant.

• What is a Black Panther?
  • The black panther, a colloquial term for melanistic (dark-colored) large felines in the genus Panthera, is known for its striking black fur and mysterious allure.

• • Scientific Names:
    • Black Leopard: Panthera pardus.
    • Black Jaguar: Panthera onca.

• Habitat:

• • Found across three continents: Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
  • Commonly inhabit dense tropical rainforests, grasslands, and mountainous regions.
  • Global Range: Southwest China, Southern India, Nepal, Malaysia, Indonesia, Burma.
  • Indian Range: Found in Kabini Forest (Karnataka), Nagarhole National Park, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Silent Valley, and Sundarbans.

• Characteristics:

• • Physical Features: Glossy black or dark brown fur with faint spotted patterns visible in sunlight.
    • Eyes: Striking emerald green, giving a fierce and elegant look even in darkness.
  • Behavioural Traits:
    • Solitary and territorial hunters.
    • Known for exceptional intelligence, sharp eyesight, and strong sense of smell.
    • Males are polygamous in nature.
• Why Black Color?
  • Melanism results from specific genetic alleles:
    • Recessive alleles in leopards.
    • Dominant alleles in jaguars.
  • The high concentration of melanin creates their dark fur, aiding camouflage in dense forests.

• Conservation Status:

• • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable.
  • CITES: Appendix I (strictly regulated trade).
  • Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I (maximum protection).
  • Threats: Habitat loss, poaching, and declining prey populations.

Solution: C

Arkavathi, Kabini, and Hemavathi are tributaries of the Cauvery. Bhima River (3) is not a tributary of the Cauvery; it is a tributary of the Krishna River.

Solution: D

CPA commonly occurs in individuals with pre-existing lung damage caused by infections such as tuberculosis (TB), sarcoidosis, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The damaged lung tissue creates a favorable environment for Aspergillus fungus to colonize. Secondhand smoke, NSAIDs, or high-altitude living are not significant risk factors for CPA.

About Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis (CPA):

What is CPA?

• Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis is a severe lung infection caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, a fungus that predominantly strikes individuals with immunodeficiency or pre-existing lung conditions, particularly those with a history of TB.
• Vector: The infection is caused by inhalation of fungal spores (Aspergillus fumigatus), which thrive in decayed organic matter and humid environments.

Symptoms:

• Chronic cough
• Haemoptysis (coughing up blood)
• Fatigue and weight loss
• Persistent respiratory distress

Impact:

• High morbidity and mortality rates if left undiagnosed or untreated.
• CPA prevalence in Assam (60 per 1,00,000) exceeds the global average (42 per 1,00,000), and is worse than several African nations, including Nigeria and Congo.

Treatment:

• Early diagnosis through serological testing for Aspergillus antibodies and radiological imaging.
• Antifungal therapy (e.g., itraconazole or voriconazole).
• Public health campaigns to educate healthcare workers and communities on respiratory health, nutrition, and hygiene.

Solution: B

Oceans are significantly deeper than seas, with Challenger Deep (~36,070 ft) being the deepest point in the ocean system. Seas often have higher salinity due to their limited water exchange and higher evaporation rates. However, oceans play a more dominant role in global climate regulation compared to seas, making statement 3 incorrect.

About difference between Sea and Ocean:

Solution: C

The Wetland City Accreditation (WCA) scheme is a voluntary initiative by the Ramsar Convention aimed at recognizing cities that value and promote the conservation and wise use of their natural or human-made wetlands. This accreditation provides international recognition and positive publicity for the cities’ efforts in sustainable wetland management.

About Wetland Accredited Cities:

• What is Wetland City Accreditation (WCA)?
  • Wetland City Accreditation (WCA) is a voluntary initiative under the Ramsar Convention that recognizes cities for wetland conservation efforts.
  • Established in COP12 (2015): WCA was introduced during the 12th Conference of the Parties (COP12) to the Ramsar Convention held in Uruguay in 2015.
  • Validity and Renewal: Accreditation is valid for 6 years and can be renewed if cities continue to meet the prescribed international criteria.
• Aim:

• • To promote conservation and wise use of wetlands in urban and peri-urban areas.
  • To ensure socio-economic benefits for local populations while safeguarding ecological balance.
  • To encourage cities near Ramsar-designated wetlands to maintain positive relationships with these ecosystems.

Criteria for Accreditation:

Cities must satisfy six international criteria, including:

1. Adopting measures for wetland conservation and wise use.
2. Promoting ecosystem services provided by wetlands.
3. Maintaining sustainable socio-economic practices linked to wetlands.
4. Engaging local communities in conservation.
5. Addressing concerns related to wetland degradation.
6. Protecting both natural and human-made wetlands.

Features:

• Provides international recognition and positive publicity for cities.
• Encourages wetland conservation policies in urban planning.
• Helps implement India’s Amrit Dharohar initiative by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
• Promotes sustainable urban development while ensuring ecological preservation.

Recent Addition from India:

• Indore, Madhya Pradesh:
  • Recognized for Sirpur Lake, a Ramsar site developed as a bird sanctuary and water bird congregation zone.
• Udaipur, Rajasthan:
  • Known for its interconnected wetlands, including Pichola, Fateh Sagar, Rang Sagar, Swaroop Sagar, and Doodh Talai, which support biodiversity and eco-tourism.

Solution: B

Statement 1 (Incorrect): The Banaras Hindu University (BHU) was established by Madan Mohan Malaviya, not Lala Lajpat Rai.

Statement 2 (Incorrect): Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence) was first demanded by Bal Gangadhar Tilak and later formalized in 1929 by the INC.

Statement 3 (Correct): Lala Lajpat Rai founded the Servants of the People Society (1921) to promote education, social service, and nationalistic ideals.

Solution: b)

Statement 1 is incorrect: Nuclear fusion involves two light atomic nuclei (such as hydrogen isotopes deuterium and tritium) combining to form a heavier nucleus (helium), releasing immense energy. Fusion does not involve heavy nuclei, unlike nuclear fission.

Statement 2 is correct: Fusion requires extremely high temperatures (above 100 million Kelvin) to overcome the Coulomb barrier (electrostatic repulsion between positively charged nuclei).

Statement 3 is incorrect: Unlike nuclear fission, fusion does not produce long-lived radioactive waste. The primary byproduct of fusion, helium, is non-radioactive, and while fusion reactions involving tritium produce some radioactive materials, their half-life is much shorter than fission waste.

• What is Nuclear Fusion?
  • Nuclear fusion is a process where two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing immense energy—the same process that powers the Sun and other stars.
• How it works?

• • High Temperature & Plasma Formation: Fusion requires temperatures above 100 million degrees Celsius, creating a plasma state where atoms split into charged particles.
  • Magnetic Confinement: Plasma is confined using strong magnetic fields to prevent contact with reactor walls.
  • Fusion Reaction: Hydrogen isotopes (Deuterium & Tritium) fuse, producing helium and energy in the form of heat.
  • Energy Capture & Conversion: Future reactors aim to use this heat to generate steam, driving turbines to produce electricity.

Difference between Nuclear Fusion and Nuclear Fission:

Solution: a)

Statement 1 is correct: The retina functions as a light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye, converting light into electrical signals that the optic nerve transmits to the brain for visual interpretation.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Rod cells are responsible for night vision (low-light conditions), while cone cells are responsible for colour vision and function well in bright light.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Retinal diseases primarily affect the retina, not the cornea. The cornea is the outermost transparent layer of the eye, while retinal diseases impact photoreceptors, blood vessels, or neural pathways.

Solution: d)

Ammonia is released both naturally (from decaying organic matter, biological nitrogen fixation, and soil processes) and anthropogenically (industrial emissions, fertilizers, and livestock waste), making statement 1 correct.

However, volcanic eruptions primarily release sulfur dioxide (SO₂), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and other gases, but not significant ammonia levels, making statement 2 incorrect.

Agriculture is the largest anthropogenic source of ammonia, particularly from fertilizers and livestock waste, making statement 3 correct.

Solution: a)

The Yamuna was once a tributary of the ancient Saraswati River before shifting eastward due to tectonic activity (statement 1 is correct).

The river’s current course was shaped by tectonic movements during the Quaternary period, particularly the Himalayan uplift (statement 2 is correct).

However, unlike the Narmada and Tapti, which flow through rift valleys, the Yamuna does not follow a rift valley formation (statement 3 is incorrect).