UPSC Daily Quiz 25 April 2026

Answer: d

Explanation:

The Madras High Court has refused to lift the temporary stay on operating boating services for tourists on Pykara Lake in the Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu.

About Pykara Lake:

• It is situated at a distance of about 20 km from Ooty, in the Nilgiri district of Tamil Nadu.
• It is formed as a result of the construction of the Pykara Dam over the Pykara River.
  • The Pykara River, which originates from the Mukurthi peak, is the largest river in the district and is revered by the Todas, an Adivasi community, who consider it to be sacred.
• The dam also has a powerhouse, which is one of the oldest power plants in South India and is generating about 60 megawatts of electricity.
• A few hundred meters north of the lake, the river tumbles down the rocks to form the famous Pykara Falls.
  • Pykara Falls consists of two cascades that fall from a height of about 55 meters and 61 meters, respectively.
• The lake is surrounded by the thick forest of Mukurthi National Park (MNP). As part of the Western Ghats, it MNP has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1st July 2012.

Hence option d is the correct answer.

News: https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2026/Apr/25/madras-hc-refuses-to-lift-boating-ban-on-pykara-lake

Answer: c

Explanation:

Recently, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) unveiled its new Atlas drone swarm system (atelasi).

About Atlas Drone Swarm System:

• It is a mobile battlefield platform designed to deploy and coordinate large numbers of drones from a single command point.
• The system is manufactured by China Electronic Technology Group Corporation (CETC), a state-owned defence electronics conglomerate working closely with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
• Mounted on vehicles, the system is intended to launch up to 96 drones in a coordinated swarm, with control consolidated under one operator.
• Built around a Swarm-2 combat vehicle, a command unit, and a support vehicle, Atlas is designed for reconnaissance, electronic disruption, and coordinated strikes.
• Features:
  • The Swarm-2 platform can carry and launch up to 48 fixed-wing drones, while a single command vehicle can control up to 96 drones simultaneously in a coordinated swarm.
  • The three-seconds launch sequencing between drones allows the full deployment of 96 drones within roughly 300 seconds for reconnaissance or attack missions.
  • The system enables flexible grouping of drones into different operational formations, including coordinated defensive structures and precision strike patterns.
  • Each drone within the Atlas system can carry different payloads. The drones can reportedly be equipped with electro-optical reconnaissance payloads, strike munitions, and relay communications packages, allowing the swarm to be configured for surveillance, attack support, battlefield sensing, and communications extension.
  • The system is designed for swarm-level coordination, where drones can adapt formations and execute tasks collectively while retaining individual autonomy.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

News:https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-global/china-atlas-drone-swarm-system-capabilities-10648103/

Answer: b

Explanation:                                                   

After decades of being largely under control, diphtheria — a serious but vaccine-preventable disease — is making an unexpected return in parts of Australia.

About Diphtheria:

• It is a highly contagious bacterial infection that can attack the upper respiratory tract and less often the skin.
• It is caused by strains of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae that make a toxin.
• The bacterium usually multiplies on or near the surface of the throat or skin.
• There are two main types of diphtheria:
  • Classical respiratory diphtheria: It may affect your nose, throat, tonsils, or larynx (voice box). It’s the most common type.
  • Skin (cutaneous) diphtheria: It causes a skin rash, sores, or blisters. They can appear anywhere on your body. Cutaneous diphtheria is more common in tropical climates. Overall, it’s rare.
• Transmission:
  • It can spread from person to person, usually through respiratory droplets, like from coughing or sneezing.
  • People can also get sick from touching infected open sores or ulcers in case of cutaneous diphtheria.
  • Some people may not develop disease manifestations but can still transmit the bacteria to others.
• Symptoms:
  • Symptoms of respiratory diphtheria can include:
    • Throat pain
    • Weakness or fatigue
    • Mild fever
    • Swollen lymph nodes in your neck
    • A thick, greyish coating on the back of your throat
    • Problems breathing and/or swallowing
  • Symptoms of skin diphtheria can include:
    • Painful open sore or ulcer
    • Rash with scales or peeling skin
    • Swelling and discoloration near the sore or rash
  • Diphtheria can lead to complications, like:
    • Airway blockage, which can cause suffocation
    • Heart muscle damage and heart failure
    • Nerve damage
    • Kidney failure
  • These complications can result in death.
• Treatment:
  • Neutralization of unbound toxin with Diphtheria Antitoxin (DAT).
  • Antibiotics to prevent further bacterial growth;
  • Monitoring and supportive care to prevent and treat complications, e.g. airway obstruction, myocarditis.
  • Although diphtheria can be treated with medications, in advanced stages, the bacterial infection can damage the heart, kidneys and nervous system.
  • It is a vaccine-preventable disease, but multiple doses and booster doses are needed to produce and sustain immunity.
  • For unvaccinated individuals, without proper treatment, diphtheria can be fatal in around 30% of cases, with young children at higher risk of dying.

Hence option b is the correct answer.

News:https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/diphtheria-outbreak-australia-india-resurgence-symptoms-td-vaccine-booster-10653234/

Answer: b

Explanation:                                                   

China recently announced the discovery of a new mineral from the Moon named Cerium-Magnesium Changesite, marking a significant addition to the growing catalogue of extraterrestrial materials and offering fresh insights into lunar geology.

About Cerium–Magnesium Changesite:

• It is a newly discovered lunar mineral.
• It is the 11th known lunar mineral.
• The mineral was discovered in a lunar meteorite dubbed Pakepake 005, the first of its kind to have fallen within China.
  • It is a single spherical meteorite weighing 44 grams, with a dark molten outer shell.
• The new mineral is colourless, transparent and brittle.
• It is extremely small, with grain sizes ranging from about 3 to 25 micrometres, and most particles measuring under 10 micrometres.
• Despite its tiny size, it holds significant scientific value due to its unique chemical and structural properties.
• One of the most striking features is its fluorescent behaviour, meaning it emits light under certain conditions.
• This property could have practical applications in advanced technologies, particularly in the development of next-generation LED materials.
• The mineral’s composition, especially its rare earth element ratios, along with its magnesium and iron content, offers valuable clues about the processes that shaped the Moon’s surface and interior.
• Variations in its crystal structure could help researchers better understand how lunar minerals form and evolve under extreme conditions.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

News:https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/china-discovers-alien-mineral-inside-meteorite-that-fell-on-earth-from-the-moon-2900450-2026-04-23

Answer: c

Explanation:

A rare sea slug, Discodorid cebuensis, has been recorded in India for the first time after being spotted recently at Haji Ali, Mumbai.

About Sea Slugs:

• Sea slugs, sometimes called ocean slugs, water slugs, or nudibranchs, are soft-bodied marine molluscs found in all the world’s oceans, from shallows to the deep sea.
• They are a type of gastropod, a large group of mollusks that includes both marine and land species such as snails and slugs.
• They have no shells, quills, or mantle cavities.
• They look like naked snails, i.e., without shells.
• These slow-moving grazers consume algae, sponges, and other small invertebrates, showcasing a range of feeding habits.
• They are usually found in coral reefs, and their presence is a significant indicator of a strong coral ecosystem.
• Sea slugs are renowned for their vibrant colours and intricate patterns, which often serve as warning signals to predators due to their toxicity.
• They get their toxicity from the creatures they eat, and some sea slugs can even keep the stinging cells of jellyfish inside their bodies.
• On their heads, nudibranchs have tentacles that serve as important sensory organs, helping them detect chemicals and movement in the water.
• When the sea slug eats, it absorbs and displays its prey’s pigment—the substance that gives the prey its color.
• Beyond their striking appearance, sea slugs possess other intriguing traits.
  • Some can photosynthesise, producing their own food with sunlight.
  • Others regenerate lost limbs, and a few can steal genes from their prey and incorporate them into their DNA.
• Most sea slugs are active throughout the day, but some species are also nocturnal.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

News:https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mumbai-discodorid-cebuensis-documented-in-india-for-the-first-time-at-haji-ali-23627383

Answer: c

Explanation:

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment set to launch the upgraded Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) App 2.0 to strengthen the monitoring under the framework of the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR).

• It was launched on 15th August 2020 by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
• It was initially launched in 272 identified most vulnerable districts and now it has been extended to all districts of the country with effect from 15th August 2023.
• Objective: It intends to reach out to the masses and spread awareness about substance abuse through various activities like:
  • Awareness generation programmes
  • Focus on higher educational Institution, university campuses and schools
  • Reaching out into the Community and identifying dependent population,
  • Focus on counselling & treatment facilities in hospitals & rehabilitation centres
  • Capacity building programmes for a service providers
• Target group: Special emphasis is laid on the participation of stakeholders such as women, children, educational institutions, civil society organizations who may be directly or indirectly affected by substance use.

Hence both statements are correct

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2255246&reg=3&lang=1

Answer: a

Explanation:

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has forced policymakers in Asia to face questions over the security of other maritime chokepoints, including the Strait of Malacca.

• Location: It connects the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) and the South China Sea (Pacific Ocean).
• Bounded by:Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore
• The Strait of Malacca’s name was derived from the Malacca Sultanate, who governed the archipelago from 1400 until 1511.
• The climate of the strait is hot and humid and is characterized by the northeast monsoon during the (northern) winter and the southwest monsoon during the summer.
• It links the Indian and Pacific oceans and is one of the busiest and most important shipping lanes in the world.
• Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia control the joint patrolling of the Malacca Strait.
• Significance:
  • It is the largest “oil transit chokepoint” in the world.
  • It carries nearly 22% of the world’s maritime trade.
  • Roughly 60% of India’s seaborne trade and almost all of its LNG imports pass through the Malacca Strait.

Hence option (a) is the correct answer.

News: https://ddnews.gov.in/en/explainer-hormuz-crisis-throws-spotlight-on-worlds-largest-chokepoint-the-malacca-strait/

Answer: c

Explanation:

 Recently, a large tornado touched down in Kay County, Oklahoma, USA.

• It is a vertical, land-based column of violently rotating air that forms from the base of a thunderstorm to the ground.
• It is characterised by a rapid cyclonic circulation and is often seen as a cloud-filled condensation funnel extending from the sky to the ground.
• When such a rotating column of air forms over a water body, it is known as a waterspout.
• Formation of Tornado:
  • Tornado formation is closely linked to interactions between contrasting air masses.
    • A collision of warm, moist air(usually from tropical regions) with cool, dry air (typically from polar or upper regions), especially in the presence of a low-pressure system or trough, leads to the formation of thunderstorms and may trigger tornadoes.
  • Wind Speeds and Movement: It typically exhibit wind speeds ranging from 105 to 322 km/h, but some extreme events can exceed this range.
  • They can be stationary or move at high speeds, often advancing at around 97 km/h across the landscape.
  • Geographical distribution:Tornadoes occur most commonly in mid-latitude regions (between 20° and 60° latitude in both hemispheres) where cold polar air meets warm tropical air, producing frequent thunderstorm activity.
• The United States experiences the highest frequency of tornadoes globally, particularly in the region known as “Tornado Alley”.

Hence both statements are correct.

News: https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/braman-tornado-large-extremely-dangerous-twister-seen-in-kay-county-oklahoma-amid-severe-weather-videos-emerge-101776989965866.html

Answer: b

Explanation:

Recently, the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) organised the Global Symposium on Credit Guarantees.

• It was established in the year 2000.
• Objective: To catalyze the flow of institutional credit to Micro & Small Enterprises (MSEs). 
• It was jointly set up by Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises Government of India, and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).
• Funding: The corpus of CGTMSE is being contributed by the Government of India and SIDBI in the ratio of 4:1.
• Eligible Lending Institutions:
  • Scheduled commercial banks (Public Sector Banks/Private Sector Banks/Foreign Banks) and select Regional Rural Banks
  • National Small Industries Corporation Ltd. (NSIC), North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (NEDFi), SIDBI, selected Small Finance banks, and NBFCs have also been made eligible institutions.
• The CGTMSE offers guaranteed coverage (75-85%) for loans to strengthen credit delivery. 

Hence only statements 1 and 3 are correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2254986&reg=3&lang=1

Answer: d

Explanation:

Recently, Project DANTAK of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) celebrated its 66th Raising Day at Thimphu, Bhutan.

• It is an overseas project of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) under the Ministry of Defence of India.
• Background: It was established on 24 April 1961 as a result of an agreement between Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, the third king of Bhutan and then Prime Minister of India Jawahar Lal Nehru.
• It is primarily focused on developing infrastructure and providing connectivity in remote areas of Bhutan.
• Achievements
  • It was tasked to construct the pioneering motorable roads in Bhutan.
  • Under this Project, over 1,500 km of road has been contructed, including the strategically vital East–West Highway connecting Trashigang to Thimphu. 
  • Some other notable projects include the construction of Paro Airport, Yonphula Airfield, Thimphu – Trashigang Highway, Telecommunication & Hydro Power Infrastructure, Sherubtse College, Kanglung and India House Estate.

Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2255292&reg=3&lang=1#:~:text