UPSC Daily Quiz 18 June 2026

Answer: c

Explanation:

The first-ever video footage of a herd of the elusive Mishmi Takin have been recently recorded in the Tingda Reserve Forest of North Sikkim.

About Mishmi Takin:

• It is a species of goat-antelope belonging to the family Bovidae (order Artiodactyla).
• It is one of 4 subspecies of Takin, which vary in coat color.
• Scientific Name: Budorcas taxicolor
• Habitat and Distribution:
  • It is a native of the eastern Himalayas, including the mountainous regions of northeastern India, northern Myanmar, southeastern Tibet and parts of China.
  • The Mishmi Hills in Arunachal Pradesh is the region that gave the Mishmi Takin its name.
  • They inhabit a wide range of environments, from forested valleys to rocky alpine zones.
  • They can live at altitudes of up to 4,500 m and are well-equipped for mountain life.
• Features:
  • In general, takins have a stocky body and a deep chest.
  • It stands up to 1.3 metres at the shoulder and weighs over 300 kilograms.
  • The large head is distinctive by its long, arched nose and stout horns, which are ridged at the base.
  • Horns are present in both sexes and run parallel to the skull before turning upwards to a short point.
  • They have short, sturdy legs and broad hooves, which provide surefootedness.
  • It has a golden-yellow to dark brown coat. The coat is long and shaggy.
  • They also have oily skin secretions that coat their fur and protect them from the cold, damp climate.
  • They live in small family groups of around 20 individuals.
  • They are herbivorous (folivorous) animals.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable

Hence option c is the correct answer.

News: https://theprint.in/india/elusive-mishmi-takin-caught-on-camera-in-north-sikkim-for-first-time/2962275/

Answer: d

Explanation:

The eight-year deadlock on the construction of Kishau Dam ended recently after the Centre and beneficiary states agreed to cover the ₹2,000 crore power component cost for the project. 

About Kishau Dam Project:

• It is a multipurpose dam project proposed to be built on the Tons river (a major tributary of river Yamuna) along the Uttarakhand-Himachal Pradesh border.
• Beneficiary States: Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
• The project envisages construction of a 236 m high concrete dam, thus creating an installed capacity of 4 x 165 MW (660 MW) of hydroelectric power, create an irrigation potential of 97,000 hectares, and supply 517 million cubic metres (MCM) water annually to Delhi, Rajasthan and Haryana.
• It will play a crucial role in enhancing the flow of fresh water into the Yamuna, particularly during lean seasons.
• For the construction of this project, a joint venture of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh Government, Kishau Corporation Limited has been formed in the year 2017.
• Recent Consensus:
  • As part of the project, 90 percent of the water component will be funded by the Centre as central assistance and the remaining 10 percent will be borne by the six beneficiary states.
  • Himachal Pradesh’s share of water will be allocated to Delhi and Rajasthan in return for sharing the cost of Himachal Pradesh’s portion of the power component.

Hence option d is the correct answer.

News:https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/8year-deadlock-over-kishau-dam-project-ends-says-sukhu-after-meeting-with-shah-101781633030106.html

Answer: b

Explanation:

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) recently congratulated the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIIDEM) team for completing 15 years in service of electoral training and management.

About India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM):

• It was established in June 2011 by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to serve as a premier global centre for electoral training, research, and capacity building.
• It functions under the direct supervision of the ECI and operates from its independent campus in Dwarka, New Delhi.
• In pursuance of its vision and mission, the key functions of IIIDEM are:
  • To promote and lay down standards for professional competence in election management
  • To innovate electoral processes to promote electoral integrity and ease of voting
  • To encourage and promote research and knowledge development
  • To develop training, academic, and capacity-building programs
  • To enrich democratic systems, values, and practices
  • To promote international cooperation and global engagements
• IIIDEM aims to achieve its vision and mission by following a strategy based on four key strategic pillars:
  • Strengthen National Programs
  • Expand Global Programs and Engagements
  • Encourage Research and Knowledge Development
  • Promote Sustainable Democracy and Election Management
• It holds domestic and international courses and training programmes that are residential and non-residential.
• IIIDEM collaborates and partners with various national and international organizations like the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) on various aspects of democracy and election management.
• Through MoUs, bilateral engagements, international conferences, exposure visits, and customized capacity-building programs, IIIDEM fosters global cooperation.
• Flagship initiatives include the International Election Visitors’ Programme (IEVP) and the Master’s Programme in International Electoral Management and Practices (MIEMP) in collaboration with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.

Hence option b is the correct answer.

News: https://newsonair.gov.in/cec-gyanesh-kumar-congratulates-iiiidem-team-on-completion-of-15-years-of-service-in-electoral-training-and-management/

Answer: c

Explanation:

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought was observed globally recently. 

About World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought:

• It is observed annually on June 17 to spread awareness about international cooperation to combat desertification and the effects of drought.
• History:
  • Desertification was identified as one of the greatest challenges to sustainable development during the Rio Earth Summit in 1992.
  • In 1994, the UN General Assembly established the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
  • This legally binding international agreement linked the environment and development to sustainable land management.
  • In addition to the UNCCD, the UN proclaimed June 17 as World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought.
• In 2026, the theme “Rangelands: Recognize. Respect. Restore.” highlights the importance of rangelands—ecosystems that have long been undervalued despite their critical role.
• This year’s observance also aligns with the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

News:https://newsonair.gov.in/world-day-to-combat-desertification-and-drought-observed-globally-to-raise-awareness-on-land-degradation/

Answer: d

Explanation:

Fifteen countries from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, and the Pacific recently adopted the Mombasa Declaration to step up efforts to combat illegal fishing.

About Mombasa Declaration:

• It was adopted by 15 countries from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, and the Pacific to step up efforts to combat illegal fishing.
• It calls on governments to improve access to information on fishing vessels, ownership, and licensing, and to strengthen data sharing to better track fishing activities and enforce regulations.
• It is named after the Kenyan city hosting the 11th Our Ocean Conference (OOC).
• Out of the more than 30 countries represented in the summit, Belgium, Cameroon, Chile, the Dominican Republic, France, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Republic of the Congo, Somalia, and South Korea signed the agreement.
• It is intended to curb illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, also known as IUU fishing, which threatens marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on fisheries.
• The declaration builds support for the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency, a set of 10 policy principles aimed at improving governance through low-cost reforms, including modernizing vessel registries and publishing fishing authorizations.

Hence option d is the correct answer.

News:https://epaper.thehindu.com/ccidist-ws/th/th_delhi/issues/189909/OPS/GE0G4KI4A.1+GGCG4KJFC.1.html

Answer: a

Explanation:

The National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) organized a meeting on the draft National Technical Guidelines (NTG) for Improved Watershed Management under the Rejuvenating Watersheds for Agricultural Resilience through Innovative Development (REWARD) Programme.

• REWARD (Rejuvenating Watersheds for Agricultural Resilience through Innovative Development) program is a watershed development program which is being implemented in the States of Karnataka and Odisha.
• Time Period: 2021 to 2026
• Aim: The program aims to introduce modern watershed practices in the Department of Land Resources and in the States of Karnataka and Odisha.
• It is assisted by the World Bank.
• The REWARD program works on a financial instrument called “PforR” (Program for Results) which means World Bank will reimburse the loan amount against the achievement of Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs).
• Objective of REWARD: To strengthen capacities of national and state institutions to adopt improved watershed management for increasing farmers resilience and support value chains in selected watersheds of participating States”.
• The program focuses on two important result areas:
  • Strengthened institutions and supportive policy for watershed development:
  • Science based watershed development for climate resilience and enhanced livelihoods:

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2274394&reg=48&lang=1

Answer: a

Explanation:

Recently, the World Gold Council’s (WGC) 2026 Central Bank Gold Reserves (CBGR) survey indicated that the central banks around the world would accumulate more gold in the future. 

• It is a nonprofit association of the world’s leading gold producers formed in 1987.
• It is a market development organization for the gold industry which includes 29 major gold mining companies.
• Aim: It aims to maximize the industry’s potential growth by monitoring and defending existing gold consumption.
  • It achieves this by setting up gold standards, proposing policies, ensuring fairness and sustainability in the gold mining industry, and promoting the usage and demand for gold for individuals, industries, and institutions.
• The WGC is also the global authority on gold, and they offer comprehensive analyses of the industry.
• The most famous publications are quarterly reports on the gold market and gold demand trends analyzed by both sector and geographical location.
• It also co-sponsors researching the development of new uses of gold, or of new products containing gold. 
• It covers the markets which comprise about three-quarters of the world’s annual gold consumption.
• The WGC was the creator of the first gold exchange-traded fund.
• Headquarters: London, UK

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News: https://www.thehindu.com/business/central-banks-to-increase-gold-reserves-over-next-12-months-wgc-survey/article71109776.ece

Answer: c

Explanation:

Recently, the Government of India has appointed a new Chairperson and three Members to the National Statistical Commission. 

• It was set up in 2005 on the recommendations of Rangarajan Commission (2000).
• Mandate: It was established to serve as a nodal body for all core statistical activities of the country and also evolve, monitor and enforce statistical priorities and standards and to ensure statistical co-ordination.
• Composition:
  • It consists of a part-time Chairperson, four part-time Members having specialization and experience in areas of statistics,
  • CEO of NITI Aayog as an ex-officio Member.
  • Chief Statistician of India is the Secretary of the Commission. (He is also the Secretary to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation).
• Functions of National Statistical Commission:
  • To identify the core statistics, which are of national importance and are critical to the development of the economy;
  • To constitute professional committees or working groups to assist the Commission on various technical issues;
  • To evolve national policies and priorities relating to the statistical system;
  • To evolve standard statistical concepts, definitions, classifications and methodologies in different areas in statistics and lay down national quality standards on core statistics;
  • To evolve national strategies for the collection, tabulation and dissemination of core statistics, including the release calendar for various data sets

Hence both statements are correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2274108&reg=3&lang=1#:~:text

Answer: c

Explanation:

The ongoing crisis in West Asia, coupled with a sharp decline in saffron output from Iran has resulted in the demand for Kashmiri saffron. 

• It is often called “red gold” for its distinctive aroma, flavour, and natural colouring properties.
• It is primarily cultivated in Pampore and nearby regions of South Kashmir.
• It has secured Geographical Indication (GI) tagin 2020.
• Characteristics: The saffron plant produces purple flowers with bright orange to red stigmas, which are carefully dried to obtain the highly valued spice.
• The saffron available in Kashmir is of three types: Lachha Saffron, Mongra Saffron and Guchhi Saffron
• Required Climatic conditions:
  • It grows at an elevation of 1,500-2,000 m above mean sea level.
  • Climate: Saffron cultivation requires explicit climatic conditions with temperatures ranging from not more than 35oC or 40oC in the summer to about -15oC or -20oC in the winter.
  • It can be grown in dry, moderate and continental climate types.
  • Soil: It thrives on loamy, sandy, and calcareous soils.
  • Saffron grows best on acidic soil. It thrives well when the soil pH is 5.5 to 8.5.
• In India around 90% of saffron production comes from Kashmir, where it has been grown for centuries.

Hence all three statements are correct.

News: https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/india/2026/Jun/16/iran-war-fuels-global-demand-surge-for-kashmir-saffron-prices-exports-rise-amid-output-dip

Answer: b

Explanation:

According to a new report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) developing countries could save nearly $500 billion annually if they were able to borrow at the same interest rates as developed economies.

• It is a permanent intergovernmental body established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1964.
• It supports developing countries to access the benefits of a globalized economy more fairly and effectively.
• It provides economic and trade analysis, facilitates consensus-building and offers technical assistance to help developing countries use trade, investment, finance and technology for inclusive and sustainable development.
• It is part of the UN Secretariat.
• It reports to the UN General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council but has its own membership, leadership, and budget.
• It is also part of the United Nations Development Group.
• Members:195 nations (including India)
• Headquarter:Geneva, Switzerland
• It helps countries to:
  • Comprehend options to address macro-level development challenges
  • Achieve beneficial integration into the international trading system
  • Diversify economies to make them less dependent on commodities
  • Limit their exposure to financial volatility and debt
• Reports published by UNCTAD: Trade and Development Report, World Investment Report and The Least Developed Countries Report

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

News: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/economy/developing-countries-lose-500-billion-a-year-to-higher-borrowing-costs-unctad