UPSC Daily Quiz 6 August 2026

Answer: c

Explanation:

Scientific studies recently identified a new species of seahorse named Hippocampus amandavincentae, which was previously misidentified as Hippocampus histrix.

About Hippocampus amandavincentae:

• It is a new species of seahorse.
• It was recorded off the southwest coast of Kerala.
• This discovery has made a total of 5 seahorse species discovered from the Kerala coast.

What is a Seahorse?

• A seahorse is a marine fish belonging to the genus Hippocampus and related to pipefishes.
• There are at least 50 species of seahorses.
• Distribution: They are found in temperate and tropical waters around the world.
• Habitat:
  • Typically found in shallow waters with abundant vegetation such as coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, and estuaries.
  • They are usually found clinging to plants or corals with their tails.
• They are unique in appearance, with their horselike head, prehensile tail, independently moving eyes, and brood pouch.
• They have long, tubular snouts and small, toothless mouths.
• Their bodies are covered with consecutive rings of bony plates.
• Seahorses vary in size, ranging in length from about 2 to 35 cm.
• Seahorses are rather immobile, swimming more slowly than other fishes.
• When swimming they maintain a vertical position and propel themselves forward using a soft-rayed dorsal fin. They use pectoral fins located on the side of the head to maneuver.
• To move up and down, they adjust the volume of air in a tiny pocket inside their body, called a ‘swim bladder’.
• Experts in camouflage, they can change color to blend into their surroundings and avoid danger.
• They are carnivores. They eat small crustaceans and invertebrates.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

News: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/new-seahorse-species-identified-by-kerala-researchers/article71305925.ece

Answer: a

Explanation:

Introducing the hexavalent (six-in-one) vaccine into India’s Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) could improve the efficiency of the country’s childhood immunisation programme, according to a recent study conducted by the Union Health Ministry.

About Hexavalent Vaccine:

• It is a combination vaccine that protects infants against six different diseases with a single injection.
• It combines six different antigens through special manufacturing processes.
• The hexavalent vaccine protects against:
  • Diphtheria
  • Tetanus
  • Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
  • Hepatitis B
  • Polio
  • Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) infections
• Hexavalent vaccine could deliver several benefits, including:
  • Fewer injections for infants, making vaccination more convenient for children and caregivers.
  • Lower cold-chain storage requirements.
  • Reduced use of syringes and other vaccination supplies.
  • Less time spent by Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) administering vaccines and maintaining records.
  • Lower workload for cold-chain handlers and vaccine managers.
  • Time savings for parents and caregivers during immunisation visits.

Hence option a is the correct answer.

News:https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/hexavalent-vaccine-could-improve-indias-immunisation-programme-study/article71304936.ece#google_vignette

Answer: d

Explanation:

The University of Hyderabad (UoH) recently secured an Indian patent for HYDERACENE, a dual-action material designed specifically for rocket propellants and high-performance defence applications.

About HYDERACENE:

• It is a novel polymer-based material developed for use in solid rocket propellants for defence and space applications.
• The innovation was developed by Mutyalanaidu Ganivada, Sourav Jana, and Tushar Jana of the School of Chemistry, with the University of Hyderabad as the patentee.
• The patented material, formally described as Ferrocene Polyethylene Glycidyl Grafted Hydroxyl-Terminated Polybutadiene, was synthesised using ring-opening polymerisation.
• Why is this Innovation Significant?
  • In conventional solid rocket propellants, two critical components are required:
    • The Binder: A glue-like polymer that holds all active fuel components together while providing structural integrity.
    • The Catalyst: A specialized chemical additive that speeds up and controls the burning rate of the propellant.
  • Traditionally, these are two separate materials. HYDERACENE acts as both at the same time—a polymer binder-cum-catalyst.
  • This improves long-term stability by preventing the catalyst from separating from the binder over time and enables more controlled and efficient combustion in solid rocket motors.
  • Hyderacene has also been developed as an indigenous alternative to Butacene, a commercially used material in aerospace and defence applications.
    • BUTACENE is largely imported from European countries.
  • Named after the city of Hyderabad, the patented material is designed for use in high-performance rocket propellants and other advanced defence applications requiring controlled burn rates and improved propulsion efficiency.

Hence option d is the correct answer.

News: https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2026/Aug/05/university-of-hyderabad-patents-hyderacene-for-rockets-and-missiles

Answer: c

Explanation:

Salty water flowing through Antarctica’s Blood Falls contains a distinct community of marine-specific microorganisms, providing evidence that the brine system beneath the glacier has a marine origin.

About Blood Falls:

• It is a bright red waterfall flowing through Antarctica’s icy landscape.
• It is located at the edge of the Taylor Glacier in Antarctica, where it appears as if blood falls from the mountains made of glaciers.
• What makes it red?
  • The water that flows from Blood Falls comes from an underground reservoir trapped inside the glacier and contains large amounts of iron and salt.
  • Tiny cracks and fractures within the glacier provide natural pathways through which iron-enriched salt water can move up.
  • Once the water reaches the surface and gets in touch with the oxygen of the atmosphere, iron reacts with oxygen and turns into rust.
• Why isn’t the water frozen?
  • The most mysterious thing about Blood Falls is why liquid water exists in such an extremely cold area.
  • It turned out that the water is incredibly salty, several times more than the sea water.
  • It prevents the water from freezing because of the low freezing point due to the high concentration of salts.

Recent Findings:

• Microbes in the Blood Falls suggest the brine is composed of ancient seawater that was trapped in a pool beneath the glacier when ocean levels fell and the glacier advanced.
• However, it’s unclear exactly when that happened.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

News: https://phys.org/news/2026-08-marine-microbes-ancient-seawater-source.html

Answer: a

Explanation:

Nagarjuna Sagar, one of the most significant multipurpose irrigation projects in the country, recently completed 59 years of its existence.

About Nagarjuna Sagar Dam:

• It is the largest and highest masonry dam in the world built between the Nalgonda district of Telangana and the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.
• Built across the Krishna River, it boasts of one of the largest networks of canal systems in the world.
• It derives its name from a nearby hillock and island called Nagarjunakonda, where an ancient Buddhist Guru had once lived.
• The dam is 150 m tall and 6 km long. The dam comprises 26 gates, which are all 45 feet tall and 42 feet wide.
• The dam has a storage capacity of nearly 11,472 million cubic meters and an irrigation capacity of 9.81 lakh acres of land.
• Considering the tourism prospects, a lake has been developed just behind the dam, which is the third largest man-made lake in the world.
• It is one of the earliest projects built in post-independence India for irrigation and hydroelectricity generation.
• The construction of the dam commenced in 1956 and was completed by 1967.
• This dam supports the national grid with its electric power.
• The dam plays a crucial role for irrigation in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
• As per the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, the Nagarjunasagar dam is controlled and supervised by Telangana.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News: https://www.etvbharat.com/en/state/nagarjuna-sagar-stands-out-as-a-temple-of-modern-india-enn26080503489

Answer: c

Explanation:

 Recently, India and Lesotho reviewed the full spectrum of their bilateral relationship during the sixth meeting of the India-Lesotho Joint Bilateral Commission for Cooperation (JBCC) held in New Delhi.

About Lesotho:

• Location: It is an enclaved nation that is located within the territory of South Africa.
• Capital City:
• Geographical Features of Lesotho:
  • Climate: Mountainous Lesotho has a temperate climate.
    • It is located on the plateau of Southern Africa, with altitudes ranging from 1400 to 3480 m above sea level exposing it to both the influences of the Indian and the Atlantic oceans, with differences in temperatures
  • Mountains: Drakensberg Range and Maloti ranges.
  • It is the only independent state in the world that lies entirely above 1400 m in elevation.
  • Highest Point: Thabana Ntlenyana
  • Rivers: The Orange River at about 2,100 km in length is one of the longest rivers in Africa which rises in the Lesotho Highlands as the Sinqu River.

Hence both statements are correct

News: https://ddnews.gov.in/en/india-lesotho-review-bilateral-ties-at-6th-joint-commission-meeting-agree-to-deepen-cooperation/

Answer: c

Explanation:

Recently, the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) has been recognised as the World Health Organization South-East Asia Regulatory Network (WHO-SEARN) Regional Centre of Excellence in Pharmacovigilance and the Technical Centre in Quality.

About Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC):

• It is an autonomous institution of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India.
• It is created to set standards of drugs in the country.
• Functions of Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission:
  • Its basic function is to regularly update the standards of drugs commonly required for treatment of diseases prevailing in this region.
  • It publishes official documents for improving Quality of Medicines by way of adding new and updating existing monographs in the form of Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP).
  • It further promotes rational use of generic medicines by publishing National Formulary of India.
  • It prescribes standards for identity, purity and strength of drugs essentially required from the health care perspective of human beings and animals.
  • It also provides IP Reference Substances (IPRS) which act as a fingerprint for identification of an article under test and its purity as prescribed in IP.

Hence both statements are correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2295002&reg=48&lang=1

Answer: a

Explanation:

Recently, the Lalit Kala Akademi celebrated its 72nd Foundation Day at Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi.

About Lalit Kala Akademi:

• It was inaugurated on 5th August 1954 by the then Minister for Education, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
• The Akademi was given the status of statutory authority in 1957, under the Societies Registration Act 1860.
• Headquarters: New Delhi.
• Regional Centres: It has regional centres situated at Chennai, Lucknow, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Garhi.
• Governance: It functions through its General Council, Executive Board, and other Committees.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Culture.
• Functions of Lalit Kala Akademi
  • It has been at the forefront of promoting and nurturing visual arts in India through national and international exhibitions, artists’ camps, workshops, scholarships, publications, documentation, research initiatives and collaborative cultural programmes.
  • It has preserved and documented a permanent collection of the highest order that reflects the vitality, complexity, and unfolding patterns of contemporary, modern, folk, and tribal art in India. 
  • It promotes the Visual Art of India in various countries of the world through Cultural Agreements and Cultural Exchange Programmes.
  • The National Exhibition of Art is the most prestigious annual event of the Lalit Kala Akademi. 
  • It continues to provide an important platform for artists and remains committed to strengthening India’s visual arts ecosystem.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2295182&reg=48&lang=1

Answer: b

Explanation:

Recently, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed India’s first fully annotated telomere-to-telomere (T2T) reference genome of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.) variety ‘Asha’.

• It is popularly known as ‘Arhar’ or ‘Tur’.
• It is one of India’s most important pulse crops and a major source of dietary protein.
• It is a legume crop and protein-rich food which is primarily consumed as dal in India.
• It is predominantly a crop of tropical areas mainly cultivated in semi-arid regions of India.
• Required Climatic conditions
  • Rain:It requires 600-650mm of annual rainfall along with moist conditions for the initial eight weeks and dry conditions during its flowering and pod development phase.
  • Temperature:It can be grown with a temperature ranging from 26 to 30 degree Celsius in the rainy season and 17to 22 degree Celsius in the post rainy (November to March) season.
  • Soil:It can be grown on all types of soil, however, sandy loam or loam soil is most suitable for its cultivation.
• It is very sensitive to low radiation at pod development, therefore flowering during the monsoon and cloudy weather, leads to poor pod formation.
• It is commonly intercropped with a wide range of crops.
• Diseases: The important diseases of Pigeon pea are Wilt, Sterility mosaic disease, Phytophthora blight, Alternaria blight and Powdery mildew etc.
• Health benefits: It has low glycaemic index and is rich in thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6, folate, vitamin A, calcium, zinc, iron and magnesium
• Major Pigeon pea producing states:Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand.

Hence only statements 1 and 3 are correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2294441&reg=48&lang=2#:~:text

Answer: a

Explanation:

Recently, the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highway conferred the Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak on 12 rat miners in recognition of their exceptional courage and selfless service during the Silkyara Tunnel Rescue Operation. 

About Jeevan Raksha Padak:

• It is conferred on individuals who undertake life-saving efforts during incidents such as drowning, fire accidents, electrocution, natural calamities including landslides, animal attacks, and rescue operations in mines.
• Categories: The Jeevan Raksha Padak series comprises three categories.
  • Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak: It is awarded for conspicuous courage in saving life under circumstances of very great danger to the rescuer.
  • Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak: It is conferred for courage and promptitude in saving life under conditions of great danger.
  • Jeevan Raksha Padak: It is awarded for courage and promptitude in life-saving acts where the rescuer sustains grievous bodily injury.
• Eligibility:
  • The awards are open to individuals from all walks of life.
  • Members of the Armed Forces, Police Forces and recognised Fire Services are also eligible, provided the act of bravery is performed beyond the call of normal duty.
  • Personnel of Central Armed Police Forces and Central Police Organisations are also eligible under the revised framework.
  • It is presented to the awardees by the respective Union Ministries/Organizations/State Government to which the awardee belongs.
• Features of Jeevan Raksha Padak Awards:
  • Its nominations are invited annually from States/UTs and Union Ministries.
  • The recommendations of the award are considered by the Awards Committee within a period of two calendar years from the date of performance of the act.
  • Final approval is given by the Prime Minister and the President of India.
  • Award: The decoration of the award consists of a Medal, Certificate, along with a one-time monetary allowance: Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak (₹2 lakh), Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padam (₹1.5 lakh) and Jeevan Raksha (₹1 lakh).
  • No other facility/benefit in terms of any concession in Railways, Airfare etc. is provided by the Government.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2295181&reg=22&lang=1