UPSC Daily Quiz 3 October 2026

Answer: a

Explanation:

The Kedarnath Wildlife Division is preparing to restrict human activity in high-altitude meadows and clear rubbish from parts of its sanctuary after a survey found that visitors and local residents were feeding Himalayan tahrs.

About Himalayan Tahr:

• It is a large, wild, goatlike mammal that lives on the mountain slopes and in the forests of the Himalayas.
• Scientific Name: Hemitragus jemlahicus.
• Habitat and Distribution:
  • It is found in southern Tibet, northern India, western Bhutan, and Nepal.
  • In the Himalayas, they are mostly found on slopes between 2,500 and 5,000 meters high.
  • In India, they are found in the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim.
• Features:
  • They are shorter in height than they are long.
  • They have a small head, small pointed ears, and large eyes.
  • They are sexually dimorphic, with females being smaller in weight and in size and having smaller horns.
  • Male horns can grow up to 46 cm long.
  • The horns curve backward, which helps prevent injuries when males fight during mating season.
  • The exterior of a tahr is well adapted to the harsh climate of the Himalayas.
  • They are double coated with a dense, reddish to dark brown woolly coat, and a thick undercoat.
  • Their coats are thin with the end of winter and become lighter in color.
  • As a member of the ungulate group of mammals, the Himalayan tahr has an even number of toes. They can grip both smooth and rough surfaces.
  • They are gregarious They live in all-male and all-female herds that usually include up to 80 members.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Near Threatened.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News: https://www.newindianexpress.com/india/2026/Oct/02/kedarnath-wildlife-sanctuary-to-restrict-human-activity-to-save-himalayan-tahr

Answer: d

Explanation:

Ukraine has deployed its FP-7 tactical ballistic missile in combat for the first time, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said recently.

About FP-7 Missile:

• The FP-7 Missile, nicknamed the Pelican, is a ground-launched tactical ballistic missile developed by Ukrainian defence company Fire Point.
• It is designed for shorter-range strikes against targets such as logistics hubs, air-defence sites, and drone bases, rather than deep strikes far behind the frontline.
• It is also being reworked to be used in air defense systems. It is a key part of Europe’s first common anti-ballistic system project, called Freyja. 
• Features:
  • It measures 7.25 m long and 530 mm in diameter.
  • It has a solid-fuel rocket motor.
  • It has a reported range of around 200 km and a reported speed of around 1,500 metres per second.
  • Its payload is 150 kg while its maximum flight duration is 250 seconds.
  • It has a circular error probability (CEP) of 14 meters.

Hence both statements are not correct.

News:https://www.news18.com/world/ukraine-uses-fp-7-missile-in-combat-for-first-time-what-is-the-weapon-ws-l-10363870.html

Answer: c

Explanation:

Russian drone strikes damaged key bridges across the Dnipro River in Kyiv recently.

About Dnipro River:

• The Dnipro (Dnieper) River is one of the major transboundary rivers of Europe.
• It is the fourth-longest river in Europe (after the Volga, the Danube, and the Ural).
• Located in Eastern Europe, the Dnipro River and its many tributaries drain much of Belarus and Ukraine.
• It is the longest river in Ukraine.
• Historically, the river was an important barrier dividing Ukraine into right and left banks.
• Course:
  • It originates in Russia, in the low Valday Hills, 240 km west of Moscow.
  • It flows in a generally southerly direction through western Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine to the Black Sea.
  • Its mouth, called Dnieper Liman, is a swampy delta on a long inlet of the Black Sea.
  • It runs a total length of 1,368 miles. Approximately 300 miles of the waterway is located in Russia, 430 miles are in Belarus, and 680 miles are within Ukraine.
• It passes through numerous urban centers such as the Russian cities of Smolensk and Dorogobuzh, as well as Mogilev in Belarus and Kiev, Cherkasy, Dnipro, and Zaporizhia in Ukraine.
• It is a typical river of the plains, sloping gently and flowing slowly. The water level varies considerably, and the riverbed is unstable.
• It is an important navigable waterway for the economy of Ukraine and is connected by the Dnieper–Bug Canal to other waterways in Europe.
• Tributaries: It has as many as 32,000 tributaries, including the Sozh, Desna, Trubizh, Bilozerka, Drut, Berezina, and Prypiat Rivers.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

News: https://www.outlookindia.com/international/russian-airstrikes-target-bridges-across-dnipro-river-in-kyiv

Answer: b

Explanation:

Amid the concern raised by environmentalists and opposition on the impact of tunnel road on Hebbal Lake and 1,000-plus trees on the tank bed and surroundings, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) is all set to begin work on the 2.28-km short tunnel project.

About Hebbal Lake:

• It is a man-made lake situated in the northern part of Bengaluru in Karnataka.
• It is one of the oldest, largest, and most ecologically prominent urban waterbodies in Bengaluru.
• It covers an area of around 150 acres.
• History:
  • The lake was created by Kempe Gowda, the founder of Bangalore, in 1537.
  • It is one of the three lakes that were created by him.
  • It was formed by damming natural valley systems through the construction of bunds, just as most other lakes and tanks were created within the Bangalore region.
  • Over the years, Hebbal Lake had lost its splendor owing to water pollution, poor maintenance, and lack of mass awareness.
  • It was restored at a great budget in the late 1900s, and two artificial islands were also created to develop a sustainable ecosystem.
• It is a seasonal lake that dries up in the summer and regains its glory along with the monsoon rains every year.
• It is home to several birds, including migratory birds.
  • Some of the birds you can spot in this lake are Baillon’s Crake, Crested Serpent Eagle, River Tern, Spot-billed pelican, Eurasian spoonbill, Shoveller, Pintail, Little grebe, Coot, Indian Spot-billed duck, etc.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

News: https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2026/Oct/03/bda-no-harm-to-hebbal-lake-1072-trees-to-be-shifted

Answer: b

Explanation:

A community-driven project in Solapur and Pune, Maharashtra, aims to rid the Ujani dam catchment areas of invasive fish species and reintroduce native varieties.

About Ujani Dam:

• Ujjani Dam, also known as Bhima Dam or Bhima Irrigation Project, is located on the Bhima River (a tributary of the Krishna River) near Ujjani village in the Solapur district of Maharashtra.
• It is out of the 22 dams formed by the Bhima River; it is the terminal dam on the river and is the largest in the Bhima Valley.
• It is an earth-fill cum masonry gravity dam.
• It was constructed between 1977 and 1980 with the primary objective of providing irrigation water and hydroelectric power to the region.
• With a total length of 2,534 m, the Ujani Dam is founded on massive basaltic rock formations and comprises a central portion, which is the spillway dam of 602 m in length.
• The dam has a height of 63 meters.
• Power Generation Capacity: 12 MW
• Pollution: The water quality of the Ujani Dam is very bad, as it contains hazardous pollutants from Pune and many other small cities located on the banks of the Bhima River or its tributaries.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

News: https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/environment/story/20261012-battle-of-the-fishes-maharashtras-ujani-dam-3007883-2026-10-02

Answer: a

Explanation:  

Recently, the government has extended the operational timelines of a key component of its RELIEF scheme to provide greater insurance protection to Indian exporters facing elevated freight, insurance and war-related risks.

About RELIEF Scheme:

• The RELIEF (Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation) scheme was launched by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
• It is a time-bound and targeted measure aimed at mitigating the impact of rising logistics costs, higher insurance premiums, and war-related risks affecting export consignments moving to or through the Gulf region.
• It was launched under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM).
• The scheme comprises three key components:
  • Enhanced insurance coverage: Exporters with existing ECGC insurance will receive up to 100% risk coverage for eligible consignments shipped between February 14 and March 15, 2026, without additional cost.
  • Support for upcoming shipments: Exporters planning shipments between March 16 and June 15, 2026, can avail up to 95% risk coverage with government support, helping sustain trade flows.
  • Relief for MSMEs: Small exporters without ECGC cover during the disruption period will be eligible for partial reimbursement of up to 50% of increased freight and insurance costs, subject to a ceiling of ₹50 lakh per exporter.
• Geographical Coverage: The scheme will cover shipments destined for countries including United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Israel and Yemen.
• Implementing Agency: The Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India has been designated as the nodal implementing agency responsible for verification, claim processing, disbursement, and monitoring.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2318053&reg=3&lang=1

Answer: c

Explanation:

Recently, the Department of Commerce extended the continuation of Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) Scheme upto 31st December 2026.

About Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products:

• It was introduced through an amendment to the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20, and it became effective for exports starting January 1, 2021.
• It replaced the Merchandise Export Incentive Scheme (MEIS).
• Aim: The primary aim of this scheme is to offset the taxes and duties incurred on exported goods that wouldn’t otherwise be credited, reimbursed, or refunded in any way, and are integrated into the exported goods.
• It refunds embedded, un-rebated Central, State and local duties, taxes and levies borne on exported products — including prior-stage cumulative indirect taxes.
• Objective: It was enforced to repeal and reduce taxes on exported products, thereby encouraging exports and increasing the number of exports in the country.
• It is compliant with World Trade Organization (WTO) norms and is implemented via a comprehensive end-to-end digital platform to ensure transparency and efficiency.
• Nodal Ministry: The scheme is administered by the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
• Eligibility Criteria for RoDTEP Scheme:
  • All sectors are covered under the scheme. 
  • Both manufacturer exporters and merchant exporters (traders) are eligible for the scheme.
  • The exported products should have India as their country of origin to be eligible for benefits under the scheme.
  • Special Economic Zone Units and Export Oriented Units are also eligible.
  • The scheme also applies to goods that have been exported via courier through e-commerce platforms.
  • Re-exported products are not eligible under this scheme.

Hence both statements are correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2318052&reg=3&lang=1

Answer: c

Explanation:

Recently, the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare held bilateral talks with Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature, Netherlands.

About Netherlands:

• Location: It is located in Northwestern Europe.
• Bordering Countries: It is bordered by Germany in the east; and Belgium in the south.
• Water Bodies: It is bounded by the North Sea in the north and west. 
• Capital City: Amsterdam
• Geographical Features of Netherlands
  • Climate: The climate of the Netherlands is temperate, with gentle winters, cool summers, and rainfall in every season.
    • Three primary geographic regions of the Netherlands are the Lowlands, the Veluwe and Utrecht Hill Ridge, and the Limburg Hills.
  • Major Lakes: Ijsselmeer (largest freshwater lake)
  • Rivers: Major rivers flow through the Netherlands are Rhine, Meuse (Maas), and Scheldt
  • Highest Point: Vaalserberg is the highest point (1,058 feet) of the Netherlands.
  • Natural Resources: It has one of the world’s largest natural gas fields. Other resources are zinc, and magnesium.

Hence both statements are correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2318321&reg=3&lang=1

Answer: b

Explanation:

Recently, India’s first dedicated commercial CubeSat-category thermal payload TAPAS-1 was successfully deployed in orbit by Space X’s Falcon 9.

About TAPAS-1:

• The TAPAS (Thermal Access Platform for Analytics & Solutions) is India’s first commercial private thermal-imaging payload, developed by Ahmedabad-based space technology startup Satleo Labs.
• Function: It has been designed to capture changes in the heat emitted from the Earth’s surface in the form of images.
• It uses long-wave infrared (LWIR) sensing to capture temperature information that is not visible in conventional optical imagery.
• It has been injected into an orbit 500 km high, from where the satellite will capture high-resolution images of heat and temperature variations at locations across the planet.
• It is a CubeSat-category payload, which are a class of cubical nanosatellites that typically measure 10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm.
• Weight: TAPAS-1 weighs 1.5 kg.
• Application of TAPAS-1 data:
  • Agriculture: It is used for monitoring of agricultural and water stress.
  • Disaster Management: It is used for detection and monitoring of disasters such as forest fires.
  • Urban Planning: Temperature variations across different areas of a city can be tracked in real time. This can help municipal corporations undertake the necessary planning to address heat stress.

Hence only statements 1 and 3 are correct.

News: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-sci-tech/elon-musk-falcon-9-gujarat-satellite-uses-10903668/

Answer: d

Explanation:

Recently, scientist discovered two new gecko species from Telangana and named them as Hemidactylus cairnicola’ and ‘H. koyaorum’.

About Hemidactylus cairnicola:

• It is a new gecko species which has been named for its close association with traditional stone cairns.
• They are with heterogeneous, granular scales intermixed with enlarged keeled scales.
• It grows up to 49 mm in length, has a distinctive colour that helps it blend into dark rocks and provides effective camouflage for protection against predators.
• Behavior: It appears to be primarily nocturnal. It retreats into rock crevices during periods of inactivity and becomes active at night, when it forages for insects

About Hemidactylus koyayorum

• It was named in honour of the Koya people, an indigenous tribal community that has deep cultural ties to the forests and hills.
• It grows up to 55.6 mm in length.
• Appearance: It is mostly homogeneous and without any keeled scales, has dorsal colouration grey with four prominent white flower-like patterns on its body, surrounded by darker margins.
• It has an adaptation for movement within dense ground cover.

Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

News: https://telanganatoday.com/telangana-gets-two-new-gecko-species-from-nalgonda-warangal