UPSC Daily Quiz 8 October 2026

Answer: a

Explanation:

A tigress being treated for symptoms of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) infection died in the Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh recently.

About Canine distemper:

• It is a contagious and serious disease caused by the canine distemper virus (CDV).
• The virus attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems of dogs and has a very high mortality rate.
• All dogs are at risk of canine distemper. Those at particular risk include puppies younger than four months and dogs that have not been vaccinated against CDV.
• In addition to dogs, canine distemper virus can infect ferrets as well as a wide range of other mammals, especially carnivores.
• Transmission:
  • CDV spreads primarily through direct contact with respiratory secretions like saliva, nasal discharge, and sneezing.
  • It can also be transmitted indirectly via contaminated surfaces, objects, or shared food and water bowls.
  • The virus does not last long in the environment and can be destroyed by most disinfectants.
  • However, infected dogs can shed the virus for weeks, even before they show symptoms.
  • Once a dog is infected, the virus quickly spreads throughout the entire body and significantly weakens the immune system, leaving them susceptible to secondary infections.
• Symptoms:
  • Early canine distemper symptoms include:
    • mucous in the eyes and discharge from the nose
    • a lack of appetite
    • coughing
    • pneumonia
    • fever (although this can come and go and is hard to detect)
  • At this stage, some dogs’ immune systems can fight the virus.
  • But in others, after a few weeks from the first symptoms, the central nervous system and other body systems can be affected.
  • As the infection spreads through the body, it goes on to cause:
    • vomiting
    • diarrhoea
    • thickened paw pads and thickened skin on the nose
    • seizures (ranging from tremors of the jaw to full body convulsions)
    • twitching
    • limb weakness
    • muscle stiffness
    • imbalance
  • Treatment:
    • There is no cure, and no antiviral drugs have been approved to combat the infection.
    • The best way to prevent canine distemper is through vaccination.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News: https://theprint.in/india/mp-tigress-being-treated-for-symptoms-of-canine-distemper-virus-infection-dies-in-kanha-reserve/3064666/?amp

Answer: c

Explanation:

President Droupadi Murmu recently visited the historic Hidimba Temple in Manali, the second day of her visit to Himachal Pradesh. 

About Hidimba Temple:

• Hadimba Temple, locally known as Dhungari Temple, also known variously as the Hadimba Temple, is a Hindu temple located in Manali, Himachal Pradesh.
• It is dedicated to Hidimbi Devi, wife of Bhima, a figure in the Indian epic Mahābhārata.
• The temple is surrounded by a cedar forest called Dhungiri Van Vihar at the foot of the Himalayas.
• It was built in 1553 during the reign of Kullu ruler Bahadur Singh, who ruled from 1546 to 1569.
• Architecture:
  • The temple is one of the few temples in India that follows a Pagoda style of architecture, which is common in Nepal and Tibet.
  • It has a unique wooden structure and a four-tiered roof with intricate carvings.
  • The roof has 24 wooden pillars that support it. The roof also has metal bells, brass cones, and horns that adorn it.
  • The roof is made of deodar wood, which is resistant to insects and decay.
  • The temple has intricate carvings on its wooden walls, doors, and windows.
  • The carvings depict various animals, plants, dancers, musicians, and scenes from the Mahabharata epic.
  • An enormous rock occupies the inside of the temple, with only a 7.5 cm (3 inch) tall brass image representing goddess Hidimba Devi.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

News:https://www.etvbharat.com/en/bharat/president-droupadi-murmu-visits-historic-hidimba-temple-in-manali-enn26100707279

Answer: c

Explanation:

Elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) got delayed till at least early next year as the Meghalaya cabinet recently approved a second six-month extension of the council’s term.

About Garo Tribe:

• The Garo are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group primarily residing in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya with smaller populations in Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, and West Bengal.
• They are the second largest tribal community of Meghalaya.
• Historically, the tribe originated in Tibet and migrated to India 400 years ag
• The main language spoken by these tribes is Garo, also known as “Garrow” and “Mande“, which belongs to the Bodo branch of the Bodo-Naga-Kachin family of the Sino-Tibetan phylum .
• The Garo people live mostly in rural villages, with community life centered around agriculture.
• They practice both shifting (jhum) and wet rice cultivation, growing rice, millet, and vegetables.
• They are one of the last remaining matrilineal tribes in the world.
• Women play a central role in both family and economic life, as property and clan lineage are inherited through the female line.
• Villages are organized into exogamous clans, and social life is vibrant, featuring communal work, festivals, and traditional music and dance.
• Their homes are typically built on stilts, reflecting adaptation to the hilly terrain.
• Beliefs:
  • Historically, the Garo practiced Songsarek, an indigenous animistic religion centered on the worship of spirits, nature deities, and ancestors.
  • Since the late 19th century, Christianity has become the predominant faith among the Garo.
  • However, elements of traditional beliefs and rituals persist, especially in rural areas, and festivals such as Wangala (the harvest festival) continue to reflect their spiritual heritage.

Hence both statements are correct.

News: https://theprint.in/india/garo-tribal-council-polls-delayed-further-as-meghalaya-cabinet-extends-term/3064655/

Answer: b

Explanation:

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently called for a consultative approach between Mumbai International Airport Ltd. and airlines to ensure that the redevelopment of Terminal 1 does not undermine international connectivity to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

About International Air Transport Association (IATA):

• It is the global trade association of airlines (for both freight and passenger carriers) that regulates the aviation industry by developing standards, procedures, and practices.
• It was established in 1945 in Havana, Cuba, as a successor to the International Air Traffic Association, which was formed in 1919.
• Head Office: Montreal, Canada.
• IATA was created to promote cooperation among airlines and ensure the safe, secure, and efficient transportation of people and goods across international borders.
• Its mission is to represent, lead, and serve the global airline industry by advocating for fair regulations, enhancing operational efficiency, and improving passenger and cargo services worldwide.
• In practice, its activity focuses on three main areas:
  • Standardization of processes and documentation used in international air transport.
  • Development of technical regulations for the transport of goods, especially in sensitive areas such as dangerous goods or perishable products.
  • Financial cooperation and settlement systems that enable airlines to operate global transportation networks.
• Members:
  • At its founding, IATA had 57 members from 31 nations, mostly in Europe and North America.
  • As of today, it has 370 airline members in 126 countries and territories, comprising around 85 percent of total air traffic.

Hence option b is the correct answer.

News: https://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/foreign-airlines-grouping-urges-for-alternatives-to-flight-cuts-at-mumbai-airport/article71555683.ece

Answer: a

Explanation:

The Centre will launch JOSH (Joint Squad for Health) Teams across 55 districts in 11 states to strengthen youth-led community mobilisation for tuberculosis elimination, the Union Health ministry said recently.

About JOSH (Joint Squad for Health) Teams:

• JOSH Teams have been designed to channel the reach and energy of India’s youth into organised community action for TB elimination.
• It is being undertaken by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Ministry of Defence.
• It will bring together Class-I officers, MY Bharat volunteers, and NCC cadets to drive community-level engagement against TB.
• JOSH teams will be rolled out across 55 districts in 11 states in the first phase of the campaign.
• During the first phase, the initiative will focus on engagement at the block, ward, and community levels, taking the TB Mukt Bharat message beyond health facilities and closer to local communities.
• The teams will disseminate information on TB symptoms, prevention, timely diagnosis, and completion of treatment.
• They will also contribute to efforts to address myths and misconceptions surrounding TB, reduce stigma, and encourage individuals, families, and communities to participate actively in the national TB elimination movement.

Hence option a is the correct answer.

News:

https://www.ndtv.com/health/government-to-strengthen-youth-led-community-mobilisation-for-tuberculosis-elimination-12149533