UPSC Daily Quiz 24 October 2026

Answer: a

Explanation:

Yemen’s Houthi rebels recently claimed they are attempting to rescue a boat carrying 14 Indian nationals near Zuqar Island in the Red Sea, alleging that it was targeted by Saudi Arabia.

About Zuqar Island:

• It is a Yemeni island in the southern Red Sea, forming part of the Hanish Islands archipelago.
• It is approximately 130 sq.km.
• It lies between the coasts of mainland Yemen and Eritrea, near the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
• Despite its proximity to the African continent, the island is considered a part of Asia because it sits on the Asian continental shelf.
• It has strategic importance because of its location along one of the world’s key maritime routes.
• Eritrea captured the island in 1995 after battling Yemeni forces. An international court in 1998 placed the island formally into Yemen’s custody.
• The island consists of a shield volcano overlain by basaltic pyroclastic cones and spatter cones, which produce youthful-looking pahoehoe lava flows.
• Several small coastal cones and islets surrounding Zuqar Island were formed by phreatic eruptions.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News:https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/houthis-claim-saudi-arabia-targeted-boat-carrying-14-indians-launch-rescue-ops/articleshow/135115900.cms

Answer: a

Explanation:

The Indian Navy will host the 2026 edition of the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) in New Delhi from November 3 to 5.

About Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD):

• IPRD is the Indian Navy’s annual apex-level international strategic dialogue.
• The idea of an annual IPRD was first conceptualised and conducted in 2018 as the apex-level conference of the Indian Navy.
• It is organised in association with the National Maritime Foundation (NMF), the Navy’s knowledge partner.
• IPRD seeks to translate the broad framework of the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) into specific, actionable proposals.
• IPRD also supports India’s maritime vision of MAHASAGAR-Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.
• IPRD 2026:
  • It is the eighth edition of the IPRD.
  • Venue: Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi.
  • Theme: Science, Technology, and Academic Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
  • Notably, IPRD-2026 will expand its focus beyond traditional STEM disciplines to incorporate social sciences, life sciences, and the humanities into maritime deliberations.
  • The three-day conference will bring together maritime practitioners, scientists, academicians, policymakers, and experts from 18 countries across the Indo-Pacific to formulate actionable proposals for regional cooperation.
  • Five thematic sessions will be held during the conference. They will focus on
    • joint research, research networks, and human development;
    • protection of critical maritime infrastructure and enhanced monitoring;
    • climate resilience and ocean dynamics;
    • maritime resilience and responsible management; and
    • dual-use maritime technologies and their implications.
  • The event aims to identify concrete, solution-oriented measures across national, sub-regional, and pan-regional tiers.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News:https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/navy-to-host-indo-pacific-regional-dialogue-in-new-delhi-from-november-3/article71616616.ece

Answer: d

Explanation:

A year after ties between India and Azerbaijan soured over Baku’s alignment with Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) met with Azerbaijan’s top leadership in an attempt to reset bilateral relations.

About Azerbaijan:

• Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is located at the junction of Eastern Europe and Western Asia along the southern flanks of the Caucasus Mountains.
• It is bounded in the east by the Caspian Sea, the world’s largest inland body of water.
• Bordering Countries: It is bordered by Russia in the north, Georgia in the northwest, Armenia in the west, and Iran in the south.
• The country is highly mountainous, making human settlement very limited to along rivers and coastlines.
• Highest Point: Mount Bazardüzü is the highest peak in the Greater Caucasus Range and the highest mountain in Azerbaijan.
• History:
  • At various times Arabs, Persians, Turks, and Mongols dominated the land.
  • Russia took over Azerbaijan in the early 1800s. In 1918 Azerbaijan declared independence.
  • In 1920, however, the new Soviet Union sent troops to take control of Azerbaijan.
  • At first the Soviets combined Azerbaijan with Georgia and Armenia.
  • In 1936 Azerbaijan became a separate Soviet republic.
  • With the breakup of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan gained independence again in 1991.
• Government Type: Presidential Republic
• Capital: The capital city, Baku, is famous for its modern architecture and historical sites, including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old City.
  • For its location at 28 m below sea level, Baku is the largest city in the world located below sea level and also the lowest-lying national capital in the world.
• Climate: Its climate is highly varied and contains examples of nine out of the world’s eleven climate zones. Most of Azerbaijan is dry, with hot summers and mild winters.
• Major Rivers: Alazani, Aras, and Kura Rivers.
• Economy:
  • Azerbaijan’s economy is driven by its natural resources and the service sector.
  • Its major resources are petroleum (oil) and natural gas.
  • Other resources consist of gold, silver, iron, titanium, copper, manganese, cobalt, molybdenum, and chromium.
  • The service sector, including information and communication services and tourism, employs almost half of the population.
• Currency: Azerbaijani manats (AZN)
• People:
  • Most of the country’s people are Azerbaijani, though there are a few Russians, Armenians, and other minority groups.
  • Most people speak Azerbaijani, a Turkic language.
  • More than 90 percent of the people are Muslims.
  • Border Issues: Its relations with neighboring Armenia are tense, especially due to conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh during and following the collapse of the Soviet Union, of which they were both part.

Hence option d is the correct answer.

News: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-azerbaijan-diplomatic-reset-operation-sindoor-10934391/

Answer: d

Explanation:

Previously thought to broadcast the same chemical signal throughout the brain, a new study finds that the locus coeruleus (LC) actually sends targeted messages that help control learning, attention, and behavior, according to new research in mice.

About Locus Coeruleus (LC):

• The Locus Coeruleus (LC) is a small nucleus (cluster of nerve cells) located in the pons, a part of the brainstem.
  • The Pons act as a connection between the cerebrum and cerebellum.
• The Locus Coeruleus gets its name from the Latin words for “blue place.”
• Although it contains only a small fraction of the brain’s neurons, it produces norepinephrine (NE), a chemical messenger that helps regulate attention, learning, heart rate, and the body’s reactions to stress and excitement.
• LC is the primary source of norepinephrine to the brain.
• Recent Findlings:
  • Scientists have long assumed that the LC operates like a loudspeaker, sending essentially the same norepinephrine signal across the brain.
  • However, in a new study using brain imaging, recordings of neural activity, genetic techniques, and behavioral experiments, researchers discovered that the LC communicates through several distinct pathways.
  • Rather than broadcasting one general message, it delivers signals to specific destinations, with different groups of neurons responding to different experiences.
  • Different groups of cells communicate with specific regions of the nervous system.
  • These pathways determine where signals trigger the release of norepinephrine, creating a much more organized communication network than previously recognized.
  • Neurons in the upper (dorsal) portion of the LC primarily connect to the cerebral cortex and forebrain.
  • Meanwhile, cells in the lower (ventral) portion send their signals mainly to the brainstem and spinal cord.
  • This arrangement allows different parts of the LC to influence separate brain functions.
• Why the Discovery Could Matter for Brain Disorders?
• Norepinephrine plays a central role in regulating attention and mood, making it an important target for medications used to treat depression, anxiety, and ADHD.
• Neurons in the LC are also among the earliest brain cells to deteriorate in Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting that the new findings could have implications for understanding and treating these conditions.
• Current treatments that influence norepinephrine can affect multiple brain circuits at once, sometimes producing beneficial effects in one region while causing unwanted effects elsewhere.
• A clearer map of the LC’s specialized pathways could help scientists develop therapies that act more selectively on the circuits involved in particular symptoms.

Hence option d is the correct answer.

News: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261022081304.htm

Answer: b

Explanation:

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court recently restrained registration authorities from registering documents relating to lands covered by an 1887 deed dedicating properties to the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam.

About Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple:

• It is a prominent Hindu temple situated at Srirangam near Trichy in Tamil Nadu.
• This temple lies on an islet formed by the twin rivers Cauvery and Coleroon.
• It is the biggest functioning Hindu temple in India and is often found ranked amongst the largest religious complexes of the world.
• Built across an area of 156 acres, this temple is dedicated to Ranganatha, a reclining form of Hindu deity, Lord Vishnu.
• It is the foremost of the eight self-manifested shrines of Lord Vishnu.
• Though the temple has existed since the 2nd century BC, the archaeological inscriptions are available only from the 10th century CE.
• This temple underwent many changes during the rule of the Cholas, Cheras, Pandiyas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagar kings, and Nayaks of Madurai.
• In addition, influential Vaishnava leaders like Yamunacarya, Ramanujacarya, and Sudarsanacarya played pivotal roles in shaping the temple’s worship and its enduring legacy.
• Architecture:
  • The entire temple complex is a perfect example of Dravidian architecture.
  • The temple is enclosed by seven concentric walls known as “ Prakaram”, symbolizing the seven planetary systems in Vedic cosmology.
  • Within these walls, there are twenty-one towering entrances, known as gopurams, each adorned with intricate sculptures and designs.
  • The primary entrance tower, named the “Rajagopuram,” soars to a remarkable height of 236 feet, making it the largest in Asia.
  • The vimana over the sanctum of the temple is made up of gold.
  • There is also a royal temple tower, which covers a base area of 32,500 sq. ft. and has a height of 196 ft.
  • It also comprises a hall containing 1000 pillars. Intricate sculptures are the most attractive part of the hall. The Hall was built during the Vijayanagara period (1336-1565).
  • Inside the temple, one can find inscriptions from the Chola dynasty, accompanied by tales of the Pandya, Hoysala, and Vijayanagara empires that once flourished alongside the Tiruchirappalli rule.
  • A substantial part of Srirangam town resides within the periphery defined by the three outer walls of the temple complex.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

News: https://www.dtnext.in/news/tamilnadu/madras-high-court-restrains-registration-of-srirangam-temple-land-documents

Answer: a

Explanation:

According to research by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), the number of breeding chinstrap penguins on the Zavodovski Island declined nearly 63% in 14 years.

About Zavodovski Island:

• Location: It is an uninhabited volcanic island situated in the Traversay Islands subgroup of the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean.
• It is home to the largest penguins colony in the world and unique terrestrial fauna and flora.
• Volcano: The basaltic stratovolcano on the island, known as Mount Curry, has a large lava platform extending east from two parasitic cones on the side of the main edifice.

Hence option (a) is the correct answer.

News: https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/pets-animals/worlds-largest-chinstrap-penguin-colony-sees-63-decline-in-14-years-10921532/

Answer: c

Explanation:

The International Criminal Court and its officials won the EU’s 2026 Sakharov human rights prize.

About Sakharov Prize:

• It is European Union’s highest honour dedicated to human rights work.
• Background:  It was established in 1988 and inaugural prize was jointly conferred to Nelson Mandela and Anatoli Marchenko.
• It is named after Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov.
• It is awarded annually by the European Parliament during its plenary session.
• This prize consists of € 50 000 endowments and along with an official citation.
• Focus: Recognizes individuals, groups, or organizations that make an outstanding contribution to defending human rights, freedom of thought, free expression, minority rights, and international law.

Hence both statements are correct.

News: https://www.reuters.com/world/international-criminal-court-wins-eus-2026-sakharov-prize-2026-10-22/

Answer: c

Explanation:

Recently, Prime Minister of India extended his greetings to all personnel of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) on their Raising Day.

About Indo-Tibetan Border Police:

• It is a Central Armed Police Force functioning under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
• It guards 3,488 km long India-China borders ranging from the Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Jachep La in Arunachal Pradesh. 
• Background:
  • It was raised in 1962, in the wake of the Sino-Indian War of 1962, for deployment along India’s border with China’s Tibet Autonomous Region.
  • ITBP was initially raised under the CRPF Act. However, in 1992, parliament enacted the ITBPF Act, and the rules thereunder were framed in 1994.
  • In 2004, ITBP was declared as a full-fledged central armed police force under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Motto: “Shaurya-Dridhata-Karma Nishtha” (Valour – Determination – Devotion to Duty).
• It is known as one of the most specialized mountain forces in the world, ITBP operates in some of the harshest and most remote areas.
• ITBP trains its personnel in mountaineering, skiing, and tactical combat, in addition to maintaining readiness for disaster response and relief operations in the Himalayan region. 
• Headed By: It is headed by a Director General under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Headquarter: New Delhi.

Hence both statements are correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2327771&reg=3&lang=1

Answer: b

Explanation:

Recently, the two satellite-tagged Amur Falcons (Falco amurensis) have returned to Manipur after travelling across 23 countries in Asia and Africa.  

About Amur Falcon:

• It is a migratory raptor of the falcon family.
• Other Names: Eastern Red-footed Falcon, Eastern Red-footed Kestrel, Manchurian Falcon, and Red-legged Falcon.
• Habitat: It is found across open forests, grasslands, wetlands and agricultural landscapes.
• Distribution: They breed in southeastern Siberia and Northern China and migrate long distances in large flocks to winter in Southern and East Africa.
• Along the way, large numbers pass through India, with the biggest congregations seen in the northeastern states mainly in Nagaland, Manipur, and parts of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
• Features:
  • The male and female are distinctly different. 
  • The male is a dark, sooty grey, with brownish-red thighs and vent. 
  • When flying, a white lining of the male’s wings stands out against the sooty grey. 
  • The female has a pattern common among many falcon species, with a dark spotted chest and vent against a white background and a darker, grey back. 
  • A distinctive feature of both the male and the female is the orange of the eye-ring, beak base (the cere) and feet. 
  • In addition to speed and strength, these birds are known to have keen eyesight for detecting prey from a distance or during flight.
• Threats: Hunting during migration and habitat loss at roosting sites, and changing weather patterns.
• Conservation Status
  • IUCN Red List: Least Concern
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972:  Schedule IV

Hence only statements 1 and 3 are correct.

News: https://newsonair.gov.in/satellite-tagged-amur-falcons-return-to-manipur-after-migrating-across-23-countries/

Answer: d

Explanation:

Researchers have discovered a new species of electric ray, named the Arabian Black Electric Ray (Tetronarce ramanamurthyi), in the deep waters of the southeastern Arabian Sea in the northern.

About Arabian Black Electric Ray:

• It was discovered in the Arabian Sea.
• It is the first confirmed record of the genus Tetronarce in the northern Indian Ocean. 
• Features: It features a uniform dark bluish-black or dark brown upper body surface with a whitish belly, lacking any skin bumps (papillae) around its breathing holes (spiracles).
• It forms an independent evolutionary lineage well-separated from all other known electric ray species globally.

Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

News: https://researchmatters.in/news/meet-the-arabian-black-electric-ray-a-new-electric-ray-species-discovered-deep-in-the-arabian-sea