UPSC Daily Quiz 28 June 2025

Answer: b

Explanation:  

A forest department team has recently arrested four members of a gang allegedly involved in the illegal felling of khair trees in the Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary area.

About Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is located in the Meerut District of Uttar Pradesh.
• Established in 1986, it lies alongside the northern tip of the River Ganga, flowing through the districts of Muzaffarnagar and Bijnor.
• It is situated near the mediaeval town of Hastinapur, which is of cultural importance. 
• It is spread across an area of 2073 sq.km.
• It is made up of a variety of environments, including marshes, grasslands, woodlands, and riverine ecosystems. 
• The Ganges River and its tributaries flow through the sanctuary, contributing to its rich biodiversity.
• Vegetation: The vegetation can be classified into tall wet grasslands, dry short grasslands, scrubs, and plantations.
• Flora: Dominated by Sal (Shorea robusta), Sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo), Khair (Acacia catechu), and Jamun (Syzygium cumini) trees.
• Fauna: 
  • It is home to the state animal, the Swamp Deer (Barasingha), as well as Hog Deer, Cheetal, Sambar, and the State Bird, the Saaras (Crane). 
  • It is a part of the “Asia Flyway” project, and many migratory birds, both local and foreign, flock in numbers near the numerous water bodies present in the region.
  • Under Crocodile Breeding Projects, baby crocodiles are released in the Ganga River near Hastinapur.
  • Under the aegis of the World Wide Fund (WWF), the Turtle Rehabilitation Program also has its centre near the Hastinapur Sanctuary.

Hence option (b) is the correct answer. 

News: https://theprint.in/india/four-arrested-for-illegal-felling-of-trees-in-wildlife-sanctuary-in-up/2772420/

Answer: c

Explanation:

An ‘Atlas Moth’ (Attacus atlas), recognised as the world’s largest moth, has been recently discovered in Guddehalli in Karwar of Karnataka’s Davangare district.

About Atlas Moth:

• • It is a massive saturniid moth native to tropical and subtropical rainforest regions of Southeast Asia. 
  • Scientific Name: Attacus atlas
  • Distribution: It is widely distributed in Southeast Asia, including in Nepal, northeastern India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, southeastern China, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Taiwan.
  • Habitat: 
    • It is primarily found in tropical and subtropical rainforests.
    • They are cultivated in some areas for their silk called fagara, which is rough and woolly.
  • Features: 
    • It is one of the largest moths in the world, with a wingspan of over 9.8 inches.
    • Their wingspans are also amongst the largest, reaching over 25 cm (10 in).
    • Females are slightly larger than males.
    • The wings of an atlas moth are a beautiful mix of brown, orange, white, and pink colors. 
    • They have clear, triangle-shaped “windows” on each wing. These windows look like they are made of glass. 
    • Like other moths in the family Saturniidae, adults do not have working mouthparts and only live for a few days to a week.

• Atlas moths live only 14-18 days. 

Hence option (c) is the correct answer. 

News:https://www.etvbharat.com/en/state/rare-atlas-moth-spotted-in-karnatakas-karwar-enn25102904201

Answer: b

Explanation:

Delhi Development Authority’s (DDA’s) East Delhi hub is set to roll out India’ first transit-oriented development (TOD) project.

• • It is an urban development strategy which aims to create the maximum possible numbers of houses, shops, offices and recreational spaces near public transport facilities.
  • TOD approach puts public transportation at the centre of the urban development plan.
  • Objectives: To minimise use of personal vehicles, make commutes shorter, and reduce the cost of transport and exposure to pollutants.

• Principles of Transit Oriented Development

• • • Transit Hub: Neighbourhoods built around a TOD strategy are built around at least one major transit node such as a metro station or other rail systems.
    • Multi-modal integration: Transfers between different modes of transport, such as switching from a metro to a city bus, should be a seamless process.
      • TOD hubs should also have open public spaces such as transit plazas and parks to increase street activity and foster a sense of community.
    • Pedestrian Friendly: These localities must also be friendly to pedestrians and cyclists, since one of the major thrusts of this approach is to take vehicles off the road. 
    • Dense Mixed Use: TOD localities should be mixed-use, so that people can live, work, and relax within a small radius.

• Advantages of Transit Oriented Development

• • To transportation agencies, it offers an additional source of non-ticket revenue.
  • For land-owning agencies and governments it appears as a mode of value-capture financing, which allows them to fund public projects through potential increases in land values resulting from these projects.

Hence only statements 2 and 3 are correct.

News: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/ddas-east-delhi-hub-set-to-roll-what-is-transit-oriented-development-10334895/

Answer: a

Explanation: 

Recently, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has facilitated the first-ever air shipment of GI-tagged Indi Lime and Puliyankudi Lime to the United Kingdom.

• Indi Lime is cultivated primarily in Vijayapura district of Karnataka. 
• It has received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
• Features: It is known for its superior quality, zesty aroma, high juice yield and balanced acidity.
• It has distinctive flavour and geographical uniqueness make it a hallmark of the region’s agricultural excellence.
• It has received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
• Uses:  Along with its culinary applications, the lime is also valued in traditional medicine and cultural practices.

Hence option (a) is the correct answer.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2183886

Answer: c

Explanation: 

Recently, the 20th East Asia Summit has adopted the Kuala Lumpur Declaration.

• It is the premier Leaders-led forum for dialogue and cooperation on strategic, political, and economic issues of mutual interest and concern in East Asia region. 
• It was established in 2005 with the convening of the 1st Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 
• Member countries: ASEAN Member States (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam), Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea, United States and Russia.
• To become a member of the EAS, countries must:
  • Sign the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC)
  • Be a formal dialogue partner of ASEAN
  • Have substantive cooperative relations with ASEAN
• Six priority areas of regional cooperation within the framework of the EAS
  • Environment and Energy,
  • Education,
  • Finance,
  • Global Health Issues and Pandemic Diseases,
  • Natural Disaster Management, and
  • ASEAN Connectivity.

Hence both statements are correct.

News: https://www.newsonair.gov.in/20th-east-asia-summit-adopts-kuala-lumpur-declaration-on-peace-and-stability/

Answer: d

Explanation: 

Recently, scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered a new species of slender gecko and named it as Hemiphyllodactylus Venkatadri.

• It is a new species of slender Gecko belonging to the genus Hemiphyllodactylus.

• • It was discovered from Tirumala hill ranges within the Seshachalam biosphere reserve in Andhra Pradesh. 
  • It derives its name from the sacred Venkatadri Hills.
  • It is the second slender gecko species recorded from Andhra Pradesh, after Hemiphyllodactylus arakuensis. 

• Features of Hemiphyllodactylus Venkatadri

• • Venkatadri slender geckos are considered “small,” reaching just over 2 inches in length.
  • Their limbs are short, and they have “spurs” at the base of their tails.

Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

News: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/new-species-of-slender-gecko-discovered-in-tirumala-hills/articleshow/124916497.cms

Answer: a

Explanation: 

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs will jointly launch the Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS) in New Delhi. 

• It is a simulated forum for School Children to participate in mock Gram Sabha sessions.
• It is a pioneering initiative to strengthen Janbhagidari and promote participatory local governance by engaging students in simulated Gram Sabha sessions.
  • It is an initiative based on the Model UN – an educational simulation of the United Nations – in schools across the country
• Initiative of: It is an initiative of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, in collaboration with Ministry of Education and Ministry of Tribal Affairs. 
• Implementation: It will be rolled out across more than 1,000 schools nationwide, including Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs), and State Government Schools.
• Key Features of Model Youth Gram Sabha
  • Students from classes 9-12 will play the roles of sarpanch, ward members, and village-level officials, including village secretary, Anganwadi worker etc.
  • They will hold mock meetings of the Gram Sabha, discuss various issues, and prepare the village budget and development plans.
  • The Panchayati Raj Ministry will also provide a support of Rs 20,000 to each school for holding the mock Gram Sabha.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2183753

Answer: c

Explanation: 

 Recently, the Union Minister of Coal and Mines launched two digital platforms the KOYLA SHAKTI Dashboard and the CLAMP Portal.

• The Coal Land Acquisition, Management, and Payment (CLAMP) portal is a unified digital solution. 
• It is aimed at streamlining land acquisition, compensation, and rehabilitation & resettlement (R&R) processes in the coal sector. 
• It serves as a centralized repository of land records, the portal ensures data integration, enhances accountability, and minimizes procedural delays. 
• Initiative of: Ministry of Coal
• Advantages: CLAMP portal enhances transparency, efficiency, and inter-agency coordination in land management practices across coal PSUs.

Hence both statements are correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2183948

Answer: b

Explanation:

Recently, the Telecom Centres of Excellence (TCoE) has signed agreements with leading implementation partners to roll out the Samriddh Gram Phygital Services Pilot  project.

• It is aimed at transforming rural India through a seamless integration of physical and digital services.
• It is a pioneering phygital (physical + digital) Services model integrating on-ground presence with robust digital infrastructure to empower rural citizens. 
• It leverages BharatNet connectivity to deliver essential services seamlessly and sustainably.
• Features of Samriddh Gram Phygital Services Pilot Project:
  • Under this initiative three villages have been identified namely, Ari & Umri in Madhya Pradesh, Narakoduru in Andhra Pradesh, and Chaurawala in Uttar Pradesh. 
  • Each village will host a Samriddhi Kendra which will serve as an integrated digital service hub.
  • The Samriddhi Kendras will deliver a comprehensive suite of services:
    • Education & Skilling: Smart classrooms, AR/VR-based learning, and digital skilling aligned with government schemes/initiatives.
    • Agriculture: IoT-based soil testing, drone support, and smart irrigation systems.
    • Healthcare:  Teleconsultations, Health ATMs, and emergency care.
    • e-Governance: Assisted access to citizen services, documentation, and grievance redressal.
    • E-Commerce: Integration with ONDC and digital marketplaces for local entrepreneurship.
    • Financial Inclusion: Digital banking and payments
    • Connectivity Backbone: Strengthened BharatNet FTTH with a Village Area Network and public Wi-Fi hotspots.

Hence only statements 1 and 2 are correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2183865

Answer: c

Explanation: 

Scientists in Brazil have launched AmazonFACE Project near Manaus, the largest city in the Amazon.

• • It is a field experiment that exposes mature tropical trees to projected future CO2 concentrations in an old-growth Amazon forest stand located near Manaus, Brazil. 
  • This is the first experiment in a natural forest of this size in the tropics.
  • Technology: The project uses Free-Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) technology to increase understanding of the functioning of the world’s largest tropical forest in light of climate change.

• How it works?

• Six rings of steel towers loom above the jungle canopy, each surrounding groups of 50 to 70 mature trees.

• • Scientists will fumigate trees in three of the rings with carbon dioxide at levels simulating climate forecasts for coming decades, while the rest serve as control samples.
  • Sensors record the forest’s response to changing conditions like absorption of carbon dioxide, oxygen and water vapor release in response to rain, storms and sunshine every 10 minutes.
• Supported by: The project is supported by Brazil’s federal government and the United Kingdom.

Hence both statements are correct.

News: https://ddnews.gov.in/en/scientists-run-climate-time-machine-in-amazon-as-brazil-preps-for-cop30/