UPSC Daily Quiz 11 December 2025

Answer: c

Explanation:

As on date, M/s. NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) has signed 70 Technology Transfer Agreements to transfer technologies developed at ISRO to Industry.

About NewSpace India Limited (NSIL):

• NSIL, incorporated on 6 March 2019 (under the Companies Act, 2013) is a wholly owned Government of India company, under the administrative control of Department of Space (DOS).
• It is the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• Primary Responsibility:
  • Enabling Indian industries to take up high technology space related activities.
  • Promotion and commercial exploitation of the products and services emanating from the Indian space programme.
• The major business areas of NSIL include:
  • Production of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) through industry.
  • Production and marketing of space-based services, including launch services and space-based applications like transponder leasing, remote sensing and mission support services.
  • Building of Satellites (both Communication and Earth Observation) as per user requirements.
  • Transfer of technology developed by ISRO centres/units and constituent institutions of the Dept. of Space.
  • Marketing spinoff technologies and products/services emanating out of ISRO
  • Consultancy

Hence option c is the correct answer.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2201529&reg=3&lang=1

Answer: a

Explanation:

A new shieldtail species, Rhinophis siruvaniensis, has been described with the help of citizen scientists after it was found recently in the Siruvani Hills which fall in both Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

About Rhinophis siruvaniensis:

• It is a new species of shieldtail snake.
• It was discovered in Siruvani Hills, located in the Western Ghats in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• A shiny snake, R. siruvaniensis is brownish black and creamy white in colour, with bold dark blotches.
• The tip of its tail is dome-shaped.

Key Facts about Shieldtail Snakes:

• Shieldtails are a group of small-sized, non-venomous snakes that burrow in the soil and mostly live underground.
• They belong to the Uropeltidae family of snakes and are also called uropeltids.
• They’ve been named shieldtails because the tip of their tails looks like a disc-shaped shield.
• Distribution:
  • They are endemic to India & Sri Lanka.
  • In India, they are found in the Western Ghats and some parts of Peninsular India.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News: https://india.mongabay.com/2025/12/scientists-describe-a-new-species-of-burrowing-shieldtail-snake/

Answer: b

Explanation:                                                   

The Prime Minister recently called upon citizens to take part in the ‘Your Money, Your Right’ movement.

About ‘Your Money, Your Right’ Movement:

• It was launched by the central government in October 2025.
• It is an initiative aimed at enabling people to reclaim their unclaimed deposits, insurance proceeds, dividends, and other financial assets.
• The effort brings together government agencies, regulators, banks, and financial institutions to identify and return long-forgotten funds.
  • Indian banks are holding Rs 78,000 crore of unclaimed money belonging to our own citizens.
  • Insurance companies have nearly Rs 14,000 crore lying unclaimed.
  • Mutual fund companies have around Rs 3,000 crore, and dividends worth Rs 9,000 crore are also unclaimed.
• The deposits in accounts which are not operated for a period of 10 years are classified as unclaimed deposits.
• Under the initiative, individuals need to verify if their close family members or relatives have unclaimed deposits, insurance proceeds, mutual-fund payouts, or dividends.
• To facilitate this, the government has created dedicated portals as follows:
  • Reserve Bank of India (RBI): UDGAM Portal for unclaimed bank deposits & balances.
  • Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI): Bima Bharosa Portal for unclaimed insurance policy proceeds.
  • Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI): MITRA Portal for unclaimed amounts in mutual funds.
  • Ministry of Corporate Affairs: IEPFA Portal for unpaid dividends and unclaimed shares.
• Facilitation camps are being organised in districts across both rural and urban regions of the country.
  • During the camps, the citizens will be provided on-the-spot guidance on how to search for their unclaimed assets, update records, and complete claim procedures.
  • Digital tools and step-by-step demonstrations will also be showcased.
• On the national level, the campaign is coordinated by the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance.

Hence option b is the correct answer.

News:https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/news_updates/pm-calls-upon-citizens-to-participate-in-your-money-your-right-movement/?comment=disable

Answer: a

Explanation:

Controller General of Communication Accounts (CGCA) recently inaugurated the onboarding of all MTNL employees retiring in November 2025 onto the SAMPANN portal at the Office of Principal CCA, Delhi.

About SAMPANN Portal:

• SAMPANN, or “System for Accounting and Management of Pension”, is a Comprehensive Pension Management System (CPMS).
• It is an initiative undertaken by the Controller General of Communication Accounts (CGCA), Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications.
• It is an online pension processing and payment system for Department of Telecommunications pensioners.
• It was launched on 29th December, 2018.
• It brings the pension processing, sanctioning, authorisation, and payment units under a common platform.
• It provides direct credit of pension into the bank accounts of pensioners.
• The system has helped the Department in faster settlement of pension cases, improved reconciliation/auditing, and ease of accounting.
• Features:
  • Direct disbursement of pension on a timely basis without intermediaries.
  • Single window system for complete pension process.
  • Online grievance management for the pensioners, reducing paperwork.
  • Tracking of pension status from home encourages transparency and accountability.
  • Faster processing of arrears and revision of pension.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2201701&reg=3&lang=1

Answer: c

Explanation:

In Rajya Sabha, in reply to a starred question the Minister of Tribal Affairs recently stated that there are no plans to expand the Swasthya Portal to integrate national health databases, district dashboards or AI-enabled analytics.

About Swasthya Portal:

• It is a one-stop solution presenting the health and nutrition status of the tribal population of India.
• It was developed under the central sector scheme “Tribal Research Information Education Communication and Events (TRI ECE)” of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• The portal is hosted on the National Informatics Centre (NIC) Server and is maintained by the Centre of Excellence for Knowledge Management for Health and Nutrition, established by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• It provides information and data as well as curates innovative practices, research briefs, case studies, and best practices collected from different parts of India to facilitate the exchange of evidence, expertise, and experiences.
• It has a dashboard, knowledge repository, partner segment, Sickle Cell Diseases (SCD) support corner.
  • The dashboard presents data curated from multiple sources for the 177 identified high-priority tribal districts.
• Information available on Swasthya will provide insights to all stakeholders working with the tribal population of India in the areas of health and nutrition.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

News:https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2201423&reg=3&lang=1

Answer: a

Explanation:

Recently, scientists have reported that a combination of extreme heat stress and a rare Black band disease has wiped out 75 per cent of Goniopora coral colonies at a site on the Great Barrier Reef.

It is also known as flowerpot or daisy corals, is a type of hard, soft coral belonging to the Poritidae family.

It is appreciated for its beautiful appearance as it possesses unique polyps that resemble flower petals.

Appearance: Colonies consist of small branching columns, usually oval in transverse section.

Size: Goniopora polyps can range from a few to several centimeters in diameter.

Habitat: It typically inhabits lagoons and turbid reefs and considered thermally tolerant.

Goniopora are a photosynthetic coral and derive some of their nutritional requirements from light.  It can thrive in a wide range of lighting.

Symbiotic Relationship: They have a symbiotic relationship with dinoflagellates called zooxanthellae that live in the flesh of the coral.

Feeding: It is a predatory coral, meaning it obtains some of its nutrients by capturing small organisms in the water.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/heat-stress-rare-disease-wipe-out-goniopora-coral-colonies-on-great-barrier-reef

Answer: c

Explanation:

Recently, scientists from Kolkata based Bose institute has created GlowCas9 which can track gene editing.

It is a CRISPR protein that lights up while performing gene editing.

It is a bioluminescent version of Cas9 that glows inside cells.

Structure: GlowCas9 is created by fusing Cas9 with a split nano-luciferase enzyme derived from deep-sea shrimp proteins.

Properties of GlowCas9 Protein:

The GlowCas9 is very stable and maintains its structure and activity at higher temperatures compared to the conventional enzyme.

It glows inside cells, allowing for real-time monitoring of CRISPR operations

Working of GlowCas9 Protein:

The split nano-luciferase enzyme pieces reconnect when Cas9 folds correctly, producing light.

This glowing activity allows scientists to monitor CRISPR operations in living cells, tissues, and even plant leaves—without harming them.

Benefits of GlowCas9 Protein

It can also increase the precision of homology-directed repair (HDR).

Homology-Directed Repair (HDR) is a DNA repair process crucial for fixing hereditary mutations that are linked to genetic diseases like sickle cell anaemia, muscular dystrophy and so on.

GlowCas9 pioneers the emerging field of theratracking or visualizing molecular gene therapy in motion.

Hence both statements are correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2201313&reg=3&lang=2

Answer: c

Explanation:

Recently, Deepavali has been inscribed on UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Deepavali, also known as Diwali, is the festival of lights celebrated across India.

‘Deepa’ means lamp or light and‘Vali’ means string or row, and Deepavali means rows of lights.

It is celebrated on Kartik Amaavasya, which typically falls in October or November.

The fundamental philosophy of Deepavali encompasses the celebration of prosperity, renewal, and abundance for all individuals.

Celebration of Deepavali:

It begins with Dhanteras, a day of auspicious beginnings when families buy new metalware or essentials that symbolise prosperity.

The second day marks Naraka Chaturdashi, observed with rituals and lighting lamps to dispel negativity and welcome positive energy.

The third day is the highlight of Deepavali- the sacred Lakshmi-Ganesha Puja.

On the fourth day, families and friends visit one another, exchange gifts, and reconnect, strengthening their bonds and shared happiness.

The celebrations conclude with Bhai Dooj, a heartfelt tribute to the bond between brothers and sisters, observed with prayers, blessings, and meaningful rituals.

It is the 16th Indian element on UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Hence both statements are correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2201375&reg=3&lang=2

Answer: b

Explanation:

Deodar trees in Himachal Pradesh’s Sangla Valley have revealed the process of climatic shifts from wetter spring conditions that prevailed during pre-historic times to drier conditions from the year 1757 onwards.

It is also known as the Himalayan Cedar, is one of the most revered and iconic tree species in the Western Himalayas.

The name Deodar is derived from the Sanskrit word Devadāru, meaning “wood of the gods,” highlighting the tree’s cultural and spiritual importance.

Characteristics of Deodar Tree:

It is native to high-altitude forests; this majestic conifer plays a critical ecological and cultural role.

Soil and Climate: It thrives in well-drained soils and moist temperate climates.

It is a large evergreen tree found between 1800-3000m altitude. Cones are solitary, erect, ovoid, dark brown.

Male and female cones are on the same tree.

It reaches heights of up to 50 meters and characterized by its tall, pyramidal shape, drooping branches, and needle-like bluish-green leaves.

Its bark is dark gray and becomes deeply fissured with age, adding to their stately presence in alpine and subalpine forest zones.

Distribution:  It is mainly found in the western Himalayan region.

Applications: Traditionally, its wood has been used in temple construction, religious ceremonies, and Ayurvedic medicine.

Threats: It faced threats from logging, habitat loss, and climate change.

Hence only statements 2 and 3 are correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2201314&reg=3&lang=1

Answer: d

Explanation:

Recently, ‘Charaichung Festival’ was hosted in Assam’s Majuli island to revive Asia’s first protected royal bird sanctuary.

It is Asia’s first protected bird sanctuary.

It was established in 1633 AD by Ahom king Swargadeu Pratap Singha

Location: It is located at Majuli (Assam)- the world’s largest river island.

Ecological Significance: It has nearly 150 varieties of indigenous and migratory birds are found here, making their protection and conservation extremely essential.

Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

News: https://ddnews.gov.in/en/assams-majuli-hosts-charaichung-festival-to-revive-asias-first-protected-royal-bird-sanctuary/