UPSC Daily Quiz 11 May 2026

Answer: c

Explanation:

A relatively uncommon gecko species, Cyrtodactylus varadgirii, named after noted scientist Varad Giri, was recently spotted in Aarey forest by wildlife enthusiasts and a researcher.

About Cyrtodactylus varadgiri:

• Cyrtodactylus varadgirii (Giri’s Geckoella) is a species of gecko in the gekkonidae family.
• It is nocturnal, insectivorous, and terrestrial, living in dense leaf litter on the forest floor.
• It is endemic to India and found in parts of western and Central India, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh.
• The gecko was first discovered in 2016.
• It is one of the widely distributed but poorly known ground-dwelling geckos from India.
• It is also unusual among its close relatives in being associated not only with natural habitats but also with open and human-modified landscapes, including urban green spaces.
• Except for the record of the occurrence of this species from various locations, mostly during the monsoon, information on other aspects of its natural history is highly understudied.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

News: https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/India/the-disappearing-resident-rare-ground-gecko-rediscovered-in-aarey-forest/ar-AA22Favt

Answer: b

Explanation:

The Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad city remains dry after authorities of the Vasna barrage halted water flow for repair works of its gates, causing inconvenience to many.

About Sabarmati River:

• It is a monsoon-fed, west-flowing river flowing through Rajasthan and Gujarat.
• Course:
  • It originates from the Dhebar Lake, situated in the southeast of the Aravalli Range in Rajasthan’s Udaipur district.
  • From its source, the river flows in a southwest direction.
  • As it flows through the plains, the river enters the state of Gujarat.
  • It finally empties into the Gulf of Khambhat of the Arabian Sea.
• The river is 371 kilometers long, with 323 kilometers in Gujarat and 48 kilometers in Rajasthan.
• The basin is bounded by Aravalli Hills on the north and northeast, by the Rann of Kutch on the west, and by the Gulf of Khambhat on the south.
• The major part of the basin is covered with agriculture, accounting for 74.68% of the total area.
• The banks of the Sabarmati River have Indian cities like Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.
• It flows north-south through Ahmedabad, bisecting the city into its western and eastern halves.
• Major Tributaries: Wakal River, Harnav River, Hathmati River, Watrak River, and Madhumati

Hence option b is the correct answer.

News:https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/sabarmati-river-dry-rubber-barrage-subhash-bridge-10682840/

Answer: c

Explanation:

Every year, World Lupus Day is observed globally on May 10.

About Lupus Disease:

• It is a chronic autoimmune disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues and organs.
• It causes widespread inflammation and damage to joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, and lungs.
• Causes: The causes of lupus are not known. But they may be linked to a person’s environment, family history (genetics), or hormonal factors.
• Lupus is much more common among women than men.
• It mostly affects people between 20 to 40 years old but can also occur in newborns, children, and older adults.
• There are several kinds of lupus:
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common It can be mild or severe and can affect many parts of the body. SLE accounts for 70% of lupus cases.
  • Discoid lupus causes a red rash that doesn’t go away.
  • Subacute cutaneous lupus causes sores after being out in the sun.
  • Drug-induced lupus is caused by certain medicines. It usually goes away when you stop taking the medicine.
  • Neonatal lupus, which is rare, affects newborns. It is probably caused by certain antibodies from the mother.
• Symptoms:
  • Lupus causes symptoms throughout your body, depending on which organs or systems it affects.
  • Everyone experiences a different combination and severity of symptoms.
  • The symptoms of lupus occur in times of flare-ups. Between flare-ups, people usually experience times of remission, when there are few or no symptoms.
  • The wide range of symptoms in the body includes joint pain, headache, rashes, fever, fatigue, mouth sores, confusion, swollen glands, and blood clots, among others.
  • Left untreated, it can progress to damage the kidneys, lungs, heart, and even the brain.
• Treatment: There is no cure for lupus, but medicines and lifestyle changes can help control it.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

News:https://www.newsonair.gov.in/world-lupus-day-observed-globally-today-to-raise-awareness-about-autoimmune-disease/

Answer: b

Explanation:

Two Indian vultures released in the Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR) in Maharashtra’s Amravati district have been recently spotted near Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh after covering a flight distance of over 1,000 km.

About Indian Vulture:

• The Indian vulture, also called the long-billed vulture, is a bird of prey native to Asia.
• Scientific Name: Gyps indicus
• It is part of a group called ‘’Old World vultures’’.
• They belong to the Accipitridae family, which includes eagles and hawks.
• Habitat and Distribution:
  • These are native to India, Pakistan, and Nepal.
  • They are usually found in savannas and other open habitats around villages, cities, and near cultivated areas.
  • It has suffered a 97-99% population decrease due to poisoning caused by the veterinary drug diclofenac.
  • It was given to working animals, as it reduced joint pain and so kept them working for longer.
  • Vultures got poisoned when they ate the meat of dead cattle that had been treated with diclofenac. This caused kidney failure in the vultures.
• Features:
  • It is a bulky medium-sized Females of this species are smaller than males.
  • They have a small, mostly bald head with few feathers.
  • It has a long, featherless neck, dark eyes, and a long, yellowish beak.
  • Its body and covert feathers are light brown.
  • Its wings are broad, and its tail feathers are short.
  • Its large wingspan allows it to fly long distances while using minimal energy.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

News:https://www.deccanherald.com/india/2-indian-vultures-released-in-maharashtras-melghat-tiger-reserve-fly-over-1000-km-3997561

Answer: d

Explanation:

British military medics recently carried out a rare parachute mission to the remote South Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha to assist a UK national suspected of contracting hantavirus after leaving the virus-hit cruise ship MV Hondius.

About Tristan da Cunha:

• It is both a group of islands in the South Atlantic Ocean and the largest island of that group.
• The archipelago is volcanic in origin.
• It is about midway between southern Africa and South America.
• It is considered the most remote inhabited chain of islands in the world.
• The islands were discovered in 1506 by Portuguese explorer Tristão da Cunha, after whom they are named.
• The island group is a constituent part of the British overseas territory.
• The main island, Tristan da Cunha, has a small settlement named Edinburgh of the Seven Seas. It has an estimated population of 250 permanent residents.
• Other islands in the Tristan Archipelago are uninhabited: two (Gough Island and Inaccessible Island) form a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Nightingale Island, Stoltenhoff and Alex (or Middle) Island also have globally significant biodiversity.
• The archipelago contains no airstrip and is accessible only by boat or helicopter.
• Tristan da Cunha has a unique economic and social structure in which land is communally owned and all families engage in farming.
• Outsiders cannot settle or buy land on the islands.
• In addition to agriculture, the other sectors of the economy are government and commercial fishing.

Hence option d is the correct answer.

News:https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/hantavirus-tristan-da-cunha-uk-military-medics-parachuted-brition-mv-hondius-outbreak-2909626-2026-05-10

Answer: c

Explanation:

Recently, European Union (EU)-Mercosur trade agreement enforced amid farmers’ fears of unfair competition.

• The Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR for its Spanish initials) is a South American regional economic organization.
• It was created in 1991 by signing the Treaty of Asunción.
• Objective: Free movement of goods, services, capital and people and it became a customs union in January 1995. 
• Member countries: 
  • It originally comprised Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay as its members. 
  • Bolivia and Venezuela joined it later. (Venezuela has been suspended since December 1, 2016).
• Headquarters: Montevideo, Uruguay.
• Its official working languages are Spanish and Portuguese.
• Governance of MERCOSUR Group:
  • Common Market Council: It is the bloc’s highest decision-making body, and provides a high-level forum for coordinating foreign and economic policy. 
  • The group consists of the foreign and economic ministers of each member state, or their equivalent, and decisions are made by consensus. 
  • The group’s presidency rotates every six months among its full members.
• India and MERCOSUR: India and MERCOSUR signed a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) in 2004.

Hence both statements are correct.

News: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/amp/story/economy/eu-mercosur-trade-deal-enforced-amid-farmers-fears-of-unfair-competition

Answer: c

Explanation:

Recently, the Prime Minister of India inaugurated the PM MITRA Park at Warangal, Telangana.

• Pradhan Mantri Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) is a mega textile hub that brings every step of textile production, like spinning, weaving, dyeing, printing, and garment-making, into one single place. 
• MITRA parks can be either Greenfield or Brownfield.
  • The seven approved PM Mitra Parks are being set up in: Tamil Nadu (Virudhunagar), Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow district) and Maharashtra.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Textiles.
• PM MITRA Park Features:
  • Integrated Value Chain: Each park brings spinning, garmenting, dyeing, and processing into a single zone, cutting transport time and costs.
  • World-Class Infrastructure: PM MITRA will develop 50% area for pure Manufacturing Activity, 20% area for utilities, and 10% of area for commercial development. 
  • Public–Private Partnership: PM MITRA park will be developed by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) which will be owned by the State Government and the Government of India in a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Mode.
  • Capital and Incentives:  
    • The Ministry of Textiles will provide financial assistance up to Rs 800 crores per park for Greenfield projects and up to Rs 500 crores per park for Brownfield projects.
    • The State Governments will provide land and augmented utility infrastructure for the proposed mega textile parks. 

Hence both statements are correct.

News: https://ddnews.gov.in/en/pm-modi-inaugurates-indias-first-pm-mitra-park-in-telanganas-warangal/

Answer: a

Explanation:

Recently, NASA’s Psyche spacecraft captured a stunning crescent image of Mars from nearly 5 million kilometres away.

• It was launched on October 13, 2023 by NASA.
• It is on a mission to reach the metal-rich asteroid also named Psyche.
  • Asteroid Psyche’s gravity will capture the spacecraft in late July 2029, and Psyche will begin its prime mission in August.
• It will spend about two years orbiting the asteroid to take pictures, map the surface, and collect data to determine Psyche’s composition. 
• Features of Psyche Spacecraft:
  • The body of the Psyche spacecraft is about the size of a small van.
  • It uses a solar-electric propulsion system powered by xenon gas, slowly gaining speed over time as it travels through space.
  • Scientific Instruments of Psyche Spacecraft
    • Magnetometer: It will look for evidence of an ancient magnetic field at the asteroid Psyche.
    • Gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer: It will help scientists determine the chemical elements that make up the asteroid’s surface material.
    • Multispectral Imager: It consists of a pair of identical cameras equipped with filters and telescopic lenses to photograph the surface of the asteroid in different wavelengths of light.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News: https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/nasa-psyche-spacecraft-mars-crescent-gravity-assist-2026-asteroid-2029-2909558-2026-05-10

Answer: a

Explanation:

Recently, UN-Habitat launched the Catalogue of Solutions 2026-2029.

• It is also commonly known as UN-Habitat, is the UN agency responsible for promoting sustainable urban development and adequate shelter for all.
• It was established in 1977 after the Habitat I Conference (1976).
• Its mandate is derived from several UN General Assembly resolutions and from the Habitat Agenda adopted during Habitat II (1996).
• Purpose: Its central mission is to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities.
• Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya.
• Governance of United Nations Human Settlements Programme
  • UN-Habitat Assembly
    • It is composed of all 193 UN member states.
    • It convenes once every four years in Nairobi.
    • It sets global priorities and approves the strategic plan.
  • Executive Board
    • It consists of 36 member states elected by the Assembly.
    • It meets three times a year to oversee implementation of policies.
  • Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR)
    • It includes all permanent representatives accredited to the UN Office in Nairobi.
    • It acts as a continuous oversight and advisory body.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/urbanisation/un-habitat-releases-new-catalogue-in-response-to-mounting-global-challenges-related-to-housing-inequality-and-basic-urban-services

Answer: b

Explanation:

Oman’s strategically located Sohar and Salalah Indian Ocean ports are facilitating vital food exports from India to six GCC nations.

• Location: It is located in the Arabian Peninsula of Western Asia.
• Bordering Countries: It shares a north western border with the United Arab Emirates (UAE); a western border with Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
• Maritime Boundaries: It shares coastline borders with the Arabian Sea in the south and east along with the Gulf of Oman in the northeast.
• It is strategically situated at the mouth of the Persian Gulf in the south eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula. 
• It also has offshore territories such as Maşīrah Island and Al-Ḩallāniyyah Island.
• Capital City:
• Geographical Features of Oman:
  • Climate: It consists of dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south.
  • Highest Point: Mount Shams, the country’s highest point at 9,777 feet.
  • Ports: The Port of Salalah is the largest port in Oman.
  • Deserts: The Rub’ al-Khali desert, shared with Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
  • Natural Resources: It mainly consists of Petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas.

Hence only statements 1 and 3 are correct.

News: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/oman-ports-provide-lifeline-to-indian-exporters-gcc-nations/articleshow/130965530.cms?from=mdr