Practice the Daily UPSC Quiz by Vajiram & Ravi to increase your current affairs and concept clarity. Ideal for UPSC Prelims and Mains 2025 preparation. Stay updated, revise smarter, and track your progress.
The Daily UPSC Quiz by Vajiram & Ravi is a thoughtfully curated initiative designed to support UPSC aspirants in strengthening their current affairs knowledge and core conceptual understanding. Aligned with the UPSC Syllabus 2025, this daily quiz serves as a revision resource, helping candidates assess their preparation, revise key topics, and stay updated with relevant issues. Whether you are preparing for Prelims or sharpening your revision for Mains, consistent practice with these Daily UPSC Quiz can significantly enhance accuracy, speed, and confidence in solving exam-level questions.
UPSC Daily Quiz 17 February 2026
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Vajiram & Ravi’s Daily UPSC Quiz is designed to help aspirants strengthen their preparation by focusing on current affairs and concepts from the UPSC Syllabus 2026 for both Prelims & Mains. It allows candidates to revise important topics while regularly assessing their understanding and progress. Practicing these quizzes daily can improve accuracy, speed, and problem-solving skills. This consistent practice also enhances confidence in tackling exam-level questions. Overall, it is a valuable tool for both UPSC Prelims preparation and Mains revision.
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Question 1 of 10
1. Question
1 points
Which among the following best describes ‘Lepidocampa sikkimensis’, recently seen in the news?
Correct
Answer: d
Explanation:
Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) recently discovered a new species of Diplura named Lepidocampa sikkimensis in the eastern Himalayas.
About Lepidocampa sikkimensis:
It is a new species of Diplura discovered in Ravangla, Sikkim.
Diplura are small, wingless, soil-dwelling arthropods.
It represents the first time a species within this primitive hexapod group has been described by an Indian research team.
While 17 species had been previously documented within the country, all were historically described by foreign researchers.
Morphological Distinctiveness: The species is distinguished by its unique arrangement of body scales, specific chaetotaxy (bristle patterns), and specialized appendage structures.
Ecological Role: As primitive, blind hexapods, Diplurans (two-pronged bristletails) are fundamental to soil health, playing a critical role in nutrient cycling and the maintenance of soil structure.
Beyond the description of a new species, the study provides a comprehensive update to Indian soil fauna records:
Rediscovery: The team successfully relocated a rare Indian Diplura subspecies, Lepidocampa juradii bengalensis, which had not been recorded in nearly 50 years.
Molecular Breakthrough: The study provides the first-ever DNA barcode data globally for an Indian Lepidocampa species, bridging a significant gap between traditional morphology and modern molecular phylogenetics.
Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) recently discovered a new species of Diplura named Lepidocampa sikkimensis in the eastern Himalayas.
About Lepidocampa sikkimensis:
It is a new species of Diplura discovered in Ravangla, Sikkim.
Diplura are small, wingless, soil-dwelling arthropods.
It represents the first time a species within this primitive hexapod group has been described by an Indian research team.
While 17 species had been previously documented within the country, all were historically described by foreign researchers.
Morphological Distinctiveness: The species is distinguished by its unique arrangement of body scales, specific chaetotaxy (bristle patterns), and specialized appendage structures.
Ecological Role: As primitive, blind hexapods, Diplurans (two-pronged bristletails) are fundamental to soil health, playing a critical role in nutrient cycling and the maintenance of soil structure.
Beyond the description of a new species, the study provides a comprehensive update to Indian soil fauna records:
Rediscovery: The team successfully relocated a rare Indian Diplura subspecies, Lepidocampa juradii bengalensis, which had not been recorded in nearly 50 years.
Molecular Breakthrough: The study provides the first-ever DNA barcode data globally for an Indian Lepidocampa species, bridging a significant gap between traditional morphology and modern molecular phylogenetics.
The Tulbul Navigation Barrage Project, recently seen in the news, is primarily designed to facilitate navigation on which river?
Correct
Answer: c
Explanation:
The Jammu & Kashmir government is mulling to take advantage of the suspended Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) by diverting, for the first time, water from the Ravi river in Punjab to the Jammu region, and pushing for the revival of the Tulbul Navigation Barrage project.
About Tulbul Navigation Barrage Project:
The Tulbul Navigation Barrage Project, also known as the Wullar Barrage, is a navigation lock-cum-control structure located at the outlet of Wullar Lake, in J&K.
It was designed to facilitate navigation on the Jhelum River during lean winter months (Oct-Feb).
The work on the project had started in 1984 but had to be stopped due to objections by Pakistan under IWT.
It was originally designed as a 439-ft-long and 40-ft-wide structure with a storage capacity of 0.30 million acre-feet.
The barrage, once completed, would have regulated the water of the Wular Lake to maintain a minimum draft of 4.4 ft in the river up to Baramulla during the winter season.
This minimum draft would have ensured round-the-year navigation over a 20-km stretch between Baramulla and Sopore.
Besides, the project would have provided water and helped in firming up power generation in downstream hydroelectric plants such as the Uri I and II hydro projects.
The Jammu & Kashmir government is mulling to take advantage of the suspended Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) by diverting, for the first time, water from the Ravi river in Punjab to the Jammu region, and pushing for the revival of the Tulbul Navigation Barrage project.
About Tulbul Navigation Barrage Project:
The Tulbul Navigation Barrage Project, also known as the Wullar Barrage, is a navigation lock-cum-control structure located at the outlet of Wullar Lake, in J&K.
It was designed to facilitate navigation on the Jhelum River during lean winter months (Oct-Feb).
The work on the project had started in 1984 but had to be stopped due to objections by Pakistan under IWT.
It was originally designed as a 439-ft-long and 40-ft-wide structure with a storage capacity of 0.30 million acre-feet.
The barrage, once completed, would have regulated the water of the Wular Lake to maintain a minimum draft of 4.4 ft in the river up to Baramulla during the winter season.
This minimum draft would have ensured round-the-year navigation over a 20-km stretch between Baramulla and Sopore.
Besides, the project would have provided water and helped in firming up power generation in downstream hydroelectric plants such as the Uri I and II hydro projects.
Consider the following statements regarding the Khorramshahr-4 Missile, recently seen in the news:
It is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
It was developed by Iran.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct
Answer: b
Explanation:
Iran recently released dramatic footage of its Khorramshahr‑4 ballistic missile — one of Tehran’s most powerful medium‑range missiles — as tensions with the United States continue to rise.
About Khorramshahr-4 Missile:
Also known as the Kheibar missile, it is a medium-range ballistic missile developed by Iranian state-owned defence company Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO).
Iran first test-fired the missile in January 2017 and first publicly displayed it at a September 2017 military parade in Tehran.
Features:
It stands 13 metres tall along with a 1.5-metre diameter weighing up to 20 tonnes.
It is liquid-fuelled and has an operational range of approximately 2,000 kilometers.
It has the capability of carrying multiple warheads of up to 1,800 kg.
It is capable of striking 80 targets upon reaching the target area.
Its launch preparation time is less than 15 minutes.
The missile travels 16 times the speed of sound in the outer atmosphere and eight times within the atmosphere.
Iran recently released dramatic footage of its Khorramshahr‑4 ballistic missile — one of Tehran’s most powerful medium‑range missiles — as tensions with the United States continue to rise.
About Khorramshahr-4 Missile:
Also known as the Kheibar missile, it is a medium-range ballistic missile developed by Iranian state-owned defence company Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO).
Iran first test-fired the missile in January 2017 and first publicly displayed it at a September 2017 military parade in Tehran.
Features:
It stands 13 metres tall along with a 1.5-metre diameter weighing up to 20 tonnes.
It is liquid-fuelled and has an operational range of approximately 2,000 kilometers.
It has the capability of carrying multiple warheads of up to 1,800 kg.
It is capable of striking 80 targets upon reaching the target area.
Its launch preparation time is less than 15 minutes.
The missile travels 16 times the speed of sound in the outer atmosphere and eight times within the atmosphere.
Consider the following statements regarding Lake Michigan, recently seen in the news:
It lies wholly within the United States.
It is the world’s largest freshwater lake.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct
Answer: a
Explanation:
More than 150 years after it sank in a powerful storm, the remains of the luxury steamer Lac La Belle have finally been found at the bottom of Lake Michigan.
About Lake Michigan:
It is the third largest of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one lying wholly within the United States.
It is the fourth largest freshwater lake and the fifth largest lake in the world, ranked by surface area.
Surface Area: 57,757 sq.km.
The lake is 517 km long (north to south); it has a maximum width of 190 km.
It is connected directly to Lake Huron, into which it drains, through the broad Straits of Mackinac.
This hydrologic connection through the Straits keeps the water levels of the two lakes in equilibrium, causing them to behave in many ways as though they are one lake.
Water flows into Lake Michigan from several rivers, including the Fox-Wolf, the Grand, the St. Joseph, and the Kalamazoo rivers, among others.
The northern end of the lake contains all of the islands, the largest of which is Beaver Island,
The lake boasts a variety of natural habitats, including tallgrass prairies, wide savannas, and the world’s largest freshwater sand dunes.
The land adjacent to Lake Michigan is low and gently rolling, but wave-cut bluffs of rock occur in many places.
It hosts a wealth of plant and animal species, many of which are rare or endangered (such as the Hine’s Emerald Dragonfly and the Dwarf Lake Iris).
More than 150 years after it sank in a powerful storm, the remains of the luxury steamer Lac La Belle have finally been found at the bottom of Lake Michigan.
About Lake Michigan:
It is the third largest of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one lying wholly within the United States.
It is the fourth largest freshwater lake and the fifth largest lake in the world, ranked by surface area.
Surface Area: 57,757 sq.km.
The lake is 517 km long (north to south); it has a maximum width of 190 km.
It is connected directly to Lake Huron, into which it drains, through the broad Straits of Mackinac.
This hydrologic connection through the Straits keeps the water levels of the two lakes in equilibrium, causing them to behave in many ways as though they are one lake.
Water flows into Lake Michigan from several rivers, including the Fox-Wolf, the Grand, the St. Joseph, and the Kalamazoo rivers, among others.
The northern end of the lake contains all of the islands, the largest of which is Beaver Island,
The lake boasts a variety of natural habitats, including tallgrass prairies, wide savannas, and the world’s largest freshwater sand dunes.
The land adjacent to Lake Michigan is low and gently rolling, but wave-cut bluffs of rock occur in many places.
It hosts a wealth of plant and animal species, many of which are rare or endangered (such as the Hine’s Emerald Dragonfly and the Dwarf Lake Iris).
Which among the following best describes ‘INS Tarangini’, recently seen in the news?
Correct
Answer: d
Explanation:
The sail training ship INS Tarangini is among several Indian and foreign naval vessels that arrived in Visakhapatnam for the international fleet review and MILAN exercise beginning February 18.
About INS Tarangini:
It is the Indian Navy’s first Sail Training Ship (STS).
It was built by Goa Shipyard Limited and was commissioned on 11 November 1997.
It became the first Indian naval ship to navigate the globe in 2003-2004.
The ship is a ‘three-masted barque’ signifying that she is square-rigged on the fore and mainmast and fore-and-aft-rigged on the Mizzen mast.
The ship has excellent endurance and can remain at sea continuously for a period of over 20 days.
It has a complement of eight officers and thirty eight sailors as permanent crew and can accommodate and impart sail training to 30 cadets.
The primary role of the ship is to foster time-honored virtues of courage, camaraderie, and endurance in officer cadets embarking on a naval career.
It provides an ideal setting for firsthand experience of the natural elements by imparting training which includes sailing, setting and furling of sails, watch-keeping, and sail manoeuvres.
The sail training ship INS Tarangini is among several Indian and foreign naval vessels that arrived in Visakhapatnam for the international fleet review and MILAN exercise beginning February 18.
About INS Tarangini:
It is the Indian Navy’s first Sail Training Ship (STS).
It was built by Goa Shipyard Limited and was commissioned on 11 November 1997.
It became the first Indian naval ship to navigate the globe in 2003-2004.
The ship is a ‘three-masted barque’ signifying that she is square-rigged on the fore and mainmast and fore-and-aft-rigged on the Mizzen mast.
The ship has excellent endurance and can remain at sea continuously for a period of over 20 days.
It has a complement of eight officers and thirty eight sailors as permanent crew and can accommodate and impart sail training to 30 cadets.
The primary role of the ship is to foster time-honored virtues of courage, camaraderie, and endurance in officer cadets embarking on a naval career.
It provides an ideal setting for firsthand experience of the natural elements by imparting training which includes sailing, setting and furling of sails, watch-keeping, and sail manoeuvres.
Consider the following statements regarding Nitric Oxide:
It can be found in the natural environment and also parts of the human body.
It is formed through nitrogen reduction process.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct
Answer: a
Explanation:
In a study published in Science Translational Medicine, researchers found that a high dose of inhaled nitric oxide reduced drug-resistant Pseudomonas in a large-animal ICU model.
It exists in a gaseous state and is composed of one nitrogen and one oxygen atom.
It was first prepared around 1620 by Jan Baptista van Helmont, and studied in 1772 by Joseph Priestley.
Formation: It is formed through nitrogen oxidation.
It can be created when lightning occurs, uniting nitrogen and oxygen in the air, or commercially by burning ammonia.
Properties of Nitric Oxide:
It is a colorless, toxic gas.
It is noncombustible but accelerates the burning of combustible material.
It can be found in the natural environment and within parts of the human body.
Roles of Nitric Oxide:
It plays important chemical signaling roles in humans and animals, plus some medical uses.
In animals, nitric oxide transmits signals to cells in the cardiovascular, nervous, and immune systems.
The body synthesizes it from the amino acid L-arginine with the help of nitric oxide synthase.
It helps regulate blood pressure by dilating blood vessels and acts as a neurotransmitter.
Impact on Environment: Nitric oxide is generated by automotive engines and thermal power plants, making it a serious air pollutant.
In a study published in Science Translational Medicine, researchers found that a high dose of inhaled nitric oxide reduced drug-resistant Pseudomonas in a large-animal ICU model.
It exists in a gaseous state and is composed of one nitrogen and one oxygen atom.
It was first prepared around 1620 by Jan Baptista van Helmont, and studied in 1772 by Joseph Priestley.
Formation: It is formed through nitrogen oxidation.
It can be created when lightning occurs, uniting nitrogen and oxygen in the air, or commercially by burning ammonia.
Properties of Nitric Oxide:
It is a colorless, toxic gas.
It is noncombustible but accelerates the burning of combustible material.
It can be found in the natural environment and within parts of the human body.
Roles of Nitric Oxide:
It plays important chemical signaling roles in humans and animals, plus some medical uses.
In animals, nitric oxide transmits signals to cells in the cardiovascular, nervous, and immune systems.
The body synthesizes it from the amino acid L-arginine with the help of nitric oxide synthase.
It helps regulate blood pressure by dilating blood vessels and acts as a neurotransmitter.
Impact on Environment: Nitric oxide is generated by automotive engines and thermal power plants, making it a serious air pollutant.
Consider the following statements regarding Food Safety and Standards Authority of India:
It was established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
It works under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct
Answer: c
Explanation:
The Supreme Court has asked the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to consider introducing mandatory front-of-package warning labels (FOPL) on packaged food products high in sugar, salt and saturated fat.
It has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
FSSAI is responsible for setting food standards, regulating the manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import of food, and ensuring the availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
Nodal Ministry: It was established under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
Functions:
Standards Development: It formulates standards for various food products, ensuring they are safe for consumption.
Food Safety Management Systems: It provides guidelines for businesses to implement effective food safety management practices.
Licensing and Registration: FSSAI manages the licensing process for food businesses, ensuring they comply with food safety regulations.
Surveillance and Monitoring: Regular inspections and audits are conducted to assess compliance with food safety standards.
Consumer Awareness: Initiatives to educate the public about food safety, hygiene, and nutrition are a key focus area.
Those who are selling or importing food in India needs a
FSSAI also directly monitors compliance of food regulations food licence issued by FSSAI., especially in the area of food imports to India.
The FSSAI is also responsible for the accreditation of food testing laboratories throughout India.
It has notified 14 referral labs, 72 State/UT labs across India, and 112 NABL approved commercial labs, all of which are situated throughout the country.
The Supreme Court has asked the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to consider introducing mandatory front-of-package warning labels (FOPL) on packaged food products high in sugar, salt and saturated fat.
It has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
FSSAI is responsible for setting food standards, regulating the manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import of food, and ensuring the availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
Nodal Ministry: It was established under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
Functions:
Standards Development: It formulates standards for various food products, ensuring they are safe for consumption.
Food Safety Management Systems: It provides guidelines for businesses to implement effective food safety management practices.
Licensing and Registration: FSSAI manages the licensing process for food businesses, ensuring they comply with food safety regulations.
Surveillance and Monitoring: Regular inspections and audits are conducted to assess compliance with food safety standards.
Consumer Awareness: Initiatives to educate the public about food safety, hygiene, and nutrition are a key focus area.
Those who are selling or importing food in India needs a
FSSAI also directly monitors compliance of food regulations food licence issued by FSSAI., especially in the area of food imports to India.
The FSSAI is also responsible for the accreditation of food testing laboratories throughout India.
It has notified 14 referral labs, 72 State/UT labs across India, and 112 NABL approved commercial labs, all of which are situated throughout the country.
With reference to Loggerhead Turtle, consider the following:
It is a species of freshwater turtle.
It is omnivorous, feeding mainly on bottom-dwelling invertebrates
It is categorized as vulnerable species under the IUCN Red List.
How many of the above statements are correct?
Correct
Answer: b
Explanation:
Recently, it is observed that warmer oceans and depleting food have affected the ubiquitous marine Loggerhead turtle’s reproductive and migratory patterns, and even its size.
It is a species of oceanic turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae.
It is named Loggerhead for their large heads that support powerful jaw muscles.
It is the world’s largest hard-shelled turtle, slightly larger at average and maximum mature weights than the green sea turtle and the Galapagos tortoise.
It is also the world’s second largest extant turtle after the leatherback sea turtle.
It uses the geomagnetic field as a map when navigating large distances.
Habitat: They may be found hundreds of miles out to sea, as well as in inshore areas such as bays, lagoons, salt marshes, creeks.
Distribution: It inhabits the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans and the Mediterranean Sea.
Diet: It is omnivorous, feeding mainly on bottom-dwelling invertebrates, such as gastropods, bivalves, and decapods.
Lifespan: Loggerheads can live up to 80 years or more.
Conservation status:
IUCN: Vulnerable
Threats: Climate change, direct harvest of turtles and eggs, Loss and degradation of nesting habitat, Ocean pollution/marine debris and bycatch in fishing gear.
Recently, it is observed that warmer oceans and depleting food have affected the ubiquitous marine Loggerhead turtle’s reproductive and migratory patterns, and even its size.
It is a species of oceanic turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae.
It is named Loggerhead for their large heads that support powerful jaw muscles.
It is the world’s largest hard-shelled turtle, slightly larger at average and maximum mature weights than the green sea turtle and the Galapagos tortoise.
It is also the world’s second largest extant turtle after the leatherback sea turtle.
It uses the geomagnetic field as a map when navigating large distances.
Habitat: They may be found hundreds of miles out to sea, as well as in inshore areas such as bays, lagoons, salt marshes, creeks.
Distribution: It inhabits the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans and the Mediterranean Sea.
Diet: It is omnivorous, feeding mainly on bottom-dwelling invertebrates, such as gastropods, bivalves, and decapods.
Lifespan: Loggerheads can live up to 80 years or more.
Conservation status:
IUCN: Vulnerable
Threats: Climate change, direct harvest of turtles and eggs, Loss and degradation of nesting habitat, Ocean pollution/marine debris and bycatch in fishing gear.
Consider the following statements regarding BODH Initiative:
It is developed by the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur in collaboration with the National Health Authority.
It is a privacy-preserving benchmarking platform that enables evaluation of AI models using diverse, real-world health data.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct
Answer: c
Explanation:
The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare will launch two key national initiatives namely SAHI and BODH at the India AI Summit at Bharat Mandapam.
The Benchmarking Open Data Platform for Health AI (BODH) developed by the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur in collaboration with the National Health Authority.
It is a privacy-preserving benchmarking platform that enables rigorous evaluation of AI models using diverse, real-world health data without sharing underlying datasets.
It is a digital public good under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.
Significance: It is designed to strengthen trust, transparency, and quality assurance in Health AI deployment.
The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare will launch two key national initiatives namely SAHI and BODH at the India AI Summit at Bharat Mandapam.
The Benchmarking Open Data Platform for Health AI (BODH) developed by the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur in collaboration with the National Health Authority.
It is a privacy-preserving benchmarking platform that enables rigorous evaluation of AI models using diverse, real-world health data without sharing underlying datasets.
It is a digital public good under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.
Significance: It is designed to strengthen trust, transparency, and quality assurance in Health AI deployment.
Ans. The Daily UPSC Quiz is a set of practice questions based on current affairs, static subjects, and PYQs that help aspirants enhance retention and test conceptual clarity regularly.
Q2. How is the Daily Quiz useful for UPSC preparation?+
Ans. Daily quizzes support learning, help in revision, improve time management, and boost accuracy for both UPSC Prelims and Mains through consistent practice.
Q3. Are the quiz questions based on the UPSC syllabus?+
Ans. Yes, all questions are aligned with the UPSC Syllabus 2025, covering key areas like Polity, Economy, Environment, History, Geography, and Current Affairs.
Q4. Are solutions and explanations provided with the quiz?+
Ans. Yes, each quiz includes detailed explanations and source references to enhance conceptual understanding and enable self-assessment.
Q5. Is the Daily UPSC Quiz suitable for both Prelims and Mains?+
Ans. Primarily focused on Prelims (MCQ format), but it also indirectly helps in Mains by strengthening subject knowledge and factual clarity.
At Vajiram & Ravi, our team includes subject experts who have appeared for the UPSC Mains and the Interview stage. With their deep understanding of the exam, they create content that is clear, to the point, reliable, and helpful for aspirants.Their aim is to make even difficult topics easy to understand and directly useful for your UPSC preparation—whether it’s for Current Affairs, General Studies, or Optional subjects. Every note, article, or test is designed to save your time and boost your performance.
Last updated on March, 2026
