UPSC Daily Quiz 16 October 2026

Answer: b

Explanation:

The WHO Director-General election process ignited its first public candidate conversation on Sunday (11 October) at the 2026 World Health Summit in Berlin recently.

About World Health Summit (WHS):

• It is an international, multi-stakeholder global health forum.
• The event takes place annually in the German capital Berlin.
• It is organized by the WHS Foundation GmbH, a 100% subsidiary of Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
• Founded in 2009, it brings together global health stakeholders from all sectors and regions to catalyze collaborative and innovative solutions for key global health priorities.
• Key topics include pandemic preparedness, global digital health integration, climate change impacts, and healthcare equity.
• In addition to the conference in Berlin, the WHS features annual WHS Regional Meetings held in different parts of the world as well as activities throughout the year.
• It is distinct from the World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO).
• WHS 2026:
  • Theme: “From Crisis to Resilience: Innovating for Health”
  • It convened more than 4,000 on-site participants from 130 countries and territories, generated over 50,000 livestream views, and featured more than 400 speakers, including 20 ministers and state secretaries, across 76 sessions.
  • This year’s summit fostered cross-sectoral exchange, evidence-based dialogue, and impactful partnerships to explore how to turn innovation into more equitable, resilient, and future-ready health systems.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

News:https://healthpolicy-watch.news/who-director-general-forum/

Answer: c

Explanation:

Indian Army’s Assam Regiment troops recently won the Gold Medal at the Exercise Cambrian Patrol 2026, held in Wales, United Kingdom. 

About Exercise Cambrian Patrol:

• It is the British Army’s premier military patrolling event.
• The exercise is designed to enhance operational capabilities by subjecting participating teams to highly demanding military tasks and assessments. 
• It is widely known as the “Olympics of Military Patrolling.
• It is held annually in Wales and hosted by Headquarters 160^th (Welsh) Brigade.
• The exercise has been running for over 60 years and is the British Army’s principal All Arms Patrol Exercise.
• It is usually run over 9-10 days in October each year.
• It is open to regular and reserve personnel from all three British armed services, as well as military units from other countries.
• It is a mission focused and scenario-based
• It is not a competition, although patrol performance is assessed throughout based on the Battlecraft Syllabus (BCS) and Individual Training Requirement (ITR), in addition to robustness and leadership.
• The exercise is currently made up of eight phases, each of 48 hrs, over 10 days.
• Each patrol will cover approximately 60 km (average climb and descent is over 1000 m) carrying no more than 32 kg per person.
• Indian Army achievement: The Indian Army’s Assam Regiment won a Gold Medal in CP26, one of 10 teams awarded gold among more than 100 teams.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

News:https://newsonair.gov.in/indian-armys-assam-regiment-wins-gold-medal-at-exercise-cambrian-patrol-2026-in-wales/

Answer: d

Explanation:

The Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) recently launched a pioneering Red List Assessment of Ecosystems (RLE) project, marking a first for any Indian State.

About India’s first Red List Assessment of Ecosystems (RLE) Project:

• It is an initiative launched by Keralam, which aims to transform conservation efforts from isolated species preservation to proactive, landscape-wide ecosystem management.
• It is sanctioned and funded by the Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB).
• This initiative marks the first of its kind for any Indian State.
• The project is being executed by the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) along with MES Asmabi College.
• This two-year initiative will map and assess the risk of collapse for critical ecosystems across all 14 districts of the state, spanning high-altitude mountain summits, densely populated midlands, and vulnerable coastal stretches.
• The study will utilise the rigorous IUCN Red List of Ecosystems (RLE) framework to assess the health and vulnerability of ecosystems.
• By examining natural habitats across the State from forests and rivers to coastal belts, the project will pinpoint both climate-driven and human-induced threats.
• The spatial data will help local governments and planners to make evidence-based decisions for sustainable infrastructure development and targeted conservation.

Hence option d is the correct answer.

News: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/why-keralam-has-launched-indias-first-ecosystem-red-list-assessment/article71579356.ece

Answer: a

Explanation:

JWALA, India’s first private-sector micro-missile, is set for trials after successful solid rocket motor tests, strengthening indigenous counter-drone capabilities.

About JWALA Missile:

• JWALA-MK1 is India’s first indigenously developed private-sector micro-missile.
• It is being developed by IG Defence, a private Indian defence technology company.
• It is a short-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) engineered specifically as a “hard-kill” interceptor to physically destroy hostile drones/UAVs, offering a highly cost-effective alternative to traditional, expensive air-defence missiles.
• The JWALA missile does not operate in isolation. It serves as the physical effector within IG Defence’s wider GRID Defend ecosystem.
  • GRID is an advanced, AI-enabled battle-management network that stitches together various sensors, command structures, and weapons into a single common operational picture.
• Features:
  • The design uses a dual-pulse solid rocket motor along with fin control.
  • It can engage targets from 2 km to 5 km.
  • Its stated altitude range is 50 metres to 5,000 metres.
  • Accuracy: A circular error probable (CEP) of less than 2 metres at its maximum range.
  • Warhead: A 0.5 to 1.5 kg pre-fragmented high-explosive payload equipped with a proximity fuze for maximum effectiveness against small targets.
  • It is designed to operate in electronic warfare and anti-jamming conditions.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News: https://www.business-standard.com/external-affairs-defence-security/news/india-s-first-pvt-sector-micro-missile-set-for-maiden-experimental-trial-126100801270_1.html

Answer: d

Explanation:

Satellite measurements of Nicaragua’s Masaya volcano suggest magma is entering one reservoir as another drains, offering clues that could improve monitoring for future hazards.

About Masaya Volcano:

• It is an active basaltic shield-like caldera volcano located in Nicaragua in Central America, about 20 km southeast of the capital city, Managua.
• It forms part of the Central American Volcanic Arc, formed by the subduction of the Cocos Plate beneath the Caribbean Plate.
• The large El Ventarrón caldera (6 × 11.5 km) was formed by a series of Plinian eruptions in the past 6000 years.
• The caldera contains multiple collapse craters and cinder cones, with the currently active Santiago crater formed between 1850–1853.
• The volcano is known for its persistent lava lake and high degassing rates.
• Activity is typically Strombolian to Vulcanian with ash emissions, lava fountains, and occasional lava flows.
• The current activity at Santiago crater includes a convecting lava lake and continuous gas emissions.
• At times, Masaya emits large amounts of sulfur dioxide In 1981, sulfur dioxide was released from Santiago Crater at a rate of 500,000 tons per year.
• In 1979, Masaya became Nicaragua’s first national park. It is officially called Masaya Volcano National Park (Parque Nacional Volcán Masaya).

Hence both statements are not correct.

News: https://scitechdaily.com/something-strange-is-happening-beneath-nicaraguas-masaya-volcano/

Answer: c

Explanation:  

Recently, India has added Sukhna Wetland and Sauj Jheel to the List of Wetlands of International Importance, bringing its total number of “Ramsar Sites” to 103. 

About Sauj Jheel:        

• Location: It is located in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
• It is a shallow lake surrounded by farmland in the floodplain of the Ganga River.
• It forms part of a larger network of wetlands, contributing to ecological connectivity in the wider landscape, and is close to Saman Bird Sanctuary.
• Vegetation: The lake supports diverse wetland-associated vegetation, including the sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) and the wild sugarcane (Saccharum spontaneum).
• Fauna: Notable waterbird species recorded at the Site include the vulnerable sarus crane (Grus antigone) and greater spotted eagle (Clanga clanga). 

Hence both statements are correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2324120&reg=1&lang=1

Answer: b

Explanation:

A recent survey camera traps revealed a rich habitat of diverse wildlife, including bears, leopards, mountain goats, and wild boars of Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary.

About Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Location: It is located in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
• Rivers: It forms the catchment for river Pennar. The Telugu ganga canal flows into the eastern flank of the Sanctuary draining into the ‘Pennar river’.
• Vegetation: It consists of Southern tropical dry deciduous forest in the hills, scrub forest in the plains, Southern dry mixed deciduous forest, Tropical thorn forests and Tropical dry evergreen forest.
• Flora: It is home to the rare and endangered plants like Red sanders and Sandalwood are important species found in this area.
  • The riparian vegetation is very rich in floristic value, consisting of Terminalia spp, Syzygium spp, (Jamun), Wild mangoes, Anogeissus latifolia, Phoenix spp, Bamboo, Hardwickia binata, etc.
• Fauna: It has good representation of species like Common toad, Bullfrog, Common Indian skink, Green vine snake etc.
• It is the only home and hopes for the rare and endangered bird the Jerdons courser.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

News: https://www.deccanchronicle.com/amp/southern-states/andhra-pradesh/camera-traps-in-lankamala-for-census-reveal-biodiversity-in-sanctuary-1996128

Answer: c

Explanation:

An ambitious Weather Information Network and Data System project by an Agriculture Ministry body to install automatic rain gauges and automatic weather stations in States is proceeding at a crawl due to shortage of land.  

About Weather Information Network and Data System:

• It is a national initiative under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) to strengthen weather data infrastructure across India.
• It is a programme to set up a nationwide network of weather sensors to supply hyper-local weather data.
• It employs Automatic Weather Stations and Automatic Rain Gauges to collect hyperlocal weather data at the Block and Gram Panchayat levels. 
• It integrates weather data pooled from IMD, State Governments, and public/private technical organisations into a single, unified national-level WINDS portal.
• This is mainly to aid in computing insurance estimates and payouts under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).
• It is run by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, and executed through the Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre (MNCFC). 
• Features
  • It harness advanced weather data analytics to provide stakeholders with actionable insight to make informed weather decisions on agriculture.
  • WINDS will provide farmers with critical weather-related information and data.
  • The WINDS initiative prioritizes the establishment of a robust network of meteorological stations.
  • The goal of this effort is to create a large network of weather stations that spans the whole nation.
  • The goal is to close the knowledge gap and empower decision-makers, farmers, and stakeholders at the grassroots level.

Hence both statements are correct.

News: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/land-shortage-cripples-agriculture-ministry-weather-network/article71588890.ece

Answer: b

Explanation:

Recently, the Ministry of Defence has signed contracts worth Rs 4,106 crore for the acquisition of a dedicated communication satellite capability, GSAT-7C for the Indian Air Force, and Varunastra Heavy Weight Torpedoes for the Indian Navy.

About Varunastra:

• It is a ship launched, heavy weight, electrically-propelled anti-submarine torpedo.
• It is capable of targeting quiet submarines, both in deep and shallow waters in an intense counter measures environment. 
• It was designed and developed by Vizag-based Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• It can be fired from all Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) ships capable of firing heavy weight torpedoes.
• Features:
  • It is capable of being launched from surface ships and submarines.
  • Speed: It can achieve speeds in excess of 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph) and has a range of 40 km.
  • Capacity: It can carry a 250 kg high-explosive warhead and has a maximum operating depth of 600 metres (2,000 ft). It has long range with multi maneuvering capabilities.
  • The torpedo’s guidance system uses active-passive acoustic homing, wire guidance, and GPS/NavIC satellite guidance.
  • It has conformal array transducers that allow it to look at wider angles than most common torpedoes.
  • It also has an advanced autonomous guidance algorithm with low drift navigational aids, an insensitive warhead that can operate in various combat scenarios, and a GPS-based locating aid.

Hence only statements 1 and 3 are correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2323814&reg=48&lang=2

Answer: d

Explanation:

Recently, Nagaland has begun preparations for the 27th edition of the iconic Hornbill Festival.

About Hornbill Festival:

• It was first organized in the year 2000.
• It is celebrated at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama which is about 12 km from Kohima in Nagaland.
• It was named after the Hornbill bird given its association with the socio-cultural life of the Nagas.
• It aims to promote inter-tribal interaction and preserve Nagaland’s heritage, blending the traditional with the contemporary in a harmonious display of unity.
• It was initially began as a three-day event, was subsequently expanded to five days and then to ten days, which coincides with Nagaland’s Statehood Day on December 1,
• It is also called the festival of festivals and is held every year.
• Organised by: It is organized by the State Tourism and Art & Culture Departments of the Government of Nagaland.
• It has evolved into a celebration showcasing the diverse and vibrant cultural and traditional heritage of the tribes of Nagaland.

Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

News: https://ddnews.gov.in/en/nagaland-gears-up-for-27th-edition-of-iconic-hornbill-festival/