UPSC Daily Quiz 17 April 2026

Answer: a

Explanation:

The rapid return of water hyacinth in the Mula-Mutha River, barely weeks after clean-up drives, has renewed concerns over the lack of a long-term solution.

About Water Hyacinth:

• It is a free-floating, aquatic plant in the pickerelweed family.
• Scientific Name: Eichhornia crassipes
• It is native to tropical regions of South America and is now present on all continents except Antarctica.
• It is one of the world’s most serious water weeds because of its aggressive, fast-growing
• Water hyacinth grows in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate It grows best in still or slow-flowing fresh water with high nutrient levels.
• Under favourable conditions it can double its mass every 5 days.
• It can form dense mats that reduce the water quality, change water flows, and increase sediment.
• It crowds out native aquatic plants and animals, altering ecosystems, destroying habitats, and blocking irrigation systems.
• Cutting a water hyacinth plant into pieces will not kill The plants can reproduce using a process called fragmentation. Each plant also produces thousands of seeds each year.
• This plant varies in size from a few inches to over three feet tall.
• They have showy lavender flowers, and the leaves are rounded and leathery, attached to spongy and sometimes inflated stalks.
• It was introduced to India during the British colonial rule as an ornamental aquatic plant from South America.
• Uses:
  • The plant has been used as a biofertilizer in some organic agriculture practices.
  • The plant produces beautiful purple flowers that have high aesthetic value.
  • It is rich in fibrous stems that can be processed into a wide array of handbags, interior decorative material, table mats, baskets, and other products.
  • It has been reported that this plant is a good phytoremediation species, suggesting it has the ability to trap and remove toxic metabolites and harmful heavy metals from water.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/pune-news/hyacinth-returns-to-mula-mutha-river-despite-repeated-clean-ups-residents-demand-lasting-fix-101776364632026.html

Answer: c

Explanation:

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) recently warned of severe ecological degradation of Hokersar Lake, with over 2,500 kanals encroached.

About Hokersar Lake:

• Hokersar, also known as Hokera, is a large natural wetland near Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir.
• It spans 13.75 sq.km. and rests at 1,585 meters above sea level.
• The wetland lies in the Jhelum River basin and receives water mainly from the Doodhganga River (a tributary of Jhelum).
• It is located in the northwest Himalayan biogeographic province of Kashmir, behind the snow-draped Pir Panchal.
• It is the largest bird sanctuary in the Kashmir Valley and a designated Ramsar site, recognized for its international ecological importance.
• It serves as a critical habitat and resting place for various migratory waterbirds from Siberia, Central Asia, and Northern Europe, hosting around 68 waterfowl species, including some endangered ones.
• Hokersar is rich in aquatic vegetation such as reedbeds and water chestnuts, which provide food and shelter for fish and birds.
• Apart from biodiversity conservation, the wetland acts as a floodwater absorption basin and supports local livelihoods.
• However, it faces threats from human encroachment, pollution, and conversion to agriculture, which have reduced its size over time.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

News:https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/science-environment/3876208-cag-sounds-alarm-on-hokersar-lakes-ecological-decline

Answer: a

Explanation:                                                   

For the first time, scientists have used a cutting-edge cell therapy called CAR-T to treat a patient with three different life-threatening autoimmune diseases that had resisted years of treatment.

About CAR-T Cell Therapy:

• CAR T-cell therapy, or chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, is an advanced form of immunotherapy used to treat certain types of cancer by modifying a patient’s own immune cells to fight the disease.
• This treatment is designed for specific types of blood cancer and is given to patients whose cancer has either relapsed or not responded to first-line treatment.
• How does CAR-T Cell Therapy Work?
  • For any CAR T-cell therapy, a patient’s immune T cells are collected by filtering their blood.
  • T cells, also known as T lymphocytes, are a type of white blood cell.
  • T cells are key players in the body’s immune system because of their ability to identify and attack cells that don’t belong in the body, such as germs and cancer cells.
  • In the lab, these T cells are modified to produce synthetic proteins called chimeric antigen receptors (CARs).
  • The modified cells are called CAR-T cells. The cells are grown to much higher numbers in the lab and then infused back into the person’s bloodstream.
  • The synthetic CARs allow the T cells to bind to specific proteins called antigens on cancer cells. This binding activates the T cells to kill the cancer cells.
  • Dying cancer cells trigger further immune responses against the cancer.
  • In addition, CAR-T cells can keep multiplying in the body, producing lasting anticancer results.
• In some cases, CAR T-cell therapy can cure blood cancer. Other times, it helps people with certain blood cancers live longer.
• CAR-T cell therapy is used to treat cancers that affect blood cells. This includes
  • B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
  • Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
  • Follicular lymphoma.
  • High-grade B-cell lymphoma.
  • Mantle cell lymphoma
  • Multiple myeloma.
  • Primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma.
• Side Effects:
  • A serious immune overreaction causing hyperinflammation and organ damage, seen in 12% of participants, resulting in at least one death.
  • Low red blood cell count, reported in 61% of participants, causing fatigue and weakness.
  • Thrombocytopenia: Low platelet count, increasing the risk of bleeding, reported in 65% of patients.
  • Neutropenia: Low neutrophil count, seen in 96% of participants, raising the risk of infections.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News:https://medicaldialogues.in/medicine/news/car-t-therapy-drives-remission-in-patient-with-three-autoimmune-diseases-suggests-study-168543

Answer: a

Explanation:                                                   

North India’s water and energy security is set to receive a significant boost as the 300 MW Lakhwar multipurpose project on the river Yamuna in the district Dehradun, Uttarakhand, gathers pace following a high-level review by the Secretary at Ministry of Jal Shakti.

About Lakhwar Hydroelectric Project:

• It is a multipurpose hydroelectric project planned on the Yamuna river near Lohari Village in the Dehradun District of Uttarakhand.
• The main project components are a 204 m high concrete gravity dam, 3 steel-lined penstocks, and an underground powerhouse housing 3 vertical Francis turbines of 100 MW each.
• The project is being developed and currently owned by Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam.
• Hydroelectric Capacity: 300 MW (hydropower to be used by Uttarakhand)
• Storage Capacity: 330.66 million cubic meters (MCM)
• Irrigation Potential: 33,780 hectares
• The project is expected to generate 612.93 GWh of electricity.
• It provides drinking water supply to states like Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
• Associated Project: It is linked with the downstream Vyasi Hydroelectric Project (120 MW), forming part of the Yamuna river basin development.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News:https://www.newindianexpress.com/business/press-releases/2026/Apr/16/lakhwar-hydro-electric-project-gains-momentum-after-secretarys-review-300-mw-unit-to-benefit-four-states

Answer: b

Explanation:

The Maharashtra state government recently informed the Bombay High Court that it is yet to frame a policy to deal with Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE), an extremely rare but fatal neurodegenerative disease affecting children that has a fatality rate of 95%.

About Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE):

• SSPE, also known as Dawson disease, is a progressive, disabling, and deadly brain disorder related to measles (rubeola) infection.
• The disease develops many years after the measles infection, even though the person seems to have fully recovered from the illness.
• SSPE has been reported in all parts of the world, but in western countries it is a rare disease.
• Males are more often affected than females. The disease generally occurs in children and adolescents.
• SSPE is a rare condition. It occurs in about 1 per 50,000 cases of natural measles.
• Cause:
  • Normally, the measles virus does not cause brain damage.
  • However, an abnormal immune response to measles or, possibly, certain variant forms of the virus may cause severe illness and death.
  • This response leads to brain inflammation (swelling and irritation) that may last for years.
• Symptoms:
  • The first symptoms of SSPE may be poor performance in schoolwork, forgetfulness, temper outbursts, distractibility, sleeplessness, and hallucinations.
  • Sudden muscular jerks of the arms, head, or body may occur.
  • Eventually, seizures may occur, together with abnormal uncontrollable muscle movements. Intellect and speech continue to deteriorate.
  • Later, the muscles become increasingly rigid, and swallowing may become difficult.
  • The swallowing difficulty sometimes causes people to choke on their saliva, resulting in pneumonia. People may become blind.
  • In the final phases, the body temperature may rise, and the blood pressure and pulse become abnormal.
• Treatment:
  • High mortality rates are associated with SSPE, and there is no cure for SSPE.
  • Treatment is generally aimed at regulating symptoms.
  • Certain antiviral medicines and medicines that boost the immune system may be tried to slow the progression of the disease.

Hence option b is the correct answer.

News:https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/yet-to-frame-a-policy-on-sspe-a-rare-disease-state-tells-hc-101776365970401-amp.html

Answer: c

Explanation:

Annatto seed growers pitch for government support as these seeds are the world’s second most important natural colourant after caramel.

• It is a natural food colouring and flavoring agent obtained from the seeds of the achiote tree (Bixa orellana).
  • Achiote tree is native to tropical America and is also cultivated in Asia and Africa, especially in areas where coffee is grown.
  • The ripe fruits of annatto on drying yield annatto seed which serves as the raw material for the production of annatto colour.
  • The crop is completely rain-fed and requires no pesticides or fertilizers, just pruning of branches as part of crop management.
• Colour: The bold red color comes from carotenoids, which are plant pigments that are found in the coating of the seed.
• Applications:
  • The annatto seed is widely used as a natural food colour and dye.
  • Its color can also be extracted from the seed and then added to foods as a dye.
  • Some also use annatto to boost the flavor of certain dishes.
  • It has a mild, peppery flavor when used in large amounts as well as a nutty and floral scent.
  • Annatto is rich in several key antimicrobial compounds, which can limit the growth of bacteria, fungi, and parasites. 
• It is safe for most people when used in normal food amounts. However, it might cause allergic reactions in some sensitive people.

Hence both statements are correct.

News: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/annatto-seed-growers-pitch-for-government-support/article70869473.ece

Answer: a

Explanation:

Recently, villages situated on the banks of the Ghaggar river in Haryana are witnessing a rise in cancer cases, which is reportedly being attributed to polluted river water. 

• The Ghaggar river is an intermittent river in India and Pakistan that flows only during the monsoon season.
• Origin: It originates in the village of Dagshai in the Shivalik Hills of Himachal Pradesh at an elevation of 1,927 metres (6,322 ft) above mean sea level.
• The river is known as Ghaggar before the Ottu barrage and as the Hakra downstream of the barrage.
• Course: 
  • After passing through the Ambala and Hissar districts of Haryana, it eventually dries up in the Great Indian (Thar) Desert.
  • The Hakra, which flows in Pakistan, is the continuation of the Ghaggar River in India, and they are together called the Ghaggar-Hakra River.
• Tributaries: The main tributaries of the Ghaggar are the Kaushalya River, Markanda, Sarsuti, Tangri, and Chautang.

Hence option (a) is the correct answer

News: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/haryana/cancer-courses-through-the-ghaggar/article70837906.ece

Answer: d

Explanation:

Recently, researchers discovered new gecko species in Tripura and named it as Cyrtodactylus jayadityai. 

• It is a newly discovered species of bent-toed gecko from Tripura.
• Habitat: It inhabits lowland forest patches.
• Characteristics:
  • It is genetically distinct, showing a divergence of about 4.7-5.2% from its closest relative, Cyrtodactylus tripuraensis, based on mitochondrial DNA data.
  • It is primarily nocturnal, emerging at night to forage and retreating into burrows and crevices during the day.
  • The description of C. jayadityai has increased the number of Cyrtodactylus species in the northeast to 31.

Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

News: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tripura/new-to-science-gecko-cyrtodactylus-jayadityai-discovered-in-tripura-named-after-researchers-mentor/article70868328.ece

Answer: b

Explanation:

Researchers from the University of Cambridge have reported a new kind of brain-inspired nanodevice, a hafnium-oxide memristor that could dramatically cut artificial intelligence’s (AI) energy use.

• Memristor’ is a combination of ‘memory’ and ‘resistor’.
• It is an electronic component whose resistance depends on the history of current flow, allowing it to “remember” past electrical states.
  • A resistor is a small device that applies a fixed amount of resistance to a current passed through it.
• Features of Memristor:
  • Unlike a resistor, a memristor has variable resistance and ‘remembers’ the resistance.
  • When the current is removed, the memristor ‘remembers’ the resistance it offered and maintains it.
  • Memristors are nanomaterial and don’t take up much space. Their energy demand is also very small.
  • They are usually made of a thin layer of titanium dioxide (TiO2) sandwiched between two metal electrodes.
• Applications of Memristor:
  • Memory Devices: Due to their ability to store previous resistive states, memristors are viable non-volatile random-access memories (NVRAM) for computers, industrial automation systems.
  • Integrated Circuits: Memristors have been identified as viable components for augmenting or potentially replacing transistors in integrated circuits (ICs).
  • Neuromorphic Computing: Researchers are exploring the viability of using memristors to build neuromorphic (brain-like) systems for artificial intelligence.

Hence only statements 1 and 3 are correct.

News: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/brain-inspired-hafnium-oxide-memristors-promise-to-cut-ai-energy-use/article70863669.ece

Answer: c

Explanation:

Recently, Iran’s military warned it would block trade through the Red Sea, if the US naval blockade continues.

• It is s semi-enclosed inlet of the Indian Ocean between Africa and Asia.
• It is connected to the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean to the south through the Gulf of Aden and the narrow strait of Bab el Mandeb.
• The northern portion of the Red Sea is bifurcated by the Sinai Peninsula into the Gulf of Aqaba and the Gulf of Suez, where it is connected to the Mediterranean Sea via the famous Suez Canal.
• Bordering Countries: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Sudan, Eritrea and Djibouti.
• The Red Sea’s unique color changes are due to algae blooms. Geologically, it lies in a fault depression between the Arabian and North African tectonic plates.
• It is known for its hot and salty waters and is a crucial maritime route between Europe and Asia.
• Five major types of mineral resources are found in the Red Sea region: petroleum deposits, evaporite deposits, sulfur, phosphates, and the heavy-metal deposits.
• Islands:
  • Tiran Island: Located near the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba.
  • Shadwan Island: Located at the entrance of the Gulf of Suez

Hence both statements are correct.

News: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/iran-warns-us-blockade-threatens-ceasefire-signals-red-sea-retaliation-11361168