UPSC Daily Quiz 2 September 2026

Answer: c

Explanation:

Recently, a ‘peptide party’ in Bengaluru was cancelled after Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration officials shut down the gig.

About Peptides:

• Peptides are the fundamental building blocks of proteins, shorter chains of amino acids.
• These are smaller, often containing anywhere from two to 50 amino acids.
• The amino acids in a peptide are connected to one another in a sequence by bonds called peptide bonds.
• The human body naturally produces many peptides; common ones in the public domain include:
  • Insulin, which the pancreas makes to regulate the body’s blood sugar
  • Endorphins, which are released by the central nervous system to block pain signals and relieve stress
  • Growth hormone releasing hormone which triggers the pituitary gland to make and release growth hormone.
• Synthetic proteins have also been created in laboratories for therapeutic uses which includes synthetic insulin and GLP-1 receptor agonists popular as weight-loss drugs.
• Functions of Peptides:
  • The body makes lots of different peptides, each of which has a different role.
  • They serve as biological signalling molecules and instruct cells, including being the starting point for functions including hormone production, tissue repair, immune response and metabolic regulation.
  • They may provide pro-aging support, anti-inflammatory, or muscle-building properties.

Hence both statements are correct.

News: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/why-was-a-peptide-party-banned-in-bengaluru-explained/article71413555.ece

Answer: a

Explanation:

A recent study highlighted that the Myristica Swamps are on the cusp of extinction.

About Myristica Swamps:

• These are freshwater swamps dominated by evergreen trees belonging to the Myristicaceae family.
• They are also denoted as living fossils due to the primitive nature of Myristica plants.
• Freshwater swamp forests occupy no more than 2.1 per cent of the Earth’s surface.
• The genetic variety of Myristica swamps dates back an astonishing 500 million years.
• These forests are characterized by trees with large protruding roots jutting out of waterlogged soil, which remains inundated throughout the year.
• Geographical distribution: In India, these unique habitats occur in the Western Ghats, and a smaller distribution exists in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Meghalaya.
• Climatic Conditions: These freshwater swamps in the tropics grow on fertile alluvial, waterlogged soils in the plains.
• Ecological Role:
  • They are ecologically crucial in regulating floods, recharging groundwater, offering a perennial flow of freshwater.
  • These forests have higher ability to sequester carbon than non-swampy forests.
  • These swamps are home to many vertebrate and invertebrate faunal species. 

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/rare-freshwater-swamps-in-the-western-ghats-are-on-the-cusp-of-extinction/article71383842.ece

Answer: d

Explanation: 

Recent official data from the Forest Department shows that Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary accounted for nearly half of the poaching cases and illegal arms cases registered in the last 16 years.

About Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Location: It is located at the intersection of the Western and the Eastern Ghats and falls in the Chamarajanagara District of Karnataka.
• It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 2013.
• It is contiguous to Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve, Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, and the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.
• It’s the home of the famous Male Mahadeshwara Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, known here as Mahadeshwara.
• Rivers: Male Mahadeshwara Hills is bound by the Kaveri River to the northeast and by the Palar River to the south.
• Vegetation: It mainly consists of the dry deciduous type, degrading to scrub forest in the fringe areas, and interspersed with patches of moist deciduous, semi-evergreen, evergreen and shola forests occurring at varying altitudes.
• Flora: Anogeissus latifolia, Boswellia serrata, Hardwikia binata and Chloroxylon swietenia etc.
• Fauna: It is home to elephants, Indian bison,tigers, wild dogs, leopards, foxes, sambars, spotted deer, and many species of birds.

Hence option (d) is the correct answer.
News: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/forest-data-exposes-heavy-poaching-and-illegal-arms-toll-in-mm-hills-wildlife-sanctuary-4132064#google_vignette

Answer: b

Explanation:

Recently, India and Denmark have held discussions to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector and also intellectual property (IP).

About Denmark:

• Location: It is located in north central Europe and it is part of the Scandinavian countries.
• It also encompasses the Faroe Islands and the island of Greenland, both located in the North Atlantic Ocean.
• Bordering Country:  It shares a land border with Germany in the south.
• Water bodies: It is surrounded by bodies of water including the Baltic Sea, North Sea, Kattegat Bay and Kiel Bay.
• Capital City: Copenhagen.
• Geographical Features of Denmark:
  • Topography: The most part Denmark consists of flat lands with very little elevation, except for the hilly central area on the Jutland Peninsula. 
    • Denmark occupies the Jutland Peninsula and an archipelago of more than 443 islands
    • The coastline of Denmark is indented by many fjords, with LimFjord (in the north) the largest.
  • Climate: It is moderated by the warm Gulf Stream and is therefore milder than surrounding Scandinavian countries.
  • Rivers: The most significant include the Guden (longest river), Odense and Skjern.
  • Natural resources: It mainly consists of Petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone, chalk stone.

Hence only statements 1 and 3 are correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2305351&v=9&reg=48&lang=2

Answer: a

Explanation:

Recently, the India Post Payments Bank celebrated its 9th Foundation Day.

About India Post Payments Bank:

• It has been established under the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communication, with 100% equity owned by the Government of India.
• It was launched on September 1, 2018.
• It has been set up with the vision to build the most accessible, affordable and trusted bank for the common man in India.
• Mandate: The fundamental mandate of this bank is to remove barriers for the unbanked and underbanked and reach the last mile, leveraging the Postal network.
• Functions of India Post Payments Bank
  • The operation of IPPB is smaller scale as compared to other banks and will not advance loans or issue credit cards to avoid risk. 
  • It accepts deposits, offer remittance services, mobile payments/transfers/purchases and other banking services like ATM/debit cards, net banking and third-party fund transfers. 
  • It accepts deposits upto Rs 2 lakh, beyond which the account will be automatically converted into a post office savings account.
  • The products and services of the bank are made available through various mediums such as counter services, micro ATMs, mobile banking apps, messages, and interactive voice responses.
  • The IPPB uses Aadhaar to open accounts, and a QR card and biometrics will be used for authentication, transactions, and payments.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2305689&reg=48&lang=1&fg

Answer: c

Explanation:

Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan recently released the ‘Mission Rangeen Machhli 2031’ Strategic Action Plan for Ornamental Fisheries Development at a Fisheries Outreach Programme in Agatti.

About Mission Rangeen Machhli 2031:

• It is a Strategic Action Plan for Ornamental Fisheries Development aimed at providing a more organised and scientific approach to India’s ornamental fisheries sector.
• The initiative is under the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India.
• It will establish uniform operating procedures and management standards for the ornamental fish industry nationwide.
• The strategic action plan covers the entire supply chain, from breeding and hatchery work through to sale in aquariums and export.
  • Standard procedures for breeding, hatchery operations, and production systems.
  • Rules for quarantine, animal health checks, and disease management.
  • Quality assurance and biosecurity standards across all operations.
  • Certification and traceability systems to track fish from farm to market.
  • Guidelines for handling, transport, and trade of ornamental species.
• The plan will also build skills among farmers and traders, improve product quality, help businesses get certified for international markets, and support the sector to grow in an organised and competitive way globally.
• Focus Area:
  • Lakshadweep has been identified as a dedicated seaweed cluster for cultivation and processing.
  • The island’s marine resources, which account for roughly 17 percent of India’s total oceanic economic zone, are considered well-suited for ornamental fish farming and other high-value fisheries activities.

Hence both statements are correct.

News: https://ddindia.co.in/2026/08/v-p-radhakrishnan-releases-mission-rangeen-machhli-2031-in-lakshadweep-calls-for-sustainable-fisheries-led-blue-economy/

Answer: d

Explanation:

Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), in collaboration with the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) and international experts, recently discovered a new species of deep-sea skate named Dipturus dhritiae in the southeastern Arabian Sea.

About Dipturus dhritiae:

• Dipturus dhritiae, commonly called the Arabian skate, is a new species of deep-sea skate.
  • A deep-sea skate is a flat, shark-related fish that lives on the dark bed of the ocean.
  • Deep-sea skates are particularly vulnerable to overfishing because they generally reproduce slowly, have few offspring, and take a long time to recover when their populations decline.
• Dipturus dhritiae was discovered in the Arabian Sea off India’s southwestern coast.
• It can grow up to about 1.3 metres in length and was found at depths of 400 to 600 metres off the Kerala coast and in the Wadge Bank region.
• One of its most noticeable features is five rows of thorn-like structures along its tail.
• It is named after Dhriti Banerjee, the first woman Director of the ZSI.

Hence option d is the correct answer.

News:https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/zsi-scientists-discover-new-deep-sea-skate-species-in-arabian-sea/amp_articleshow/133684933.cms

Answer: a

Explanation:

Russia recently warned Japan over the deployment of U.S. Typhon missile systems, calling the move unacceptable and a threat to Russian security. 

About Typhon Missile System:

• Typhon, also called the Mid-Range Capability (MRC), is a surface-to-surface missile system.
• Manufactured by U.S. firm Lockheed Martin, the system leverages a modular design that allows it to fire various missile types.
• It is equipped to launch SM-6 and Tomahawk cruise missiles.
  • The SM-6 missile provides engagement ranges beyond 320 kilometers, while the Tomahawk cruise missile offers deep-strike capability out to 1,500 kilometers.
• Typhon is containerized, road-mobile, and highly survivable, enabling U.S. forces to disperse precision-strike assets across allied territory and quickly target both land and maritime threats in contested environments.
• The system’s dual capability makes it particularly effective for both sea denial missions and precision land attacks.
• Each Typhon battery includes four trailer-mounted launchers, each with four vertical launch cells, for a total of 16 missiles per battery.
• The system also includes a mobile command post and generator vehicles to power its sensors and communications.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News: https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-sees-red-over-deployment-of-typhon-missile-system-1788286833103

Answer: a

Explanation:

One person died, six were injured, and three others remained missing after a Delhi-registered vehicle carrying 10 people fell into the Lohit River recently.

About Lohit River:

• It is a major tributary of the Brahmaputra River in northeastern India.
• Course:
  • It originates in eastern Tibet, in the Zayal Chu range, and surges through Arunachal Pradesh for 200 kilometers, joining the Brahmaputra in Assam.
  • Entering India via the Anjaw district, it traverses deep valleys, dense forests, and remote tribal areas.
  • Some of the densest tropical jungles all over India are found in this area.
  • The river is fast, fierce, and unpredictable, descending rapidly from the Tibetan plateau into narrow gorges.
  • By the time it reaches India, it is a powerful force, crashing over boulders and carving through the Mishmi Hills.

●       Why Is the Lohit Called the River of Blood?

• Geologically, the Lohit Valley and Mishmi Hills are rich in laterite, an iron-heavy soil that gives the river a reddish hue during high flow after rainfall.

• Rivers Dau, Dalai, and Tidding are its major tributaries on the right bank, and river Lang is the major tributary on the left bank.
• Being the principal river of Arunachal Pradesh, it largely contributes towards the drinking water supply, agriculture, and energy needs.
• A Hindu pilgrimage known as Parshuram Kund is nestled on the lower reaches of Lohit.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News: https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/one-dead-six-injured-three-missing-after-vehicle-falls-into-lohit-river-in-arunachal20260815203902/

Answer: b

Explanation:

In a recent post, Nagaland Tourism and Higher Education Minister shared a video of chillies and had a hilarious warning for anyone brave enough to try Raja Mircha. 

About Raja Mircha:

• Raja Mircha, also known as Naga King Chilli or Bhut Jolokia, is a variety of chilli pepper cultivated mainly in Nagaland
• Scientific name: Capsicum chinense
• It is counted among the world’s hottest chillies and is known for its extraordinary pungency and intense, fruity aroma.
• It is significantly spicier than most common chillies, including jalapeños and habaneros. It ranks among the top 10 hottest chillies in the world.
• The chilli changes colour from green to a vibrant red as it matures.
• Famous for the heat it brings to the table, it has a subconical to conical shape, finely wrinkled skin, and thin flesh.
• The chilli is deeply connected to Nagaland’s lifestyle and has been cultivated for generations by farmers in chilli-growing areas of the state.
• It became the first chilli variety from Nagaland and the first product of any kind from the state to receive a GI tag, in 2008.
• The GI tag makes the name “Naga Mircha” exclusive to chillies grown in the region.

Hence option b is the correct answer.

News: https://food.ndtv.com/news/this-gi-tagged-chilli-is-so-hot-nagaland-minister-temjen-imna-along-says-you-will-always-lose-11987434/amp/1