UPSC Daily Quiz 20 December 2025

Answer: c

Explanation:

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) recently rolled out a Request for Proposal (RfP) to establish Antariksh Prayogshala (Space Labs) at select academic institutions across India.

About Antariksh Prayogshala (Space Labs):

• It is an initiative of the NITI Aayog.
• It is a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at creating state-of-the-art space laboratories within Indian academic institutions.
• These labs will provide hands-on training to students pursuing space tech courses in academic institutes spread across the country.
• This initiative is intended to enable meaningful industry–academia collaboration and support India’s long-term vision of becoming a leading global space economy.
• Under the scheme, up to seven academic institutions will be selected in a phased manner from different zones across the country.
• To ensure balanced regional representation, one lab is proposed in each zone.
• These labs will also be available to Non-Governmental Entities (NGEs) for utilization in that zone.
• IN-SPACe will provide financial support of up to 75 percent of the total project cost, with a cap of ₹5 crore per institution, to be released on a milestone-linked basis.
• The selection process will be carried out in two stages.
  • Institutions will first be screened based on eligibility criteria.
  • Shortlisted applicants will then be evaluated and ranked by an Empowered Committee (EC), following which final selections will be made on a zone-wise basis.

Hence both statements are correct.

News:https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/in-space-invites-proposals-to-establish-space-labs-across-academic-institutions/article70415478.ece

Answer: c

Explanation:

China recently split off Hainan Island, with an economy comparable to a mid-ranked country, from the mainland for customs processing, part of a bid to join a major trans-Pacific trade deal and establish a new Hong Kong-style commercial hub.

About Hainan Island:

• It is a tropical island at the southernmost of China.
• It is situated in the northeastern part of the Beibu Gulf, across the Qiongzhou Strait from mainland China.
• It’s known as the “Hawaii of China,”.
• It has a land area of ​​35,400 sq.km. It is the largest island administered by the People’s Republic of China.
• It has a population of about 10 million.
• Its provincial capital is Haikou, known as the “Coconut City”.
• It was geologically connected with the southern Chinese mainland until a rift through the Hainan Strait opened sometime during the Miocene and Pliocene epochs (about 23 to 2.6 million years ago).
• The island is approximately oval in shape and measures about 260 km from east to west and 210 km from north to south at its widest point.
• Hainan is a regional center connecting Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia and is a maritime gateway between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
• It’s also China’s largest free-trade port and host of the Boao Forum, an annual meeting of political and business leaders dubbed “Asia’s Davos.”

Hence option c is the correct answer.

News: https://www.cnbctv18.com/world/china-launches-113-billion-free-trade-experiment-on-hainan-island-ws-l-19795041.htm/amp

Answer: d

Explanation:                                                   

A team of government officials recently visited the encroached areas of land earmarked for compensatory afforestation at Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary.

About Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is located on the southern bank of the river Brahmaputra in the Sonitpur district, Assam.
• It covers an area of 44.06 sq. km.
• It is located on the north side of Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary and shares an integral transboundary landscape of the Laokhowa-Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuary ecosystem.
• Both the sanctuary was notified as a buffer zone of the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve in 2007.
• Most of the low-lying areas of the sanctuary are vulnerable to flooding during summer.
• Flora:
  • It is enveloped and adorned by wet alluvial grasslands, riparian, and semi-evergreen forests.
  • Most of the plant species found here are of great commercial and medical value.
• Fauna:
  • It is a habitat of a wide range of wild animals, including tigers, elephants, wild buffalos, one-horned rhinoceros, hog deer, and wild boar.
  • The avian inhabitants feature species like the Bengal florican, black-necked stork, open-billed stork, white-eyed pochard, mallard, spotbill, large whistling teal, and numerous others.

Hence option d is the correct answer.

News:https://www.sentinelassam.com/north-east-india-news/assam-news/sonitpur-inspection-of-encroached-land-at-bura-chapori-wildlife-sanctuary

Answer: a

Explanation:

According to a recent report submitted by the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), the Jiyo Parsi Scheme has been largely successful in reaching its intended population.

About Jiyo Parsi Scheme:

• It is a unique Central Sector Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Minority Affairs for arresting the population decline of the Parsi Community.
• The scheme was launched in 2013-14.
• The objective of the scheme is to reverse the declining trend of the Parsi population by adopting a scientific protocol and structured interventions, stabilize their population, and to increase the population of Parsis in India.
• The scheme has three components:
  • Medical Component: to provide financial assistance for medical treatment under standard medical protocol.
  • Health of the Community: To motivate Parsi Couples to have more children, financial assistance would be available to couples to take care of their dependent elderly family members and children.
  • Advocacy:
    • Enhancing support for Parsi couples with infertility and family-related concerns involves counseling sessions and outreach programmese., seminars, medical camps, publicity brochures, advocacy films, etc.
    • The utilization of social media networks for publicity to effectively reach eligible Parsi couples, ensuring access to the benefits of the scheme.
  • The Scheme will be implemented through the State Governments with the assistance of respective Parsi Institutions.
  • Eligible Parsi couples would be provided financial assistance under the various components of the schemes through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.
  • The State Governments would get the necessary verification, including biometric authentication of all beneficiaries

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News:https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2205040&reg=3&lang=1

Answer: b

Explanation:

The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has intensified efforts to promote entrepreneurship among SC and ST communities through the National Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Hub (NSSH) Scheme.

About National Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Hub (NSSH) Scheme:

• It is one of the flagship schemes of the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises.
• It is implemented by the National Small Industries Corporation Ltd. (NSIC).
• NSSH is aimed at capacity enhancement of SC/ST entrepreneurs and promoting “entrepreneurship culture” amongst the SC/ST population.
• The Scheme empowers the SC/ST population to participate in the public procurement process and fulfill the mandated target of 4% procurement from SC/ST enterprises under the Public Procurement Policy by the Ministries, Departments, and CPSEs (Central Public Sector Enterprises).
• The initiative provides financial assistance and facilitates access to credit for SC/ST entrepreneurs.
• It collaborates with financial institutions, banks, and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) to ensure that entrepreneurs from these communities have access to affordable and timely financial resources for their business ventures.
• It also focuses on skill development and capacity building of SC/ST entrepreneurs.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

News:https://pragativadi.com/msme-expands-nssh-scheme-to-empower-sc-st-entrepreneurs/

Answer: d

Explanation:

Recently, Armenia has unveiled the logo for the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity which includes Erivan Anomalous Blue at its center.

The Polyommatus eriwanens is also known as Erivan Anomalous Blue is a blue butterfly.

It is found only in and around Yerevan (Armenia).

Habitat:

The species inhabits calcareous grasslands in Armenia but the host plant of the species is still not known.

The species is endemic of Southern Transcaucasia.

It is found at the elevation range from 1200 to 2200 m.

The Erivan Anomalous Blue gives one generation per year.

These butterfly species are active from mid-June till mid-July, depending on elevation.

Conservation Status: The species is not included in the Global and European Red Lists.

Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

News: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/wildlife-biodiversity/a-butterfly-is-the-face-of-cop17-to-be-held-next-year-in-yerevan

Answer: a

Explanation:

Recently, the union Home Minister convened a meeting for the constitution of a dedicated body, the Bureau of Port Security (BoPS), for the security of vessels and port facilities.

It shall be constituted as a statutory body under the provisions of Section 13 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025.

It is being modelled on the lines of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).

Functions Bureau of Port Security:

It ensures timely analysis, collection and exchange of security-related information, with a special focus on cyber security, including a dedicated division to safeguard port IT infrastructure from digital threats.

It is headed by a Director General, shall function under the aegis of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW)

He /she shall be responsible for regulatory and oversight functions relating to the security of ships and port facilities.

The BoPS shall be headed by an IPS officer (Pay Level-15).

During the transition period of one year, the Director General of Shipping (DGS/DGMA) shall function as the Director General, BoPS.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has been designated as a Recognised Security Organisation (RSO) for port facilities with responsibility for undertaking security assessments and preparation of security plans for ports.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2206443&reg=3&lang=2

Answer: c

Explanation:

 Recently, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Ship ‘Amulya’ was commissioned in Goa.

It is the third in the series of eight new-generation Adamya-class Fast Patrol Vessels.

It has more than 60% indigenous components and designed and built by the Goa Shipyard Limited.

It integrates modern design philosophy focused on efficiency, endurance, and rapid response capability.

It will be based at Paradip, Odisha, operating under the administrative and operational control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region (North East).

Functions: It will undertake functions like surveillance, interdiction, Search & Rescue, anti-smuggling operations, and pollution response.

Features of Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Ship Amulya:

Propulsion: It is powered by two 3000 KW advanced diesel engines.

Speed: The ship delivers a top speed of 27 knots and an operational endurance of 1,500 nautical miles.

Armaments: It is fitted with indigenous state-of-the-art weapons/systems, offering superior manoeuvrability, operational flexibility and enhanced performance at sea.

Hence both statements are correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2206579&reg=3&lang=2

Answer: b

Explanation:

Recently, the Minister of State for Earth Science informed that there are currently 47 Doppler weather radars (DWRs) across the country to survey weather patterns and forecast.

A Doppler radar is specialized radar that uses the Doppler effect to produce velocity data about objects at a distance.

These radar systems can provide information regarding the movement of targets as well as their position.

Working of Doppler weather radars (DWRs)

In radars, a beam of energy, called radio waves, is emitted from an antenna.

When this beam strikes an object in the atmosphere, the energy scatters in all directions, with some reflecting directly back to the radar.

The larger the object deflecting the beam, the greater is the amount of energy that the radar receives in return.

Observing the time required for the beam to be transmitted and returned to the radar allows weather forecasting departments to “see” raindrops in the atmosphere, and measure their distance from the radar.

Types of weather Radar Bands: Varying frequencies like S-band, C-band and X-band — are commonly used by the IMD in India.

Applications:

It is used to track the movement of weather systems and cloud bands, and gauge rainfall over its coverage area of about 500 km.

An X-band radar is used to detect thunderstorms and lightning, whereas a C-band radar helps in cyclone tracking.

Hence only statements 1 and 3 are correct.

News: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/by-overriding-rti-act-new-law-triggers-transparency-concerns-10429496/?ref=infinite

Answer: c

Explanation:

Recently, the Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology informed the Rajya Sabha about the TIDE 2.0 Scheme.

The “Technology Incubation and Development of Entrepreneurs 2.0 (TIDE 2.0)” Scheme was launched in the year 2019.

It promotes technology-based entrepreneurship by providing financial & technical support to incubators engaged in supporting ICT startups primarily engaged in using emerging technologies such as IoT, AI, Block-chain, Robotics etc. 

Features of TIDE 2.0 Scheme:

It is implemented through empowering 51 incubators in India and handholding close to 2000 tech start-ups over a period of 5 years.

These selected incubators are located in the Institutes of Higher Learning and premier R&D organizations across the country.

These incubators provide startups with requisite expertise, industry linkages and ecosystem partnerships etc.

Under TIDE 2.0, Centres of Excellence in Intellectual Property Rights (CoE-IP) are also established to encourage or support Startups/SMEs/academia/inventors in Electronics and IT domain.

These CoE provide various IP related services, awareness creation and training.

It complements other Government initiatives such as GENESIS, SAMRIDH, Startup India and sector-specific innovation programmes.

Hence both statements are correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.