UPSC Daily Quiz 23 April 2026

Answer: c

Explanation:

Indian scientists recently discovered a rare, fanged mud-nesting frog, Limnonectes Motijheel, in Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh.

About Limnonectes motijheel:

• It is a new species of frog.
• It was discovered from Namdapha Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh.
• It is named after Motijheel Lake, known for its rich amphibian diversity.
• It belongs to a group commonly called Fanged Frogs, named for small, fang-like projections in the lower jaw of the males. Scientists say this feature may aid feeding or territorial behaviour.
  • These frogs are found across South and Southeast Asia and are known for their unusual breeding habits.
• The new species has been placed within the genus Limnonectes, which now counts six known species in India.
• Unlike most frogs that lay eggs in water or on leaves, this species builds a nest out of mud beneath leaf litter on the forest floor. This is a behaviour not previously recorded in this group from India.
• The frog also has a distinct appearanc The amphibian has a dark-brown line running between its eyes, an inverted “V”-shaped ridge along its back, and broken folds running down either side of its body.
• Size:
  • Frogs of the Limnonectes group are typically medium-sized
  • They generally range between 3 to 3.5 centimetres as an adult.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

News: https://www.moneycontrol.com/science/scientists-discover-rare-and-new-frog-species-in-arunachal-pradesh-and-it-can-build-its-own-house-article-13896384.html

Answer: d

Explanation:

INS Nireekshak recently arrived in Colombo to participate in the fourth edition of the India–Sri Lanka Diving Exercise (DIVEX 2026).

About INS Nireekshak:

• It is a Dive Support and Submarine Rescue Vessel of the Indian Navy.
• Built by Mazgaon Shipbuilders in 1985, the ship has been in service with the Navy since 1989 and was commissioned in the year 1995.
• Equipped with advanced deep-sea diving systems, recompression chambers, and submarine rescue infrastructure, the vessel can deploy Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles and support saturation diving missions.
• Its sophisticated systems allow it to maintain stability during sensitive underwater operations, making it indispensable for search-and-rescue missions, underwater inspections, and diver training.

Hence option d is the correct answer.

News:https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ins-nireekshak-arrives-in-colombo-for-indiasri-lanka-diving-exercise/article70893493.ece

Answer: d

Explanation:                                                   

A group of hikers were forced to flee as Guatemala’s Santiaguito Volcano erupted recently, throwing rocks into the air around them.

About Santiaguito Volcano:

• It is an active volcano located in western Guatemala near the city of Quetzaltenango.
• It was created in the wake of the Santa María Volcano’s 1902 eruption.
  • This eruption destroyed Santa María’s former summit and left some 5,000 people dead. It was one of the largest eruptions of the 20th century.
  • Since then, new lava domes have grown inside the trench left by this eruption.
  • Santiaguito is the youngest of these domes, having been created around 1922.
• The massive Santiaguito dome complex has been growing ever since and is accompanied by continuous explosions, most of them minor.
• The Santiaguito lava-dome complex is one of the most active volcanic areas in Guatemala and worldwide.
• It belches smoke and ash on a regular basis but sometimes emits lava and pyroclastic flows.
• It reaches about 2,500 meters (8,202 feet).
• It currently has four craters, one of which is active. This gives it a completely different appearance than most volcanoes; it resembles a large rock with multiple peaks.
• The last major explosion occurred on April 25, 2010, when 10 people were killed by falling rocks after an eruption.
• The deadliest explosion occurred in 1929, when more than 2500 people were killed.

Hence option d is the correct answer.

News: https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2026/4/21/video-moment-hikers-get-caught-in-guatemala-volcano-eruption

Answer: c

Explanation:                                                   

The government recently constituted the Online Gaming Authority of India, comprising six members.

About Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI):

• It is a regulatory body established under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025.
• The authority will be a digital office under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India. It will be operational starting May 1.
• It will act as the central regulator for online games, including esports, bringing them under a formal registration and classification system.
• The function of the authority will include categorising and registering online games, deciding whether a game qualifies as a money game, and addressing public grievances.
• It is established to issue guidelines, codes of practice, and directions to ensure compliance.
• It will also coordinate with financial institutions and law enforcement agencies to ensure effective enforcement.
• Membership:
  • The authority will comprise 6 members in which the Additional Secretary of the MeitY will be Chairperson.
  • Other five members will include Joint Secretaries from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Information and Broadcasting, Youth Affairs and Sports, Department of Financial Services, and Department of Legal Affairs.

Hence both statements are correct.

News:https://www.newsonair.gov.in/govt-sets-up-online-gaming-authority-to-regulate-gaming-sector/

Answer: b

Explanation:

The Gujarat government recently announced the Narcotics Analysis & RAG-based Investigation Tool (NARIT-AI), designed to help law enforcement agencies in handling complex narcotics cases under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act framework.

About Narcotics Analysis & RAG-based Investigation Tool (NARIT-AI):

• It is an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based investigation tool launched by the Gujarat Police, making it the first state police force in India to deploy an AI-driven system for narcotics investigations.
• It was built by the Western Railway Police (Vadodara Division) with private partner Gradiante Creative Services.
• It aims to strengthen the handling of narcotics cases and improve conviction rates.
• The tool is designed to act as a digital legal consultant for investigating officers handling complex cases under the NDPS Act by providing real-time legal analysis and procedural guidance.
• The system utilizes Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) technology, which allows it to analyse FIRs in a closed database of Supreme Court and High Court judgments, bare acts (BNS, BNSS, BSA), and government circulars.
• Unlike open-source AI, NARIT AI does not use the general internet, ensuring data privacy and preventing “hallucinations” or false legal assumptions.
• The tool generates comprehensive reports highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of a case, providing an evidence checklist, and even predicting potential defence arguments in court to help prosecutors prepare rebuttals.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

News:https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-sci-tech/narit-ai-gujarat-police-ndps-drugs-cases-convictions-10646455/

Answer: c

Explanation:

 Recently, the Curiosity rover, part of NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory mission, has found a mix of organic molecules on Mars.

• It is a U.S. robotic vehicle designed to explore the surface of Mars.
• It was launched aboard an Atlas V rocket Florida on Nov. 26, 2011, and landed on Aug. 5, 2012.
• It has been moving around the Gale crater and Mount Sharp on Mars.
• The rover is part of NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory mission which tested a novel landing method that saw the spacecraft descend on a parachute before its landing system fired up its rockets and hovered as the rover was lowered down onto the surface. 
• Features:
  • It is about 3 metres long and weighs about 900 kg.
  • It draws its electric power from a thermoelectric power generator, with the heat source being the radioactive decay of plutonium and the heat sink being Mars’s atmosphere.
• According to NASA, Curiosity has four main science goals in support of the agency’s Mars exploration program:
  • Determine whether life ever arose on Mars.
  • Characterize the climate of Mars.
  • Characterize the geology of Mars.
  • Prepare for human exploration.

Hence both statements are correct.

News: https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/mars-life-curiosity-organic-molecules-10649462/

Answer: a

Explanation:

The Atal Pension Yojana (APY) has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing total gross enrollments of nine crore subscribers. 

• It is a flagship social security scheme of the Government of India.
• It was launched on May 9, 2015, with the vision of establishing a universal social security system for all Indians.
• It is a voluntary, contributory pension scheme primarily focused on the poor, the underprivileged, and workers in the unorganized sector. 
• Features of Atal Pension Yojana:
  • It provides a guaranteed monthly pension ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 for subscribers after attaining 60 years of age.
    • Same pension continues to the spouse after the subscriber’s demise.
    • The return of the corpus accumulated till the age of 60, to the nominee after the death of both.
  • Age: It is open to all Indian citizens between the age of 18 and 40 years, except those who are or have been income tax payers.
  • Voluntary Exit: Allowed, but the subscriber only receives the contribution made (with interest) and government co-contribution (if any) is forfeited.

• It is administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2254487&reg=3&lang=1

Answer: c

Explanation:

Recently, the Union Communications Minister has released revised guidelines for the Technology Development and Investment Promotion (TDIP) Scheme to strengthen country’s global telecom presence.

• It is aimed at strengthening India’s participation in global telecom standardization and accelerating the development of indigenous telecom technologies.
• Financial Outlay and Duration: ₹203 crore for the period 2026–31.
• It has been designed as a comprehensive support framework to enable Indian entities to actively contribute to global standards, promote innovation, and enhance India’s competitiveness in next-generation telecommunications technologies.
• It seeks to enhance India’s representation and influence in leading international telecom standardization bodies such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), 3GPP and oneM2M.
• Scope: It expands the scope of the scheme to include startups, MSMEs, academia, research institutions, telecom service providers and industry players.
• Implementation: It will be implemented through Telecommunications Standards Development Society, India (TSDSI), Telecom Centres of Excellence, India (TCoE) and Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL).

Hence both statements are correct

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2254633&reg=3&lang=1

Answer: b

Explanation:

Recently, the government has expanded eligibility criteria of the Prime Minister Internship Scheme to include final-year graduate and post-graduate students.

• It is a Government of India initiative aimed at providing internship opportunities to youth in top companies of India.
• These internships span 24 sectors, including oil, gas, energy, travel, hospitality, automotive, banking, and financial services.
• Financial Assistance: Interns will receive minimum financial assistance of ₹9,000 per month.
• Eligibility Criteria:
  • Passed 10th, 12th, ITI, Polytechnic, or Diploma courses.
  • Fresh graduates from non-premier institutions.
    • Students from IITs, IIMs, National Law Universities, and individuals with professional degrees like CA, MBA, MBBS, etc., are excluded to promote inclusivity for underrepresented groups.
  • It provides young individuals aged 21-25 years from low-income households with 12-month internship opportunities in the country’s top 500 companies. 
  • The income of any of your family members (self, parents, or spouse) should not exceeds ₹12 lakh in the preceding financial year
  • No family member has a government job.
  • New Changes
    • Final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students are now eligible to apply under PMIS
    • Students are required to submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their respective educational institutions during the application process.

Hence only statements 1 and 3 are correct.

News: https://www.newsonair.gov.in/government-expands-eligibility-of-pm-internship-scheme-to-include-final-year-students/

Answer: a

Explanation:

 Recently, the World Health Organization has advanced a resolution aimed at improving equity in care for people living with haemophilia.

• It is a rare, inherited bleeding disorder in which the blood does not clot properly.
• Cause: It is due to low or absent levels of clotting factors, mainly factor VIII in haemophilia A and factor IX in haemophilia B.
• Risk: Haemophilia is typically inherited in an X-linked recessive pattern, meaning it predominantly affects males, while females are usually carriers. 
• Research has shown that nearly one-third of haemophilia cases arise from spontaneous mutations, meaning the condition can occur even without a known family history. 
• Symptoms:
  • Individuals with severe haemophilia often experience frequent spontaneous bleeding episodes.
  • Common manifestations include prolonged bleeding, easy bruising, and frequent nosebleeds,
  • In rare but serious cases, bleeding can occur in critical areas such as the brain.
• Treatment: The standard treatment is clotting factor replacement therapy, administered either to control active bleeding or as a preventive measure.

Hence only statement 1 is correct

News: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/all-you-need-to-know-about-haemophilia/article70892278.ece