UPSC Daily Quiz 23 June 2025

Answer: b

Explanation:

In an effort to promote self-reliance and inclusive growth, the Khonsa Battalion of the Assam Rifles recently launched a skill-based initiative to empower women of the Ollo tribe under Operation Sadbhavana.

About Ollo Tribe:

• It is an indigenous tribe inhabiting the Laju Circle of the Tirap district in Arunachal Pradesh, India, and parts of Myanmar.
• The Ollo people are also known as Oloh or Lazu Naga.
• Even though they live in two distinct countries, they maintain a close relationship.
  • They speak the same dialect, practice the same religion, and follow the same traditions and customs.
• They are organised by clan-based systems with a hereditary chieftaincy system. 
• The Ollo society is deeply patriarchal, with well-defined roles based on gender and lineage. 
  • Family, kinship, and leadership are governed by strict traditional norms that prioritise male succession and property rights.
• Historically known for their distinctive facial tattoos and once-practiced headhunting traditions, the tribe today continues to embrace development while preserving its cultural heritage.
• The Ollos construct houses made of stilts, although the chief’s houses of the villages are constructed with massive carved blocks and wooden pillars.
• According to the 2011 Census, the total population of the Ollo tribe in India is just over 1500.

Hence option b is the correct answer.

News: https://www.indiatodayne.in/arunachal-pradesh/story/assam-rifles-empowers-ollo-tribe-women-in-arunachals-tirap-through-skill-development-drive-1295360-2025-10-26

Answer: c

Explanation:

Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) recently delivered the first of the eight anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft (ASW-SWC), INS Mahe, indigenously designed and built by it to the Indian Navy.

About INS Mahe:

• • It is the first of the eight anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft (ASW-SWC) of the Indian Navy.
  • It is indigenously designed and built by the Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).

• Designed for a wide range of coastal defence missions, Mahe is equipped for underwater surveillance, search and rescue duties, Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO), and complex mine-laying tasks. 

• Features:

• • The ship’s design reflects extensive indigenous input, with over 90 percent of components sourced domestically.
  • The 78-meter-long vessel is the largest Indian naval warship powered by a diesel engine-waterjet propulsion system.
  • This advanced propulsion system ensures superior manoeuvrability and a reduced acoustic signature, crucial in anti-submarine operations carried out in littoral waters.
  • Its compact design and high agility make it ideal for operations in shallow waters where conventional destroyers and frigates face navigational constraints.
  • These ships are equipped with one RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launcher and two sets of light-weight torpedo-tube launchers for launching anti-submarine torpedoes.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

News:https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/csl-delivers-warship-ins-mahe-to-indian-navy/article70193883.ece

Answer: d

Explanation:

The forest department’s relocation drive at Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS) in Khanapur taluk has hit a hurdle, as residents of Amagaon village have set several conditions before agreeing to move out.

About Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It spans over the Western Ghats in the Belgaum district of Karnataka.
• It is spread across an area of 190 sq.km.
• The sanctuary has been named after the Bhimgad Fort, constructed by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the 17th century as a strategic outpost to guard against Portuguese expansion from Goa. 
• It shares its boundary with the north of Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, north-west of the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park, north of Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary, and east of Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.
• BWS forms the headwaters of a number of rivers like Tillari, Malaprabha, and Mhadei and several perennial streams.
• The sanctuary is most famous for the Barapede Caves, the only known breeding ground of the Wroughton’s Free-tailed Bat, a threatened species on the verge of extinction.
• Vegetation: The dominant vegetation of the forest comprises tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests. 
• Flora: 
  • Forests are dominated by towering trees like Malabar teak, rosewood, and various species of dipterocarps
  • It also hosts a number of medicinal plants. 
• Fauna: 
  • It provides habitat for several endangered species, such as the Indian sloth bear, Indian pangolin, and the elusive black panther. 
  • Other notable residents include the Malabar giant squirrel, gaur, sambar deer, and a plethora of bird species, including the Malabar trogon and the great Indian hornbill.
  • One of the unique features of Bhimgad is the presence of large, isolated rock formations that serve as ideal breeding grounds for the King Cobra, the world’s longest venomous snake.

Hence option d is the correct answer.

News:https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubballi/amagaon-villagers-set-conditions-for-relocation-from-bhimgad-wildlife-sanctuary/articleshow/124830956.cms

Answer: c

Explanation:

Bodies of two persons, who had gone missing while bathing in the Sone river on the occasion of the Chhath festival, were fished out in Jharkhand’s Palamu district recently.

About Sone River:

• • The Sone River, also called Son, is a principal southern tributary of the Ganges (Ganga) River after the Yamuna River. 
  • It flows through the states of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Bihar.
  • Course:
    • It originates in the Amarkantak highlands in Madhya Pradesh, in the east direction of the origin of the Narmada River.
    • It then flows in the north-northwest direction through Madhya Pradesh before turning in the east direction where it meets the Kaimur range.
    • The river starts flowing in the parallel direction of the Kaimur range in the east-northeast direction through Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and joins the Ganga River just above Patna.

• Total Length: 784 km

• • It is a wide and shallow river and forms pools of water in the remaining parts of the river.
  • The floodplain of the river is narrow and is only 3 to 5 kilometers wide. 
  • The river’s flow is seasonal, and the Sone is unimportant for navigation. 
  • The Sone valley is geologically almost a continuation of that of the Narmada River to the southwest. It is largely forested and sparsely populated.
  • The valley is bordered by the Kaimur Range to the north and the Chota Nagpur plateau to the south. 
  • Tributaries: The main tributaries are the Rihand River and the Koel River. The other tributaries are the Gopad River and the Kanhar River.
  • Dehri is the major town situated on the Sone River.

• Dams and Hydroelectric Projects:

• Bansagar Dam in Madhya Pradesh.

• Rihand Dam in Uttar Pradesh 

• • Indrapuri Barrage in Bihar.

Hence both statements are correct.

News: https://www.ptinews.com/editor-detail/Jharkhand-Two-drown-while-bathing-in-river-during-Chhath-festival-one-goes-missing/3038643

Answer: a

Explanation: 

US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping are likely to meet at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea.

About Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC):

• • It is a regional economic forum established in 1989 to leverage the growing interdependence of the Asia-Pacific.
  • It aims to create greater prosperity for the people of the region by promoting balanced, inclusive, sustainable, innovative, and secure growth and by accelerating regional economic integration.
  • The focus of APEC has been on trade and economic issues, and hence, it terms the countries as “economies”.
  • It has been operating on the basis of non-binding commitments, with decisions taken through commitments and consensus undertaken on a voluntary basis.
  • There are no binding commitments or treaty obligations. 

• Member Countries:

• • Currently, APEC has 21 members.
  • The criterion for membership, however, is that each member must be an independent economic entity, rather than a sovereign state.
  • The grouping’s current members are Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Indonesia, China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Canada, the United States, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, and Taiwan.
• The APEC Secretariat is based in Singapore and operates as the core support mechanism for the APEC process. 
• APEC’s member economies are home to more than 2.9 billion people and make up over 60 percent of global GDP. 

Hence option a is the correct answer.

News: https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/trump-xi-apec-summit-us-china-trade-war-13945171.html

Answer: d

Explanation: 

Recently, a White-cheeked Partridge (Arborophila atrogularis) was rescued near Dehing Patkai National Park.

• It is a species of partridge in the family Phasianidae.
• Habitat: It inhabits dense undergrowth in primary and secondary evergreen forest; this sometimes includes adjacent areas of scrub, bamboo, grassland and cultivated land. 
• In India, the species occurs generally at altitudes below 750 m, but may be found at up to 1,220 m in South-East Asia.
• Distribution: It is found mainly in Northeast India, northern Myanmar, and northeast Bangladesh. 
• Lifestyle: It is a terrestrial and non-migrant species.
• Threats: It is principally threatened by habitat loss and persecution.
• Conservation Status: IUCN: Near Threatened

Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

News: https://m.nenow.in/article/assam/assam-rare-white-cheeked-partridge-rescued-near-dehing-patkai-national-park/469327/amp

Explanation: 

Recently, the Cabinet Secretary chaired a meeting of National Crises Management Committee (NCMC) to review preparedness for the impending cyclone in Bay of Bengal.

• It is established under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 by the central government.
• The committee shall be the apex body for dealing with the situation arising out of a major disaster.
• Composition of National Crises Management Committee:
  • Chairperson: It is headed by the cabinet secretary.
  • Members: Members will constitute of the Union home secretary, defence secretary, secretary (co-ordination), cabinet secretariat and member and head of department, the National Disaster Management Authority.
  • The chairperson of the NCMC can co-opt experts or officers from central/state governments or any organisation, based on the nature of the crisis. 

• Role of National Crisis Management Committee:

• • It shall evaluate preparedness to respond to any threatening disaster situation, emerging disaster situation or disaster and give directions, where necessary, for enhancing such preparedness.
  • It shall coordinate and monitor actions of the concerned ministries or departments of the government of India, state governments, national authority, state authorities, governmental and non-governmental organisations in relation to disaster response.
  • It shall give directions as may be necessary for the proper coordination and monitoring of disaster response in the country.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2182500

Answer: c

Explanation: 

Scientists at the National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology (NIANP), Bengaluru, under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), have developed a ready-to-use, egg yolk-free solution – CRYODIL.

• • It is an egg yolk-free, ready to use semen extender for buffaloes.
  • Developed by: It is developed by the National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology (NIANP), Bengaluru, under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
  • It has higher shelf-life (≥18 months), developed for cryopreservation of buffalo semen for the first time in India.
  • The post-thaw progressive motility of cryopreserved buffalo sperm in CRYODIL was significantly higher (P≤ 0.05) as compared to that in traditional egg-yolk-based semen extenders.

• Post-thaw sperm movement i. e how actively sperm can swim after being frozen and thawed, a key factor that determines whether insemination will lead to pregnancy and viability which are critical factors for successful fertilisation.

• CRYODIL is cheaper to produce than traditional egg yolk-based extenders. 

Hence both statements are correct.

News: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/buffalo-breeding-to-get-a-boost-courtesy-new-yolk-free-technology/article70205082.ece

Answer: b

Explanation:

The Union government has taken up about 22,560 hectares of land to restore and conserve mangroves under the Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI) initiative over the past two years.

• The Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI) scheme is a government-led initiative aimed at increasing the mangrove cover along the coastline and on salt pan lands. 

• • • It was launched after India joined the ‘Mangrove Alliance for Climate’ launched during the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) to the UNFCCC held in November 2022.
  • It was launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change in 2023.
  • Objective: To restore mangrove forests by undertaking mangrove reforestation/afforestation measures along the coast of India, states Government of India.

• Features of MISHTI Scheme

• • It is primarily focused on the Sundarbans delta, Hooghly Estuary in West Bengal and other bay parts of the country, but also includes other wetlands in the country.
  • Financial assistance: Under this scheme the government is providing financial assistance to local communities to undertake mangrove plantation activities. 
  • It leverages the strengths and provisions of different government schemes and initiatives such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) Fund and other relevant sources.
  • The plantation activities are carried out in a participatory manner, involving local communities and NGOs, to ensure sustainability and community ownership of the initiative. 

Hence only statements 1 and 2 are correct.

News: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/over-22500-hectares-of-land-taken-up-for-mangrove-restoration-under-mishti-scheme-85-of-area-in-gujarat/article70205560.ece

Answer: c

Explanation: 

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch military communications satellite CMS-03 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

• It is a communication satellite, also known as GSAT-7R, will be launched by the Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3).
• Features of CMS-03 Satellite

• • It is a multi-band communication satellite that will provide services over a wide oceanic region including the Indian landmass.
  • It is weighing about 4400kg, will be the heaviest communication satellite 
  • It will be launched to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).

• It will provide sharper connectivity and increased bandwidth for civil, strategic, and maritime users.

Hence both statements are correct.

News: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/isro-to-launch-military-communications-satellite-cms-03-on-november-2/article70205060.ece