UPSC Daily Quiz 24 April 2026

Answer: c

Explanation:

Scientists recently discovered three new species of dragonflies in Northeast India, including one from a forest trail in Assam and two from a remote valley in Arunachal Pradesh.

About New Species of Dragonflies:

• Two of the newly described species—the Clouded Boghawker (Sarasaeschna nuboides) and the Siang Boghawker (Sarasaeschna sigotaayo)—were observed around a small, shallow forest pond in Arunachal Pradesh’s Siang Valley, where dragonflies were seen flying rapidly and perching close to water.
• The third species, the Long-tailed Boghawker (Sarasaeschna dosdewaensis), was discovered in Assam’s Karimganj district, an area increasingly recognised as an odonate diversity hotspot.

Key Facts about Dragonflies:

• Dragonflies are insects in the order Odonata.
• Insects in this group are characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of wings, and an elongated body.
• Their eyes provide them with excellent vision due to their very unique structure.
• Dragonfly eyes have up to 30,000 “facets” and are arranged in a way that gives them almost 360-degree vision. This gives them a huge advantage when hunting for food.
• Dragonflies are among the fastest insects known and are voracious predators of flying insects such as mosquitoes and flies.
• Dragonflies predate dinosaurs by over 100 million years.
• They are most commonly found near freshwater habitats throughout most of the world.
• Damselflies are a close relative of the dragonfly and may easily be confused with the dragonfly. You can tell them apart in a couple of ways.
  • Damselflies are smaller and more delicate than dragonflies, and when they are at rest, damselflies hold their wings straight up and together above their body while the wings of dragonflies remain horizontal while at rest.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

News: https://eastmojo.com/premium/2026/04/22/three-dragonfly-species-discovered-in-northeast/

Answer: b

Explanation:

As the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu battles rising sea levels that threaten to put large parts of the island entirely underwater by the end of this century, its citizens are making efforts to safeguard their future while preparing for the worst impacts of climate change.

About Tuvalu:

• Tuvalu, formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island country in the west-central Pacific Ocean.
• It is the 4th smallest country in the world with 26 sq.km. of land.
• It sits about halfway between Australia and Hawaii.
• Its neighbours include Kiribati, to the north, and Fiji, to the south.
• It comprises nine islands (four reef islands and five coral atolls).
• All islands are low-lying, with no point on Tuvalu being higher than 4.5 m above sea level. Thus, the islands are threatened by any future sea level rise.
• Nanumanga, Niutao, and Niulakita are the three main islands that make up Tuvalu.
• The Funafuti atoll is the capital of Tuvalu and is also the most populous among all the 9 atolls.
• There are no rivers. Tuvalu’s climate is hot and rainy.
• With the exception of tiny Vatican City, Tuvalu has the fewest inhabitants of any other independent nation.
• Languages: Most people speak a language called Tuvaluan. English is widely used.
• Currency: Tuvalu dollar (equivalent to the Australian dollar)
• Political System:
  • Tuvalu became independent from the United Kingdom in October 1978.
  • It operates as a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy.
  • It is part of the Commonwealth Realm, with King Charles III recognized as King of Tuvalu. He is represented by a Governor-General, who is appointed upon the advice of the Prime Minister.
  • There are no political parties: the prime minister is chosen by and from the legislature.
• Economy:
  • Most people are subsistence farmers and are aided by remittances from relatives working overseas.
  • A small quantity of copra is produced for export, the sale of stamps accounts for modest earnings, and fees are collected from foreign fishing fleets, but the country depends heavily on foreign aid.
  • It imports most of its food, fuel, and manufactured goods.

Hence option b is the correct answer.

News:https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/04/1167353

Answer: d

Explanation:                                                   

The central bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) in its order directed the MP Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) to inspect the Lower Lake and present a detailed report with photographs with latitude and longitude details in support of its findings.

About Lower Lake:

• Lower Lake, also known as Chhota Talaab, is a man-made lake located in the city of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
• It was built in 1794 by Chote Khan, a minister of Nawab Hayat Muhammad Khan Bahadur, to beautify the city. Several earlier wells were merged in this lake.
• Chota Talaab, along with the nearby Upper Lake/Bada Talaab, constitutes Bhoj Wetland, which is now a Ramsar site.
  • The Lower Lake is positioned to the east of the Upper Lake. The two lakes are separated by an overbridge called Pul Pukhta or Lower Lake Bridge.
  • The two lakes are constructed in a terraced way; the lowest level of the Upper Lake is just underneath the highest stage of the Lower Lake.
  • Supplying water to almost 40% of the residents in Bhopal, these lakes play a vital role in serving the city.
• The Lower Lake has an area of 1.29 sq. km and a catchment area of 9.6 sq. km.
• The Lower Lake does not have any sparkling water supply. The lake receives subsurface seepage from the Upper Lake.
• It drains into the Patra rivulet, which joins the Halali River, a small tributary of the Betwa

Hence option d is the correct answer.

News:https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/lower-lake-decline-ngt-now-asks-mppcb-to-submit-report/articleshow/130478580.cms

Answer: b

Explanation:                                                   

Patel Engineering recently won a Rs 1,593.08 crore contract for the Lower Arun Hydroelectric Project in Nepal.

About Lower Arun Hydropower Project:

• It is a 679 MW run-of-river project planned on the Arun River (a tributary of the Koshi River) in the Sankhuwasabha and Bhojpur districts of Eastern Nepal.
• The project will be built under the build, own, operate, and transfer (BOOT) model.
• The project is being developed by Investment Board Nepal and SJVN (a Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Power, Government of India).
• This is the second project awarded to SJVN in Nepal, the first one being the 900 MW Arun 3 Hydro Electric Project in Sankhuwasabha District.
• The project will not have any reservoir or dam and will be a tailrace development of the Arun-3 hydro project, which will mean water re-enters the river for the Lower Arun project.
• On completion the Project will generate 2970 million units of electricity per annum.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

News:https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/headlines/3884439-patel-engineering-secures-major-hydroelectric-project-in-nepal?amp

Answer: a

Explanation:

The Dewas forest department recently confirmed the presence of the elusive honey badger (Ratel) within the Kheoni wildlife sanctuary.

About Honey Badger:

• The honey badger, or ratel, is a small mammal that is very strong and tough.
• It is a member of the weasel family, which includes skunks.
• Scientific Name: Mellivora capensis.
• Habitat and Distribution:
  • The honey badger has a wide, extensive historical distribution range, which extends through most of sub-Saharan Africa.
  • It occurs from the Western Cape to southern Morocco and southwestern Algeria.
  • In addition, it also occurs in Arabia, Iran, and western Asia, as well as the Indian peninsula.
  • They live mainly in dry areas but are also found in forests and grasslands.
  • They live in holes, which they dig with their strong front legs.
• Features:
  • Adult honey badgers have a shoulder height of up to 12 inches (30 centimeters).
  • Their bodies are between 24 and 30 inches (61 and 76 centimeters) long, with tails of about 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 centimeters).
  • The males are much larger than the females.
  • Their skin is thick, tough and loose, allowing the honey badger to twist and escape from the grip of their attacker.
  • Their ears are poorly developed.
  • Their upper parts are white, and the lower parts are black.
  • They are nocturnal.
  • Honey badgers have powerful5-inch-long (4 cm) claws and teeth that are strong enough to crack a tortoise shell, making these small mammals a formidable opponent.
  • Honey badgers have glands that give off a bad smell. They use this smell to defend themselves against larger animals.
  • Honey badgers are omnivores, feasting on a wide range of food, including birds, reptiles, rodents, berries, roots, and fruits.
  • They are ferocious hunters, known to take on powerful animals that’s more than many times their size.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Hence option a is the correct answer.

News:https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/indore/rare-honey-badgers-spotted-in-kheoni-sanctuary/articleshow/130342303.cms

Answer: c

Explanation:

The Government has notified an amendment to the Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) (Regulation of Marketing) Order, 2001 to bring Aviation Turbine Fuel blended with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) under the ambit of the ATF Control Order.

• It consists of specially processed aviation grade hydrocarbons, that are chemically similar to ATF and fully compatible with aircraft engines.
• SAF does not alter the fundamental nature, safety, or performance of aviation fuel.
• Source: It is a biofuel, also known as bio-jet fuel produced from sustainable feedstocks.
• It has chemistry similar to conventional aviation turbine fuel (ATF) or jet fuel, which is derived from crude oil.
• This means that existing aircraft engines can easily use the SAF-ATF blend.
• It is made from renewable biomass and waste resources have the potential to deliver the performance of petroleum-based jet fuel. 
• Production:
  • It can be produced from a number of sources (feedstock) including waste oil and fats, green and municipal waste and non-food crops.
  • It can also be produced synthetically via a process that captures carbon directly from the air.

Hence both statements are correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2255021&reg=3&lang=1

Answer: a

Explanation:

Recently, the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment said that the NAMASTE Scheme has demonstrated measurable impact through targeted interventions and a focused approach to eliminate hazardous manual cleaning practices.

• The National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Schemeis a critical initiative addressing the dire challenges faced by Sewer and Septic Tank Sanitation Workers (SSWs) in India.
• It aims to transform their occupational safety, health, and dignity through systemic interventions.
• Ministries involved: It is jointly being implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
• Implementing agency: It is implemented by the National Safai Karmacharis Finance Development Corporation (NSKFDC) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE)
• Duration: It would be implemented for three years from FY 2023-24 to FY 2025-26.
• Target Groups: Sewer and septic tank sanitation workers (SSWs) and waste pickers in urban areas of India
• The scheme targets
  • Zero fatalities in sanitation work,
  • Eliminates direct contact with human faecal matter,
  • Ensures all cleaning is done with safety devices by skilled workers,
  • Strengthens Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs), and empowers workers through Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and entrepreneurship.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2255017&reg=3&lang=1

Answer: c

Explanation:

Recently, it was observed that tribal communities in Odisha’s Koraput fight for their legal rights over kendu leaves for a third consecutive year.

• Kendu leaf (Tendu Leaf, Diospyros Melanoxylon ) is also called “Green Gold of Odisha”.
• It is a nationalized product like Bamboo and Sal seed. Kendu leaf is one of the most important non-wood forest products of Odisha.
• Characteristics:
  • It has matching aroma with Tobacco.
  • It has hygroscopic in nature which helps drying leaves to withstand crack.
• Primary use: Used to roll tobacco into bidis (local cigarettes); also holds medicinal value.
• Key Producer States:Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat.
• Odisha is the third-largest producerafter MP and Chhattisgarh.
  • The uniqueness of Odisha Kendu leaves is its processed form. No state produces processed kendu leaves except Odisha.
• Legal Status: Kendu Leaf is covered under Minor Forest Produce (MFP) as per Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.  

Hence both statements are correct

News: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/forests/green-gold-denied-tribal-communities-in-odishas-koraput-fight-for-their-legal-rights-over-kendu-leaves-for-a-third-consecutive-year

Answer: b

Explanation:

 Recently, the Election authorities set up a special polling station for just five voters inside the Srivilliputhur- Meghamalai Tiger Reserve under the Andipatti Assembly constituency, Tamil Nadu.

• Location: It is located in the state of Tamil
• It lies in the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats region.
• It was formed in February 2021 by combining Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary and Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary.
• It will function as a connecting link between Kerala’s Periyar Tiger Reserve and Tamil Nadu’s Southern Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve.
• Rivers: The Srivilliputhu Megamalai Tiger Reserve (SMTR) area primarily relies on three perennial rivers: Vaigai, Suruliyaru, and Shanmuganathi.
• Vegetation: It’s a blend of tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, dry deciduous and moist mixed deciduous woods, and grasslands.
• Fauna:
  • Mammals: Elephants, Tiger, Leopard, Nilgiri Tahr, Gaur, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Sambar Deer, Wild Boar, Porcupine, Nilgiri Langur, Lion-Tailed Macaque etc.
  • Birds: Red-Whiskered Bulbul, Common Iora, White-Browed Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Pied Bush Chat etc.
  • Reptiles: Wood Snake, Monitor Lizard, Chameleon, etc.

Hence only statements 2 and 3 are correct.

News: https://www.etvbharat.com/en/state/special-polling-booth-set-up-for-five-voters-in-meghamalai-tiger-reserve-four-cast-votes-enn26042308005

Answer: b

Explanation:

Recently, India and Egypt advanced their defence cooperation at the 11th Joint Defence Committee (JDC) meeting held in Cairo. 

• It is a transcontinental country that stretches from the northeast corner of Africa to the southwest corner of Asia.
• The Sinai Peninsula of Egypt acts as the land bridge between these two continents.
• Bordering Countries: It has land borders with Sudan (south), Libya (west), Israel and the Gaza Strip (northeast).
• Water Bodies: It has a coastline on the Mediterranean Sea (North) while the Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba border it to the east.
• Capital City: Cairo
• Geographical Features of Egypt:
  • Climate: It has a tropical climate and has high temperatures throughout the year.
  • Terrain: Its topography is marked by a striking contrast between its arid desert regions and the fertile Nile River Valley.
  • The majority of the country, approximately two-thirds, is covered by the vast Western Desert.
  • Rivers: The Nile River, the longest river in the world, flows from south to north through Egypt.
  • Highest Peak: Egypt’s highest point Mount Catherine reaching 2,642 meters (8,668 feet) above sea level,
  • Natural Resources: Egypt’s natural resources include petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, and iron ore.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

News: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-egypt-advance-their-defence-cooperation-at-cairo-meet/article70898257.ece