UPSC Daily Quiz 4 July 2025

Answer: b

Explanation:

Recently, Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region laid the foundation stone for the Integrated Sohra Circuit Development under the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North Eastern Region (PM-DevINE) scheme. 

• It is jointly developed by the Ministry of DoNER and the Government of Meghalaya.
• It aims to transform Sohra into a multi-day experiential tourism destination rooted in sustainability and local livelihoods.
• Key Components of Integrated Sohra Tourism Circuit:
  • Sohra Experience Centre: It will serve as the cultural nucleus of the circuit, showcasing Meghalaya’s diverse tribal heritage through amphitheatres, rain experience parks, art galleries, and craft pavilions.
  • Supporting projects: It includes Nohkalikai Falls precinct, Mawsmai Eco Park, Shella Riverside Development, and Wahkaliar Canyon with adventure tourism.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

News: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2185332#:~:text

Answer: c

Explanation:

 Recently, an autopsy report from the Indian Veterinary Research Institute revealed that lone African elephant at the National Zoological Park in Delhi died in due to the rare rodent-borne virus — encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV). 

• It is a non-enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus that is part of the Cardiovirus genus and Picornaviridae family.
• It is the causative agent of encephalomyocarditis (EMC) infection in swine and other mammals.
• African elephants are particularly susceptible to the virus, with outbreaks reported worldwide in captivity and in the wild.
• EMCV is a zoonotic disease, therefore humans are susceptible to infection. Most infections in humans are asymptomatic.
• Transmission: The virus can be transmitted by food or water contamination caused from feces or urine of a rodent species.
• Symptoms of Encephalomyocarditis Virus infection: Symptoms of EMCV infection in humans can include fever, headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and in severe cases, neurological symptoms like confusion and seizures.
• Hosts of EMCV: Pigs, non-human primates, zoo animals, and various wild species can be affected.
• Treatment: Supportive care to manage symptoms and complications, with no specific treatment available.

Hence both statements are correct.

News: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/rare-rodent-borne-virus-killed-shankar-lone-african-elephant-at-delhi-zoo-first-such-case-in-india-10344526/

Consider the following statements regarding Melatonin:

1. It is a naturally-occurring hormone in human body which controls sleeps and wake cycles.
2. It is secreted by the pineal glands which is highest in the middle of the night.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Answer: b

Recently, the Chief Minister of Odisha performed the groundbreaking ceremony for  the country’s first end-to-end silicon carbide semiconductor production plant. 

• It is a synthetically produced crystalline compound of silicon and carbon.
• Its chemical formula is SiC and it is the most widely used non-oxide ceramic.
• It was discovered by the American inventor Edward G. Acheson in 1891. 
• Properties of Silicon Carbide
  • Hardness: It is the hardest ceramic material and has excellent thermal conductivity, low thermal expansion.
  • Conductivity: It is also classed as a semiconductor, having an electrical conductivity between that of metals and insulating materials.
  • It has excellent mechanical properties, and excellent resistance to wear and oxidation.
• Applications of Silicon Carbide
  • Abrasives: Its primary application is as an abrasive because of its high hardness, which is surpassed only by diamond, cubic boron nitride, and boron carbide.
  • Refractory linings: It is used in refractory linings and heating elements for industrial furnaces, in wear-resistant parts for pumps and rocket engines.
  • Semiconducting substrates: It is used in semiconducting substrates for light-emitting diodes.
  • It is a promising ceramic material with excellent thermo mechanical characteristics.

Hence only statements 1 and 3 are correct.

News: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/odisha-takes-maiden-step-in-semiconductor-manufacturing-10340795/

Answer: d

Explanation:

The Pampadum Shola National Park which was once dominated by invasive Australian wattles is undergoing a remarkable transformation and its grasslands are being restored, reviving streams and native species.

• Location: It is located in the eastern part of Southern Western Ghats of
• It is the smallest national park of Kerala and shares border with Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu. 
• It was declared a national park in 2004.
• It is the southernmost shola–grassland mosaic in the Western Ghats, one of the world’s oldest mountain systems predating the Himalayas.
• It is a part of Palani hills stretched up to Vandaravu peak.
• It connects the Eravikulam National Park and the Palani Hills, providing a free range for many animals.
• Pampadum Shola Forests receive heavy rain in the North-East monsoon.
• Topography: The terrain is undulating with hillocks of varying heights. The altitudes range between 1600-2400 m. 
• Flora: The park’s unique shola forestsare a mix of grasslands and patches of tropical montane forests. The park is rich in medicinal plants, orchids, ferns, and other native species.
• Fauna: Nilgiri marten, Kerala laughing thrush, black-and-orange flycatcher etc.

Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

News: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/amp/story/environment/how-pampadum-sholas-fight-against-wattle-invasion-is-reshaping-indias-restoration-story

Answer: d

Explanation:

Heavy metals are polluting the Cauvery River and its fish, researchers from Tamil Nadu have reported.

About Heavy Metals:

• The term ‘heavy metal’ refers to any metallic chemical element that has a relatively high density and is toxic or poisonous at low concentrations.
• Examples of heavy metals include mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), thallium (Tl), and lead (Pb).
• Heavy metals are natural components of the Earth’s crust. They cannot be degraded or destroyed.
• To a small extent they enter our bodies via food, drinking water, and air.
• As trace elements, some heavy metals (e.g. copper, selenium, and zinc) are essential to maintain the metabolism of the human body.
• However, at higher concentrations they can lead to poisoning.
• Heavy metal poisoning could result, for instance, from drinking-water contamination (e.g. lead pipes), high ambient air concentrations near emission sources, or intake via the food chain.
• Heavy metals are dangerous because they tend to bioaccumulate.
  • Bioaccumulation means an increase in the concentration of a chemical in a biological organism over time, compared to the chemical’s concentration in the environment.
  • Compounds accumulate in living things any time they are taken up and stored faster than they are broken down (metabolized) or excreted.
• Heavy metals can enter a water supply by industrial and consumer waste, or even from acidic rain breaking down soils and releasing heavy metals into streams, lakes, rivers, and groundwater.
• Mercury, lead, and cadmium are of greatest concern because of their ability to travel long distances in the atmosphere.

Hence option d is the correct answer.

News: https://epaper.thehindu.com/ccidist-ws/th/th_delhi/issues/154818/OPS/GA4F48HEK.1.png?cropFromPage=true

Answer: a

Explanation:                                                   

A team of researchers exploring biodiversity in the Western Ghats recently discovered a new species of spider named Pilia malenadu.

About Pilia malenadu:

• It is a new species of spider.
• It belongs to Pilia, a genus of jumping spiders.
• It was discovered in Madhugundi in the Mudigere taluk of Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka, at the foothills of the Western Ghats.
• The researchers named it “Pilia malenadu”, to give credit to the place it was found.
• The discovery is significant because the last time a species of spiders belonging to the pilia genus was discovered was about 123 years ago (1902) in Kerala.
• Further, the researchers, for the first time, have found both male and female spiders of the species.
• These spiders were found in only two plant species — Memecylon umbellatum and Memecylon malabaricum.
• In fact, the spiders were found concealed between the leaves of these plants.

Hence option a is the correct answer.

News: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/researchers-discover-new-species-of-spider-in-a-chikkamagaluru-village-name-it-after-malenadu/article70236081.ece

Answer: b

Explanation:

To highlight the plight of the Katkari Tribe, the Shramjeevi Organisation will hold a two-day protest featuring silent fasts and symbolic lamps, demanding land rights, unpaid wages, and dignity for the marginalised community.

About Katkari Tribe:

• It is a primitive tribe found in Maharashtra (Pune, Raigad, and Thane districts) and parts of Gujarat.
• It is one of the 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India.
• They were historically forest dwellers.
• Katkaris are also known as Kathodis because of their old occupation of making Katha (Catechu), the thickened sap from wood of Khair (Acacia catechu).
• The Katkaris were also one of the few tribal communities of India that consumed rodents.
• Many of them still live in their traditional huts made of bamboo and anything they can find in the forest.
• Despite having a patriarchal system, does not follow the joint family structure, preferring the nuclear family model.
• Language:
  • They are bilingual, speaking the Katkari language amongst themselves and Marathi with others.
  • A few of them speak Hindi as well.
• Occupation:
  • They serve as agricultural labourers and sell firewood and some jungle fruits.
  • They also take up fishing for domestic consumption, coal making, and brick manufacturing.
• They have tremendous knowledge about uncultivated foods like fish, crabs, animals, birds, tubers/rhizomes, wild vegetables, fruits, nuts, etc.
• A majority of the Katkari families are landless. The landless rate of 87% among the Katkari is much higher than 48% for rural households in India as a whole.
  • As a result of landlessness, migration is rampant, and livelihoods are seasonal.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

News:https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/palghar-news-katkari-tribe-to-stage-two-day-protest-near-mumbai-demanding-dignity-rights

Answer: a

Explanation:

Two new species of marine amphipods, Grandidierella geetanjalae and Grandidierella khambhatensis, have been found by a team of researchers from Chilika and the Gulf of Khambhat, recently.

About Amphipods:

• They are a type of small crustacean.
• They are related to crabs, lobsters, and shrimp.
• They can be found in almost all water environments.
• They live in the ocean, in fresh water, and even on land.
• The name ‘amphipoda’ means “different-footed.”
  • This is because they have many different kinds of legs.
  • Unlike some other crustaceans, their legs are not all the same.
• There are over 7,000 known species of amphipods. Most of them belong to a group called Gammaridea.
• Amphipods can be very tiny, about 0.1 centimeters (0.04 inches) long. But some can grow quite large, up to 34 centimeters (13 inches).
• Most amphipods eat tiny bits of dead plants and animals. Some are also scavengers, eating what they find.
• They live in many places.
  • About 750 species live in caves.
  • Some amphipods are terrestrial animals, like sandhoppers.
  • The largest amphipods live deep down on the sea floor. They can be found seven kilometers (about 4.3 miles) deep.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News:https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/2-species-of-marine-amphipods-found-by-berhampur-university-gujarat-researchers/amp_articleshow/125061138.cms

Answer: a

Explanation:

The forest department is preparing to launch the next round of tiger census in the Nagarjuna Sagar Tiger Reserve (NSTR).

About Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR):

• It is located in the Nallamala hill ranges (an offshoot of the Eastern Ghats) of Andhra Pradesh.
• It is one of the largest tiger reserves in India, spreading over an area of 3,728 sq km.
• It hosts the largest tiger population in the Eastern Ghat landscape.
• It is named after two major dams in the area, Nagarjuna Sagar Dam and Srisailam Dam.
• Two wildlife sanctuaries, namely Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary (GBM), constitute the NSTR.
• The river Krishna traverses through this reserve for a linear distance of around 270 kilometers.
• The reserve holds significant importance with ancient temples like the Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple at Srisailam and several archaeological sites, including Buddhist relics from the Nagarjuna Konda area.
• Topography: It consists of plateaus, ridges, gorges, and deep valleys.
• Vegetation: Tropical dry deciduous forests having an undergrowth of bamboo and grass.
• Flora: The habitat has several endemics like Andrographis nallamalayana, Eriolaena lushingtonii, Crotalaria madurensis Var, Dicliptera beddomei, and Premna hamiltonii.
• Fauna:
  • Top faunal species include Tiger, Leopard, Wolf, Wild Dog and Jackal.
  • The prey species are represented by Sambar, Chital, Chowsingha, Chinkara, Mouse Deer, Wild boar, and Porcupine.
  • The river Krishna has Muggers, Otters and Turtles.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

News:https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vijayawada/govt-gears-up-for-4-month-tiger-census-in-nagarjuna-sagar-tiger-reserve/articleshow/125064414.cms