UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | February 16 to February 22, 2025

QUESTION 1

With reference to the India-Qatar trade, consider the following statements:

1. The balance of trade between the two countries is heavily skewed in India’s favour.

2. LNG imports accounted for 50 per cent of India’s overall imports from Qatar.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— The India-Qatar trade relationship has been mostly driven by New Delhi’s significant purchases of liquefied natural gas (LNG), of which Doha is India’s major supplier.

— The trade balance between the two countries is strongly skewed in Qatar’s favour, with LNG topping New Delhi’s import list from Doha. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— LNG imports represented 50% of India’s total imports from Qatar in the first 11 months of 2024, at $11.49 billion. Notably, other major imports were fossil fuel-related commodities and goods such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), crude oil, plastics, and petrochemicals. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

With reference to the law on remission, consider the following statements:

1. The power of remission refers to the power to reduce the period of a sentence for a person who has been found guilty of a crime.

2. Section 473 of the BNSS and Section 432 of the CrPC grants state governments the power to remit sentences.

3. For convicts serving a life sentence and have been found guilty of an offence punishable by death, the state can release them from prison before the 14 years imprisonment have been served.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— In a major ruling on prisoners’ rights, the Supreme Court urged states with remission regimes to consider early release of inmates even if they did not seek for it beforehand. Except for specific types of criminals, the Bharatiya Nyaya Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) permit governments to release prisoners before the fulfilment of their sentences.

— The power of remission is the ability to shorten the length of a sentence for a person who has been found guilty of a crime. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Section 473 of the BNSS (and Section 432 of the CrPC) empowers state governments to commute sentences “at any time”. States can also decide whether to place conditions on the offender in order to commute her sentence, such as agreeing to report to a police officer on a regular basis. If any of these conditions are not met, the states may rescind the remission and arrest the criminal without a warrant. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— This is distinct from the power of the President and Governor to commute sentences under Articles 72 and 161 of the Constitution, respectively.

— Convicts serving life sentences who have been found guilty of a crime punishable by death cannot be released from jail until at least 14 years have passed. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— According to the BNSS and the CrPC, the remission process begins “Whenever an application is made to the appropriate Government”. However, the Supreme Court has now declared that this application is no longer strictly essential, as most governments have remission policies that specify eligibility criteria.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

The MSK, or Medvedev-Sponheuer-Karnik scale is a measure of:

(a) intensity of earthquakes

(b) strength of earthquakes

(c) energy released during earthquake

(d) magnitude of the earthquake

Explanation

— Delhi lies in a seismically active area, and thus an earthquake originating here is not a surprise. In the last five years, areas in and around Delhi have produced several small earthquakes, with magnitudes ranging between 2 and 3 or lower.

— According to India’s official seismic hazard map, Delhi is in Zone 4, the second highest classification of places based on their sensitivity to shaking caused by an earthquake.

— Zone 4 in India includes areas that are expected to experience MSK-8-level intensity during an earthquake. The MSK, or Medvedev-Sponheuer-Karnik scale is a measure of intensity, rather than strength, or energy released.

— The MSK scale assesses an area’s seismic risk. Even if they are equally distant from the epicentre, two areas might feel and be impacted by a quake in quite different ways depending on the local geology and other factors.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

The Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act stated:

1. The fiscal deficit should ideally not exceed 6% of GDP.

2. The revenue deficit — the gap between everyday income and everyday expenditures of the government — should be zero.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— India instituted prudential norms in 2003 often called the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act. The FRBM Act stated two things.

— First, the fiscal deficit should not be more than 3% of GDP. In other words, the entire amount of money that India’s central government could borrow to cover the difference between its total income and total expenditure — known as the fiscal deficit — was limited to 3% of the country’s GDP. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— Second, the revenue deficit, or the difference between the government’s everyday income and expenditures, should be zero. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The rationale behind these two restrictions was that the government should only borrow for capital expenditures (rather than paying increased salaries and other equivalent everyday expenses).

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

The Ports of Balboa and Cristobal are located at the northern and southern ends of the:

(a) Suez Canal

(b) Erie Canal

(c) Panama Canal

(d) Kiel Canal

Explanation

— China’s Assistant Foreign Minister Zhao Zhiyuan summoned Panama’s Ambassador to China to make “solemn representations” about the decision not to renew the Memorandum of Understanding on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

— Panama’s action on China’s flagship infrastructure finance project comes as US President Donald Trump has made numerous assertions about Chinese influence over the Panama Canal. One of the world’s most important commercial waterways, the canal significantly reduces the time it takes to transport commodities between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

— The Panama Canal Authority, an autonomous organisation of the Panamanian government, operates the canal. It consists of various ports, cargo terminals, and other infrastructure operated by private firms.

— Since 1997, the Panama Ports Company (PPC) has operated the Ports of Balboa and Cristobal, which are located at the northern and southern ends of the Panama Canal, respectively. PPC is a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH), which operates in several ports around Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 6

With reference to the bacterial cellulose, consider the following statements:

1. It is a natural polymer produced by certain bacteria.

2. It is widely used in human medicine.

3. It can be used as a bandage to significantly improve healing and regeneration in plants.

4. It has potential applications in agriculture, such as facilitating grafting and preserving cut plant material.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Explanation

— A study published in the journal Science Advances found that bacterial cellulose can be utilised as a bandage to dramatically increase plant repair and regeneration. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— Bacterial cellulose is a natural polymer generated by some bacteria. It has previously been widely utilised in human medicine, particularly for wound healing. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct.

— The current discoveries reveal possible agricultural applications such as enabling grafting, conserving cut plant material, and functioning as a growth medium in laboratories. Hence, statement 4 is correct.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 7

With reference to the Water Hyacinth, consider the following statements:

1. It is a perennial, free-floating aquatic plant native to tropical regions of Africa.

2. It increases oxygen levels for fish.

3. It is helpful in restoring aquatic life.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) None

Explanation

— The man-made Pashan Lake is slowly disappearing owing to negligence and unrestrained pollution. This lake was once a birdwatcher’s delight, but it is now filled with water hyacinth, destroying its aquatic habitat. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— Water hyacinth is a perennial, free-floating water plant native to tropical South America that has spread to all continents except Antarctica. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— Water hyacinth can entirely blanket lakes and marshes, displacing native aquatic species and lowering oxygen levels for fish. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— Large water hyacinth infestations can impede river freight and fishing.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 8

With reference to the Bharatmala Pariyojana, consider the following statements:

1. The first phase of the Project, Bharatmala Pariyojana received Cabinet approval in 2017.

2. It is focused on enhanced effectiveness of already built infrastructure.

3. Greenfield Expressways are not included in the Bharatmala Pariyojana.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— While almost 76% of the total allowed length for the project has already been granted for construction, no new projects would be undertaken under the Centre’s flagship Bharatmala Pariyojana, according to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) in its most recent annual report.

— Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-1, which gained Cabinet approval in October 2017, spans 34,800 kilometres across 31 states and union territories and includes over 550 districts. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Bharatmala Pariyojana’s overarching program focused on improving the effectiveness of existing infrastructure, multimodal integration, bridging infrastructure gaps for seamless travel, and merging National and Economic Corridors. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The six key features of the Bharatmala Pariyojana are:

(i) Economic Corridors

(ii) Inter-corridor and Feeder routes

(iii) National Corridor Efficiency Improvement

(iv) Border and International Connectivity Roads

(v) Coastal and Port connectivity roads

(vi) Greenfield Expressways Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: static.pib.gov.in)

QUESTION 9

The Battle of Asal Uttar is associated with:

(a) 1947 India-Pakistan War

(b) 1965 India-Pakistan War

(c) 1962 India-China War

(d) 1999 India-Pakistan War

Explanation

— Abdul Hamid’s family has objected to the removal of his name from a primary school building in Uttar Pradesh. On Monday, February 17, the name was restored.

— The school is in Dhamupur village, Ghazipur district, where Hamid previously studied. The family complained to Basic Education Officer Hemant Rao, who responded that “Shaheed Abdul Hamid’s name would soon be reinstated at the school’s main entrance,” and that it was inscribed on an external wall.

— In the early days of the 1965 war, the Indian Army’s onslaught in Punjab on September 6 caught Pakistan off guard. It was intended to counter the Pakistan Army’s invasion in the Chhamb area of Jammu and Kashmir.

— Hamid is well-known for his role in the Battle of Asal Uttar in Punjab. The village’s name is pronounced in Punjabi as ‘Aasal Utaad’, but it has changed to Asal Uttar (meaning’real reply’ in Hindi) over the years following the Indian Army’s riposte to the enemy.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 10

India and the United States have launched a bilateral Transforming Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology (TRUST) initiative for cooperation in:

1. Supply chains of critical minerals

2. Rare earth elements

3. Advanced materials and pharmaceuticals

4. Reducing barriers to technology transfer

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3 and 4 only

(c) 1 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation

— India and the United States have formed a bilateral initiative to cooperate on the recovery and processing of important minerals such as lithium and rare earth elements (REEs).

— Under the Transforming Relationship Utilising Strategic Technology (TRUST) program, which was announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington, the two countries would lower technology transfer hurdles, address export regulations, and boost high-tech business.

— The TRUST project comes after India joined the US-led Minerals Security Finance Network in September last year. India joined the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) in 2023.

— “This initiative will catalyse collaboration among governments, academia and the private sector to drive innovation in defence, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum computing, biotechnology, energy and space,” said Vikram Misri, India’s Foreign Secretary.

— The TRUST initiative’s endeavour to build strong pharma supply chains could focus on active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), many of which rely on key minerals such as lithium, magnesium, zinc, and selenium. India is the world’s second largest producer of APIs, following China.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 11

1. Consider the following statements:

1. 2024–2033 is declared as the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development by the UN.

2. To mark the 10-year anniversary of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, UNESCO launched the campaign “Imagine a world with more women in science” in February 2025.

Which of the above given statements is/ are true?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

According to unesco.org,

— “To mark the 10-year anniversary of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, UNESCO launched the campaign ‘Imagine a world with more women in science’ on 11 February 2025, supported by Canada’s International Development Centre (IDRC). This campaign demonstrates the essential role women play in driving progress in science and calls on the global community to not only envision, but also work towards, a more gender-balanced scientific community where every voice is heard.” Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— “Under the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (2024–2033), imagining a world with more women in science is not just an aspiration, but a call to action to create solutions that leave no one behind.” – Lidia Brito, Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, UNESCO. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 12

With reference to Munich Security Conference (MSC), consider the following statements:

1.The MSC was founded by a German official and publisher Ewald-Heinrich von Kleist at the end of the Second World War.

2.The conference is a yearly gathering where US and European leaders engage in discussions on defence and security matters.

Which of the above given statements is/are true?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— The MSC was founded by a German official and publisher Ewald-Heinrich von Kleist at the peak of the Cold War. Starting in 1963, the conference initially only focused on military issues and was mainly attended by Western countries and their high-profile officials, who “came together to display a united front in their struggle with Soviet communism”, according to Financial Times. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— After the end of the Cold War in 1991, the conference expanded its agenda beyond defence and security to include issues like climate change and migration. It also began inviting leaders from eastern nations, including Russia, India and China.

— Today, the MSC, held in February every year, “seeks to promote trust and contribute to the peaceful resolution of conflicts by facilitating ongoing, curated, yet informal dialogue within the international security community”, according to the conference’s website. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 13

Consider the following statements regarding Article 101(4) of the Indian Constitution:

1. A Member of Parliament (MP) can lose their seat if they are absent from all meetings of the House for 60 days without permission.

2. The 60-day period includes days when the House is prorogued or adjourned for more than four consecutive days.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— Incarcerated Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh on Wednesday (February 19) moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court to attend the ongoing Parliament session, lest he lose his seat because of his prolonged absence from the House.

— Amritpal, who faces charges under the stringent National Security Act, has been detained in Dibrugarh since April 2023. He contested and won the 2024 Lok Sabha election from prison, but thus far has an attendance of only 2%, according to PRS Legislative Research data.

— The provision “If for a period of sixty days a member of either House of Parliament is without permission of the House absent from all meetings thereof, the House may declare his seat vacant,” Article 101(4) says. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The 60 days, however, do not account for “any period during which the House is prorogued or is adjourned for more than four consecutive days”. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 14

‘Majorana 1’ which was recently seen in news is most closely related to:

(a) quantum chips

(b) generic medicines

(c) spyware

(d) farm weeds

Explanation

— Microsoft has announced the arrival of Majorana 1, a new quantum chip that produces more reliable and scalable qubits than its predecessors. Qubits are the building blocks of quantum computers.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 15

Where can you find the Zagros Mountain Range?

(a) Iran and Iraq

(b) Turkey and Syria

(c) Afghanistan and Pakistan

(d) Saudi Arabia and Yemen

Explanation

— Iraq is sinking. Or to be exact, the region surrounding the Zagros Mountains in the country’s north is. A team of researchers has found a sinking oceanic “slab” below the Earth’s surface is pulling the northern region of Iraq down with it.

— The Zagros Mountains are a mountain range in Iran, Iraq, and Turkey.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

Previous Weekly Quiz

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | February 9 to February 15, 2025

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | February 2 to February 8, 2025

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | January 26 to February 1, 2025

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | January 19 to January 25, 2025

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | January 12 to January 18, 2025

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