UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | July 27 to August 02, 2025

QUESTION 1

With reference to the Sardar Sarovar Dam, consider the following statements:

1. It is a concrete gravity dam.

2. It generates eco-friendly hydro power.

3. It has been built over the Tapi River in Gujarat.

4. The Sardar Sarovar Dam provides irrigation water to the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra only.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Explanation

— For the first time this monsoon season, Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL) opened five of the 30 radial gates of the Sardar Sarovar Dam in Narmada district for a “safe rise” to the Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of 138.68 metres as the dam crossed 131 metres — an increase of nearly four metres recorded within 24 hours.

About Sardar Sarovar Dam

— It is a concrete gravity dam measuring 1210 meters (3970 feet) in length and reaching a maximum height of 163 meters above the deepest foundation level. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— It has been built on the Narmada River. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— It is a multipurpose project that includes irrigation, power generation, drinking water, and tourism. It generates 1450 MW of eco-friendly hydro electricity, which generates 3500 million units per year (on average), with a total value of Rs.1,575 crore. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The Sardar Sarovar Dam provides irrigation water to the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: ssnnl.gujarat.gov.in)

QUESTION 2

Which of the following factors are responsible for earthquake-led tsunamis?

1. The earthquake must be a marine event.

2. An earthquake should occur due to “normal” faults.

3. The magnitude of the earthquake should be more than 7.0.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1 and 3 only

Explanation

— A powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake off Russia’s Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula triggered tsunami waves of up to 16 feet, which had started to reach American shores along Hawaii’s islands and off the coast of northern California.

— There are several factors that are involved in the generation of tsunamis from an earthquake:

1. The earthquake must be a marine event that displaces the sea floor. It should also be a shallow earthquake, which carries more energy when they emerge to the surface when compared to quakes that occur deeper underneath the surface. While deeper quakes spread farther as seismic waves move radially upwards to the surface, they lose energy while travelling greater distances. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

2. An earthquake that leads to a tsunami generally occurs due to “reverse” faulting. In a reverse fault, the block of rock, above the fault plane, moves up relative to the block below the fault plane. This fault motion is caused by compression forces. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

3. Tsunamis are usually generated by quakes with magnitudes of more than 7.0. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

With reference to the Patalpani-Kalakund railway line, consider the following statements:

1. Maharaja Tukoji Rao Holkar II, who reigned from 1844 to 1886, proposed the construction of a railway line.

2. It is a narrow-gauge section which was preserved by the Indian Railways in 2018.

3. The railway line is located in two states, Karnataka and Maharashtra.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— After a temporary suspension of services due to a dip in tourist traffic on the 155-year-old Patalpani-Kalakund line, Western Railway restarted heritage train operations last week.

— The 9.5-kilometer-long Patalpani-Kalakund line in Madhya Pradesh’s Dr Ambedkar Nagar (formerly Mhow)-Khandwa segment is considered one of the Indian Railways’ six historic lines, despite the fact that it has yet to be officially certified by the Railway Board. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— It is a meter-gauge section that was preserved by the Indian Railways in 2018, as the line’s tough terrain prevented it from being changed to wide gauge. The first heritage train on the line departed on December 25, 2018. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The necessity for a railway line in the area was apparent in the nineteenth century, when the princely state of Indore, ruled by the Holkars, was established as a British protectorate in 1818. Maharaja Tukoji Rao Holkar II, who reigned from 1844 to 1886, proposed building a railway line connecting Indore and Khandwa, including the Patalpani-Kalakund segment. In 1870, he promised a Rs 100 lakh loan for 101 years and free land for the construction of a train connection to Indore, his capital city. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

Which of the following prescribes the legal framework for surrogacy?

1. The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021

2. The Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— The Supreme Court reserved its verdict in a clutch of petitions challenging the age cap for couples seeking to have a child through surrogacy, especially those couples who had started the process before Parliament enacted the current law on this matter.

— The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021 and the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, prescribe the legal framework for surrogacy.

— Together, these laws lay down age limits on those intending to have a child through surrogacy. The intended woman, if married, must be between 23 and 50 years of age; fathers must be between 26 and 55, and single women must be between the ages of 35 and 45 years.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

With reference to the Kavach system, consider the following statements:

1. It is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system.

2. It aids the Loco Pilot in running the train within specified speed limits by automatic application of brakes in case Loco Pilot fails to do so.

3. It was adopted as a National ATP system in 2020.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— Indian Railways (IR) has accorded safety its highest priority. It introduced Kavach, an indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system to further enhance the safe operations of trains. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Indian Railways Kavach technology aids the Loco Pilot in running of trains within specified speed limits by automatic application of brakes in case Loco Pilot fails to do so and also helps the trains to run safely during inclement weather. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— It was adopted as a National ATP system in July 2020. The Kavach technology is being implemented in a phased manner. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 6

Recently, the Kurds, the world’s largest stateless ethnic group, were in the news. They mainly reside in:

1. Highlands of southern and eastern Turkey

2. Northern Iraq

3. Northeastern Syria

4. Northwestern Iran

5. Southern Egypt

5. Northern Oman

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 2 and 4 only

(c) 3, 4, 5 and 6

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation

— The recent Israeli airstrikes in Damascus have heightened tensions among the many stakeholders in the region. As commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and one of the most senior leaders in the Kurds-led Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES), Kurdish leader General Mazloum Abdi is a key player in a region with a complex and unique set of security and governance challenges.

About Kurds

— The Kurds are the world’s largest stateless ethnic group.

— They live in the highlands of southern and eastern Turkey, northern Iraq, northeastern Syria, northwestern Iran, and parts of southern Armenia, and are a minority in each of these countries. Small communities live in Georgia, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, and eastern Iran as well.

— Kurdish nationalists claim a history going back 2,500 years, but they became identifiable as a distinct community only in the 7th century, when most tribes in the area adopted Islam.

— They speak a language that is related to Persian and Pashto, although local dialects differ. Kurmanji, which most Kurds in Turkey speak, uses the Latin script; the other widely spoken Kurdish dialect, Sorani, is written in the Arabic script.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 7

Consider the following statements:

1. He is known for defeating the Pala kingdom of Bengal.

2. He built Gangaikonda Cholapuram as his capital.

3. He led a maritime expedition to South East Asia.

The above mentioned statements refer to:

(a) Vijayalaya Chola

(b) Rajendra Chola III

(c) Rajaraja I

(d) Rajendra I

Explanation

— Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 27 offered prayers at the ancient Shiva temple of Gangaikonda Cholapuram in Tamil Nadu.

— The Gangaikonda Cholapuram Shiva temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is often considered the pinnacle of Chola architecture, a triumphant declaration of the might and magnificence of an empire that at its peak stretched from near the banks of the Ganga in north India to parts of Sumatra, Malaysia, and Myanmar.

— The Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival this year also commemorates 1,000 years of the legendary maritime expedition of Rajendra Chola I to South East Asia, the press release said.

— Rajendra Chola I, who reigned for 30 years (1014 to 1044 AD), built Gangaikonda Cholapuram as his capital after his Army marched right up to the Ganga river, defeating the Pala kingdom of Bengal, and returned victorious. In this new town, he built a grand water tank and a grander temple. The tank, Cholagangam, was meant to be a ‘Ganga-jalamayam jayasthambham’, or “a liquid pillar of victory”.

— Rajendra Chola I then led several successful maritime campaigns, extending the boundaries of his empire and the reputation of his dynasty as one of the foremost Naval powers of India.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 8

The use of “passive acoustic recording monitoring” is related to:

(a) grassland bird census in Kaziranga

(b) International Space Station

(c) A new feature in ISRO’s PSLV rocket

(d) A recording tool in Pralay Missile, developed by DRDO

Explanation

— Between March 18 and May 25, a survey to record the grassland bird population in Kaziranga National Park was undertaken by a team of forest officials, scientists, and conservationists. It is the “first-ever grassland bird census” conducted in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park.

— The grassland bird census recorded a total of 43 grassland bird species, including 1 Critically Endangered, 2 Endangered, and 6 Vulnerable species, according to the IUCN Red List.

— A new methodology was deployed in the survey, which was also mentioned in the Maan ki baat program. According to Kaziranga National Park Director Dr. Sonali Ghosh, the use of passive acoustic recording monitoring was the highlight of the survey.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 9

Consider the following tiger reserves:

1. Corbett Tiger Reserve

2. Bandipur Tiger Reserve

3. Kaziranga Tiger Reserve

What is the correct chronological order of these tiger reserves in terms of tiger density (high to low)?

(a) 1—2—3

(b) 2—3—1

(c) 3—1—2

(d) 3—2—1

Explanation

— Officials released a summary report for 2024 titled ‘Status of Tigers in the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve’, with the findings of a Phase IV tiger monitoring initiative across Eastern Assam, Nagaon, and Biswanath Wildlife Divisions. This was done at the direction of the National Tiger Conservation Authority.

— The survey documented 148 tigers in the reserve, up from 104 recorded in 2022, 99 in 2018 and 96 in 2014. Reserve director Sonali Ghosh said these findings show that Kaziranga has the third-highest density of tigers in the world, after Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand and Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka.

— The correct chronological order of these tiger reserves in terms of tiger density (high to low) is Corbett Tiger Reserve, Bandipur Tiger Reserve, and Kaziranga Tiger Reserve.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 10

Consider the following statements about the POSH Act:

1. The POSH Act requires both public and private workplaces to set up an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) to hear complaints of sexual harassment.

2. Recently, the Supreme Court refused to entertain a petition seeking application of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, known as the POSH Act, to political parties.

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 Supreme Court refused to entertain a petition seeking application of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, known as the POSH Act, to political parties, saying it falls in the domain of the policymakers. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The POSH Act requires both public and private workplaces to set up an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) to hear complaints of sexual harassment. The plea contended that when it comes to political parties, “the presence of Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) to address sexual harassment is inconsistent”. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The petition said that despite the expansive definitions of “employee” and “workplace” in the Act, women engaged in political work, particularly at the grassroots, continue to face rampant sexual harassment with no structured mechanism in place to address this.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 11

Which of the following statements with reference to the sports of Chess is/are true?

1. Divya Deshmukh defeated Koneru Humpy to win FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 title and became the first woman from India to clinch the highest title on offer in the sport.

2. In the open ratings list of FIDE, there are three Indians among the world’s top six.

3. Koneru Humpy is the top-ranked Indian in the world in the FIDE women’s rankings list.

Which of the statements given above is/are not true?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1 and 3 only

Explanation

— Divya Deshmukh barged into the top 15 of the world as the August 2025 ratings list was released by FIDE, the global governing body of chess. Her rating also swelled by 15 points to 2478 after her barnstorming campaign at the FIDE Women’s World Cup in Batumi, Georgia, where she won the title despite entering the tournament as the 15th-best ranked player. She is also only the fourth woman from the country to clinch the highest title on offer in the sport.

— With 2535 rating points, Koneru Humpy, who Divya defeated in the final of the World Cup in a thrilling tiebreak, remains the top-ranked Indian in the world in the women’s rankings list. Humpy has, however, gone down one spot to no 6 in a ranking list dominated by the Chinese. The veteran Harika Dronavalli, who lost to Divya in the quarterfinal of the FIDE World Cup, was ranked 12th in the world among women, ahead of Divya.

— In the open ratings list, there are three Indians among the world’s no 6, led by Praggnanandhaa at world no 4 with a rating of 2779. World champion Gukesh is no 5 while Arjun Erigaisi is no 6. Both players have the same points, 2776.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 12

Which of the following films received the awards for Best Direction and Best Cinematography at the 71st National Film Awards?

(a) Ullozhukku

(b) The Kerala Story

(c) 12th Fail

(d) Sam Bahadur

Explanation

— The ruling CPI(M) and Opposition Congress in Kerala took strong exception to the movie, Kerala Story, getting awards for the best direction and best cinematography at the 71st National Film Awards.

— Sudipto Sen received the Best Director award and Prasantanu Mohapatra won Best Cinematography for the controversial film.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 13

What are the ‘Piprahwa Gems’, recently seen in the news headlines?

(a) A lost collection of Mughal miniature precious stones

(b) A type of coinage used during the Mauryan Empire

(c) The relics of the Buddha

(d) A modern day diamond brand of South India

Explanation

— The Piprahwa Gems, Buddhist relics which in 1898 were taken by an Englishman from their resting place in India, have been brought back to the country, the Ministry of Culture announced on Wednesday. This return was made possible by “an exemplary case of public-private partnership,” Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said on Wednesday.

— In May, a collection of 349 gemstones came up for auction at Sotheby’s Hong Kong. These were a part of a larger collection of antiquities unearthed in 1898 by William Claxton Peppé, an English estate manager, at a Buddhist stupa in Piprahwa, a village in UP’s Siddharthnagar district, near the border of Nepal.

— Viceroy Elgin donated the sacred bones and ashes in the collection, believed to be of Lord Buddha himself, to Siamese King Rama V. Much of the remaining collection, including caskets, a coffer, and various jewels, were sent to the Imperial Museum (now Indian Museum) in Kolkata, where they remain till date.

— But a part of the collection was passed down for generations in the Peppé family. In 2013, they came in possession of Chris Peppé who decided to put the antiquities up for auction. Sotheby’s listed an estimated selling price of over $100 million.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 14

With reference to the latest International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) crucial clarification regarding the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, consider the following statements:

1. The Kyoto Protocol had ceased to exist, or at least became non-operational or defunct, once the Paris Agreement came into effect in 2016.

2. The ICJ ruling is the first time that an authoritative assertion has been made on the legal status of the Kyoto Protocol in the post-Paris Agreement period.

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

— While defining the obligations of countries in the global fight against climate change, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) made a crucial clarification regarding the 1997 Kyoto Protocol and its validity in a landmark ruling last week. The ICJ has said the Kyoto Protocol not only continues to remain in force, but is also legally relevant, and that countries remain under a legal obligation to comply with its provisions.

— The ICJ ruling is the first time that an authoritative assertion has been made on the legal status of the Kyoto Protocol in the post-Paris Agreement period. The common understanding so far has been that the Kyoto Protocol was replaced and superseded by the 2015 Paris Agreement. In other words, the Kyoto Protocol had ceased to exist, or at least became non-operational or defunct, once the Paris Agreement came into effect in 2016, or at the most when the Kyoto Protocol’s second commitment period ended in 2020.

— But the Kyoto Protocol was never terminated or abrogated by any process. The ICJ has now clarified that it continues to remain in force and has the status of international law.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 15

Consider the following statements:

1. India has emerged as the fourth-largest domestic aviation market in the world, after the US and UK and France.

2. Maharashtra leads with the highest number of operational airports in India.

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— India has emerged as the third-largest domestic aviation market in the world, after the US and China. Addressing the Plenary Session of the World Air Transport Summit at Bharat Mandapam in June, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the government is investing in developing world class airport infrastructure in the country. He also added that the handling capacity of airports has reached 500 million passengers annually.

— Currently, there are 162 operational airports in the country. The government has also formulated a Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy, 2008 for development of Greenfield airports in the country.

— Responding to a question in Lok Sabha on July 31, Murlidhar Mohol, Minister of State (MoS), Civil Aviation, said: “At present, there are 162 operational airports in the country. Government of India (GoI) has formulated a Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy, 2008 for development of Greenfield airports in the country.

— In addition, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) launched Regional Connectivity Scheme – Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN) on 21.10.2016 to enhance regional air connectivity from unserved and underserved airports in the country and make air travel affordable to the masses.”

— According to Mohol, Uttar Pradesh leads with the highest number of operational airports at 17, followed by Maharashtra with 15 and Gujarat with 13. Uttarakhand has 12 operational airports, Karnataka has 10, Madhya Pradesh has 8, while both Rajasthan and Assam have 7 each. Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh follow with 6 airports each.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Previous Weekly Quiz

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | July 20 to July 26, 2025

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | July 13 to July 19, 2025

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | July 06 to July 12, 2025

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | June 28 to July 05, 2025

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | June 22 to June 28, 2025

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