UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | September 08 to September 14, 2024

1. It is the world’s largest public health insurance scheme.

2. It provides free cover upto Rs 5 lakh annually to all members of eligible families.

3. This scheme covers citizens above the age of 60 years.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— A day after the Union Cabinet approved the expansion of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) health coverage to all Indians aged 70 and over, regardless of income. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— AB PM-JAY is now the world’s largest public health insurance system. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— It provides free coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per year to all members of qualifying families, which are expected to make up the bottom 40% of the population economically, regardless of age. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— Those qualifying for the increased coverage will be able to register and obtain the Ayushman Bharat card as soon as the new module is introduced to the existing platform.

— Beneficiaries can register using the government’s Ayushman App or at an Ayushman Bharat counter at any government health institution. Anyone who has reached the age of 70 according to their Aadhaar can sign up for the new health insurance plan.

— There will be no exclusions or waiting periods for pre-existing conditions. Beneficiaries will be able to use their insurance as soon as they complete the eKYC.

— The portal will also include face authentication, ensuring that even older people whose fingerprints are difficult to read or have altered over time can take advantage of the benefits.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

The term “Commons” was recently in the news. Consider the following statements:

1. It is a term used to refer to resources that are owned by the government.

2. For the first time, India hosted a dialogue on the conservation, restoration and governance of common resources.

3. Local Ponds are not a part of the Commons.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1 only

Explanation

— Last month, Delhi hosted a one-of-a-kind debate on the protection, restoration, and governance of common resources such as forests, community lands, and bodies of water like lakes or rivers, all of which are commonly referred to as Commons. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The three-day seminar was attended by around 500 participants, the majority of whom represented grassroots organisations from across India. It was arranged to raise awareness about the importance of developing more inclusive and community-led frameworks for Commons governance.

— The term “commons” refers to resources that belong to and are shared by the community as a whole, rather than being owned by any individual, group, or government. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— Forests, local ponds, grazing grounds, rivers, and sacred sites are all commons. Parks and lakes are public spaces in cities. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— Commons could also be intangible. Language, folk art or dance, local customs, and traditional knowledge are all shared resources, and so considered Commons.

— At the international level, the polar areas, the Arctic and Antarctica, are regarded as global commons. No country is permitted to claim ownership of these places, despite the fact that they are open to the public for specific purposes. Outer space, the Moon, and other celestial bodies are all global Commons.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

What is the correct chronological order of these places from north to south?

1. Pangong Lake

2. Gogra Hot Spring

3. Demchok

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 2—1—3

(b) 3—2—1

(c) 1—2—3

(d) 3—1—2

Explanation

— A day after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that about 75 per cent of the “disengagement problems” with China have been sorted out, the Chinese Foreign ministry Friday said that the troops have disengaged at four places in Eastern Ladakh, including Galwan Valley.

— In recent years, the two countries’ frontline forces have achieved disengagement in four places along the Western sector of the China-India boundary, including the Galwan Valley. “The China-India border situation is generally stable and under control,” Ning stated.

— According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, both parties believe that maintaining stability in China-India relations is in the two countries’ basic and long-term interests, as well as favourable to regional peace and development.

— Both sides agreed to cooperate quickly and redouble their efforts to achieve complete disengagement in the remaining areas. The NSA emphasised the need for peace and quiet in border areas, as well as respect for LAC, for normal bilateral ties.

— The correct order of these places from north to south is Gogra Hot Spring, Pangong Lake and Demchok.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary was in the news due to oil and gas exploration drilling in the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ). The sanctuary is located in:

(a) Gujarat

(b) Rajasthan

(c) Assam

(d) Maharashtra

Explanation

— The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has granted an in-principle approval to Vedanta’s Cairn Oil and Gas proposal for oil and gas exploration drilling on 4.49 hectares in the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of Assam’s Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, home to the endangered Hoolock Gibbon, India’s only ape species.

— The FAC’s in-principle permission, also known as Stage-I clearance, comes following a recommendation for project approval from Assam’s main chief conservator of forests and chief wildlife warden.

— The conservation plan proposes methods such as native species planting, wildlife protection signage installation, awareness campaigns, and collaboration with local stakeholders for Hoolock Gibbon conservation.

— The conservation strategy identified concerns about the endangered ape species, including qualitative habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, poaching, and improper plantation.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

Consider the following pairs of city names:

Old Name	New Name
1. Osmanabad	Dharashiv
2. Hoshangabad	Atal Nagar
3. Aurangabad	Narmadapuram
4. Port Blair	Sri Vijaya Puram

Which of the above pairs are correctly matched?

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1 and 4 only

Explanation

— Union Minister Amit Shah on Friday announced that Port Blair, the capital city of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has been officially renamed to ‘Sri Vijaya Puram’, stating that the decision was inspired by the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “to free the nation from colonial imprints”.

City	New Name	Year
Rajahmundry	Rajahmahendravaram	2015
Gurgaon	Gurugram	2016
Allahabad	Prayagraj	2018
Naya Raipur	Atal Nagar	2018
Hoshangabad Nagar	Narmadapuram	2022
Aurangabad	Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar	2023
Osmanabad	Dharashiv	2023

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 6

With reference to The Great Stupa of Sanchi, consider the following statements:

1. It was commissioned in the third century BCE by Emperor Ashoka.

2. It is the largest and oldest structure in a complex of Buddhist monuments comprising numerous other stupas, temples, and monasteries at Sanchi.

Which of the above statements are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday stopped by the replica of the East Gate of Sanchi’s Great Stupa standing in front of Humboldt Forum museum in Berlin.

The Great Stupa of Sanchi

— A stupa is a Buddhist commemorative monument usually containing sacred relics of the Buddha or other venerable saints. The archetypal stupa is a hemispherical structure, whose origins can be traced to pre-Buddhist burial mounds found in India.

— The Great Stupa of Sanchi exemplifies this form. Commissioned in the third century BCE by Emperor Ashoka, it is the largest and oldest structure in a complex of Buddhist monuments comprising numerous other stupas, temples, and monasteries. The most recent construction in Sanchi can be dated to as late as the twelfth century CE. Hence, statement 1 and 2 are correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 7

Arrange the following in the correct order of their chronology:

1. 123 Agreement signed between the United States of America

2. 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks

3. 9/11 attack on US World Trade Center

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 3-2-1

(b) 3-1-2

(c) 1-3-2

(d) 2-1-3

Explanation

— As the 9/11 (2001) attacks sent shockwaves across the world, then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee wrote to then President George W Bush on September 11, 2001: “We stand ready to strengthen our partnership in leading international efforts to ensure that terrorism never succeeds again.”

— Next month, then Minister of State (External Affairs) Omar Abdullah — speaking after the October 1, 2001, terror attack outside the J&K state Assembly for which Jaish-e-Mohammed had claimed responsibility — called Pakistan “the fountainhead of terrorism in this region, in Afghanistan and in India”.

— Such statements essentially captured India’s position in the post-9/11 world, some of which holds true to this day. Some choppy waters had to be navigated along the way; this is how the strategic game unfolded from India’s point of view.

Ties with the United States

— One of the most significant transformations in the subcontinent in the new millennium was the deepening of connections between India and the United States.

— The relationship, which had been strained by the nuclear testing in Pokhran, was on the mend following the Jaswant Singh-Strobe Talbott negotiations that led to President Bill Clinton’s visit in March 2000; it grew stronger in the years and decades that followed.

— The Bush years resulted in the Indo-US nuclear agreement (123 Agreement 2006), which lifted relations to a higher strategic trajectory. The financial crisis struck in the closing months of Bush’s presidency, and shortly after, Pakistani terrorists attacked Mumbai on November 26, 2008.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 8

With reference to the Outer Space Treaty, consider the following statements:

1. It entered into force during the peak of World War II and provides the basic framework on international space law that remains in place to date.

2. As per one of the Articles of the treaty the activities of non-governmental entities in outer space shall require authorisation and continuing supervision by the appropriate State Party to the Treaty.

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 crew of the Polaris Dawn mission conducted the first ever private spacewalk on Thursday (September 12), crossing yet another milestone for private industry in the space sector.

— The mission executed by billionaire Jared Isaacman and Elon Musk’s SpaceX is not regulated by NASA or the US government in any way. This, some have pointed, violates a treaty that the country signed more than 50 years ago. Here is how.

Cold War era treaty

— “This is a mission which violates Article VI of the Outer Space Treaty (OST),” Tomasso Sgobba, executive director of the Netherlands-based International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety told Al Jazeera.

— The ‘Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies’, or simply the OST, entered into force in October 1967, during the peak of the Cold War. It provides the basic framework on international space law that remains in place till date. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

Article VI of OST

— A major sticking point, when the treaty was being negotiated, was the role of private players in space. The USSR wanted to limit space exploration only to nation states whereas the US wanted to open it for private players. Eventually, a compromise was struck.

— Article VI of the OST explicates this compromise. It reads: “The activities of non-governmental entities in outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, shall require authorisation and continuing supervision by the appropriate State Party to the Treaty.” Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 9

Andaman Islands were used as a strategic naval base by the 11th century ‘X’ to carry out an attack on Srivijaya, which is in present day Indonesia.

‘X’ can be identified as:

(a) Chola emperor, Rajendra I

(b) Pallava emperor, Narasimhavarman I

(c) Chola emperor, Rajaraja Chola I

(d) Pallava emperor, Dantivarman

Explanation

— Port Blair, the capital city of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, will now be known as ‘Sri Vijaya Puram’, Union Minister Amit Shah said in a post on X on Friday (September 13). He said the decision of changing the name was inspired by the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “to free the nation from colonial imprints”. Shah added that “while the earlier name had a colonial legacy, Sri Vijaya Puram symbolises the victory achieved in our freedom struggle and the A&N Islands’ unique role in the same.”

— Some historical records suggest that the Andaman Islands were used as a strategic naval base by the 11th century Chola emperor, Rajendra I to carry out an attack on Srivijaya, which is in present day Indonesia. As per an inscription found at Thanjavur dated to 1050 CE, the Cholas referred to the island as Ma-Nakkavaram land (great open/ naked land), which possibly led to the modern name of Nicobar under the British.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 10

With reference to Helium gas, consider the following statements:

1. It is inert and the lightest element in the periodic table.

2. Many space missions have been affected by its pesky leaks including ISRO’s.

3. It is prone to leaks because of its small atomic size and low molecular weight.

4. Its very high boiling point is one of the reasons for its use in rockets.

How many of the statements given above are not correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All of the above

Explanation

— Helium is inert — it does not react with other substances or combust — and its atomic number is 2, making it the second lightest element after hydrogen. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— Two NASA astronauts aboard Boeing’s Starliner will stay on the International Space Station for months because of a faulty propulsion system whose problems included helium leaks. Back on Earth, SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission, which finally launched on Tuesday, was delayed because of helium issues on ground equipment. Past missions that have been affected by pesky helium leaks include ISRO’s Chandrayaan 2 and ESA’s Ariane 5. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— Helium has a very low boiling point (– 268.9 degree Celsius), allowing it to remain a gas even in super-cold environments, an important feature because many rocket fuels are stored in that temperature range. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.

— Helium’s small atomic size and low molecular weight mean its atoms can escape through small gaps or seals in storage tanks and fuel systems. But because there is very little helium in the Earth’s atmosphere, leaks can be easily detected — making the gas important for spotting potential faults in a rocket or spacecraft’s fuel systems. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 11

With reference to the Battle of Saragarhi, consider the following statements:

1. It was a revolt against the East India Company over oppression by revenue officials, zamindars, and corrupt moneylenders.

2. The seeds of the protracted rebellion were sown in 1832 when the East India Company created the Damin-i-koh region in the forested belt of Rajmahal hills.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— September 12 marks the 127th anniversary of the Battle of Saragarhi, regarded today as one of the finest last stands in global military history.

— On this day in 1897, 21 soldiers were pitted against over 8,000 Afridi and Orakzai tribal militants and managed to hold down the fort for seven hours. Though heavily outnumbered, the soldiers of 36th Sikhs (now 4 Sikh) regiment, led by Havildar Ishar Singh, fought till their last breath, killing 200 militants and injuring 600. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— Saragarhi was the communication tower between Fort Lockhart and Fort Gulistan. The two forts in the rugged North West Frontier Province (NWFP), now in Pakistan. were built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh but renamed by the British. Though Saragarhi was usually manned by a platoon of 40 soldiers, on that fateful day, it was being held by only 21 soldiers from the 36th Sikh (now 4 Sikh) and a non-combatant called Daad, a Pashtun who did odd jobs for the troops. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— Saragarhi helped to link up the two important forts which housed a large number of British troops in the rugged terrain of NWFP.

— Fort Lockhart was also home to families of British officers. The wife of the commanding officer of 36th Sikh, Lt Col John Haughton, was at the fort till May 1897 when she went home to deliver a baby.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 12

Consider the following statements:

1. The Constitution of India does not give any language the status of national language.

2. Hindi in Devanagari script is the official language of the central government and the Union as per Article 343.

3. The first Hindi Diwas was celebrated pre-independence when in 1918, a group of Hindi scholars and activists formed the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan (Hindi Literary Conference) to promote the use of Hindi as a national language.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 2 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

— Hindi Diwas is a day dedicated to celebrating the Hindi language, one of the official languages of India. It is a cornerstone of India’s cultural and linguistic identity.

— This day marks the anniversary of the Constituent Assembly of India’s decision to adopt Hindi, written in the Devanagari script, as the official language of the Republic of India.

— The history of Hindi Diwas dates back to the early days of the Indian independence movement. In 1918, a group of Hindi scholars and activists formed the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan (Hindi Literary Conference) to promote the use of Hindi as a national language.

— The Sammelan played a major role in the adoption of Hindi as the official language of India. After independence, the Constituent Assembly of India accepted Hindi, written in Devanagari script, as an official language on September 14, 1949.

— This decision was taken to promote and develop Hindi as the lingua franca of India and to unite the diverse linguistic and cultural regions of the nation. The first Hindi Diwas was celebrated in 1953. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— Hindi Diwas, also known as National Hindi Day, is celebrated annually to commemorate the adoption of Hindi as one of the official languages of India. In 2024, it will be falling on Saturday, September 14.

— While the Constitution of India does not give any language the status of national language, Hindi in Devanagari script is the official language of the central government and the Union as per Article 343. Hence, statement 1 and 2 are correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 13

“It has a core that is mysteriously oversized compared with the rocky shell surrounding it. Water ice exists on its surface, despite scorching exposure to the sun without an atmosphere to protect it. The planet has an unexpected magnetic field and is rich in volatiles — elements like chlorine, sulphur and potassium — thought to readily evaporate on planets with high temperatures. A joint mission between the European and Japanese space agencies will go into orbit around this planet in 2026.”

With reference to the above paragraph, which of the statements given below is/are correct?

1. The joint mission mentioned above is the Polaris Dawn mission.

2. The planet referred to above is one of the Jovian planets.

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

— A spacecraft operated by the European Space Agency and Japan made its closest approach yet to Mercury, sending back sharp, black-and-white images of the planet’s barren, speckled surface at sunrise.

— The spacecraft, BepiColombo, gave scientists their first clear view of Mercury’s south pole. It also captured several of the planet’s craters, including those with unusual rings of peaks within the basin’s rim. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— “Mercury is full of secrets. It has a core that is mysteriously oversized compared with the rocky shell surrounding it. Water ice exists on its surface, despite scorching exposure to the sun without an atmosphere to protect it. The planet has an unexpected magnetic field and is rich in volatiles — elements like chlorine, sulphur and potassium — thought to readily evaporate on planets with high temperatures. This could indicate that Mercury once formed farther out in the solar system than where it is today”, said David Rothery, a volcanologist at the Open University in England, who refers to Mercury as “Lord of the Peak Rings.”

— Mercury is not a Jovian Planet. The Jovian planets are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, which are also known as gas giants or giant planets. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 14

‘God of Chaos’, recently see in news, is related to the field of:

(a) Astronomy

(b) Neuroscience

(c) Monetary Policy

(d) Artificial Intelligence

Explanation

— A massive asteroid, known as 99942 Apophis or the ‘God of Chaos’, has had its trajectory reevaluated, sparking concerns it may be on a collision course with Earth. Initially discovered in 2004, Apophis was previously thought to have a 2.7% chance of impacting our planet in 2029.

— However, further observations led scientists to rule out any potential impact in 2029 or 2036. Nevertheless, the asteroid’s revised path has raised new concerns about its future trajectory and potential threat to Earth.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 15

Maj Gen SA El Edroos, Mir Laik Ali and Maj Gen Jayanto Nath Chaudhuri are all associated with which of the following important events in history?

(a) Operation Cactus Lily

(b) Operation Ablaze

(c) Operation Blue Star

(d) Operation Polo

Explanation

— Wednesday marks the 75th anniversary of Operation Polo, the military action launched by the Indian Army on September 13, 1948, to integrate the princely state of Hyderabad.

— The Nizam of Hyderabad was dithering on joining India ever since Independence on August 15, 1947. The military offensive in Hyderabad state was termed as ‘Police Action’ at the time by the then home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and the Nizam’s forces surrendered to the Indian Army by September 18.

Here are some important names associated with the episode:

— The Nizam of Hyderabad state: Mir Osman Ali Shah

— Maj Gen SA El Edroos: the Arab commander in chief of the Hyderabad state forces (led Razakars)

— Mir Laik Ali: the Prime Minister of Hyderabad

— Maj Gen Chaudhuri: the General Officer Commanding of 1 Armoured Division, who later went on to become the Chief of Army Staff. (led the Indian forces)

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Previous Weekly Quiz

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | September 01 to September 07, 2024

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | August 25 to August 31, 2024

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | August 18 to August 24, 2024

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | August 11 to August 17, 2024

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | August 04 to August 10, 2024

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