UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | March 09 to March 15, 2025

QUESTION 1

With reference to the World Air Quality Report for 2024, consider the following statements:

1. The report shows that India has 13 out of the world’s 20 most polluted cities.

2. The report has been released by the United Nations Environment Programme.

3. The most polluted city in the world is Byrnihat on the border of Assam and Meghalaya.

4. The report does not measure concentrations of fine particulate matter, or PM 2.5.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Explanation

— According to the World Air Quality Report for 2024 published by IQAir, a Swiss corporation that monitors worldwide air quality, Byrnihat on the Meghalaya-Assam border is the “most polluted city in the world”. Hence, statement 2 is not correct and statement 3 is correct.

— India is home to 13 of the world’s top 20 most polluted cities. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The report focused on fine particulate matter (PM2.5), one of the tiniest yet most harmful pollutants. PM2.5 is produced by the combustion of fossil fuels and has been linked to respiratory difficulties, chronic kidney disease, cancer, and strokes or heart attacks. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.

— According to the estimate, by 2024, the majority of the world’s population will be breathing polluted air. Only 12 countries, regions, and territories had PM2.5 concentrations below the WHO’s annual average limit of 5 µg/m3.

— Last year, India’s average PM2.5 concentration was 50.6 µg/m3, 7% lower than in 2023 (54.4 µg/m3). However, six Indian cities made the list of the world’s ten most polluted. Byrnihat is the world’s most polluted city, with an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 128.2 µg/m3.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

Chagos archipelago has long been the subject of a dispute between:

(a) India and Mauritius

(b) Mauritius and Maldives

(c) Mauritius and United States

(d) Mauritius and United Kingdom

Explanation

— During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Mauritius this week, India reiterated its support for the island nation’s claim to the Chagos Archipelago.

— Chagos has long been a source of contention between Mauritius and the United Kingdom, which remained in control of the islands for decades after Mauritius gained independence in 1968.

— The Chagos archipelago is made up of about 60 low-lying islands in the Indian Ocean, approximately 1,600 kilometres northeast of the main island of Mauritius.

— Chagos, including the lagoons within its atolls, covers an area of more than 15,000 square kilometres. The Great Chagos Bank, spanning 12,642 square kilometres, is the world’s largest atoll formation.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

With reference to the hantavirus, consider the following statements:

1. It is rodent-borne viruses that can cause serious illness and death in humans.

2. These viruses can spread between people.

3. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is endemic to the Eastern Hemisphere.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 2 and 3 only

Explanation

— New Mexico Chief Medical Examiner Dr Heather Jarrell released the autopsy results of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his pianist wife, Betsy Arakawa.

— The autopsy revealed that she died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), with no additional diseases or trauma found.

— Hantaviruses are a group of rodent-borne viruses that can cause severe sickness and death in humans. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), infected rodents transmit viruses through their urine, faeces, and saliva. However, these viruses do not transfer between individuals. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— HPS is endemic to the Western Hemisphere. According to the CDC, the deer mouse carries the most prevalent hantavirus that causes HPS. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— Haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is another set of hantavirus-related disorders that mostly affect Europe and Asia.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

Which of the following states has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Microsoft Corporation for skill development among the youth in artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technology?

(a) Telangana

(b) Gujarat

(c) Tamil Nadu

(d) Andhra Pradesh

Explanation

— The Andhra Pradesh government has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Microsoft Corporation to help youth build skills in artificial intelligence (AI) and sophisticated technologies.

— The primary goal of this agreement is to develop fundamental AI and advanced technology abilities in secondary school children and youths through vocational education in order to produce trained workers for the state’s IT-based and other sectors.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

With reference to the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), consider the following statements:

1. It was created in 2003 after amending The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

2. The Prime Minister (PM) is the ex-officio chairman of the NBWL.

3. It is the country’s apex body on matters of framing wildlife policy.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— On March 3, more than a decade after taking office, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over his first meeting of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) on World Wildlife Day. The PM is the ex officio chairman of the NBWL. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The current National Board for Wildlife was established in 2003 following amendments to the Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The NBWL mainly reformed the Indian Board for Wildlife (IBWL), which was founded in 1952. The intention was to give it more teeth by establishing it a statutory body with a greater regulatory role to carry out the Wild Life Protection Act.

— The NBWL is the country’s apex body for developing wildlife policy, conserving animals and forests, and making recommendations for the establishment of new national parks and sanctuaries. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— The NBWL has 47 members, including the Prime Minister as chairperson and the Union Environment Minister as vice-chairperson. Senior members include the Chief of the Army Staff, secretaries from the Ministries of Information and Broadcasting, Defence, Tribal Affairs, and the Department of Expenditure of the Ministry of Finance; three Lok Sabha MPs, one Rajya Sabha MP, and the Director General of Forest.

— The board includes ten notable conservationists, ecologists, and environmentalists, as well as five non-governmental sector representatives.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 6

Consider the following pairs with reference to the customs duty paid on imports of gold:

Customs duty	Amount of gold import
3 per cent	For women carrying 40-100 grams
6 per cent	For men carrying 50-100 grams
10 per cent	For women carrying 100-150 grams

How many of the pairs given above are correct?

(a) Only one pair

(b) Only two pairs

(c) All three pairs

(d) None of the above pairs

Explanation

— A Special Court of Economic Offences in Bengaluru denied Kannada actor Harshavardhini Ranya alias Ranya Rao’s bail request on Friday (March 14), after he was detained for allegedly smuggling over 14 kilogrammes of gold on a flight from Dubai to Bengaluru.

— The customs duty for gold is:

(i) 3% customs duty: for men carrying 20-50 grams of gold and women carrying 40-100 grams;

(ii) 6% customs duty: for men carrying 50-100 grams and women carrying 100-200 grams;

(iii) 10% customs duty: For men carrying over 100 grams and women carrying over 200 grams.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 7

Exercise Bongosagar 2025, a naval exercise, was conducted between:

1. India

2. Sri Lanka

3. Bangladesh

4. Indonesia

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 2 and 3

(c) 1 and 3

(d) 1 and 4

Explanation

— This week, India and Bangladesh conducted a naval drill and coordinated patrol in the Bay of Bengal, allowing both navies to strengthen their tactical planning, coordination, and intelligence sharing in order to carry out smooth maritime operations.

— The Indian Navy’s INS Ranvir and Bangladesh Navy’s BNS Abu Ubaidah both took part in Bongosagar 2025.

— The exercise allowed the navies to strengthen their tactical planning, coordination, and information exchange in preparation for seamless maritime operations.

— The exercise improved interoperability between the two militaries, allowing for collaborative solutions to common maritime security concerns.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 8

The Alawite community was recently in the news. They reside in:

(a) Southern Africa

(b) Levant region

(c) South-east Asia

(d) Atacama Desert

Explanation

— More than 1,000 people have died in Syria as a result of skirmishes between anti-government organisations and security forces, as well as a wave of “revenge killings,” in one of the country’s bloodiest outbreaks of bloodshed since the civil war began 14 years ago.

— According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, those murdered included 745 civilians, 125 members of the government security forces, and 148 pro-Bashar al-Assad fighters.

— Bashar al-Assad is from the Alawite group, a Shia sect of Islam. The Alawaites, a minority, controlled government offices under Assad and remained loyal to him.

— Alawites, also known as Alawis, are an Arab ethnoreligious minority who predominantly inhabit the Levant region of West Asia and practise Alawism.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 9

Consider the following cities:

1. Kolkata

2. Visakhapatnam

3. Chennai

What is the correct sequence of these cities (distance low to high) from the Andaman and Nicobar islands?

(a) 2—1—3

(b) 1—2—3

(c) 3—2—1

(d) 1—3—2

Explanation

— The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a cluster of 836 islands, split into two groups — the Andaman Islands to the north and the Nicobar Islands to the south — by the 150-km wide Ten Degree Channel.

Andaman and Nicobar islands: Vantage location in Bay of Bengal

— The correct sequence of these cities (distance low to high) from the Andaman and Nicobar islands is Visakhapatnam, Kolkata and Chennai.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 10

With reference to Starlink, consider the following statements:

1. It is a network of satellites that provides internet and it is operated by SpaceX.

2. It was launched in 2019.

3. Under Starlink, the satellites are placed in low Earth orbit (LEO).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

— Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio have signed separate deals with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to bring the Starlink internet service to India. SpaceX has applied for a security clearance with the Indian government, but its application is currently undergoing review at the Home Ministry.

— Starlink is a network of satellites that provides internet. It is operated by SpaceX, which is Musk’s aerospace company. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— It was launched in 2019 and aims to shoot 42,000 small satellites into space, forming a globe-encircling ring just 547 km overhead. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— Currently, the telecommunication project has around 7,000 mass-produced small satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) — an orbit that is under altitudes of 2,000 km. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 11

Which of the following countries are part of the Security Belt-2025 naval exercises, marking the fifth such joint drill since 2019?

1. Iran

2. China

3. Russia

4. Pakistan

5. North Korea

Select the correct code:

(a) 1 ,2 and 3 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 2, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1 ,3, 4 and 5

Explanation

— Iran, Russia and China conduct joint military drillsIn the Gulf of Oman, warships from Iran, China, and Russia embarked on their annual Security Belt-2025 naval exercises, marking the fifth such joint drill since 2019.

— These manoeuvres are not just military routines, they are deliberate displays of a deepening strategic partnership among countries that share a common interest in countering Western influence.

— The drills come at a time when Trump has been reconfiguring longstanding alliances, emphasising that the US is “stronger than all of them” despite the growing coordination among its adversaries.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 12

With reference to ‘Geet Gawai’, consider the following statements:

1. It is a traditional Bhojpuri musical ensemble

2. The tradition is inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

3. The tradition also embodies the rich heritage brought to Mauritius by women from the cultural belt of one of the prominent regions of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are true?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

— Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm welcome by the Indian diaspora as he landed in Mauritius on Tuesday, with women from the community honouring him through a traditional Bihari cultural performance called Geet Gawai.

— BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, over a post on X (formerly Twitter), shared visuals from the grand welcome accorded to PM Modi in the island nation, and described Geet Gawai as “a traditional Bhojpuri musical ensemble that embodies the rich cultural heritage brought to Mauritius by women from the Bhojpuri belt of India.”“Deeply touched by the warm welcome from the Indian community in Mauritius.

— Their strong connection to Indian heritage, culture and values is truly inspiring. This bond of history and heart continues to thrive across generations,” Modi posted on X.

— Poonawalla also highlighted that the tradition was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2016.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 13

Which of the following heritage sites are located in the state of Telangana?

1. The Mudumal Megalithic Menhirs

2. Kanger Valley National Park

3. Chausath Yogini Temples

4. Ramappa temple

Select the correct code:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 4 only

(c) 1 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation

— The Mudumal Megalithic Menhirs or standing stones in Telangana’s Narayanpet district, dating back approximately 3,500 to 4,000 years, have been added to a tentative list of Unesco World Heritage Sites from India. Telangana has only one Unesco World Heritage Site at Ramappa temple, inscribed in 2021, and now the Mudumal menhirs is one step closer to achieving a second inscription for the state.

— “The Mudumal menhirs represent one of India’s most expansive and impeccably preserved megalithic astronomical observatory sites, showcasing an intricate and precise arrangement of boulder alignments, formations, and stone circles. Within a central area, a concentration of two distinct types of menhirs further enhances the site’s uniqueness,” read the dossier.

— Mudumal Menhirs is among six properties added to India’s Tentative List by Unesco’s World Heritage Centre in 2025. The other five are Kanger Valley National Park in Chhattisgarh, Ashokan Edict Sites in multiple states, Chausath Yogini Temples in Madhya Pradesh and Odisha, Gupta Temples in multiple states, and the Palace-Fortresses of the Bundelas in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 14

Which of the following pairs are not correctly matched?

International Honour/Award/Civilian Order		Country
1.	Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean	Mauritius
2.`	Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer	Saudi Arabia
3.	State Order of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan	Afghanistan
4.	Order of the Druk Gyalpo	Bhutan

Explanation

— Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded Mauritius’ highest civilian honour on Tuesday, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean, making him the first Indian recipient of the prestigious accolade. The announcement was made by Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, recognising Modi’s contributions to strengthening India-Mauritius relations.

— The Mauritius honour is the latest in a series of international awards bestowed upon Modi. He was last awarded during his visit to Kuwait, where he was conferred with the Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer, the country’s highest knighthood reserved for heads of state and foreign dignitaries.

— This marks the 21st international honor for Modi. Among the notable awards previously conferred upon the Indian leader are:

Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud (Saudi Arabia, 2016)

State Order of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan (Afghanistan, 2016)

Grand Collar of the State of Palestine (Palestine, 2018)

Order of Zayed (UAE, 2019)

Order of St. Andrew (Russia, 2019)

Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour (France, 2023)

Order of the Nile (Egypt, 2023)

Order of the Druk Gyalpo (Bhutan, 2024)

Dominica Award of Honour (Dominica, 2024)

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 15

With reference to reinsurance companies, consider the following statements:

1.They play a crucial role in the insurance industry by providing insurance to other insurance companies.

2.India has the third highest number of private sector reinsurance companies globally along with General Insurance Corporation (GIC Re), the only public sector reinsurance company operating in India.

Which of the above statements is/are true?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— Valueattics Re, a company promoted by Prem Watsa-backed FAL Corporation and GoDigit Founder Kamesh Goyal, has received insurance regulator IRDAI nod to commence reinsurance business in India. This is the first private reinsurer in India to be granted a reinsurance license. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— Currently, public sector General Insurance Corporation (GIC Re) is the only reinsurance company operating in India.

— Reinsurance companies play a crucial role in the insurance industry by providing insurance to other insurance companies, acting as a second level of insurance or insurers’ insurer to manage and transfer risk, particularly large or catastrophic losses. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

Previous Weekly Quiz

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | March 02 to March 08, 2025

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | February 23 to March 01, 2025

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

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

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

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