Daily Current Affairs Quiz for UPSC Prelims 2027 — 30 June 2026

What is the primary objective of the 'Mission Indradhanush' initiative launched by the Government of India?

Why this answer

The correct option accurately describes the primary objective of Mission Indradhanush, which is to accelerate the process of immunization to cover all children and pregnant women who are either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated against vaccine-preventable diseases. The other options describe different government schemes. Providing comprehensive health insurance coverage is the objective of Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY). Addressing malnutrition is the core goal of the POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission). Strengthening public health infrastructure through Health and Wellness Centres is a key component of the Ayushman Bharat mission.

The static concept

Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) and its special drives like Mission Indradhanush.

With reference to the 'IndiaAI Mission' recently approved by the Union Cabinet, which one of the following statements best describes its primary objective?

Why this answer

The correct option accurately describes the primary goal of the IndiaAI Mission. Approved in March 2024, the mission aims to build a holistic AI ecosystem through pillars like 'IndiaAI Compute Capacity' and 'IndiaAI Innovation Centre'. The option mentioning quantum computing is incorrect; that is the focus of the separate National Quantum Mission (NQM). While the mission does include provisions for an ethical framework, its primary objective is not just regulation but comprehensive ecosystem development, making that option too narrow. The option focused on defence is also incorrect; while AI has defence applications, the IndiaAI Mission is a broad, national initiative aimed at boosting the entire AI sector for public and private benefit, not just military use.

The static concept

Government Policies and Interventions for Technological Development: National Missions in Emerging Technologies.

Project Tiger, a flagship conservation program, recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. A key strategy under this project is the demarcation of Tiger Reserves into specific zones. What is the primary distinction between a 'Core Area' (or Critical Tiger Habitat) and a 'Buffer Zone' in a Tiger Reserve?

Why this answer

The correct option accurately defines the core-buffer zonation strategy. As per the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Core Area or Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH) is identified to be kept as an inviolate area for the purpose of tiger conservation. The Buffer Zone is the area peripheral to the core area where a lesser degree of habitat protection is observed, and the aim is to promote co-existence between wildlife and human activity. The option stating that NTCA manages Core Areas and States manage Buffer Zones is incorrect; the State Government's Forest Department manages both zones under the overall guidance of the NTCA. The idea that only tigers are conserved in Core Areas is also false; the entire ecosystem is protected. Lastly, the funding distinction is an oversimplification; Project Tiger is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with funding for both zones coming from central and state shares.

The static concept

Project Tiger and the Zonation of Protected Areas (Core/Critical Tiger Habitat and Buffer) under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

While Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) are non-justiciable, they are considered fundamental in the governance of the country. The State has often enacted laws citing these principles as their objective. Which of the following actions, historically justified as an implementation of a DPSP, has the most debated and contentious link to its corresponding principle?

Why this answer

The correct option is the nationalisation of major commercial banks. While the government justified this action under Article 39(b) and (c) — directing policy towards securing that the ownership and control of the material resources of the community are so distributed as best to subserve the common good and that the operation of the economic system does not result in the concentration of wealth — this link is the most contentious. The move was heavily debated for its political motivations and economic efficacy, and it was challenged in the Supreme Court in the R.C. Cooper v. Union of India case (1970) on grounds of violating Fundamental Rights. In contrast, the Maternity Benefit Act is a direct implementation of Article 42, the 73rd Amendment is a direct constitutionalisation of Article 40, and the Legal Services Authorities Act is a direct fulfillment of Article 39A. These other actions have a clear, direct, and less controversial legislative lineage to their respective DPSPs.

The static concept

Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV, Articles 36-51): Implementation, Justiciability, and Relationship with Fundamental Rights.

With reference to India's industrial and manufacturing policies, consider the following statements:

1. 1.The Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme provides subsidies primarily on capital investment for setting up new manufacturing units in specified sectors.
2. 2.National Investment and Manufacturing Zones (NIMZs) are large integrated industrial townships conceived as part of the National Manufacturing Policy, 2011.
3. 3.The Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) is being developed with significant financial and technical assistance from Japan.
4. 4.Unlike Special Economic Zones (SEZs), NIMZs are not required to be located in specifically demarcated geographical areas.

How many of the above statements are correct?

Why this answer

There are two correct statements. Statement 2 is correct; NIMZs were introduced as a key feature of the National Manufacturing Policy of 2011 to create large integrated industrial townships. Statement 3 is also correct; the DMIC project receives substantial financial and technical aid from Japan, particularly through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Statement 1 is incorrect; the PLI scheme provides incentives based on incremental sales of products manufactured in domestic units, not on capital investment. Statement 4 is incorrect; NIMZs, much like SEZs, are by definition large, specifically demarcated geographical areas (minimum 5000 hectares) with high-quality infrastructure.

The static concept

Industrial Policy in India: Evolution from License Raj to 'Make in India', including key instruments like SEZs, NIMZs, PLI schemes, and Industrial Corridors.

With reference to the Indian Navy's role in maritime security and its recent operations, consider the following statements:

1. 1.The Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), hosted by the Indian Navy, facilitates maritime information sharing exclusively among the QUAD member nations.
2. 2.Operation Sankalp, the Indian Navy's maritime security operation in the Gulf region, operates under the direct operational command of the US-led Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).
3. 3.The Indian Coast Guard, not the Indian Navy, holds the primary mandate for conducting anti-piracy operations on the high seas beyond India's Exclusive Economic Zone.
4. 4.The Maritime Anti-Piracy Act, 2022, is applicable to any part of the sea beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of India.

How many of the above statements are correct?

Why this answer

Only one statement is correct. - Statement 1 is incorrect. The IFC-IOR, hosted by the Indian Navy in Gurugram, collaborates with numerous partner nations and multinational agencies, not just the QUAD countries. Its network is extensive to ensure wider maritime domain awareness. - Statement 2 is incorrect. While the Indian Navy coordinates with various multinational forces, including the CMF, for maritime security, Operation Sankalp is an independent Indian operation and does not operate under foreign command. - Statement 3 is incorrect. The Indian Navy is the primary agency for military operations, including anti-piracy, on the high seas. The Indian Coast Guard's primary jurisdiction is within India's maritime zones, including the EEZ, though it can operate beyond in coordination with the Navy. - Statement 4 is correct. The Maritime Anti-Piracy Act, 2022, was enacted specifically to provide an effective legal framework to combat piracy on the high seas. Its jurisdiction explicitly covers the sea beyond the EEZ, where international waters begin.

The static concept

Indian Navy's role in maritime security, including anti-piracy operations, its operational doctrines (e.g., SAGAR), and its relationship with other maritime agencies like the Indian Coast Guard.

With reference to India's missile technology, particularly in light of the recent 'Mission Divyastra', consider the following statements:

1. 1.The Agni-V missile, a key element of India's strategic deterrence, was developed as the final project under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
2. 2.Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology allows a single missile to carry multiple warheads, each capable of being aimed at a different target.
3. 3.Unlike ballistic missiles, cruise missiles like BrahMos maintain a hypersonic speed profile throughout their flight and are powered by jet engines.
4. 4.The successful test under 'Mission Divyastra' places India in a select group of nations possessing MIRV capability, enhancing its second-strike capability.

How many of the above statements are correct?

Why this answer

Statement 1 is incorrect. The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) was formally declared completed in 2008. The development of Agni-V, a more advanced missile, took place after the conclusion of the IGMDP, although it builds on the programme's legacy. Statement 2 is correct. This is the standard definition of MIRV technology. It acts as a force multiplier, allowing one missile to threaten several targets spread over a large area. Statement 3 is incorrect. It contains two errors. Firstly, BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile, not hypersonic (though a hypersonic version is under development). Secondly, while cruise missiles are typically jet-propelled, the statement incorrectly contrasts this with ballistic missiles in a confusing manner. Statement 4 is correct. The test of Agni-V with MIRV technology was codenamed 'Mission Divyastra'. This success makes India one of the few countries with this advanced capability, significantly strengthening its strategic deterrence, particularly its second-strike capability. Therefore, only two statements (2 and 4) are correct.

The static concept

Ballistic & Cruise Missile Technology, including propulsion, stages, and advanced payloads like MIRV, and the evolution of India's strategic missile programs (IGMDP and beyond).

With reference to various proposed climate intervention technologies, consider the following statements:

1. 1.Spreading finely ground silicate rocks like basalt on agricultural lands is a method of enhanced weathering that accelerates the natural process of CO2 removal from the atmosphere.
2. 2.Ocean iron fertilization aims to increase the alkalinity of surface waters to enhance their capacity to absorb atmospheric CO2, mimicking the effects of adding lime.
3. 3.Stratospheric Aerosol Injection, by releasing particles like sulfur dioxide, primarily works by chemically capturing and breaking down greenhouse gases in the upper atmosphere.
4. 4.Direct Air Capture (DAC) technologies are distinct from point-source carbon capture as they remove legacy CO2 directly from the ambient air, rather than from industrial flue gas streams.

How many of the above statements are correct?

Why this answer

Two statements are correct. Statement 1 is correct. Enhanced weathering involves spreading crushed silicate rocks (like basalt) which react with CO2 in the air and water, converting it into stable carbonate minerals, thus sequestering it. This is based on the same principle as the 2023 UPSC Prelims question. Statement 2 is incorrect. Ocean iron fertilization aims to stimulate phytoplankton blooms (the 'biological pump'), which absorb CO2 through photosynthesis and then sink to the deep ocean. It does not directly increase alkalinity; that is a separate technique called Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (e.g., by adding lime). Statement 3 is incorrect. Stratospheric Aerosol Injection is a Solar Radiation Management (SRM) technique. It works by increasing the Earth's albedo (reflectivity) to reflect sunlight back into space, thus causing a cooling effect. It does not chemically capture or break down existing greenhouse gases. Statement 4 is correct. This is the fundamental distinction: point-source capture grabs CO2 from a concentrated source like a power plant's smokestack, while Direct Air Capture (DAC) is designed to filter and remove the much more diffuse CO2 already present in the ambient atmosphere.

The static concept

Climate Change Mitigation Technologies: Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) and Solar Radiation Management (SRM)

Why this answer

Assertion (A) is true. There has been a noticeable downturn in India-Maldives relations, marked by the new Maldivian government's demand for the withdrawal of Indian troops and a clear pivot towards China. Reason (R) is false. The strain is not due to adherence to an 'India First' policy, but rather its abandonment. The 'India First' policy was the cornerstone of the previous government's foreign relations. The current government has moved away from it, which is the primary cause of the friction. Therefore, the Assertion is true, but the Reason is false.

The static concept

India's 'Neighbourhood First' Policy and Strategic Competition in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Why this answer

Both the Assertion and the Reason are correct, and the Reason is the correct explanation for the Assertion. The Assertion is correct because the I2U2 Group (India, Israel, UAE, USA) was formed as a direct result of the normalization of ties between Israel and the UAE under the Abraham Accords. The Reason is also correct; the Accords marked a significant departure from the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, which made normalization conditional on the prior establishment of a Palestinian state. The Reason directly explains the Assertion because it was precisely this delinking from the Palestinian question that allowed the UAE and other Arab nations to establish diplomatic relations with Israel, thereby creating the political foundation upon which a grouping like I2U2 could be built.

The static concept

India's West Asia Policy: Balancing traditional ties with new strategic and economic partnerships (e.g., Abraham Accords, I2U2, IMEC) amidst regional conflicts.