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Home » Current Affairs Quiz » UPSC Prelims Current Affairs Quiz: June 12, 2025

UPSC Prelims Current Affairs Quiz: June 12, 2025

Q1. With reference to the Aravali Green Wall Project, consider the following statements:

1. It seeks to create a continuous green belt from Kutch to Panipat.
2. It draws inspiration from a transcontinental afforestation project in South America.
3. It aims to combat both land degradation and the eastward shift of the Thar Desert.
4. The project is limited to the state of Rajasthan due to the highest extent of desertification.

Which of the above statements are correct?

(a)1 and 2 only
(b)3 only
(c)1, 3 and 4
(d)2 and 4 only

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is incorrect: The project stretches from Porbandar (Gujarat) to Panipat (Haryana), not Kutch to Panipat.
  • Statement 2 is incorrect: It is inspired by Africa’s Great Green Wall, not a South American initiative.
  • Statement 3 is correct: One of the core objectives is to check the eastward expansion of the Thar Desert and address land degradation.
  • Statement 4 is incorrect: The project spans multiple states—Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Delhi—not just Rajasthan.
  • Correct Answer: (b) 3 only

Q2. The Aravali Green Wall Project aligns most closely with which of the following international and national commitments?

1. The UNCCD target to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN)
2. The Bonn Challenge to restore degraded and deforested land
3. India’s NDC commitment under the Paris Agreement to create additional carbon sink
4. The REDD+ mechanism under the UNFCCC

Which of the above is/are most relevant?

(a)1 and 3 only
(b)2 and 4 only
(c)1, 2 and 3 only
(d)1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation:

  • 1 is correct: The project directly addresses LDN by reversing land degradation.
  • 2 is correct: India is a part of the Bonn Challenge and aims to restore 26 million hectares by 2030.
  • 3 is correct: Increasing forest cover supports India’s carbon sink goals under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
  • 4 is not directly applicable: REDD+ involves incentivized forest conservation, mostly focused on tropical forests and emissions trading, which is not a stated objective here.
  • Correct Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 3 only

Q3. How many of the following Ramsar Sites are located in Rajasthan?

1. Sambhar Lake
2. Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary
3. Keoladeo National Park
4. Khichan Wetland
5. Menar Wetland Complex
6. Gudavi Bird Sanctuary

Choose your answer from the options given below:

(a)Only three
(b)Only four
(c)Only five
(d)All six

Explanation:

  • Sambhar Lake – Yes, located in Rajasthan.
  • Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary – Though in Rajasthan, it is not a Ramsar Site (as of 2025).
  • Keoladeo National Park – Yes, in Bharatpur, Rajasthan.
  • Khichan Wetland – Yes, in Phalodi, Rajasthan.
  • Menar Wetland Complex – Yes, in Udaipur, Rajasthan.
  • Gudavi Bird Sanctuary – Located in Karnataka, not Rajasthan.
  • Hence, only four sites from the list are both in Rajasthan and designated as Ramsar Sites.
  • Correct Answer: (b) Only four

Q4. Which of the following are among the nine criteria for designating Ramsar Sites under the Ramsar Convention?

1. The wetland supports vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species or threatened ecological communities.
2. It contains a representative, rare, or unique example of a natural or near-natural wetland type.
3. It supports a significant proportion of indigenous fish subspecies contributing to global biodiversity.
4. It is located in a transboundary region that supports at least 1% of the population of a migratory fish species.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a)Only two
(b)Only three
(c)All four
(d)None

Explanation:

  • 1 is correct: One of the Ramsar criteria emphasizes protection of endangered species.
  • 2 is correct: Sites with unique wetland types are specifically listed.
  • 3 is correct: Biodiversity related to fish is among the Ramsar criteria.
  • 4 is incorrect: The criteria mention 1% of the population for waterbirds, not migratory fish, and no criterion requires transboundary location.
  • Correct Answer: (b) Only three

➤ The Ramsar Sites Criteria

The nine criteria for identifying Wetlands of International Importance

➤ Group A: Sites containing representative, rare or unique wetland types

Criterion 1: A wetland should be considered internationally important if it contains a representative, rare, or unique example of a natural or near-natural wetland type found within the appropriate biogeographic region.

➤ Group B: Sites important for conserving biological diversity

Criteria based on species and ecological communities

Criterion 2: Supports vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species or threatened ecological communities.

Criterion 3: Supports populations of species important for maintaining biological diversity of a particular biogeographic region.

Criterion 4: Supports species at critical stages of life cycles or provides refuge during adverse conditions.

Specific criteria based on waterbirds

Criterion 5: Regularly supports 20,000 or more waterbirds.

Criterion 6: Regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of waterbird.

Specific criteria based on fish

Criterion 7: Supports significant populations of indigenous fish, contributing to global biodiversity.

Criterion 8: Serves as a key source of food, spawning ground, nursery or migration path for fish stocks.

Specific criteria based on other taxa

Criterion 9: Regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a population of one species or subspecies of wetland-dependent non-avian animal species.

Q5. Match the following Wetlands with their distinctive features:

WetlandFeature
A. Chilika Lake1. Designated Ramsar site; removed from Montreux Record
B. Loktak Lake2. Home to floating biomass called Phumdis
C. Khichan Wetland3. Formed by Ratri nadi and Vijaysagar talab
D. Menar Wetland Complex4. Includes Braham talab, Dhand talab, Kheroda talab

Select the correct matching:

(a)A–1, B–2, C–3, D–4
(b)A–1, B–3, C–4, D–2
(c)A–2, B–1, C–4, D–3
(d)A–4, B–1, C–2, D–3

Explanation:

  • A–1: Chilika was the first site in Asia to be removed from Montreux Record.
  • B–2: Loktak has Phumdis.
  • C–3: Khichan is formed by Ratri nadi and Vijaysagar talab.
  • D–4: Menar Wetland Complex includes Braham talab, Dhand talab, and Kheroda talab.
  • Correct Answer: (a) A–1, B–2, C–3, D–4

Q6. With reference to Ramsar Sites and the Montreux Record, consider the following statements:

1. Menar and Khichan wetlands were simultaneously designated as Ramsar sites in Rajasthan.
2. Loktak Lake in Manipur is the only Ramsar site in India known for floating vegetation known as Phumdis.
3. Sambhar Lake and Keoladeo National Park are both Ramsar sites as well as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
4. India currently has two wetlands in the Montreux Record, both of which are freshwater ecosystems.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)1 and 2 only
(b)2 and 4 only
(c)1, 2 and 4 only
(d)2, 3 and 4 only

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is correct: Both Menar (Udaipur) and Khichan (Phalodi) were designated Ramsar sites together.
  • Statement 2 is correct: Loktak Lake is famous for Phumdis.
  • Statement 3 is incorrect: Only Keoladeo National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Sambhar Lake is not.
  • Statement 4 is correct: Both Loktak and Keoladeo are freshwater wetlands listed in the Montreux Record.
  • Correct Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 4 only

➤ The Montreux Record

The Montreux Record is a special register under the Ramsar Convention that lists Ramsar sites facing significant ecological changes, degradation, or threats. These sites require priority attention and remedial conservation efforts to restore and maintain their ecological character.

Q7. With reference to “BharatGen LLM”, consider the following statements:

1. It was launched by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
2. It was developed under the NM-ICPS, launched in 2018.
3. NM-ICPS promotes research in Cyber-Physical Systems.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a)Only one
(b)Only two
(c)All three
(d)None

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 – Correct: BharatGen LLM was launched by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology.
  • Statement 2 – Correct: It was developed under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS), launched in 2018.
  • Statement 3 – Correct: NM-ICPS explicitly aims to promote research and innovation in Cyber-Physical Systems.
  • Correct Answer: (c) All three

Q8. With reference to the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES), consider the following statements:

1. The HCES is conducted by the National Statistical Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
2. It plays a role in revising the base year for macroeconomic indicators such as GDP and CPI.
3. The survey uses the Modified Mixed Recall Period (MMRP), which applies a uniform 30-day recall for all items.
4. The survey has been conducted periodically since the First Five Year Plan.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a)Only one
(b)Only two
(c)Only three
(d)All four

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 – Correct: The HCES is conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO), under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
  • Statement 2 – Correct: Data from HCES is used to revise the base year for GDP and CPI, ensuring alignment with current consumption trends.
  • Statement 3 – Incorrect: This describes the older Uniform Reference Period (URP). The current method is MMRP, which uses 7-day recall for frequently purchased items (like food) and 30-day or 365-day recall for others.
  • Statement 4 – Correct: HCES has been conducted since 1951, during the period of the First Five Year Plan, making it a long-standing source of economic data.
  • Correct Answer: (c) Only three

Q9. In the context of the Modified Mixed Recall Period (MMRP) used in HCES, consider the following statements:

1. It was introduced to improve the accuracy of consumption data by tailoring recall periods to the nature of goods.
2. A 7-day recall is used for food items, while a 365-day recall is used for durable goods.
3. It reduces underreporting of frequently consumed items that occurred under the URP method.
4. It enables the integration of real-time digital transaction data into household surveys.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a)Only two
(b)Only three
(c)All four
(d)Only one

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 – Correct: The MMRP method was adopted specifically to improve data reliability by using different recall periods depending on item frequency.
  • Statement 2 – Correct: Under MMRP: 7-day recall for food items and pan, tobacco, intoxicants; 30-day recall for clothing, fuel, etc; 365-day recall for durable goods (furniture, appliances, etc.)
  • Statement 3 – Correct: MMRP improves accuracy by reducing recall errors, especially for frequently purchased items like food, which were underreported under URP.
    Statement 4 – Incorrect: MMRP does not involve real-time digital data. It remains a household survey based on recall, not digital transaction tracking.
  • Correct Answer: (b) Only three

Q10. With reference to the International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS), consider the following statements:

1. IIAS is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for public administration reforms in member states.
2. India has hosted an IIAS conference focused on citizen-centric administrative reforms.
3. The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances represents India at IIAS.
4. India holds the presidency of IIAS for a term extending beyond 2025.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a)1 and 2 only
(b)2 and 3 only
(c)1, 3 and 4 only
(d)2, 3 and 4 only

Explanation:

  • Statement 1—Incorrect: IIAS is not a specialized agency of the United Nations. While it works closely with the UN, contributing to bodies like UN CEPA and UNPAN, it is not formally affiliated with the UN system.
  • Statement 2—Correct: India hosted the IIAS-DARPG India Conference in New Delhi with the theme “Next Generation Administrative Reforms – Empowering Citizens and Reaching the Last Mile.” This aligns with citizen-centric reform discourse.
  • Statement 3—Correct: India has been a member of IIAS since 1998, and its representation is through the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG).
  • Statement 4–Correct: India has been elected President of the IIAS for the 2025–2028 term. This confirms that its term extends beyond 2025.
  • Answer: (d) 2, 3 and 4 only