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Home » UPSC Prelims Quiz » UPSC Prelims Quiz: December 2, 2025

UPSC Prelims Quiz: December 2, 2025

Q1. With reference to India’s intelligence coordination framework, consider the following statements regarding the Multi-Agency Centre (MAC):

1. It facilitates real-time intelligence sharing among central and state security agencies.

2. It was created after the Kargil conflict to address structural gaps in intelligence flow.

3. It exercises direct operational control over counter-terror investigations.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a)

1 and 2 only

(b)

1 and 3 only

(c)

2 and 3 only

(d)

1, 2 and 3

Explanation

Statements 1 and 2 – Correct: MAC enables continuous and real-time intelligence sharing between Central and State agencies. It was established following the Kargil Review Committee (2000), which highlighted major gaps in India’s intelligence architecture.

Statement 3 – Incorrect: MAC functions only as an intelligence coordination and dissemination platform. It does not have operational or investigative powers, which remain with agencies such as the NIA, IB, State Police and other authorised bodies.

Answer: (a)
Q2. With reference to India’s internal security apparatus, consider the following statements regarding the National Investigation Agency (NIA):

1. It is empowered to take up investigations across India without requiring prior consent of the State Government.

2. It can investigate offences committed outside India if such cases involve Indian citizens or interests.

3. It is the nodal body for inter-agency intelligence coordination.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)

1 and 2 only

(b)

2 and 3 only

(c)

1 and 3 only

(d)

1, 2 and 3

Explanation

Statement 1 – Correct: Following the 2019 amendment, the NIA can initiate investigations suo motu anywhere in India without the need for prior consent of the State Government.

Statement 2 – Correct: Amendments to the NIA Act allow the agency to investigate scheduled offences committed outside India if the act involves Indian citizens or affects India’s interests.

Statement 3 – Incorrect: Intelligence coordination roles lie with bodies such as MAC and NATGRID. The NIA is primarily an investigative agency, not the nodal intelligence coordination platform.

Answer: (a)
Q3. With reference to the recently approved Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPMs), consider the following statements:

1. The scheme aims to establish an integrated domestic manufacturing ecosystem that covers oxide-to-metal conversion, alloy production, and finished magnet fabrication.

2. REPMs such as NdFeB and SmCo are preferred over ferrite magnets due to their higher coercivity and ability to deliver high magnetic output in compact sizes.

3. The scheme is primarily designed to boost India’s semiconductor fabrication capacity.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a)

1 and 2 only

(b)

2 and 3 only

(c)

1 and 3 only

(d)

1, 2 and 3

Explanation

Statement 1 – Correct: The scheme promotes an integrated domestic REPM value chain, covering oxide-to-metal conversion, alloy production, and fabrication of finished sintered magnets.

Statement 2 – Correct: Rare Earth Permanent Magnets such as NdFeB and SmCo provide high coercivity, excellent magnetic strength, and compact size, making them superior to ferrite magnets.

Statement 3 – Incorrect: The scheme is focused on advanced magnet manufacturing for strategic technologies and does not relate to semiconductor fabrication.

Answer: (a)
Q4. Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPMs), particularly sintered NdFeB and SmCo types, are considered critical for India’s clean-energy and mobility transition because:

1. They significantly increase the power density and efficiency of electric vehicle (EV) traction motors.

2. They reduce dependence on lithium-ion batteries by directly replacing battery modules in EVs.

3. Their high magnetic strength allows miniaturisation of high-performance automotive components.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)

1 only

(b)

1 and 3 only

(c)

2 and 3 only

(d)

1, 2 and 3

Explanation

Statement 1 – Correct: NdFeB rare-earth magnets are critical for high-efficiency EV traction motors, significantly improving torque output, acceleration, and driving range.

Statement 2 – Incorrect: REPMs do not replace lithium-ion batteries. They are used in motors, steering systems, regenerative braking and other automotive subsystems, but battery modules remain essential.

Statement 3 – Correct: Their high magnetic strength enables miniaturisation and lightweighting of high-performance automotive components.

Answer: (b)
Q5. In the context of environmental oversight in India, which of the following best describes the distinction between the CEC and the NGT?
(a)

Both are advisory bodies assisting the Supreme Court.

(b)

CEC monitors compliance for the Supreme Court, whereas NGT adjudicates environmental disputes under statutory law.

(c)

CEC has wider adjudicatory powers than NGT in forest-related matters.

(d)

Both have identical jurisdiction but differ in composition.

Explanation

Why (b) is correct: The CEC is a Supreme Court–constituted monitoring body tasked with fact-finding, compliance verification and technical assessments; it does not issue binding judicial orders. The NGT, created under the NGT Act, 2010, is a statutory quasi-judicial tribunal empowered to hear environmental cases, enforce laws, pass binding orders, and award compensation.

Why the other options are incorrect:

(a) Incorrect: NGT is not an advisory body; it has adjudicatory powers.

(c) Incorrect: CEC has no adjudicatory authority, let alone wider powers than the NGT.

(d) Incorrect: Their jurisdictions differ fundamentally—CEC supports the Supreme Court, while NGT operates under statutory environmental law.

Answer: (b)
Q6. With reference to the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), consider the following statements:

1. It was constituted by the Supreme Court in connection with the T.N. Godavarman case.

2. It primarily performs technical, fact-verification and compliance-monitoring work for the Supreme Court.

3. It has statutory authority to adjudicate original environmental disputes.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a)

1 and 2 only

(b)

2 and 3 only

(c)

1 and 3 only

(d)

1, 2 and 3

Explanation

Statement 1 – Correct: The CEC was constituted in 2002 by the Supreme Court during proceedings in the T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad (1995) forest-conservation case.

Statement 2 – Correct: The CEC undertakes technical assessments, site inspections, fact verification and compliance monitoring, submitting reports directly to the Supreme Court to aid its supervisory jurisdiction in forest and environmental matters.

Statement 3 – Incorrect: The CEC has no quasi-judicial authority and cannot adjudicate environmental disputes. Original jurisdiction for environmental cases lies exclusively with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) under the NGT Act, 2010.

Answer: (a)
Q7. Match List-I with List-II regarding IMF exchange-rate terminology and select the correct answer:
List–I (Term)List–II (Description)
A. Crawling Peg1. Adjustments to the exchange rate are pre-announced and based on indicators such as inflation.
B. Crawl-like Arrangement3. Exchange rate stays within a narrow band around a trend for a sustained period, even without a declared crawling policy.
C. Managed Float2. Exchange rate generally follows market forces, but the central bank intervenes to prevent excessive volatility.

Codes:

(a)

A-1, B-3, C-2

(b)

A-2, B-1, C-3

(c)

A-3, B-1, C-2

(d)

A-1, B-2, C-3

Explanation

A → 1 (Correct): A crawling peg involves pre-announced, rule-based adjustments to the exchange rate, often based on indicators such as inflation differentials.

B → 3 (Correct): A crawl-like arrangement is an IMF-classified pattern where the exchange rate stays within a narrow trend band for six months or more, even without an officially declared crawling policy.

C → 2 (Correct): A managed float system—followed by India—allows the market to determine the exchange rate while permitting central bank intervention to smooth excessive volatility.

Answer: (a)
Q8. Consider the following statements about the IMF’s Articles of Agreement:

1. They form the legal basis under which the IMF conducts Article IV surveillance, including classification of members’ exchange-rate regimes.

2. They include provisions governing the creation, allocation, and use of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs).

3. They prohibit member countries from following any form of managed or market-based exchange-rate arrangements.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a)

Only one

(b)

Only two

(c)

All three

(d)

None

Explanation

Statement 1 – Correct: Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement provides the legal foundation for surveillance of members’ external stability, including the IMF’s classification of exchange-rate arrangements such as floating, crawl-like, fixed, and pegged regimes.

Statement 2 – Correct: The Articles explicitly lay down the rules governing Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), including their creation, allocation, valuation and use as international reserve assets.

Statement 3 – Incorrect: The IMF does not restrict members to a single exchange-rate system. Members are free to adopt managed, market-based or fixed arrangements, except pegging currencies directly to gold.

Answer: (b)
Q9. Assertion (A): Strengthening India’s AMR surveillance systems is essential because antimicrobial resistance spreads even in the absence of direct antibiotic misuse by humans.
Reason (R): Resistance can develop and circulate through environmental pathways and animal-use antibiotics, which can transfer resistant bacteria or genes to human populations.

Which one of the following is correct?

(a)

Both A and R are correct, and R is the correct explanation for A

(b)

Both A and R are correct, but R is not the correct explanation for A

(c)

A is correct but R is incorrect

(d)

A is incorrect but R is correct

Explanation

Assertion – Correct: AMR spreads even without direct human misuse of antibiotics. Resistant microbes travel through food chains, water systems, animal waste, livestock, aquaculture and contaminated environments. Hence, surveillance must be strengthened even when human antibiotic consumption is well-regulated.

Reason – Correct: Antibiotics used in animals, aquaculture, and agriculture — as well as environmental contamination — create selective pressure that generates resistant strains. These can transfer resistance genes to human pathogens.

R explains A: Since resistance can originate and circulate outside human antibiotic use, strong surveillance across human, animal, food and environmental sectors becomes essential. This fully explains the assertion.

Answer: (a)
Q10. Consider the following statements regarding India’s efforts to contain Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR):

1. The Red Line Campaign aims to discourage the non-prescription sale and consumption of antibiotics.

2. The ban on colistin use in food-producing animals is intended to preserve the effectiveness of this critical antibiotic for human treatment.

3. Schedule H1 regulations require pharmacies to maintain records of antibiotic sales to prevent over-the-counter misuse.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a)

1 and 2 only

(b)

2 and 3 only

(c)

1 and 3 only

(d)

1, 2 and 3

Explanation

Statement 1 – Correct: The Red Line Campaign marks antibiotic packaging with a prominent red line to warn users that these medicines must not be bought or consumed without a doctor’s prescription, helping curb self-medication and misuse.

Statement 2 – Correct: Colistin is a last-resort antibiotic used for life-threatening infections. Its ban in food-producing animals prevents the emergence of colistin-resistant bacteria, thereby protecting its medical effectiveness.

Statement 3 – Correct: Schedule H1 mandates that pharmacies maintain a dedicated register of antibiotic sales. This ensures traceability, discourages over-the-counter dispensing, and strengthens regulatory oversight.

Answer: (d)