Current Affairs Quiz : 17 June 2025

Correct

Solution: d)

 

• (a) is incorrect. The ADB is headquartered in Metro Manila, Philippines, but the IATA, while founded in Havana, Cuba, has its main office in Montreal, Canada, and executive offices in Geneva, Switzerland.
• (b) is incorrect. India is a major shareholder in the ADB (6.317%). India’s strong involvement in IATA, as it is hosting the IATA AGM after 42 years, and IATA’s members are airlines from over 120 countries, including India’s carriers.
• (c) is incorrect. The ADB has observer status at the UN, and its establishment was inspired by a UN commission (UNESCAP), but it is not a specialized agency of the UN. IATA is a trade association, not a UN agency.

(d) is correct. This statement accurately captures the fundamental difference between the two. The ADB is a multilateral development bank whose core function is to provide financing and promote economic growth in a specific region. The IATA is a global trade association for a specific industry (aviation), focused on setting technical and commercial standards, advocacy, and representing its members’ interests.

Correct

Solution: b)

 

• Statement I states the primary purpose is tourism, which is partially true as the aim is to “boost tourism and wildlife education.”
• Statement II is correct. Tiger safari as a model involves enclosures for tigers that are “mainly rescued, conflict-prone, or orphaned,” which serves a conservation and management purpose beyond pure tourism.
• Statement III is also correct. The CZA (Central Zoo Authority) as the body responsible for “design, welfare, and compliance” in these safaris.

Both Statements II and III are correct and provide critical context for Statement I. They show that while the safari is a tourism initiative (Statement I), it is not only a tourism initiative. It is framed by conservation needs (Statement II) and strict animal welfare regulations (Statement III). Therefore, they are correct but only provide a partial explanation for the initiative, which also has explicit goals of boosting tourism and education.

Correct

Solution: c)

 

• (a) is correct. Paraguay is a landlocked nation and its bordering countries are Bolivia, Brazil, and Argentina.
• (b) is correct. Chappal Waddi, Nigeria’s highest peak, is located in the Cameroon Highlands in the southeast, a range shared with its eastern neighbor.
• (c) is incorrect. The capital of Paraguay, Asunción, is located on the east bank of the Paraguay River, not the Paraná River. While the Paraná is a major river in the region, the capital is situated on the Paraguay River.
• (d) is correct. Nigeria’s border includes the Atlantic Ocean (Gulf of Guinea), confirming it has a southern coastline.

 

About Paraguay:

• Paraguay is a landlocked nation in south-central South America.
• Capital: Asunción, located on the east bank of the Paraguay River.
• Coordinates: Lies mostly south of the Tropic of Capricorn.
• Bordering Nations: Bolivia, Brazil, and Argentina.
• Geographical Features:
• Rivers:
  • Major Rivers: Paraguay, Paraná, Pilcomayo, and Apa
  • Paraguay River divides the country into:
  • Región Oriental (Eastern Region)
  • Región Occidental (Western Region or Chaco Boreal)
  • Hydropower: Paraguay is among the top exporters of hydroelectricity, mainly due to river-based power stations.
• Mountains and Plateaus:
  • Eastern Paraguay is part of the Brazilian Plateau.
  • Important ranges:
    • Amambay Mountains
    • Mbaracayú Mountains
    • Cordillera de San Rafael, with the highest peak Mount San Rafael (850 m).
  • Valleys and Lakes:
    • Paraná and Paraguay valleys dominate the central and western landscape.
    • Notable lakes include Lake Ypoá and Lake Ypacaraí.
  • Climate:
    • Eastern Region: Subtropical
    • Chaco Boreal (Western Region): Tropical
    • Rainfall: 1,400–1,650 mm in the east, reducing to 760 mm in the west.

Correct

Solution: a)

 

• Statement 1 is correct. The guidelines for the SPMEPCI allow participating companies to import up to 8,000 fully built electric cars annually for a period of five years. These imports are subject to a significantly reduced customs duty of 15%, provided the Cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF) value of each vehicle is at least USD 35,000. This provision is designed to help companies establish a market presence while they set up local manufacturing.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. The scheme mandates a phased approach to localization. It requires a Domestic Value Addition (DVA) of 25% within 3 years and a maximum of 50% within 5 years, not 100%.
• Statement 3 is also incorrect. The guidelines explicitly allow for up to 5% of the total investment to be allocated to charging infrastructure expenses. This inclusion recognizes that a robust charging network is essential for the growth of the EV ecosystem and encourages manufacturers to contribute to its development.

Correct

Solution: a)

 

• Statement 1 is correct. A key feature of the UMEED (Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development) Portal is the implementation of a time-bound registration process. The portal, supported by the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, requires all Waqf properties to be digitally registered, including geotagging, within a six-month period. Failure to comply results in the property being automatically flagged as disputed.
• Statement 3 is also correct; the portal and the amended act introduce a women-centric provision stating that properties registered under a woman’s name cannot be designated as Waqf.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. A major reform in the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, is the introduction of an appeals mechanism. The act explicitly provides that decisions made by Waqf Tribunals can now be appealed in the respective High Courts within 90 days. This ensures judicial oversight and provides a higher forum for grievance redressal, moving away from a system where the tribunal’s decision might have been considered final.

Correct

Solution: c)

 

A defining and strategic feature of the Magen, or ‘Shield of Light’, laser defence system is its stealthy operation. It functions silently and invisibly, with no audible sound or visible trace like an explosion or smoke trail. This preserves tactical surprise and makes it difficult for the enemy to detect when and from where the defence system is operating.

Statement (a) is correct; the system uses directed high-energy laser beams to heat and burn targets, causing disabling thermal damage.

Statement (b) is also correct, as one of its most significant advantages is its ultra-low operational cost (around $5 per shot) compared to the high cost of missile interceptors like those used in the Iron Dome system (around $50,000 per shot).

Statement (d) is correct; the system incorporates AI-integrated threat assessment, allowing it to autonomously track, prioritize, and engage multiple targets, making it highly efficient in a complex combat environment.

Correct

Solution: b)

 

• Statement 2 is correct. The southern region of Assam is dominated by the Barak Valley, which is primarily drained by the Barak River and its tributaries like the Kushiyara and Katakhal. This region is geographically distinct from the Brahmaputra valley to the north.
• Statement 3 is also correct. The North Cachar Hills, located in the Dima Hasao district, are geographically an extension of the Meghalaya Plateau, representing an ancient landmass in the region’s complex topography.

Statement 1 is incorrect. While the Brahmaputra River does enter Assam near Sadiya, it flows in a westerly direction across the entire length of the Brahmaputra Valley for about 725 km. After its long journey westward through Assam, it turns south to enter Bangladesh near Dhubri.

Correct

Solution: d)

 

• Statement 1 is incorrect. The campaign is a voluntary engagement, not a mandatory program for all students. It targets youth volunteers from specific platforms like MY Bharat, NSS, and pharmacy colleges, not the entire undergraduate population.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. The core objective of the campaign is experiential learning, skill development, and fostering values of public service (‘Seva’). While volunteers may receive some support, the primary focus is on ‘learning’ (Seekhen) through service, not on providing financial stipends as a primary goal.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. A structured engagement of a 15-day duration for the youth volunteers, not a minimum of three months. This short-term, intensive model is designed to provide a focused, hands-on learning experience.

Correct

Solution: c)

 

• Statement 1 is correct: to build a democratic AI ecosystem rooted in Indian languages and values, ensuring it is accessible to all regions and social groups.
• Statement 3 is correct: to foster AI-based entrepreneurship, innovation, and R&D capacity in India, partly through collaborations and hackathons.
• Statement 4 is correct: the initiative supports the “India’s Techade” vision for tech-driven inclusive growth.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. The use of BharatGen in governance, health, education, and agriculture. There is no mention of prioritizing military and defence applications. The focus is clearly on civilian and public welfare domains to promote inclusive development.

Correct

Solution: b)

 

Statement-I is correct. Several attacked airbases such as Belaya (Irkutsk), Olenya (Murmansk), and Dyagilevo (Ryazan) are located in different regions and time zones of Russia, highlighting the extensive range of the operation.

 

Statement-II is also correct. The operation was intended to showcase deep-strike capability and was timed as a prelude to peace talks to bolster Ukraine’s negotiating power.

 

However, Statement-II does not explain why the targets were spread across multiple time zones (Statement-I).