UPSC Daily Current Affairs Quiz : 17 March 2026

Answer: d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation: Statement 1 – Correct

The U.S. Supreme Court (February 2026) ruled that the use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) by the U.S. President to impose reciprocal tariffs on trade partners was invalid.

• IEEPA is primarily meant to address national security emergencies and economic sanctions, not routine trade tariffs.
• This ruling effectively removed the previously imposed reciprocal tariffs.

Statement 2 – Correct

After the court ruling, the U.S. government imposed 10% tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974.

• Section 122 allows the U.S. President to impose temporary import restrictions or tariffs to deal with balance-of-payments problems.
• These measures can remain in force for up to 150 days, making it a short-term emergency trade tool.

Statement 3 – Correct

Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 is a powerful trade enforcement provision that allows the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to:

• Investigate unfair trade practices by foreign countries.
• Recommend retaliatory measures, including tariffs, trade restrictions, or sanctions.
• It has previously been used against countries like China during the U.S.–China trade war.

Answer: b) 1 and 2 only

Explanation

Statement 1 – Correct: Operation Sankalp is a maritime security operation of the Indian Navy aimed at safeguarding Indian-flagged merchant vessels transiting through the sensitive waters of the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and the Strait of Hormuz.

• Under the mission, naval warships escort merchant vessels and monitor maritime threats.

Statement 2 – Correct

The operation was launched in June 2019 following escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf region, including attacks on oil tankers and increased threats to commercial shipping.

• It ensures the safe passage of Indian trade and energy supplies through critical sea lanes.

Statement 3 – Incorrect

Operation Sankalp is not a United Nations-mandated mission.

• It is a unilateral deployment by India to protect its maritime and economic interests.
• India operates independently but coordinates with friendly navies when necessary.

Answer: a) 1 and 2 only

Explanation

• Statement 1 – Correct:  Vela carli is a freshwater crab species endemic to the Central Western Ghats, discovered in the forests of Silent Valley National Park in Kerala.
• Statement 2 – Correct:  Gynandromorphy is a rare biological condition where an organism shows both male and female physical traits in the same body.
• Statement 3 – Incorrect:  The recent study reported the first instance of gynandromorphy in the freshwater crab family Gecarcinucidae. Hence, it had not been previously reported in this family.

Answer: a) 1 and 3 only

Explanation

Statement 1 – Correct: The Sahitya Akademi Awards are given annually for the most outstanding books of literary merit published in 24 languages recognised by the Akademi (including English and 23 Indian languages).

Statement 2 – Incorrect:  The Sahitya Akademi is an autonomous organisation, established in 1954, and not a statutory body created by an Act of Parliament.
It works under the Ministry of Culture but functions independently.

Statement 3 – Correct: The award includes:

• An engraved copper plaque
• A shawl
• A cash prize of ₹1 lakh

Answer: d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

Statement 1 – Correct:  Researchers at IIIT-Hyderabad developed an AI-based application that converts impaired or slurred speech into clear, natural-sounding speech with only a few hundred milliseconds' delay, enabling near-real-time communication.

Statement 2 – Correct:  The system also includes lip-to-speech technology, where a camera analyses lip movements and subtle throat vibrations to generate intelligible speech even if the user cannot speak clearly.

Statement 3 – Correct:  The project received recognition through the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) Award (2026) given to researcher Vineet Gandhi for this accessibility-focused innovation.