UPSC Daily Current Affairs Quiz : 15 June 2026

Answer: (b) 1, 3 and 4 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1: Correct. The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) is endemic to the Indian subcontinent and is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world.
• Statement 2: Incorrect. The species is categorized as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), not merely Endangered.
• Statement 3: Correct. It enjoys the highest level of legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and is listed in Appendix I of CITES.
• Statement 4: Correct. Rajasthan, particularly the Desert National Park landscape, supports the largest surviving population of the Great Indian Bustard in India.

Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 4 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1: Correct. India and France established a Strategic Partnership in 1998, making France one of India's oldest strategic partners in Europe.
• Statement 2: Correct. The newly launched Dialogue on Economic Security aims to strengthen economic resilience through cooperation on critical minerals, trusted supply chains, and strategic technologies.
• Statement 3: Incorrect. France is not the only European country with which India has a Strategic Partnership. India also maintains strategic partnerships with countries such as Germany, United Kingdom, and others.
• Statement 4: Correct. The Innovation Roadmap 2030 emphasizes collaboration in Artificial Intelligence (AI), innovation ecosystems, startups, research, and emerging technologies.

Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 4 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1: Correct. The Bangkok Conference (June 15–23, 1942) provided the political legitimacy and organisational framework that eventually led to the formation and strengthening of the Indian National Army (INA).
• Statement 2: Correct. One of the major outcomes of the conference was the consolidation of nationalist forces under the Indian Independence League (IIL), which became the principal political body representing overseas Indians in Southeast Asia.
• Statement 3: Incorrect. The Thai-Bharat Cultural Lodge (TBCL) originated as a cultural and intellectual institution, evolving from the Dharam Ashram established by Swami Satyananda Puri. It later became a centre of nationalist activities but was not founded as a military training centre.
• Statement 4: Correct. Swami Satyananda Puri played a crucial role in promoting Indo-Thai cultural relations and establishing institutions that later supported India's freedom movement.

Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 3 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1: Correct. Scientific evidence suggests that nearly 90% of brain development occurs before the age of six, making early childhood a critical period for cognitive, emotional, and language development.
• Statement 2: Correct. The Anganwadi system functions under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme and provides nutrition, health, and early childhood development services.
• Statement 3: Correct. Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi seeks to integrate nutrition, Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), and foundational learning, promoting holistic child development.
• Statement 4: Incorrect. The Aadharshila Framework focuses on play-based learning, activity-based pedagogy, and age-appropriate developmental milestones to improve school readiness and cognitive development. It is not primarily a nutrition programme.

Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 4 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1: Correct. The proposed Creditor-Initiated Insolvency Resolution Process (CIIRP) is designed as a hybrid framework that incorporates features of both the debtor-in-possession and creditor-in-control models.
• Statement 2: Correct. The 2026 amendment reportedly replaces the word "may" with "shall" in Section 7(5)(a) of the IBC, thereby making admission mandatory when debt and default are established through Information Utility records.
• Statement 3: Incorrect. The proposed CIIRP framework restricts initiation rights to a select category of "notified financial institutions", not all financial creditors.
• Statement 4: Correct. In Swiss Ribbons Pvt. Ltd. v. Union of India, the Supreme Court upheld the distinction between financial and operational creditors, holding that it satisfied the test of reasonable classification under Article 14.