UPSC Daily Current Affairs Quiz : 02 June 2026

Explanation

Correct Answer: (c) All three

• Statement 1 is correct: The new IIP series now includes four core sectors instead of three. ‘Water Supply, Sewerage, and Waste Management’ is the newly added sector, alongside Mining, Manufacturing, and Electricity.
• Statement 2 is correct: The first data released under the new base year shows IIP growth of 4.9% in April 2026, which is lower than the 5.8% growth in April 2025 under the old series.
• Statement 3 is correct: Despite the overall slowdown, a positive sign is visible. Capital goods grew by 16% and infrastructure/construction goods by 7.1%, indicating strong investment demand.

Explanation

Correct Answer: (a) Only one

• Statement 1 is incorrect: The sanctioned strength was indeed raised from 34 to 38. However, this was done through the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026, which is an ordinance, not a constitutional amendment. The Constitution does not fix the number of judges; it allows Parliament to increase the strength by law.
• Statement 2 is correct: Among the five appointees, four are Chief Justices of High Courts. The fifth, Ms. V. Mohana, is a senior advocate elevated directly from the Supreme Court Bar.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: The article states that with the elevation of Ms. V. Mohana, the number of sitting women judges becomes two (including Justice B.V. Nagarathna). Out of a working strength of 37, this comes to approximately 5.4 per cent, not nearly 10 per cent.

Explanation

Correct Answer: (b) Only two

• Statement 1 is correct: The dialogue specifically agreed to accelerate the finalisation of a Joint Maritime Security Collaboration Road Map. Maritime security was described as a strong pillar of the partnership, with plans for joint operations by maritime patrol aircraft and enhanced domain awareness.

• Statement 2 is correct: A significant step was the agreement to begin work on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Provision of Defence Articles and Defence Services. This will serve as a legal framework to enable the transfer of defence technology and hardware, moving the relationship toward co-development and co-production.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: The article clearly states this was the second India-Australia Defence Ministers' Dialogue. The inaugural 2+2 dialogue was held earlier in October 2025. The June 2026 meeting built on the momentum generated from that first dialogue.

Explanation

Correct Answer: (c) All three

• Statement 1 is correct: IMEC was announced through a Memorandum of Understanding at the G20 New Delhi Summit in 2023.
• Statement 2 is correct: The original route depends on the Israeli port of Haifa, which makes it vulnerable to the Iran-Israel conflict.
• Statement 3 is correct: The article suggests developing Omani ports like Salalah, Duqm, and Muscat as they lie beyond the volatile Strait of Hormuz.

Explanation

Correct Answer: (b) 3 only

• Haifa (Port 1): This is the Israeli port on the Mediterranean Sea, forming the original western node of the corridor. It is not an alternative route; rather, it is the vulnerable link due to the Iran-Israel conflict.
• Jebel Ali (Port 2): This is a major UAE port and a proposed eastern entry point for IMEC. It lies inside the Persian Gulf, before the Strait of Hormuz, and has also come under threat. It is not an alternative beyond Hormuz.
• Salalah (Port 3): This is an Omani port located on the Arabian Sea, beyond the Strait of Hormuz. The article suggests developing Salalah, along with Duqm and Muscat, as alternative nodes to bypass the volatile choke point.