UPSC Daily Current Affairs Quiz : 05 June 2026

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1: Correct. The normal onset date of the Southwest Monsoon over Kerala is June 1.
• Statement 2: Correct. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) declares monsoon onset based on criteria relating to rainfall, wind patterns, and convective cloudiness.
• Statement 3: Incorrect. El Niño is generally associated with below-normal monsoon rainfall in India.
• Statement 4: Incorrect. Meteorologists note that the onset date has little bearing on the overall seasonal rainfall, and a delayed onset does not necessarily imply a deficient monsoon.

Answer: (c)

Explanation: As per the article, the IMD criteria for monsoon onset include rainfall from 14 designated stations, westerly wind depth (up to 4.5 km), and convective cloudiness over the southeast Arabian Sea. The Tibetan Plateau temperature is not mentioned as a criterion.

Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: The PIB, in its August 2024 meeting, termed the ICTP as lacking in "strategic objectives" and advised the Ministry to include a strategic case.
• Statement 2 is correct: A little over a year later, in March 2026, the Ministry of Defence formally notified the project as a "strategic project."
• Statement 3 is incorrect: The PPPAC cleared the proposal but refused the VGF, recommending instead that the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways use its internal budget for the funding.

Answer: (a) 1, 3 and 4 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1: Correct. The ICTP at Galathea Bay is a major component of the Great Nicobar Island Development Project.
• Statement 2: Incorrect. Viability Gap Funding (VGF) is a government grant provided to infrastructure projects that are economically desirable but not commercially viable.
• Statement 3: Correct. The proposed project includes an International Container Transhipment Port, airport, township, gas-based power plant, and tourism zone.
• Statement 4: Correct. Great Nicobar Island is located close to the Malacca Strait and major East-West maritime trade routes, enhancing its strategic significance in the Indian Ocean Region.

Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: The observatory is a joint initiative between India and the United Kingdom, not the United States. It was first announced during U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit to India in October last year.
• Statement 2 is correct: The platform is to be jointly operated by India's TEXMiN (Technology Innovation in Exploration & Mining Foundation), IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, and the U.K.'s University of Cambridge.
• Statement 3 is correct: The observatory is explicitly designed as a data-driven platform to monitor and analyse global critical mineral supply chains, supporting clean energy transitions and building resilient supply chains.