UPSC Daily Current Affairs Quiz : 08 August 2025

The correct answer is (b) 2 only. 

Explanation 

• Statement 1 is incorrect: Parole in India is not a right that prisoners can claim. It is a discretionary privilege granted by the competent authority, such as the prison administration or the state government, based on various factors, including the nature of the offence, the prisoner's conduct, and public safety concerns.
• Statement 2 is correct: Prisons are a state subject in India, meaning that each state government has the authority to establish its own rules and regulations regarding parole and the release of prisoners. This leads to variations in parole rules across different states. 

Correct Answer : 2 only

To increase the quality of education provided in government schools by taking help from the private sector and the community.

The correct answer is (c) 1, 2 and 3.

Explanation:

• Gharial: Critically endangered due to habitat loss, pollution, and depletion of their fish prey. 
• Leatherback Turtle: Classified as vulnerable, with some populations facing threats like poaching and entanglement in fishing gear. 
• Swamp Deer: Considered vulnerable, and some subspecies are endangered. 

The correct answer is (c) 1, 3 and 4 only. 

Explanation:

Prevention of soil runoff: By implementing the program, the soil erosion rate can be reduced, which helps to conserve soil fertility and prevent valuable topsoil from being washed away.

Rainwater harvesting and recharge of the groundwater table: The program emphasises rainwater harvesting and recharging the groundwater table, which helps to increase the availability of water for various purposes, especially during dry periods.

Regeneration of natural vegetation: The program focuses on promoting the growth of natural vegetation, which helps to stabilise the soil, improve water infiltration, and enhance biodiversity. 

The correct answer is (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4. 

Explanation:

• Statement 1. The terrestrial biosphere tends toward a net carbon source:
  Higher temperatures accelerate the decomposition of organic matter in soil, releasing more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Additionally, increased wildfires, driven by warmer, drier conditions, release large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, further contributing to the warming. 
• Statement 2. Widespread coral mortality will occur: Warmer ocean temperatures cause coral bleaching and ultimately lead to the death of coral reefs. At 3°C warming, a significant portion of the world's coral reefs are projected to disappear. 
• Statement 3. All the global wetlands will permanently disappear. While not all wetlands might disappear, many will be significantly impacted, and some will be lost due to increased evaporation, changes in precipitation patterns, and rising sea levels (for coastal wetlands). The complete disappearance of all global wetlands at this warming level is not a certainty, but the impact will be severe. 
• Statement 4. Cultivation of cereals will not be possible anywhere in the world: Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns, along with more frequent extreme weather events, would disrupt agricultural production and make the cultivation of cereals difficult or impossible in many regions, particularly those already facing water scarcity or high temperatures.