UPSC Daily Current Affairs Quiz : 09 January 2026

Correct Answer: (a) 1 and 3 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1  Correct: UN DESA has projected India’s GDP growth at 7.2% for FY 2025–26, slightly lower than the Union Government’s estimate of 7.4%.
• Statement 2 Incorrect: The medium-term outlook suggests growth moderation, with projections of about 6.6% in 2026–27 and 6.7–6.8% in 2027–28, indicating limits to a purely public-investment-led model.
• Statement 3  Correct: The estimate is published in UN DESA’s flagship report World Economic Situation and Prospects 2026, which analyses global and country-level economic trends.
• Statement 4  Incorrect: Around 18% of India’s exports are destined for the U.S., making India moderately vulnerable to tariff-related shocks, not minimally exposed.

Correct Answer: (a) 1, 3 and 4 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1  Correct: The Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 is a bipartisan Bill introduced in the U.S. Congress to impose sanctions not only on Russia but also on countries trading with Moscow, especially those importing Russian energy.
• Statement 2  Incorrect: The Bill does not mandate a compulsory 500% tariff. Instead, it grants discretionary authority to the U.S. President, currently Donald Trump, to impose tariffs up to 500%, depending on policy choices.
• Statement 3 – Correct: India, China, and Brazil are explicitly seen as key potential targets because they are among the largest buyers of Russian crude oil in the post-Ukraine war period.
• Statement 4  Correct: India’s exposure stems from its energy security strategy, which relies on discounted Russian crude to manage inflation, fiscal pressures, and domestic fuel demand.

Correct Answer: (a) 1, 3 and 4 only

Explanation:

Statement 1  Correct: The satellite tagging marks the beginning of a radio telemetry study (2025–2027) designed to track real-time movement, migration routes, and foraging grounds, representing a shift towards data-driven marine conservation.

Statement 2  Incorrect: Satellite tags transmit location data every hour, not at long intervals. Nest-site fidelity is mainly studied using flipper tags, not satellite telemetry.

Statement 3  Correct: The study focuses on near-shore waters along the Chennai coast and the Cauvery delta, especially during the nesting season (November–April).

Statement 4  Correct: The project is a collaborative effort between the Wildlife Institute of India and the Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation, combining national-level research expertise with State-level conservation implementation.

Correct Answer: (a) 1 and 3 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1  Correct: The draft Bill aims to replace the Insecticides Act, 1968, updating India’s pesticide regulation framework.
• Statement 2  Incorrect: The Bill provides comprehensive regulatory coverage, including manufacture, import, packaging, labelling, storage, sale, use, and disposal of pesticides.
• Statement 3 Correct: It promotes biological pesticides and traditional knowledge-based alternatives as part of a safety- and sustainability-oriented approach.

Correct Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1  Correct: The Central Pesticides Board advises both Union and State governments on standards, safety, and technical issues.
• Statement 2 Correct: The Registration Committee is tasked with maintaining a digital National Register of Pesticides, enhancing transparency and monitoring.
• Statement 3  Incorrect: While agriculture is a State subject, the Bill establishes a central regulatory framework, requiring coordination rather than exclusive State control.