UPSC Daily Current Affairs Quiz : 26 June 2025

Question 1: About India's participation in the Axiom Mission-4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station (ISS), consider the following statements:

1. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian-origin astronaut to conduct an Extravehicular Activity (spacewalk) from the ISS.
2. The Axe-4 mission was launched using the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre.
3. The Axe-4 crew includes representatives from at least three continents.
4. India independently launched and operated the mission under ISRO's Gaganyaan programme.
   

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

Question 2: Concerning the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council’s deliberations in 2025, consider the following statements:

1. If the 12% GST slab is removed, all items in it will automatically be shifted to the 5% slab to preserve revenue neutrality.
2. Service intermediaries providing services to foreign clients currently pay GST at 18%.
3. Input tax credit is generally not available for items taxed at 5% under GST.
4. The GST Council is constitutionally mandated to meet at least once every six months.
   

Which of the above statements are correct?

Question 3: About the recent investigation into substandard chemotherapy drugs exported globally, consider the following statements:

1. Over 90% of the failed drugs identified in the study were manufactured by Indian companies.
2. The study was conducted jointly by the University of Notre Dame and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
3. Importing countries like Nepal have never recalled chemotherapy drugs despite having regulatory powers to do so.
4. Indian drug regulators have never penalised manufacturers for exporting substandard chemotherapy drugs.
   

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

Question 4: With reference to the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra (KMY) resumed in 2025, consider the following statements:

1. The yatra resumed after being suspended since 2020 due to both the COVID-19 pandemic and the Galwan Valley standoff.
2. Mount Kailash is considered sacred by Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Tibetan Buddhists.
3. The yatra resumed only through the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand as the Nathu La route remains closed.
4. China has completely banned all forms of tourism, including parikrama, at Mount Kailash since 2002.
   

Which of the above statements are correct?

Question 5: About recent Supreme Court interventions in bail-related delays, consider the following statements:

1. The Supreme Court has held that delays in releasing an undertrial even after the grant of bail can constitute a violation of Article 21.
2. Monetary compensation for violation of personal liberty can only be awarded after a finding of mala fide intent by government officials.
3. In Rudul Shah v. State of Bihar, the Court awarded compensation for prolonged detention after acquittal.
4. Bail orders by the Supreme Court must be executed within 72 hours as per a specific provision in the Constitution.
   

Which of the above statements are correct?

Question 6:  About urban ecological planning, consider the following statements:

1. Native tree species in urban landscapes support higher avian biodiversity than exotic species.
2. All bird species respond positively to an increase in tree cover.
3. Urban heat islands are often associated with lower biodiversity and higher social vulnerability.
4. Planting non-native ornamental species like Jacaranda enhances the ecological functionality of urban parks.
   

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

Question 7: Concerning constitutional propriety and the powers of the Governor, consider the following statements:

1. The Governor can act independently in ceremonial matters, including deciding the decor of official functions.
2. Visual symbols like Bharat Mata are recognised as national symbols under Indian law.
3. The Governor must act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers in all official matters.
4. The Supreme Court has held that the Governor is not bound by ministerial advice in symbolic decisions.
   

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

Question 8: Concerning the ‘Axis of Upheaval’, consider the following statements:

1. It is a formal treaty-based alliance comprising Russia, China, and Iran.
2. Iran’s partnerships with Russia and China are primarily economic.
3. Russia currently holds significant military leverage in West Asia due to its bases in Syria.
4. China has consistently offered military support to Iran in regional conflicts.

Question 9: Concerning liver disease trends in India, consider the following statements:

1. Deaths due to digestive diseases are more common among women than men.
2. Northeastern states show disproportionately high liver disease-related mortality.
3. Alcohol and meat consumption are directly established causes of liver disease in the Indian public health law.
4. Male deaths due to liver disease peak in the 65+ age category.
   

Which of the statements is/are correct?

Question 10:  Which of the following reforms are necessary for effective caste enumeration in the upcoming Census?

1. Transfer household asset questions from the house-listing to the population enumeration phase.
2. Use structured coding for caste names using preloaded digital dictionaries.
3. Include migration, education, and employment variables in a disaggregated caste-wise format.
4. Remove all Scheduled Tribe (ST) data from the Census to avoid duplication.
   

Select the correct answer: