UPSC Quiz – 2025 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 24th June 2025

Correct Answer: A. 1, 2 and 4 only

Explanation:

Statement 1: Correct

• Under Article III of the NPT, all non-nuclear-weapon states (NNWS) that are parties to the treaty are required to conclude a Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA) with the IAEA.
• The purpose is to allow the IAEA to verify that nuclear materials are not being diverted to nuclear weapons.
• This agreement forms the baseline legal foundation of IAEA inspections and monitoring in those states.

Statement 2: Correct

• The Additional Protocol (AP) is a voluntary legal document that supplements the Safeguards Agreement.
• It grants the IAEA broader rights to access:
  • Nuclear and non-nuclear sites.
  • Supply chains, research facilities, and nuclear-related exports/imports.
• It allows the IAEA to verify the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities, not just the declared ones.

Statement 3: Incorrect

• While the IAEA encourages all countries to adopt the Additional Protocol, it is not mandatory.
• Over 140 countries have signed it, but some states (e.g., Iran) have either not ratified it or suspended its implementation for political reasons.
• It remains a voluntary commitment, even for NPT signatories.

Statement 4: Correct

• The Additional Protocol enables the IAEA to perform short-notice (as little as 24 hours) or unannounced inspections.
• It also requires countries to provide detailed declarations about nuclear-related activities and facilities.

This helps improve the timeliness and effectiveness of detection and reduces the risk of covert nuclear weapons development.

Correct Answer: A. 1, 2 and 3 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1 – Correct:
  The Strait of Hormuz, located in West Asia, connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman.
• Statement 2 – Correct:
  The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, between Yemen and Djibouti/Eritrea, connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea.
• Statement 3 – Correct:
  The Bosporus Strait, in Turkey, connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara, acting as a boundary between Europe and Asia.

Statement 4 – Incorrect:
The Dardanelles Strait connects the Sea of Marmara with the Aegean Sea, not the Caspian Sea. The Caspian Sea is a landlocked body of water.

Correct Answer: A. It was the last major battle of World War II before the atomic bombings.

Explanation:

• The Battle of Okinawa (April–June 1945) was the final and bloodiest major battle of WWII, preceding the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.
• Option B is incorrect—nuclear weapons were not used in Okinawa.
• Option C refers to the European front; Germany surrendered in May 1945.

Option D is incorrect—the battle was between Japan and Allied forces, mainly the United States.

Correct Answer: C. World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

Explanation:

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, publishes the “State of the Climate in Asia” annually, tracking temperature trends, extreme weather, sea level rise, and climate impacts in the region.

Correct Answer: A. 1 and 3 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1 – Correct:
  This will be India’s first comprehensive national-level survey solely focused on household income.
• Statement 2 – Incorrect:
  The survey is being conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), not the Ministry of Finance.
• Statement 3 – Correct:
  An 8-member Technical Expert Group, chaired by Dr. Surjit S. Bhalla, has been constituted to design and guide the survey.

Statement 4 – Incorrect:
Past surveys under NSS focused on consumption, employment, and health, but not on income, and previous attempts at income surveys were limited and inconclusive.