UPSC Quiz – 2025 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 17th January 2026

Solution (d)

Explanation:

• Jamma Bane refers to a unique hereditary land tenure system found exclusively in the Kodagu (Coorg) district of Karnataka. The word Jamma means hereditary. It is distinctly different from other classes of land holdings in the state. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

• These Jamma lands were originally granted by erstwhile kings of Coorg and the British — between 1600 and 1800 — to local communities in return for military service. These lands comprise both wetlands, used for paddy cultivation, and forested highlands, which have transformed into the now-famous coffee estates of Coorg. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Solution (b)

Explanation:

• Similipal National Park is situated in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha. It covers an area of approximately 2750 sq.km. The park is named after the Simul (silk cotton) tree, which grows in abundance here. Not only a National Park, Similipal is also a Tiger Reserve, Wildlife Sanctuary, Biosphere Reserve, and also a part of the Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve.  Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

• it harbours a unique blend of Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, and eastern Himalayan biodiversity. It is the only tiger reserve in the country to boast of melanistic tigers. Further, it is also home to various tribes, including Kolha, Santhala, Bhumija, Bhatudi, Gondas, Khadia, Mankadia, and Sahara. Hence, statements 2 and 3 are correct.

Solution (c)

Explanation:

• Voyager 1 is a space probe launched by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) in 1977. It aims to explore the outer planets in our solar system, specifically Jupiter and Saturn. In August 2012, it became the first human-made object to enter interstellar space after crossing the heliopause—the boundary where the Sun’s solar wind meets the interstellar medium. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

It is the first spacecraft to travel beyond the solar system and reach interstellar space. It is currently the most distant human-made object from Earth, located over 15 billion miles away. Signals take approximately 22.5 hours one-way to reach the probe. The instruments of Voyager 1 included Cosmic Ray Subsystem, Plasma Wave Subsystem, Infrared Interferometer Spectrometer and Radiometer (IRIS) etc. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Solution (c)

Explanation:

• Finke river is a major but intermittent river of central Australia. It starts in the MacDonnell Ranges in the Northern Territory. It forms where two smaller creeks, Davenport and Ormiston, meet. It flows for about 600 kilometers (370 miles) towards the Simpson Desert in South Australia. It is often called ‘the oldest river in the world,’ even older than the dinosaurs. Hence, option c is the correct answer.

Solution (d)

Explanation:

• Henley Passport Index is a popular ranking of global passports that measures passport strength by the number of destinations that holders can visit without a prior visa. The index ranks countries based on statistics provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). It is published by London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct.

In the Henley Passport Index 2026, the top three passports in the world come from Asia. Singapore ranks first, while Japan and South Korea are tied for second place. India’s passport also saw improvement, climbing five spots to 80th position. Afghanistan is at the bottom of the list, ranked 101st, with visa-free access to 24 destinations. Hence, statement 3 is correct.