UPSC Quiz – 2026 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 9th March 2026

Solution (a)

Option 1 is correct: Seeds of seabuckthorn and buckwheat grown in the cold desert of Ladakh are part of the experiments on board the International Space Station flown by NASA’s Crew-11 mission. It is popularly known as the ‘Wonder Plant’, ‘Ladakh Gold’, ‘Golden Bush’, or ‘Gold Mine’ of cold deserts.

Option 2 is incorrect: Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is a plant found throughout Europe and Asia. In India, it is found above the tree line in the Himalayan region, generally in dry areas such as the cold deserts of Ladakh and Spiti. It produces small orange or yellow-coloured berries that are sour in taste but rich in vitamins, especially vitamin C.

2. Solution (c)

Options 1 and 2 are correct: Biochar is a type of charcoal rich in carbon and is produced from agricultural residue and organic municipal solid waste. It offers a sustainable alternative to manage waste and capture carbon. It is granular material obtained by heating crop residue at 400°C to 600°C in a kiln-shaped structure in the absence of oxygen. It can hold carbon in the soil for 100-1,000 years due to its strong and stable characteristics, making it an effective long-term carbon sink.

Solution (a)

Option (a) is correct: Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in collaboration with the Forest and Environment Department, Government of Gujarat celebrated World Lion Day – 2025 at Barda Wildlife Sanctuary, Devbhumi Dwarka district, Gujarat. Ethnic races such as Maldharis, Bharvads, Rabaris, and Gadhvis live in this region. To develop Barda as the second home for the Asiatic lion, the state government implemented the ‘Gir-Barda Project’ in 1979. The sanctuary is a significant biodiversity hotspot and a key area for the conservation of Asiatic Lions.

Solution (b)

Options 1 and 3 are correct: Yashoda AI is an AI Literacy Program for Women titled as “Yashoda AI” since May 2025. The program aims to go beyond traditional learning by hosting in-depth discussions on critical issues such as AI-driven crimes, digital privacy, and practical safety strategies.

Option 2 is incorrect: It is an initiative of the National Commission for Women (NCW) in collaboration with Future Shift Labs (FSL). Under this program, about 2500 women from rural and semi-urban locations, including Members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Local elected representatives such as Sarpanchs, Pradhans, Parshads, Mayors, MLAs, ASHA workers, etc have been imparted training till date.

Solution (c)

Option 1 is incorrect: The Great Barrier Reef is located in the Coral Sea, off the northeast coast of Queensland, Australia. Stretching over 2,300 kilometers (1,400 miles), it extends along the Queensland coastline from the tip of Cape York in the north down to Bundaberg. It is the world’s largest coral reef system.

Options 2 and 3 are correct: It is the longest and largest reef complex in the world and is the largest living structure on Earth. It extends in roughly a northwest-southeast direction for more than 2,000 km, at an offshore distance ranging from 16 to 160 km, and its width ranges from 60 to 250 km. UNESCO declared the Great Barrier Reef a World Heritage Site in 1981.