UPSC Quiz – 2026 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 11th July 2026

Solution (d)

Explanation

• Statements 1, 2 and 4 are correct. Drishti-10 Starliner is a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV manufactured by Adani Defence & Aerospace under a technology-transfer agreement with Israel’s Elbit Systems.
• It is the Indian variant of the Hermes-900 UAV and has over 60% indigenous content, making Statement 3 incorrect.
• The UAV is equipped with Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensors, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), maritime surveillance payloads and Satellite Communication (SATCOM) for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), maritime domain awareness, border surveillance and disaster response.
• It has an endurance of up to 36 hours and an operational ceiling of 30,000–35,000 feet.

Why this question?
Tests UAV classification, manufacturer and indigenous content.

Why important for UPSC?
Indigenous defence platforms are high-probability Prelims topics.

PYQ Pattern Link
Similar to UPSC questions on TAPAS-BH, MQ-9B and Heron UAVs.

Solution (a)

Explanation

• Statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct. Neonatal sepsis is a life-threatening bloodstream infection occurring in infants during the first 28 days of life. Early-Onset Sepsis (EOS) generally occurs within 72 hours (or first seven days) and is usually transmitted from the mother, whereas Late-Onset Sepsis (LOS) develops after this period and is commonly acquired from hospital or community sources.
• Statement 4 is incorrect because NeoSep1 is coordinated by the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP), not the WHO, although WHO supports global efforts against antimicrobial resistance.

Why this question?
Differentiates EOS and LOS using transmission pathways.

Why important for UPSC?
AMR and neonatal health are emerging science topics.

PYQ Pattern Link
Comparable to UPSC questions on antimicrobial resistance and infectious diseases.

Solution (b)

Explanation

• Option (b) is correct. NISER, Bhubaneswar, established in 2007, is an autonomous institution under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). It is a constituent institution of the Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), a deemed-to-be university under the DAE. Admissions are conducted through the National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) rather than JEE.
• NISER promotes education and research in biological, chemical, mathematical, physical, earth & planetary, and computer sciences, with strong emphasis on frontier research in atomic energy, quantum science and advanced materials.

UPSC often asks about research institutions by interchanging their parent ministries and admission mechanisms.

Why this question?
Tests parent department and admission process together.

Why important for UPSC?
Scientific institutions frequently appear in Prelims.

PYQ Pattern Link
Similar to UPSC questions on IISER, BARC, IGCAR and HBNI.

Solution (a)

Explanation

• Statements 2, 3 and 4 are correct. The Mugger Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris), also called the Marsh Crocodile, is a freshwater apex predator inhabiting rivers, lakes, reservoirs, marshes and irrigation canals across the Indian subcontinent. It has the broadest snout among living crocodiles and is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and Appendix I of CITES, while being classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN.
• Statement 1 is incorrect because the Gharial is listed as Critically Endangered, while the Saltwater Crocodile is assessed separately; hence Mugger is not the only Indian crocodilian with a distinct conservation status.

Why this question?
Tests comparison among India’s three crocodilian species.

Why important for UPSC?
Species conservation status is a recurring UPSC theme.

PYQ Pattern Link
Comparable to UPSC wildlife questions involving IUCN, CITES and WPA schedules.

Solution (d)

Explanation

• Statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct. ULLAS (Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society), also known as the New India Literacy Programme (2022–27), is a centrally sponsored scheme of the Ministry of Education aimed at providing foundational literacy and numeracy to non-literate persons aged 15 years and above. Consistent with the vision of NEP 2020, it adopts a lifelong learning approach and includes critical life skills, basic education, vocational skills, financial literacy, digital literacy and continuing education.
• Statement 4 is incorrect because ULLAS emphasizes technology-enabled, flexible, volunteer-based learning and assessment, including digital platforms, rather than relying exclusively on traditional pen-and-paper examinations. This distinction mirrors UPSC’s tendency to test the implementation features of flagship education schemes.

Why this question?

Tests objectives, beneficiaries and implementation features through closely worded statements.

Why important for UPSC?

Education reforms under NEP 2020 remain a high-probability governance topic.

PYQ Pattern Link

Similar to UPSC questions on PM POSHAN, Samagra Shiksha, NIPUN Bharat and DIKSHA, where subtle distinctions in objectives, beneficiaries and implementation are used for elimination.