UPSC Quiz – 2026 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 2nd October 2026

Solution (d)
Explanation: NCM 2.0 is a Central Sector Scheme under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), with an outlay of ₹767 crore, implemented from 2025–26 to 2030–31. It covers 9 coastal States (Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal) and 4 coastal UTs (Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Puducherry, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu), and subsumes NCM 1.0 which operated during 2021–22 to 2025–26. Its major objectives include coastal vulnerability assessment and climate adaptation, restoration and conservation of mangroves, coral reefs and brackish-water wetlands, pollution management and biodiversity conservation, development of Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plans (ICZMPs) and Coastal Marine Spatial Plans (CMSPs), promotion of sustainable tourism and resilient livelihoods, and support for research, capacity building and Blue Economy activities. All three statements are accurate.
Why this question? Tests scheme architecture (type, ministry, outlay, coverage) plus objectives—UPSC’s standard scheme format.
Why important for UPSC? Coastal governance, blue economy and climate adaptation are emerging environment-economy crossover themes.
PYQ Pattern Link: Similar to questions testing centrally sponsored/central sector scheme classification, nodal ministries and coverage.

Solution (d)
Explanation: PM-DHARA (PM-Developing Harmonized and Accelerated Renewable-energy Access) Scheme, approved by the Union Cabinet on 30 September 2026, is essentially the Green Energy Corridor Phase-III (GEC-III) framework, aimed at strengthening intra-state transmission and integrating large quantities of renewable energy into the grid. Its total outlay is ₹1,86,405 crore, targeting FY 2032–33 and enabling up to 135 GW of renewable-energy evacuation. It includes ₹1,36,378 crore for the Intra-State Transmission System (InSTS) and ₹50,000 crore for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) of 50 GWh capacity, with Central Financial Support of ₹54,082 crore. State Transmission Utilities (STUs) are the implementing agencies. Greenfield transmission projects are awarded through Tariff-Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) under the Build-Own-Operate-Maintain (BOOM) model, while brownfield upgrades follow the Cost Plus Basis (CPB). The scheme supports India’s longer-term target of 900 GW installed non-fossil capacity by 2035.
Why this question? Tests the BESS component, bidding-model distinction and scheme linkage—multiple precise facts in one stem.
Why important for UPSC? Renewable energy integration, grid infrastructure and energy storage are high-yield economy-S&T crossover themes.
PYQ Pattern Link: Similar to questions on green energy corridors, transmission pricing mechanisms and India’s non-fossil capacity targets.

Solution (c)
Explanation: Swyer syndrome is a rare difference of sex development (DSD), medically known as 46,XY complete gonadal dysgenesis. Despite the 46,XY chromosomal pattern typically associated with male development, failure of the normal testis-development pathway means the gonads do not develop into functional testes. Individuals generally develop female external genitalia and usually have a uterus and fallopian tubes. The underdeveloped gonads are called streak gonads, which do not produce normal amounts of sex hormones and are generally removed due to increased risk of gonadal tumours. Statement 2 is incorrect: the SRY gene (located on the Y chromosome) plays a crucial role in initiating testicular development, but variants in SRY account for only a proportion of Swyer syndrome cases—other associated genes include MAP3K1, NR5A1, DHH and CBX2. Typical presentation is during adolescence due to failure of puberty progression, with primary amenorrhoea as a characteristic feature; management involves hormone-replacement therapy.
Why this question? The “all cases” absolute trap and the multi-gene etiology are the key discriminators.
Why important for UPSC? Genetic disorders, sex development and reproductive health are recurring S&T prelims themes.
PYQ Pattern Link: Similar to questions on genetic disorders, inheritance patterns and the role of specific genes.

Solution (d)
Explanation: The 2nd edition of the ASEAN–India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2026) commenced at Subic Bay, Philippines, on 28 September 2026, with the theme “Anchored in Trust, United at Sea”. The Indian Navy ships INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish participated, along with maritime forces of ASEAN Member States. The exercise has two phases: the Harbour Phase (Subject Matter Expert Exchanges, operational synchronisation, sporting and cultural activities, community engagement) and the Sea Phase (coordinated maritime exercises and operational serials). Its objectives include improving mutual understanding and interoperability, strengthening professional and operational cooperation, and promoting practical collaboration. AIME-2026 supports India’s Act East Policy and the MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision, contributing to India’s broader engagement with ASEAN in the Indo-Pacific. All three statements are accurate.
Why this question? Tests exercise specifics (edition, venue, theme, ships) plus policy linkage—UPSC’s standard multilateral exercise format.
Why important for UPSC? ASEAN-India relations, Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific maritime cooperation are recurring IR themes.
PYQ Pattern Link: Similar to questions testing multilateral exercise names, participating countries and associated policy frameworks.

Solution (d)
Explanation: CHIME (Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment) is an interferometric radio telescope located at the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory near Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. It consists of four large curved reflectors and has no moving parts—Earth’s rotation allows it to scan the visible northern sky—operating in the 400–800 MHz frequency range. Its primary objective is to map the distribution of neutral hydrogen (HI) across the Universe; hydrogen’s characteristic 21-cm spectral line is redshifted into CHIME’s observing range due to cosmic expansion. CHIME can also detect Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) and study pulsars. The latest result used 94 nights of observations from 2019 and detected hydrogen emission from roughly 9 billion years ago—when the Universe was about 5 billion years old. Indian researchers from the Raman Research Institute (RRI), an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology (DST), contributed to the study. The technique can potentially study large-scale cosmic structure independently of conventional galaxy surveys, providing a tool for testing theories of dark energy and galaxy formation.
Why this question? Tests telescope specifications, the 21-cm technique and the dark energy linkage—an integrated S&T question.
Why important for UPSC? Astronomy, cosmology and India’s scientific institutional participation are emerging S&T prelims themes.
PYQ Pattern Link: Similar to questions on radio telescopes, cosmic microwave background studies and India’s role in international scientific collaborations.