UPSC Quiz – 2026 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 28th October 2026

Solution (a)
Explanation: Hydroseeding is a mechanised technique of establishing vegetation by spraying a specially prepared slurry over bare soil; the slurry generally contains seeds (grasses, shrubs and other suitable vegetation), water, mulch (wood fibre or cellulose), fertilisers and soil conditioners, and binding agents or tackifiers to help the mixture adhere to the soil, with specialised hydroseeding machines spraying the mixture uniformly over large and difficult-to-access areas. Its working involves slurry preparation, spraying under pressure over exposed land and steep slopes, moisture retention by mulch, germination, and slope stabilisation as plant roots bind soil particles. Its environmental significance includes soil conservation, slope stability, mine reclamation, water conservation, biodiversity support and worker safety (reducing manual plantation on steep, unstable slopes). Statement 3 is the key trap: hydroseeding is NOT the same as hydroponics — in hydroseeding, seeds are sprayed onto soil in a slurry and used for vegetation establishment and land restoration on slopes and degraded land, whereas in hydroponics, plants are grown without soil and used for controlled plant cultivation in greenhouses and vertical farming. Tata Steel introduced hydroseeding at its West Bokaro Division, Ramgarh district, Jharkhand, covering more than 50 acres, with a machine spray range up to 50 metres and dump slopes extending up to 80 metres.
Why this question? The hydroseeding-hydroponics conflation is the central trap; the soil-based restoration purpose vs. soil-less cultivation is the conceptual core.
Why important for UPSC? Ecological restoration, sustainable mining and land degradation are recurring environment prelims themes.
PYQ Pattern Link: Similar to questions distinguishing similar-sounding technologies by their underlying mechanism and application.

Solution (b)
Explanation: Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) is the initial in-principle administrative approval for a proposed defence acquisition — it does not mean that a procurement contract has been signed or equipment has been purchased. The broad procurement sequence is: identification of operational requirement → AoN by DAC → preparation and issuance of Request for Proposal (RFP) → technical evaluation and trials → commercial negotiations → contract approval and signing → production, delivery and induction. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) was established in 2001, is chaired by the Defence Minister, functions under the Ministry of Defence, and expedites procurement of modern military equipment, with its key function being to grant AoN for capital acquisition proposals — not final commercial approval. Option (a) incorrectly treats AoN as a signed contract. Option (c) misstates the chairperson (Defence Minister, not Secretary) and the approval stage. Option (d) misstates the establishment year and predecessor. On 26 October 2026, the DAC approved capital acquisition proposals worth approximately ₹2.12 lakh crore for the Army, Navy and Air Force, with around 82% of the proposed procurement value to be sourced from Indian industry.
Why this question? The AoN-vs.-contract distinction is the core conceptual trap, testing understanding of the defence procurement chain.
Why important for UPSC? Defence procurement, AoN and indigenous manufacturing are recurring defence-economy prelims themes.
PYQ Pattern Link: Similar to one-liner questions on defence procurement stages and the DAC’s mandate.

Solution (a)
Explanation: InvITs are pooled investment vehicles, similar to mutual funds, that enable investors to invest in income-generating infrastructure assets such as highways, power-transmission lines, pipelines and renewable-energy infrastructure; they are regulated by SEBI and were introduced in India in 2014. Their working involves: an infrastructure developer transfers completed, revenue-generating assets to an InvIT; the trust raises funds by issuing units to institutional and retail investors; revenue from assets such as toll roads and transmission networks generates cash flows; and the trust distributes income to unitholders as per applicable regulations. Their popularity stems from retail participation, regular income, asset monetisation, capital recycling, domestic savings mobilisation and diversification. Statement 3 is incorrect: InvIT distributions and returns are NOT guaranteed by the government — a key investor awareness point is that distributions and returns are not guaranteed, and investors face revenue risk (traffic, toll collections, utilisation), interest-rate sensitivity, liquidity risk, and regulatory/operational risks. As per the Bharat InvITs Association (BIA), listed InvITs recorded 6.53 lakh investors, ₹7.3 lakh crore AUM, ₹5,923 crore quarterly distributions and over ₹97,000 crore cumulative distributions in Q1 FY 2026–27.
Why this question? The “government-guaranteed, risk-free” trap is the key discriminator; the asset-transfer and distribution mechanism is the conceptual core.
Why important for UPSC? Infrastructure financing, capital markets and asset monetisation are recurring economy prelims themes.
PYQ Pattern Link: Similar to questions on SEBI-regulated investment vehicles and distinguishing guaranteed vs. market-linked returns.

Solution (a)
Explanation: SGLT2 inhibitors are a class of medicines primarily used to treat Type 2 diabetes that also provide kidney and cardiovascular protection. SGLT2 (Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2) is a protein found mainly in the proximal tubules of the kidneys, responsible for reabsorbing filtered glucose back into the bloodstream; these medicines block SGLT2 activity, increasing the amount of glucose excreted through urine. Examples include dapagliflozin, empagliflozin and canagliflozin. A study presented at ASN Kidney Week 2026, using electronic health records of 10,076 adults aged 80 years or older with CKD over a two-year follow-up, reported 18% lower all-cause mortality and 22% lower major adverse kidney events, but no significant overall effect on major adverse cardiovascular events, while identifying higher risks of heart attacks, acute heart failure and acute kidney injury — observational associations that do not establish causation. Potential risks include dehydration and low blood pressure, genital infections, ketoacidosis, acute kidney injury and frailty-related consequences. Options (b), (c) and (d) misdescribe the drug class, mechanism or form.
Why this question? The kidney-tubule mechanism and the dual diabetes-kidney/cardiovascular benefit are the primary discriminators, with antibiotic/vaccine/device traps as distractors.
Why important for UPSC? Non-communicable diseases, diabetes and kidney health are recurring health S&T prelims themes.
PYQ Pattern Link: Similar to one-liner questions on drug classes, their mechanisms and therapeutic applications.

Solution (c)
Explanation: The Orange Oakleaf (Kallima inachus) belongs to the family Nymphalidae and is also known as the Indian Oakleaf or Dead Leaf Butterfly, distributed across tropical Asia from India to Japan. Its distinctive feature is leaf mimicry — with its wings folded, it resembles a dry, withered leaf, including leaf-like patterns and veins, while its open wings display bright orange, black and deep blue shades; this camouflage helps it evade predators by blending into dry foliage. It inhabits subtropical and temperate forests, particularly areas with dense undergrowth and leaf litter, commonly reported at around 500–2,000 metres. Its feeding habits are notable: it feeds mainly on fermenting fruits and tree sap rather than relying primarily on flower nectar, and engages in mud-puddling — visiting moist soil to obtain minerals and salts. Chhattisgarh is set to get its first official state butterfly, the Orange Oakleaf, following its selection through a public online poll (31 July–31 August 2026), in which it secured 3,000 of 5,813 votes, ahead of the Common Banded Peacock (1,606) and Spot Swordtail (1,207); the proposal was approved at the 15th meeting of the State Wildlife Board and forwarded to the state government for formal notification. An expert panel considered ecological significance, occurrence in the state, conservation value, distinctiveness and public appeal, and a 2025 statewide biodiversity survey recorded 201 butterfly species in Chhattisgarh. Both statements are accurate.
Why this question? The leaf-mimicry adaptation and the fruit/sap feeding habit (rather than nectar) are the primary discriminators, with the selection process adding current affairs depth.
Why important for UPSC? Species in news, butterfly conservation and state symbols are recurring environment prelims themes.
PYQ Pattern Link: Similar to questions on butterfly species, their camouflage adaptations and state butterfly designations.