UPSC Quiz – 2025 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 13th January 2026

Solution (b)

Explanation:

• Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) is the National Apex Agency entrusted with the responsibilities of providing scientific inputs for management, exploration, monitoring, assessment, augmentation, and regulation of groundwater resources of the country. It is a multidisciplinary scientific organization of the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

• It aims to develop and disseminate technologies and monitor and implement national policies for the scientific and sustainable development and management of India’s groundwater resources. It is a multidisciplinary scientific organization consisting of Hydrogeologists, Geophysicists, Chemists, Hydrologists, Hydrometeorologists, and Engineers. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Solution (b)

Explanation:

• International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an intergovernmental organisation that was founded in 2009 to support countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future. It serves as the principal platform for international cooperation, a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource and financial knowledge on renewable energy. It has 170 Members and the European Union. India is also one of the founder members of IRENA. Hence, statements 1 and 3 are correct.

• It comprises the Director-General and his staff, provides administrative and technical support to the Assembly, the Council and their subsidiary bodies. Its headquarters is in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It is an official United Nations observer. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Solution (a)

Explanation:

• The Hattis are a close-knit community who take their name from their age-old professional practice of selling their homegrown crops at small markets called ‘Haat’ in nearby cities. These tribal people reside in the Himachal-Uttarakhand border in the basin of the Giri and Tons rivers, both tributaries of the Yamuna. In 2023, the Indian government granted Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Hatti community in Himachal Pradesh. Hence, option a is the correct answer.

Q.4) Solution (c)

Explanation:

• PSLV-C62 Mission was the first space mission of 2026 for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It was launched using PSLV-DL variant (Dual Launch), which utilizes two solid strap-on motors (PSOM-XL) to augment thrust. It carried one primary satellite and 18 secondary payloads into space. The primary payload was the earth observation satellite EOS-N1 (codenamed ‘Anvesha’), an hyperspectral imaging satellite developed primarily for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for strategic purposes. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct.

Solution (a)

Explanation:

• The scientific name of Indian Giant Squirrel is Ratufa indica. The Indian Giant Squirrel is a large rodent species native to India. More specifically, it is a type of tree squirrel. It is one of the largest squirrels in the world. It is also known as the Malabar Giant Squirrel. It is found primarily in the Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, and Satpura Range. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct.

It is Maharashtra’s state animal and locally known as Shekru. It is arboreal, spending most of its time in trees. It makes its shelter within holes in treesIts total body length varies from 254 to 457 mm. The tail is typically longer than the length of its body. These squirrels weigh approximately 1.5 to 2 kg. It is classified as Least Concern under the IUCN Red List. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.