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

Solution (a)

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct. Article 136 grants the Supreme Court discretionary power to grant special leave to appeal. An SLP is not a right of the petitioner but a privilege granted by the Court at its sole discretion. The Court may refuse to grant leave without assigning any reason.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. Article 136 explicitly excludes tribunals constituted under military law, including courts-martial. The provision applies to “any court or tribunal” but specifically exempts tribunals established under the Army Act, Navy Act, Air Force Act, and other military laws.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. As observed by the Jammu & Kashmir High Court in the context of the current news, the dismissal of an SLP does not lead to the merger of the impugned order with the Supreme Court’s order. When the Supreme Court dismisses an SLP without stating reasons or without a detailed hearing on merits, the earlier judgment of the lower court remains independent and does not merge into the Supreme Court’s order.

Why this question? Tests three critical but often confused aspects of SLP: its discretionary nature, the military tribunal exception, and the doctrine of merger.

Why important for UPSC? Article 136 and the concept of SLP are frequently tested in Indian Polity, particularly regarding the Supreme Court’s powers and jurisdiction.

PYQ Pattern Link: Similar to PYQs that test the discretionary nature of SLP under Article 136 and the exceptions to its applicability (e.g., 2011, 2015, 2019).

Solution (c)

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct. The Cuban Gar is a member of the family Lepisosteidae, commonly known as gars, which are ancient fish that have existed for approximately 100 million years, dating back to the age of dinosaurs.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. The Cuban Gar is a tropical species found in rivers and lakes of western Cuba and the Isla de la Juventud. It inhabits both freshwater and brackish waters, demonstrating adaptability to varying salinity levels.
• Statement 3 is correct. The Cuban Gar is listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List. The primary threats to its survival include habitat loss and degradation, as well as the introduction of invasive species such as the African walking catfish, which competes for resources and preys on native species.

Why this question? Tests factual recall about distribution, habitat adaptability, and conservation status of a recently news-relevant species.

Why important for UPSC? Environment and Ecology section frequently includes questions on newly reported species, their IUCN status, and unique ecological characteristics.

PYQ Pattern Link: Similar to PYQs that test the distribution, habitat, and conservation status of species like the Gharial, Great Indian Bustard, or other ‘Critically Endangered’ species (e.g., 2013, 2018, 2021).

Solution (b)

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect. During the Fujiwhara Effect, the two cyclones orbit around a common center in a counterclockwise direction (in the Northern Hemisphere), not clockwise. This direction is consistent with the cyclonic rotation induced by the Coriolis effect in the Northern Hemisphere.
• Statement 2 is correct. The relative motion of the two cyclones depends on their intensity and mass. The smaller cyclone moves at a faster rate around the common center, while the larger, more dominant cyclone moves more slowly.
• Statement 3 is correct. The Fujiwhara Effect can have several outcomes: the two cyclones may merge into a larger single cyclone, they may alter each other’s paths, or in some cases, they may repel each other or absorb one into the other.

Why this question? Tests precise understanding of rotational direction and the relative dynamics of interacting cyclones—common conceptual traps.

Why important for UPSC? Tropical cyclones and associated phenomena like the Fujiwhara Effect are relevant to Geography syllabus and are frequently discussed in current affairs related to the Indian Ocean region.

PYQ Pattern Link: Similar to PYQs that test the behavior, naming, and interaction of tropical cyclones, including the Coriolis effect and cyclone dynamics (e.g., 2014, 2017, 2020).

Solution (c)

Explanation:
Exercise Suryakiran is a bilateral joint military exercise conducted annually between the Indian Army and the Nepal Army. 

The 19th edition (Suryakiran XIX – 2025) was held at Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, with a focus on counter-terrorism operations, jungle warfare, mountain operations, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) under the United Nations mandate.

Why this question? A straightforward one-liner testing the country partner in a key bilateral military exercise.

Why important for UPSC? India’s joint military exercises with neighboring countries are frequently tested in the Defence and Security section of prelims.

PYQ Pattern Link: Similar to PYQs that ask about the participating countries in exercises like Yudh Abhyas (USA), Garuda Shakti (Indonesia), or Nomadic Elephant (Mongolia) (e.g., 2016, 2020, 2022).

Solution (c)

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct. The CGAS was introduced under Section 54 of the Income Tax Act to assist taxpayers who earn long-term capital gains but are unable to reinvest the proceeds before the due date of filing their income tax return. By depositing the gains in this scheme, they can claim exemption, provided the amount is subsequently utilized within the specified period for investment in eligible assets.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. The CGAS is applicable only to long-term capital gains. Short-term capital gains are not eligible for deposit under this scheme, as exemptions under Sections 54, 54B, 54D, 54EC, 54F, and 54G apply only to long-term capital gains from specified assets.
• Statement 3 is correct. Under the Capital Gains Accounts (Second Amendment) Scheme, 2025, the Ministry of Finance expanded the network of authorized banks. Previously limited largely to public sector banks, the scheme now allows all non-rural branches of 19 major private banks to receive deposits and maintain CGAS accounts. “Non-rural branch” refers to branches located in centers with a population of 10,000 or more as per the 2011 Census.

Why this question? Tests the eligibility criteria (long-term vs short-term gains) and recent amendments to the scheme—a common conceptual trap.

Why important for UPSC? Capital gains taxation and associated schemes are part of the Economy syllabus and appear in both prelims and mains; recent amendments are relevant for current affairs.

PYQ Pattern Link: Similar to PYQs that test the provisions of the Income Tax Act, exemptions for capital gains, and eligibility under schemes like CGAS (e.g., 2013, 2017, 2020).