UPSC Quiz – 2026 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 10th August 2026

Solution (d)
Explanation:
Yemen is situated at the southwestern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, making Statement 1 correct. Its western side faces the Red Sea, while the south opens towards the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea. The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait is a critical maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and, consequently, the Indian Ocean, making Statement 2 correct. Statement 3 reverses Yemen’s boundaries: Saudi Arabia lies to the north, while Oman lies to the east. Statement 4 is correct because the maritime sequence Bab-el-Mandeb → Red Sea → Suez Canal → Mediterranean makes Yemen strategically significant for global trade and energy security. Thus, only 1, 2 and 4 are correct.
Why this question?
Tests map-based elimination through reversal of Yemen’s northern and eastern boundaries.
Why important for UPSC?
Links physical geography, maritime chokepoints, energy security and contemporary international relations.
PYQ Pattern Link
UPSC frequently tests strategically located countries through seas, straits, boundaries and adjoining regions.

Solution (c)
Explanation:
Microbacterium pollutisoli was discovered in HCH-contaminated soil at a pesticide dumpsite in Ummari village, Uttar Pradesh, making Statement 1 correct. A crucial conceptual distinction is that the bacterium survives under pesticide stress but does not consume HCH; therefore, Statement 2 is incorrect. Its Average Nucleotide Identity with its closest known relative, M. invictum, was approximately 83%, considerably below the approximately 95% level generally associated with species-level bacterial identity, making Statement 3 correct. Statement 4 is also correct because morphological, biochemical and molecular evidence were combined through polyphasic taxonomy to establish the new species. The question tests whether adaptation or tolerance to a pollutant should automatically be equated with biodegradation.
Why this question?
Distinguishes microbial tolerance to pollutants from actual biodegradation of those pollutants.
Why important for UPSC?
Connects taxonomy, microbial ecology, pollution, genomics and potential biotechnology applications.
PYQ Pattern Link
UPSC science questions often exploit seemingly synonymous concepts that have scientifically distinct meanings.

Solution (a)
Explanation:
Exercise Pitch Black is a biennial multinational air-combat exercise hosted by Australia. It is conducted by the Royal Australian Air Force, with Darwin and northern Australia serving as important locations. The exercise focuses on Large Force Employment, air-to-air combat, offensive and defensive counter-air operations, air-to-ground missions, tactical planning and interoperability. Therefore, option (a) correctly captures its nature, frequency and host country. Option (b) is incorrect because Pitch Black is an air-combat exercise rather than a naval anti-submarine exercise. Option (c) incorrectly identifies it as an army exercise. Option (d) is incorrect because the exercise involves multiple participating air forces rather than being exclusively bilateral. Its strategic significance includes enhancing India’s defence interoperability with Australia and Indo-Pacific partners.
Why this question?
Tests the frequently confused dimensions of military exercises—service, frequency, host and participating countries.
Why important for UPSC?
Defence exercises are recurring Prelims themes linked to India’s strategic partnerships and Indo-Pacific engagement.
PYQ Pattern Link
UPSC frequently asks candidates to distinguish military exercises by host nation, service and operational domain.

Solution (a)
Explanation:
Begonia neelamorum was discovered in Keyi Panyor district of Arunachal Pradesh and was named after the Neelam clan of the Nyishi tribe. The species occurs on steep, moist rock walls along the Keyi River at around 1,000 metres elevation. Hence, option (a) is correctly matched. Option (b) is incorrect because the species is associated with Arunachal Pradesh rather than the Western Ghats, and its name honours a Nyishi clan. Option (c) is incorrect because the Nyishi are associated with Arunachal Pradesh, not Meghalaya. Option (d) is incorrect because the Nyishi are distributed across several inland districts of Arunachal Pradesh, including East Kameng, Papum Pare and Upper Subansiri. The example illustrates the intersection of tribal knowledge and biodiversity documentation.
Why this question?
Combines species nomenclature, tribal geography and linguistic affiliation to create multiple elimination points.
Why important for UPSC?
Connects biodiversity with tribal communities, traditional ecological knowledge and Northeast India.
PYQ Pattern Link
UPSC often uses species–region–tribe combinations where one geographical reversal invalidates an otherwise plausible option.

Solution (d)
Explanation:
Russula griseopurpurata is a newly described mushroom species belonging to the genus Russula, making Statement 1 correct. Its identification involved morphological and microscopic examination, ITS DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, making Statement 2 correct. Statement 3 contains a classic inference trap: although some Russula species are edible, the edibility of R. griseopurpurata has not been established. Therefore, edibility cannot be inferred merely from genus-level association. Statement 4 is correct because the mushroom was collected beneath Shorea robusta (sal) trees. The discovery was based on a specimen collected in Meghalaya’s Ri-Bhoi district and highlights fungal diversity and modern DNA-assisted taxonomy in Northeast India.
Why this question?
Tests whether a genus-level characteristic can legitimately be transferred to a newly identified species.
Why important for UPSC?
Highlights biodiversity documentation, fungal taxonomy and molecular techniques used in species identification.
PYQ Pattern Link
UPSC frequently tests scientific classification while inserting invalid generalisations from genus to species level.