UPSC Quiz – 2026 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 26th September 2026

Solution (b)
Explanation: mBridge = Multiple CBDC Bridge, a platform enabling direct cross-border payments and settlement using wholesale Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). It uses Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), including a purpose-built mBridge Ledger, allowing participating banks to transact and settle directly in central-bank money rather than relying entirely on conventional correspondent-banking arrangements. Option (a) is the key trap: the BIS has explicitly stated that mBridge is NOT a BRICS project and does not create a common currency. Option (c) is incorrect—mBridge is a settlement platform, not a messaging standard. Initiated in 2021 through the BIS Innovation Hub Hong Kong Centre, with original partners Hong Kong, Thailand, China and the UAE. Saudi Arabia completed its PoC and withdrew in May 2025; the BIS concluded its involvement in October 2024; Macao joined in 2026.
Why this question? The “BRICS common currency” misconception is deliberately seeded in the news and is the primary elimination trap.
Why important for UPSC? CBDCs, de-dollarisation debates and cross-border payment architecture are emerging economy-IR themes.
PYQ Pattern Link: Similar to one-liner conceptual questions distinguishing international financial initiatives from political groupings.

Solution (d)
Explanation: Marfan syndrome is a rare inherited connective-tissue disorder caused by variants in the FBN1 gene, which encodes fibrillin-1, an important component of elastic connective tissues. In humans, inheritance is usually autosomal dominant—a single altered copy is generally sufficient to cause the disorder. It affects the skeletal system (unusually long limbs and fingers, flexible joints, chest/spinal abnormalities), the eyes (displacement of the eye lens, or ectopia lentis) and the cardiovascular system (weakening/enlargement of the aorta, particularly the aortic root, which can cause serious complications). The 2026 feline finding involved cats with two altered copies of FBN1 and a hypomorphic variant that reduced—but did not eliminate—gene function.
Why this question? Tests gene-protein-disease-inheritance linkage, a standard UPSC S&T format, with the feline case adding a news hook.
Why important for UPSC? Genetic disorders, inheritance patterns and rare-disease science are recurring prelims S&T content.
PYQ Pattern Link: Similar to questions linking specific genes to disorders and testing autosomal dominant vs. recessive inheritance classifications.

Solution (b)
Explanation: Exercise VARUNA is the bilateral naval/maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the French Navy. Its 24th edition (2026) was conducted at Toulon, France, with the Indian Navy’s INS Trishul—a Talwar-class guided-missile frigate commissioned in 2003—arriving at Toulon on 22 September 2026. The exercise has harbour and sea phases involving cross-deck visits, operational interactions and professional engagements, aimed at enhancing interoperability and exchanging best practices. The India–France exercise matrix is a frequently tested cluster: VARUNA (Navy), GARUDA (Air Force), SHAKTI (Army) and FRINJEX (Army). Confusing VARUNA with exercises involving other partners (e.g., Zayed Talwar with UAE, AUSINDEX with Australia, JIMEX with Japan) is the primary elimination challenge.
Why this question? Tests the exercise-name-to-partner-to-domain mapping, a high-frequency UPSC defence format.
Why important for UPSC? Bilateral military exercises are recurring; India–France strategic partnership adds contemporary relevance.
PYQ Pattern Link: Mirrors questions testing bilateral exercise names with their participating countries and service domains.

Solution (d)
Explanation: DDU-GKY was launched on 25 September 2014 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Rural Development, forming part of the Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) umbrella. Its target group is poor rural youth, generally aged 15–35 years, with the core objective of placement-linked skill training leading to sustainable employment. DDU-GKY 2.0 guidelines (notified May 2025) include mandatory social inclusion norms: SC/ST 50%, Women 33%, and Persons with Disabilities 5%. Training durations range from 3 to 12 months, with NSQF-aligned courses and emphasis on emerging sectors such as aerospace and aviation, green jobs and healthcare. Since inception, over 18.47 lakh candidates have been trained and 12.43 lakh placed.
Why this question? Tests scheme architecture (ministry, umbrella, target group, inclusion norms) — UPSC’s standard welfare-scheme format.
Why important for UPSC? Rural development schemes, skilling and social inclusion are recurring economy-governance prelims content.
PYQ Pattern Link: Similar to questions testing centrally sponsored schemes’ nodal ministries, umbrella frameworks and beneficiary criteria.

Solution (d)
Explanation: The Tokay Gecko (Gekko gecko) is a large arboreal lizard found across South and Southeast/East Asia, and is Schedule I under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 in India — the highest protection category. It is listed in CITES Appendix II and classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. The apparent paradox of Schedule I protection alongside LC status is a deliberate conceptual test: IUCN status reflects global extinction risk, while Schedule I reflects India’s domestic protection priority — the two frameworks serve different purposes. The gecko is illegally trafficked mainly for perceived medicinal properties in Asian traditional medicine, besides demand as an exotic pet. The DRI seized 86 live Tokay Geckos in Mariani, Assam, in September 2026.
Why this question? The Schedule I vs. IUCN LC coexistence tests understanding of the distinct logic of domestic protection law versus global extinction-risk assessment.
Why important for UPSC? Species in news, wildlife trafficking and conservation frameworks are recurring environment prelims themes.
PYQ Pattern Link: Similar to questions testing CITES appendices, Wild Life (Protection) Act schedules, and reconciliation of IUCN status with national protection categories.