UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | July 20 to July 26, 2025 | UPSC Current Affairs News

QUESTION 1

With reference to the Durand Cup, consider the following statements:

1. It is the oldest extant football tournament outside the British Isles.

2. The tournament is named after a British diplomat best known for drawing the contentious international border between British India (now Pakistan) and Afghanistan.

3. Until 1940, the Durand Cup was held each September in Delhi.

4. Mohun Bagan became the first civilian side to take part in the tournament.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Explanation

— The 134th edition of the Durand Cup, the oldest extant football tournament outside the British Isles, began in Kolkata. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Established in 1888, Durand Cup was the most prestigious tournament in Indian football until the late twentieth century.

— The event is named after Sir Mortimer Durand, a British diplomat who is most known for establishing the controversial international border between British India (now Pakistan) and Afghanistan. Durand established the event in 1888 to provide leisure for British troops; the initial edition featured six British and two Scottish regimental teams. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— Until 1940, the Durand Cup was held every September in Shimla, the Raj’s summer capital. Matches were played with full military pomp and spectacle in Annandale’s gorgeous field. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— In 1922, Calcutta-based Mohun Bagan became the first civilian side to take part in the tournament, paving the way for Indian participation. But in these initial years, the mostly barefoot Indian teams could not cope with superior British opposition. Hence, statement 4 is correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

With reference to the Paikas, consider the following statements:

1. They were a class of military retainers who had been recruited from various social groups by the Gajapati rulers of Odisha since the 16th century.

2. They render martial services to the king in return for hereditary rent-free land (nish-kar jagirs) which they would cultivate during peacetime.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed concern over the “omission” of the Paika Rebellion from the latest Class VIII history textbook of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), calling it a “huge dishonour” to the brave Paikas. The NCERT has clarified that the 1817 rebellion will be included in the second volume of the textbook, set to be released in September-October.

— The Paikas (pronounced “paiko”, literally “foot soldiers”) were a class of military retainers recruited from diverse socioeconomic classes by Odisha’s Gajapati monarchs during the 16th century. They would perform military services for the king in exchange for hereditary rent-free land (nish-kar jagirs), which they would cultivate during peacetime. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct.

— Throughout the nineteenth century, rural India was rife with discontent, which occasionally showed itself in the form of armed opposition to ancient injustices and new afflictions equally. The latter was principally caused by the British East India Company’s military expansion, which disturbed existing social relations among peasant and tribal groups.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

The term “AdFalciVax” was recently in the news. It is:

(a) vaccine for malaria

(b) cryptocurrency

(c) celestial object

(d) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

Explanation

— The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has announced a promising candidate vaccine for malaria, which it will now further develop, test and manufacture for commercial purposes in partnership with private companies.

— Known as AdFalciVax, the vaccine mainly targets two parts of Plasmodium falciparum, a pathogen that is the most common source of malaria in humans. In India, however, the disease is caused by Plasmodium vivax against which AdFalciVax is ineffective.

— Malaria is a parasitic infection transmitted by mosquitoes, typically causing symptoms such as fever, chills, night sweats, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. In some cases, it can lead to severe complications such as seizures, fluid in the lungs, organ damage, and death.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

With reference to the International Court of Justice, consider the following statements:

1. The International Court of Justice is composed of 9 judges elected to three-year terms of office by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council.

2. Judges are eligible for re-election.

3. Elections are held in New York during the annual autumn session of the General Assembly.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— The International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivered a landmark ruling that can breathe new life into the climate movement, and potentially open the floodgates for litigation seeking greater accountability from countries on climate action.

— The Hague-based court, which is the main judicial branch of the United Nations, has held that countries are under a legal obligation to take steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and could be held liable to pay compensation if they failed to do so.

— The ruling has come in the form of an advisory opinion of the court, and does not on its own impact any country immediately. It can nonetheless have significant implications for the global fight against climate change.

About judges of the ICJ

— The International Court of Justice is composed of 15 judges elected to nine-year terms of office by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— Judges are eligible for re-election. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— Elections are held in New York (United States of America) during the annual autumn session of the General Assembly. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: http://www.icj-cij.org)

QUESTION 5

The National Sports Governance Bill, introduced in Lok Sabha, proposes two major changes:

1. Formation of a National Sports Board with sweeping powers to lay down rules and oversee the functioning of federations, which does not include the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

2. Setting up a National Sports Tribunal with powers of a civil court to decide a range of disputes from selections of athletes to federation elections.

Which of the changes given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— The National Sports Governance Bill, introduced by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in Lok Sabha, proposes two major changes in the way sport is governed in the country.

— One, formation of a National Sports Board with sweeping powers to lay down rules and oversee the functioning of federations, including the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— Two, setting up a National Sports Tribunal with powers of a civil court to decide a range of disputes from selections of athletes to federation elections. Appeals against Tribunal decisions shall lie to the Supreme Court. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 6

Prasat Ta Muen Thom (an ancient temple) was recently in the news. It is located on the border of:

(a) Thailand and Cambodia

(b) Laos and Thailand

(c) Vietnam and Laos

(d) Cambodia and Vietnam

Explanation

— Thailand’s army launched strikes on Cambodian military sites along their disputed border, amidst recent deadly clashes which killed at least 11 Thai civilians.

— The two nations had downgraded their diplomatic relations a day earlier, after accusing each other of inciting violence. The exchange of fire has roots not only in their colonial history, including disputes over Hindu temples, but also in recent events.

— The Thai government has further claimed that Cambodia deployed drones to conduct surveillance of Thai troops at a military base near the Khmer Hindu temple, Prasat Ta Muen Thom.

Prasat Ta Muen Thom

— The temple is located about 400 km northeast of Bangkok, along the border of Thailand’s Surin province and Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province.

— The temple is a Khmer archaeological complex built by King Jayavarman VII and comprises three buildings. The main temple, Prasat Ta Muen Thom, is made of sandstone and features a shivalinga, as well as libraries.

— The complex also features Prasat Ta Muen, the Mahayana Buddhist religious site meant to offer refuge to travellers, and Prasat Ta Muen Tot, the hospital shrine for the local community.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 7

The word “Comet” was in the news. It is:

(a) AI-based browser

(b) AI-based missile

(c) AI based climate prediction

(d) AI based healthcare

Explanation

— Perplexity, known for its AI-powered search engine, earlier this month introduced its new AI-first browser, Comet, which is designed to help users assign various web tasks to AI agents. The browser is still in early access under the Perplexity Max plan, which costs $200 a month.

— From user responses and early reviews, Comet seems to be offering a glimpse into the future where web browsing will be a completely different experience. It will be like users delegating a task to an agent who would browse for them to accomplish it. In essence, a user will not be directly interacting with websites, but an AI agent will be doing it in the browser for them.

— Comet looks a lot like Google Chrome, and there is a good reason for that. The browser is built on the Chromium framework, which is an open-source architecture framework for web browsers maintained by Google. This framework is also the backbone of popular browsers such as Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Opera. Comet would support Chrome extensions, bookmarks, and even sync with a user’s settings if they import them.

— The AI-first browser is built from the ground up with Perplexity AI agents that are integrated directly into the browser. It not only helps users with search but also acts on their behalf across tabs, services, and platforms — this is why Perplexity describes Comet as an “agentic browser”.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 8

With reference to the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3, consider the following statements:

1. It is equipped with a high-definition dual-channel seeker that can strike a wide variety of targets.

2. It can be fired only in plain regions and not in the high-altitude areas.

3. It has day-and-night capability.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— A drone-launched precision-guided missile, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3 has been successfully test-fired by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at a test range in Andhra Pradesh.

— The missile is an enhanced version of the ULPGM-V2 missile developed and delivered by DRDO earlier.

— The ULPGM-V3 is outfitted with a high definition dual-channel seeker capable of striking a wide range of targets. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— It can be fired in plain and high-altitude areas. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— It includes day/night capability and a two-way data link to allow for post-launch target/aim-point updates. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— The missile has three modular warhead options: anti-armour to destroy modern armoured vehicles equipped with Rolled Homogeneous Armour (RHA) and Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA); penetration-cum-blast warhead with anti-bunker application; and pre-fragmentation warhead with a high lethality zone.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: http://www.pib.gov.in)

QUESTION 9

What is the correct order (low to high) of the following states in terms of road length in the National Highway network?

1. Rajasthan

2. Madhya Pradesh

3. Uttar Pradesh

4. Maharashtra

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1—2—4—3

(b) 1—4—2—3

(c) 4—2—3—1

(d) 4—3—1—2

Explanation

— The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is constantly working to improve India’s infrastructure through various mission-mode projects. Currently, the country’s road network spans more than 63 lakh kilometres.

— The overall length of national highways (NH) is 1,46,342 kilometres. This is a major expansion from 91,287 km in March 2014, with a 55,055 km gain in the National Highway network over the last decade.

— Maharashtra tops all states in terms of the longest National Highway network, with a total length of 18,462 km. It is followed by Uttar Pradesh with 12,123 km; Rajasthan with 10,733 km; Madhya Pradesh with 9,263 km; and Andhra Pradesh with 8,683 km.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 10

Which of the following countries are West African countries?

1. Niger

2. Kenya

3. Ghana

4. Burkina Faso

5. Rwanda

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 4

(b) 2, 3 and 5

(c) 3, 4 and 5

(d) 1, 3 and 4

Explanation

— Two Indian migrant workers were killed in the West African country of Niger on July 15, and another was abducted after a terror attack on their worksite, officials said.

— Western Africa comprises 16 countries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

— Kenya and Rwanda are East African Countries.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 11

Which of the following is the most expensive Earth observation satellite?

(a) HySIS

(b) Envisat

(c) Terra

(d) NISAR

Explanation

— NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR), an Earth observation satellite, is scheduled to liftoff at 5:40 PM on July 30 from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. Designed to provide high-resolution data of our planet’s surface, like land and ice, the satellite will showcase how Earth’s topography changes over time and help understand natural disasters like landslides and earthquakes.

— Jointly developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the satellite will be launched on the GSLV-F16 vehicle and has a price tag of $1.5 billion, making it the most expensive Earth observation satellite to date.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 12

Which of the following countries have decided to recognise Palestine as a state this September?

(a) Russia

(b) United States of America

(c) Israel

(d) France

Explanation

— France’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state this September has triggered a sharp backlash from Israel and the United States. President Emmanuel Macron announced on Friday that France would formally recognise the State of Palestine during his address to the United Nations General Assembly in September, framing the decision as a necessary step toward peace.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 13

India is witnessing a sharp increase in coconut oil prices. What could be the possible reasons?

1. lower production in the Philippines and Indonesia

2. diversion for the production of biodiesel

Which of the above given statements is/are true?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— A tight global supply, the result of lower production in the Philippines and Indonesia, plus diversion for the production of biodiesel, has made coconut oil the most expensive of all cooking oils today. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are true.

— Tom Jose, chairman of the Irinjalakuda (Kerala)-based KSE Limited, India’s largest solvent-extracted coconut oil producer, attributes the unprecedented price rise mainly to output in the Philippines and Indonesia falling due to El Niño-induced drought.

— These two countries are the world’s top producers-cum-exporters of the oil that is extracted from the dried white flesh or kernels of coconuts.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 14

The Kamchatka region was recently in the news due to a series of earthquakes measuring 6.0 in magnitude. Where is it located?

(a) Japan

(b) Russia

(c) China

(d) Antarctica

Explanation

— A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck near the coast of the Kamchatka region in the far east of Russia on Sunday, the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) said. The quake was at a depth of 10 km, GFZ said. It initially reported a magnitude of 6.2 for the earthquake.

— A separate earthquake measuring 6.7 magnitude struck off the east coast of Kamchatka at a depth of 10 km, shortly following the previous quake, according to GFZ data.

— The European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) shows the second earthquake to be of 7.4 magnitude. GFZ later updated the quake to a 7.4 magnitude.

— The US National Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami threat for parts of Russia, and a separate tsunami watch was issued for the state of Hawaii.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 15

With reference to GLP-1 consider the following statements:

1.It is an incretin hormone and a neurotransmitter.

2.It impacts centres in the brain associated with control of hunger and satiety.

3. Its effects in the pancreas and brain are the important ones to help control blood glucose and body weight.

Which of the statements given above is/are true?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

— GLP-1 is both an incretin hormone and a neurotransmitter. In physiology, it is secreted from the small intestine and from the hindbrain after we eat a meal. It travels to the pancreas, where it helps to regulate our blood sugar by increasing insulin and decreasing glucagon. This is what we call the incretin effect. This effect is blood glucose-dependent, meaning it is only if the blood glucose is elevated that it has an effect here. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— GLP-1 also impacts centres in the brain associated with control of hunger and satiety, to effectively tell us that we have had enough to eat and need to stop eating. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— There are receptors that GLP-1 binds to in many organs in the body, and GLP-1 also has beneficial effects in many of these organs, such as the kidney, liver, and cardiovascular system. GLP-1’s effects in the pancreas and brain are the important ones to help control blood glucose and body weight. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— Danish scientist Lotte Bjerre Knudsen is co-inventor of the first long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Last year, she, along with Joel Habener of Harvard Medical School and Rockefeller University biochemist Svetlana Mojsov, received the prestigious Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award for the discovery and development of GLP-1-based drugs, which have revolutionised the treatment of obesity.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Previous Weekly Quiz

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | July 13 to July 19, 2025

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | July 06 to July 12, 2025

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | June 28 to July 05, 2025

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | June 22 to June 28, 2025

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | June 15 to June 21, 2025

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