Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for July 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.comQUESTION 1With reference to the “Daruma Doll”, consider the following statements:1. It is a traditional Chinese wish doll.2. It is modelled after Bodhidharma.3. It is considered a symbol of perseverance and good luck.How many of the statements given above are correct?(a) Only one(b) Only two(c) All three(d) NoneExplanation— On the inaugural day of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Japan, Rev Seishi Hirose, chief priest of the Daruma-ji temple, presented him with a Daruma Doll — an iconic cultural symbol of Japan.— The Daruma is a traditional Japanese wish doll, which is typically made of papier-mâché. It is modelled after Bodhidharma, the 5th-century founder of Zen Buddhism. Hence, statement 1 is not correct and statement 2 is correct.— The doll is considered a symbol of perseverance and good luck, often used to represent setting and achieving goals, according to the Japanese website daruma.jp. Hence, statement 3 is correct.Story continues below this ad— The Daruma symbolises meditation of Bodhidharma, an Indian monk from Kancheepuram, known in Japan as Daruma Daishi. It is believed that Bodhidharma meditated for nine years continuously, facing a wall, with his limbs folded. This belief explains the Daruma doll’s peculiar, rounded shape with no limbs and no eyes. Bodhidharma is said to have meditated in a cave in Henan Province, China, after travelling there from India.Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.QUESTION 2With reference to the Blue Dragons, consider the following statements:1. These are a small type of sea slug that live on the ocean surface, drifting with the currents.2. They feed on jellyfish.3. They are typically found in temperate waters.How many of the statements given above are correct?(a) Only one(b) Only two(c) All three(d) NoneExplanation— Several beaches in Spain — such as the beaches of Vivers in Guardamar del Segura, Santa Bárbara beach in La Línea de la Concepción, and Famara beaches in Lanzarote — were closed earlier this month after a tiny species of sea slug began to wash ashore in droves. These were blue dragons — barely four centimetres long but capable of delivering one of the most ferocious stings in the animal world.Story continues below this ad— Blue dragons (Glaucus atlanticus) are a small type of sea slug that live on the ocean surface, drifting with the currents. While other sea slugs live on the seabed, blue dragons float upside down, like when we float on our backs. They can do so by swallowing and maintaining an air bubble in the stomach. Hence, statement 1 is correct.— Blue dragons have another unique trait. They feed on jellyfish and venomous siphonophores such as the Portuguese man o’ war, and incorporate the stinging cells of the jellies into multiple finger-like structures protruding from their bodies. Hence, statement 2 is correct.— Blue dragons occur in the warm tropical waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans. In recent years, they have been cited farther afield, in countries such as Australia, South Africa, and the United States. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.QUESTION 3With reference to the H-1B visa program, consider the following statements:Story continues below this ad1. It allows American employers to hire immigrant workers in occupations that require “a high level of skill” and “at least a bachelor’s degree”.2. There is no capping on the total number of new H-1B visas.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?(a) 1 only(b) 2 only(c) Both 1 and 2(d) Neither 1 nor 2Explanation— United States Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called the H-1B visa program a “scam” and asked “all great American businesses” to “hire Americans”.— The H-1B program has long been a highly desired pathway for Indians to migrate to the US — more than 70% of all approved H-1B petitions since 2015 have been from Indians, according to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) data.Story continues below this ad— The H-1B visa program allows American employers to hire immigrant workers in occupations that require “a high level of skill” and “at least a bachelor’s degree”, according to the US Department of Labor. Hence, statement 1 is correct.— The US government has capped the total number of new H-1B visas at 65,000 each financial year. Another 20,000 visas can be given to those who have obtained a Master’s degree or higher from a US institution. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.QUESTION 4The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has an agreement to develop the Chandrayaan-5 / LUPEX (LUnar Polar EXploration) mission in collaboration with:(a) European Space Agency(b) National Aeronautics and Space Administration(c) Canadian Space Agency(d) Japan Aerospace Exploration AgencyExplanation— India and Japan unveiled a joint declaration on security cooperation, launched an Economic Security Initiative with a special focus on advanced technologies as Tokyo announced its plan to invest $68 billion in India over the next decade.Story continues below this ad— An agreement between ISRO and Japan’s space agency JAXA for Chandrayaan-5 mission, marking enhanced cooperation in space exploration, was also unveiled.— The Chandrayaan-5 / LUPEX (LUnar Polar EXploration) mission will be the fifth mission in the Chandrayaan series of lunar missions, working with JAXA, to study the lunar volatile materials, including lunar water, in the vicinity of a Permanently Shadowed Region (PSR) in the lunar South pole. This follows the legacy of Chandrayaan-1, Chandrayaan-2 (orbiter-based lunar exploration), Chandrayaan-3 (lander-rover based in-situ exploration), and the upcoming Chandrayaan-4 (India’s first lunar sample return mission).— The mission will be launched by JAXA onboard its H3-24L launch vehicle, carrying the ISRO-made lunar lander, which will carry the MHI, Japan-made lunar rover. ISRO, apart from developing the lunar lander, is also responsible for developing a few scientific instruments for the mission.Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.(Other Source: http://www.isro.gov.in)QUESTION 5With reference to the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC), consider the following statements:Story continues below this ad1. It carries warm surface waters from the tropics towards the Northern Hemisphere.2. Gulf Stream is not a part of the AMOC.3. An AMOC shutdown would cool the northern hemisphere and increase rainfall over Europe.How many of the statements given above are correct?(a) Only one(b) Only two(c) All three(d) NoneExplanation— A new study has found that the collapse of a critical Atlantic current should not be considered a low-likelihood event anymore. The analysis has said the tipping point that makes an Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) shut down inevitable could be breached within a few decades. However, the collapse of the current itself may not happen until 50 to 100 years later.— The AMOC is a large system of ocean currents. It is the Atlantic branch of the ocean conveyor belt or thermohaline circulation (THC), and it distributes heat and nutrients throughout the world’s ocean basins.Story continues below this ad— AMOC carries warm surface waters from the tropics towards the Northern Hemisphere, where it cools and sinks. It then returns to the tropics and then to the South Atlantic as a bottom current. From there, it is distributed to all ocean basins via the Antarctic circumpolar current. Hence, statement 1 is correct.— Gulf Stream, a part of the AMOC, is a warm current responsible for the mild climate on the Eastern coast of North America as well as Europe. Without a proper AMOC and Gulf Stream, Europe will be very cold. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.— Modelling studies have shown that an AMOC shutdown would cool the northern hemisphere and decrease rainfall over Europe. It can also affect the El Niño. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.QUESTION 6With reference to the National Sports Day, consider the following statements:1. The day commemorates the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand.2. The theme for the year 2025 is ‘Ek Ghanta, Khel ke Maidan Main’.3. National Sports Day was first celebrated in 2010 to promote sports in the country and acknowledge the efforts of Indian athletes.4. The Khelo India movement was launched on the occasion of National Sports Day in 2015.How many of the statements given above are correct?(a) Only one(b) Only two(c) Only three(d) All fourExplanation— India’s National Sports Day is celebrated on August 29 annually. The day commemorates the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand, who was born on August 29, 1905. Hence, statement 1 is correct.— Widely regarded as the greatest field hockey player of all time, Dhyan Chand was also known as the “Wizard of Hockey”.— As part of a “nationwide sports and fitness movement from August 29 to 31,” the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is commemorating it on Friday, August 29, 2025, with the theme “Ek Ghanta, Khel ke Maidan Main.” Hence, statement 2 is correct.— The purpose of commemorating National Sports Day, which was first observed in 2012, is to honour Indian athletes’ achievements and encourage sports throughout the nation. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.— The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, India’s highest sporting distinction, is one of the many renowned sports prizes that the president of India frequently bestows.— The Indian government uses this day to introduce a number of sporting initiatives, such as the Prime Minister’s 2018 announcement of the Khelo India movement. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.QUESTION 7India-Japan bilateral relations were elevated to:1. Global Partnership in 2000.2. Strategic and Global Partnership in 20103. Special Strategic and Global Partnership in 2020Select the correct answer using the codes given below:(a) 1 only(b) 2 and 3 only(c) 1 and 3 only(d) 3 onlyExplanation— Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for Japan for the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit with his Japanese counterpart Shigeru Ishiba.— Japan and Russia are India’s two oldest Annual Summit-level mechanisms. India-Japan bilateral relations were elevated to Global Partnership in 2000, Strategic and Global Partnership in 2006, and Special Strategic and Global Partnership in 2014. Hence, 1 is correct and 2 and 3 are not correct.— The partnership between India and Japan, two of Asia’s leading democracies and among the world’s top five economies, is rooted in civilizational ties that have been reinforced by convergence in their regional and global outlooks.— India’s Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) align closely with Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) policy. Japan leads IPOI’s connectivity pillar, and is India’s largest Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) donor.Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.QUESTION 8With reference to the Titas River, consider the following statements:1. It forms part of the Surma-Meghna river system.2. The river originates in India.3. It flows along Meghalaya and merges directly with the Brahmaputra River.How many of the statements given above are correct?(a) Only one(b) Only two(c) All three(d) NoneExplanation— The Tripura government is considering using the water that flows into the Titas River in Bangladesh to supply drinking water to Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) areas, Chief Minister Manik Saha said.— The Titas River merges with the Meghna River, forms part of the Surma-Meghna river system and flows along Tripura. Hence, statement 1 is correct and statement 3 is not correct.— The 98 km-long Titas River originates in Brahmanbaria in Bangladesh. It flows near Tripura and enters Bangladesh at several places—entering 5 km in some areas, and 10-12 km in others. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.QUESTION 9With reference to the dams and rivers associated, consider the following pairs:1. Pong dam – Chenab2. Ranjit Sagar Dam – Beas3. Bhakra Nangal Dam – SutlejHow many of the pairs given above are correct?(a) Only one pair(b) Only two pairs(c) All three pairs(d) None of the pairsExplanation— Amid the current flood-like conditions in Punjab, several villages across more than 10 districts are affected due to heavy discharge of water from Bhakra, Pong and Ranjit Sagar dams.— The Bhakra Dam is built on the Sutlej River near Nangal, close to the border of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab (near Rupnagar district). It is one of India’s highest gravity dams. Hence, pair 3 is correct.— The Pong dam or the Maharana Pratap Sagar Dam is built on the Beas in Himachal Pradesh near Kangra district, but supplies water to Punjab. Hence, pair 1 is not correct.— Ranjit Sagar Dam (RSD) (Thein Dam) is located on the Ravi River at the border of Punjab (Pathankot) and Jammu & Kashmir. It primarily serves the purposes of hydroelectric power generation and irrigation. Hence, pair 2 is not correct.Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.QUESTION 10The country’s first bullet train, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project, will pass through:1. Gujarat2. Goa3. Maharashtra4. Dadra & Nagar HaveliSelect the correct answer using the codes given below:(a) 1 and 3 only(b) 1, 2 and 3(c) 1, 2, 3 and 4(d) 1, 3 and 4Explanation— Bullet train in India: India’s bullet train project is designed for Japanese Shinkansen trains, which were first introduced in 1964 on the Tokyo–Shin-Osaka route. The term ‘Shinkansen’ literally means ‘New Trunk Line’. According to National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), “India will have similar Shinkansen trains (E5 series) between Mumbai and Ahmedabad in near future. These trains will have an operating speed of 320 kmph and cover a distance of 508 kms in 2 hrs 7 minutes on a limited stop service.”— The country’s first bullet train will run on the 508-km-long Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor. The MAHSR project is passing through the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli with 12 stations planned at Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Billimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad and Sabarmati.Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.Previous Weekly QuizUPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | August 17 to August 23, 2025UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | August 10 to August 16, 2025UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | August 03 to August 09, 2025UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | July 27 to August 02, 2025UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | July 20 to July 26, 2025Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week.Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.