UPSC Weekly Quiz is a current affairs-based quiz on relevant topics from the past week, curated for the aspirants of competitive examinations. Attempt the weekly quiz every Saturday and find answers to the MCQs with explanations.🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for June 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨QUESTION 1With reference to ham radio, consider the following statements:1. It is a licensed radio service that relies on radio waves for establishing communication.2. It is largely deployed for educational and knowledge purposes.3. Communication cannot be set up between two licensed hams.4. In India, any individual above the age of 21 is permitted to operate a ham radio.How many of the statements given above are correct?(a) Only one(b) Only two(c) Only three(d) All fourExplanation— Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian astronaut, used a ham radio from the International Space Station to communicate with schoolchildren in his home country.— Amateur radio, sometimes known as ham radio, is a licensed radio service that uses radio waves to create communication. Ham radio service is mostly used for educational and informational purposes, as well as emergency or SOS communications. Trained ham operators can establish contact between two licensed amateur radio operators using a designated frequency, a transceiver, and an antenna. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct and statement 3 is not correct.Story continues below this ad— Communication might be hyper-local, global, or space-based. In India, everyone over the age of 12 is entitled to use a ham radio. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issues these licenses. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.— In 1983, amateur radio was used for the first time on a space shuttle to communicate between space and Earth.— The ISS also contains a ham radio, called the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS), which is frequently used to coordinate astronaut-student contacts. The goal of such exchanges is to encourage the next generation.— This teaching opportunity is supported by amateur radio organisations, as well as space agencies in the United States, Russia, Canada, Japan, and Europe, which provide equipment and operational support.Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.Story continues below this adQUESTION 2With reference to the INS Tamal, consider the following statements:1. It is commissioned at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia.2. It is the eighth Talwar-class frigate — improved versions of the Krivak III-class frigates — built by Russia for the Indian Navy as a part of Project 1135.6.3. The Navy describes INS Tamal as a “formidable moving fortress at sea”.How many of the statements given above are correct?(a) Only one(b) Only two(c) All three(d) NoneExplanationStory continues below this ad— The commissioning of INS Tamal at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia, possibly marks the Indian Navy’s final foreign-built warship. Hence, statement 1 is correct.— This is a significant milestone for the Navy, which has gradually indigenised shipbuilding by boosting the indigenous content in warships and designing them in India.— INS Tamal is the eighth Talwar-class frigate, which are modified versions of the Krivak III-class frigates manufactured by Russia for the Indian Navy under Project 1135.6. Hence, statement 2 is correct.— It is also the second of four further follow-on ships for the class ordered in 2018. The first, INS Tushil, was commissioned in Kaliningrad in December of last year. The final two, Triput and Tavasya, are being built in India by Goa Shipyard Limited, with Russian technology and design help. Triput, which was launched into the sea in July and is scheduled to be commissioned in 2026, will be India’s first indigenously built Talwar-class frigate.Story continues below this ad— The Navy describes INS Tamal as a “formidable moving fortress at sea”, and says that it is capable of carrying out blue water operations in all four dimensions of modern naval warfare — air, surface, underwater and electromagnetic. Hence, statement 3 is correct.Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.QUESTION 3The Gulf of Paria was recently in the news. It is a shallow body of water between:(a) The island of Trinidad and Venezuela(b) St. Lucia and Barbados(c) Barbados and St Vincent and the Grenadines(d) St Vincent and the Grenadines and BrazilExplanation— Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a large gathering of the Indian diaspora in Port of Spain, Trinidad, mentioning several eminent personalities with Indian roots, including mathematician and politician Dr Rudranath Capildeo (1920-70), Trinidadian musician ‘King of Chutney’ Sundar Popo, and former West Indies batsman Daren Ganga.— The Indian Prime Minister cited Sewdass Sadhu, a lesser-known indentured servant who is credited for single-handedly building the famed “Temple in the Sea” in the Gulf of Paria, a shallow body of water between Trinidad and Venezuela on the South American peninsula.Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.Story continues below this adQUESTION 4With reference to the fertilisers, consider the following statements:1. In 2023, India imported about 20 per cent of its total fertilisers from Gulf countries.2. India imports 100 per cent of muriate of potash (MOP).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— While worldwide headlines focus on oil prices in the aftermath of the Iran-Israel war, fertiliser security is an equally pressing problem, particularly in an agriculture-dependent country like India. Fertiliser is a quieter and less obvious catastrophe, but it strikes straight at the heart of food production, making it a national security concern.— India’s fertiliser security is inextricably linked to the Middle East, since the country relies heavily on countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Oman for both finished fertilisers and natural gas, the primary raw material required to manufacture them.Story continues below this ad— In 2023, India purchased approximately 20-25% of its total fertilisers from Gulf countries. Most of these imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow but critical shipping route that connects India to the Gulf. If regional tensions rise and this passage is delayed, it could have a significant influence on the supply chain, raising global fertiliser and natural gas prices and impacting Indian farmers and food production. Hence, statement 1 is correct.— India imports approximately 20% of its urea, 60% of its diammonium phosphate, and 100% of its muriate of potash. A considerable portion of urea and DAP originates in Gulf countries, making them more sensitive to regional disruptions. MOP, on the other hand, is imported from countries such as Canada, Belarus, and Israel, all of which are currently at odds with Iran. Hence, statement 2 is correct.Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.QUESTION 5Consider the following statements:1. He was born in Kolkata in 1893 to an influential Brahmo Samaj family.2. He came back to India and spent his life in both setting up statistics — the science of collecting and reading data — as an academic discipline, and applying the academic knowledge to practical scenarios.3. In 1950, he helped India conduct the National Sample Surveys.The above mentioned statements refer to:(a) Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao(b) Jayanta Kumar Ghosh(c) Anil Kumar Gain(d) Prasanta Chandra MahalanobisExplanationStory continues below this ad— June 29 is honoured as National Statistics Day. It is the birth anniversary of India’s father of statistics, Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis. Mahalanobis, often known as ‘The Professor’, was instrumental in establishing the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) in Kolkata as well as the Planning Commissions of independent India. Among his many gifts, India benefited the most from his ability to precisely and effectively comprehend the stories contained in datasets.— Born in Kolkata in 1893 to an aristocratic Brahmo Samaj family, Mahalanobis attended Presidency College before moving to London for further study. However, he returned to India and dedicated his life to both establishing statistics as an academic field and applying academic knowledge to real-world problems.— India’s National Sample Surveys have long been admired around the world for the detailed information they provide about homes. This data, which includes income, work status, health, and consumption habits, is then used to guide policy decisions. In 1950, Mahalanobis helped launch the first such survey.Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.QUESTION 6With reference to the Nipah Virus, consider the following statements:1. It is a viral disease.2. It is spread by birds.3. It can be spread from person to person.How many of the statements given above are correct?(a) Only one(b) Only two(c) All three(d) NoneExplanation— The Kerala Health Department issued an alert against the Nipah virus after two positive instances of the deadly zoonotic disease were discovered in two districts.About the Nipah Virus— Nipah is a severe and possibly fatal viral disease. Fruit bats spread the Nipah virus, which can infect humans and other animals. Hence, statement 1 is correct and statement 2 is not correct.— Nipah virus can be transmitted from person to person. Hence, statement 3 is correct.Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.QUESTION 7A retaliatory duty refers to:(a) It is implemented to force another country to lower its tariffs or make trade concessions.(b) Reducing dependence on a particular country by expanding trade with other nations.(c) Regulatory measures other than tariffs that restrict imports.(d) Imposing duties on foreign goods sold below fair market value.Explanation— The chances of a US concession on steel and auto tariffs under the trade deal appear slim, as India has proposed imposing retaliatory duties under World Trade Organisation (WTO) norms against the US auto tariffs. A similar step was taken on steel earlier this year, which was dismissed by the US at the top trade body.— The idea for retaliatory duties comes as government officials have stated that the US may not be prepared to make concessions on certain commodities to any country, and that contacting the WTO could help India maintain its negotiating position in future talks.— “The proposed suspension of concessions or other obligations would take the form of an increase in tariffs on selected products originating in the United States,” said a WTO notification disseminated at India’s request.— A retaliatory tariff is one imposed to force another country to lower its tariffs or make trade concessions.Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.QUESTION 8With reference to the Olive Ridley Turtle, consider the following statements:1. This species is among the smallest, but the most widespread and abundant of the world’s sea turtles.2. It is olive green in colour.3. They are only found in the tropical regions of the Pacific Ocean.How many of the statements given above are correct?(a) Only one(b) Only two(c) All three(d) NoneExplanation— The Environment Ministry’s Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) has postponed approval for the proposed international airport in Odisha’s Puri, citing regional office concerns about potential harm to Olive Ridley turtles, Irrawaddy dolphins, and migratory birds, as well as the impact of the loss of 13,000 trees that protect the coastline from cyclones.— The olive ridley’s heart-shaped shell is olive green in colour, hence the name. This species of sea turtle is among the smallest, but it is also the most widespread and plentiful. Olive ridleys have two nesting strategies: solitary or arribada. An arribada is the phenomenon of synchronised mass nesting by hundreds, if not tens of thousands, of olive ridleys. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct.— Olive ridleys are found all over the world, mainly in the tropical parts of the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic oceans. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.QUESTION 9Consider the following statements about the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC):1. It is headed by the Prime Minister.2. The DAC is the top body for clearing major capital acquisitions for defence.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— The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared a series of big-ticket procurements worth Rs 1.05 lakh crore for the Armed Forces — which includes armoured recovery vehicles (ARV), electronic warfare (EW) system, integrated common inventory management system for the tri-services and surface to air missiles.— According to the Defence Ministry, the DAC, led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), the first step in the lengthy defence procurement process, to 10 capital acquisition bids, all of which will be sourced domestically. However, grants of AoN do not always result in a final order. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.— The Defence Acquisition Council is the primary authority in charge of approving big capital acquisitions for defence. In a statement issued Thursday, the Ministry stated that these procurements will increase mobility, improve air defence, improve supply chain management, and strengthen the Armed Forces’ operational preparation. Hence, statement 2 is correct.Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.QUESTION 10India has agreed to sign a new 10-year defence partnership framework:(a) United Kingdom(b) Germany(c) United States(d) FranceExplanation— India and the United States have agreed to sign a new 10-year defence partnership framework when Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, meet later this year, a Pentagon spokesperson has said.— “On July 1, Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth spoke with India’s Minister of Defence, Rajnath Singh. Secretary Hegseth underlined the US’s focus on India as a vital defence partner in South Asia. Secretary Hegseth and Minister Singh discussed the significant progress both countries have made towards meeting the defence goals outlined in President (Donald) Trump and Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi’s joint statement of February 2025. The two talked about upcoming big US weapons purchases to India and the importance of tight defence industry collaboration between the two nations,” Col Devine added.— “Secretary Hegseth and Minister Singh agreed to sign the next 10-year US-India defence framework when they next meet this year,” a spokeswoman told reporters.Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.QUESTION 11With reference to recently released ‘Household Consumption Expenditure Survey for 2023-24’, consider the following statements:1. The difference in daily per capita calorie intake between India’s top and bottom 5 per cent of consumers narrowed in 2023-24, with the former eating fewer calories and the latter increasing their intake.2. Indians in urban areas reduced their daily consumption of protein in 2023-24 in comparison to 2022-23, while those in rural areas increased protein consumption for the same period.Which of the above given statements is/are true?(a) 1 only(b) 2 only(c) Both 1 and 2(d) Neither 1 nor 2Explanation— The difference in daily per capita calorie intake between India’s top and bottom 5 per cent of consumers narrowed in 2023-24, with the former eating fewer calories and the latter increasing their intake. In 2023-24, the top 5 per cent of Indians urban areas, as measured by their Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE), consumed 3,092 kilocalories (Kcal) per day, 82.3 per cent more than the 1,696 Kcal of the bottom 5 per cent, according to nutritional intake data based on the statistics ministry’s latest Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES). In 2022-23, the difference was 114.3 per cent.— In rural India, the daily calorie intake of the top 5 per cent was 2,941 Kcal, 74.2 per cent higher than that of the bottom 5 per cent’s 1,688 Kcal. In 2022-23, the difference was 93.9 per cent.— The narrowing of the gap in daily per capita calorie intake between the top and bottom 5 per cent in both rural and urban areas was primarily a result of lower consumption by the top 5 per cent and an increase in intake by the bottom 5 per cent. According to the MoSPI data, the calorie intake of the top 5 per cent of Indians in urban regions fell by as much as 11.1 per cent in 2023-24 from 2022-23. The reduction in calorie intake of the top 5 per cent in rural areas was 5.6 per cent.— Meanwhile, the bottom 5 per cent saw their daily calorie intake rise by 5 per cent in rural areas and 4.5 per cent in urban areas.— Interestingly, Indians in urban areas reduced their daily consumption of fat in 2023-24 to 69.8 grams (gm) from 70.5 gm in 2022-23, while those in rural areas increased it to 60.4 gm from 59.7 gm. Protein intake, meanwhile, was largely steady.Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.QUESTION 12With reference to Gaden Phodrang Foundation, consider the following statements:1. It was registered in 2011 in Dharamshala with the aim of recognising the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama.2. The Dalai Lama Trust is a part of it which supports the welfare of the Tibetan people and to promote human values, interfaith harmony, and world peace, which have been key elements of the Dalai Lama’s lifelong mission.Which of the statements given above is/are true?(a) 1 only(b) 2 only(c) Both 1 and 2(d) Neither 1 nor 2Explanation— The 14th Dalai Lama announced on Wednesday (July 2) “that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue” and that the Gaden Phodrang Trust shall be the “sole authority to recognize the future reincarnation”.— The Gaden Phodrang Trust is one of three institutions associated with the Dalai Lama. Penpa Tsering, Sikyong (President) of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), said:— “There are three registered institutions that are related to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. There is Gaden Phodrang Trust, which is a registered body in India and operates from the office of His Holiness, there is another Dalai Lama Trust, which [too] is a non-profit organisation, and the third is Gaden Phodrang Foundation, which is registered in Zurich.”— The Gaden Phodrang Trust was registered in 2011 in Dharamshala with the aim of recognising the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. It is based in the office of the Dalai Lama, and is managed by the former Kalon Tripa (head of the CTA) Prof Samdhong Rinpoche, a senior monk and a close confidant of the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama heads the trust, whose members include some other aides of the spiritual leader.Gaden Phodrang Foundation— The foundation is a tax-exempt Swiss nonprofit with its registered office in Zurich, and is supervised by the Swiss Federal Department of Home Affairs. It is funded by charitable contributions made by the founder and the public.The Dalai Lama Trust— The Dalai Lama Trust is a non-profit charitable organisation founded by the 14th Dalai Lama in 2009. It is headquartered in New Delhi but works with a range of partners internationally, too.— The purpose of the trust is to support the welfare of the Tibetan people and to promote human values, interfaith harmony, and world peace, which have been key elements of the Dalai Lama’s lifelong mission.Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.QUESTION 13With reference to “QUAD at Sea Ship Observer Mission”, recently seen in news, consider the following statements:1. The cross-embarkation mission marks an unprecedented step in QUAD Coast Guard collaboration, enhancing joint readiness, operational coordination, and domain awareness in support of a Free, Open, Inclusive, and Rules-Based Indo-Pacific2. The mission is active under the Washington Declaration.Which of the above given statements is/are true?(a) 1 only(b) 2 only(c) Both 1 and 2(d) Neither 1 nor 2Explanation— The Coast Guards of QUAD nations –India, Japan, the United States, and Australia– launched the first-ever “QUAD at Sea Ship Observer Mission,” the Ministry of Defence announced on Monday.— “The cross-embarkation mission marks an unprecedented step in QUAD Coast Guard collaboration, enhancing joint readiness, operational coordination, and domain awareness in support of a Free, Open, Inclusive, and Rules-Based Indo-Pacific,” the ministry said in its official statement.— Further, it stated that the mission is in line with the vision presented at the QUAD Leaders’ Summit in September 2024, signifying deeper ties between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), Japan Coast Guard (JCG), US Coast Guard (USCG), and Australian Border Force (ABF), the statement read.— The mission is active under the Wilmington Declaration. During the Summit held in Wilmington, Delaware, the leaders of respective nations had planned to launch the initiative to improve interoperability and advance maritime safety, The Indian Express reported.Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.QUESTION 14With reference to India’s coastline, consider the following statements:1. India’s coastline is shorter than it used to be, almost 50% less than the previous length.2. This change in the length of the coastline is because of the climate change implications, acquisition of territory and due to more accurate measurements that have recently been carried out.Which of the statements given above is/are true?(a) 1 only(b) 2 only(c) Both 1 and 2(d) Neither 1 nor 2Explanation— India’s coastline is now far longer than it used to be, almost 50% more than the previous length. This increase has happened not because of any acquisition of territory, but due to more accurate measurements that have recently been carried out.— Additionally, the number of islands in India has increased slightly. This rise in the number has taken place due to India’s reassessment and recount of its offshore islands.Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.QUESTION 15Which of the following has become the first nation to officially recognise the Taliban government in Afghanistan?(a) Turkey(b) Egypt(c) North Korea(d) RussiaExplanation— Russia has become the first nation to officially recognise the Taliban government in Afghanistan, after accepting the credentials of the group’s newly appointed ambassador in Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday. In a statement, the ministry said it sees good prospects for expanding ties with Kabul and pledged continued cooperation in areas such as security, counter-terrorism, and the fight against drug trafficking.Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.Previous Weekly QuizUPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | June 22 to June 28, 2025UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | June 15 to June 21, 2025UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | June 08 to June 14, 2025UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | June 01 to June 07, 2025UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | May 25, to May 31, 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.