Daily Current Affairs UPSC: News Based MCQs Quiz | 15th August 2025

Answer: (C) Both 1 and 2

Detailed Explanation

• Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by consuming food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It is a global public health threat and indicates inequity and lack of social and economic development. Access to safe water, basic sanitation and hygiene is essential to prevent cholera and other waterborne diseases.
• Vibrio cholerae strains
• Only two serogroups, O1 and O139, cause cholera outbreaks. V. cholerae O1 has caused all recent outbreaks. V. cholerae O139 caused outbreaks in Asia in the past but has recently only been identified in sporadic cases. There is no difference in the illness caused by the two serogroups.

Answer: (B) High melting and Boiling Point

Detailed Explanation

• Lithium is a soft, silvery-white alkali metal, known for being the lightest metal. It’s highly reactive and readily forms compounds with other elements. It has a low density, high specific heat capacity, and is a good conductor of heat and electricity.
• Physical Properties:
• Lightest metal: Lithium has the lowest density of all metals, making it lighter than water.
• Soft and silvery-white: When fresh, it has a metallic lustre but quickly tarnishes in air to a dull silvery-grey and then black.
• High specific heat: Lithium can absorb a large amount of heat without a significant temperature change, making it useful in heat transfer applications.
• High thermal conductivity: Lithium is a good conductor of heat.
• Low viscosity: It has a low resistance to flow, making it useful in certain applications.
• Low melting and high boiling points: Lithium melts at 180. 5°C and boils at 1330°C.

Answer: (A) 1 only

Detailed Explanation

• A decline in WPI (Wholesale Price Index) inflation, particularly when it becomes negative, signifies a broad decrease in the prices of goods at the wholesale level. This means that producers and manufacturers are selling their products at lower prices compared to the previous year, indicating a potential slowdown in demand or increased supply.
• A rise in the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) indicates that prices of goods at the wholesale level are increasing. This means that businesses, particularly manufacturers and wholesalers, are paying more for raw materials and goods they purchase for production or resale. Essentially, it signals rising inflationary pressures in the economy, particularly on the production side.

Answer: (C) Both 1 and 2

Detailed Explanation

• This happens when a country imports capital goods (like machinery) needed for production, or when a trade deficit encourages domestic businesses to become more competitive and efficient to meet foreign competition. However, a sustained trade deficit can also lead to negative consequences like job losses and increased national debt.
• The effectiveness of exchange rate adjustments depends on the price elasticity of demand for both exports and imports. If demand for exports is elastic (meaning a price change leads to a larger proportional change in quantity demanded), devaluation can significantly boost export revenue.

Answer: (A) Bering Strait

Detailed Explanation

• Alaska’s maritime borders include the Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea, Chukchi Sea, and Beaufort Sea. It also borders Canada to the east, and Russia to the west across the Bering Strait. The maritime boundary with Russia is defined in the Bering Strait and is a key point of international maritime law.

Answer: (B) Mahavir Chakra

Detailed Explanation

• India has two main categories of gallantry awards: wartime and peacetime.
• Wartime gallantry awards, such as the Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, and Vir Chakra, are given for acts of valor in the presence of the enemy.
• Peacetime gallantry awards, including the Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra, recognize bravery and courage displayed outside of direct combat situations, either by military personnel or civilians.
• Wartime Gallantry Awards:
• Param Vir Chakra: India’s highest wartime gallantry award, recognizing the most conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy.
• Maha Vir Chakra: The second-highest wartime gallantry award, for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy.
• Vir Chakra: The third-highest wartime gallantry award, also for acts of bravery in the face of the enemy.
• Peacetime Gallantry Awards:
• Ashoka Chakra: India’s highest peacetime gallantry award, recognizing conspicuous courage, or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield.
• Kirti Chakra: The second-highest peacetime gallantry award, for acts of valor, courageous action or self-sacrifice.
• Shaurya Chakra: The third-highest peacetime gallantry award, awarded for acts of gallantry.
• These awards are announced twice a year, on Independence Day and Republic Day, and presented by the President of India

Answer: (C) Both 1 and 2

Detailed Explanation

• India has been assigned unrestricted use of three rivers in the eastern region, namely Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej.
• Pakistan, on the other hand, has been allocated unrestricted use of the three western rivers, namely Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab.
• However, India is permitted limited utilisation of the western rivers for specific purposes such as domestic consumption, non-consumptive uses, and agriculture.