Daily Current Affairs UPSC: News Based MCQs Quiz | 18th September 2025

Answer: (A) 1 only

Detailed Explanation

Answer: (B) 2 only

Detailed Explanation

• In April, two cheetahs were relocated from Kuno to Gandhi Sagar, originally brought from South Africa in 2023. They were chosen due to their wild traits, hunting record and age. Gandhi Sagar and Kuno are 250 km apart.
• Under Project Cheetah, the animals were first relocated from Africa to India in September 2022 to reintroduce the species after its extinction in 1952. The key aims are rejuvenating the local ecosystem and enhancing biodiversity. With 19 cubs and 10 older cheetahs, their population in India stands at 29.
• Gandhi Sagar is spread across 2,500 sq km, abutting Rajasthan, and is a mix of grasslands, dry deciduous forests, and riverine evergreen patches — an ideal habitat for cheetahs. It has a carrying capacity of 10 cheetahs, at present.
• Researchers say that a female cheetah typically reaches physiological puberty between 25–30 months of age and has their first litter at around 29 months. Whereas, male cheetahs delay reproduction until reaching prime adulthood (between 48 to 96 months), when they are capable of acquiring and defending territories.

Answer: (C) Both 1 and 2

Detailed Explanation

Answer: (A) Bennett Coleman and Co. vs Union of India

Detailed Explanation

Bennett Coleman and Co. vs Union of India

• The petitioners (Bennett Coleman and Co.) challenged the restrictions imposed on the import policy of the newsprint under Import Control Order 1955 and under the Newsprint Order 1962. The newsprint policy of 1972-73 then placed further restrictions under four features:
• established newspaper companies cannot start new newspapers if they already own two newspapers, one of which is a daily newspaper.
• The maximum limit on the number of pages in a newspaper was set to be 10 pages.
• Increase in the number of pages shall not be more than 20% for newspapers that are under 10 pages.
• Interchanging newsprint was not allowed between different papers of same establishment or between different editions of the same newspaper.
• Under these newsprint policies, even within the quota limit, the petitioners were not allowed to make adjustments and hence this was challenged under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India i.e., Freedom of Speech and Expression.
• Held: The Supreme Court in this case held that the petitioner’s case was maintainable and stated that even though the petitioner was a company, it cannot be taken as a bar to not award relief for violation of rights of shareholders and staff. The Court also said that as claimed by the respondents, Article 358 cannot be applied to laws passed before the proclamation of emergency and hence, the newsprint policy can be challenged in the court.
• The Court held that the Newsprint Policy of 1972-73 was unconstitutional. And the case went in favor of the petitioners.

Hamdard Dawakhana vs Union of India

• This case was related to the advertisement of prohibited drugs and commodities. The product sold by the petitioners was said to have self-medicating values which was advertised to the general public as well. The petitioners in the case alleged that they were experiencing difficulty to advertise their product as many objections were raised against their advertisements.
• The Supreme Court in this case held that an obnoxious advertisement cannot come within the scope of Article 19(1)(a). It held that an advertisement as an ‘commercial speech’ has two things to keep in mind:
• advertisement which is a commercial transaction is just spreading of information regarding the product.
• it is beneficial for the public if the information is available to them through the means of advertisement.
• Examined from another angle, the court said that the public at large has a “right to receive” the “commercial speech”. Article 19(1)(a) not only guaranteed freedom of speech and expression but also protects the right of an individual to listen, read and receive the said speech.
• Advertisement of prohibited drugs would, therefore, not fall within the scope of Article 19(1)(a).

Romesh Thappar vs State of Madras

• In this case, the petitioner used to a publish and circulate a newspaper names “cross roads” which used to review and criticize the schemes and activities of the government of Madras. The government of Madras banned the entry and circulation of this newspaper in the state by the restriction of public safety grounds.
• The supreme court in this case said that the right of circulation of the newspaper lies solely with the establishment i.e., the company of the newspaper and the state of Madras cannot interfere with the same. The ground of Public safety under Article 19(2) is not a reasonable restriction and hence a ban on entry and circulation of the newspaper by the state of Madras cannot be imposed under Article 19(2).

Prabha Dutt vs Union of India

• The petitioner, Smt. Prabha Dutt Chief reported of Hindustan Times filed a petition under Article 32 of the Indian Constitution asking for a writ directing the respondent, the superintendent of Tihar Jail, to allow her to interview the two convicts named Billa and Ranga who are charged with death sentence for an offence under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and the petitions filled by them to the President of India for communication of the sentence are reported to have been rejected by the President recently.
• The Supreme Court in this case directed the Superintendent of the Tihar Jail to allow the representatives of a few newspapers to interview two death sentence convicts under Article 19(1)(a) as “the right under Article 19(1)(a) is not an absolute right, nor indeed does it confer any right on the press to have an unrestricted access to means of information”

Answer: (A) 1 only

Detailed Explanation

• The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the primary global treaty for coordinating international efforts to combat climate change by stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations.
• Adopted in 1992, it set the foundation for future agreements, including the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, and established a framework for annual meetings called Conferences of the Parties (COPs) where nations negotiate and implement climate policies.
• The ultimate goal is to prevent dangerous, human-induced interference with the climate system and promote sustainable development
• The Kyoto Protocol was an international treaty under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) adopted in 1997, which committed industrialized nations to legally binding targets to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. It aimed to cut emissions of six key gases by an average of 5. 2% below 1990 levels during its first commitment period (2008–2012) and provided mechanisms like emissions trading to help achieve these goals. The protocol became international law in 2005 and was a landmark agreement, although it faced challenges and was superseded by the Paris Agreement.
• Targeted Gases: The protocol focused on six main greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆).

Answer: (C) Least Concerned

Detailed Explanation

• The hilsa fish (Tenualosa ilisha) is classified as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN. Despite this designation, the species faces significant threats from overfishing, pollution, and habitat degradation, leading to a declining population in India and Bangladesh. The fish is culturally significant as the national fish of Bangladesh and is a vital food source for millions, but declining stocks have prompted management measures such as fishing bans during breeding seasons.

IUCN Status and Threats

• Least Concern (LC): The hilsa fish’s official status on the IUCN Red List is Least Concern.
• Overfishing: Indiscriminate and overfishing has led to a significant decrease in hilsa populations.
• Pollution: Pollution in the rivers where hilsa spawn also contributes to their declining numbers.
• Habitat Degradation: Environmental factors such as river bank erosion, increased temperatures, siltation, and extreme weather events degrade spawning grounds and habitats.

Ecological and Cultural Significance

• National Symbol: Hilsa is the national fish of Bangladesh and a state symbol in West Bengal and Tripura, India.
• Food Source: It is a popular and sought-after food fish in the Indian subcontinent, providing sustenance and livelihood to millions of people, especially the poor.
• Ecosystem Health: The presence of hilsa signifies the health of marine ecosystems.
• Migration: The saltwater hilsa undertakes remarkable upstream migrations from the Bay of Bengal into the freshwater systems of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers to spawn.

Management and Conservation

• Fishing Bans: To protect the species, fishing bans are imposed during the breeding season to safeguard brood hilsa and juvenile fish (jatka).
• Sustainable Practices: Efforts are underway, including establishing sanctuaries and implementing incentive-based management, to conserve hilsa fisheries for sustainable exploitation.
• Knowledge Gaps: Despite ongoing efforts, there is a need for more comprehensive research on the hilsa’s biology, ecology, and life cycle to ensure effective sustainable management.

Answer: (A) Arunachal Pradesh

Detailed Explanation

• Kachin State is a northern state of Myanmar and borders the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh to its northwest, as well as the Chinese provinces of Tibet (Xizang) and Yunnan to its north and east, respectively, and Shan State to its south.
• The westernmost border of Kachin State touches India’s Arunachal Pradesh.