Daily Current Affairs UPSC: News Based MCQs Quiz | 5th August 2025

Answer: (A) 1 only

Detailed Explanation

• Uranium hexafluoride (UF₆), commonly called “hex”, is a volatile, white, crystalline solid used in the uranium enrichment process.
• Palladium is a rare, silvery-white, lustrous transition metal belonging to the platinum group metals. It is known for its resistance to corrosion, its ability to absorb hydrogen, and its catalytic properties. Its primary use is in catalytic converters for vehicles.
• USA still imports uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV from Russia.
• The tariff levied is to be paid by the importer wherein if the import duty increases, the importer will not be interested in importing the goods from that particular nation as it will be costlier.

Answer: (B) 2 only

Detailed Explanation

• Women make up 13. 4% of IAF, 6. 85% Army and 6% Navy workforce.
• All branches for women are open in the Indian Air Force.
• 12 branches are open for women in the Army and All branches except submarines are open for women in the Navy.

Answer: (B) Enviro-Legal Action vs. Union of India

Detailed Explanation

• The Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action v. Union of India case, also known as the Bichhri case, is a landmark judgment in Indian environmental jurisprudence because it applied and defined the “Polluter Pays” Principle for the first time in India. This case highlighted severe environmental degradation caused by chemical factories in Bichhri village, Rajasthan, which were operating without proper authorization and disposing of untreated hazardous waste.

The Polluter Pays Principle

• This principle states that the party responsible for causing pollution should bear the costs associated with managing and mitigating its impact, including cleaning up the damage and compensating affected parties.
• It aims to incentivize industries and individuals to adopt cleaner practices and reduce pollution by making them financially accountable for the harm they cause to the environment and public health.
• The principle was first introduced by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 1972 and has since been incorporated into various international environmental agreements, including the 1992 Rio Declaration.

Answer: (D) All of the above

Detailed Explanation

• IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered.
• CITES: Appendix II.
• Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972: Schedule IV.

Answer: (A) 1 only

Detailed Explanation

• Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme aims to reduce reliance on crude oil imports.
• The Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme in India is a significant initiative aimed primarily at reducing the nation’s reliance on crude oil imports
• Reduced Import Dependence: India heavily relies on crude oil imports, and the EBP Programme seeks to lessen this dependency by substituting imported petrol with domestically produced ethanol, enhancing energy security and saving foreign exchange.
• Environmental Benefits: Ethanol is considered a cleaner-burning fuel than conventional petrol, and its blending helps in reducing vehicular emissions and improving air quality, contributing to India’s climate goals.
• Boost to Agriculture: The programme encourages domestic ethanol production, primarily from sugarcane molasses, maize, and other biomass sources, thereby providing a boost to the agricultural sector and ensuring expeditious payments to farmers.
• Key Targets and Achievements: Launched in 2003, the EBP Programme initially aimed for 10% ethanol blending by 2022, a target successfully achieved ahead of schedule in June 2022. Subsequently, the target for 20% ethanol blending (E20) was advanced from 2030 to the Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-26, with India reportedly achieving 20% blending by March 2025, ahead of the revised deadline.

Answer: (B) 2 only

Detailed Explanation

• A Heat Action Plan (HAP) is a comprehensive early warning and preparedness system designed to mitigate the adverse impacts of extreme heat events, particularly heatwaves, on human health and well-being
• These plans are crucial in regions susceptible to high temperatures and are implemented at various levels, from city and district to state levels, to reduce heat-related illnesses and mortality.

Core Objectives of a Heat Action Plan:

• Early Warning and Alert System: To provide timely forecasts and warnings about impending heatwaves and extreme temperatures, allowing authorities and the public to take necessary precautions.
• Preparedness and Response: To establish mechanisms for effective response during heat events, including identifying vulnerable populations and areas, and ensuring the availability of resources like cooling centers, drinking water, and medical support.
• Capacity Building: To train healthcare professionals, community workers, and other stakeholders to recognize and respond to heat-related illnesses, and to raise public awareness about heat risks and preventive measures.
• Long-term Adaptation: To integrate heat resilience measures into urban planning and development, such as promoting green infrastructure (tree planting), cool roofing technologies, and heat-resistant building materials to reduce urban heat island effects.

Key Components and Strategies:

• Vulnerability Assessment and Mapping: Identifying populations most susceptible to heat-related health issues (e.g., elderly, children, outdoor workers, slum dwellers) and mapping heat-vulnerable areas to prioritize interventions.
• Inter-agency Coordination: Defining roles and responsibilities for various government departments (e.g., health, disaster management, urban development) and other stakeholders for coordinated action before, during, and after heatwaves.
• Public Awareness and Communication: Disseminating information on heat safety through various channels, including do’s and don’ts during heatwaves, symptoms of heat-related illnesses, and locations of cooling centers.
• Health System Preparedness: Ensuring hospitals and health facilities are equipped to handle heat-related illnesses, with adequate supplies and trained personnel.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Establishing systems to track heat-related morbidity and mortality, and evaluating the effectiveness of the HAP to make necessary improvements over time.