Daily Current Affairs Quiz
Daily Quiz — March 4, 2026
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Question 1 of 10
World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development is observed on March 4 every year. Under whose aegis was this day recognised in 2019?
World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development (WED) was proclaimed at UNESCO’s 40th General Conference in November 2019, based on a proposal by the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO). It is observed on March 4 every year — a date chosen to coincide with the anniversary of WFEO, which was founded on 4 March 1968.
The day promotes engineering’s role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The day promotes engineering’s role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
🎯 Concept Kit — tap to expand
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is headquartered in Paris, France, and was established in 1945. Engineering underpins all physical aspects of development — highways, railways, renewable energy, semiconductors, urban water systems, digital public infrastructure, and climate-resilient construction. India produces over 1.5 million engineering graduates annually but faces quality gaps in specialised fields like civil works, chip design, and environmental engineering — a recurring UPSC Mains GS-3 theme.
Question 2 of 10
World Obesity Day is observed on which date each year, and which organisation leads this observance globally?
World Obesity Day is observed on March 4 each year, led globally by the World Obesity Federation. The observance emphasises that obesity is a systems failure shaped by food environments, urban design, and health policies — not just individual behaviour.
April 7 is World Health Day (WHO). India faces a double burden: persistent undernutrition and stunting coexisting with rapidly rising urban obesity rates.
April 7 is World Health Day (WHO). India faces a double burden: persistent undernutrition and stunting coexisting with rapidly rising urban obesity rates.
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India’s double burden of malnutrition has significant public policy implications: the same community may have underweight children and overweight adults. Policy tools include food labelling (FSSAI regulations), school nutrition rules, urban design for walkability, and primary healthcare screening. Obesity increases risk of Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, fatty liver disease, and certain cancers. India’s National Health Policy 2017 emphasises preventive and promotive healthcare over reactive treatment.
Question 3 of 10
Evo 2 is an AI model in the genomic domain. Which institution led its development as reported in early 2026?
Evo 2 was developed through work involving the Arc Institute, researchers linked to Stanford University, and NVIDIA. Unlike text-generation models, genomic AI models are trained on large biological sequence datasets to study mutation patterns, gene regulation, and the functional behaviour of DNA — accelerating biomedical research, precision medicine, and crop science applications.
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Genomic AI raises important policy questions around biosecurity, sensitive genetic data governance, concentration of computational power, and ethics of predicting or designing biological behaviour. For India, which is investing in IndiaAI, biotechnology (BioE3 Policy), and health research simultaneously, this signals that AI and biotech policy can no longer be treated as separate silos. India’s IndiaAI Mission (approved 2024) has an outlay of Rs 10,372 crore.
Question 4 of 10
The first Census of Water Bodies in India was conducted to map which types of assets, and found approximately how many such bodies?
The first Census of Water Bodies (conducted 2018-19, released by the Ministry of Jal Shakti) mapped ponds, tanks, lakes, reservoirs, and similar assets — finding 24,24,540 water bodies (over 24 lakh or 2.4 million) across India. Of these, 97.1% are in rural areas, 83.7% are currently in use, and 55.2% are privately owned.
West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Assam account for about 63% of total water bodies.
West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Assam account for about 63% of total water bodies.
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Small water bodies are central to India’s water security but face severe stress from encroachment, pollution, siltation, and fragmented local governance. The Amrit Sarovar Mission (launched April 2022) aims to create or rejuvenate 75,000 ponds across India — one per village panchayat — targeting Independence Day 2023 completion. It runs under the Ministry of Rural Development in convergence with MGNREGA, watershed development, and rural livelihoods programmes.
Question 5 of 10
Mission Amrit Sarovar, which focuses on rural water body restoration, achieves implementation primarily through which mechanism?
Mission Amrit Sarovar achieves implementation through convergence — combining MGNREGA (labour), district planning funds, local body resources, and community participation to restore village ponds. This convergence model avoids creating a separate bureaucratic structure and leverages existing rural employment and local governance frameworks.
The mission targets one pond per gram panchayat across all districts.
The mission targets one pond per gram panchayat across all districts.
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Convergence-based programme delivery is a key governance strategy tested in UPSC Mains. Examples: MGNREGA funds used for Amrit Sarovar; PM Awas Yojana toilets counted under Swachh Bharat; Jal Jeevan Mission infrastructure using MGNREGA for trench digging; PM POSHAN using ICDS infrastructure for school meals. Convergence reduces duplication and stretches government budgets but requires strong coordination capacity at the district level.
Question 6 of 10
Which of the following correctly describes the policy concern raised by biosecurity experts regarding genomic AI tools like Evo 2?
Genomic AI tools that can model biological sequences raise biosecurity concerns because they could potentially be misused to design harmful pathogens or predict how to enhance virulence. This is distinct from cybersecurity or clinical automation concerns.
The key policy question is how to regulate access to powerful genomic AI without stifling legitimate research and medical innovation.
The key policy question is how to regulate access to powerful genomic AI without stifling legitimate research and medical innovation.
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Biosecurity is increasingly part of national security policy. India’s biosafety and biosecurity framework includes the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), RCGM (Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation), and GEAC (Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee) under MoEFCC. International frameworks include the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC, 1972, entered into force 1975) and WHO Global Health Security standards. AI governance and biosecurity are converging policy areas with UPSC GS-3 relevance.
Question 7 of 10
India’s approach to industrial decarbonisation through renewable energy is closely tied to which national mission under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)?
The National Solar Mission (Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, or JNNSM) is one of the eight missions under NAPCC and is India’s primary policy vehicle for solar energy expansion. It targets 280 GW of solar capacity by 2030 (part of India’s 500 GW non-fossil target).
This mission underpins India’s Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST) development and renewable energy-based industrial decarbonisation strategy.
This mission underpins India’s Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST) development and renewable energy-based industrial decarbonisation strategy.
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India’s 8 National Missions under NAPCC (launched 2008 under PM Manmohan Singh): National Solar Mission, Enhanced Energy Efficiency, Sustainable Habitat, Water, Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, Green India, Sustainable Agriculture, and Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change. These missions are implemented through respective ministries and form the domestic policy architecture underpinning India’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement.
Question 8 of 10
The double burden of malnutrition in India refers to which combination of nutritional problems?
The double burden of malnutrition describes a situation where undernutrition (stunting, wasting, anaemia, micronutrient deficiency) persists in large sections of the population while obesity and overweight rise simultaneously — especially in urban areas. India exhibits this at both national and household levels: often the same family has stunted children and overweight adults, reflecting the nutrition transition from traditional diets to processed food.
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India has one of the world’s highest rates of childhood stunting (low height-for-age = chronic undernutrition). Key programmes addressing undernutrition: PM POSHAN (formerly Mid-Day Meal), POSHAN Abhiyan (National Nutrition Mission), ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services), and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (maternity benefit scheme). The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019-21) and National Nutrition Survey track nutritional outcomes.
Question 9 of 10
Polymetallic nodules — at the centre of dark oxygen research — are found in which environment and contain which combination of minerals?
Polymetallic nodules are found on the deep-sea floor and contain manganese, nickel, cobalt, and copper — all critical minerals for batteries and clean energy technologies. Research on dark oxygen suggested these nodules may generate oxygen through electrochemical processes without sunlight.
Harvesting nodules through deep-sea mining would disturb these fragile deep-ocean ecosystems, strengthening the case for regulatory caution.
Harvesting nodules through deep-sea mining would disturb these fragile deep-ocean ecosystems, strengthening the case for regulatory caution.
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India has Pioneer Investor status in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (Pacific Ocean) for polymetallic nodule exploration, granted through NIOT (National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai). The International Seabed Authority (ISA), headquartered in Kingston, Jamaica, regulates deep-sea mining in international waters under UNCLOS. India ratified UNCLOS in 1995. Deep-sea mining intersects with India’s critical minerals strategy and Samudrayaan deep-sea mission.
Question 10 of 10
Which of the following SDG-linked policy tools is most directly relevant to reducing the public health burden of obesity in India?
The policy response to obesity requires systemic interventions — food labelling (under FSSAI regulations), walkable urban design, school nutrition rules, and preventive healthcare screening — rather than reactive treatment. This connects to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and India’s National Health Policy 2017 emphasis on preventive and promotive healthcare, which aims to raise health expenditure to 2.5% of GDP.
🎯 Concept Kit — tap to expand
India’s FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) has introduced Front-of-Pack Labelling (FOPL) regulations to help consumers identify high sugar, salt, and fat foods. The Eat Right Movement by FSSAI promotes healthy diets at population scale. Preventive health is also linked to Ayushman Bharat’s Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs), now over 1.75 lakh in number, which provide primary care including non-communicable disease (NCD) screening at the village level.
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