Daily Current Affairs Quiz
Daily Quiz — March 14, 2026
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Question 1 of 10
International Day of Mathematics is observed on March 14 and shares the date with Pi Day. Under which body was IDM officially proclaimed, and in which year did it come into effect?
UNESCO proclaimed March 14 as International Day of Mathematics at its 40th General Conference on November 25, 2019. The first IDM was celebrated on March 14, 2020.
The date coincides with Pi Day (written as 3/14 in month/day format), a tradition started in the USA in 1988 by physicist Larry Shaw. The International Mathematical Union (IMU) coordinates the global IDM programme, with a new theme each year.
The date coincides with Pi Day (written as 3/14 in month/day format), a tradition started in the USA in 1988 by physicist Larry Shaw. The International Mathematical Union (IMU) coordinates the global IDM programme, with a new theme each year.
💡 Concept Note
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is headquartered in Paris and has 194 member states. It declares international observance days for education, culture, and science.
Other UNESCO-declared science days: World Science Day for Peace and Development (November 10), World Statistics Day (October 20). Pi is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, approximately 3.14159265.
In India, December 22 is observed as National Mathematics Day, marking the birth anniversary of mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan (1887-1920).
Other UNESCO-declared science days: World Science Day for Peace and Development (November 10), World Statistics Day (October 20). Pi is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, approximately 3.14159265.
In India, December 22 is observed as National Mathematics Day, marking the birth anniversary of mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan (1887-1920).
Question 2 of 10
Savitribai Phule, whose birth anniversary falls in January, opened the first girls' school in India in 1848. In which city was this school located, and who co-founded it with her?
Savitribai Phule (1831-1897) opened the first modern girls school in India at Bhide Wada, Pune, in January 1848, together with her husband Jyotirao Phule. Fatima Sheikh, a Muslim educator, was closely associated and taught at the school — she is regarded as the first Muslim woman teacher of modern India.
By 1851, Savitribai and Jyotirao managed three girls schools in Pune with approximately 150 students. Savitribai is regarded as the first female teacher of modern India.
By 1851, Savitribai and Jyotirao managed three girls schools in Pune with approximately 150 students. Savitribai is regarded as the first female teacher of modern India.
💡 Concept Note
Savitribai Phule is highly relevant to UPSC GS-1 (social reform movements) and Essay. Key facts: born January 3, 1831 in Naigaon, Satara district; died March 10, 1897 while nursing plague patients; founded 18 schools for girls across Pune; worked against caste discrimination, child marriage, and the practice of widows shaving their heads.
India Post issued a stamp in her honour in 1998. Jyotirao Phule founded Satyashodhak Samaj (1873), a movement against Brahminical dominance and caste oppression.
India Post issued a stamp in her honour in 1998. Jyotirao Phule founded Satyashodhak Samaj (1873), a movement against Brahminical dominance and caste oppression.
Question 3 of 10
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was established in 1981 and is headquartered in Riyadh. Which of the following is NOT a member of the GCC?
Jordan is NOT a member of the GCC. The six GCC members are: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman. The GCC charter was signed on May 25, 1981 in Abu Dhabi and the headquarters is in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Jordan and Yemen have had discussions about GCC membership but are not full members. Iraq and Iran are also not members.
Jordan and Yemen have had discussions about GCC membership but are not full members. Iraq and Iran are also not members.
💡 Concept Note
GCC significance for India: approximately 9 million Indians live and work in GCC countries, sending approximately $40 billion in annual remittances. India imports a significant share of its crude oil from GCC nations (Saudi Arabia and UAE together account for approximately 30% of India’s crude imports).
The GCC-India FTA negotiations resumed in 2022 after being stalled since 2008. GCC countries are diversifying their economies under Vision 2030 (Saudi Arabia) and Vision 2031 (UAE), creating new opportunities for India in infrastructure, healthcare, and technology.
The GCC-India FTA negotiations resumed in 2022 after being stalled since 2008. GCC countries are diversifying their economies under Vision 2030 (Saudi Arabia) and Vision 2031 (UAE), creating new opportunities for India in infrastructure, healthcare, and technology.
Question 4 of 10
Article 115 of the Indian Constitution deals with which specific parliamentary financial procedure?
Article 115 provides for Supplementary, Additional, or Excess Grants — the parliamentary mechanism to authorise additional expenditure beyond what was voted in the main Budget, when: (a) the original grant is insufficient, (b) a new service not provided for in the Budget is needed, or © excess money was spent beyond the granted amount. These follow the same procedure as the Union Budget — presented as Supplementary Demands for Grants and voted upon in Parliament.
💡 Concept Note
Key constitutional financial articles for UPSC Prelims: Article 112 — Annual Financial Statement (Union Budget); Article 113 — procedure for Budget in Parliament; Article 114 — Appropriation Bill (authorises withdrawal from Consolidated Fund); Article 115 — Supplementary, Additional or Excess Grants; Article 116 — Vote on Account (authorises interim spending before full Budget, maximum 1/6th of estimated expenditure); Article 266 — Consolidated Fund of India and Public Account; Article 267 — Contingency Fund of India. The Appropriation Bill must be passed before April 1 or a Vote on Account is used.
Question 5 of 10
Bharat-VISTAAR is an AI-powered agricultural advisory system. Under which ministry and institution was it developed, and what is its primary innovation for reaching smallholder farmers?
Bharat-VISTAAR is developed by ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Its primary innovation is voice-first, multilingual interaction — allowing farmers with low literacy levels to query crop advisory, weather alerts, pest management, and market prices by speaking in their regional language, making it accessible without smartphone literacy or typing ability.
💡 Concept Note
ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) is headquartered in New Delhi and is the apex body for agricultural research in India with over 100 institutes and national bureaus. Key ICAR contributions: High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds foundational to the Green Revolution, Bt cotton research, ICAR-IARI (Pusa Institute, New Delhi) wheat and rice varieties.
Digital agriculture in India: PM-KISAN (income support, Rs 6,000/year), Agristack (unified farmer database), PM Fasal Bima Yojana (crop insurance). India has 86% small and marginal farmers (below 2 hectares of land) — voice AI is critical for digital inclusion in agriculture.
Digital agriculture in India: PM-KISAN (income support, Rs 6,000/year), Agristack (unified farmer database), PM Fasal Bima Yojana (crop insurance). India has 86% small and marginal farmers (below 2 hectares of land) — voice AI is critical for digital inclusion in agriculture.
Question 6 of 10
The Silverpit Crater, located in the North Sea, is significant as the first confirmed impact crater in which geographic area?
Silverpit Crater, first proposed as an impact structure in 2002 using seismic survey data from oil and gas exploration, is located approximately 130 km off the Yorkshire coast in the North Sea. It is the first known impact crater identified in or near the British Isles.
A 2025 study in Nature Communications confirmed its asteroid-impact origin: it formed approximately 43-46 million years ago (middle Eocene epoch) when a ~160-metre asteroid struck the seafloor and triggered a tsunami. The main crater is approximately 3.2 km in diameter, surrounded by a 20 km ring system of faults.
A 2025 study in Nature Communications confirmed its asteroid-impact origin: it formed approximately 43-46 million years ago (middle Eocene epoch) when a ~160-metre asteroid struck the seafloor and triggered a tsunami. The main crater is approximately 3.2 km in diameter, surrounded by a 20 km ring system of faults.
💡 Concept Note
Impact craters are formed by meteorite or asteroid strikes and are studied to understand Earth’s geological history and planetary science. India’s known impact craters: Lonar Crater Lake (Maharashtra) — approximately 52,000 years old, one of only four known hyper-velocity impact craters in basalt rock globally; declared a Ramsar Wetland in 2020.
Impact craters connect to planetary defence discussions — NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO) and ISRO’s Space Situational Awareness (SSA) programme both monitor near-Earth objects (NEOs).
Impact craters connect to planetary defence discussions — NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO) and ISRO’s Space Situational Awareness (SSA) programme both monitor near-Earth objects (NEOs).
Question 7 of 10
White phosphorus weapons fall under which protocol of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), and what is the primary basis for concern about their use in populated areas?
White phosphorus is classified as an incendiary weapon under CCW Protocol III (Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Incendiary Weapons, 1980). It burns at approximately 815 degrees Celsius, causes severe and deep tissue burns, is extremely difficult to extinguish (reignites on contact with oxygen), and adheres to skin.
Its use in densely populated areas violates IHL principles of distinction (targeting combatants, not civilians) and proportionality (civilian harm must not be excessive relative to military advantage).
Its use in densely populated areas violates IHL principles of distinction (targeting combatants, not civilians) and proportionality (civilian harm must not be excessive relative to military advantage).
💡 Concept Note
CCW Protocols summary: Protocol I — non-detectable fragments; Protocol II — mines, booby traps, and other devices; Protocol III — incendiary weapons (white phosphorus, napalm, thermite); Protocol IV — blinding laser weapons; Protocol V — explosive remnants of war. White phosphorus has legitimate military uses for smoke screens (concealing troop movements) and illumination rounds.
Its use as a direct incendiary weapon against civilian populations or in civilian areas is prohibited. Recent Protocol III debates: Gaza (2023-24), Ukraine-Russia conflict.
India is a signatory to CCW and its Protocols.
Its use as a direct incendiary weapon against civilian populations or in civilian areas is prohibited. Recent Protocol III debates: Gaza (2023-24), Ukraine-Russia conflict.
India is a signatory to CCW and its Protocols.
Question 8 of 10
Myiophanes kempi, newly discovered in the Andaman Islands, belongs to which insect family known for predatory behaviour?
Myiophanes kempi is a cave-dwelling assassin bug belonging to the family Reduviidae, discovered in cave ecosystems in the Andaman Islands. Reduviidae (assassin bugs) are predatory insects that use a sharp rostrum (beak) to inject digestive saliva into prey and then consume the liquefied tissues.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a biodiversity hotspot with many endemic species due to their geographic isolation in the Bay of Bengal.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a biodiversity hotspot with many endemic species due to their geographic isolation in the Bay of Bengal.
💡 Concept Note
Andaman and Nicobar Islands biodiversity: the islands are part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. They have high endemism — Andaman wild pig, Andaman horseshoe bat, Andaman cobra, Narcondam hornbill (found only on Narcondam Island).
The islands constitute a large Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and a strategic military location for India. ZSI (Zoological Survey of India) regularly discovers new species there.
Cave (troglobitic) ecosystems are specialised habitats with species particularly vulnerable to disturbance from mining and tourism.
The islands constitute a large Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and a strategic military location for India. ZSI (Zoological Survey of India) regularly discovers new species there.
Cave (troglobitic) ecosystems are specialised habitats with species particularly vulnerable to disturbance from mining and tourism.
Question 9 of 10
Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST) technology differs from conventional solar PV panels in which fundamental way that makes it relevant for industrial decarbonisation?
Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST) uses mirrors (heliostats or parabolic troughs) to concentrate sunlight and generate high-temperature heat — unlike PV which converts light directly to electricity at lower temperatures. This heat can directly decarbonise industrial processes requiring temperatures of 150-400 degrees C (food processing, textile dyeing, chemical manufacturing) or even higher for power generation via steam turbines.
India’s CST potential for industrial heat applications is estimated at 6.4 GW.
India’s CST potential for industrial heat applications is estimated at 6.4 GW.
💡 Concept Note
India’s solar energy strategy spans Solar PV (primary track, 400+ GW target) and Solar Thermal/CSP (Concentrated Solar Power — dispatchable solar for grid stability and industrial heat). CST and CSP installations in India include NTPC Dadri (5 MW CSP pilot).
Rajasthan has the best CST and CSP potential due to high Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI). Hard-to-abate industrial sectors that CST can decarbonise: textiles, dairy, food processing, pharmaceuticals.
MNRE (Ministry of New and Renewable Energy) oversees both PV and thermal solar programmes.
Rajasthan has the best CST and CSP potential due to high Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI). Hard-to-abate industrial sectors that CST can decarbonise: textiles, dairy, food processing, pharmaceuticals.
MNRE (Ministry of New and Renewable Energy) oversees both PV and thermal solar programmes.
Question 10 of 10
Yoga Mahotsav is held 100 days before International Day of Yoga. The UN General Assembly Resolution that proclaimed June 21 as International Yoga Day was passed in which year?
UNGA Resolution 69/131 was adopted on December 11, 2014, proclaiming June 21 as the International Day of Yoga (IDY). The first IDY was celebrated on June 21, 2015.
The resolution was proposed by PM Narendra Modi at the 69th UN General Assembly in September 2014. It was co-sponsored by a record 177 nations and was adopted without a vote — the highest co-sponsorship ever for any UNGA resolution of this type.
The resolution was proposed by PM Narendra Modi at the 69th UN General Assembly in September 2014. It was co-sponsored by a record 177 nations and was adopted without a vote — the highest co-sponsorship ever for any UNGA resolution of this type.
💡 Concept Note
International Day of Yoga milestones: the first IDY (June 21, 2015) set Guinness World Records for the largest yoga class (35,985 people at Rajpath, New Delhi) and most nationalities participating. AYUSH Ministry (Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy) coordinates IDY globally.
Yoga is included in UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (2016). UNGA Resolution 69/131 reflects India’s soft power diplomacy.
IDY 2024 theme: Yoga for Self and Society.
Yoga is included in UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (2016). UNGA Resolution 69/131 reflects India’s soft power diplomacy.
IDY 2024 theme: Yoga for Self and Society.
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