Daily Current Affairs Quiz
Daily Quiz — March 15, 2026
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10 questions based on today’s current affairs & editorials
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Question 1 of 10
R. Vairamuthu has been conferred which edition of the Jnanpith Award for the year 2025?
R. Vairamuthu received the 60th Jnanpith Award for the year 2025, announced by Bharatiya Jnanpith on March 14, 2026. The award has been given annually since 1965, making this the 60th edition.
Vairamuthu is the third Tamil writer to receive this honour, after Akilan (1975) and D. Jayakanthan (2002). Born July 13, 1953, he has authored over 37 books including Kallikattu Ithikasam and Karuvachi Kaaviyam.
Vairamuthu is the third Tamil writer to receive this honour, after Akilan (1975) and D. Jayakanthan (2002). Born July 13, 1953, he has authored over 37 books including Kallikattu Ithikasam and Karuvachi Kaaviyam.
💡 Concept Note
The Jnanpith Award is India’s highest literary honour, given by the Bharatiya Jnanpith trust (founded 1944). It carries a cash prize of Rs 11 lakh, a citation, and a bronze statuette of Vagdevi (goddess Saraswati).
It is open to Indian citizens writing in any of the 22 Eighth Schedule languages plus English. The 59th Jnanpith Award (2024) was given to Vinod Kumar Shukla, making him the first writer from Chhattisgarh to receive this honour.
It is open to Indian citizens writing in any of the 22 Eighth Schedule languages plus English. The 59th Jnanpith Award (2024) was given to Vinod Kumar Shukla, making him the first writer from Chhattisgarh to receive this honour.
Question 2 of 10
Which of the following is NOT a component of the Jnanpith Award prize package?
The Jnanpith Award comprises a cash prize of Rs 11 lakh, a citation, and a bronze statuette of Vagdevi (Saraswati) — NOT a gold idol. This is a frequently tested detail in UPSC Prelims.
Confusing the bronze statuette of Vagdevi with a gold idol is a common distractor. The award has no individual language quota — any language in the Eighth Schedule or English is eligible.
Confusing the bronze statuette of Vagdevi with a gold idol is a common distractor. The award has no individual language quota — any language in the Eighth Schedule or English is eligible.
💡 Concept Note
Vagdevi is another name for Saraswati, the goddess of learning, music, and arts. The Jnanpith Award is selected by a committee of eminent writers and scholars.
It has been awarded annually since the first ceremony in 1965 (for the year 1965 to G. Sankara Kurup for Malayalam). The award is given for a writer’s entire body of work — not a single book.
No writer can receive it more than once.
It has been awarded annually since the first ceremony in 1965 (for the year 1965 to G. Sankara Kurup for Malayalam). The award is given for a writer’s entire body of work — not a single book.
No writer can receive it more than once.
Question 3 of 10
A new plant species named Osbeckia zubeengargiana was discovered in which protected area of Assam?
Osbeckia zubeengargiana was discovered in the grasslands of Manas National Park (Baksa district, Assam) by researchers during floristic explorations between 2021 and 2025. It was named after Assamese singer, lyricist, filmmaker, and nature conservation advocate Zubeen Garg.
The discovery was published in the international taxonomic journal Phytotaxa. The plant is a perennial erect shrub growing up to 3.5 metres, producing pink flowers from mid-September to January.
The discovery was published in the international taxonomic journal Phytotaxa. The plant is a perennial erect shrub growing up to 3.5 metres, producing pink flowers from mid-September to January.
💡 Concept Note
Manas National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (since 1985), a Project Tiger Reserve (since 1973), a Project Elephant Reserve, and a Biosphere Reserve (since 1989). It is located in Baksa district, Assam, on the foothills of the Bhutan Himalaya.
Its grassland habitat is critical for the Golden Langur, Pygmy Hog (world’s smallest wild pig — IUCN Critically Endangered), Hispid Hare, and Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros. The park was in the List of World Heritage in Danger from 1992-2011 due to insurgency and poaching, before being delisted after recovery.
Its grassland habitat is critical for the Golden Langur, Pygmy Hog (world’s smallest wild pig — IUCN Critically Endangered), Hispid Hare, and Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros. The park was in the List of World Heritage in Danger from 1992-2011 due to insurgency and poaching, before being delisted after recovery.
Question 4 of 10
The plant family Melastomataceae, to which the newly discovered Osbeckia zubeengargiana belongs, is best characterised by which feature?
Melastomataceae is a large family of flowering plants known for distinctive leaf venation (multiple parallel veins arching from base to tip, creating a characteristic pattern) and showy flowers with prominent anthers. Osbeckia zubeengargiana is a perennial shrub growing up to 3.5 metres with pink tetramerous flower clusters of 2.5-3 cm, flowering from mid-September to January.
It is closely related to Osbeckia rostrata but differs in leaf structure, flower arrangement, and seed size.
It is closely related to Osbeckia rostrata but differs in leaf structure, flower arrangement, and seed size.
💡 Concept Note
The IUCN classified Osbeckia zubeengargiana as Data Deficient — not Endangered — because long-term ecological data is lacking. This classification highlights the gap in India’s grassland biodiversity documentation.
India’s grasslands lack a dedicated legal protection framework equivalent to the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. BSI (Botanical Survey of India) and plant taxonomy journals like Phytotaxa regularly document India’s rich flora — India is one of the 17 megadiverse countries globally.
India’s grasslands lack a dedicated legal protection framework equivalent to the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. BSI (Botanical Survey of India) and plant taxonomy journals like Phytotaxa regularly document India’s rich flora — India is one of the 17 megadiverse countries globally.
Question 5 of 10
The Haldia Bulk Terminal inaugurated by PM Modi on March 14, 2026 is operated under which PPP model?
The Haldia Bulk Terminal is based on the DBFOT (Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer) model with a 30-year concession awarded to APSEZ (Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd) via HDC Bulk Terminal Ltd. Construction began July 14, 2023 and was commissioned by PM Modi on March 14, 2026.
Under DBFOT, the private operator designs, builds, finances, and operates the asset, then transfers it back to the government at the end of the concession period.
Under DBFOT, the private operator designs, builds, finances, and operates the asset, then transfers it back to the government at the end of the concession period.
💡 Concept Note
PPP (Public-Private Partnership) models in Indian port infrastructure include: BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer), BOOT (Build-Own-Operate-Transfer), BOO (Build-Own-Operate), and DBFOT (Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer). DBFOT places greater financial and design risk on the private partner compared to a plain BOT. Haldia Dock Complex is part of Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (renamed from Kolkata Port Trust in 2021).
India’s Sagarmala Programme drives port modernisation through PPP models.
India’s Sagarmala Programme drives port modernisation through PPP models.
Question 6 of 10
Haldia Bulk Terminal is located on which river, and is described as India's first fully automated dry bulk terminal on that river?
The Haldia Bulk Terminal is located on the western bank of the Hooghly River at Haldia Dock Complex. It is India’s first fully automated dry bulk terminal on the Hooghly River.
The terminal has a capacity of 4 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) and handles imported coal and other dry bulk commodities for eastern India’s power, steel, and aluminium industries. It is equipped with two mobile harbour cranes, two stacker-cum-reclaimers, and a 2.1 km conveyor belt system.
The terminal has a capacity of 4 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) and handles imported coal and other dry bulk commodities for eastern India’s power, steel, and aluminium industries. It is equipped with two mobile harbour cranes, two stacker-cum-reclaimers, and a 2.1 km conveyor belt system.
💡 Concept Note
The Hooghly River is a distributary (not a tributary) of the Ganga — it branches off at Nabadwip, West Bengal, and flows south into the Bay of Bengal. Siltation is a chronic problem at Haldia port because the Ganga carries high sediment loads.
Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port serves West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand and is a critical gateway for eastern India’s industrial raw material imports. A dedicated 1.54 km railway line connects the Haldia Bulk Terminal directly to the national rail network.
Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port serves West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand and is a critical gateway for eastern India’s industrial raw material imports. A dedicated 1.54 km railway line connects the Haldia Bulk Terminal directly to the national rail network.
Question 7 of 10
Zydus Lifesciences received China's NMPA approval for Desidustat to treat anaemia in patients with which condition?
Desidustat is approved for treating anaemia in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients not on dialysis. China’s NMPA (National Medical Products Administration) approved it on March 13, 2026.
It was first approved in India in 2022 (brand name Oxemia), with over 1,00,000 Indian patients treated. CKD patients are especially burdened by injectable erythropoietin treatments, making the oral Desidustat a significant clinical advantage.
China has an estimated 120 million CKD patients.
It was first approved in India in 2022 (brand name Oxemia), with over 1,00,000 Indian patients treated. CKD patients are especially burdened by injectable erythropoietin treatments, making the oral Desidustat a significant clinical advantage.
China has an estimated 120 million CKD patients.
💡 Concept Note
Desidustat belongs to the HIF-PHI class (Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-Prolyl Hydroxylase Inhibitors) — a new therapeutic category that mimics altitude-induced red blood cell stimulation by increasing endogenous erythropoietin production. India’s drug regulator is CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; China’s equivalent is NMPA (National Medical Products Administration).
Zydus Lifesciences was formerly Cadila Healthcare, rebranded in 2022. Zydus licensed Desidustat to China Medical System Holdings for the Chinese market.
Zydus Lifesciences was formerly Cadila Healthcare, rebranded in 2022. Zydus licensed Desidustat to China Medical System Holdings for the Chinese market.
Question 8 of 10
The ₹23,550 crore infrastructure projects launched by PM Modi in Silchar are aimed at developing which valley as a trade hub?
PM Modi launched Rs 23,550 crore projects in Silchar (Assam) to develop Barak Valley as a trade and logistics hub for Northeast India. Barak Valley (districts: Cachar, Karimganj, Hailakandi) is in southern Assam and shares borders with Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, and Bangladesh.
The projects are linked to the Act East Policy and PM GatiShakti National Master Plan for multimodal connectivity.
The projects are linked to the Act East Policy and PM GatiShakti National Master Plan for multimodal connectivity.
💡 Concept Note
The Barak River flows from southern Assam into Bangladesh, where it splits into the Surma and Kushiyara rivers. The Sutarkandi Integrated Check Post (Cachar district) is a key India-Bangladesh border crossing in this region.
Barak Valley is geographically and culturally distinct from the Brahmaputra Valley (Guwahati region) and is predominantly Bengali-speaking. Its development is critical for both domestic connectivity and India-Bangladesh-Myanmar trade under BIMSTEC and the Act East Policy.
Barak Valley is geographically and culturally distinct from the Brahmaputra Valley (Guwahati region) and is predominantly Bengali-speaking. Its development is critical for both domestic connectivity and India-Bangladesh-Myanmar trade under BIMSTEC and the Act East Policy.
Question 9 of 10
Manas National Park was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in which year?
Manas National Park was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, under natural heritage criteria (vii), (ix), and (x). It was declared a Project Tiger Reserve earlier in 1973 — one of the original 9 Tiger Reserves under Project Tiger.
The park is also a Biosphere Reserve (1989) and a Project Elephant Reserve. It is located in Baksa district, Assam, on the foothills of the Bhutan Himalaya.
The park is also a Biosphere Reserve (1989) and a Project Elephant Reserve. It is located in Baksa district, Assam, on the foothills of the Bhutan Himalaya.
💡 Concept Note
Manas NP key species: Golden Langur (IUCN Endangered, found only in Assam and Bhutan), Pygmy Hog (world’s smallest wild pig — IUCN Critically Endangered, reintroduced to Manas through captive breeding), Hispid Hare, and Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros. The park was placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger from 1992-2011 due to Bodo militant insurgency and associated poaching, before being successfully delisted.
Manas is trans- boundary with Bhutan’s Royal Manas National Park.
Manas is trans- boundary with Bhutan’s Royal Manas National Park.
Question 10 of 10
As of October 2024, India has 11 officially designated Classical Languages. Which of the following is NOT among them?
Maithili is NOT a Classical Language. India’s 11 Classical Languages are: Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Telugu (2008), Kannada (2008), Malayalam (2013), Odia (2014), and Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali (all added by Union Cabinet on October 3, 2024).
Maithili is recognised in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution but has not been granted Classical Language status. Tamil was the first language to receive Classical status; the most recent batch of five was added in October 2024.
Maithili is recognised in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution but has not been granted Classical Language status. Tamil was the first language to receive Classical status; the most recent batch of five was added in October 2024.
💡 Concept Note
Criteria for Classical Language status (revised 2024): (1) recorded literary history of over 1,500-2,000 years; (2) a body of ancient literature considered a valuable heritage by speakers; (3) knowledge texts (prose, poetry, epigraphical evidence); (4) the classical language can be distinct from or continuous with its modern form. The Eighth Schedule currently lists 22 scheduled languages; Classical Language status is a separate cultural designation awarded by the Union Cabinet.
Benefits include establishment of Centres of Excellence and research fellowships for scholars of Classical Languages.
Benefits include establishment of Centres of Excellence and research fellowships for scholars of Classical Languages.
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