UPSC Editorials Quiz : 4 August 2025

Introducing QUED – Questions from Editorials (UPSC Editorials Quiz) , an innovative initiative from InsightsIAS. Considering the significant number of questions in previous UPSC Prelims from editorials, practicing MCQs from this perspective can provide an extra edge. While we cover important editorials separately in our Editorial Section and SECURE Initiative, adding QUED (UPSC Editorials Quiz) to your daily MCQ practice alongside Static Quiz, Current Affairs Quiz, and InstaDART can be crucial for better performance. We recommend utilizing this initiative to enhance your preparation, with 5 MCQs posted daily at 11 am from Monday to Saturday on our website under the QUIZ menu.

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• Question 1 of 5 1. Question The “drawback effect” associated with a tsunami is a critical natural warning sign. This phenomenon occurs because: (a) The immense energy of the approaching wave compresses the air ahead of it, pushing the water back. (b) The trough of the long-wavelength tsunami wave arrives at the coast before the crest. (c) The tectonic plate subsidence that generates the tsunami pulls the entire water column downward. (d) Frictional drag from the shallowing seabed slows the base of the wave, causing the surface water to recede. Correct Solution: B The “drawback effect” is a direct consequence of the wave mechanics of a tsunami. A tsunami is not a single wall of water but a series of waves with extremely long wavelengths. Like any wave, it has crests (peaks) and troughs (low points). A tsunami is generated by a sudden displacement of the seafloor. This disturbance creates a wave train that propagates outwards. Depending on the nature of the seafloor movement and the observer’s location relative to the epicentre, the trough of the wave may reach the shore before the first crest. When the trough arrives, it manifests as a massive and rapid recession of sea level, exposing large areas of the seabed. This is the “drawback.” The crest of the wave, which is the destructive inundation, follows this withdrawal. Option (b) accurately describes this sequence of events. Incorrect Solution: B The “drawback effect” is a direct consequence of the wave mechanics of a tsunami. A tsunami is not a single wall of water but a series of waves with extremely long wavelengths. Like any wave, it has crests (peaks) and troughs (low points). A tsunami is generated by a sudden displacement of the seafloor. This disturbance creates a wave train that propagates outwards. Depending on the nature of the seafloor movement and the observer’s location relative to the epicentre, the trough of the wave may reach the shore before the first crest. When the trough arrives, it manifests as a massive and rapid recession of sea level, exposing large areas of the seabed. This is the “drawback.” The crest of the wave, which is the destructive inundation, follows this withdrawal. Option (b) accurately describes this sequence of events.

#### 1. Question

The “drawback effect” associated with a tsunami is a critical natural warning sign. This phenomenon occurs because:

• (a) The immense energy of the approaching wave compresses the air ahead of it, pushing the water back.

• (b) The trough of the long-wavelength tsunami wave arrives at the coast before the crest.

• (c) The tectonic plate subsidence that generates the tsunami pulls the entire water column downward.

• (d) Frictional drag from the shallowing seabed slows the base of the wave, causing the surface water to recede.

Solution: B

The “drawback effect” is a direct consequence of the wave mechanics of a tsunami.

• A tsunami is not a single wall of water but a series of waves with extremely long wavelengths. Like any wave, it has crests (peaks) and troughs (low points).

• A tsunami is generated by a sudden displacement of the seafloor. This disturbance creates a wave train that propagates outwards. Depending on the nature of the seafloor movement and the observer’s location relative to the epicentre, the trough of the wave may reach the shore before the first crest.

When the trough arrives, it manifests as a massive and rapid recession of sea level, exposing large areas of the seabed. This is the “drawback.” The crest of the wave, which is the destructive inundation, follows this withdrawal. Option (b) accurately describes this sequence of events.

Solution: B

The “drawback effect” is a direct consequence of the wave mechanics of a tsunami.

• A tsunami is not a single wall of water but a series of waves with extremely long wavelengths. Like any wave, it has crests (peaks) and troughs (low points).

• Question 2 of 5 2. Question An effective Tsunami Early Warning System, like the one operated by INCOIS in India, requires the integration of which of the following components? A dense network of seismic stations to detect the magnitude and epicentre of submarine earthquakes. Deep-ocean assessment buoys to confirm the generation of a tsunami wave by measuring pressure changes on the seafloor. Coastal tide gauges to verify the arrival and measure the amplitude of the wave as it makes landfall. A robust dissemination mechanism to relay alerts to authorities and the public in real-time. Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 and 4 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1, 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 Correct Solution: D All four components are essential for a comprehensive and effective Tsunami Early Warning System. The system operates in a sequential, multi-stage process. Detection (Seismic Stations): The first step is to rapidly detect a potentially tsunamigenic earthquake. A network of seismic stations achieves this by identifying the earthquake’s location, depth, and magnitude, allowing for an initial risk assessment. Confirmation (DART Buoys): Not all undersea earthquakes generate tsunamis. To avoid false alarms, Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) buoys with Bottom Pressure Recorders (BPRs) are crucial. They detect the passage of a tsunami wave in the open ocean by measuring changes in water pressure, thus confirming that a tsunami has been generated. Verification (Tide Gauges): As the wave approaches land, coastal tide gauges provide final verification of its arrival and measure its actual height. This data is critical for updating warnings and guiding emergency response on the ground. Dissemination (Alerts): Detecting a tsunami is useless without an effective communication system. A robust dissemination mechanism that can quickly send alerts to disaster management agencies, media, and the public via multiple channels (SMS, sirens, radio) is the final, critical link in the chain. Incorrect Solution: D All four components are essential for a comprehensive and effective Tsunami Early Warning System. The system operates in a sequential, multi-stage process. Detection (Seismic Stations): The first step is to rapidly detect a potentially tsunamigenic earthquake. A network of seismic stations achieves this by identifying the earthquake’s location, depth, and magnitude, allowing for an initial risk assessment. Confirmation (DART Buoys): Not all undersea earthquakes generate tsunamis. To avoid false alarms, Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) buoys with Bottom Pressure Recorders (BPRs) are crucial. They detect the passage of a tsunami wave in the open ocean by measuring changes in water pressure, thus confirming that a tsunami has been generated. Verification (Tide Gauges): As the wave approaches land, coastal tide gauges provide final verification of its arrival and measure its actual height. This data is critical for updating warnings and guiding emergency response on the ground. Dissemination (Alerts): Detecting a tsunami is useless without an effective communication system. A robust dissemination mechanism that can quickly send alerts to disaster management agencies, media, and the public via multiple channels (SMS, sirens, radio) is the final, critical link in the chain.

#### 2. Question

An effective Tsunami Early Warning System, like the one operated by INCOIS in India, requires the integration of which of the following components?

• A dense network of seismic stations to detect the magnitude and epicentre of submarine earthquakes.

• Deep-ocean assessment buoys to confirm the generation of a tsunami wave by measuring pressure changes on the seafloor.

• Coastal tide gauges to verify the arrival and measure the amplitude of the wave as it makes landfall.

• A robust dissemination mechanism to relay alerts to authorities and the public in real-time.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

• (a) 1 and 4 only

• (b) 2 and 3 only

• (c) 1, 2 and 4 only

• (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Solution: D

All four components are essential for a comprehensive and effective Tsunami Early Warning System. The system operates in a sequential, multi-stage process.

• Detection (Seismic Stations): The first step is to rapidly detect a potentially tsunamigenic earthquake. A network of seismic stations achieves this by identifying the earthquake’s location, depth, and magnitude, allowing for an initial risk assessment.

• Confirmation (DART Buoys): Not all undersea earthquakes generate tsunamis. To avoid false alarms, Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) buoys with Bottom Pressure Recorders (BPRs) are crucial. They detect the passage of a tsunami wave in the open ocean by measuring changes in water pressure, thus confirming that a tsunami has been generated.

• Verification (Tide Gauges): As the wave approaches land, coastal tide gauges provide final verification of its arrival and measure its actual height. This data is critical for updating warnings and guiding emergency response on the ground.

• Dissemination (Alerts): Detecting a tsunami is useless without an effective communication system. A robust dissemination mechanism that can quickly send alerts to disaster management agencies, media, and the public via multiple channels (SMS, sirens, radio) is the final, critical link in the chain.

Solution: D

All four components are essential for a comprehensive and effective Tsunami Early Warning System. The system operates in a sequential, multi-stage process.

• Question 3 of 5 3. Question Consider the following statements regarding the report ‘Status of Small Cats in Tiger Landscapes of India’: The report provides the first-ever population estimation for nine species of small wild cats in India. It concludes that the Caracal was not detected in any of the tiger landscapes surveyed during the 2018 and 2022 All-India Tiger Estimation cycles. The report was released by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in collaboration with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). How many of the above statements are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Correct Solution: A Statement 1 is incorrect. The report assesses the occupancy, habitat distribution, and ecological status, not population estimation. Estimating the exact population of elusive small carnivores is extremely difficult and was not the objective. It provides an estimate of the area they occupy (km^2), which is a measure of distribution, not a headcount. Statement 2 is correct. The report explicitly states that the Caracal had “no detection” during the survey period within the tiger landscapes. This raises significant conservation concerns for this species, which historically had a presence in North-Western and Central India. Statement 3 is incorrect. The report titled ‘Status of Small Cats in Tiger Landscapes of India’ was released by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). Incorrect Solution: A Statement 1 is incorrect. The report assesses the occupancy, habitat distribution, and ecological status, not population estimation. Estimating the exact population of elusive small carnivores is extremely difficult and was not the objective. It provides an estimate of the area they occupy (km^2), which is a measure of distribution, not a headcount. Statement 2 is correct. The report explicitly states that the Caracal had “no detection” during the survey period within the tiger landscapes. This raises significant conservation concerns for this species, which historically had a presence in North-Western and Central India. Statement 3 is incorrect. The report titled ‘Status of Small Cats in Tiger Landscapes of India’ was released by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

#### 3. Question

Consider the following statements regarding the report ‘Status of Small Cats in Tiger Landscapes of India’:

• The report provides the first-ever population estimation for nine species of small wild cats in India.

• It concludes that the Caracal was not detected in any of the tiger landscapes surveyed during the 2018 and 2022 All-India Tiger Estimation cycles.

• The report was released by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in collaboration with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

How many of the above statements are correct?

• (a) Only one

• (b) Only two

• (c) All three

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is incorrect. The report assesses the occupancy, habitat distribution, and ecological status, not population estimation. Estimating the exact population of elusive small carnivores is extremely difficult and was not the objective. It provides an estimate of the area they occupy (km^2), which is a measure of distribution, not a headcount.

• Statement 2 is correct. The report explicitly states that the Caracal had “no detection” during the survey period within the tiger landscapes. This raises significant conservation concerns for this species, which historically had a presence in North-Western and Central India.

• Statement 3 is incorrect. The report titled ‘Status of Small Cats in Tiger Landscapes of India’ was released by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

Solution: A

• Statement 3 is incorrect. The report titled ‘Status of Small Cats in Tiger Landscapes of India’ was released by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

• Question 4 of 5 4. Question Consider the following statements regarding NISAR mission: Statement-I: The NISAR mission exemplifies a successful model of “science diplomacy” and strengthens Indo-US strategic cooperation. Statement-II: The mission involves joint development, with ISRO providing the launch vehicle and one of the radar payloads, while NASA provides the other radar payload and key satellite components. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I (c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect (d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct Correct Solution: A Statement-I is correct. High-technology collaborations on complex, expensive, and scientifically significant projects like NISAR are hallmarks of deep strategic partnerships. By successfully executing this mission, India and the U.S. showcase their ability to work together on critical global challenges, which is a form of “science diplomacy” that enhances their overall bilateral relationship. Statement-II is also correct. It accurately describes the division of responsibilities in the mission. ISRO contributed the S-band radar and the GSLV-F16 launcher, while NASA contributed the L-band radar and other critical components like the large reflector antenna. This joint execution is the practical foundation of the partnership. Statement-II provides the concrete evidence of the joint effort that makes the mission a tool of science diplomacy and strategic cooperation as mentioned in Statement-I. Incorrect Solution: A Statement-I is correct. High-technology collaborations on complex, expensive, and scientifically significant projects like NISAR are hallmarks of deep strategic partnerships. By successfully executing this mission, India and the U.S. showcase their ability to work together on critical global challenges, which is a form of “science diplomacy” that enhances their overall bilateral relationship. Statement-II is also correct. It accurately describes the division of responsibilities in the mission. ISRO contributed the S-band radar and the GSLV-F16 launcher, while NASA contributed the L-band radar and other critical components like the large reflector antenna. This joint execution is the practical foundation of the partnership. Statement-II provides the concrete evidence of the joint effort that makes the mission a tool of science diplomacy and strategic cooperation as mentioned in Statement-I.

#### 4. Question

Consider the following statements regarding NISAR mission:

Statement-I: The NISAR mission exemplifies a successful model of “science diplomacy” and strengthens Indo-US strategic cooperation.

Statement-II: The mission involves joint development, with ISRO providing the launch vehicle and one of the radar payloads, while NASA provides the other radar payload and key satellite components.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

• (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I

• (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I

• (c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

• (d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

Solution: A

• Statement-I is correct. High-technology collaborations on complex, expensive, and scientifically significant projects like NISAR are hallmarks of deep strategic partnerships. By successfully executing this mission, India and the U.S. showcase their ability to work together on critical global challenges, which is a form of “science diplomacy” that enhances their overall bilateral relationship.

• Statement-II is also correct. It accurately describes the division of responsibilities in the mission. ISRO contributed the S-band radar and the GSLV-F16 launcher, while NASA contributed the L-band radar and other critical components like the large reflector antenna. This joint execution is the practical foundation of the partnership.

• Statement-II provides the concrete evidence of the joint effort that makes the mission a tool of science diplomacy and strategic cooperation as mentioned in Statement-I.

Solution: A

• Statement-II provides the concrete evidence of the joint effort that makes the mission a tool of science diplomacy and strategic cooperation as mentioned in Statement-I.

• Question 5 of 5 5. Question Consider the following statements regarding the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA): It is a constitutional body established to provide free legal services to the weaker sections of society. The Chief Justice of India serves as its Patron-in-Chief. The Legal Aid Defence Counsel (LADC) Scheme is one of its key initiatives to provide legal support to undertrial prisoners. How many of the above statements are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Correct Solution: B Statement 1 is incorrect. The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) is a statutory body, not a constitutional one. It was established under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. Its primary mandate is to provide free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of society, ensuring that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen due to economic or other disabilities. Statement 2 is correct. The organizational structure of NALSA is headed by the Chief Justice of India, who serves as its Patron-in-Chief. This high-level leadership underscores the importance of legal aid in the Indian judicial system. Statement 3 is also correct. The Legal Aid Defence Counsel (LADC) Scheme, launched in 2022, is a significant initiative by NALSA. It aims to provide dedicated legal defence and representation to accused persons, particularly undertrials, across hundreds of districts, thereby strengthening the legal aid delivery mechanism at the grassroots level. Incorrect Solution: B Statement 1 is incorrect. The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) is a statutory body, not a constitutional one. It was established under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. Its primary mandate is to provide free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of society, ensuring that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen due to economic or other disabilities. Statement 2 is correct. The organizational structure of NALSA is headed by the Chief Justice of India, who serves as its Patron-in-Chief. This high-level leadership underscores the importance of legal aid in the Indian judicial system. Statement 3 is also correct. The Legal Aid Defence Counsel (LADC) Scheme, launched in 2022, is a significant initiative by NALSA. It aims to provide dedicated legal defence and representation to accused persons, particularly undertrials, across hundreds of districts, thereby strengthening the legal aid delivery mechanism at the grassroots level.

#### 5. Question

Consider the following statements regarding the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA):

• It is a constitutional body established to provide free legal services to the weaker sections of society.

• The Chief Justice of India serves as its Patron-in-Chief.

• The Legal Aid Defence Counsel (LADC) Scheme is one of its key initiatives to provide legal support to undertrial prisoners.

How many of the above statements are correct?

• (a) Only one

• (b) Only two

• (c) All three

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is incorrect. The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) is a statutory body, not a constitutional one. It was established under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. Its primary mandate is to provide free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of society, ensuring that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen due to economic or other disabilities.

• Statement 2 is correct. The organizational structure of NALSA is headed by the Chief Justice of India, who serves as its Patron-in-Chief. This high-level leadership underscores the importance of legal aid in the Indian judicial system.

• Statement 3 is also correct. The Legal Aid Defence Counsel (LADC) Scheme, launched in 2022, is a significant initiative by NALSA. It aims to provide dedicated legal defence and representation to accused persons, particularly undertrials, across hundreds of districts, thereby strengthening the legal aid delivery mechanism at the grassroots level.

Solution: B

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