UPSC Editorials Quiz : 8 April 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 Which of the following best explains why underwater cables are typically buried near coastlines but laid directly on the ocean floor in deeper regions? a) Buried cables in deep seas avoid detection by submarines b) Burial ensures signal amplification in deep-sea sections c) Coastal areas have higher risk from human activity and anchoring d) Burial near coasts increases signal speed and bandwidth Correct Solution: c) In shallow coastal areas, underwater cables are vulnerable to disturbances from ship anchors, trawling nets, dredging, and other human activities. To minimize the risk of damage, cables are buried under the seabed using specialized ploughs or water jetting systems. However, in deeper oceanic zones, these risks are minimal due to the absence of large-scale human activity and the technical difficulty and cost of burial at those depths. Consequently, cables are usually laid directly on the ocean floor beyond the continental shelf. The burial has no impact on data transmission speed or bandwidth, which are instead determined by fiber-optic technology and repeaters. Submarine detection and security considerations exist but are not the main reason for cable burial. Incorrect Solution: c) In shallow coastal areas, underwater cables are vulnerable to disturbances from ship anchors, trawling nets, dredging, and other human activities. To minimize the risk of damage, cables are buried under the seabed using specialized ploughs or water jetting systems. However, in deeper oceanic zones, these risks are minimal due to the absence of large-scale human activity and the technical difficulty and cost of burial at those depths. Consequently, cables are usually laid directly on the ocean floor beyond the continental shelf. The burial has no impact on data transmission speed or bandwidth, which are instead determined by fiber-optic technology and repeaters. Submarine detection and security considerations exist but are not the main reason for cable burial.

#### 1. Question

Which of the following best explains why underwater cables are typically buried near coastlines but laid directly on the ocean floor in deeper regions?

• a) Buried cables in deep seas avoid detection by submarines

• b) Burial ensures signal amplification in deep-sea sections

• c) Coastal areas have higher risk from human activity and anchoring

• d) Burial near coasts increases signal speed and bandwidth

Solution: c)

• In shallow coastal areas, underwater cables are vulnerable to disturbances from ship anchors, trawling nets, dredging, and other human activities.

• To minimize the risk of damage, cables are buried under the seabed using specialized ploughs or water jetting systems.

• However, in deeper oceanic zones, these risks are minimal due to the absence of large-scale human activity and the technical difficulty and cost of burial at those depths. Consequently, cables are usually laid directly on the ocean floor beyond the continental shelf.

• The burial has no impact on data transmission speed or bandwidth, which are instead determined by fiber-optic technology and repeaters.

Submarine detection and security considerations exist but are not the main reason for cable burial.

Solution: c)

• In shallow coastal areas, underwater cables are vulnerable to disturbances from ship anchors, trawling nets, dredging, and other human activities.

• To minimize the risk of damage, cables are buried under the seabed using specialized ploughs or water jetting systems.

• The burial has no impact on data transmission speed or bandwidth, which are instead determined by fiber-optic technology and repeaters.

Submarine detection and security considerations exist but are not the main reason for cable burial.

• Question 2 of 5 2. Question Consider the following statements regarding the Baku to Belem Roadmap: It proposes climate finance mobilisation largely through debt-based private lending instruments. It encourages the participation of BRICS and G77 to promote equity in climate finance flows. It is designed to address structural barriers like high cost of capital and lack of access to concessional loans. How many of the above statements is/are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Correct Solution: b) The roadmap is strongly aligned with equity-focused climate finance and calls for multilateral cooperation with developing country groupings like BRICS and G77. It seeks to remove systemic constraints like high capital costs and limited access to concessional finance—both major obstacles for developing nations. Statement 1 is incorrect. While private finance is included, the emphasis is on non-debt instruments like grants, equity instruments, and technical cooperation rather than loading vulnerable economies with more debt. What is the ‘Baku to Belem Roadmap’? The ‘Baku to Belem Roadmap’ is a finance mobilisation framework initiated between COP29 (Baku, Azerbaijan) and COP30 (Belem, Brazil). It aims to chart a path for mobilising $1.3 trillion per year by 2035 for climate action in developing countries. Organisations Involved: UNFCCC COP Presidencies (Azerbaijan and Brazil) are mandated to lead the process. Objectives of the Roadmap: Scale Climate Finance: Mobilise $300 billion from public sources and $1.3 trillion overall annually by 2035. Promote Equity: Ensure just transition pathways for developing nations. Address Barriers: Identify systemic challenges such as high cost of capital and regulatory constraints. Leverage MDBs: Expand roles of multilateral development banks in concessional lending. Strengthen Global Partnerships: Enable co-financing from public and private sources. Key Features: Holistic Planning: Combines climate grants, concessional loans, and private investment instruments. Transparency Framework: Encourages stakeholder consultations and open reporting. Non-Debt Focused Tools: Promotes non-debt creating climate instruments. Technical Report (not political): Emphasises evidence-based mapping over political negotiations. Multilateral Participation: Inclusive of private sector, MDBs, and developing country coalitions like BRICS and G77. Incorrect Solution: b) The roadmap is strongly aligned with equity-focused climate finance and calls for multilateral cooperation with developing country groupings like BRICS and G77. It seeks to remove systemic constraints like high capital costs and limited access to concessional finance—both major obstacles for developing nations. Statement 1 is incorrect. While private finance is included, the emphasis is on non-debt instruments like grants, equity instruments, and technical cooperation rather than loading vulnerable economies with more debt. What is the ‘Baku to Belem Roadmap’? The ‘Baku to Belem Roadmap’ is a finance mobilisation framework initiated between COP29 (Baku, Azerbaijan) and COP30 (Belem, Brazil). It aims to chart a path for mobilising $1.3 trillion per year by 2035 for climate action in developing countries. Organisations Involved: UNFCCC COP Presidencies (Azerbaijan and Brazil) are mandated to lead the process. Objectives of the Roadmap: Scale Climate Finance: Mobilise $300 billion from public sources and $1.3 trillion overall annually by 2035. Promote Equity: Ensure just transition pathways for developing nations. Address Barriers: Identify systemic challenges such as high cost of capital and regulatory constraints. Leverage MDBs: Expand roles of multilateral development banks in concessional lending. Strengthen Global Partnerships: Enable co-financing from public and private sources. Key Features: Holistic Planning: Combines climate grants, concessional loans, and private investment instruments. Transparency Framework: Encourages stakeholder consultations and open reporting. Non-Debt Focused Tools: Promotes non-debt creating climate instruments. Technical Report (not political): Emphasises evidence-based mapping over political negotiations. Multilateral Participation: Inclusive of private sector, MDBs, and developing country coalitions like BRICS and G77.

#### 2. Question

Consider the following statements regarding the Baku to Belem Roadmap:

• It proposes climate finance mobilisation largely through debt-based private lending instruments.

• It encourages the participation of BRICS and G77 to promote equity in climate finance flows.

• It is designed to address structural barriers like high cost of capital and lack of access to concessional loans.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

• (a) Only one

• (b) Only two

• (c) All three

Solution: b)

• The roadmap is strongly aligned with equity-focused climate finance and calls for multilateral cooperation with developing country groupings like BRICS and G77.

• It seeks to remove systemic constraints like high capital costs and limited access to concessional finance—both major obstacles for developing nations.

• Statement 1 is incorrect. While private finance is included, the emphasis is on non-debt instruments like grants, equity instruments, and technical cooperation rather than loading vulnerable economies with more debt.

• What is the ‘Baku to Belem Roadmap’?

• The ‘Baku to Belem Roadmap’ is a finance mobilisation framework initiated between COP29 (Baku, Azerbaijan) and COP30 (Belem, Brazil). It aims to chart a path for mobilising $1.3 trillion per year by 2035 for climate action in developing countries.

• The ‘Baku to Belem Roadmap’ is a finance mobilisation framework initiated between COP29 (Baku, Azerbaijan) and COP30 (Belem, Brazil).

• It aims to chart a path for mobilising $1.3 trillion per year by 2035 for climate action in developing countries.

• Organisations Involved:

• UNFCCC COP Presidencies (Azerbaijan and Brazil) are mandated to lead the process.

• Objectives of the Roadmap:

• Scale Climate Finance: Mobilise $300 billion from public sources and $1.3 trillion overall annually by 2035. Promote Equity: Ensure just transition pathways for developing nations. Address Barriers: Identify systemic challenges such as high cost of capital and regulatory constraints. Leverage MDBs: Expand roles of multilateral development banks in concessional lending. Strengthen Global Partnerships: Enable co-financing from public and private sources.

• Scale Climate Finance: Mobilise $300 billion from public sources and $1.3 trillion overall annually by 2035.

• Promote Equity: Ensure just transition pathways for developing nations.

• Address Barriers: Identify systemic challenges such as high cost of capital and regulatory constraints.

• Leverage MDBs: Expand roles of multilateral development banks in concessional lending.

• Strengthen Global Partnerships: Enable co-financing from public and private sources.

• Key Features:

• Holistic Planning: Combines climate grants, concessional loans, and private investment instruments. Transparency Framework: Encourages stakeholder consultations and open reporting. Non-Debt Focused Tools: Promotes non-debt creating climate instruments. Technical Report (not political): Emphasises evidence-based mapping over political negotiations. Multilateral Participation: Inclusive of private sector, MDBs, and developing country coalitions like BRICS and G77.

• Holistic Planning: Combines climate grants, concessional loans, and private investment instruments.

• Transparency Framework: Encourages stakeholder consultations and open reporting.

• Non-Debt Focused Tools: Promotes non-debt creating climate instruments.

• Technical Report (not political): Emphasises evidence-based mapping over political negotiations.

• Multilateral Participation: Inclusive of private sector, MDBs, and developing country coalitions like BRICS and G77.

Solution: b)

• The roadmap is strongly aligned with equity-focused climate finance and calls for multilateral cooperation with developing country groupings like BRICS and G77.

• It seeks to remove systemic constraints like high capital costs and limited access to concessional finance—both major obstacles for developing nations.

• What is the ‘Baku to Belem Roadmap’?

• The ‘Baku to Belem Roadmap’ is a finance mobilisation framework initiated between COP29 (Baku, Azerbaijan) and COP30 (Belem, Brazil).

• It aims to chart a path for mobilising $1.3 trillion per year by 2035 for climate action in developing countries.

• Organisations Involved:

• UNFCCC COP Presidencies (Azerbaijan and Brazil) are mandated to lead the process.

• Objectives of the Roadmap:

• Scale Climate Finance: Mobilise $300 billion from public sources and $1.3 trillion overall annually by 2035.

• Promote Equity: Ensure just transition pathways for developing nations.

• Address Barriers: Identify systemic challenges such as high cost of capital and regulatory constraints.

• Leverage MDBs: Expand roles of multilateral development banks in concessional lending.

• Strengthen Global Partnerships: Enable co-financing from public and private sources.

• Key Features:

• Holistic Planning: Combines climate grants, concessional loans, and private investment instruments.

• Transparency Framework: Encourages stakeholder consultations and open reporting.

• Non-Debt Focused Tools: Promotes non-debt creating climate instruments.

• Technical Report (not political): Emphasises evidence-based mapping over political negotiations.

• Multilateral Participation: Inclusive of private sector, MDBs, and developing country coalitions like BRICS and G77.

• Question 3 of 5 3. Question Consider the following statements regarding the functioning of tariffs in international trade: All tariffs must be approved by the World Trade Organization (WTO) before implementation. Tariffs imposed under a Most Favoured Nation (MFN) clause must be discriminatory. Tariffs can act as both revenue tools and trade policy instruments. How many of the above statements is/are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Correct Solution: a) Only statement 3 is correct. Tariffs serve dual purposes: governments collect them as revenue and also use them to regulate foreign trade by making imports more expensive, thus protecting domestic industries. Statement 1 is incorrect. While WTO members must notify and justify tariff changes, WTO does not approve tariffs per se. Countries retain sovereign rights to impose tariffs within their committed bound rates. Statement 2 is also incorrect. Under MFN rules, WTO members are required to apply the same tariff rates to all members, ensuring non-discrimination. Incorrect Solution: a) Only statement 3 is correct. Tariffs serve dual purposes: governments collect them as revenue and also use them to regulate foreign trade by making imports more expensive, thus protecting domestic industries. Statement 1 is incorrect. While WTO members must notify and justify tariff changes, WTO does not approve tariffs per se. Countries retain sovereign rights to impose tariffs within their committed bound rates. Statement 2 is also incorrect. Under MFN rules, WTO members are required to apply the same tariff rates to all members, ensuring non-discrimination.

#### 3. Question

Consider the following statements regarding the functioning of tariffs in international trade:

• All tariffs must be approved by the World Trade Organization (WTO) before implementation.

• Tariffs imposed under a Most Favoured Nation (MFN) clause must be discriminatory.

• Tariffs can act as both revenue tools and trade policy instruments.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

• (a) Only one

• (b) Only two

• (c) All three

Solution: a)

• Only statement 3 is correct. Tariffs serve dual purposes: governments collect them as revenue and also use them to regulate foreign trade by making imports more expensive, thus protecting domestic industries.

• Statement 1 is incorrect. While WTO members must notify and justify tariff changes, WTO does not approve tariffs per se. Countries retain sovereign rights to impose tariffs within their committed bound rates.

• Statement 2 is also incorrect. Under MFN rules, WTO members are required to apply the same tariff rates to all members, ensuring non-discrimination.

Solution: a)

• Statement 2 is also incorrect. Under MFN rules, WTO members are required to apply the same tariff rates to all members, ensuring non-discrimination.

• Question 4 of 5 4. Question What is the most unique operational innovation introduced by ChaSTE compared to earlier lunar thermal probes? a) Use of solar-powered heating for deep-core lunar sampling b) Deployment via rotary mechanism for in-situ soil penetration c) Reliance on seismic activity to measure sub-surface temperatures d) Utilization of microwave radiometers for regolith imaging Correct Solution: b) ChaSTE introduced a rotary deployment mechanism, a first-of-its-kind innovation on the Moon. Previous thermal probes, such as those on NASA’s InSight mission to Mars or the Heat Flow and Physical Properties Probe (HP3) on NASA’s Artemis-supporting missions, used hammering mechanisms. These faced failures due to unexpected soil resistance. ChaSTE’s motorized rotation-based probe insertion allowed it to gradually bore into the lunar regolith up to 10 cm, taking readings at 1 cm intervals. This design minimized the risk of getting stuck, a problem with prior missions. Its success on the Moon’s south pole, a region of high interest due to potential water ice, makes this engineering approach a breakthrough. Incorrect Solution: b) ChaSTE introduced a rotary deployment mechanism, a first-of-its-kind innovation on the Moon. Previous thermal probes, such as those on NASA’s InSight mission to Mars or the Heat Flow and Physical Properties Probe (HP3) on NASA’s Artemis-supporting missions, used hammering mechanisms. These faced failures due to unexpected soil resistance. ChaSTE’s motorized rotation-based probe insertion allowed it to gradually bore into the lunar regolith up to 10 cm, taking readings at 1 cm intervals. This design minimized the risk of getting stuck, a problem with prior missions. Its success on the Moon’s south pole, a region of high interest due to potential water ice, makes this engineering approach a breakthrough.

#### 4. Question

What is the most unique operational innovation introduced by ChaSTE compared to earlier lunar thermal probes?

• a) Use of solar-powered heating for deep-core lunar sampling

• b) Deployment via rotary mechanism for in-situ soil penetration

• c) Reliance on seismic activity to measure sub-surface temperatures

• d) Utilization of microwave radiometers for regolith imaging

Solution: b)

• ChaSTE introduced a rotary deployment mechanism, a first-of-its-kind innovation on the Moon. Previous thermal probes, such as those on NASA’s InSight mission to Mars or the Heat Flow and Physical Properties Probe (HP3) on NASA’s Artemis-supporting missions, used hammering mechanisms. These faced failures due to unexpected soil resistance.

• ChaSTE’s motorized rotation-based probe insertion allowed it to gradually bore into the lunar regolith up to 10 cm, taking readings at 1 cm intervals. This design minimized the risk of getting stuck, a problem with prior missions.

• Its success on the Moon’s south pole, a region of high interest due to potential water ice, makes this engineering approach a breakthrough.

Solution: b)

• Its success on the Moon’s south pole, a region of high interest due to potential water ice, makes this engineering approach a breakthrough.

• Question 5 of 5 5. Question Consider the following statements regarding Underwater cables Statement-I: Underwater cables form the backbone of the global digital economy. Statement-II: Most of the world’s digital data flows through satellites which are more secure and faster. 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: c) Statement I is correct. Underwater cables are the invisible infrastructure powering the global digital economy. From banking to social media, over 95% of international data flows through these cables. Their ultra-high bandwidth, low latency, and reliability make them indispensable for real-time communication and trade. Statement II is incorrect. Although satellites play an important role in remote areas and emergency situations, they handle a minuscule fraction of global data and are less efficient than fiber-optic cables. Satellites also suffer from higher latency and limited capacity. Thus, cables—not satellites—form the backbone of global connectivity. Incorrect Solution: c) Statement I is correct. Underwater cables are the invisible infrastructure powering the global digital economy. From banking to social media, over 95% of international data flows through these cables. Their ultra-high bandwidth, low latency, and reliability make them indispensable for real-time communication and trade. Statement II is incorrect. Although satellites play an important role in remote areas and emergency situations, they handle a minuscule fraction of global data and are less efficient than fiber-optic cables. Satellites also suffer from higher latency and limited capacity. Thus, cables—not satellites—form the backbone of global connectivity.

#### 5. Question

Consider the following statements regarding Underwater cables

Statement-I: Underwater cables form the backbone of the global digital economy. Statement-II: Most of the world’s digital data flows through satellites which are more secure and faster.

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: c)

• Statement I is correct. Underwater cables are the invisible infrastructure powering the global digital economy. From banking to social media, over 95% of international data flows through these cables. Their ultra-high bandwidth, low latency, and reliability make them indispensable for real-time communication and trade.

• Statement II is incorrect. Although satellites play an important role in remote areas and emergency situations, they handle a minuscule fraction of global data and are less efficient than fiber-optic cables. Satellites also suffer from higher latency and limited capacity. Thus, cables—not satellites—form the backbone of global connectivity.

Solution: c)

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