Daily Quiz

Solution (a)
Explanation:
• The Pamban Bridge connects the town of Rameswaram on Pamban Island to the mainland town of Mandapam in Tamil Nadu. This iconic bridge was India’s first sea bridge, opened in 1914, and has been a crucial link for the region’s connectivity and pilgrimage tourism.
• Currently, the construction of a new vertical lift Pamban rail bridge is underway to replace the older structure, with advanced safety features and enhanced operational capacity. Recently, a technical committee was formed by the Railway Board to address safety concerns in the construction of the new bridge. (Option (a) is correct)
• The Venduruthy Bridge connects Kochi to Willingdon Island, which houses significant maritime infrastructure, including the Cochin Port and Naval establishments. It is a road-cum-rail bridge. Willingdon Island is an artificial island constructed during the British era and serves as a major logistic hub in Kerala.
• The Vashi Bridge connects Mumbai to Navi Mumbai over the Thane Creek. It serves as a vital link for commuters between the two cities. Vashi Bridge facilitates heavy vehicular traffic and is a key component of Mumbai’s urban connectivity.
• The Howrah Bridge, also known as the Rabindra Setu, connects Howrah to Kolkata over the Hooghly River in West Bengal. It is a cantilever bridge and an iconic landmark of Kolkata. The Howrah Bridge is a symbol of Kolkata’s heritage and is one of the busiest cantilever bridges in the world.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/railway-board-forms-panel-to-probe-lapses-flagged-by-crs-on-new-pamban-bridge/article68923607.ece#:~:text=Top%20railway%20officials%20have%20said,the%20new%20Pamban%20rail%20bridge.

Solution (d)

Explanation:

• Sindh was ruled by various dynasties, such as the Samma Dynasty and later the Mughals. The Samma Dynasty’s ruler Jam Nizamuddin is considered a significant ruler of Sindh during the medieval period, known for promoting trade and building fortifications like the Thatta Fort. (Option (a) is incorrect)
• Bengal during the medieval period was ruled by the Ilyas Shahi and Hussain Shahi Dynasties. A significant ruler of Bengal, Alauddin Hussain Shah (1493–1519), is remembered for his patronage of art and literature and for uniting much of Bengal. (Option (b) is incorrect)
• The Deccan region was ruled by the Bahmani Sultanate, the Vijayanagara Empire, and later the Deccan Sultanates. The Bahmani Sultanate’s PM Muhammad Gawan is a notable figure in Deccan history, known for his administrative reforms and promotion of education. (Option (c) is incorrect)
• Zain-ul-Abidin (1420–1470) was a ruler of Kashmir, belonging to the Shah Mir Dynasty. He is often referred to as the “Akbar of Kashmir” for his liberal and inclusive policies. He promoted art, culture, and religious tolerance, making Kashmir a hub of cultural and economic prosperity. (Option (d) is correct)
• Zain-ul-Abidin revived the Kashmiri shawl industry, encouraged Persian literature, and commissioned translations of Sanskrit works like the Rajatarangini. He also abolished harsh taxes and ensured peace among religious communities.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/jammu-and-kashmir/kashmiri-central-asian-artisans-reconnect-under-one-roof-in-srinagar/article68919333.ece#:~:text=Artisans%20from%20Kashmir%20witnessed%20a,awarded%20to%20the%20J%26K%20capital

Solution (c)

Explanation:

• While several committees have addressed financial sector reforms, such as the Narasimham Committee and the Tarapore Committee, the Subrahmanyam Committee is not related to this domain. The Narasimham Committee (1991) is known for its recommendations on banking reforms, such as reducing government equity in public sector banks and establishing the Asset Reconstruction Fund (ARF).
• The K. Kasturirangan Committee was primarily responsible for drafting the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, not the Subrahmanyam Committee. The NEP focuses on transforming India’s education system, introducing a multidisciplinary approach, and promoting early childhood care. The NEP 2020 emphasizes a 5+3+3+4 educational structure and aims to achieve a Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) of 100% by 2030.
• The Subrahmanyam Committee, chaired by A.V. Subrahmanyam, was constituted to streamline the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP). It focused on enhancing transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the acquisition of defence equipment, thereby ensuring self-reliance in defence manufacturing under initiatives like Make in India. The recommendations of this committee influenced the revision of the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP), which includes simplified processes for indigenous procurement and better vendor engagement mechanisms. (Option (c) is correct)

• The MCA High-Level Committee on CSR, led by Injeti Srinivas, examined CSR policies and implementation in India. The CSR law under the Companies Act, 2013, mandates that companies meeting specific financial thresholds spend 2% of their average net profits on CSR activities.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/census-2025-as-a-comprehensive-citizen-registry/article68922855.ece#:~:text=The%202025%20Census%20includes%20an,of%20this%20initiative%20is%20essential.

Solution (b)

Explanation:

• The National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC) is governed by the provisions of the Citizenship Act, 1955. Specifically, Section 14A, introduced through an amendment in 2003, mandates the maintenance of a National Register of Citizens and authorizes the government to implement measures for its establishment. The NRIC was first conceptualized after the 1951 Census and gained momentum after the recommendations of the Subrahmanyam Committee post-Kargil War (1999). (Statement 1 is correct)
• Section 14A explicitly mandates the compulsory registration of all Indian citizens and authorizes the issuance of identity cards documenting their citizenship status. This provision serves as the legal foundation for the implementation of the NRIC. Pilot projects like the Multi-Purpose National Identity Card (MNIC) and Fishermen Identity Card were earlier steps toward implementing this mandatory registration. (Statement 2 is correct)
• The NRIC process is multi-phased, beginning with the National Population Register (NPR), which collects demographic and biometric data on all usual residents (both citizens and non-citizens). The NPR data is then verified and updated to create the NRIC by differentiating between citizens and non-citizens. It is not a single-step process. For the 2025 Census, the NPR update is the first step in creating the NRIC through house-listing and demographic data collection. (Statement 3 is incorrect)

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/census-2025-as-a-comprehensive-citizen-registry/article68922855.ece#:~:text=The%202025%20Census%20includes%20an,of%20this%20initiative%20is%20essential.

Solution (d)

Explanation:

• SLBMs provide a secure and concealed platform for launching nuclear missiles, enhancing a country’s second-strike capability. This ensures the ability to retaliate even after a first strike by an adversary, strengthening the doctrine of nuclear deterrence. Countries like the USA, Russia, and China use SLBMs on their nuclear-powered submarines to ensure survivability of their nuclear arsenal. (Statement 1 is correct)
• SLBMs are designed to be launched from nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs). These submarines are stealthy, capable of staying submerged for extended periods, and serve as the cornerstone of strategic deterrence forces. India’s INS Arihant, an SSBN, successfully tested an SLBM, showcasing its nuclear triad capability. (Statement 2 is correct)
• India has developed a nuclear triad, which includes the ability to launch nuclear missiles from land, air, and sea. This capability was demonstrated with the successful test of a nuclear-capable SLBM from INS Arihant. Other countries with a nuclear triad include the USA, Russia, and China. India’s nuclear triad includes Agni missiles (land-based), fighter jets like Mirage-2000 and Rafale (air-based), and SLBMs like the K-15 Sagarika (sea-based). (Statement 3 is correct)

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-tests-k-4-nuclear-capable-ballistic-missile-from-nuclear-submarine-ins-arighaat/article68922381.ece