Daily Prelims MCQs - Sci-Tech, Environment and Geography - 30th September 2025
- TPP
- Sep 30
- 9 min read
Welcome to your Daily UPSC Prelims Current Affairs MCQs – 30th September 2025. This is part of our subject-wise daily series where Tuesday is dedicated to Science & Technology, Environment, and Geography—consolidating both static fundamentals and dynamic updates through exam-oriented practice.
Key topics include NASA’s Artemis 2 mission, AI in computational biology and genome design, neutron stars and Uranus, applications of the electromagnetic force, ecological impacts of oil spills, the Subansiri River basin, Achanakmar Tiger Reserve, classification of tropical cyclones, and India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.
Staying consistent with these daily quizzes will sharpen your ability to tackle UPSC’s tricky elimination traps while steadily reinforcing static–dynamic integration across Sci-Tech, Environment, and Geography.
Click Here to read the Monthly Current Affairs Pointers (CAP).
QUESTION 1
With reference to Artemis 2 mission, consider the following statements:
It will be the second crewed flight of NASA’s Artemis programme.
It will be launched using the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (b)
Explanation:
NASA’s return to the Moon is now targeted for early 2026, with the Artemis 2 mission set to fly four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon aboard the Orion spacecraft.
Artemis 2 will be the first crewed flight of NASA’s Artemis programme. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
The crew includes NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman (commander), Victor Glover (pilot), and Christina Koch (mission specialist), along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen (mission specialist). They will launch on Nasa’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and follow a “free-return” trajectory — flying more than 5,000 nautical miles (9,260 km) beyond the Moon before returning to Earth without entering lunar orbit or landing. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
QUESTION 2
With reference to the use of artificial intelligence in computational biology, consider the following statements:
AI is used to design individual proteins and even small multi-gene systems.
A new virus created by AI can infect and kill bacteria.
India has recently built the world’s first fully AI-generated genome.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer (b)
Explanation:
Artificial intelligence is making rapid strides in computational biology. Recently, researchers at Stanford and the Arc Institute created the world’s first entirely AI-generated genome. In what can be called a breakthrough, the new virus created by AI can infect and kill bacteria. Hence, statement 2 is correct and statement 3 is not correct.
Scientists have already used AI to design individual proteins and even small multi-gene systems. However, creating an entire genome is way more complex. In simple words, a genome must have many interacting genes, and regulatory switches that allow an organism to grow, copy itself, and survive. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
“Genome design requires orchestrating multiple interacting genes and regulatory elements while maintaining a balance that enables replication, host specificity, and evolutionary fitness. This increase in complexity introduces new constraints and failure modes that do not arise when only designing a single protein or a two-component system,”.
QUESTION 3
With reference to the neutron stars, consider the following statements:
Neutron stars are formed when a massive star runs out of fuel and collapses.
A neutron star is the densest object astronomers can observe directly.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (c)
Explanation:
Neutron stars are formed when a massive star runs out of fuel and collapses. The very central region of the star – the core – collapses, crushing together every proton and electron into a neutron. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
A neutron star is the densest object astronomers can observe directly. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
Since neutron stars began their existence as stars, they are found scattered throughout the galaxy in the same places where we find stars. And like stars, they can be found by themselves or in binary systems with a companion.
In binary systems, some neutron stars can be found accreting materials from their companions, emitting electromagnetic radiation powered by the gravitational energy of the accreting material.
QUESTION 4
With reference to the Planet Uranus, which of the following statements is/are correct?
It is situated between Saturn and Jupiter.
Uranus’ axis of rotation is perpendicular to its orbital plane.
According to the study, Uranus’ atmosphere is mostly made of hydrogen and there is no trace of water.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 3 only
(d) None
Answer (d)
Explanation:
Uranus, the seventh planet from the Sun, owes its pale blue-green colour to its atmosphere that absorbs the red wavelengths of sunlight.
The Hubble photos of Uranus were obtained between 2002 and 2022. According to the study, Uranus’ atmosphere is mostly made of hydrogen and helium, with trace amounts of methane, water, and ammonia. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
Uranus is situated between Saturn and Neptune. Uranus, the seventh planet from the Sun, is one of the least studied planets in our solar system, which is why the latest research study could be significant. Scientists who wrote the paper also supplied additional information regarding seasonal changes on the planet. Unlike other planets, Uranus’ axis of rotation is almost parallel to its orbital plane. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are not correct.
QUESTION 5
In which of the following fields is the electromagnetic force applied?
Transportation
Medicine
Navigation
Communication
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer (d)
Explanation:
The electromagnetic force is not just theoretical — it is deeply practical. It powers MRI machines in hospitals, generates the current that lights our homes, and makes the touchscreens on our phones respond to our fingers. From communication satellites to microwave ovens, this single force underpins much of modern technology.
Some of its most familiar uses include:
Transport: Electric motors drive trains, cars, and even bicycles.
Medicine: X-rays, MRI scans, and radiotherapy all rely on electromagnetic interactions.
Communication: Radio, television, Wi-Fi, and mobile networks send signals through electromagnetic waves.
Energy: Generators, transformers, and the entire power grid operate because moving charges create magnetic fields and vice versa.
Navigation: Compasses align with Earth’s magnetic field, while GPS satellites use atomic clocks based on electromagnetic transitions.
QUESTION 6
What are the harmful effects of the oil spill on marine life?
It destroys the insulating ability of fur-bearing mammals.
Dolphins and whales can inhale oil, which can affect their lungs.
When exposed to oil, adult fish may experience reduced growth and enlarged livers.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer (c)
Explanation:
The sinking of the Liberian-flagged container vessel MSC ELSA 3 off the Kerala coast in May this year caused significant ecological disruption, an investigation report submitted by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has found.
Oil destroys the insulating ability of fur-bearing mammals, such as sea otters, and the water repellency of a bird’s feathers, thus exposing these creatures to the harsh elements. Without the ability to repel water and insulate from the cold water, birds and mammals will die from hypothermia. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
Dolphins and whales can inhale oil, which can affect lungs, immune function and reproduction. Many birds and animals also ingest oil when they try to clean themselves, which can poison them. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
Fish, shellfish, and corals may not be exposed immediately, but can come into contact with oil if it is mixed into the water column — shellfish can also be exposed in the intertidal zone. When exposed to oil, adult fish may experience reduced growth, enlarged livers, changes in heart and respiration rates, fin erosion, and reproduction impairment. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
QUESTION 7
In India, the Subansiri River basin spreads over:
Arunachal Pradesh
Sikkim
Assam
Meghalaya
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 3 and 4 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1 and 3 only
Answer (d)
Explanation:
An expert panel of the Union Environment Ministry has approved environmental permission for the 2,220 MW Oju hydropower project proposed on the Subansiri River in Taksing, close to the Chinese border. It is at the top of a line of hydroelectric projects planned for the Subansiri basin and will be the largest in terms of permitted capacity.
The Subansiri basin spans sections of Tibet (China), Arunachal Pradesh, and Assam in India, beginning in Tibet and flowing through Arunachal Pradesh before entering Assam’s plains and joining the Brahmaputra.
QUESTION 8
Achanakmar Tiger Reserve (ATR) was recently in the news. It is located in:
(a) Odisha
(b) Chhattisgarh
(c) Jharkhand
(d) Telangana
Answer (b)
Explanation:
In 2018, Jhumri traversed swathes of fragmented forests, hilly terrain and human inhabitations to stake claim on the sal and bamboo forests of Chhattisgarh’s Achanakmar Tiger Reserve (ATR). That 400-kilometre journey by the tigress, from Madhya Pradesh’s Bandhavgarh to ATR, was transformative for the reserve — it infused new life into its tiger conservation programme.
ATR’s tiger population is thriving, up to 18 – 10 adults and eight cubs — from the five recorded in 2022. According to officials, much of this is down to conservation efforts, spurred on since Jhumri’s arrival.
These included short-term efforts such as increased patrolling and aggressive — even reward-based — monitoring, and long-term ones such as creating sufficient artificial waterholes and creating super grasslands for the animals.
QUESTION 9
With reference to the tropical cyclones, consider the following statements:
Tropical cyclones form over warm ocean waters near the equator.
The strongest tropical cyclones are called tropical depressions.
The category of a tropical cyclone is determined by the amount of rainfall it produces.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer (a)
Explanation:
Super Typhoon Ragasa battered Hong Kong with fierce winds and pounding rain, and headed into southern China. The storm is the most intense tropical cyclone recorded in 2025. At its peak, Ragasa was moving with the maximum sustained winds of 280 kmph. This was close to the upper limit of how intense storms can be on Earth.
Tropical cyclones form over warm ocean waters near the equator. When the warm, moist air from the ocean surface rises upward, a lower air pressure area is formed below. Air from surrounding areas with higher air pressure rushes into this low-pressure area, eventually rising, and it becomes warm and moist. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
As warm, moist air rises, it cools down, and the water in the air forms clouds and thunderstorms. This whole system of clouds and winds gains strength and momentum using the ocean’s heat, and the water that evaporates from its surface.
“The weakest tropical cyclones are called tropical depressions. If a depression intensifies such that its maximum sustained winds reach 39 miles per hour [63 kmph], the tropical cyclone becomes a tropical storm,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Storm systems with wind speeds of 119 kmph and above are classified as hurricanes, typhoons, or tropical cyclones. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
The category of a tropical cyclone is determined by its sustained wind speed, as measured by the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. It is classified into five categories — Category 1 to Category 5. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
QUESTION 10
With reference to the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), consider the following statements:
NDCs embody efforts by each country to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
In its first NDC, India had promised to reduce its emissions intensity by 33 to 35 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (c)
Explanation:
India is likely to release an updated climate action plan during, or just ahead of, the COP30 climate meeting in Brazil in November, government sources said.
Countries have to update their existing climate action plans, called Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs, in the language of the 2015 Paris Agreement, with a new set of targets to be achieved by the year 2035. The existing NDCs contain climate targets for the 2030 time-frame.
NDCs embody efforts by each country to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
In its first NDC, India had promised to reduce its emissions intensity by 33 to 35 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030, and to ensure that at least 40 per cent of its installed electricity generation capacity in the year 2030 came from non-fossil fuel sources. In its second NDC, submitted in 2022, India had made an upward revision in both these targets. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
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