APSC Current Affairs: Assam Tribune Notes with MCQs and Answer Writing (24/06/2026)
For APSC CCE and other Assam competitive exam aspirants, staying consistently updated with reliable current affairs is essential for success. This blog provides a well-researched analysis of the most important topics from The Assam Tribune dated 24 June 2026. Each issue has been carefully selected and explained to support both APSC Prelims and Mains preparation, ensuring alignment with the APSC CCE syllabus and the evolving trends of the examination.
✨ APSC CCE Prelims Crash Course, 2026
e-Zero FIR Initiative: Strengthening India’s Cybercrime Response
- GS Paper II: Governance & e-Governance
- GS Paper III: Internal Security | Cyber Security | Technology
- GS Paper V (Assam): Governance & Public Administration
🔴 Introduction
- Assam is among the first states in India to implement the e-Zero FIR Initiative, a technology-driven mechanism.
- It automatically converts cyber financial fraud complaints from the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) or helpline 1930 into First Information Reports (FIRs).
- Aim: Ensure faster recovery of defrauded money and prompt legal action against cybercriminals.
🔴 Key Points
- Initiative: e-Zero FIR
- Implemented By: Government of Assam
- Launched: June 2026
- Complaint Platforms: NCRP Portal & Helpline 1930
- Target Crimes: Cyber Financial Frauds
- Trigger Threshold: Fraud above ₹10 lakh
- Nodal Agency: Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)
- Objective: Quick registration of cases and recovery of money.
🔴 Zero FIR and Significance
- An FIR registered at any police station, irrespective of territorial jurisdiction.
- Allows immediate registration of offences.
- Eliminates delays caused by jurisdiction issues.
- Can later be transferred to the competent police station for further action.
🔴 How the e-Zero FIR Works
- Victim reports fraud via the NCRP Portal or Helpline 1930.
- Complaint enters the I4C system.
- Eligible complaints are automatically converted into Zero FIRs.
- Immediate alerts are sent to police and banks.
- Suspicious accounts are frozen quickly.
- Investigation starts immediately without waiting for jurisdiction verification.
🔴 Prelims Pointers
- National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP): Launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for citizens to report cybercrimes online, focusing on financial frauds and crimes against women/children.
- Helpline 1930: The National Cyber Financial Fraud Helpline for immediate reporting.
- Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C): Established under the MHA. Its functions include cybercrime investigation support, capacity building, data analytics, and inter-agency coordination.
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023: Replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). It provides for greater use of technology in criminal justice administration.
- Digital Arrest: A cyber fraud technique where criminals impersonate police or government officials to extort money.
🔴 Mains Pointers
A. Importance of e-Zero FIR Initiative
- Strengthens Cyber Security Framework: Rapid response to financial crimes and reduces investigation time lags.
- Citizen-Centric Governance: Hassle-free complaint registration improves public trust in law enforcement.
- Supports Digital Economy: Boosts confidence in digital payments and protects online consumers.
- Faster Recovery of Funds: Early intervention quickly freezes suspicious accounts.
- Enhances Cooperative Federalism: Facilitates seamless coordination among State Police, banks, Reserve Bank of India (RBI)-regulated entities, and I4C.
B. Challenges
- Low Cyber Awareness: Leads to delayed reporting by victims.
- Digital Divide: Rural populations may face reporting difficulties.
- Skilled Manpower Shortage: Acute need for cyber forensic experts.
- Cross-Border Crimes: Fraudsters frequently operate from outside India.
- Data Privacy Concerns: Risks involved in handling sensitive financial information.
C. Government Initiatives Related to Cyber Security
- National Cyber Security Policy: Aims to secure cyberspace, build cyber resilience, and enhance awareness.
- Cyber Swachhta Kendra: A botnet cleaning and malware analysis centre.
- Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C): The national cybercrime response architecture.
- Cyber Dost: A public awareness initiative launched by the MHA.
- Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023: Provides a framework for the protection of personal data.
D. Assam-Specific Relevance
- Assam is rapidly digitising its governance services.
- Rising use of Unified Payments Interface (UPI), internet banking, and digital wallets has increased cyber fraud risks in urban and semi-urban areas.
- The e-Zero FIR significantly strengthens Assam’s digital governance ecosystem.
🔴 Way Forward
- Institutional Measures: Establish dedicated cyber police stations in every district and strengthen cyber forensic laboratories.
- Capacity Building: Train police personnel in cyber investigation and conduct cyber hygiene awareness campaigns.
- Technology Integration: Utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI) for fraud detection and enable real-time banking alerts.
- Citizen Awareness: Integrate cyber safety curricula in schools and conduct regular public awareness drives.
- International Cooperation: Foster global collaboration for cross-border cybercrime investigations.
🔴 Conclusion
- The e-Zero FIR Initiative is a milestone in technology-enabled policing and citizen-centric governance.
- By eliminating jurisdictional barriers and enabling swift registration of financial crimes, Assam is at the forefront of the cybercrime response.
- Coupled with stronger institutional capacity, awareness, and technological innovation, this initiative can serve as a successful model for cyber governance across India.
India Welcomes US-Iran MoU & Strategic Importance of the Strait of Hormuz
- GS Paper II: International Relations
- GS Paper III: Indian Economy, Energy Security & Infrastructure
- GS Paper I (Prelims): World Geography – Important Straits & Sea Routes
🔴 Introduction
- India welcomed the United States (US)–Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at ending hostilities in West Asia.
- Speaking at the Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) National Security Advisers’ Meeting, National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval highlighted that the reopening and smooth functioning of the Strait of Hormuz strengthens global energy security and removes supply-chain bottlenecks for oil, fertilisers, and chemicals.
- The Strait is a vital maritime chokepoint handling a substantial portion of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade.
🔴 Key Points
- Location: Connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
- Bordered By: Iran (North), Oman & United Arab Emirates (UAE) (South).
- Type: Strategic Maritime Chokepoint.
- Width: Approximately 33 km at its narrowest point.
- Importance: Major route for global oil and gas exports.
- Key Exporters: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Iran.
- Importance for India: Major source of crude oil and LNG imports.
- Recent Context: US-Iran MoU to reduce tensions and improve energy security.
🔴 Strait of Hormuz: Location
- Connectivity: Persian Gulf → Gulf of Oman → Arabian Sea → Indian Ocean.
- Bordering Countries of the Persian Gulf: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Oman.
- What is a Chokepoint? A narrow sea passage handling large volumes of global trade. Disruptions heavily impact international trade and energy markets.
🔴 Why is the Strait of Hormuz Important?
- Global Energy Significance: Nearly one-fifth (20%) of global petroleum consumption passes through here. It is the world’s most important oil transit chokepoint and the primary route for Qatar’s major LNG exports.
- Global Trade Significance: Supports international maritime commerce by connecting energy-rich West Asia with Asia, Europe, and Africa.
- Geopolitical Significance: Frequent tensions make it a geopolitical hotspot, driven by strategic rivalry among Iran, USA, Israel, and Gulf Countries.
🔴 Importance for India
- A. Energy Security: India imports ~85% of its crude oil requirements (majorly from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait), most of which transits the Strait. Crucial for uninterrupted energy supply, industrial production, and transport networks.
- B. Fertiliser Security: India imports Urea, Ammonia, and natural gas-based inputs from Gulf countries. Disruptions threaten agricultural productivity and increase prices.
- C. Economic Stability: Supply disruptions risk rising crude oil prices, higher inflation, increased import bills, and a widening Current Account Deficit (CAD).
- D. Strategic Interests: Stability protects the ~9 million Indians residing in the Gulf and secures strong trade/remittance links.
🔴 Prelims Pointers
- Strait of Hormuz: Connects Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. Lies between Iran and Oman/UAE.
- Gulf of Oman: Connects Persian Gulf with Arabian Sea.
- Qatar: World’s leading LNG exporter.
- Important International Chokepoints:
- Strait of Hormuz: Persian Gulf – Gulf of Oman
- Bab-el-Mandeb: Red Sea – Gulf of Aden
- Strait of Malacca: Indian Ocean – Pacific Ocean
- Suez Canal: Mediterranean Sea – Red Sea
- Panama Canal: Atlantic Ocean – Pacific Ocean
- BRICS: Original members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa. Expanded members: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE, and others.
🔴 Mains Pointers
- A. Importance of the Strait of Hormuz
- Global Energy Lifeline: Largest global oil transit route.
- Supports Global Economic Growth: Stable energy reduces inflationary pressures and moderates fuel prices.
- Strategic Maritime Route: Crucial for naval and commercial shipping.
- Essential for India’s Energy Security: Supports energy-intensive sectors and developmental needs.
- Geopolitical Stability: Smooth functioning minimizes regional tensions.
- B. Challenges
- Geopolitical Tensions: Conflicts involving Iran, Israel, USA, and Gulf countries threaten shipping.
- Closure Threats: Iran periodically threatens shipping restrictions over sanctions/military actions.
- Energy Price Volatility: Minor disruptions trigger sharp hikes in crude oil and LNG prices.
- Supply Chain Disruptions: Impacts petroleum, fertilisers, chemicals, and shipping costs.
- Maritime Security Risks: Vulnerability to piracy, drone/missile attacks, and naval confrontations.
🔴 Government Initiatives for Energy Security
- Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR): Emergency crude oil storage located at Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Mangaluru (Karnataka), and Padur (Karnataka).
- Energy Diversification: Importing oil from Russia, USA, Brazil, and Africa to reduce single-region dependence.
- International Solar Alliance (ISA): Promotes renewable energy to reduce long-term fossil fuel dependence.
- National Green Hydrogen Mission: Approved in 2023 to transform India into a global green hydrogen hub, bolstering future security.
🔴 Exam Enrichment
- International Energy Agency (IEA) Report: Designates the Strait of Hormuz as the world’s most important oil transit chokepoint.
- Economic Survey: Highlights India’s structural vulnerability to global crude oil price shocks.
- Constitutional Link (Article 51): Mandates the promotion of international peace and peaceful dispute settlement. The US-Iran MoU perfectly aligns with this directive.
🔴 Way Forward
- Strengthen Strategic Reserves: Expand crude oil storage capacity.
- Diversify Energy Sources: Scale up renewable energy share and green hydrogen production.
- Strengthen Maritime Security: Enhance the Indian Navy’s presence in the Arabian Sea and improve coordination with friendly nations.
- Deepen West Asia Engagement: Strengthen diplomatic/economic relations with Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran, Oman, and Qatar.
- Promote Regional Peace: Actively support multilateral mechanisms and diplomatic dialogues.
🔴 Conclusion
- The Strait of Hormuz is a critical strategic artery for the global economy.
- For India, its smooth operation is non-negotiable for energy security, economic stability, agricultural fertiliser supply, and the protection of the diaspora.
- The US-Iran peace MoU is a vital development that fosters regional stability and effectively safeguards India’s long-term economic and strategic interests.
El Niño and Its Implications for Assam: Why Assam Should Worry About El Niño
- GS Paper III: Environment, Disaster Management & Climate Change
- GS Paper I: Indian Geography (Climatology)
- GS Paper V (Assam): Environment & Disaster Management
🔴 Introduction
- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) indicates a possible deficient southwest monsoon due to El Niño development in the Pacific Ocean.
- Assam may face below-normal rainfall and climatic disruptions, severely challenging agriculture, water resources, public health, and disaster management.
- El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon causing abnormal warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, with profound global and regional impacts.
🔴 Key Points
- Meaning: Periodic warming of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean.
- Part of: El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO).
- Opposite Phase: La Niña.
- Frequency: Occurs every 2–7 years.
- Impact on India: Weak monsoon, higher temperatures, drought tendencies.
- Impact on Assam: Rainfall deficit, heat stress, health risks, agricultural losses.
- Monitoring Agencies: IMD, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
- Recent Concern: Deficient monsoon combined with increasing heat-related stress.
🔴 What is El Niño?
- Normal Conditions: Trade winds blow east to west across the Pacific; warm water accumulates near Indonesia/Australia; cold water upwells near Peru.
- During El Niño: Trade winds weaken or reverse; warm water shifts eastward toward South America; sea surface temperatures rise abnormally in the eastern Pacific. This globally alters atmospheric circulation, affecting South Asia’s rainfall and temperature.
🔴 ENSO Cycle
- El Niño: Warmer Pacific waters, weaker Indian monsoon.
- Neutral: Near-normal conditions.
- La Niña: Cooler Pacific waters, stronger monsoon tendencies.
🔴 Impact of El Niño on India
- 1. Weakening of Southwest Monsoon: Historically linked to drought years. Causes reduced rainfall, delayed monsoon onset, and uneven rainfall distribution.
- 2. Rising Temperatures: Leads to frequent heatwaves, increased evaporation, and water stress.
- 3. Agricultural Losses: Affects rice, pulses, oilseeds, and sugarcane, resulting in lower productivity, reduced farmer income, and food inflation.
- 4. Water Scarcity: Causes declining reservoir levels, reduced groundwater recharge, and drinking water stress.
🔴 Why Assam Should Worry About El Niño?
- A. Rainfall Deficit: Threatens Assam’s rain-dependent economy and ecology, leading to reduced river recharge, lower groundwater levels, and regional water scarcity.
- B. Agriculture Under Stress: Affects paddy, jute, pulses, and horticultural crops. This causes reduced yields, increased irrigation demand, and higher cultivation costs.
- C. Impact on Brahmaputra and Barak Basins: Below-normal rain reduces river flow during lean seasons, affecting inland fisheries and irrigation systems.
- D. Forest and Biodiversity Stress: Threatens Kaziranga, Manas, and Dibru-Saikhowa National Parks through habitat degradation, increased forest fire risks, and water stress for wildlife.
- E. Public Health Concerns: Heightened risk of heat-related illnesses (heat exhaustion, stroke, dehydration), particularly for vulnerable groups like the elderly, children, outdoor workers, and farmers.
🔴 El Niño and Public Health
- Heat Stress: Triggers cardiovascular stress, respiratory complications, dehydration, and reduced work productivity.
- Vector-Borne Diseases: Altered climates change mosquito breeding patterns, influencing the spread of Malaria, Dengue, and Japanese Encephalitis.
- Food and Nutrition Risks: Crop failures increase food prices and directly threaten nutritional security.
🔴 Prelims Pointers
- El Niño: Warm phase of ENSO; abnormal warming of the eastern Pacific Ocean.
- La Niña: Cool phase of ENSO; generally linked to stronger Indian monsoons.
- Southern Oscillation: Atmospheric pressure changes between Tahiti (Pacific) and Darwin (Australia).
- Walker Circulation: East-west atmospheric circulation over the tropical Pacific, which weakens during El Niño.
- Monitoring Organisations: IMD (India), WMO (United Nations), NOAA (USA).
🔴 Mains Pointers
- A. Importance of Understanding El Niño
- Climate Adaptation: Prepares governments for droughts, heatwaves, and crop failures.
- Disaster Risk Reduction: Supports early warning systems and climate-resilient planning.
- Food Security: Enables proactive agricultural planning.
- B. Challenges for Assam
- Agricultural Vulnerability: High reliance on rain-fed farming; small/marginal farmers are extremely vulnerable.
- Public Health & Water Stress: Rise in heat-related illnesses and reduced water recharge/availability.
- Biodiversity & Urban Risks: Ecological stress in sensitive landscapes; cities like Guwahati face the urban heat island effect and increased energy demand.
- C. Government Initiatives
- National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC): Eight missions, including the National Water Mission and National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture.
- State Action Plan on Climate Change (Assam): Focuses on agriculture, water resources, biodiversity, and disaster management.
- National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA): Provides guidelines for heatwave and climate disaster management.
- IMD Early Warning Systems: Issues seasonal monsoon forecasts and heatwave alerts.
- D. Relevant Reports
- WMO: Warns El Niño contributes to global temperature rises and extreme weather events.
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Reports: Highlight increasing climate variability driven by global warming.
🔴 Way Forward
- Climate-Resilient Agriculture: Promote drought-tolerant crop varieties and crop diversification.
- Strengthen Water Management: Scale up rainwater harvesting and watershed development.
- Improve Public Health Preparedness: Implement heat action plans and robust early warning systems.
- Enhance Climate Monitoring: Upgrade forecasting capabilities and issue localized climate advisories.
- Ecosystem Conservation: Prioritize wetland protection and forest conservation.
- Community Awareness: Disseminate farmer advisories and launch climate literacy campaigns.
🔴 Conclusion
- El Niño has evolved from a meteorological event into a critical challenge for sustainable development and disaster preparedness.
- For Assam, its threats span beyond rainfall deficits to encompass agriculture, biodiversity, water security, and public health.
- Mitigating its long-term impacts requires building climate resilience through scientific forecasting, adaptive agriculture, and proactive governance.
Assam–BHASHINI Partnership: Accelerating AI Innovation in Regional Languages
- GS Paper II: Governance & E-Governance
- GS Paper III: Science & Technology, AI & Innovation
- GS Paper V: Assam Governance & Development
🔴 Introduction
- Assam has partnered with BHASHINI (Bharat Language AI Initiative) to promote Artificial Intelligence (AI), multilingual digital solutions, and language technology in Assamese and other regional languages.
- The collaboration seeks to remove linguistic barriers in the digital ecosystem, supporting startups, researchers, entrepreneurs, and citizens through AI-powered tools.
- It aligns with the Digital India objectives, making technology accessible in citizens’ native languages.
🔴 Key Points
- Initiative: BHASHINI
- Ministry: Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY)
- Assam Partner: Assam Innovation & Startup Foundation (AISF)
- Objective: Promote AI and digital inclusion through regional languages.
- Focus Language: Assamese and other Indian languages.
- Key Areas: Translation, Speech Recognition, AI Tools, Startups.
- National Mission: Digital India Programme.
🔴 What is BHASHINI?
- A Government of India initiative launched under the National Language Translation Mission (NLTM).
- Objective: Make digital services available in all major Indian languages utilizing:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Natural Language Processing (NLP)
- Machine Learning (ML)
- Speech Recognition
- Language Translation Technologies
🔴 Vision of BHASHINI
- “Digital Access for All”: Aims to ensure language does not become a barrier to Governance, Education, Healthcare, Banking, E-commerce, and Public Service Delivery.
🔴 Why is the Assam-BHASHINI Partnership Important?
- A. Promotion of Assamese Language: Facilitates the digital preservation of Assamese, creation of language datasets, and development of AI-powered applications.
- B. Boost to Digital Inclusion: Helps citizens who struggle with English by enabling voice-based interactions, regional language interfaces, and easier access to government services.
- C. Strengthening Startup Ecosystem: Supports startups, researchers, innovators, and academic institutions working on language tech.
- D. AI Development in Northeast India: Positions Assam as a premier hub for AI innovation, language technology, and digital entrepreneurship.
🔴 Key Technologies Involved
- Natural Language Processing (NLP): Enables computers to understand human language (used for translation, chatbots, virtual assistants).
- Machine Learning (ML): Algorithms that learn patterns from large datasets to improve performance over time.
- Speech Recognition: Converts spoken language into text (used for voice assistants, voice-based governance).
- Generative AI: AI systems capable of generating text, audio, images, and code.
🔴 BHASHINI and Digital India
- Digital India Programme: BHASHINI supports its vision by driving digital empowerment, digital infrastructure, and digital governance.
- National Language Translation Mission (NLTM): Aims to break language barriers, expand knowledge access, and promote linguistic inclusivity.
🔴 Prelims Pointers
- BHASHINI: It stands for BHASha INterface for India. Implemented under MeitY.
- MeitY: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
- NLTM: Government initiative supporting translation across Indian languages.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): The ability of machines to perform tasks requiring human intelligence.
- Natural Language Processing (NLP): A branch of AI dealing with human language understanding and generation.
🔴 Mains Pointers
- A. Importance
- Linguistic Inclusivity: Promotes digital access in native languages.
- Strengthening Cooperative Federalism: Enables Centre-State collaboration in tech development.
- Enhancing E-Governance: Makes government services vastly more accessible.
- Preservation of Regional Languages: Creates vital digital resources for indigenous languages.
- Economic Opportunities: Boosts startups, language-tech companies, and employment.
- B. Challenges
- Data Availability: Regional languages often lack the annotated text corpora and speech databases required for AI models.
- Digital Divide: Limited internet access in remote areas limits reach.
- Accuracy Issues: Translation and speech systems are prone to errors.
- Resource Constraints: Requires skilled manpower, AI infrastructure, and funding.
- Ethical Concerns: Risks involving data privacy, algorithmic bias, and misinformation.
- C. Government Initiatives
- Digital India Mission: Promotes digital transformation.
- IndiaAI Mission: Supports AI ecosystem development.
- National Language Translation Mission: Facilitates multilingual digital services.
- Startup India: Provides support to tech startups.
- D. Assam-Specific Opportunities
- Education: Assamese-language e-learning and digital classrooms.
- Governance: Multilingual citizen service portals and voice-enabled public services.
- Culture: Preservation of Assamese literature and digitisation of archives.
- Economy: Fosters a new ecosystem for AI startups and entrepreneurs.
🔴 Exam Enrichment
- Constitutional Provisions:
- Article 343: Official language of the Union.
- Article 350A: Facilities for instruction in mother tongue at primary stage.
- Article 351: Promotion of Hindi while respecting linguistic diversity.
- Eighth Schedule: Recognises 22 languages, including Assamese.
- Related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
- SDG 16: Strong Institutions
🔴 Way Forward
- Build Assamese Language Datasets: Develop large-scale text corpora and speech repositories.
- Promote AI Research: Encourage deep university-industry collaboration.
- Improve Digital Infrastructure: Expand stable internet access across rural Assam.
- Strengthen Capacity Building: Train youth extensively in AI, NLP, and Data Science.
- Ensure Ethical AI: Develop transparent and highly inclusive AI frameworks.
🔴 Conclusion
If executed effectively, this initiative can serve as a robust model for inclusive digital development throughout India.
The Assam–BHASHINI partnership is a crucial step towards democratizing technology through language inclusion.
By merging AI with regional linguistic diversity, it bridges the digital divide, enhances e-governance, preserves the Assamese language, and fuels innovation.
APSC Prelims MCQs
Q1. With reference to ‘Zero FIR’, consider the following statements:
- A Zero FIR can be registered at any police station irrespective of territorial jurisdiction.
- Zero FIR can only be registered for cybercrime cases.
- After registration, the FIR may be transferred to the competent police station.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 3 only
B. 2 only
C. 1, 2 and 3
D. 3 only
Answer: A
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct.
- Statement 2 is incorrect. Zero FIR applies to various cognizable offences, not only cybercrimes.
- Statement 3 is correct.
Q2. Consider the following:
- Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)
- National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP)
- Helpline 1930
Which of the above are specifically associated with combating cyber financial crimes in India?
A. 1 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 2 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D
Explanation:
All three form part of India’s cybercrime response ecosystem.
Q3. With reference to the Strait of Hormuz, consider the following statements:
- It connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman.
- It lies between Iran and Oman.
- It connects the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A
Explanation:
Statement 3 describes the Suez Canal, not the Strait of Hormuz.
Q4. Why is the Strait of Hormuz considered strategically important?
A. It is the only route connecting the Arctic Ocean and Atlantic Ocean.
B. A significant share of global oil and LNG trade passes through it.
C. It is the deepest strait in the world.
D. It connects the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea.
Answer: B
Explanation:
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints.
Q5. Consider the following pairs:
| Chokepoint | Connects |
| 1. Bab-el-Mandeb | Red Sea and Gulf of Aden |
| 2. Strait of Malacca | Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean |
| 3. Strait of Hormuz | Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman |
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
A. Only one
B. Only two
C. All three
D. None
Answer: C
Explanation:
All three pairs are correctly matched.
Q6. With reference to El Niño, consider the following statements:
- It is associated with abnormal warming of sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.
- It generally strengthens the Indian summer monsoon.
- It is a component of the ENSO cycle.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: B
Explanation:
El Niño usually weakens the Indian monsoon.
Q7. Which one of the following best describes the Walker Circulation?
A. Deep ocean circulation driven by salinity gradients
B. East-west atmospheric circulation over the tropical Pacific Ocean
C. Wind circulation around Antarctica
D. Seasonal reversal of winds over the Indian Ocean
Answer: B
Explanation:
Walker Circulation weakens during El Niño events.
Q8. Which of the following are likely consequences of a strong El Niño event in India?
- Deficient monsoon rainfall
- Increased probability of drought
- Higher temperatures
Select the correct answer using the code below:
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D
Explanation:
All are common impacts associated with El Niño.
Q9. Consider the following organizations:
- World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
- India Meteorological Department (IMD)
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Which of the above monitor and provide climate-related forecasts and assessments?
A. 1 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D
Explanation:
All three institutions are involved in weather and climate monitoring.
Q10. With reference to BHASHINI, consider the following statements:
- It is an initiative under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
- It seeks to promote AI-enabled multilingual digital services.
- It is implemented under the National Language Translation Mission.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D
Explanation:
All three statements are correct.
Q11. The term ‘Natural Language Processing (NLP)’ is most appropriately associated with:
A. Satellite communication systems
B. Processing and understanding human language by machines
C. Quantum computing architecture
D. Blockchain-based data storage
Answer: B
Explanation:
NLP is a branch of AI that enables machines to understand and generate human language.
Q12. Which of the following technologies are commonly used in language-based AI systems?
- Machine Learning
- Natural Language Processing
- Speech Recognition
Select the correct answer using the code below:
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D
Explanation:
All three are core technologies used in modern language AI systems.
Q13. Consider the following statements regarding Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) in India:
- They are maintained to enhance India’s energy security.
- They can be used during supply disruptions.
- They are maintained exclusively by private oil companies.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A
Explanation:
Strategic reserves are maintained under government arrangements, not exclusively by private companies.
Q14. Which of the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are directly linked to the objectives of BHASHINI?
- SDG 4 – Quality Education
- SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities
Select the correct answer using the code below:
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D
Explanation:
Language inclusion and digital accessibility contribute to all three SDGs.
Q15. Consider the following pairs:
| Initiative | Primary Objective |
| 1. e-Zero FIR | Faster registration of cyber financial crime cases |
| 2. BHASHINI | AI-enabled multilingual digital ecosystem |
| 3. National Language Translation Mission | Promotion of language technology and translation |
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
A. Only one
B. Only two
C. All three
D. None
Answer: C
Explanation:
All three pairs are correctly matched and reflect recent governance and technology initiatives.
APSC Mains Practice Question
📘 GS Mains Model Question (APSC CCE)
📝 Question
Q. What is El Niño? Examine its impact on India’s monsoon system and discuss the challenges it poses for Assam’s agriculture, public health, and disaster management. Suggest suitable measures to enhance climate resilience. (15 Marks)
Model Answer
Introduction
According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), El Niño is the warm phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon, characterized by abnormal warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. Historically, several drought years in India have been associated with El Niño events.
Impact of El Niño on India’s Monsoon System
1. Weakening of Southwest Monsoon
- Weakens Walker Circulation and monsoon winds.
- Leads to below-normal rainfall in many parts of India.
2. Increased Frequency of Heatwaves
- Higher temperatures and prolonged dry spells.
- Greater evapotranspiration and water stress.
3. Agricultural Impact
- Reduced yields of paddy, pulses and oilseeds.
- Increased irrigation requirements and production costs.
4. Economic Consequences
- Food inflation due to lower agricultural output.
- Increased pressure on rural livelihoods.
Challenges for Assam
A. Agricultural Vulnerability
- Assam’s agriculture is heavily dependent on monsoon rainfall.
- Paddy, jute and horticultural crops may suffer productivity losses.
B. Public Health Risks
- Rising temperatures increase heat-related illnesses.
- Greater vulnerability among elderly people, children and outdoor workers.
- Possible changes in disease patterns, including vector-borne diseases.
C. Water and Ecosystem Stress
- Reduced river recharge and groundwater availability.
- Adverse impacts on wetlands, fisheries and biodiversity.
D. Disaster Management Challenges
- Simultaneous risks of drought-like conditions and localized extreme weather events.
- Increased pressure on disaster preparedness mechanisms.
Measures to Enhance Climate Resilience
- Promote climate-resilient and drought-tolerant crop varieties.
- Strengthen IMD-based early warning and advisory systems.
- Expand rainwater harvesting and watershed management.
- Implement Heat Action Plans at district level.
- Enhance ecosystem conservation, especially wetlands and forests.
- Strengthen the Assam State Disaster Management Authority’s climate adaptation framework.
Conclusion
As climate change intensifies weather variability, El Niño poses a significant challenge to India’s food, water and health security. For Assam, building resilience through scientific forecasting, climate-smart agriculture, and proactive disaster management will be crucial for ensuring sustainable development and safeguarding vulnerable communities.
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