DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS QUIZ – 19 September, 2025

Explanation:
After independence, the princely state of Hyderabad under Nizam Osman Ali Khan resisted joining India. The Indian government launched “Operation Polo” in September 1948, leading to Hyderabad’s integration into the Indian Union. This event is remembered as Hyderabad Liberation Day. It reflects the challenges of post-independence state integration and is linked to national sovereignty, unity, and federal consolidation—core themes in UPSC Polity & History.

Explanation:
India already has FTAs with ASEAN, Japan, Korea, Mauritius, and UAE. But not with EU (a major Western bloc). An India–EU FTA would open access to a $15 trillion market. Issues include tariffs on automobiles, wines, dairy, services trade barriers, and digital regulations. It won’t replace WTO commitments, nor give Eurozone membership. Agriculture is just one of many sectors covered.

Explanation:
Geothermal energy is renewable, derived from Earth’s internal heat. India’s main geothermal hotspots include Puga Valley (Ladakh), Cambay Graben, Godavari Basin, and Tattapani (Chhattisgarh). Its main advantage is providing uninterrupted baseload energy, unlike solar/wind which are intermittent. However, technology, cost, and drilling depth challenges remain barriers.

 Explanation:
India–UAE relations rest on CEPA (signed 2022, boosting bilateral trade to $100 bn+), a rupee–dirham settlement mechanism for oil trade, and I2U2 grouping for infrastructure, clean energy, and tech projects. SAARC FTA is defunct, and UAE is not a member of SAARC. UAE is also India’s third-largest trading partner, highlighting the strategic depth of this partnership.

Explanation:
Gujarat has rapidly emerged as India’s renewable energy hub, with massive investments in solar parks (like Dholera), hybrid wind-solar projects, and offshore wind. Adding 6,632 MW in five months reflects India’s momentum toward the 2030 target. Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu together form the “renewable triangle” of India. This growth also attracts global investors like Adani, Reliance, and foreign clean-energy firms.