Daily Current Affairs Quiz: March 17, 2026

Option (a) is correct: The Beas River originates near Rohtang Pass in the Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh at an elevation of about 13,050 feet. From there it flows through the Kullu Valley, Mandi, and Kangra before entering Punjab.

Option (b) is incorrect: Nathu La Pass lies in Sikkim along the India–China border and is associated with eastern Himalayan trade routes, not the origin of the Beas River.

Option (c) is incorrect: Zoji La Pass connects the Kashmir Valley with Ladakh and is part of the western Himalayan transport corridor, unrelated to the Beas River’s source.

Option (d) is incorrect: Shipki La Pass is located on the India–China border in Himachal Pradesh and is associated with the Sutlej River system, not the origin of the Beas River.

Option (a) is incorrect: Cobalt is a metallic conductor, not an electrical insulator. Materials used for insulation are typically ceramics, glass, or polymers.

Option (b) is correct: Cobalt-based superalloys possess excellent strength, heat resistance, and corrosion resistance, making them suitable for demanding applications such as jet engines, turbines, and aerospace components.

Option (c) is incorrect: Cobalt actually has a relatively high melting point, which contributes to its usefulness in high-temperature alloys.

Option (d) is incorrect: Absorbing atmospheric carbon dioxide is not a known physical or chemical property of cobalt and has no relation to its industrial applications.

Option (a) is incorrect: Geneva hosts many international organisations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), but not the IAEA headquarters.

Option (b) is incorrect: New York hosts the United Nations headquarters, while the IAEA operates from Vienna.

Option (c) is incorrect: The Hague is known for international legal institutions such as the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court, not the IAEA.

Option (d) is correct: The IAEA headquarters is located in Vienna, Austria, where it coordinates international cooperation on nuclear technology, safety, and safeguards.

Option (a) is correct: Nevado Ojos del Salado lies in the Andes Mountains along the Chile–Argentina border and forms part of the Andean volcanic chain.

Option (b) is incorrect: The Peru–Bolivia border contains parts of the Andes and Lake Titicaca region but not Nevado Ojos del Salado.

Option (c) is incorrect: Although Chile and Peru share a border, Nevado Ojos del Salado lies further south along the Chile–Argentina boundary.

Option (d) is incorrect: Argentina and Brazil share borders in South America but do not contain the Andes mountain range where this volcano is located.

Option (a) is incorrect: Missions studying the Moon’s composition include lunar missions such as Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Chandrayaan missions, not the Van Allen Probes.

Option (b) is incorrect: The Sun’s corona is studied by solar missions such as the Parker Solar Probe and SOHO, rather than the Van Allen Probes.

Option (c) is correct: Van Allen Probe A, launched by NASA in 2012 as part of the Van Allen Probes mission, was designed to study the Van Allen Radiation Belts – regions of high-energy charged particles trapped by Earth’s magnetic field.

Option (d) is incorrect: Missions analyzing the Martian atmosphere include spacecraft such as MAVEN and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which are separate from the Van Allen Probes mission.