Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 30th October 2024 - UPSC MCQ

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is the primary greenhouse gas associated with human activity, accounting for approximately 64% of the warming effect on the climate. This is primarily due to activities like fossil fuel combustion and cement production. Carbon dioxide levels have been increasing steadily, with significant implications for global climate change.

- Statement 1: This statement is incorrect. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) has been criticized for being discriminatory, particularly against Muslims, when viewed alongside the National Register of Citizens (NRC). It challenges the constitutional guarantee of equal rights for all by placing excessive pressure on specific minority communities.

- Statement 2: This statement is incorrect. The media in India has been criticized for increasingly acting as a mouthpiece for the government rather than serving as an independent watchdog. This has diminished its role in protecting civil liberties and holding the government accountable.

- Statement 3: This statement is correct. There have been concerns about the decline in judicial independence in India, with instances where the judiciary appears hesitant to confront the executive, possibly due to political pressures. This trend undermines the judiciary's role as a check on executive power and threatens democratic principles.

Therefore, only statement 3 is correct, making Option C the accurate answer.

Majoritarian politics is a key factor contributing to the erosion of civil liberties in India. This shift towards majoritarian perspectives has marginalized minority rights, particularly affecting groups like Muslims. It undermines universal protection of civil liberties and challenges democratic principles of inclusion and equality. In recent years, there has been a notable trend towards majoritarianism in Indian politics, impacting the democratic fabric of the nation.

Statement-I is incorrect because the purpose of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is to prohibit all nuclear explosions globally, not to permit them. Statement-II is incorrect because while the CTBTO is indeed an organization that monitors compliance with the CTBT, it does not enforce the treaty itself. The enforcement of the CTBT falls upon the signatory states themselves.

1. Civil Registration System (CRS) Mobile App is incorrectly matched. The app was developed by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, not the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

2. Konark Wheels are correctly matched. The Konark Wheels indeed represent 24 hours in a day, along with other symbolic meanings such as the 8 spokes representing prahars (three-hour periods).

3. Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) is correctly matched. It was indeed launched in 2014-15 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed at the comprehensive development of the horticulture sector.

4. Women’s Reservation Bill is incorrectly matched. The bill proposes reserving 33% of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, not 50%.

Thus, pairs 2 and 3 are correctly matched.

Let's evaluate each statement one by one:

1. The Greenhouse Gas Bulletin does indeed report annually on greenhouse gases, but it specifically includes data on Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), and Nitrous Oxide (N2O), not Ozone. Therefore, this statement is incorrect.

2. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is indeed the primary greenhouse gas linked to human activities, such as fossil fuel combustion and cement production. It accounts for approximately 64% of the warming effect on the climate, making this statement correct.

3. Methane (CH4) is a potent greenhouse gas with a shorter atmospheric lifespan of about a decade compared to Carbon Dioxide. However, it significantly contributes to the overall greenhouse effect due to its efficiency in trapping heat, which is why it is considered a major component of long-lived greenhouse gases. This statement is correct.

Therefore, only statements 2 and 3 are correct. Hence, the correct answer is Option B: 2 and 3 Only.

1. Majoritarian Politics - Leads to increased protection of minority rights. This pair is incorrectly matched. Majoritarian politics in India has led to the marginalization of minority rights, particularly affecting Muslims, rather than increasing their protection. The rise of majoritarianism is seen as undermining the democratic principles of inclusion and equality.

2. Media Landscape - Acts as a watchdog over governmental power. This pair is incorrectly matched. While historically this was true, the current media landscape in India is often criticized for acting as a mouthpiece for the government rather than a watchdog, diminishing public discourse on civil rights and accountability.

3. Judicial Autonomy - Courts show hesitation to confront the executive. This pair is correctly matched. There have been instances where the judiciary appears hesitant to confront the executive, possibly due to political pressures, which affects judicial independence and the checks on power.

4. Legislative and Executive Power Dynamics - Reduces checks and balances. This pair is correctly matched. The concentration of power within the executive and a legislative body that aligns closely with the ruling party's agenda has indeed led to a reduction in checks and balances.

Thus, only pairs 3 and 4 are correctly matched.

Statement-I correctly highlights the change in the population trend of North Atlantic right whales, stating that there has been a recent increase of about 4% after a notable decline between 2010 and 2020. This aligns with the provided information.

However, Statement-II is inaccurate. North Atlantic right whales are not primarily found in the North Pacific oceans; they are actually primarily found in the temperate and subpolar regions of the North Atlantic Ocean. Their distribution is concentrated along the eastern coast of the United States and Canada, not in the North Pacific.

Therefore, while Statement-I is correct based on the information provided, Statement-II is incorrect, making option (c) the accurate choice.

1. Statement 1: The Civil Registration System (CRS) Mobile App allows individuals to register births and deaths using their state's official language. This statement is correct. The CRS app is designed to streamline the registration process of births and deaths across India, making it accessible in the official languages of the respective states.

2. Statement 2: The Konark Wheels symbolize the 24 hours of the day and can function as a sundial. This statement is correct. The Konark Wheels indeed represent the 24 hours of a day and two of the wheels function as sundials, accurately indicating time from sunrise to sunset.

3. Statement 3: The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India operate under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. This statement is incorrect. The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India actually operate under the Ministry of Home Affairs, not the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

Thus, only statements 1 and 2 are correct. Therefore, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only.

The CRS mobile application aims to enhance governance by integrating technology into public services, specifically enabling the registration of births and deaths throughout India. By streamlining and accelerating the registration process, this app makes it more user-friendly and accessible for citizens, aligning with the government's objective of leveraging technology for efficient service delivery.