Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 31st January 2025 - UPSC MCQ

1. Statement 1 is correct. The Supreme Court has indeed relaxed the condition for the appointment of ad hoc judges in High Courts, allowing these appointments to occur even when vacancies do not exceed 20% of the sanctioned strength. This change was made to help alleviate the backlog of pending cases, particularly criminal cases.

2. Statement 2 is incorrect. Article 224A of the Indian Constitution allows for the appointment of retired judges in High Courts with the consent of the President of India, not the Chief Justice of India. It is the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court who can request a retired judge to serve, with the President's approval.

3. Statement 3 is correct. The ruling is aimed at addressing the significant backlog of cases in High Courts, which exceeds 60 lakh cases, including nearly 20 lakh criminal appeals. The use of ad hoc judges is intended to expedite the judicial process and improve the efficiency of the legal system.

Thus, the correct answer is Option C: 1 and 3 Only, as statements 1 and 3 are accurate based on the provided context.

1. Article 224A: Allows appointment of retired judges to High Courts.

This is correctly matched. Article 224A of the Indian Constitution permits the appointment of retired judges to High Courts to help manage case backlogs.

2. Point Nemo: Known for its rich marine biodiversity.

This is incorrectly matched. Point Nemo is known for having very little marine life due to its isolation.

3. South Pacific Gyre: Region known for clear and biologically inactive waters.

This is correctly matched. The South Pacific Gyre is recognized for its clear and biologically inactive ocean waters, making it a unique oceanographic feature.

4. Space Junk Disposal Site: Point Nemo's remoteness has made it a preferred site for space debris disposal.

This is correctly matched. Due to its extreme remoteness and minimal marine traffic, Point Nemo has become a favored site for disposing of space debris by space agencies.

Pairs 1, 3, and 4 are correctly matched, whereas pair 2 is incorrectly matched. Hence, the correct answer is Option B: Only two pairs.

The controlled cannabis cultivation pilot study approved by the Himachal Pradesh Cabinet primarily focuses on exploring non-narcotic applications of cannabis. This initiative aims to harness the benefits of cannabis for medicinal and industrial purposes while ensuring that the cultivated varieties have minimal intoxicating effects, with a THC content of 3% or less. It underscores the potential of cannabis beyond its psychoactive properties, particularly in pharmaceuticals and industrial uses.

Statement-I accurately describes the controlled cultivation of cannabis in Himachal Pradesh for medicinal and industrial purposes, emphasizing the specific varieties and THC content requirements. Statement-II correctly explains the legal framework around cannabis cultivation in India as per the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, highlighting the prohibition of certain cannabis products for recreational use while allowing exceptions for specific purposes under regulatory oversight. Thus, both statements are correct, and Statement-II provides additional context that supports and explains Statement-I.

The samples collected from asteroid Bennu by the NASA OSIRIS-REx mission have provided significant insights into the origins of life. Among the discoveries, 14 out of 20 essential amino acids for proteins on Earth were found in the samples, along with all five nucleobases used in DNA and RNA. This finding indicates the presence of crucial building blocks for life and supports the theory that asteroids played a vital role in delivering these components to early Earth, potentially contributing to the origin of life.

Statement 1 is correct. The samples from asteroid Bennu did indeed contain all five nucleobases used in DNA and RNA, which supports the idea of prebiotic chemistry beyond Earth. This finding is significant as it implies that the building blocks of life could have been widespread in the early solar system, potentially delivered to Earth via asteroids.

Statement 2 is incorrect. While Bennu samples showed an equal mix of left- and right-handed amino acids, life on Earth exclusively utilizes left-handed amino acids. This discovery raises questions about why life on Earth evolved to use only left-handed amino acids, but it does not confirm that early life had similar chemical compositions.

Statement 3 is correct. The presence of minerals such as calcite and halite in Bennu samples indicates that the asteroid had prolonged exposure to liquid water. This finding is crucial as it suggests that asteroids could have provided water and organic materials necessary for life to early Earth.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option C: 1 and 3 Only.

1. Amino Acids in Bennu Samples - Incorrect. While the samples contained 14 out of the 20 essential amino acids for proteins on Earth, not all 20 were found.

2. Nucleobases in Bennu Samples - Correct. All five nucleobases used in DNA and RNA were detected in the Bennu samples, indicating prebiotic chemistry beyond Earth.

3. Kurdistan Region Geography - Correct. The Kurdistan Region spans across Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey, featuring regions such as the Zagros Mountains and fertile plains.

4. Kurdistan Independence Referendum - Incorrect. The 2017 Kurdistan independence referendum was not accepted by the central government of Iraq; it was rejected, leading to military and economic repercussions.

Thus, pairs 2 and 3 are correctly matched.

Statement 1: The e-Shram Microsite is indeed a national digital platform, as it is designed to integrate state-specific platforms with the national e-Shram database. This integration simplifies the registration process for unorganised workers and provides streamlined access to various welfare programs and employment opportunities, confirming the correctness of this statement.

Statement 2: The Occupational Shortage Index is specifically developed to identify job shortages and align job seekers' skills with industry requirements. This aids significantly in workforce planning and skill development, which supports effective decision-making by policymakers and training institutions. Therefore, this statement is correct.

Statement 3: The e-Shram initiative is equipped with features such as real-time analytics and multilingual accessibility, ensuring that workers receive timely updates about welfare schemes and job opportunities. This two-way integration with the e-Shram database clearly facilitates these updates, making this statement correct.

All three statements are correct, hence the correct answer is Option D

Statement-I correctly describes the purpose and function of the e-Shram Microsite, which is to provide unorganised workers with easy access to welfare programs. Statement-II accurately explains the role of the Occupational Shortage Index (OSI) in identifying job shortages and aligning job seekers' skills with industry requirements. Therefore, both statements are correct, and Statement-II elucidates the significance of Statement-I in addressing skill gaps and job shortages in the labor market.

Excessive crowd density is a critical factor leading to crowd crushes, restricting movement and causing breathing difficulties, ultimately resulting in severe injuries or fatalities. Research indicates that injuries can start occurring at a density of just five people per square meter, emphasizing the importance of managing crowd density effectively to prevent disasters.