Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 8th November 2024 - UPSC MCQ

1. Article 30 of the Indian Constitution - Correctly matched. Article 30 indeed grants all minorities, based on religion or language, the right to establish and manage educational institutions of their choice.

2. Article 15(5) of the Indian Constitution - Correctly matched. Article 15(5) provides that minority educational institutions are exempt from the requirement of reserving seats for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).

3. St. Stephen’s College Case - Correctly matched. The Supreme Court recognized St. Stephen’s College as a minority institution in 1992, allowing it to admit up to 50% Christian students.

4. S. Azeez Basha vs. Union of India Case - Incorrectly matched. This case concluded that AMU was not established by the Muslim community but was created through the Aligarh Muslim University Act, 1920, making it a parliamentary decision, not a minority institution founded by the Muslim community.

Thus, three pairs are correctly matched.

1. IOC Headquarters - Lausanne, Switzerland: This pair is correctly matched. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is indeed headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland.

2. Indian Olympic Association's Interest - 2036 Summer Olympics: This pair is correctly matched. The Indian Olympic Association has expressed its interest in hosting the 2036 Summer Olympics.

3. Ahmedabad - Host city for 2028 Summer Olympics: This pair is incorrectly matched. The 2028 Summer Olympics are set to take place in Los Angeles, not Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad is a potential candidate city for the 2036 Olympics if India is selected as the host.

4. IOC Founding Year - 1894: This pair is correctly matched. The IOC was founded in 1894 by Pierre de Coubertin.

Thus, pairs 1, 2, and 4 are correctly matched, while pair 3 is incorrect. Therefore, the correct answer is Option C: Only three pairs. However, due to an error in the problem statement, the solution should have stated Option C: Only three pairs instead of Option B: Only two pairs.

The answer should be updated to Option C: Only three pairs.

Article 30 of the Indian Constitution primarily aims to grant minority communities, based on religion or language, the right to establish and manage educational institutions of their choice. This provision ensures that minority communities have the autonomy to create and oversee educational institutions that cater to their specific needs and aspirations, promoting diversity and inclusivity in the education sector.

1. The first statement is incorrect. In the S. Azeez Basha vs. Union of India case, the Supreme Court concluded that AMU was not established by the Muslim minority but was created through the Aligarh Muslim University Act, 1920, which was a decision by the Indian Parliament.

2. The second statement is correct. Article 30 of the Indian Constitution grants all minorities, whether based on religion or language, the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. This provision is aimed at preserving the rights of minority communities to promote their educational and cultural interests.

3. The third statement is incorrect. The Central Government has not always supported the minority status of AMU. In fact, the issue of AMU's minority status has been contentious, with the government at times opposing the recognition of AMU as a minority institution, arguing for its secular character due to its establishment by legislative action and receipt of government funding.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option C: 2 Only, as only the second statement is accurate.

1. Brunei - ASEAN Member: Correct. Brunei is one of the 10 ASEAN member countries that are part of RCEP.

2. India - RCEP Member: Incorrect. India is not a member of the RCEP. Although India was initially involved in the negotiations, it decided not to join the agreement.

3. Intellectual Property Rights - Focus Area of RCEP: Correct. Intellectual property rights are indeed one of the focus areas for negotiations within the RCEP framework.

4. United States - FTA Partner in RCEP: Incorrect. The United States is not an FTA partner in RCEP. The FTA partners of RCEP include China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, and the United States is not part of this agreement.

Thus, only pairs 1 and 3 are correctly matched.

Airships achieve lift by utilizing buoyant gases that are less dense than the surrounding atmosphere. This principle allows them to float in the air, similar to helium balloons. The buoyancy provided by these gases enables airships to stay airborne and maneuver through the sky.

The primary responsibility of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is to oversee the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and manage the Olympic Games. This involves ensuring the integrity and success of the Olympic Movement, coordinating with host countries, and upholding the values of the Olympic Games.

1. Eligible Institutions - Top 100 NIRF ranked institutions only: This is incorrectly matched. The scheme includes institutions ranked in the top 100 across overall, category-specific, and domain-specific NIRF lists, as well as state government-run institutions ranked between 101-200 and all central government institutions. Therefore, it's not limited to only the top 100.

2. Loan Amount - Up to ₹10 lakh with 75% credit guarantee: This is incorrectly matched. The scheme provides loans up to ₹7.5 lakh with a 75% credit guarantee. However, loans up to ₹10 lakh are eligible for a 3% interest subvention during the moratorium period, but the 75% credit guarantee specifically applies to loans up to ₹7.5 lakh.

3. Annual Family Income Criteria - Up to ₹8 lakh: This is correctly matched. The scheme targets students from families with an annual income of up to ₹8 lakh who do not qualify for any other government scholarships or interest subsidies.

4. Interest Subvention - 3% during the moratorium period: This is correctly matched. The scheme provides a 3% interest subvention on loans up to ₹10 lakh during the moratorium period.

Based on the information provided, pairs 3 and 4 are correctly matched, making three pairs correct.

Statement-I correctly highlights the primary goal of RCEP, which is to establish an integrated market among 16 nations. Statement-II accurately lists the member countries of RCEP, including the 10 ASEAN nations and the six FTA partners. However, Statement-II does not directly explain Statement-I but rather provides additional information about the composition of the RCEP. Hence, both statements are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I, making option (B) the correct choice.

- Statement 1: This statement is correct. Airships traditionally used hydrogen for lift because it was cheaper and more readily available. However, due to safety concerns over hydrogen's flammability, modern airships primarily use helium, which is non-flammable, making it a safer option.

- Statement 2: This statement is incorrect. Airships are actually known for having a reduced environmental impact compared to airplanes. They do not consume fossil fuels to generate lift because they rely on buoyant gases such as helium or hydrogen. Therefore, they have a smaller carbon footprint when used for transportation.

- Statement 3: This statement is correct. In contemporary use, airships serve various functions, such as aerial reconnaissance for scientific and military applications, advertising platforms due to their visibility and unique appearance, and tourism experiences for leisure activities.

Therefore, the correct statements are 1 and 3. Hence, the correct answer is Option C.