Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 11th February 2025 - UPSC MCQ

Passive Euthanasia involves intentionally causing a patient's death by withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatments. It is a method of euthanasia where medical professionals withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatments from a terminally ill patient. This is done to alleviate the patient's suffering and allow them to pass away naturally.

1. Statement 1: This statement is incorrect. The Supreme Court of India, in the Common Cause vs. Union of India case (2018), did recognize the right to die with dignity as part of the right to life under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. However, this judgment led to the legalization of passive euthanasia, not active euthanasia. Active euthanasia remains illegal in India.

2. Statement 2: This statement is correct. Passive euthanasia involves deliberately withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatments, such as mechanical ventilation or feeding tubes, from a patient who is terminally ill or in a persistent vegetative state.

3. Statement 3: This statement is correct. Active euthanasia involves taking specific steps to cause a patient's death, such as administering a lethal dose of medication. This practice is illegal in India, as it is considered a criminal offense under the current legal framework.

Therefore, only statements 2 and 3 are correct, making Option D the correct answer.

1. Article 239AA - Grants Delhi complete autonomy over all state matters. Incorrect. Article 239AA provides Delhi with a legislative assembly with the power to make laws on various subjects, but not on police, public order, and land. It does not grant complete autonomy over all state matters.

2. 2018 Supreme Court Judgment - Stated that the L-G must act on the "aid and advice" of the elected Delhi Government in most matters. Correct. The 2018 Supreme Court judgment clarified that the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) is bound by the aid and advice of the Delhi Government in all matters except those where he is required to act in his discretion.

3. Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2023 - Extended the L-G's powers over police and public order. Incorrect. The Amendment Act of 2023 extended the L-G's powers over bureaucratic appointments, not over police and public order, which are already outside the purview of the Delhi Government as per Article 239AA.

4. 2023 Supreme Court ruling - Reaffirmed Delhi Government's control over administrative services. Correct. The 2023 Supreme Court ruling reaffirmed the 2018 judgment, emphasizing that the Delhi Government has control over administrative services.

Thus, only pairs 2 and 4 are correctly matched.

Statement-I correctly highlights the key issues in the legal disputes between the Delhi Government and the Central Government, focusing on bureaucratic appointments and governance powers. Statement-II accurately describes the objectives of the PM-AJAY scheme, aimed at improving the socio-economic conditions of Scheduled Castes communities through various initiatives. However, there is no direct connection or explanation between the two statements, making option (b) the correct answer.

The primary objective of Exercise Cyclone 2025, the joint military exercise between India and Egypt, is to enhance military collaboration and operational effectiveness through joint training sessions that simulate real-world scenarios. This exercise aims to improve coordination and tactical skills between the armed forces of both countries, focusing on areas such as counter-terrorism, high-intensity combat, and survival techniques in desert conditions. The motto for this year's exercise, "Together we train, together we excel," reflects the spirit of cooperation between the Indian and Egyptian armed forces.

1. Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council Elections - Scheduled for February 21

- Correctly matched. The elections for the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council are indeed scheduled for February 21, as indicated in the provided material.

2. Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution - Applicable to all Indian states

- Incorrectly matched. The Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution is specifically applicable to the tribal areas in the northeastern states of India, namely Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram, not all Indian states.

3. Exercise Cyclone 2025 - Joint military exercise between India and Egypt

- Correctly matched. Exercise Cyclone 2025 is indeed a joint military exercise involving the armed forces of India and Egypt, aimed at enhancing military cooperation.

4. Voice of Global South Summit - Initiative for promoting the interests of the Global North

- Incorrectly matched. The Voice of Global South Summit is an initiative aimed at promoting the interests of the Global South, not the Global North.

Thus, out of the four pairs, two are correctly matched: Pairs 1 and 3.

The primary cause of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is believed to be injury to the cells lining the blood vessels in the lungs, leading to vascular disease. This condition results in the thickening and narrowing of small arteries in the lungs, obstructing blood flow and increasing blood pressure in the lungs. Various medical conditions and factors such as congenital heart disease, liver disease, HIV, connective tissue diseases, and past or present drug use can also contribute to the development of PAH.

- Statement 1 is correct. Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is indeed a specific type of pulmonary hypertension where the small arteries in the lungs become thickened and narrowed, obstructing blood flow and leading to increased blood pressure in the lungs.
- Statement 2 is incorrect. The exact cause of PAH is not clearly understood. While genetic factors can play a role, PAH is believed to result from injury to the cells lining the lung blood vessels and is linked to various medical conditions such as congenital heart disease, liver disease, HIV, and connective tissue diseases, among others.
- Statement 3 is incorrect. Currently, there is no known cure for PAH. The available treatments aim to manage symptoms and improve quality of life, but they do not cure the disease.
Thus, only statement 1 is correct, making Option A the correct answer.

1. Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Congenital heart disease is a known cause.
This statement is correctly matched. Congenital heart disease is indeed one of the medical conditions linked to PAH. PAH can result from various underlying conditions, including congenital heart disease, liver disease, HIV, and connective tissue diseases like scleroderma and lupus.

2. Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: It can be cured with current treatments.
This statement is incorrectly matched. Currently, there is no cure for PAH. The available treatments focus on managing symptoms and improving quality of life but do not offer a definitive cure.

3. Fort William: Renamed to Vijay Durg to reflect indigenous military history.
This statement is correctly matched. Fort William in Kolkata was renamed Vijay Durg as part of efforts to remove colonial symbols and honor indigenous military history, specifically drawing inspiration from the significant naval fort under Chhatrapati Shivaji in Maharashtra.

4. Fort William: Originally constructed by Robert Clive in 1757.
This statement is incorrectly matched. Fort William was originally constructed by the British, not specifically by Robert Clive, and the first version was established by the English East India Company in 1696. The current structure dates from after the Battle of Plassey in 1757, where Clive played a significant role, but he did not construct the original fort.

Thus, only two pairs are correctly matched.

Statement-I correctly describes Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) as a condition where the small arteries in the lungs thicken and narrow, leading to obstructed blood flow and increased blood pressure in the lungs. This is an accurate description of PAH.

However, Statement-II is incorrect in stating that the exact cause of PAH is clearly understood. In reality, while there are known factors that contribute to PAH such as injury to lung blood vessels, the exact cause of PAH is not entirely understood. PAH is a complex condition with multiple potential causes, including genetic predispositions, environmental factors, and other medical conditions.