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

1. Large Phased Array Radar (LPAR) - China: This pair is correctly matched. China has deployed a sophisticated Large Phased Array Radar in Yunnan province, enhancing its surveillance capabilities.

2. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) - Geneva: This pair is incorrectly matched. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) is located in Stockholm, Sweden, not Geneva.

3. KHANJAR-XII Exercise - India and Kyrgyzstan: This pair is correctly matched. The KHANJAR-XII is a joint military exercise between India and Kyrgyzstan, focusing on counterterrorism and special forces operations.

4. PAVE PAWS Radar - United Kingdom: This pair is incorrectly matched. The PAVE PAWS radar is a United States radar system, not related to the United Kingdom.

Pairs 1 and 3 are correctly matched, while pairs 2 and 4 are incorrectly matched. Thus, there are two correctly matched pairs.

1. Chancellor's Nominee - Nominee of the Governor: This is correctly matched. In the proposed search-cum-selection committee for Vice-Chancellor appointments, one of the members is indeed a nominee of the Chancellor of the university, who is usually the Governor.

2. Executive Body's Nominee - Nominee of the University's Senate: This is correctly matched. The executive body's nominee often comes from entities such as the Senate or Board of Governors of the university.

3. UGC Nominee - Nominee from the University Grants Commission: This is correctly matched. The committee includes a nominee from the University Grants Commission (UGC).

4. Judicial Precedent - State executive involvement in V-C appointments is constitutional: This is incorrectly matched. Judicial precedents have established that state executive influence in Vice-Chancellor appointments is unconstitutional, reinforcing the autonomy of higher education institutions.

Thus, pairs 1, 2, and 3 are correctly matched, while pair 4 is incorrect. Therefore, only two pairs are correctly matched as per the options provided.

- Statement 1: This statement is correct. The Large Phased Array Radar (LPAR) deployed by China in Yunnan province is indeed capable of monitoring areas over 5,000 kilometers. This extensive range allows it to cover parts of Indian territory, making it strategically significant for regional security dynamics.

- Statement 2: This statement is incorrect. Besides China and Russia, the United States also possesses LPAR technology. Examples include the U.S. PAVE PAWS radar, which is a well-known system with similar capabilities.

- Statement 3: This statement is correct. The LPAR plays a vital role in early warning systems and air defense networks. Its ability to detect and track ballistic missile launches in real time significantly enhances a nation's military capabilities by allowing for timely responses to potential threats.

Thus, the correct statements are 1 and 3, making Option C: 1 and 3 Only the correct answer.

La Niña is characterized by the cooling of surface-ocean waters along the tropical west coast of South America. This phenomenon is the counterpart to El Niño, which features unusually warm ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific. Understanding the key characteristics of La Niña is crucial for predicting its effects on global weather patterns and climate variability.

1. Statement 1 is correct. Chandrayaan-3 is indeed focused on exploring the presence of water ice on the Moon, including areas beyond the polar regions. This aligns with the mission's objectives of understanding lunar resources which are crucial for future habitation and space travel.

2. Statement 2 is incorrect. The findings do not suggest that the Moon's surface layer is highly conductive. Instead, ChaSTE (Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment) indicates that the Moon's surface layer is highly non-conductive. This property has implications for the thermal behavior of the lunar surface and its ability to retain water ice.

3. Statement 3 is correct. The ChaSTE experiment, part of Chandrayaan-3's scientific instrumentation, detected significant temperature differences between the surface and deeper lunar layers, providing insights into the Moon's thermal properties.

Therefore, only Statements 1 and 3 are correct, making Option C the correct answer.

Statement-I correctly explains the MFN principle in the WTO, which mandates equal treatment in trade agreements among members. Statement-II is also accurate as it highlights the requirement under GATT that Free Trade Agreements should encompass "substantially all trade" to comply with WTO regulations. Therefore, both statements are correct, and Statement-II provides further clarification on the implications of Statement-I in the context of WTO laws.

Statement-I correctly describes China's deployment of the Large Phased Array Radar (LPAR) in Yunnan province, highlighting its capabilities and implications for regional security dynamics. Statement-II accurately reflects India's status as the second-largest arms importer, emphasizing the diversification of arms suppliers and the decrease in imports from Russia. These statements are independent and provide accurate information related to defense and security matters concerning China and India. Hence, Option A is the correct answer as both statements are factually correct, and Statement-II provides additional context and explanation related to Statement-I.

The Most Favoured Nation (MFN) Principle in WTO rules mandates that any trade advantage provided to one member must also be extended to all members, ensuring fair and non-discriminatory trade practices. This principle aims to prevent discrimination between trading partners and promote equal treatment in trade relations. Compliance with the MFN principle is essential to uphold the core principles of the World Trade Organization and maintain a level playing field in international trade.

Statement-I is correct in describing La Niña as the cooling of surface-ocean waters along the tropical west coast of South America, which is a characteristic feature of this phenomenon. Statement-II correctly describes the geographical location of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, and its classification as part of Africa geographically. However, there is no direct connection or explanatory link between the two statements. They represent distinct topics - La Niña and the geography of Mauritius - without one statement explaining the other. Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.

1. La Niña: Cooling of surface-ocean waters in the tropical eastern Pacific.

- Incorrect. La Niña is characterized by the cooling of surface-ocean waters along the tropical west coast of South America, not the eastern Pacific.

2. El Niño: Unusually warm ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific.

- Correct. El Niño is indeed characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific.

3. Agalega: Island associated with speculations of an Indian military base.

- Correct. There have been speculations regarding India establishing a military base in Agalega, although these have been refuted by the Mauritian Prime Minister.

4. National Day of Mauritius: Commemorates Gandhi's Dandi March.

- Correct. The National Day of Mauritius is celebrated on March 12, which coincides with the anniversary of Gandhi's Dandi March, honoring his visit in 1901.

Thus, pairs 2, 3, and 4 are correctly matched.