Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 13th August 2024 - UPSC MCQ

The main aim of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in India is to rank institutions of higher education based on specified parameters. This ranking system helps students and parents in choosing suitable institutions for higher education and also encourages educational institutions to enhance their performance in various aspects like teaching, research, and inclusivity.

Statement-I correctly highlights the controversy surrounding the Adani Group and the allegations made by Hindenburg Research, implicating regulatory figures.

Statement-II accurately describes the concept of short selling, indicating its potential for both legitimate market activities and market manipulation.

Therefore, both statements are correct, with Statement-II providing an explanation for the context presented in Statement-I.

Hindenburg Research accused Sebi Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband of holding stakes in offshore funds involved in the alleged Adani money siphoning scandal. The short seller sought to establish a connection between the Buchs' investments, the offshore funds, and their professional associations, implying potential favoritism towards the Adani Group. This accusation raised concerns about conflicts of interest and potential collusion, suggesting a lack of impartiality in the ongoing investigation.

- Statement 1: Correct. National Space Day is indeed celebrated on August 23rd to honor the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3's Vikram Lander and Pragyan Rover on the Moon.

- Statement 2: Correct. India became the first country to land near the Moon's southern polar region with the Chandrayaan-3 mission.

- Statement 3: Incorrect. The primary objectives of the Chandrayaan-3 mission included demonstrating a safe and soft landing on the Moon, rover mobility on the lunar surface, and conducting in-situ scientific experiments. The mission was not primarily focused on orbiting the Moon and capturing high-resolution images of the lunar surface.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option B.

The primary focus of the AUKUS trilateral security partnership is to deliver a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines for Australia. This initiative aims to enhance Australia's naval capabilities, particularly in response to regional dynamics, including China's actions in the Pacific. By collaborating on the development and deployment of these submarines, the three nations involved seek to bolster security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

1. Kursk Region - Escalation in Ukraine-Russia conflict: Correctly matched. The Kursk region has been in the news due to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, with Ukrainian troops advancing into Russian territory.

2. Nagorno-Karabakh - War between Armenia and Azerbaijan: Correctly matched. Nagorno-Karabakh is a disputed region that has seen conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

3. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia - Dispute between Israel and Lebanon: Incorrectly matched. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia are regions in Ukraine and have been involved in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, not a dispute between Israel and Lebanon.

4. North Kivu and Ituri - Insurgency in Mozambique: Incorrectly matched. North Kivu and Ituri are regions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and they have been affected by armed conflict and insurgency, but not in Mozambique.

Therefore, the pairs that are correctly matched are (1) and (2).

Correct answer: Option B

- Statement 1: Incorrect. The NIRF ranking framework judges educational institutions under five broad generic groups of parameters, but these do not have equal weightage. The weightage is divided as follows: Teaching, Learning and Resources (TLR) (30%), Research and Professional Practice (RP) (30%), Graduation Outcomes (GO) (20%), Outreach and Inclusivity (OI) (10%), and Perception (PR) (10%).

- Statement 2: Correct. The NIRF rankings have indeed become a significant reference point for students and parents in selecting institutions for higher education. They provide a transparent and credible assessment of the quality and performance of institutions.

- Statement 3: Incorrect. Participation in the NIRF rankings is voluntary for higher education institutions in India. Institutions submit detailed data, which is then processed and ranked based on the NIRF criteria.

Thus, the correct statement is 2 only.

1. AUKUS agreement year - 2021: Correct. The AUKUS security pact was signed in September 2021 by Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

2. Australia’s commitment to Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) - 1970: Incorrect. Australia ratified the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1973, not 1970.

3. Virginia class submarines supplier - United States: Correct. The United States plans to supply Australia with three US Virginia class nuclear-powered submarines by the early 2030s.

4. SSN-AUKUS submarine design base - France: Incorrect. The SSN-AUKUS submarine will be jointly developed by Britain and Australia based on Britain's next-generation design, incorporating advanced U.S. technologies, not France.

Pairs 1 and 3 are correctly matched.

August 23rd being declared as "National Space Day" signifies the successful landing of the Chandrayaan-3 mission's Vikram Lander and Pragyan Rover on the Moon. This historic achievement highlights India's prowess in space exploration and its significant milestone in becoming the fourth country to land on the Moon, with the distinction of landing near the Moon's southern polar region. The theme for the year 2024, "Touching Lives while Touching the Moon: India's Space Saga," emphasizes the impact of space exploration on society and technology, underscoring the importance of such missions in advancing scientific knowledge and national pride.

The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings in India are not solely based on financial performance; instead, they evaluate institutions based on parameters like Teaching, Learning and Resources, Research and Professional Practice, Graduation Outcomes, Outreach and Inclusivity, and Perception. Statement-I is incorrect as the rankings are not solely financial-based, while Statement-II is correct in outlining the criteria used by the NIRF for evaluating institutions.