Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 14th August 2024 - UPSC MCQ

- Statement-I correctly outlines the parameters based on which the NIRF ranks higher education institutions in India.
- Statement-II accurately describes the purpose behind the introduction of the NIRF by the Ministry of Education in 2015, emphasizing the need for a transparent and accountable ranking system.
- Both statements are factual and coherent. Statement-II elucidates the rationale behind the establishment of the NIRF, complementing Statement-I's explanation of the ranking framework's assessment parameters.

1. UNICEF: A UN agency aiming to provide aid to children globally. This is correctly matched. UNICEF operates under the guidance of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989, and focuses on community-level services for children's health and well-being.

2. ILO: Established in 1919, dedicated to promoting social and economic justice. This is correctly matched. The ILO is the oldest UN specialized agency and promotes decent work through global labour standards with a tripartite structure involving governments, employers, and workers.

3. Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016: Prohibits employment of children under 18 years. This is incorrectly matched. The Act prohibits employment of children under 14 years and restricts adolescents (14-18 years) from hazardous work, not all work.

4. Confederation of Indian Textile Industry and ILO initiative: Targets 65 lakh cotton farmers across 11 states. This is correctly matched. This initiative aims to eliminate child and forced labour in Indian cotton fields and supports government schemes, financial inclusion, and education programs in cotton-growing areas.

Thus, pairs 1, 2, and 4 are correctly matched, while pair 3 is incorrectly matched.

Answer: Option B

The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) introduced by the Ministry of Education aims to rank higher education institutions in India reliably and comprehensively. This framework assesses institutions based on various parameters like teaching, learning resources, research, graduation outcomes, outreach, inclusivity, and perception to provide a transparent and accountable ranking system for stakeholders. Through NIRF, institutions are encouraged to excel in education and research, aiding in informed decision-making for students, parents, and educators, while also assisting policymakers in identifying strengths and areas for improvement in the higher education sector.

1. Charru Mussels – South America: This pair is correctly matched. Charru mussels (Mytella strigata) are indeed native to South America.

2. Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention – International Maritime Organization (IMO): This pair is correctly matched. The Ballast Water Management Convention is enforced by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to prevent the spread of harmful aquatic organisms through ships' ballast water.

3. Tungabhadra River – Originates in Andhra Pradesh: This pair is incorrectly matched. The Tungabhadra River originates in Karnataka, not Andhra Pradesh. It flows through Karnataka before entering Andhra Pradesh where it merges with the Krishna River.

4. Sangameswaram Temple – Confluence of Tungabhadra and Krishna Rivers: This pair is correctly matched. The Sangameswaram Temple is indeed located at the confluence of the Tungabhadra and Krishna Rivers, making it a significant pilgrimage site.

The correctly matched pairs are 1, 2, and 4. Thus, the correct answer is Option C.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) was established in 1919 with the primary goal of promoting social and economic justice through global labor standards. It operates with a tripartite structure involving governments, employers, and workers to develop policies that ensure decent work conditions and rights for all individuals in the workforce.

1. Biofortification involves the genetic alteration of plants to increase their resistance to pests.

This statement is incorrect. Biofortification refers to the process of enhancing the nutritional value of food crops by increasing the content of essential vitamins and minerals. It does not specifically aim to increase pest resistance. Pest resistance is typically achieved through other agricultural practices or genetic modifications, but it is not the primary focus of biofortification.

2. Golden Rice has been biofortified to address vitamin A deficiency.

This statement is correct. Golden Rice is a well-known example of a biofortified crop. It has been genetically engineered to produce beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, to help address vitamin A deficiency, particularly in regions where this deficiency is prevalent and causes significant health problems.

3. Biofortified crops are primarily aimed at combating macronutrient deficiencies.

This statement is incorrect. The primary aim of biofortified crops is to combat micronutrient deficiencies, such as deficiencies in vitamins and minerals like vitamin A, iron, and zinc. Macronutrients include proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, which are not the main focus of biofortification efforts.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option D: 2 Only.

Statement 1 is correct. Ballast water discharged from ships can indeed introduce invasive species into new environments, which can cause significant harm to marine ecosystems.

Statement 2 is incorrect. India has not yet signed the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention, and therefore, does not have strict regulations in place for the control of ballast water discharge at its ports.

Statement 3 is correct. The Ballast Water Management Convention, enforced by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) since 2017, aims to prevent the spread of harmful aquatic organisms through ships' ballast water.

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

All three statements are correct regarding the Civil Registration System (CRS) in India.

1. The Registrar General, India (RGI), coordinates and unifies the activities of registration throughout the country, which is a central role defined under the system.

2. The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act of 2023 indeed mandates that all births and deaths in India be digitally registered through the CRS portal starting from October 1, 2023.

3. The Chief Registrar of Births and Deaths is mandated to publish a statistical report on the registered births and deaths during the year, highlighting the compilation and dissemination of vital statistics.

Thus, the correct answer is Option D

Statement-I mentions technical glitches in the CRS portal causing delays in issuing certificates, which is accurate based on the provided information. However, Statement-II correctly states that all births and deaths in India from a specific date must be digitally registered through the portal as per the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act of 2023.

1. IIT Madras - Top engineering college in India for the ninth year

- Correct. IIT Madras has been recognized as the leading engineering college in India for the ninth consecutive year.

2. IISc Bengaluru - Best university in India

- Correct. IISc Bengaluru has been recognized as the best university in India.

3. IIM Bangalore - Top management institution in India

- Incorrect. The top management institutions include IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta. However, the question asks for the singular "top management institution," which is IIM Ahmedabad, as per the provided context.

4. Delhi became a Union Territory - 1950

- Incorrect. Delhi became a Union Territory under an administrator’s governance in 1956, not in 1950.

Thus, only pairs 1 and 2 are correctly matched.

Answer: Option B