Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 15th March 2025 - UPSC MCQ

1. Article 29: Correctly matched. Article 29 of the Indian Constitution guarantees minorities the right to preserve their distinct languages, scripts, and cultures.

2. Article 350(a): Correctly matched. Article 350(a) mandates provisions for education in the mother tongue at the primary stage.

3. Right to Education (RTE) Act: Incorrectly matched. While the RTE Act emphasizes the importance of free and compulsory education, it does not specifically include provisions for the recognition of tribal languages in school curricula.

4. UN80 Initiative: Incorrectly matched. The UN80 Initiative is primarily focused on improving the efficiency and responsiveness of the UN as it approaches its 80th anniversary, addressing operational inefficiencies, and enhancing the implementation of mandates from member states. It is not specifically aimed at addressing liquidity crises through improved member state payment consistency.

Thus, only pairs 1 and 2 are correctly matched.

1. Statement 1 is correct. The SpaDeX mission indeed positioned India as the fourth nation globally to achieve in-space docking capabilities. This significant milestone underscores India's advancements in space technology and reflects its growing expertise in this field.
2. Statement 2 is correct. Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) can have a profound impact on Earth's technological systems. They are known to disrupt satellite communications and GPS signals due to the geomagnetic storms they can trigger upon interacting with Earth's magnetosphere. This makes understanding and predicting CMEs crucial for mitigating their adverse effects.
3. Statement 3 is incorrect. While the SpaDeX mission did explore various objectives, the primary goal was not the transfer of electric power. Instead, the primary objective was to develop technology for rendezvous, docking, and undocking operations. The transfer of electric power between docked spacecraft was a secondary objective, not the primary one.
Thus, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only, as statements 1 and 2 are correct, while statement 3 is incorrect.

- Statement 1 is correct. Mission Amrit Sarovar was indeed launched in 2022 with the goal of constructing or rejuvenating 75 Amrit Sarovars in each district across India, totaling 50,000 across the nation.

- Statement 2 is incorrect. There is no separate financial allocation for Mission Amrit Sarovar, indicating that it relies on existing resources instead of receiving dedicated funding from the central government.

- Statement 3 is correct. The Bhaskar Acharya National Institute for Space Application and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N) has been appointed as a technical partner for Mission Amrit Sarovar, and it is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the mission.

Therefore, only statements 1 and 3 are correct. The correct answer is Option C.

1. Amrit Sarovar Pondage Area - 2 acres: This is incorrectly matched. According to the mission, each Amrit Sarovar will cover a pondage area of at least 1 acre.

2. Quantum Computing Hub - IIT Bombay: This is incorrectly matched. The Quantum Computing Hub is located at IISc Bengaluru, not IIT Bombay. IIT Bombay is the location for the Quantum Communication Hub.

3. Technical Partner for Mission Amrit Sarovar - BISAG-N: This is correctly matched. The Bhaskar Acharya National Institute for Space Application and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N) is the technical partner overseeing the mission's implementation.

4. Management Coordinating Center for Quantum Hubs - IIT Kanpur: This is correctly matched. IIT Kanpur serves as the management coordinating center, overseeing administration and funding allocation for the Quantum Hubs.

Thus, only two pairs are correctly matched: pairs 3 and 4.

The primary objective of the Mission Amrit Sarovar initiative is to construct or rejuvenate 75 Amrit Sarovars (ponds) in each district, totaling 50,000 across India. These Amrit Sarovars are intended to cover a pondage area of at least 1 acre each, with a water holding capacity of approximately 10,000 cubic meters. This initiative aims to combat water scarcity by focusing on water conservation, community participation, and sustainable management of water resources, particularly in rural areas.

The 'UN80 Initiative' spearheaded by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres primarily aims to tackle pressing issues such as liquidity crisis and resource constraints faced by the United Nations. This reform program is geared towards enhancing the efficiency and responsiveness of the UN by identifying operational inefficiencies and improving the implementation of mandates from member states. It focuses on optimizing operations, reviewing mandate implementations, and conducting structural evaluations within the UN system to ensure its functionality and effectiveness in addressing global challenges.

Statement-I correctly describes the objectives and goals of the Mission Amrit Sarovar, highlighting the role of the Indian Railways in constructing or rejuvenating ponds across India. Statement-II is also accurate as it mentions the collaborative approach of the initiative involving multiple ministries such as the Ministry of Rural Development and the Ministry of Jal Shakti. Statement-II explains and complements Statement-I by providing additional information about the collaborative nature of the mission, supporting the primary role of the Indian Railways. Thus, both statements are correct, and Statement-II explains Statement-I effectively, making Option A the correct answer.

The primary goal of the SpaDeX mission conducted by ISRO is to demonstrate in-space docking technology. This mission marks a significant milestone in India's space exploration efforts and serves as a precursor to future space missions, including potential lunar missions. In-space docking technology is crucial for various applications in space exploration, such as spacecraft assembly, refueling, and repairs in orbit.

The main aim of the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) is to reform and enhance health service delivery and public health actions across India. This initiative focuses on strengthening health systems to provide comprehensive care at all levels - primary, secondary, and tertiary, and prepares health systems for effective responses to current and future health emergencies.

1. H5N1 Bird Flu - First significant outbreak in India occurred in Maharashtra and Gujarat in 2015. This is correctly matched as the document states that the first significant outbreak in India happened in these states in 2015.

2. Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) - Aims to strengthen health systems at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. This is correctly matched. The mission is designed to enhance health service delivery across all levels.

3. APAAR ID - Part of the 'One Nation, One Student ID' initiative under the National Education Policy 2020. This is correctly matched. The APAAR ID is indeed part of this initiative and aligns with the National Education Policy 2020.

4. Climate Change - The primary cause of the initial H5N1 outbreak in China in 1996. This is incorrectly matched. The document does not state that climate change was the primary cause of the initial H5N1 outbreak in China; rather, it mentions that climate change is worsening the spread of the virus by altering bird migration patterns.

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