Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 17th May 2025 - UPSC MCQ

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct. Hooch tragedies indeed involve deaths or severe illnesses resulting from the consumption of illicit liquor, often made from toxic substances like methanol. Additionally, poverty does drive low-income individuals to seek cheap and unsafe alcohol as a coping mechanism or due to lack of access to regulated sources. Therefore, Statement-II explains why poverty is linked to the consumption of illicit liquor in the context of hooch tragedies.

Statement-I correctly highlights the high prevalence of anemia among women in India, emphasizing the significant health issue affecting a majority of women in the specified age group. Statement-II accurately describes the performance of POSHAN 2.0, indicating its underperformance in effectively addressing the malnutrition challenges despite substantial funding. The connection between the two statements lies in the fact that the high rate of anemia among women underscores the persistent nutritional challenges faced by women in India, which the POSHAN 2.0 initiative has been striving to combat. Thus, both statements are correct, and Statement-II indeed supports and explains the implications highlighted in Statement-I.

1. Hooch Tragedies: Incorrectly matched. The tragedies involve deaths or severe illnesses caused by consuming illicit liquor, primarily made from methanol, not ethanol. Methanol is a toxic form of alcohol that is often found in spurious liquor, leading to poisoning.

2. Marang Buru: Incorrectly matched. Marang Buru is the name given by the Santal Adivasi community to the sacred hill, which they revere as the home of their supreme deity. For Jains, the hill is known as Parasnath and is indeed a significant pilgrimage site, but Marang Buru itself is not a Jain term.

3. Ex-Post Facto Environmental Clearance: Correctly matched. This refers to a now-invalidated practice where projects that commenced without prior environmental approval could be retrospectively cleared, which was struck down by the Supreme Court for violating environmental laws.

4. Permanent Lok Adalats: Correctly matched. These are statutory bodies established under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, specifically for resolving disputes related to public utility services and operate continuously to ensure speedy and affordable dispute resolution.

Hence, pairs 3 and 4 are correctly matched, making a total of two pairs correctly matched.

The primary aim of the Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment (POSHAN) Abhiyaan in India is to address gender disparities, particularly in combating malnutrition among women and girls. By focusing on improving nutrition outcomes for women, the scheme aims to reduce anaemia rates and enhance overall well-being. Gender disparities in nutrition are a critical issue that hinders the effectiveness of welfare initiatives, and initiatives like POSHAN 2.0 are crucial in addressing this challenge.

Let's analyze each statement:

1. Statement 1: The Supreme Court of India declared the 2017 notification allowing ex-post facto environmental clearance as unconstitutional.
- This statement is correct. The Supreme Court invalidated the 2017 notification and the 2021 Office Memorandum, which allowed for ex-post facto environmental clearances. The court found these provisions to be in violation of environmental laws and the constitutional mandate regarding the right to a pollution-free environment.

2. Statement 2: Ex-post facto environmental clearance was permitted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 until the Supreme Court's intervention.
- This statement is incorrect. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 does not inherently provide for ex-post facto clearances. The 2017 notification and subsequent Office Memorandum attempted to regularize such violations, but these were not directly sanctioned by the original act. The Supreme Court's ruling highlighted that the Act requires prior environmental clearance, and ex-post facto clearances were contrary to this requirement.

3. Statement 3: The judgment emphasized the constitutional right to a pollution-free environment as part of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
- This statement is correct. The Supreme Court's decision underscored the right to a pollution-free environment as an integral part of the right to life under Article 21. The ruling reinforced that environmental governance must align with constitutional protections, emphasizing accountability and compliance with environmental laws.

Therefore, statements 1 and 3 are correct, while statement 2 is incorrect. Thus, the correct answer is Option C: 1 and 3 Only.

1. POSHAN Abhiyaan - Correctly matched. It was indeed launched in 2018 with the goal of combating malnutrition by 2022. It is a government initiative aimed at improving nutritional outcomes across India, particularly for women and children.

2. Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (KoSO) - Correctly matched. It was established in 1899 and has been a critical institution for solar research in India, contributing significantly to the understanding of solar phenomena and their terrestrial impacts.

3. Evershed Effect - Incorrectly matched. The Evershed Effect, discovered in 1909, is not related to atmospheric phenomena but to solar physics. It describes the radial outflow of gas in the penumbra of sunspots, contributing to our understanding of solar dynamics.

4. Digitization of Solar Data at KoSO - Correctly matched. KoSO began digitizing its solar data collection in 1984, a pioneering effort that has resulted in a comprehensive digital archive crucial for ongoing solar research.

Three pairs are correctly matched: pairs 1, 2, and 4. Pair 3 is incorrectly matched.

May 16 is celebrated annually as Sikkim Day, marking the historic moment in 1975 when the Kingdom of Sikkim officially became a state of India. This event signified the culmination of a series of treaties and agreements post-independence, leading to Sikkim's integration into the Indian Union. The merger with India followed a referendum where over 97% of voters favored joining India and abolishing the monarchy, reflecting a significant political transformation in Sikkim's history.

Rajon ki Baoli was constructed during the Lodi Dynasty by Daulat Khan Lodi, who was an official serving under Sikandar Lodi. The stepwell, built in 1506 CE, stands as a testament to the architectural prowess and historical significance of the era.

Statement 1 is correct. The Treaty of Tumlong, signed in 1861, indeed established Sikkim as a British protectorate. Under this treaty, the Chogyals retained internal control, while the British managed external affairs.

Statement 2 is correct. The Indo-Sikkim Treaty of 1950 recognized Sikkim as an Indian protectorate. Under this treaty, India took responsibility for Sikkim’s defense and foreign relations, while Sikkim retained autonomy over its internal affairs.

Statement 3 is correct. Article 371F was added to the Indian Constitution to safeguard Sikkim's distinct cultural and legal identity after its integration into India in 1975. This article provides special provisions to protect the interests of the people of Sikkim.

Given the accuracy of all three statements, Option D: 1, 2 and 3 is the correct answer. Each statement reflects historical facts about the integration process of Sikkim and its subsequent status within India.

1. Rajon ki Baoli: Constructed by Ibrahim Lodi - This pair is incorrectly matched. Rajon ki Baoli was constructed in 1506 CE by Daulat Khan Lodi, an official under Sikandar Lodi, not by Ibrahim Lodi.

2. Lodi Dynasty: Established by Bahlul Lodi - This pair is correctly matched. The Lodi Dynasty was established by Bahlul Lodi, who was the first Afghan ruler in Delhi, marking the start of the Lodi rule in the Delhi Sultanate.

3. Economic Capital Framework (ECF): Introduced in 2019 - This pair is correctly matched. The Economic Capital Framework was indeed introduced in 2019, following the recommendations of the Bimal Jalan committee, to guide the Reserve Bank of India's risk provisioning and surplus distribution practices.

4. Contingency Risk Buffer (CRB): Recommended range 5.5% - 6.5% of RBI's balance sheet - This pair is correctly matched. The CRB is recommended to be maintained within this range as part of the ECF to ensure financial stability before surplus transfers to the government.

Hence, three pairs are correctly matched.