Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 19th July 2025 - UPSC MCQ

1. The Resistance Front (TRF) is indeed linked to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). TRF is used as a rebranding effort to evade international scrutiny. This pair is correctly matched.
2. Ahmad Khalid is not the chief of The Resistance Front; he is the spokesperson. The current chief is Sheikh Sajjad Gul. This pair is incorrectly matched.
3. The PMDDKY aims to converge 36 existing schemes to address regional disparities in agricultural productivity, focusing on improving productivity, self-reliance, and holistic development. This pair is correctly matched.
4. KashmirFight is a digital propaganda outlet operated by TRF, disseminating separatist narratives and claims of responsibility for attacks. This pair is correctly matched.
Thus, three pairs are correctly matched: 1, 3, and 4.

1. Statement 1: "The Supreme Court of India has stated that individuals feeding stray dogs are not subject to legal action unless their actions disrupt public order or violate specific laws."

- This statement is correct. The Supreme Court has indeed reinforced legal protections for individuals feeding stray dogs, provided their actions do not infringe upon public order or violate any specific legal provisions.

2. Statement 2: "The Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, mandate that feeding of community animals should occur only within private property to avoid any public nuisance."

- This statement is incorrect. The ABC Rules, 2023, do not mandate that feeding must occur only within private property. Instead, they provide guidelines for responsible feeding practices, emphasizing that it should be away from high-traffic areas, and not necessarily confined to private spaces.

3. Statement 3: "The Supreme Court suggested that feeding of stray dogs should be done away from high-traffic areas and at designated times to minimize disruption to public spaces."

- This statement is correct. The court's observations align with the guidelines that feeding should occur away from high-traffic areas and at specific times to ensure minimal disruption, as per the ABC Rules.

Thus, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 3 Only, as both these statements accurately reflect the legal and safety considerations concerning the feeding of stray dogs in India.

The Supreme Court's observation regarding feeding stray dogs in shared living spaces primarily highlights the need for responsible feeding practices of stray dogs. This emphasizes the importance of balancing compassion towards animals with considerations for public safety and orderly shared residential spaces.

1. Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023 - This pair is correctly matched. The ABC Rules are indeed established under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and they aim to protect street dogs via sterilization and vaccination.

2. Gini Coefficient - This pair is correctly matched. The Gini Coefficient is a widely recognized measure used to assess income inequality within a country.

3. Peer Support Programs (PSPs) - This pair is incorrectly matched. While Peer Support Programs are initiatives to support pilot mental health, they are not mandatory in India. The DGCA encourages these programs, but they are not compulsory.

4. International Poverty Line - This pair is incorrectly matched. The International Poverty Line is defined by the World Bank as $2.15 per day (as of recent changes), not $3 per day. The confusion might arise from different poverty lines used historically or in different contexts.

Pairs 1 and 2 are correctly matched. Therefore, the correct answer is Option B: Only two pairs.

The integration of the 8th Economic Census with the 16th Population Census in India aims to enhance data collection efficiency and streamline operations. This strategic move allows for shared field operations, reducing costs and improving the overall effectiveness of data collection processes. By aligning these two major censuses, the government can gather comprehensive information about both economic establishments and population demographics concurrently, leading to a more coordinated and efficient statistical approach.

• Pair 1: GERD Location - Near the Ethiopia-Sudan border on the Blue Nile. This is correct. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is indeed located on the Blue Nile near the Ethiopia-Sudan border.
• Pair 2: GERD Capacity - 7.45 GW. This is incorrect. The actual capacity of the GERD is 6.45 GW, not 7.45 GW.
• Pair 3: INS Nistar Development - Developed by Hindustan Shipyard Limited. This is correct. INS Nistar, along with INS Nipun, was developed indigenously by Hindustan Shipyard Limited.
• Pair 4: INS Nipun Capability - Integrated Saturation Diving System for depths up to 500 meters. This is incorrect. The Integrated Saturation Diving System on INS Nipun allows diver deployment at depths of up to 300 meters, not 500 meters.

Pairs 1 and 3 are correctly matched. Thus, the correct answer is Option B

Both statements are correct. Statement-I establishes the link between TRF and LeT, highlighting the connection between these two entities. Statement-II provides the recent development where the United States officially designated TRF as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). This designation underscores the gravity of TRF's activities and its association with terrorism. Therefore, both statements are accurate, and Statement-II explains the implication of Statement-I in the context of the United States' action against TRF.

The main objective of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is to provide electricity to Ethiopia, where a significant portion of the population currently lacks access to power, and to export surplus energy to neighboring countries. This initiative aims to address Ethiopia's energy needs and contribute to regional energy security and development.

Statement-I is correct as the Reykjanes Peninsula eruption in Iceland is indeed characterized by fissure eruptions where lava flows from cracks in the earth rather than from a central crater.
Statement-II is also correct as the integration of the 8th Economic Census with the 16th Population Census in India is aimed at enhancing data collection efficiency and reducing costs. However, there is no direct relationship or explanation between the two statements, hence, the correct answer is (b).

Let's evaluate each statement:

Statement 1: The Resistance Front (TRF) is an indigenous resistance group operating independently in Jammu and Kashmir without any external affiliations.

• This statement is incorrect. TRF claims to be an indigenous group, but it is linked to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). It operates under the guidance of Pakistan's army and ISI, indicating external affiliations.

Statement 2: TRF was officially designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the United States Department of State.

• This statement is correct. The United States Department of State has designated TRF as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) as part of efforts to curb its operations and financial support.

Statement 3: TRF is linked to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and operates under the guidance of Pakistan's army and ISI.

• This statement is correct. TRF has strong links to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and operates under the influence and guidance of Pakistan's army and ISI, which uses such affiliations to evade international scrutiny.

Since statements 2 and 3 are correct, the correct answer is Option C: 2 and 3 Only.