Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 21st February 2025 - UPSC MCQ

The visit of India's Foreign Secretary to China suggests a potential easing of diplomatic tensions between the two nations. This type of engagement often signifies a willingness to restore dialogue and address unresolved issues. The restoration of key exchanges indicates a strategic effort to rebuild relations, which may lead to more stable interactions in the future. Interestingly, diplomatic visits like this one can play a crucial role in conflict resolution by fostering communication and understanding between countries.

- Statement 1: Correct. UN-Habitat indeed operates under a three-tier governance framework, which includes the UN-Habitat Assembly, the Executive Board, and the Committee of Permanent Representatives. This governance structure is designed to ensure broad representation and oversight of its activities related to urbanization and human settlements.

- Statement 2: Incorrect. The headquarters of UN-Habitat is located in Nairobi, Kenya, not Geneva, Switzerland. This is a common point of confusion as many UN agencies are headquartered in Geneva, but UN-Habitat is based in Nairobi.

- Statement 3: Correct. The partnership between C40 Cities and UN-Habitat is indeed focused on promoting urbanization as a transformative force. It aims to drive initiatives that reduce inequality, discrimination, and poverty within urban settings, aligning with the broader goals of sustainable and inclusive urban development.

Thus, only statements 1 and 3 are correct, making Option B the correct answer.

1. 24-OHC: Correctly matched. 24-OHC is indeed a cholesterol metabolite that has been identified as contributing to the progression of Parkinson's Disease by facilitating the spread of harmful protein aggregates.

2. Substantia Nigra: Correctly matched. The substantia nigra is the brain region primarily affected in Parkinson's Disease, leading to a significant loss of dopamine which is crucial for regulating movement.

3. Vakalatnama: Correctly matched. A Vakalatnama is indeed a document filed by Advocates-on-Record in the Supreme Court, authorizing them to represent clients and manage procedural requirements.

4. Article 145(1): Incorrectly matched. Article 145(1) of the Indian Constitution pertains to the rules made by the Supreme Court regarding the conduct of its proceedings, not specifically to the qualifications or responsibilities of Advocates-on-Record.

Therefore, only pairs 1, 2, and 3 are correctly matched.

The recent visit of India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to China signifies a potential thaw in India-China relations. This diplomatic engagement is a crucial step towards rebuilding bilateral exchanges and addressing key issues such as border stability and economic concerns. It indicates a strategic effort to normalize diplomatic relations between the two nations.

- Statement 1 is correct. Parkinson's Disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects neurons in the substantia nigra, an area of the brain that is critical for movement control. The degeneration of these neurons leads to a significant loss of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is responsible for many of the symptoms associated with the disease, such as tremors, stiffness, and impaired balance.
- Statement 2 is incorrect. The average onset age for Parkinson's Disease is around 60 years, not 50. Age is indeed a major risk factor for developing this condition, but the typical average onset begins in the sixth decade of life.
- Statement 3 is correct. A recent study has highlighted the role of 24-OHC, a cholesterol metabolite, in the progression of Parkinson's Disease. It is believed to contribute to the spread of harmful protein aggregates within the brain, which are associated with the worsening of the disease's symptoms.
Therefore, the correct answer is Option C: 1 and 3 Only. This conclusion aligns with the factual information that Parkinson's Disease affects dopamine-producing neurons and that recent research has uncovered the significance of 24-OHC in its progression, while the average age of onset remains around 60 years.

The main objective of the partnership between C40 Cities and UN-Habitat is to promote socially and environmentally sustainable cities. This collaboration aims to create more resilient and sustainable urban environments by working towards ensuring adequate shelter for all and enhancing the inclusivity, safety, resilience, and sustainability of urban areas.

1. UN-Habitat Headquarters: The headquarters of UN-Habitat is located in Nairobi, Kenya, not Geneva, Switzerland. This pair is incorrectly matched.

2. UN-Habitat Assembly: The UN-Habitat Assembly is indeed a universal assembly comprising all 193 UN member states and convenes every four years. This pair is correctly matched.

3. Executive Board: The Executive Board of UN-Habitat comprises 36 member states, not 54. This pair is incorrectly matched.

4. Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR): The Committee of Permanent Representatives does meet twice every four years, and it operates in an open-ended manner. This pair is correctly matched.

Only two pairs, 2 and 4, are correctly matched. The answer is Option B: Only two pairs.

1. Statement 1 is correct. Tax devolution to states was indeed increased to Rs 12.9 trillion in 2024-25 and is projected to further grow by 11% to Rs 14.2 trillion in 2025-26. This reflects the upward revision and increased states' share of income tax revenues, which aligns with the trend of enhancing state finances through tax devolution.

2. Statement 2 is incorrect. The grants from the Centre have actually shown a declining trend, not an upward one. This includes the end of GST compensation grants in 2022-23 and a recommended 13% drop in total grants. Therefore, statement 2 does not accurately reflect the current situation regarding grants from the Centre to the states.

3. Statement 3 is correct. The Centre has allocated interest-free loans for capital expenditure, with a revised estimate of Rs 1.25 trillion for 2024-25. This allocation shows strong utilization across all states, emphasizing the importance of capital expenditure in state development and infrastructure projects.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option C: 1 and 3 Only, as only statements 1 and 3 accurately describe the financial interactions between the Union Budget and state revenues and expenditures.

1. Vikram Misri's Visit to China - Signifies resolution of border tensions between India and China: Incorrect. Vikram Misri's visit indicates a potential easing of tensions and a strategic effort to rebuild diplomatic relations, but it does not signify a resolution of border tensions, which remain unresolved.

2. Lake Kivu - Situated in the Albertine Rift, part of the East African Rift system: Correct. Lake Kivu is indeed located in the Albertine Rift, which is part of the East African Rift system.

3. Idjwi Island - The largest lake island in Africa located in Lake Kivu: Incorrect. Idjwi Island is situated in Lake Kivu but is the tenth largest inland island globally, not the largest lake island in Africa.

4. Restoration of Bilateral Exchanges - Includes the revival of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra: Correct. The revival of bilateral exchanges includes initiatives like the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

Pairs 2 and 4 are correctly matched.

1. Tax Devolution Trends: Correct. Tax devolution was indeed revised upwards to Rs 12.9 trillion in 2024-25 due to adjustments and a rise in states' share of income tax revenues.
2. Grants to States: Incorrect. While it is true that the GST compensation grants ended in 2022-23, the 14% growth is incorrectly matched here. The projected total grants are expected to be Rs 8.9 trillion in 2025-26, but the mention of a 14% growth pertains to a different context, not directly tied to the cessation of GST compensation grants.
3. Capital Expenditure Loans: Correct. The Centre has allocated interest-free loans for capital expenditure, with a revised estimate of Rs 1.25 trillion for 2024-25, and these loans have shown strong utilization across all states.
4. IALA Membership: Correct. IALA does indeed comprise 80 national authorities and 60 commercial firms.
Thus, pairs 1, 3, and 4 are correctly matched, and pair 2 is not. Hence, only three pairs are correctly matched.