Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 22nd April 2025 - UPSC MCQ

1. *Bullseye Galaxy - Formed from a collision with a red giant galaxy*: Incorrect. The Bullseye Galaxy's ring structure is believed to have emerged from a head-on collision with a blue dwarf galaxy, not a red giant galaxy.

2. *Bullseye Galaxy diameter - Five times larger than the Milky Way*: Correct. The Bullseye Galaxy is nearly five times larger than the Milky Way, with a diameter of 250,000 light-years.

3. *GLSB Galaxies - Characterized by high star formation rates*: Incorrect. GLSB Galaxies, or Giant Low Surface Brightness galaxies, are characterized by low star formation rates despite having large amounts of neutral hydrogen.

4. *Malin 1 - Example of a Giant Low Surface Brightness galaxy*: Correct. Malin 1 is indeed an example of a Giant Low Surface Brightness galaxy.

Thus, only pairs 2 and 4 are correctly matched.

Statement-I discusses India's approach towards its relationship with China, emphasizing the concept of "competitive coexistence," which is accurate based on the provided information. This concept reflects India's strategy of balancing competition with dialogue in its interactions with China.
On the other hand, Statement-II talks about the environmental problems caused by excess nitrogen, such as eutrophication of water bodies and soil acidification. While this information is also true based on the text, it does not align with the context of the first statement, which focuses on India-China relations rather than environmental issues related to nitrogen. Therefore, Both statements are true but not dependent on each other.

1. Sherpa - Indigenous community associated with yak herding

- Correct: The Sherpa are indeed one of the indigenous communities in the Himalayan region known for their association with yak herding. The Sherpas, along with other communities like the Tamang and Thakali, have historically maintained yak herding practices that are crucial for their cultural heritage and food security.

2. Bos grunniens - Scientific name for wild yaks

- Incorrect: Bos grunniens is the scientific name for domesticated yaks, not wild yaks. The scientific name for wild yaks is Bos mutus.

3. Dzo - Hybrid animal resulting from crossbreeding yaks with domestic cattle

- Correct: Dzo (or chauri gai) is indeed the term used for the hybrid animal that results from crossbreeding yaks with domestic cattle. These hybrids are commonly used in agropastoral activities in the Himalayan region due to their strength and adaptability.

4. ICIMOD - Organization advocating for yak's inclusion in sustainable development

- Correct: The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is an organization that works in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region and advocates for the inclusion of yaks in sustainable development agendas. They recognize the cultural, ecological, and economic significance of yaks.

Thus, the correctly matched pairs are 1, 3, and 4.

Europe is warming faster compared to the global average primarily due to its proximity to the Arctic region, where warming occurs at a much faster rate than the global average. This proximity contributes to higher temperatures across Europe as the melting of Arctic ice exposes darker surfaces that absorb more solar radiation, thereby accelerating the warming process. This phenomenon highlights the significant impact of Arctic warming on Europe's climate trends.

1. Statement 1 is correct. The relationship between India and China is indeed characterized by "competitive coexistence," which involves managing their rivalry through both competition and dialogue. This strategic approach reflects the complex dynamics where both cooperation and competition coexist, necessitating a balance between geopolitical and economic interests.

2. Statement 2 is incorrect. Nitrogen is a significant contributor to climate change, primarily through nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential much greater than that of carbon dioxide (CO2). This fact underscores the environmental implications of nitrogen management and its dual role in supporting life and contributing to climate risks.

3. Statement 3 is incorrect. The flooding in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, was significantly impacted by urban management issues, including infrastructure failures, rather than excessive rainfall alone. The problems with urban planning and infrastructure were major contributing factors to the disaster, exacerbating the effects of the flooding.

Thus, only Statement 1 is correct, making Option A the right choice.

1. Statement 1 is correct. The Bullseye Galaxy is indeed nearly five times larger than the Milky Way, with a diameter of 250,000 light-years. It features a unique ringed structure that formed approximately 50 million years ago.

2. Statement 2 is correct. The ring structure of the Bullseye Galaxy is believed to have resulted from a head-on collision with a blue dwarf galaxy. This collision caused gas waves that led to star formation in concentric rings.

3. Statement 3 is incorrect. While the Bullseye Galaxy has the potential to evolve into a Giant Low Surface Brightness (GLSB) galaxy, it is not currently classified as one. GLSB galaxies are characterized by diffuse, low-density stellar disks and significant amounts of dark matter, but the Bullseye Galaxy is not explicitly mentioned as a present example of a GLSB galaxy.

Thus, only statements 1 and 2 are correct, making Option B the correct answer.

Statement-I is correct as Alamosaurus is indeed recognized as the only known sauropod in North America from the Upper Cretaceous. Statement-II is also correct as the SpaDeX mission by ISRO does aim to validate the capability of docking and undocking small satellites in low-Earth orbit. However, these statements are independent of each other and do not explain or relate to one another, hence option (b) is the correct answer.

- Statement 1 is correct. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) has indeed advocated for the inclusion of the yak in sustainable development efforts, particularly highlighting its significance in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region.

- Statement 2 is correct. Domesticated yaks are known for having a large lung capacity, nearly three times that of typical cattle, which enables them to survive and thrive in high-altitude, low-oxygen environments typical of the Himalayan region.

- Statement 3 is incorrect. The emissions trading system (ETS) in Gujarat's Surat industrial cluster was successful and actually outperformed traditional regulatory measures, achieving pollution reductions of 20-30%.

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

India's approach towards its relationship with China is characterized by "competitive coexistence," which signifies a balance between competition and dialogue. This approach aims to navigate the complex dynamics between the two countries by engaging in both competitive and cooperative interactions as deemed necessary. It reflects India's strategic stance of managing its relationship with China through a nuanced and pragmatic framework.

Statement-I correctly highlights that Europe is warming faster than the global average due to human-driven climate change. The 2024 European State of the Climate Report supports this observation.

Statement-II is also accurate in pointing out that the melting of Arctic ice, which is occurring at a faster rate than the global average, is a key contributing factor to the accelerated warming in Europe. As the Arctic ice melts, it exposes darker surfaces that absorb more solar radiation, leading to increased warming in the region.

Therefore, both statements are correct, and Statement-II logically explains the phenomenon described in Statement-I, making option (a) the correct choice.