Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 27th March 2025 - UPSC MCQ

1. Statement 1 is correct: Sir Syed Ahmad Khan founded the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College in 1875, which later evolved into the Aligarh Muslim University. This was a significant step in promoting modern education among Muslims in India and is one of his most notable contributions to educational reform.

2. Statement 2 is incorrect: Contrary to supporting purdah and polygamy, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan actually opposed these practices, advocating for social reforms that included supporting women's education and promoting more progressive views on marriage and divorce within the Muslim community.

3. Statement 3 is correct: Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was a proponent of integrating Islamic principles with modern scientific thought. He believed in promoting critical thinking and modernity without abandoning Islamic values, which was a central aspect of his reformist agenda.

Thus, only statements 1 and 3 are correct. Therefore, the correct answer is Option C: 1 and 3 Only.

1. Madrasatul Uloom - Established in 1875
This is correctly matched. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan founded Madrasatul Uloom, which later evolved into the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College.

2. Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College - Founded in 1877
This is correctly matched. The college was indeed founded in 1877 and later became the Aligarh Muslim University.

3. Aligarh Muslim University - Became a university in 1920
This is correctly matched. The Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College was elevated to university status in 1920, becoming Aligarh Muslim University.

4. Viceregal Council - Served as a member in 1883
This is incorrectly matched. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan joined the British judicial service in 1876 but was not a member of the Viceregal Council in 1883. He was, however, involved in various educational reforms and commissions.

Thus, three pairs are correctly matched.

Let's analyze each statement:

1. India's R&D investment as a percentage of GDP is higher than that of the United States.

This statement is incorrect. India spends only 0.67% of its GDP on R&D, which is significantly lower than the United States, where the investment is around 3.46%. Therefore, India's R&D investment is not higher than that of the United States.

2. India ranks among the top 10 countries globally in terms of citation impact.

This statement is incorrect. India ranks low in citation impact, placed 28th among 30 ranked countries, with a citation impact of 0.879. Countries like the United States and China have higher citation impacts, indicating that India is not in the top 10.

3. Over 60% of the world's standalone predatory journals originate in India.

This statement is correct. A study indicated that 62% of the world's standalone predatory journals originate in India, which affects the credibility of Indian research publications.

Given the analysis, only statement 3 is correct. Therefore, the correct answer is Option C.

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan made a significant impact on the educational landscape in India by establishing crucial educational institutions like the Aligarh Muslim University. This institution played a pivotal role in promoting modern education among Muslims and fostering a spirit of critical thinking alongside Islamic principles. Sir Syed's vision of integrating faith with reason was instrumental in shaping the educational and social reforms among Muslims in India.

Statement-I correctly explains the initial conditions required for star formation, emphasizing the role of dense, cold interstellar gas and dust rich in hydrogen and other elements. Statement-II complements this by highlighting external triggers like supernova explosions or shockwaves that can initiate the collapse of molecular clouds, leading to the formation of stars. Therefore, both statements are accurate, and Statement-II logically elaborates on the conditions mentioned in Statement-I, making option (a) the correct answer choice.

- Statement 1: This statement is correct. India is indeed set to assume the chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) in November 2025 for a duration of two years.
- Statement 2: This statement is correct. One of the priorities during India's chairmanship includes developing maritime-focused educational courses through collaboration with academic and research institutions.
- Statement 3: This statement is incorrect. The IORA Secretariat is not located in Colombo, Sri Lanka; it is situated in Ebene, Mauritius.
Given these explanations, statements 1 and 2 are correct, while statement 3 is incorrect. Therefore, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only.

• Statement-I: India is set to assume the chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) in November 2025.​
  This statement is correct. India is currently the Vice-Chair of IORA and is scheduled to take over as Chair in November 2025. ​

• Statement-II: IORA comprises 23 member states, including India, Australia, South Africa, Indonesia, and the UAE, along with 12 dialogue partners such as the USA, China, and the European Union.​
  This statement is also correct. IORA consists of 23 member states and 12 dialogue partners

However, Statement-II provides factual information about IORA's composition and does not explain why India is set to assume the chairmanship in November 2025.
Therefore, the correct option is (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I.

The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) primarily aims to promote trade and investment facilitation among its member states. This involves fostering economic integration, enhancing trade partnerships, and facilitating the flow of investments within the Indian Ocean region. By focusing on trade and investment, IORA seeks to boost economic growth, encourage cooperation, and ensure sustainable development in the region.

1. Headquarters - Abu Dhabi, UAE: Incorrect. The headquarters of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) is located in Ebene, Mauritius, not Abu Dhabi, UAE.
2. Member State - Australia: Correct. Australia is indeed one of the 23 member states of IORA.
3. Dialogue Partner - United States: Correct. The United States is listed as one of the dialogue partners of IORA.
4. Priority Area - Climate Change Mitigation: Incorrect. While climate change is a challenge that IORA addresses, it is not explicitly listed as one of the six primary priority areas. The six primary areas include Maritime Safety and Security, Trade and Investment Facilitation, Fisheries Management, Disaster Risk Management, Academic and Science Cooperation, and Tourism and Cultural Exchanges.
Thus, pairs 2 and 3 are correctly matched.

Gravitational collapse is the mechanism that triggers the collapse of massive clouds of gas and dust, initiating the process of star formation. As regions within the cloud become denser, local instabilities lead to the formation of dense cores, known as protostellar cores. This collapse eventually results in the birth of stars as gravity overcomes internal pressure, marking the beginning of a star's life cycle.