Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 28th February 2025 - UPSC MCQ

1. Blood Moon - Incorrect. A Blood Moon occurs during a total lunar eclipse when the Earth is positioned directly between the Sun and the Moon, not when the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun.

2. Rayleigh Scattering - Correct. Rayleigh scattering is responsible for the reddish appearance of the Moon during a total lunar eclipse. This scattering causes shorter wavelengths of light (blue) to scatter, allowing the longer wavelengths (red) to pass through the Earth's atmosphere and illuminate the Moon.

3. Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) - Correct. The AWBI was indeed established in 1962 under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and its primary mandate is to promote animal welfare.

4. Lunar Trailblazer Spacecraft - Incorrect. The Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft was launched to study water on the Moon, not to study stars and galaxies beyond the Milky Way.

Pairs 2 and 3 are correctly matched.

Statement-I discusses the initiatives launched under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways aimed at modernizing India's maritime infrastructure, while Statement-II highlights the importance of the India-EU partnership across various sectors such as trade, technology, green energy, and defense. Both statements are correct, and Statement-II provides additional context to the broader significance of international relations and cooperation compared to the specific initiatives related to India's major ports.

Let's evaluate each statement based on the information provided:

1. Statement 1: The Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1976 and is located in the state of Tamil Nadu.
This statement is incorrect. The Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary is indeed established in 1976, but it is located in the Idukki District of Kerala, not Tamil Nadu.

2. Statement 2: The Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary is home to the endangered Nilgiri Tahr.
This statement is correct. The sanctuary does indeed house the endangered Nilgiri Tahr, a species endemic to the Western Ghats.

3. Statement 3: The major rivers flowing through the Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary are the Periyar and Cheruthoniar.
This statement is correct. The Periyar and Cheruthoniar rivers are the major rivers in the sanctuary.

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

Statement-I is correct as the Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft indeed aims to map and measure the temperature of the lunar surface using the Lunar Thermal Mapper (LTM), as mentioned in the provided information.
However, Statement-II is incorrect. The statement that the Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft will orbit the moon at an altitude of roughly 500 km is inaccurate. The spacecraft is planned to eventually orbit the moon at an altitude of roughly 100 km, as stated in the information provided.

The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) is primarily mandated to protect animals from unnecessary pain and suffering. Established under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, the AWBI plays a crucial role in advocating for animal welfare, advising governments on animal-related issues, and promoting humane treatment of animals.

The primary purpose of the Hague Service Convention is to ensure that defendants in foreign jurisdictions receive timely notice of legal actions against them. This convention facilitates the proper notification of legal proceedings, ensuring that individuals involved in international legal disputes are informed in a timely manner, thus upholding principles of justice and due process.

1. Statement 1 is incorrect. The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 does not explicitly include judges under its jurisdiction for corruption investigations. The Act is applicable to public servants, but the inclusion of judges has been a subject of ambiguity and debate.

2. Statement 2 is correct. The K Veeraswami v Union of India (1991) case did indeed establish that judges, being public servants, can be investigated for corruption, but such investigations require the sanction of the President based on the advice of the Chief Justice of India. This is to ensure protection of judicial independence while maintaining accountability.

3. Statement 3 is correct. The Lokpal, while claiming jurisdiction over cases involving High Court judges, referred the matter to the Chief Justice of India for guidance before proceeding. This reflects the necessity to consider judicial independence and the established legal procedures when dealing with allegations against judges.

Therefore, the correct statements are 2 and 3, making Option C the right answer.

The correct answer is (c) Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect. Statement-I accurately describes the purpose and background of the Hague Service Convention, which was indeed adopted in 1965 to ensure defendants in foreign jurisdictions receive timely notice of legal proceedings. However, Statement-II incorrectly states that India acceded to the Convention on November 23, 2006, with reservations against alternative service methods under Article 10. In reality, while India did accede to the Convention on November 23, 2006, the reservations were against alternative service methods, not specifically under Article 10.

- Statement 1: A Blood Moon indeed occurs during a total lunar eclipse when the Earth is directly between the Sun and the Moon. This alignment allows the Earth to cast its shadow on the Moon, making the first statement correct.

- Statement 2: The reddish appearance of the Moon during a Blood Moon is not caused by Mie scattering but by Rayleigh scattering. Rayleigh scattering is responsible for the scattering of shorter-wavelength light (blue) and the passage of longer-wavelength light (red) through the Earth's atmosphere. Mie scattering generally involves larger particles and is not the primary mechanism for the red coloration seen in lunar eclipses. Therefore, statement 2 is incorrect.

- Statement 3: This statement correctly describes the cause of the red coloration of the Moon during a total lunar eclipse. When the Earth's shadow falls on the Moon, the atmosphere filters and refracts sunlight, scattering shorter wavelengths and allowing the longer red wavelengths to illuminate the Moon, making it appear red. Therefore, statement 3 is correct.

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

1. One Nation-One Port Process (ONOP) - This is correctly matched. ONOP indeed aims to standardize port operations and reduce inconsistencies in port documentation, making port operations more efficient.

2. Bharat Global Ports Consortium - This is incorrectly matched. The Bharat Global Ports Consortium is aimed at enhancing logistics and trade connectivity, supporting initiatives like 'Make in India', not specifically focused on sustainable practices in maritime operations.

3. MAITRI - This is correctly matched. MAITRI, or the Master Application for International Trade and Regulatory Interface, is indeed focused on streamlining trade processes using technologies like AI and blockchain, facilitating operational efficiency.

4. National Centre of Excellence in Green Port and Shipping (NCoEGPS) - This is incorrectly matched. The NCoEGPS is aimed at promoting sustainable practices in maritime operations, focusing on reducing carbon footprints and adopting cleaner fuels, not on enhancing logistics and trade connectivity.

Pairs 1 and 3 are correctly matched, making Option B: Only two pairs the correct answer.