Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 30th August 2025 - UPSC MCQ

Statement-I correctly highlights the issues caused by the hyper-competitive entrance examination system in India, leading to financial exploitation and stress among students. Statement-II further elaborates on the coaching crisis, emphasizing how it contributes to exorbitant fees, stress, and perpetuates an illusion of meritocracy, ultimately affecting equitable education access. Statement-II provides additional context that supports and explains the concerns raised in Statement-I, establishing a relationship where the second statement elucidates the first.

1. Statement 1 is correct. According to the information, a recent survey from IIT Delhi in 2024 revealed that four out of five students utilize AI tools frequently, highlighting the widespread use of AI among students for academic purposes.

2. Statement 2 is incorrect. The text indicates that approximately 77% of educators reported using AI for tasks such as summarizing papers and drafting communications. These activities clearly involve academic tasks, not just non-academic or administrative work.

3. Statement 3 is correct. Concerns raised about AI usage include mathematical inaccuracies and inadequate context handling, which are significant issues impacting the integrity and effectiveness of AI tools in academic settings.

Thus, the correct statements are 1 and 3, making Option C the right choice.

ERAM missiles, approved for sale to Ukraine, are characterized by their compact and modular design, allowing deployment on various Western fighter jets, including the F-16s. This feature offers operational flexibility and compatibility across multiple aircraft types, enhancing Ukraine's military capabilities significantly.

- Statement 1: Incorrect. The LUPEX mission is a joint initiative between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), not NASA. Additionally, the mission aims to explore the southern polar region of the Moon, not the northern polar region.

- Statement 2: Correct. One of the primary objectives of the LUPEX mission is indeed to investigate the presence of water on the Moon, possibly in the form of surface ice.

- Statement 3: Correct. The rover will carry instruments from multiple international space agencies, including the European Space Agency (ESA) and JAXA, among others. This highlights the collaborative nature of the mission.

Therefore, only statements 2 and 3 are correct. Hence, the correct answer is Option D.

- Statement 1: This statement is correct. ERAM missiles are indeed equipped with a 500-pound high-explosive warhead, which is designed to effectively destroy fortified targets such as bunkers, fuel depots, and ammunition stores. This characteristic makes them highly effective for precision strikes on hardened targets.

- Statement 2: This statement is correct. The guidance system of ERAM combines GPS, inertial navigation, and a terminal seeker, which allows the missile to achieve high accuracy within approximately ten meters. This sophisticated guidance capability remains effective even in environments where adversaries might use electronic jamming to disrupt navigation systems.

- Statement 3: This statement is incorrect. ERAM missiles are designed to be compact and modular, allowing deployment on various Western fighter jets, including F-16s. Additionally, they can be retrofitted onto Soviet-era aircraft, making them versatile and adaptable to different types of military aircraft.

Therefore, the correct statements are 1 and 2 only.

The Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) mission, a partnership between ISRO and JAXA, primarily aims to explore the Moon's South Polar region. This area is significant due to:

• Presence of water ice: The South Polar region is believed to contain water ice, which is crucial for future lunar missions and potential human habitation.
• Geological studies: Understanding the geological features can provide insights into the Moon's history and evolution.
• Resource identification: Identifying resources such as minerals and elements that could support future exploration activities.

Overall, the mission focuses on enhancing our understanding of the Moon's polar regions and their potential for supporting human activities in space.

1. Cordualadensa acorni - First Mesozoic dragonfly fossil found in India: This pair is incorrectly matched. Cordualadensa acorni is the first Mesozoic dragonfly fossil found in Canada, specifically in Alberta’s Dinosaur Provincial Park, not in India.

2. NDMA - Established under the Disaster Management Act, 2005: This pair is correctly matched. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) of India was indeed established under the Disaster Management Act of 2005.

3. AI Usage in Higher Education - Four out of five students at IIT Delhi use AI tools: This pair is correctly matched. A survey conducted in 2024 at IIT Delhi revealed that four out of five students frequently use AI tools, with some opting for premium subscriptions.

4. Cordualadensidae - New family established due to unique anatomical features of Cordualadensa acorni: This pair is correctly matched. The discovery of Cordualadensa acorni led to the establishment of a new family named Cordualadensidae due to its unique anatomical features.

Pairs 2, 3, and 4 are correctly matched. Pair 1 is incorrectly matched. Hence, the correct answer is Option C: Only three pairs.

Statement-I correctly summarizes the LUPEX mission, a collaborative effort between ISRO and JAXA to explore the moon's southern polar region for water and other elements. The mission aims to showcase innovative technologies for lunar surface exploration.
Statement-II accurately describes Mount Etna's ongoing volcanic activity, highlighting its history of frequent eruptions, including recent ones in 2021 and expected future eruptions in 2024 and 2025. The statement provides essential information about the volcano's location and history of eruptions, complementing Statement-I.

1. Statement 1: The entrance examination system in India has indeed led to the rise of a vast coaching industry that imposes significant financial burdens on families. The text clearly mentions that coaching centers charge exorbitant fees, sometimes reaching up to ₹6-7 lakh for two years, stressing the financial exploitation aspect.

2. Statement 2: The current admissions system favoring affluent students over rural ones is also highlighted in the text. It notes that the competitive landscape is skewed due to the advantages of privilege and resources, which are more accessible to students from affluent backgrounds.

3. Statement 3: Reforms in countries like the Netherlands and China have been noted in the text as effective measures to address access and equity issues in education. The implementation of weighted lotteries and efforts to reduce private tutoring are mentioned as successful strategies in those countries.

Each of these statements is supported by the provided text, making Option D the correct answer. The solution aligns perfectly with the question and the context provided, ensuring accuracy and clarity in the assessment.

The stress and competition in India's entrance examination system stem from the limited number of undergraduate seats available, leading to approximately 70 lakh students competing annually. This scarcity intensifies the competition and pressure on students, driving the need for reforms to prioritize fairness and student well-being.