Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 4th July 2025 - UPSC MCQ

1. Socialism in India: Correctly matched. Socialism in India does emphasize reducing inequality and promoting a welfare-oriented state. This is reflected in the Directive Principles of State Policy and the Fundamental Rights, which aim to achieve social and economic justice.

2. Secularism in India: Correctly matched. Indian secularism indeed promotes equal respect for all religions and is embedded in the Fundamental Rights. This principle ensures that the state treats all religions with equal respect, allowing citizens to freely practice their faith.

3. 42nd Constitutional Amendment: Correctly matched. The 42nd Amendment, enacted in 1976, did add the terms "socialist" and "secular" to the Preamble of the Indian Constitution, reinforcing these values as central to the nation's identity.

4. Basic Structure Doctrine: Incorrectly matched. The Basic Structure Doctrine, as established by the Supreme Court, upholds socialism and secularism as essential components of the Constitution's basic structure, not merely as additions. It emphasizes that these principles are fundamental to the Constitution and cannot be altered or removed.

Thus, three pairs are correctly matched: 1, 2, and 3. Only pair 4 is incorrectly matched.

The primary goal of the BHARAT project led by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru is to establish India's first scientific baseline for understanding how Indians age. This initiative aims to provide India-specific data that address gaps in global aging research, redefining health standards that may inaccurately assess Indian health parameters. By focusing on biomarkers of biological aging rather than chronological age, the project seeks to enable early disease detection and improve public health outcomes.

- Statement 1 is correct. The government’s program indeed promotes the cultivation of arhar and urad through seed distribution campaigns, and it includes a 100% procurement guarantee at Minimum Support Price (MSP). This is part of a broader strategy to enhance domestic production and reduce dependency on imports.

- Statement 2 is incorrect. The initiative is not being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare across all districts in India. Instead, it is being implemented by the National Cooperative Consumer’s Federation of India Ltd. (NCCF) and targets specific districts in selected states.

- Statement 3 is correct. The initiative specifically targets rainfed areas and Aspirational Blocks identified by NITI Aayog. This is to ensure that the areas with the most need and potential for improvement are prioritized in the program.

The correct statements are 1 and 3, hence the correct answer is Option C

1. Development of production clusters: Enhancing scale for chemical exports - Correctly matched. NITI Aayog recommends the development of production clusters to enhance the scale of chemical exports, aiming to double the chemical exports by 2030.

2. Quad Critical Minerals Initiative: Ensuring more dependency on China for critical minerals - Incorrectly matched. The Quad Critical Minerals Initiative is designed to secure essential mineral supply chains and reduce dependency on China, not increase it.

3. India's position in chemical production: 6th largest globally and 3rd largest in Asia - Correctly matched. India ranks as the 6th largest chemical producer globally and 3rd in Asia, contributing significantly to the national GDP.

4. Regional Manufacturing Hubs: Primarily located in Maharashtra and Gujarat - Correctly matched. The chemical industry in India is predominantly located in Maharashtra and Gujarat, contributing significantly to the sector's growth.

Pairs 1, 3, and 4 are correctly matched, making three correct pairs overall.

Statement-I:
Correct. Socialism in India emphasizes social and economic justice. It aims to reduce inequalities in wealth and status and works toward creating a welfare state that supports the underprivileged.

Statement-II:
Correct. Secularism in India means equal respect and treatment for all religions. The state does not favor or discriminate against any religion, and individuals are free to practice, profess, and propagate their faith.

However, Statement-II does not explain Statement-I.
Socialism and secularism are separate constitutional principles. While both are essential features of the Indian Constitution, secularism is related to religious freedom and equality, whereas socialism focuses on economic and social equity.

1. Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act (HAMA), 1956 - Applicable to all religions in India.

- Incorrect. HAMA is applicable specifically to Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists, not all religions in India.

2. Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 - Covers orphans, abandoned, and surrendered children of all religions.

- Correct. This act indeed applies to children of all religions and focuses on the adoption of orphans, abandoned, and surrendered children.

3. Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 - Allows full adoption for Muslims, Christians, Jews, and Parsis.

- Incorrect. This act provides for guardianship rather than full adoption for Muslims, Christians, Jews, and Parsis.

4. Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) - Issues adoption orders directly.

- Incorrect. CARA does not issue adoption orders directly. Instead, it regulates and oversees the adoption process and issues No Objection Certificates for international adoptions.

The Department of Consumer Affairs has initiated a targeted program to enhance the cultivation of arhar (tur) and urad during the Kharif season of 2025. This program aims to promote cultivation through seed distribution campaigns and ensures a 100% procurement guarantee at Minimum Support Price. By focusing on key states like Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Manipur, and Tripura, this initiative aims to boost domestic pulse production, improve food security, and reduce dependency on pulse imports.

Statement-I correctly highlights that adoption in India is governed by various laws based on the child's religion and status. Statement-II accurately mentions that the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 covers children of all religions and specifically focuses on orphans, abandoned, and surrendered children. This act is a comprehensive legislation that addresses the welfare and protection of children in need of care and protection, irrespective of their religious background or status. Therefore, both statements are correct, and Statement-II provides additional information that explains Statement-I.

1. National Cooperative Consumer’s Federation of India Ltd. (NCCF) - Implements the initiative only in Jharkhand: Incorrect. The NCCF implements the initiative across multiple states, including Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Manipur, and Tripura, not just in Jharkhand.

2. Minimum Support Price (MSP) - Guaranteed for seeds distributed under the program: Incorrect. The MSP guarantee is not for seeds but for the crops produced (arhar and urad). The program provides 100% procurement guarantee at MSP for the crops, not specifically for the seeds.

3. Selected Districts - Primarily include irrigated areas: Incorrect. The selected districts are mainly rainfed areas, not irrigated ones. The selection criteria focus on rainfed regions and include Aspirational Blocks as identified by NITI Aayog.

4. Pulses - Comprise 20-25% protein by weight: Correct. Pulses are indeed a significant source of protein, comprising 20-25% of their weight, making them an essential part of the Indian diet.

Only the fourth pair is correctly matched. Thus, there is only one pair correctly matched. Hence, the correct answer is Option A: Only one pair.

1. Statement 1: Correct. NITI Aayog has indeed recommended upgrading port infrastructure as part of its strategy to enhance logistics and storage capabilities to boost India's chemical exports. This is part of a broader initiative to double the current export figures by 2030.

2. Statement 2: Incorrect. While India contributes 7% to the national GDP from its chemical industry and is a significant global player, it ranks 14th in global chemical exports (excluding pharmaceuticals), not the 3rd. Therefore, this statement is inaccurate.

3. Statement 3: Correct. The chemical industry in India has set an ambitious target to achieve a market valuation of $1 trillion by 2040. This aligns with the country's long-term vision for the sector's growth.

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