Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 7th March 2025 - UPSC MCQ

The main objective of the Parvatmala Pariyojana program is to enhance ropeway infrastructure in challenging terrains. This initiative aims to provide first- and last-mile connectivity to improve logistics efficiency and promote tourism in difficult geographical areas. By focusing on developing safe, economical, and efficient ropeway systems, the program seeks to address connectivity issues in hilly regions and alleviate urban congestion.

- Statement 1 is correct. D-voters, or Doubtful voters, are individuals in Assam whose citizenship status is unresolved. Their cases are pending with Foreigners Tribunals, which are tasked with determining the legitimacy of their citizenship claims.

- Statement 2 is incorrect. The term 'D-voter' is not defined in the Citizenship Act of 1955. Instead, it was introduced by the Election Commission of India in 1997, and it does not appear in the Citizenship Act or the Citizenship Rules of 2003.

- Statement 3 is correct. D-voters do indeed lose their voting rights until their citizenship status is resolved. They are not eligible to vote or contest in elections as their nationality is under question.

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

1. Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) - Established under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act of 2016: This pair is correctly matched. RERA was indeed established under this act to regulate the real estate sector.

2. Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve - Located in Kerala: This pair is incorrectly matched. The BRT Tiger Reserve is located in the Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka, not Kerala.

3. RERA Objective - Ensures projects are completed on schedule: This pair is correctly matched. One of the key objectives of RERA is to ensure timely completion of real estate projects to prevent delays.

4. Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) Decision - Prohibits new commercial construction within 1 kilometer of the BRT Tiger Reserve boundary: This pair is correctly matched. The recent ESZ decision aims to protect the ecological integrity of the BRT Tiger Reserve by restricting commercial construction within 1 kilometer from its boundary or up to the ESZ.

Hence, only three pairs are correctly matched.

Statement-I is correct as per the information provided. RERA was indeed established under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act of 2016 to regulate and promote transparency within the real estate sector. Statement-II is also correct as the BRT Tiger Reserve serves as a critical ecological link between the Western and Eastern Ghats. The BRT Tiger Reserve is located in the Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka and plays a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity by connecting these two important mountain ranges. Hence, both statements are correct, and Statement-II provides additional context supporting the establishment and significance of the BRT Tiger Reserve.

The primary objective of AIKosha, the IndiaAI Datasets Platform, is to provide access to high-quality, non-personal datasets and AI models. This initiative aims to foster AI innovation across India by offering essential resources to model builders, developers, students, startups, researchers, academia, and government departments. By providing a centralized repository with over 300 datasets and 80 AI models, AIKosha plays a crucial role in democratizing AI development and supporting the creation of India-centric AI solutions.

- Statement 1 is correct. AIKosha is indeed a platform launched by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) that provides access to over 300 datasets and more than 80 AI models. This aligns with the initiative's goal to facilitate access to high-quality, non-personal datasets, AI models, and development tools to foster AI innovation across India.

- Statement 2 is incorrect. The primary objective of AIKosha is not to provide high-performance computing infrastructure with GPUs. Instead, AIKosha focuses on democratizing AI development by offering a centralized repository of datasets and models. The mention of high-performance computing infrastructure with GPUs is actually a part of the broader IndiaAI Mission, not specifically AIKosha.

- Statement 3 is correct. AIKosha includes AI Sandbox capabilities with integrated development environments, which feature various tools and tutorials to allow users to experiment and enhance AI applications effectively. This is part of the platform's design to support model builders and developers in India.

Thus, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 3 Only because Statements 1 and 3 are correct while Statement 2 is not.

Statement-I correctly highlights the origin and prevalence of the Nelore breed of cattle, known for its exceptional genetic qualities. Statement-II correctly points out that populism can lead to increased political participation but also mentions the challenges it poses to good governance by prioritizing short-term gains over sustainable policies. Populism's focus on short-term gains can indeed undermine long-term institutional strengthening and the principles of good governance. Therefore, both statements are correct, and Statement-II aptly explains the implications of populism on governance.

The protests by Nepali students at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar were primarily triggered by the harassment faced by a female student, which led to significant tensions and feelings of injustice within the Nepali student community. The tragic incident involving the suicide of the third-year female student from Nepal due to alleged harassment from a male student, coupled with the university's inaction despite multiple reports, sparked the protests and subsequent demands for justice and accountability.

- Statement 1 is correct. Article 6 of the Indo-Nepal Peace Treaty of 1950 indeed ensures "national treatment" for citizens of both Nepal and India in each other's territories. This provision is meant to guarantee equal treatment and non-discrimination based on nationality.

- Statement 2 is incorrect. Article 7 of the Treaty does not specifically mention the prohibition of eviction of Nepali students from educational institutions in India. While it generally addresses the rights of residence and employment, the specific context of eviction from educational institutions is not covered.

- Statement 3 is correct. The Treaty, through its provisions, allows Nepali citizens the right to pursue education in India without discrimination, implying that barriers to educational access would be a violation of this right.

Thus, the correct answer is Option C: 1 and 3 Only.

Statement-I correctly highlights the creation of the Woolly Mouse by editing seven genes to mimic the cold-adaptive traits of woolly mammoths. Statement-II accurately describes the technology used in the project, emphasizing the utilization of the CRISPR-Cas9 system to modify specific genes related to fur texture, length, and body fat metabolism. Statement-II explains how these genes were targeted to achieve the desired traits in the Woolly Mouse, thereby supporting Statement-I. Hence, both statements are correct, and Statement-II provides an explanation for Statement-I.