Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 8th August 2025 - UPSC MCQ

The correct answer is (a) because the District Flood Severity Index (DFSI) does not solely focus on the magnitude of floods in a district. Statement-I is incorrect in isolation because the DFSI considers multiple parameters like mean flood duration, historical flood mapping, population impact, and casualties due to floods to provide a comprehensive assessment of flood severity. Hence, Statement-II is correct and provides a more accurate representation of the DFSI's methodology.

- Statement 1 is correct. The groundwater contamination issue in India is significantly impacted by nitrates, which are found in over 20% of samples. This contamination is primarily due to excessive fertilizer use and leaks from septic tanks, as highlighted in the report.

- Statement 2 is incorrect. While uranium contamination has been detected above 100 ppb in some districts, it is primarily linked to the use of phosphate fertilizers and over-extraction, not industrial waste discharge.

- Statement 3 is incorrect. The Water Act of 1974 is considered inadequate in addressing groundwater contamination issues. It does not effectively address the modern challenges posed by groundwater contamination, highlighting the need for systemic reforms.

Thus, only Statement 1 is correct, making Option A the correct answer.

The Maryam Mirzakhani New Frontiers Prize in Mathematics aims to honor and encourage early-career women mathematicians who have shown exceptional promise and innovation in their mathematical research contributions. This prize is specifically targeted towards women mathematicians who have completed their PhD within two years and have demonstrated significant potential in the field. Maryam Mirzakhani, the first woman to receive the Fields Medal, inspired this award to recognize and support the next generation of talented women mathematicians.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) affirms that states are legally obligated to protect the global climate system. This means that addressing climate change is not merely a political choice but a binding legal duty that states must adhere to, as highlighted in the ICJ's advisory opinion. This ruling emphasizes the importance of integrating climate obligations with established principles of international law, emphasizing the significance of human rights in climate policies and the accountability of states for their emissions.

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1. International Court of Justice (ICJ) - The ICJ is indeed the main judicial body of the United Nations, but its rulings, especially advisory opinions, are not binding. Thus, the pair is incorrectly matched.

2. Indian Flapshell Turtle - This species is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. This pair is correctly matched.

3. Eco-Sensitive Zone (BESZ) Regulations - These regulations have not been effectively enforced in Uttarakhand, as evidenced by the disasters resulting from governance failures and policy negligence. The pair is incorrectly matched.

4. Paris Agreement - This is a legally binding international treaty on climate change aiming to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius. This pair is correctly matched.

Pairs 2 and 4 are correctly matched. Thus, the correct answer is Option B: Only two pairs.

1. Statement 1 is correct. The District Flood Severity Index utilizes a 40-year curated dataset from IIT Delhi to provide historical flood mapping, which is a critical component of the index's data-driven assessment approach.
2. Statement 2 is incorrect. While Thiruvananthapuram recorded the highest number of flood events, it is not among the top 30 severely impacted districts according to the DFSI. The ranking in the DFSI is not solely based on the number of flood events but includes other factors like population impact and flood spread.
3. Statement 3 is correct. The DFSI includes the district population as a key parameter to assess the per capita impact of flooding. This consideration helps in understanding the human impact of floods relative to the size of the population affected.
Thus, the correct statements are 1 and 3, making Option C the correct answer.

1. Nitrate Contamination - Excessive use of fertilizers and septic tank leaks: Correctly matched. Nitrate contamination in groundwater is primarily due to excessive agricultural use of fertilizers and leakage from septic tanks. This is a significant issue affecting water quality and public health.

2. Fluoride Contamination - Industrial effluents and urban runoff: Incorrectly matched. Fluoride contamination is typically associated with geological factors rather than industrial effluents or urban runoff. High levels of fluoride in groundwater are often due to natural geological deposits.

3. Arsenic Contamination - Naturally occurring in the Gangetic belt: Correctly matched. Arsenic contamination in groundwater is well-documented in the Gangetic belt of India and is primarily due to natural geological conditions, resulting in severe health effects such as skin lesions and cancers.

4. Uranium Contamination - Linked to phosphate fertilizers and over-extraction: Correctly matched. Uranium contamination in groundwater has been linked to the application of phosphate fertilizers and the over-extraction of groundwater, which can concentrate uranium in aquifers.

Thus, three pairs are correctly matched. The pairs for Nitrate, Arsenic, and Uranium are correct, while the pair for Fluoride is incorrect as it is primarily due to natural geological factors.

- Statement 1 is correct: The information provided indicates that the headline CPI inflation indeed decreased from 4.8% in May 2024 to 2.82% by May 2025, while food inflation remained problematic, evidenced by the Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) reaching 10.87% in October 2024. This highlights a significant disparity between general and food inflation rates, affirming the correctness of the statement.

- Statement 2 is incorrect: The decline in the Gini coefficient reflects improvements primarily limited to the formal sector, not across both formal and informal sectors. The vast informal workforce remains largely excluded from these gains, which questions the extent of income equality improvement across the entire economy. Thus, the statement incorrectly suggests broader equality improvements than actually observed.

- Statement 3 is correct: The government's target to lower the fiscal deficit from 6.4% in 2022-23 to 4.4% in 2025-26 indicates significant fiscal pressure. High deficits necessitate substantial borrowing, potentially crowding out private investment and hindering economic growth. This accurately reflects the economic challenges related to fiscal policy.

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

1. Goldilocks Economy - Characterized by high inflation and slow growth: Incorrect. A Goldilocks economy is characterized by moderate growth and low inflation, not high inflation and slow growth.

2. Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024 - Aims to modernize and streamline India's coastal trade: Correct. The Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024 is indeed aimed at modernizing and streamlining India's coastal trade as part of the government's broader vision for economic development and sustainability.

3. Prophylaxis Therapy - Preventive treatment for haemophilia: Correct. Prophylaxis Therapy involves regular infusion of clotting factors to prevent bleeding episodes in haemophilia patients, making it a preventive treatment approach.

4. Fiscal Deficit Target 2025-26 - Reduction from 6.4% to 3.4%: Incorrect. The target for reducing the fiscal deficit from 6.4% is to 4.4% by 2025-26, not 3.4%.

Therefore, only pairs 2 and 3 are correctly matched, making the correct answer Option B: Only two pairs.