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

The North Eastern Region District Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index Report for 2023-24 is significant as it categorizes districts into Achiever, Front Runner, Performer, and Aspirant based on their scores, aiding in monitoring development progress and decision-making at the district level. This classification system helps in understanding the varying levels of achievement towards the Sustainable Development Goals within the North Eastern region.

- Statement 1: Correct. The North Eastern Region District SDG Index Report categorizes districts into four classifications: Achiever, Front Runner, Performer, and Aspirant. This classification is based on the scores districts receive in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Statement 2: Incorrect. Mizoram's score variation between its highest and lowest-scoring districts is smaller than that of Nagaland. Mizoram shows a variation of 5.5 points, whereas Nagaland exhibits a range of 15.07 points. Therefore, Mizoram has a more consistent performance across its districts compared to Nagaland.
- Statement 3: Correct. The report was developed by NITI Aayog with technical support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and in collaboration with the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MoDoNER).
Thus, the correct statements are 1 and 3. Hence, the answer is Option C.

Barilius imphalensis, the newly discovered freshwater fish, is distinguished by its complete lateral line comprising 41 scales. This feature is crucial for sensing movement and vibrations in water. Unlike some other species, Barilius imphalensis does not possess barbels, has short blue vertical bars on its body, and tiny tubercles on its snout and jaw. The lateral line with 41 scales is a unique characteristic of this fish, setting it apart from its counterparts in the region.

1. Barilius imphalensis - Endemic to Brahmaputra River: This pair is incorrectly matched. Barilius imphalensis is endemic to the Imphal River in Manipur, not the Brahmaputra River.

2. Defence Accounts Department (DAD) - Established in 1951: This pair is correctly matched. The Defence Accounts Department formally became the Defence Accounts Department on October 1st, 1951.

3. Sheesh Mahal - Constructed by Izz-un-Nisha Begum: This pair is correctly matched. The Sheesh Mahal in Shalimar Bagh, North Delhi, was constructed by Izz-un-Nisha Begum, the wife of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.

4. Barilius imphalensis - Belongs to the Danionidae family: This pair is correctly matched. Barilius imphalensis does belong to the Danionidae family.

Thus, pairs 2, 3, and 4 are correctly matched, while pair 1 is incorrect. Therefore, there are two pairs correctly matched.

Statement-I correctly describes Barilius imphalensis, a newly discovered species of freshwater fish in the Imphal River. Statement-II accurately details the structure and roles of the Defence Accounts Department (DAD) within the Ministry of Defence. While both statements are factually correct, they are independent of each other and do not have a direct explanatory relationship. Statement-I pertains to a specific biological discovery, whereas Statement-II focuses on a government department. Therefore, the correct answer is option (b).

India's invisible exports primarily consist of services and income flows that do not involve physical goods crossing borders. These transactions are largely digital or financial in nature, such as IT services, financial consulting, legal services, and more. Invisible exports play a crucial role in stabilizing India's current account deficit, surpassing merchandise exports in recent years.

1. Statement 1: This statement is incorrect. Invisible exports do not consist of physical goods. Instead, they involve international trade in services and income flows that do not involve physical goods crossing borders. Such exports are primarily digital or financial in nature, including services like IT, financial consulting, and remittances.

2. Statement 2: This statement is correct. Remittances from Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and migrant workers are indeed a key component of India's invisible receipts. They play a significant role in the balance of payments by contributing to the current account stability.

3. Statement 3: This statement is correct. Invisible exports have demonstrated resilience during major global disruptions, such as the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike merchandise trade, which can be more susceptible to such disruptions, services exports have remained robust due to their reliance on skilled human capital and less dependency on physical infrastructure.

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

Statement-I correctly highlights the significance of India's invisible exports in stabilizing the current account deficit, surpassing the value of merchandise exports as of 2024-25. On the other hand, Statement-II accurately describes Helgoland as a location pivotal in the history of quantum mechanics, where Werner Heisenberg made significant contributions to modern physics. However, the two statements are unrelated and represent distinct topics without a direct explanatory link between them. Hence, both statements are correct individually, but Statement-II does not provide an explanation for Statement-I.

Climate change and urbanization are highlighted as key factors contributing to the rising temperatures in Kashmir. This indicates that human-induced changes and urban development are impacting the region's climate patterns, leading to increased temperatures. Urban heat islands, loss of vegetation, and global warming are exacerbating the situation, emphasizing the need for addressing these issues for environmental stability and public health.

1. Srinagar's Record Temperature - First time in 70 years: Correctly matched. Srinagar recorded its highest temperature in over 70 years on July 5.

2. Dudhwa Tiger Reserve - Located in Madhya Pradesh: Incorrectly matched. Dudhwa Tiger Reserve is located in Uttar Pradesh, on the Indo-Nepal border, not in Madhya Pradesh.

3. Tokara Islands - Part of the Caribbean: Incorrectly matched. The Tokara Islands are part of the Ryukyu archipelago in Japan, not the Caribbean.

4. Urban Heat Island Effect - Associated with increased vegetation: Incorrectly matched. Urban Heat Island Effect is associated with increased temperatures due to factors like urbanization, loss of vegetation, and hard surfaces in urban areas, not increased vegetation.

Only the first pair is correctly matched, making Option A the correct choice.