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

Statement-I correctly highlights that the rights of disabled prisoners are indeed protected under Article 14 and Article 21, ensuring equality before the law and the right to life and dignity, including humane treatment. Statement-II accurately mentions that the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (2016) mandates accessible public spaces and medical care, but it does not directly explain the relationship with the rights of disabled prisoners under Article 14 and Article 21. Therefore, both statements are correct, but Statement-II does not provide an explanation for Statement-I, making option (b) the most appropriate choice.

- Statement 1 is incorrect. The launch of the ERONET platform in 2017 has not completely eliminated the issue of duplicate EPIC numbers. Although the ERONET system was designed to improve the integrity of electoral rolls by assigning unique EPIC numbers, duplicates still exist due to legacy issues from before the platform's implementation.

- Statement 2 is correct. Before the implementation of the ERONET platform, different states utilized similar alphanumeric series for EPIC numbers, which led to the duplication of EPIC numbers. This was due to the lack of a centralized system to ensure unique identifiers across the country.

- Statement 3 is incorrect. While the EC's Manual on Electoral Rolls, 2023, does mandate that each EPIC should have a unique alphanumeric number, the full implementation of this system across all states has not yet been achieved. The issue of duplicate EPIC numbers still persists, and the EC is actively working on rectifying it.

Therefore, only statement 2 is correct, making Option C the right answer.

Women in STEM fields often face limited access to quality education, which acts as a significant hurdle in their pursuit of careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This lack of access to quality education can deter girls from pursuing science-related careers and hinder their progress in STEM fields. Addressing this challenge is crucial in fostering a more inclusive and equitable scientific community.

The Ladki Bahin Yojana launched by the Maharashtra Government aims to financially support economically disadvantaged women aged 21 to 65. This initiative provides eligible women with a monthly financial support of ₹1,500 through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). By supporting these women, the program seeks to uplift their socio-economic status, promote rehabilitation, economic development, and empower them financially.

The news article focuses on the challenges faced during rescue operations in high-altitude regions prone to natural disasters, particularly avalanches. The primary issue highlighted is the difficulties encountered by rescue teams in harsh weather conditions and blocked access routes, emphasizing the complexities of conducting operations in mountainous areas prone to avalanches. This question assesses the understanding of the challenges faced by rescue teams in the Himalayan region and the critical nature of their operations in such environments.

Statement 1 is correct because the GATI program is indeed designed to address workplace discrimination in STEM fields. Statement 2 accurately describes the 'Leaky Pipeline' phenomenon, where systemic biases and hostile work environments contribute to the attrition of women from STEM careers. Statement 3 is also correct since programs like WISE-KIRAN do emphasize the importance of innovation and role models as key factors in retaining women in STEM, even though they may also focus on other supportive measures. Thus, all three statements are correct.

Statement-I highlights the challenges faced by women in STEM professions, including hiring biases, unequal pay, and lack of support, leading to high attrition rates. Statement-II mentions specific government initiatives such as GATI and WISE-KIRAN aimed at promoting inclusivity in STEM fields. These initiatives directly address the issues outlined in Statement-I by providing support and opportunities for women in science and engineering, thereby explaining and complementing Statement-I. Hence, both statements are correct, and Statement-II logically explains the challenges presented in Statement-I.

1. Harsh Weather Conditions - Use of high-altitude helicopters for rescue: Correct. In high-altitude rescue operations, harsh weather conditions often necessitate the use of helicopters to evacuate individuals due to snow-blocked roads and difficult terrain.

2. Blocked Access Routes - Dependence on drone technology for detection: Incorrect. Blocked access routes typically require helicopter evacuations, not drone technology. Drone technology is more relevant for detection and navigation in limited visibility conditions.

3. Inaccessible Prison Infrastructure - Implementation of the Persons with Disabilities Act (2016): Incorrect. While the Persons with Disabilities Act (2016) mandates accessible public spaces, its implementation in prisons remains inadequate, and inaccessible infrastructure in prisons is not directly addressed by the act's implementation.

4. Data Deficiency in Prisons - Lack of official records on disabled prisoners: Correct. There is a significant data deficiency regarding disabled prisoners, with no official records tracking their numbers or conditions, complicating policy implementation.

Thus, pairs 1 and 4 are correctly matched.

1. Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI) - A program to retain women in STEM fields.

Correct. GATI is an initiative aimed at promoting gender equity and retaining women in STEM fields by transforming institutional practices to be more inclusive.

2. AI Kosha - A platform for personal data management.

Incorrect. AI Kosha is not for personal data management; it is a centralized repository for non-personal datasets to facilitate AI model training, particularly for Indian languages.

3. Women in Science and Engineering-Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing (WISE-KIRAN) - An initiative aimed at promoting gender equity in science.

Correct. WISE-KIRAN is designed to support and promote gender equity in science and engineering fields.

4. IndiaAI Mission - A mission focused on developing AI solutions for regional languages.

Correct. The IndiaAI Mission, which includes AI Kosha as a component, focuses on democratizing AI access and fostering innovation, including solutions for regional languages.

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

1. Eligibility Criteria - Permanent residents of Maharashtra: Correct. The scheme requires applicants to be permanent residents of Maharashtra.

2. Age Limit - 18 to 65 years old: Incorrect. The correct age limit for the Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana is 21 to 65 years old.

3. Family Income Limit - Annual income not exceeding ₹2.5 lakh: Correct. The eligibility criterion specifies that the family income should not exceed ₹2.5 lakh annually.

4. Monthly Benefit - ₹1,500 per month through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): Correct. The scheme provides a monthly benefit of ₹1,500 through DBT to eligible women.

The correct pairs are 1, 3, and 4, making it a total of three correctly matched pairs.