Daily Current Affairs MCQs: 29th May 2025 - Humanities/Arts MCQ

The shift to sodium-ion batteries is driven by the need to reduce dependence on lithium-ion batteries, particularly due to concerns over the dominance of China in the lithium supply chain. Sodium is more abundant and can be sourced from seawater, making it a more sustainable and secure option for energy storage. This strategic move aims to enhance energy security and mitigate geopolitical risks associated with lithium supplies.

The NEP 2020 emphasizes practical skills and vocational training, aiming to bridge the gap between academia and industry. By integrating hands-on experiences such as internships and apprenticeships into the curriculum, the policy seeks to prepare students more effectively for the workforce, thus enhancing their employability and readiness for real-world challenges.

The Minimum Support Price (MSP) is designed specifically to ensure that farmers receive a guaranteed minimum profit for their crops, protecting them from price volatility in the market. This mechanism is crucial for supporting the agricultural sector and ensuring food security, especially during adverse market conditions. Additionally, MSP calculations are based on various cost categories to ensure fairness to farmers.

Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) is a method that adjusts for cost-of-living differences across countries, providing a more accurate representation of the economic strength and living standards of the population. Unlike nominal GDP, which can be skewed by exchange rates, PPP gives a clearer picture of what people can actually buy with their incomes, making it a vital tool for comprehensive economic analysis.

The Churdhar Wildlife Sanctuary is primarily aimed at conserving ecological diversity while also holding spiritual significance due to the presence of a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva at its peak. The sanctuary serves as a habitat for various species of flora and fauna, making it an important site for biodiversity conservation. Additionally, its stunning landscapes and views enhance its appeal as a natural and spiritual retreat.

The Seven Summits Challenge indeed includes climbing Mount Everest, which is noted as the highest peak in Asia at 8,848 meters. This challenge involves reaching the highest peaks across all seven continents, and it was first completed by Richard Bass in 1985. Climbers often choose between two lists—the Bass list and the Messner list—depending on which peak they aim to climb in Australia.

The Deputy Speaker's primary role is to maintain order during parliamentary sessions and to adjourn meetings when the Speaker is absent. This position is crucial for ensuring that parliamentary procedures are followed and that debates can proceed smoothly. Unlike the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker can also participate in debates and vote on issues, but their main responsibility is to support the Speaker in managing the operations of the Lok Sabha. This role helps maintain the balance of power and accountability within the legislative framework.

The prolonged vacancy of the Deputy Speaker's position raises serious concerns about the adherence to democratic principles and parliamentary norms. This absence indicates a failure in consensus-building between the ruling party and the Opposition, which compromises the integrity of the democratic process. A Deputy Speaker typically represents the Opposition, and without this role filled, there is a risk of undermining checks and balances essential for healthy governance and democratic functioning.

One of the significant advantages of sodium-ion batteries is the lower production costs associated with the abundance of sodium resources, which can be sourced from seawater. This makes sodium-ion technology not only more cost-effective but also potentially more sustainable and environmentally friendly compared to lithium-ion batteries, which rely on more limited and costly resources. Moreover, sodium's availability contributes to energy security and reduces geopolitical vulnerabilities.

Dark patterns refer to user interfaces that are specifically designed to mislead or manipulate users into taking actions they might not otherwise choose. These designs exploit cognitive biases and can include tactics like adding items to a shopping cart without consent or obscuring options to reject terms. Awareness of dark patterns is essential for consumer protection, and recent guidelines aim to combat these deceptive practices in e-commerce.