Daily Current Affairs MCQs: 7th January 2025 - UPSC MCQ

The primary objective of ISRO's CROPS mission is to study plant biology in a microgravity environment, which is crucial for enhancing ISRO's capabilities in growing plants in extraterrestrial conditions. This mission aims to provide insights into plant adaptation in space, contributing to future deep space explorations and astrobotany research.

- Statement 1 is correct. The Alaknanda River originates from the meltwaters of the Satopanth and Bhagirath Kharak glaciers in the Garhwal Himalayas. These glaciers are significant sources for the river, which is one of the two main headstreams of the Ganges River.

- Statement 2 is incorrect. The Alaknanda River is not a tributary of the Yamuna River; it is one of the main headstreams of the Ganges River, along with the Bhagirathi River. The Yamuna is a separate river system that also eventually contributes to the Ganges, but the Alaknanda does not directly connect with the Yamuna.

- Statement 3 is correct. Devprayag is indeed the confluence where the Alaknanda meets the Bhagirathi River, and together they form the Ganges. This is a significant geographical and spiritual location in India.

Thus, only statements 1 and 3 are correct.

- Statement 1 is correct. The CROPS mission, developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), is indeed designed to study and sustain plant life in space. This initiative is part of ISRO's efforts to understand plant biology in microgravity environments, which is crucial for long-duration space missions and future extraterrestrial agriculture.

- Statement 2 is incorrect. The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) is an online platform for public procurement in India, which facilitates smoother operations and transitions procurement processes online. It is not related to automated file management or enhancing communication and transparency in the way described.

- Statement 3 is correct. The World Gold Council played a significant role in the creation of the first gold exchange-traded fund (ETF), which has been a major innovation in the gold market, allowing investors to trade gold on stock exchanges similarly to how they trade shares.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option C.

1. Statement 1 is correct: The Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) was indeed established under the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) with the objective of aligning banks' financial activities with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This aligns directly with global sustainability efforts coordinated by UNEP.

2. Statement 2 is correct: NZBA members commit to setting interim targets for 2030 or earlier and are required to report annually on their progress. This statement reflects the NZBA's structured approach to ensuring that banks are not only committing to long-term goals but are also taking measurable steps in the short term.

3. Statement 3 is correct: The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme 1.1 for Specialty Steel is designed to strengthen domestic steel production and reduce dependency on imports. It indeed allows for the carry forward of excess production to claim incentives in subsequent years, which is a strategic feature aimed at increasing production capacity and efficiency.

Therefore, all three statements are accurate and relevant to their respective contexts. The correct answer is Option D: 1, 2 and 3.

• Statement 1 is correct. Nanopore technology indeed allows for the detection of individual molecules, like DNA and proteins, by measuring the reduction in ion flow as these molecules pass through nanopores. This unique capability is fundamental to the technology's diagnostic potential.
• Statement 2 is correct. Unlike traditional diagnostic systems that require external filtering to separate the signal from the background noise, nanopore technology has the inherent capability to filter out background noise. This feature enhances the precision and accuracy of molecular detection, as it preserves critical diagnostic data.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. One of the significant advantages of nanopore technology is its ability to capture signals from single molecules, thus eliminating the need for large biological samples. This feature makes it particularly suitable for rapid and sensitive diagnostics, even with minimal sample quantities.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only. The solution explains why each statement is correct or incorrect, confirming the accuracy of the provided answer.

1. Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) - Established under the World Bank: Incorrect. The NZBA was established under the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), not the World Bank.

2. NZBA Objective - Align banking activities with net-zero emissions by 2050: Correct. The primary objective of the NZBA is to align banks' financial activities with achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

3. PLI Scheme 1.1 - Focuses on boosting domestic steel production: Correct. The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme 1.1 aims to enhance domestic steel production and reduce reliance on imports.

4. Cold-Rolled Grain-Oriented (CRGO) Steel - Technology available in India: Incorrect. The technology to manufacture CRGO grade steel is currently unavailable to Indian steelmakers.

Thus, only pairs 2 and 3 are correctly matched, confirming that Option B is the correct answer.

1. CROPS Mission: Developed by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) - This pair is correctly matched. The CROPS mission, focusing on space agriculture, was indeed developed by VSSC as part of ISRO's initiatives.

2. GeM Platform: Facilitates offline procurement processes - This pair is incorrectly matched. The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) platform is designed to facilitate online procurement of goods and services by various government departments, not offline.

3. PSLV-C60 Mission: Included the SpaDeX technology demonstration - This pair is correctly matched. The PSLV-C60 mission did include the SpaDeX mission, which is a technology demonstration for in-space docking.

4. FAO Headquarters: Located in London, UK - This pair is incorrectly matched. The headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is in Rome, Italy, not London.

Thus, two pairs are correctly matched: Pair 1 and Pair 3.

Nanopore technology functions by utilizing tiny openings called nanopores to detect individual molecules such as DNA and proteins. When biological samples mixed with salts flow through the nanopore, the passage of a DNA or protein molecule blocks this flow, leading to a measurable reduction in ion flow that aids in identifying the specific molecule. This innovative approach allows for ultra-sensitive detection and precise identification of molecules, marking a significant advancement in disease diagnostics.

1. Alaknanda River confluence with Mandakini - Rudraprayag: This is correctly matched. Rudraprayag is indeed the place where the Alaknanda River meets the Mandakini River, one of the Panch Prayag in Uttarakhand.

2. Artesian water flow event - Mohangarh, Rajasthan: This is correctly matched. The artesian water flow event occurred in the Mohangarh area of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, where water gushed out due to underground pressure during the drilling of a tube well.

3. Crimea's highest mountain - Roman-Kosh, 1,545 meters: This is correctly matched. Roman-Kosh is the highest peak in the Crimean Mountains, with an elevation of 1,545 meters.

4. Crimea's annexation - 2014 by Russia: This is correctly matched. Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014, an event that was widely condemned by the international community.

All four pairs are correctly matched, making Option D the correct answer.

• Statement-I: Correct. The Alaknanda River is indeed one of the primary headstreams of the Ganges and originates from glaciers in the Garhwal Himalayas, including the Satopanth and Bhagirath Kharak glaciers.
• Statement-II: Correct. Artesian aquifers are characterized by water stored under pressure between impermeable layers, allowing it to rise naturally when tapped.
• Relation: Statement-II does not explain Statement-I as they discuss unrelated topics: one about a river's origin and the other about aquifer characteristics.
• Therefore, the correct option is B: Both statements are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I.