Test: Weekly Current Affairs: August 1st to 7th - UPSC MCQ

1. Partition of Bengal - Incorrect. The Partition of Bengal in 1905 was not intended to promote unity among Indians; instead, it was a strategy by the British to sow religious and political divisions by creating a Muslim-majority East Bengal and a Hindu-majority West Bengal, thereby weakening nationalist unity.

2. National Handloom Day - Incorrect. National Handloom Day, celebrated on August 7th, commemorates the launch of the Swadeshi Movement in 1905, not the Make in India Initiative. It honors the handloom community and emphasizes the role of handlooms in the rural economy, women's empowerment, and sustainable production.

3. Atmanirbhar Bharat - Correct. The Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative indeed aims to promote Indian goods globally and achieve self-reliance, echoing the principles of the Swadeshi Movement by emphasizing 'local for global' and 'vocal for local' themes.

4. Khadi Movement - Correct. The Khadi movement was initially promoted by Mahatma Gandhi to encourage the use of Swadeshi products and to boycott foreign goods, thereby promoting self-reliance and supporting local crafts.

Thus, only pairs 3 and 4 are correctly matched.

Statement-I correctly highlights that the Swadeshi Movement was triggered by Lord Curzon's repressive policies, including the Indian Universities Act of 1904, which caused discontent among Indians. This led to the initiation of the Swadeshi Movement in Bengal in 1905.
Statement-II accurately captures the essence of the Swadeshi Movement, emphasizing its core principles of boycotting British goods and advocating for the promotion of Indian-made products to foster economic self-reliance and resist British colonial rule.
Therefore, both statements are correct, and Statement-II logically explains the context and motivation behind the Swadeshi Movement initiated in India.

- Statement 1 is correct. The U.S. has indeed imposed a 25% reciprocal tariff on Indian exports effective August 7, and an additional 25% penal levy is set to be implemented due to India's ongoing crude oil imports from Russia. These measures are part of recent trade actions by the U.S. that are impacting India's economic growth and trade balance.

- Statement 2 is correct. The imposition of these tariffs is expected to widen India’s trade deficit by 0.56% of GDP, potentially increasing it to 7.84%. This is a significant impact on India's trade balance, highlighting the serious implications of the U.S. tariffs on Indian exports.

- Statement 3 is correct. The Philippines has become the fifth country to sign a Strategic Partnership Agreement with India, focusing on areas such as maritime and defense cooperation. This agreement is part of India's broader strategy to enhance its ties with countries in the Indo-Pacific and ASEAN regions.

Each of the statements accurately reflects the details provided in the context of recent economic and diplomatic developments involving India, thus making Option D the correct answer.

The transition in India towards a more technocratic governance model from traditional rights-based approaches can be primarily attributed to the integration of numerous schemes into the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. This shift aims to enhance efficiency and reach in the delivery of social welfare benefits.

1. Technocratic Governance - Incorrect. Technocratic governance emphasizes measurable and auditable state rationality, often sidelining political challenges and democratic dialogue. It focuses more on efficiency and data-driven decision-making rather than engaging with political processes and dialogue.

2. RS-28 Sarmat Missile - Correct. The RS-28 Sarmat is indeed known as 'Satan 2' by NATO. This naming highlights its significance and threat perception in global security dynamics.

3. Centralized Systems in Welfare - Incorrect. Centralized systems, while they might improve complaint management, can reduce accountability and create algorithmic barriers to oversight. This can actually undermine transparency rather than enhance it.

4. Sarmat Warhead Capability - Correct. The missile can deliver Avangard hypersonic glide vehicles, which is one of its advanced capabilities, making it a significant asset in military strategy.

Pairs 2 and 4 are correctly matched, making the correct option B: Only two pairs.

Statement-I correctly states that the RS-28 Sarmat ICBM is named after the ancient Sarmatian people. Statement-II accurately describes the missile's capability of carrying up to 16 independently targetable nuclear warheads and Avangard hypersonic glide vehicles. However, Statement-II does not provide an explanation or correlation to Statement-I; hence, both statements are correct but not interlinked in their content.

1. Statement 1 is correct. Nauru is indeed a raised coral atoll located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, about 1,300 km northeast of the Solomon Islands. This statement accurately describes its geographical location.

2. Statement 2 is correct. The extensive phosphate mining activities on the island have significantly impacted the environment, rendering approximately four-fifths of the land uninhabitable. This has had a severe effect on Nauru's livability and agricultural viability.

3. Statement 3 is incorrect. Nauru does not have an official capital city. Instead, the district of Yaren serves as the de facto capital, but it is not officially designated as the capital. This detail is crucial in understanding Nauru’s unique administrative structure.

Thus, the correct statements are 1 and 2, making Option B the accurate choice.

1. Nauru - Located 1,300 km southwest of the Solomon Islands: Incorrect. Nauru is located 1,300 km northeast of the Solomon Islands.

2. Yaren - De facto capital of Nauru: Correct. Yaren is indeed the de facto capital of Nauru, serving as the administrative center of the country.

3. Indian Flapshell Turtle - Listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List: Correct. The Indian Flapshell Turtle is indeed listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, indicating it faces a high risk of extinction in the wild.

4. Phosphate Mining - Covers the entirety of Nauru's land surface: Incorrect. While phosphate mining has significantly impacted Nauru and made about four-fifths of the land uninhabitable, it does not cover the entirety of Nauru's land surface.

Thus, pairs 2 and 3 are correctly matched.

Glacial lake breaches are one of the significant factors that can lead to flash floods in the Himalayas. These breaches can occur due to various reasons, such as the melting of glaciers or sudden structural failures in the glacial lakes. When a glacial lake breaches, it can release a massive amount of water downstream, triggering flash floods in the region. This phenomenon underscores the vulnerability of ecologically sensitive areas like the Himalayas to extreme weather events and emphasizes the importance of understanding and managing these risks effectively.

- Statement 1: This statement is correct. Flash floods in the Himalayas are often triggered by cloudbursts. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a cloudburst is defined as intense rainfall of at least 100 mm within an hour over a 10x10 km area. These localized events, if occurring in the absence of measurement instruments, might not be recorded, but they significantly contribute to flash flooding in the region.

- Statement 2: This statement is also correct. The Himalayas are young in geological terms and are therefore structurally weak and prone to erosion. This geological youthfulness makes them more susceptible to natural disasters like flash floods and landslides compared to older, more stable mountain ranges.

- Statement 3: This statement is incorrect. Heavy traffic and construction activities in ecologically sensitive areas do exacerbate the risk of flash floods. Such human interventions disturb the natural landscape, increase soil erosion, and reduce the land's capacity to absorb rainfall, thereby aggravating the impact of heavy rainfall and increasing the likelihood of flash floods.

Thus, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only.

1. Cloudburst - At least 100 mm of rain in one hour over a 10x10 km area: This pair is correctly matched. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) defines a cloudburst as a sudden, intense rainfall event with at least 100 mm of rain falling within an hour over a small area, typically 10x10 km.

2. Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) - Caused by melting snow and ice at high altitudes: This pair is incorrectly matched. While GLOFs are associated with glacial lakes, they are not directly caused by melting snow and ice. Instead, they typically occur when the moraine (natural dam) containing a glacial lake fails, often due to additional water from heavy rains, rapid snowmelt, or an ice avalanche.

3. Landslide - Triggered by tectonic activity alone: This pair is incorrectly matched. While tectonic activity can trigger landslides, they are more commonly initiated by heavy rains, earthquakes, volcanic activity, or human activities like deforestation and construction on slopes.

4. Flash Floods - Can occur even with moderate rainfall in fragile terrains: This pair is correctly matched. In ecologically sensitive and geologically fragile terrains like the Himalayas, even moderate rainfall can lead to flash floods due to saturated soils, steep slopes, and eroding land surfaces.

Only pairs 1 and 4 are correctly matched, making Option B: Only two pairs the correct answer.

Rising inflation leads to a decline in the value of salary increases, ultimately affecting the purchasing power of individuals. As prices increase, the real value of wages decreases, impacting the standard of living for many households. This phenomenon can result in financial constraints and a decrease in the overall quality of life for families, despite nominal salary increments.

To determine the correct statements, let us evaluate each one:

Statement 1: The headline CPI inflation did indeed decrease from 4.8% in May 2024 to 2.82% by May 2025. However, during this period, food inflation remained significantly high, with the Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) reaching 10.87% in October 2024. This shows a clear divergence between the overall CPI and food inflation, confirming the statement as correct.

Statement 2: In 2023, nominal salaries increased by 9.2%, but real wage growth was limited to only 2.5% due to inflation's impact. This situation led to financial strain on households as inflation reduced the purchasing power of the increased nominal wages, thereby validating the statement as correct.

Statement 3: This statement is incorrect. The Gini coefficient in India actually declined from 0.489 in AY13 to a projected 0.402 in AY23, suggesting an improvement in income inequality rather than a consistent increase. However, it is important to note that this improvement was largely limited to the formal sector, leaving the informal workforce still vulnerable.

Given the analysis above, Statements 1 and 2 are correct, while Statement 3 is incorrect. Thus, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only.

1. Goldilocks Situation: This is incorrectly matched. The Goldilocks situation is characterized by moderate growth and low inflation, not high inflation and stagnant growth.

2. Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI): This is correctly matched. CFPI measures the rate of inflation in food prices and can indeed be higher than the general Consumer Price Index (CPI), as noted with food inflation being problematic despite overall low headline CPI inflation.

3. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): This is incorrectly matched. The CPCB was established under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, not the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. It is a statutory technical body responsible for promoting clean air and water.

4. Fiscal Deficit Reduction Goal: This is correctly matched. The government aims to reduce the fiscal deficit from 6.4% in 2022-23 to 4.4% in 2025-26, addressing fiscal pressures and potentially reducing the need for significant borrowing.

Thus, only pairs 2 and 4 are correctly matched.

The 1987 INF Treaty aimed to ban ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles within specific ranges, specifically ranging from 500 to 5,500 kilometers. By prohibiting these types of missiles, the treaty sought to reduce the threat of nuclear conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union. This agreement played a crucial role in shaping Cold War-era arms control and strategic stability.

- Statement 1 is incorrect. The INF Treaty specifically prohibited ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges from 500 to 5,500 kilometers, not all nuclear weapons. It did not cover intercontinental ballistic missiles or other categories of nuclear weapons.

- Statement 2 is correct. The INF Treaty allowed for on-site inspections as a verification measure. This was a significant feature, setting a precedent for future arms control agreements by enhancing transparency and trust between the parties.

- Statement 3 is correct. Russia's withdrawal from the INF Treaty cited several reasons, one of which was concerns over U.S. military deployments, including those in the Asia-Pacific region, such as the deployment of Tomahawk launchers and Dark Eagle hypersonic missiles, which Russia perceived as a threat to its security.

Thus, the correct answer is Option C: 2 and 3 Only, as Statements 2 and 3 are accurate.

1. Ronald Reagan - Soviet leader who signed the INF Treaty: Incorrect. Ronald Reagan was the U.S. President who signed the INF Treaty, and Mikhail Gorbachev was the Soviet leader involved in the signing.

2. Missile Range Prohibited by INF - 500 to 5,500 kilometers: Correct. The INF Treaty prohibited ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges from 500 to 5,500 kilometers.

3. Treaty Implementation - Led to the elimination of 2,692 missiles: Correct. The implementation of the INF Treaty resulted in the elimination of 2,692 missiles by June 1, 1991.

4. Reason for Russia's Exit - NATO's involvement in the INF Treaty: Incorrect. Russia's exit from the INF Treaty was attributed to U.S. military deployments and increasing NATO tensions, but not directly due to NATO's involvement in the treaty itself.

Only pairs 2 and 3 are correctly matched, making the correct option B: Only two pairs.

The primary goal of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is to create a legally binding treaty on plastic pollution. This treaty aims to address various aspects of plastic pollution, including its production, design, usage, and disposal, with the objective of tackling this pressing environmental issue on a global scale.

To determine the correct statements, let's analyze each one:

Statement 1 is correct. The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) was established with the aim of drafting a legally binding treaty on plastic pollution by 2024. This reflects the committee's goal of creating enforceable international standards to combat plastic pollution.

Statement 2 is incorrect. The negotiation process of the INC is not limited to plenary sessions alone. It involves various methods, including technical group discussions and stakeholder consultations, allowing for a comprehensive approach that incorporates diverse viewpoints and expertise.

Statement 3 is correct. The mandate of the INC indeed includes addressing the entire life cycle of plastics. This means the treaty aims to cover all stages from production and design to usage and disposal, ensuring a holistic approach to managing plastic pollution.

In conclusion, statements 1 and 3 are correct, while statement 2 is incorrect. Therefore, the correct answer is Option C: 1 and 3 Only.

The primary objective of the INF Treaty signed between the United States and the Soviet Union (now Russia) was to dismantle an entire class of ground-launched missiles with ranges from 500 to 5,500 kilometers. This agreement aimed to mitigate the nuclear arms race by eliminating these specific missile systems, thereby reducing the potential threat posed by such weapons.

1. Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty - Signed in 1987 between the United States and the Soviet Union.
This pair is correctly matched. The INF Treaty was indeed signed in 1987 between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

2. Lalit Kala Akademi - Established in 1960 by the Government of India.
This pair is incorrectly matched. The Lalit Kala Akademi was established on 5th August 1954 by the Government of India.

3. Ronald Reagan - U.S. President during the signing of the INF Treaty.
This pair is correctly matched. Ronald Reagan was indeed the U.S. President when the INF Treaty was signed.

4. National Exhibition of Art - First held in 1955.
This pair is correctly matched. The National Exhibition of Art, organized by the Lalit Kala Akademi, was first held in 1955.

Thus, three pairs are correctly matched: 1, 3, and 4.

Statement-I is correct as the INF Treaty was indeed signed in 1987 between the United States and the Soviet Union, which is now Russia. Statement-II is also correct as the primary objective of the INF Treaty was to eliminate two specific categories of missile systems to mitigate the nuclear arms race. Statement-II explains the purpose behind the signing of the treaty, making it a correct explanation for Statement-I. Hence, Option A is the accurate answer choice.

The Sahel region is primarily characterized by low-growing grasses, thorny shrubs, and scattered acacia and baobab trees in terms of vegetation. This semi-arid region acts as a transitional zone between the Sahara desert to the north and the savannas to the south. The vegetation in the Sahel is adapted to the arid climate conditions, featuring plants that can thrive in such environments.

- Statement 1 is correct. Russia has indeed strengthened its presence in the Sahel region, particularly by signing a significant nuclear agreement with Niger. This move is part of Russia's broader geopolitical strategy to increase its influence in this strategically important region.

- Statement 2 is incorrect. While the Sahel is a known transit hub for migrants, the current context provided in the question focuses more on geopolitical interests and does not emphasize this migratory aspect specifically in this context. Thus, while broadly correct, it is not relevant to the specific details discussed.

- Statement 3 is correct. India and the Philippines have indeed committed to doubling their bilateral trade by 2030, and defence cooperation is a significant aspect of their strategic partnership, highlighted by India's sale of BrahMos missiles to the Philippines.

Therefore, the correct statements are 1 and 3, making Option C: 1 and 3 Only the correct answer.

Statement-I is accurate as it reflects Russia's recent activities in the Sahel region, particularly the nuclear agreement with Niger, which signifies Russia's increasing presence and interests in the area. Statement-II correctly highlights the key areas of focus in the India-Philippines strategic partnership, emphasizing maritime cooperation and people-to-people engagement initiatives. Moreover, Statement-II complements Statement-I by offering a contrasting perspective on a different geopolitical scenario, demonstrating the diverse international relations dynamics at play in different regions. Thus, both statements are factually correct and mutually explanatory in the context of their respective subjects, warranting the selection of option (a) as the correct answer.