Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 10th July 2025 - UPSC MCQ

1. Red Wedding Strike - Israeli military operation to incapacitate Iran's nuclear capabilities: Correct. The 'Red Wedding' was indeed an Israeli military operation aimed at delivering a decisive blow to Iran's nuclear infrastructure and military capabilities.

2. Trump's Involvement - Limited U.S. strategic support to Israel in 2025: Correct. President Trump's return to office in 2025 saw the U.S. involvement in the form of limited air strikes, which curtailed Israel's longer-term military objectives against Iran.

3. CBAM - European Union's mechanism to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by increasing import tariffs: Incorrect. CBAM is not about increasing import tariffs but imposing a carbon duty on imports to align them with EU standards, aiming to prevent carbon leakage and promote environmental goals.

4. Catastrophe Bonds - Financial instruments that combine insurance and debt characteristics for disaster risk transfer: Correct. Catastrophe bonds do combine insurance and debt characteristics, allowing at-risk governments to transfer disaster risks to investors, promoting quicker financial recovery post-disaster.

Thus, three pairs are correctly matched.

1. Nistar Vessel: Correctly matched. The Nistar is indeed the first indigenously designed and constructed Diving Support Vessel in India.

2. Diving Capability: Incorrectly matched. The Nistar is equipped for Deep Sea Saturation Diving up to 300 meters, not 500 meters.

3. Indigenous Content: Incorrectly matched. The Nistar features approximately 75% indigenous content, not 50%.

4. Role: Correctly matched. The Nistar serves as a 'Mother Ship' for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV), facilitating rescue and evacuation of personnel in emergencies underwater.

Additional Information: The Nistar's advanced technology includes Remotely Operated Vehicles for diver monitoring and salvage operations at depths of up to 1,000 meters, aligning with the Indian Navy's efforts towards self-reliance under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

1. Ajith Kumar's Death - Correctly matched. His death underscored the need for reforms in policing, including mental health support and trauma-informed training for police officers.

2. Vignesh's Case - Incorrectly matched. While it is part of the continuum of custodial deaths highlighting systemic issues, there is no specific information provided that links Vignesh's case directly to the implementation of tamper-proof CCTV.

3. Gini Index - Incorrectly matched. The Gini Index measures economic inequality, with 0 indicating perfect equality, not perfect inequality.

4. World Inequality Database - Correctly matched. The database reflects that India's Gini Index has increased from 52 in 2004 to 62 in 2023, indicating a rise in inequality.

Pairs 1 and 4 are correctly matched, making Option B the correct answer.

Catastrophe Bonds serve as a financial mechanism that enables governments to transfer specific disaster risks to global investors. In essence, these bonds allow at-risk governments to mitigate financial losses associated with natural disasters by involving investors in sharing the risks. This innovative tool not only provides a faster financial recovery post-disaster compared to traditional insurance but also engages global capital markets to bolster disaster resilience.

Statement-I is correct as it highlights the concerning trend of custodial deaths in Tamil Nadu, as mentioned in the news surrounding Ajith Kumar's case. Statement-II is also correct, referring to the Gini Index of 25.5 presented by the government, indicating a claim about income equality in India. However, the two statements are independent of each other; they do not explain or relate to each other directly. Hence, option (b) is the most suitable answer.

The Gini Index is a measure of income inequality within a population. It quantifies the distribution of income among individuals or households within a country. A Gini Index of 0 represents perfect equality, where everyone has the same income, while an index of 1 signifies perfect inequality, where one person has all the income and others have none. This index is a crucial tool for policymakers and economists to understand and address disparities in income distribution within a society.

Statement-I correctly defines the purpose and focus of the Aspirational District Mineral Foundation (DMF) Programme, highlighting its role in addressing the needs of communities affected by mining operations. On the other hand, Statement-II describes the principles of the Aspirational District Programme (ADP), which are based on Convergence, Collaboration, and Competition for coordinated district transformation. While both statements are factually correct, they pertain to different programs and initiatives, making them independent of each other without one explaining the other. Thus, the correct answer is option (b).

1. Statement 1: The statement is incorrect. The DMF is not exclusively funded by the central government. Instead, it is funded through contributions from holders of mining leases, as prescribed by government regulations. These funds are utilized to serve the interests of individuals and areas impacted by mining operations, not solely to facilitate mining operations.

2. Statement 2: The statement is correct. The governance of the DMF falls under state jurisdiction, which promotes localized development. This allows for the creation and implementation of initiatives that directly address the needs of communities affected by mining within the states.

3. Statement 3: The statement is correct. The Aspirational DMF Programme aims to ensure that DMF planning aligns with national development goals. It is designed to facilitate maximum social impact through collaboration among various governmental levels, aligning with broader national objectives for development.

In conclusion, statements 2 and 3 are correct, making Option D the right choice. The DMF's governance at the state level and its alignment with national development goals are key aspects of the programme, while funding is not exclusively from the central government.

The 'Nistar' vessel holds significance as the first indigenously designed and constructed Diving Support Vessel in India. Its name, derived from Sanskrit, reflects its purpose of liberation, rescue, or salvation. This vessel, with advanced diving capabilities and technology, signifies a milestone in India's naval capabilities and self-reliance efforts.

1. DMF Establishment - Under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015: Correct. The District Mineral Foundation is established under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015 to serve the interests of communities affected by mining.

2. DMF Funding Source - Funded by government taxes on mining companies: Incorrect. DMF funds are sourced from contributions by mining leaseholders, not through government taxes.

3. Quad Initiative - Aims to secure critical minerals supply chain: Correct. The Quad countries, including India, have initiated efforts to secure and diversify supply chains for critical minerals essential for clean technologies.

4. India-Argentina Agreement - Focuses on agricultural exports: Incorrect. While India has agreements with Argentina, in the context of critical minerals diplomacy, these agreements focus on exploration and mining of minerals, not agricultural exports.

Thus, two pairs are correctly matched.