Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 11th April 2025 - UPSC MCQ

Jyotiba Phule, a significant social reformer in 19th-century India, advocated for compulsory primary education for all, particularly focusing on marginalized sections of society. He emphasized the importance of education, scholarships, and incentives, especially for rural children. This initiative was aimed at empowering the underprivileged and promoting social equality through education.

The 'Blue Category' introduced by the CPCB aims to recognize industries providing Essential Environmental Services (EES). Industries falling under this category are those that manage pollution through services like Waste-to-energy plants, Sewage treatment plants, and Landfill management. This new category emphasizes the importance of industries that play a crucial role in environmental management and sustainability, offering incentives for their contributions to pollution control.

- Statement 1 is correct. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has indeed introduced a new 'Blue Category' for industries that provide Essential Environmental Services (EES), such as waste-to-energy plants and sewage treatment plants. This category is part of an effort to enhance environmental management and offers incentives like extended consent to operate for industries that effectively manage pollution.

- Statement 2 is incorrect. The Pollution Index (PI) used by the CPCB considers air pollution, water pollution, and hazardous waste generation with equal weightage for each factor. Therefore, no single factor is given more weightage than the others.

- Statement 3 is incorrect. The Trump administration's classification of coal as a "critical mineral" was not primarily aimed at improving environmental sustainability or reducing carbon emissions. Instead, the classification was intended to prioritize coal extraction and domestic production, aligned with goals of energy independence and manufacturing resurgence. This move raised concerns about environmental sustainability, as coal is a carbon-intensive fuel.

Thus, only Statement 1 is correct, making Option A the accurate answer.

1. Taiwan Strait - Connects the South China Sea to the Yellow Sea: Incorrect. The Taiwan Strait connects the South China Sea to the East China Sea, not the Yellow Sea.

2. Tahawwur Rana - Extradited from the United States to India: Correct. Tahawwur Rana was indeed extradited from the United States to India as part of the efforts to bring justice in the 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack case.

3. 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attacks - Executed by terrorists associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba: Correct. The 2008 Mumbai terror attacks were executed by terrorists associated with the Pakistani militant organization Lashkar-e-Taiba.

4. 1958 Taiwan Strait Crisis - Involved U.S. intervention to support Taiwan against PRC artillery bombardments: Correct. During the 1958 Taiwan Strait Crisis, the United States intervened to support Taiwan as the People's Republic of China conducted artillery bombardments on Taiwanese-held islands.

Thus, three out of the four pairs are correctly matched.

The impeachment process for judges in India faces a significant challenge due to low transparency. This lack of transparency can hinder public trust in the judiciary and may not effectively address issues of judicial corruption. Transparency is crucial to ensure accountability and maintain the integrity of the judicial system.

1. Statement 1: Incorrect. The impeachment process in India for removing a judge requires a two-thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament, not a simple majority. This high threshold makes it challenging to remove a judge, even with credible allegations.

2. Statement 2: Correct. Transparency in judicial inquiries is indeed believed to enhance public trust. Publishing inquiry reports and ensuring transparency in proceedings can counter perceptions that the judiciary protects its own members from misconduct, thereby reinforcing public confidence.

3. Statement 3: Correct. Informal consultations between the executive and the judiciary play a significant role in influencing judicial appointments in India. The executive can affect judicial selections, often through sharing inputs from the Intelligence Bureau and other informal channels, which can indirectly create a veto power by withholding approval of judicial appointments without explanation.

Thus, statements 2 and 3 are correct. Therefore, the correct answer is Option C: 2 and 3 Only.

Statement I discusses the importance of the appointment process of judges in preventing corrupt individuals from entering the judiciary, which is a crucial aspect of maintaining the integrity of the judicial system. Statement II highlights the flaws in the existing social protection framework, emphasizing a piecemeal approach to reforms. While both statements are correct, they address different aspects related to governance and social welfare, and Statement II does not directly explain Statement I.

Frédéric Sorrieu's vision of a world comprising democratic and Social Republics primarily aims to symbolize the potential for global unity through democratic ideals. His artwork envisions a harmonious world where nations come together under the principles of democracy and social republicanism, portraying a utopian vision of international cooperation and solidarity. This representation serves as a powerful statement on the transformative possibilities of democratic governance and the aspiration for a unified and peaceful global community.

1. Statement 1: The Supreme Court of India has the power to review any judgment pronounced or order made by it.
This statement is correct. Article 137 of the Indian Constitution provides the Supreme Court with the power to review its own judgments and orders. This power of review is a crucial component of the Court's jurisdiction, allowing it to correct its own errors and maintain the integrity of its decisions.

2. Statement 2: The High Courts in India do not have the power to issue writs for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights.
This statement is incorrect. Article 226 of the Indian Constitution empowers High Courts to issue writs for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights and for any other purpose. This makes High Courts an important guardian of rights at the state level, providing individuals with a mechanism to seek redressal for violations of their Fundamental Rights.

3. Statement 3: The Chief Justice of India is appointed by the President of India based on seniority alone.
This statement is incorrect. While seniority is a significant factor considered in the appointment of the Chief Justice of India, it is not the sole criterion. The appointment is made by the President of India, traditionally adhering to the seniority convention, but there is no constitutional requirement mandating appointment based solely on seniority. Other considerations, such as judicial performance and reputation, may also play a role.

Therefore, only statement 1 is correct, making the correct answer Option A: 1 Only.

1. Harappan Civilization - Mesopotamia: Incorrectly matched. The Harappan Civilization, also known as the Indus Valley Civilization, was located primarily in the northwestern regions of South Asia. It is not associated with Mesopotamia, which was a separate ancient civilization located in the region of modern-day Iraq.

2. Vedic Civilization - Aryans: Correctly matched. The Vedic Civilization is associated with the arrival and settlement of the Aryans in the Indian subcontinent. The Aryans are believed to have composed the Vedas, which are the oldest scriptures of Hinduism.

3. Maurya Empire - Ashoka: Correctly matched. The Maurya Empire was one of the largest empires in ancient India, and Emperor Ashoka is one of its most famous rulers. He is known for his role in the spread of Buddhism and his inscriptions and edicts found across the Indian subcontinent.

4. Gupta Empire - Chandragupta II: Correctly matched. Chandragupta II, also known as Chandragupta Vikramaditya, was one of the most notable rulers of the Gupta Empire, known for its achievements in arts, science, and political administration during what is often referred to as the Golden Age of India.

Thus, pairs 2, 3, and 4 are correctly matched, resulting in three correctly matched pairs.