Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 13th May 2025 - UPSC MCQ

1. Statement 1: "Government procurement at Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for rice and wheat significantly reduces market risks for Indian farmers." This statement is correct. The Indian government provides assured procurement of rice and wheat at MSP, which minimizes the market risks for farmers. This policy offers a stable income source and security against price fluctuations in the market.

2. Statement 2: "The cultivation of rice and wheat is predominantly rain-fed, resulting in unstable yields." This statement is incorrect. Rice and wheat in India are primarily cultivated under irrigated conditions, not rain-fed. This irrigation support helps ensure more stable yields, contrary to what the statement suggests.

3. Statement 3: "Continuous breeding innovations have led to the development of rice and wheat varieties that are both high-yielding and stress-resistant." This statement is correct. There have been ongoing advancements in breeding technologies that have resulted in high-yielding and stress-resistant varieties of rice and wheat, which contribute to the crops' dominance.

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

The primary aim of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is to formulate regulations for shipping safety, maritime security, and environmental protection, although it does not directly enforce them. These regulations, once adopted by a member state, become part of that country's domestic law. The IMO plays a crucial role in preventing marine and atmospheric pollution by ships, contributing significantly to the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 concerning ocean conservation.

- Statement 1 is correct. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has indeed set a target to achieve net-zero emissions from the shipping industry by 2050. This ambitious goal is part of a broader effort to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.

- Statement 2 is incorrect. The IMO's Net Zero Framework does not provide financial incentives to ships using high-emission fuels. Instead, the framework introduces a mandatory emissions levy aimed at encouraging the use of low-emission fuels by imposing costs on high-emission ships and providing financial incentives for those adopting cleaner technologies.

- Statement 3 is incorrect. The shipping industry accounts for approximately 2.8% of total global greenhouse gas emissions, not 5%. This figure highlights the significant impact of the industry on global emissions but also shows that it is a smaller portion than indicated in the statement.

Therefore, only Statement 1 is correct, making Option A the correct choice.

1. MARPOL Annex I : Air pollution from ships
- Incorrect. Annex I of MARPOL addresses oil pollution from ships, specifically oil spills and bilge water discharge.

2. MARPOL Annex II : Noxious liquid substances in bulk
- Correct. Annex II deals with the control of pollution by noxious liquid substances carried in bulk, such as chemical tankers.

3. MARPOL Annex III : Harmful substances in packaged form
- Correct. Annex III covers the prevention of pollution by harmful substances carried in packaged form.

4. MARPOL Annex VI : Oil pollution
- Incorrect. Annex VI addresses air pollution from ships, including the regulation of sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides emissions.

Additional Information:
The MARPOL Convention is the main international convention aimed at preventing marine pollution by ships. It includes various annexes, each targeting different sources of pollution. Annex I and Annex II are mandatory, while the others are optional, but widely adopted by member states. This convention plays a crucial role in minimizing environmental damage from maritime operations.

The Net Zero Framework introduced by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) aims to provide financial incentives for ships using low-emission fuels. This framework includes a mandatory emissions levy on global shipping to meet net-zero targets by 2050. Ships using low-emission fuels can earn financial incentives, while those with higher emissions will incur costs. It is designed to encourage and reward the adoption of environmentally friendly practices in the shipping industry.

The primary focus of the Market-Based Measure (MBM) framework introduced at the MEPC-83 session is to reduce global shipping emissions. This framework aims to address the environmental impact of the shipping industry by implementing measures to lower greenhouse gas emissions. By introducing mechanisms like levies, penalties, and incentives, the MBM framework targets a significant reduction in the sector's contribution to global emissions, aligning with broader climate action goals.

1. Statement 1 is correct. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) aims to achieve a 40% reduction in carbon intensity by 2030, with a target for net-zero emissions by 2050. This aligns with their broader climate goals for the shipping industry.

2. Statement 2 is incorrect. The Market-Based Measure (MBM) framework adopted by the IMO applies only to international shipping and not to domestic shipping within India. India's coastal fleet remains unaffected by the MBMs as they apply specifically to international fleets.

3. Statement 3 is incorrect. The Indian Grey Wolf is classified as Endangered by the IUCN and is included in CITES Appendix I, not Vulnerable or Appendix II. This classification provides it with the highest level of international protection due to its threatened status.

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

Statement-I discusses how assured government procurement at Minimum Support Prices (MSP) reduces market risks for farmers, highlighting the support provided by the government in ensuring stable income for farmers. On the other hand, Statement-II talks about the role of soil microbes, particularly fungi and bacteria, in controlling phosphorus availability, which is essential for plant growth. In this context, both statements are correct, and Statement-II indeed explains how soil microbes function as 'phosphorus gatekeepers,' influencing nutrient availability for plants. Therefore, the correct answer is option (a).

• Statement-I: The International Maritime Organization (IMO) aims to cut carbon intensity from shipping by 40% by 2030, 70% by 2040, and reach net-zero emissions by 2050. This is accurate per the IMO's 2023 GHG Strategy.
• Statement-II: The HAYSTAC experiment seeks to detect axions, potential dark matter particles, using a microwave cavity. This is correct based on its scientific purpose.
• Both statements are true but unrelated. Statement-I is about maritime emissions, and Statement-II is about particle physics. Statement-II doesn’t explain Statement-I.

Answer: b) Both correct, but Statement-II doesn’t explain Statement-I.

1. International Chamber of Shipping - Fixed levy per tonne of CO₂ emitted. This pair is correctly matched. The International Chamber of Shipping proposed a fixed levy per tonne of CO₂ emitted.

2. China - Fixed GHG levy managed by an IMO-administered fund. This pair is incorrectly matched. China suggested a market-driven approach for trading compliance units, not a fixed GHG levy managed by an IMO-administered fund.

3. European Union - Market-driven approach for trading compliance units. This pair is incorrectly matched. The European Union advocated for a fixed GHG levy managed by an IMO-administered fund, not a market-driven approach for trading compliance units.

4. India - GHG Fuel Standard with tiered incentives. This pair is correctly matched. India proposed a GHG Fuel Standard with tiered incentives.

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