Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 20th November 2024 - UPSC MCQ

Let's examine each statement:

1. SMEs contribute approximately 30% to India's GDP.
This statement is correct. SMEs are a significant part of the Indian economy, providing substantial contributions to the GDP.

2. SMEs account for nearly 60% of India's total exports.
This statement is incorrect. While SMEs play a crucial role in exports, they account for approximately 48% of India's total exports, not 60%.

3. Over 63 million registered SMEs operate in India.
This statement is correct. There are indeed over 63 million registered SMEs currently operating in India.

Thus, statements 1 and 3 are correct, and the answer is Option B: 1 and 3 Only.

Statement-I is accurate because the Binar Space Program indeed aims to enhance our understanding of the Solar System and streamline space mission operations, as mentioned in the source material. Statement-II is also correct as it highlights the consequence of increased solar activity, which resulted in the premature destruction of satellites in the case of the Binar Space Program. However, Statement-II does not directly explain Statement-I; instead, it presents a separate fact related to satellite destruction due to heightened solar activity. Therefore, the correct answer is option B.

1. Micro Enterprises: Investment up to ₹1 crore and turnover up to ₹5 crore. This pair is correctly matched. It accurately describes the classification criteria for micro enterprises in India.

2. Small Enterprises: Investment up to ₹10 crore and turnover up to ₹50 crore. This pair is correctly matched. This is the established benchmark for small enterprises.

3. Medium Enterprises: Investment up to ₹50 crore and turnover up to ₹250 crore. This pair is correctly matched. It correctly represents the classification of medium enterprises.

4. SME Contribution to GDP: Accounts for approximately 48% of India's GDP. This pair is incorrectly matched. SMEs contribute approximately 30% to India's GDP, not 48%.

The correctly matched pairs are 1, 2, and 3. Therefore, the correct response is that only three pairs are correctly matched.

Let's analyze each statement:

1. Statement 1: "Bharat NCX 2024 is conducted by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) in collaboration with Rashtriya Raksha University."
This statement is correct. The Bharat National Cyber Security Exercise (Bharat NCX 2024) is indeed organized by NSCS in partnership with Rashtriya Raksha University.

2. Statement 2: "The exercise includes live-fire simulations that replicate cyberattacks on both Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) systems."
This statement is also correct. The exercise features live-fire simulations aimed at replicating cyberattacks on both IT and OT systems, making it a comprehensive cyber defense training initiative.

3. Statement 3: "The CISO's Conclave within Bharat NCX 2024 focuses exclusively on government sector participation."
This statement is incorrect. The CISO's Conclave involves Chief Information Security Officers from the government, public, and private sectors, promoting a broad-based discussion on cybersecurity trends and initiatives.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only. Statements 1 and 2 are correct, while Statement 3 is incorrect.

1. National Unity - Defense of Kyiv and liberation of Kharkiv regions: Correctly matched. The unification of the Ukrainian people under President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indeed been crucial in actions like the defense of Kyiv and the liberation of the Kharkiv and Kherson regions.

2. Military Strength - Transformation into the strongest military force globally: Incorrectly matched. While Ukraine's military has transformed into one of the stronger forces and has been recognized for its effectiveness in repelling Russian advances, it is not accurate to say it has become the strongest globally.

3. International Support - No significant military aid from allies: Incorrectly matched. Ukraine has received substantial military, financial, and humanitarian aid from allies worldwide, which has been instrumental in its defense efforts.

4. Cultural and Moral Resolve - Struggle for European values and democracy: Correctly matched. The conflict has strengthened Ukraine's cultural and moral resolve, emphasizing their struggle for European values and democracy.

Thus, out of the four pairs, only two are correctly matched.

- Statement-I is correct because salt chimneys on the Dead Sea floor are indeed formed due to the rapid evaporation of water, which increases the salinity and causes salt to precipitate out and form these structures.
- Statement-II is also correct because the brine that rises from the lake bed is actually denser due to its high salt content, but it rises due to geological processes, not because of being less dense.
- Both statements are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I. Therefore, option B is the correct choice.

- Statement 1 is correct. The Binar Space Program is a satellite research initiative based at Curtin University with the primary goal of enhancing our knowledge of the Solar System and simplifying the processes involved in operating space missions.

- Statement 2 is correct. Binar-1 was indeed the first satellite launched by the Binar Space Program, and it successfully orbited Earth for 364 days.

- Statement 3 is incorrect. Increased solar activity affects satellites in low Earth orbit rather than those in geostationary orbit, primarily due to atmospheric expansion caused by solar heating, which increases atmospheric drag on these low-orbiting satellites. Geostationary satellites are too high to be significantly affected by atmospheric drag.

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

The primary objective of cloud seeding is to modify weather conditions in order to increase precipitation. This technique involves the dispersal of certain substances into clouds to promote the formation of rain or snow. By enhancing precipitation, cloud seeding aims to address water scarcity issues in certain regions and can also be considered in the context of combating air pollution by helping to settle dust and other particles through increased rainfall.

(Note: Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique, and its success depends on various atmospheric factors and conditions.)

Statement-I correctly describes the geographical boundaries of Sudan, detailing its neighboring countries. Statement-II accurately highlights the significant geographical feature of Sudan, where the Blue Nile and the White Nile meet at the capital, Khartoum. The convergence of these two rivers is a crucial geographical aspect of Sudan. Therefore, both statements are factually correct, with Statement-II providing additional information that complements and explains the context presented in Statement-I.

1. Genome Sequencing - Incorrect. The initiative involves sequencing the genomes of bacterial species found in India, not human species.

2. Public Accessibility - Correct. The initiative ensures complete annotated bacterial genomes are made publicly accessible, with graphical summaries and details about genome assembly.

3. Microbial Exploration - Correct. The initiative aims to investigate and highlight India's distinct microbial species and their contributions to agriculture, environmental sustainability, and human health.

4. Innovation - Correct. The initiative seeks to spark discussions, inspire research endeavors, and drive innovations that have practical applications.

Since the task is to count how many pairs are correctly matched, the correct answer is Option B: Only two pairs are correctly matched.