Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 26th August 2025 - UPSC MCQ

- Statement-I is correct as Minicoy Island is indeed the second largest and southernmost island in the Lakshadweep archipelago, known for its coral reefs and white sand beaches.
- Statement-II is correct as Shipki-La Pass is a vital motorable mountain pass between India and China, facilitating trade and connectivity between the two countries.
- However, Statement-I and Statement-II are unrelated in terms of geographical locations and features, hence they do not explain each other.

1. INS Udaygiri - Built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE): Incorrect. INS Udaygiri is constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. (MDL), not GRSE.

2. Vithalbhai Patel - First Indian President of the Central Legislative Assembly: Correct. Vithalbhai Patel was indeed the first Indian President of the Central Legislative Assembly, serving from 1925.

3. Jan Vishwas Bill 2.0 - Introduced in Lok Sabha in August 2023: Incorrect. The Jan Vishwas Bill 2.0 was introduced in Lok Sabha in August 2025, following the first iteration in 2023.

4. INS Himgiri - Equipped with Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion systems: Correct. INS Himgiri is equipped with modern Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion systems.

Pairs 2 and 4 are correctly matched. Hence, the correct answer is Option B: Only two pairs.

1. Psephology - Study of ancient inscriptions: Incorrect. Psephology is the scientific study of elections and polls, not ancient inscriptions. The study of ancient inscriptions is known as Epigraphy.

2. Anamalai Tiger Reserve - Located in the Eastern Ghats: Incorrect. The Anamalai Tiger Reserve is located in the Western Ghats, not the Eastern Ghats. It lies in the Anamalai Hills of Tamil Nadu.

3. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) - Established in 1861: Correct. The ASI was indeed established in 1861 by Sir Alexander Cunningham. It is responsible for archaeological research and conservation of cultural heritage in India.

4. Fireflies in Anamalai Tiger Reserve - Indicator of ecological richness: Correct. The presence of diverse firefly species in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve highlights its ecological richness and biodiversity.

Thus, only pairs 3 and 4 are correctly matched.

Statement-I is accurate in describing the key features of the Online Gaming Act 2025, which indeed aims to regulate the digital gaming industry by banning Real Money Games (RMGs) and promoting e-sports and social gaming. Statement-II correctly highlights the concept of India's internal diaspora, emphasizing that it exceeds 100 million individuals and plays a crucial role in sustaining diverse cultural identities through internal migrations. However, these two statements represent distinct topics and do not explain each other. The Online Gaming Act and the internal diaspora are separate subjects with no inherent connection between them, hence option (b) is the correct choice.

Psephology is a specialized branch of political science that concentrates on the scientific analysis of elections and polls. Psephologists use various statistical tools to delve into voting data, understand voter behavior, and make predictions about election outcomes. This field plays a crucial role in deciphering election dynamics and patterns, aiding in the understanding of democratic processes.

- Statement 1: This statement is incorrect. The Anamalai Tiger Reserve is located south of the Palakkad Gap in the Southern Western Ghats, not north. The Palakkad Gap is a significant geographical feature that separates the Anamalai Hills from the Nilgiri Hills. Therefore, the location described in the statement is inaccurate.

- Statement 2: This statement is correct. The Anamalai Tiger Reserve is indeed home to several indigenous communities, including the Kadar and Malasar, among others. These communities have historically lived in the region and are an integral part of its cultural and ecological landscape.

- Statement 3: This statement is correct. The Anamalai Tiger Reserve supports a diverse range of habitats, including montane grasslands and moist deciduous forests, among others. These habitats contribute to the reserve's rich biodiversity, supporting various flora and fauna.

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

- Statement 1: This statement is correct. INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri are indeed part of the Project 17A multi-mission stealth frigates, which are designed to enhance the Indian Navy's capabilities with advanced technology.

- Statement 2: This statement is incorrect. While INS Udaygiri was constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. (MDL), INS Himgiri was built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE). Thus, both frigates were not constructed by MDL, making this statement incorrect.

- Statement 3: This statement is correct. The ships are equipped with modern Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion systems, which enhance their operational efficiency and flexibility in various maritime conditions.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option C: 1 and 3 Only.

The Online Gaming Act 2025 primarily aims to regulate the digital gaming industry by categorizing online games into e-sports, social gaming, and Real Money Games (RMGs). While banning RMGs, the act focuses on promoting e-sports and social gaming through a structured framework to address concerns related to addiction, fraud, and economic losses. This legislation emphasizes creating a safe online gaming environment while supporting e-sports through government funding.

1. Minicoy Island: Located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands - Incorrect. Minicoy Island is part of the Lakshadweep archipelago, not the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is the second largest and southernmost island in the Lakshadweep group, located in the Arabian Sea.

2. Shipki-La Pass: Situated in Himachal Pradesh - Correct. Shipki-La Pass is indeed located in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, serving as a significant border pass between India and China.

3. Minicoy Island: Famous for traditional folk dance 'Lava' - Correct. Minicoy Island is known for its unique cultural heritage, and 'Lava' is one of the traditional folk dances performed there.

4. Shipki-La Pass: Known as the entry point of the Ganges into India - Incorrect. Shipki-La Pass is not associated with the Ganges River. It is actually significant as the point where the Sutlej River, known as Langqen Zangbo in Tibet, enters India.

Thus, two pairs are correctly matched: Pair 2 (Shipki-La Pass location) and Pair 3 (Minicoy Island's folk dance).

1. E-sports: Call of Duty - Correctly matched. E-sports are recognized competitive video games with prize pools, and Call of Duty is an example of a popular e-sport.

2. Social Gaming: Poker - Incorrectly matched. Poker is typically classified under Real Money Games because it involves monetary stakes, not social gaming, which involves recreational or educational games without monetary stakes.

3. Real Money Games: Fantasy Cricket - Correctly matched. Fantasy Cricket involves monetary stakes and is considered a Real Money Game, which the Act bans.

4. Government Oversight: CERT-IN can disable non-compliant apps - Correctly matched. CERT-IN (Computer Emergency Response Team – India) is authorized to disable apps that do not comply with the regulations under the Online Gaming Act 2025.

The pairs for E-sports, Real Money Games, and Government Oversight are correctly matched, while the Social Gaming pair is incorrectly matched. Thus, three pairs are correctly matched, making Option C the correct answer.