Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 26th September 2024 - UPSC MCQ

- Statement 1: This is correct. Project Cheetah indeed aims to reintroduce the African sub-species of cheetahs in India and establish a stable breeding population in central India. The objective is also to use these animals as an umbrella species to restore open ecosystems such as scrubs, savannahs, grasslands, and degraded forests.

- Statement 2: This is also correct. The cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952, making it the only large wild mammal to go extinct in the country since independence.

- Statement 3: This is incorrect. The statement erroneously mentions a high survival rate of translocated cheetahs. In reality, Project Cheetah faces a low survival rate, with 40% of the translocated cheetahs dying due to various factors such as injuries and infections. Hence, the challenge is not the high survival rate but rather the significant mortality rate and other difficulties in transitioning cheetahs to a fully wild existence.

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

1. The Line - Correctly matched. It is indeed a 170-kilometer long linear city designed to accommodate 9 million residents.

2. Oxagon - Incorrectly matched. Oxagon is an octagonal industrial city, not a luxury coastal city.

3. Trojena - Correctly matched. Trojena is a mountain resort planned for the 2029 Asian Winter Games.

4. Sindalah - Correctly matched. Sindalah is a luxury island set to open in 2024.

Hence, three pairs are correctly matched.

One of the primary criticisms of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is its limited focus on actual disarmament progress. Critics argue that while the NPT aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, it falls short in pushing for substantial steps towards disarmament among nuclear-armed states. This critique highlights a significant challenge in the global efforts to achieve nuclear disarmament, emphasizing the need for more concrete actions beyond mere prevention of proliferation.

The primary goal of Project Cheetah in India is to establish a stable breeding population of African cheetahs in central India. This ambitious initiative aims to utilize cheetahs as an umbrella species to help restore various open ecosystems and marks the world's first large wild carnivore translocation project.

1. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) - Effective since 2021
This is correctly matched. The TPNW came into effect in 2021 and aims to comprehensively ban nuclear weapons.

2. Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) - Established in 1968
This is incorrectly matched. The NPT was established in 1970, not 1968.

3. Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) - Prohibits all nuclear explosions
This is correctly matched. The CTBT aims to ban all nuclear explosions for both civilian and military purposes.

4. New START treaty - Focuses on reducing biological weapons
This is incorrectly matched. The New START treaty focuses on reducing nuclear weapons, not biological weapons.

Thus, the correct answer is Option B: Only two pairs.

1. Correct. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), effective since 2021, is indeed the first legally binding international agreement that comprehensively bans nuclear weapons.

2. Incorrect. As of July 2024, the TPNW has 70 parties and 27 additional signatories pending ratification, which collectively represent nearly 50% of the world's nations, not over 100 countries or more than 60% of the world's nations.

3. Correct. The Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was established in 1970 and serves as the foundational treaty aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and promoting eventual disarmament.

Therefore, statements 1 and 3 are correct, while statement 2 is incorrect. Hence, the correct answer is Option C.

1. Project Cheetah - Reintroduction of Asian sub-species of cheetahs in India

- This pair is incorrectly matched. Project Cheetah involves the reintroduction of the African sub-species of cheetahs in India, not the Asian sub-species.

2. CAMPA - Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management & Planning Authority

- This pair is correctly matched. CAMPA stands for Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management & Planning Authority, which funds various wildlife and forest conservation projects.

3. Kuno National Park - Located in Madhya Pradesh

- This pair is correctly matched. Kuno National Park is indeed located in Madhya Pradesh and is the site for the reintroduction of cheetahs under Project Cheetah.

4. Chital - Primary prey for cheetahs and leopards

- This pair is correctly matched. Chital, also known as spotted deer, is a primary prey species for both cheetahs and leopards in the Indian subcontinent.

Hence, three pairs are correctly matched.

1. Statement 1 is correct: The Neom Megacity Project is indeed a part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 initiative, which aims to diversify the economy and reduce dependency on oil. This initiative was launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2017.

2. Statement 2 is correct: The project aims for a significant focus on renewable energy sources, including solar and wind power, and strives to be powered by 95% renewable energy.

3. Statement 3 is incorrect: The initial cost of the Neom Megacity Project was estimated at $500 billion, not $1.5 trillion. The project's budget has now escalated to a projected $1.5 trillion, indicating a significant increase from the initial estimate.

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

Statement-I is incorrect because Deendayal Upadhyaya was associated with the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, not the foundation of the RSS. Both Statement-II and Statement-III correctly reflect his contributions and their impact on government policies.

Answer: (c) Only three

Explanation:
All three rows correctly match the descriptions provided about the effects of global warming on climate forecasting:

• Increased variability directly affects the predictability of natural events like El Niño and monsoons.
• The name of the issue, increased variability, accurately describes the problem faced by forecasters.
• The type of challenge presented by natural variability is correct, as it indeed extends the timescales of climate patterns, complicating short-term and long-term climate predictions.