Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 28th April 2025 - UPSC MCQ

1. Extended Continental Shelf (ECS) - Incorrect. The ECS refers to areas beyond 200 nautical miles that countries can claim based on scientific evidence. The statement incorrectly states it as 100 nautical miles.

2. Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) - Correct. The CLCS is indeed a UN body established under the UNCLOS that reviews scientific data submitted by states and provides binding recommendations on the outer limits of the continental shelf.

3. Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) - Correct. I4C is the national nodal point to address cybercrime and operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

4. National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) - Incorrect. The NCRP is a 24x7 platform for citizens, not exclusively for law enforcement agencies, to report cybercrime complaints.

Pairs 2 and 3 are correctly matched.

Statement-I correctly highlights the objective of the SMILE scheme, which is to rehabilitate individuals involved in begging and empower transgender persons. Statement-II accurately mentions that the SMILE scheme was launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in 2022. Statement-II explains the context in which the scheme was introduced, providing a chronological and foundational understanding to Statement-I. Therefore, both statements are correct, and Statement-II explains the rationale behind Statement-I, making option (a) the correct choice.

- Statement 1 is correct. The 'political trilemma' indeed posits that countries can pursue only two out of three goals: global economic integration, national sovereignty, and popular democracy. This theoretical framework explains the challenges faced by democracies in balancing these objectives amidst globalization and rising populism.

- Statement 2 is correct. Similipal was established as a tiger reserve in 1956 and later designated as a Biosphere Reserve in 2009, highlighting its ecological significance and conservation status. The park is renowned for its biodiversity and unique wildlife, including pseudo-melanistic tigers.

- Statement 3 is correct. Exercise Balikatan is an annual military exercise conducted between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States, aiming to enhance military interoperability and readiness through various components, such as humanitarian assistance and command exercises, under the Mutual Defense Treaty framework.

All three statements are accurate and correctly describe the respective concepts and events related to international relations and environmental conservation. Thus, the correct answer is Option D: 1, 2 and 3.

India's recent expansion of its claim in the Central Arabian Sea region by nearly 10,000 square kilometers primarily aims to enhance resource exploration rights for oil, gas, and minerals in the seabed. By utilizing geological and geophysical evidence, this move is strategic in securing India's maritime rights and resources, particularly in the context of regional disputes, while emphasizing peaceful resolutions with neighboring countries.

Statement-I correctly mentions the Supreme Court's proposal for a vote threshold in uncontested elections to ensure democratic principles are maintained, as per the provided information. Statement-II accurately reflects the key takeaway about CSR spending growth in India signifying a rise in corporate commitment to social welfare. However, both statements are independent of each other and do not explain or directly relate to each other. Hence, the correct answer is option (b).

The Supreme Court has suggested a minimum vote threshold for uncontested elections to prevent candidates from automatically winning without an election. This proposal aims to ensure that even in situations with only one candidate, there is a requirement for a minimum percentage of votes to be obtained before the candidate can be declared elected. This measure intends to uphold the democratic principle of majority support in the electoral process, avoiding situations where candidates can assume positions without any voter support.

1. Objective: The SMILE scheme indeed aims at the rehabilitation of individuals involved in begging and empowerment of transgender persons. This pair is correctly matched.

2. Implementation Phase 1: The initial pilot project under the SMILE scheme was launched in 30 cities, not 50. This pair is incorrectly matched.

3. Funding: An allocation of ₹100 crore has been set aside for FY 2023-24 to 2025-26. This pair is correctly matched.

4. Target Beneficiaries: The SMILE scheme aims to assist around 60,000 individuals, not 1 lakh. This pair is incorrectly matched.

Thus, only two pairs (1 and 3) are correctly matched.

Statement-I correctly outlines the concept of the 'political trilemma,' which posits that countries can only effectively pursue two out of three goals: global economic integration, national sovereignty, and popular democracy. This concept sheds light on the challenges faced by nations in balancing these objectives.

Statement-II accurately describes the purpose of the 2025 "Balikatan" exercises, which aim to simulate a "full-scale battle scenario" to deter China's increasing ambitions in the region. This annual military training event focuses on enhancing military interoperability and readiness between the Philippines and the United States.

While both statements are factually accurate, they discuss different topics—political dilemmas in the West and military exercises in 2025—without directly relating to each other. Hence, the correct answer is option (b), indicating that both statements are correct but do not have an explanatory relationship.

- Statement 1 is correct. The Supreme Court has indeed suggested implementing a minimum vote requirement of 10% to 15% for candidates in uncontested elections. This proposal aims to ensure that a candidate has some level of democratic legitimacy and support from the electorate, even in the absence of competing candidates.

- Statement 2 is incorrect. While there have been instances of uncontested elections in the history of Indian Lok Sabha elections, they are not described as common occurrences. The historical data indicates that such instances have been relatively rare, with only 26 instances from 1951 to 2024.

- Statement 3 is incorrect. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has noted that implementing NOTA as a mandatory option in uncontested elections would require legislative changes. As of now, such changes have not been implemented, and NOTA is not a mandatory option in uncontested elections.

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

The 'political trilemma' concept posits that countries can only effectively pursue two out of three goals: global economic integration, national sovereignty, and popular democracy. This theory implies that attempting to achieve all three simultaneously can lead to inherent conflicts and challenges within a nation's political and economic framework.