Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 29th August 2025 - UPSC MCQ

1. Statement 1 is correct. The Samudrayaan Mission indeed aims to reach a depth of 6,000 metres with the use of a submersible named Matsya-6000. This is a core objective of the mission to enhance India's deep-sea exploration capabilities.

2. Statement 2 is incorrect. The Matsya-6000 is designed to carry three aquanauts, not five, and it supports missions lasting up to 12 hours, not 24 hours. These specifications are crucial for the mission's success, considering the extreme conditions of deep-sea exploration.

3. Statement 3 is correct. The Samudrayaan Mission is part of India's broader Deep Ocean Mission, which was approved with a budget of ₹4,077 crore over five years. This aligns with India's strategic goals of developing technologies for deep-sea mining and underwater exploration.

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

1. Mahatma Ayyankali - Led the Villuvandi Yatra to challenge caste restrictions. - Correct. Mahatma Ayyankali led the Villuvandi Yatra in 1893, an ox-cart ride on caste-restricted roads, which was a significant act of defiance against caste restrictions. This event is well-documented in Indian social history as a pivotal moment in the fight for Dalit rights.

2. UDISE (Unified District Information System for Education) - Introduced in the academic year 2012-13. - Incorrect. UDISE was introduced as an upgraded system in the academic year 2018-19. The original UDISE was initiated in 2012-13, but the statement refers to the upgraded version, making this pair incorrect.

3. National Family Health Survey 2021 - Reported India’s Total Fertility Rate at 1.91. - Correct. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 2021 indeed reported India's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) at 1.91, which is below the replacement level of 2.1. This statistic highlights the demographic changes impacting school enrolment and future population trends in India.

4. Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangham (SJPS) - Founded by Mahatma Ayyankali to promote Dalit education. - Correct. Mahatma Ayyankali founded the Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangham (SJPS) in 1907 with the aim of promoting Dalit education, legal aid, and social upliftment. It played a crucial role in advocating for the rights of the Dalit community and supporting their educational aspirations.

The correct answer is Option C: Only three pairs, as pairs 1, 3, and 4 are correctly matched.

1. Samudrayaan Mission - Aims to send humans to a depth of 10,000 metres by 2027: This pair is incorrectly matched. The Samudrayaan Mission aims to send humans to a depth of 6,000 metres by 2027, not 10,000 metres.

2. Matsya-6000 - A crewed submersible developed for Samudrayaan Mission: This pair is correctly matched. Matsya-6000 is indeed the submersible being developed for the Samudrayaan Mission to carry aquanauts to a depth of 6,000 metres.

3. UDISE - An educational management system under the Ministry of Education: This pair is correctly matched. UDISE is a management information system under the Ministry of Education, used for educational data management.

4. Unique UDISE Code - A 13-digit code assigned to each school: This pair is incorrectly matched. The Unique UDISE Code is an 11-digit code assigned to each school, not 13 digits.

Pairs 2 and 3 are correctly matched.

Prairie ecosystems are indeed flat grasslands primarily found in North America, as mentioned in Statement-I. Statement-II correctly highlights that prairie wildlife has adapted to the specific environmental conditions of the prairies, characterized by semi-arid conditions, strong winds, and an open landscape. Wildlife such as elk, deer, coyotes, and various other species have evolved to thrive in this unique ecosystem, indicating a clear interrelation between the statements. Therefore, the correct answer is option (a).

The primary objective of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is to ensure that nuclear technology is used solely for peaceful purposes. This includes monitoring activities, conducting on-site inspections, and employing various techniques to verify the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The agency plays a crucial role in promoting safe and peaceful utilization of nuclear technology, contributing to international peace and security in the realm of nuclear materials.

The main goal of India's Samudrayaan mission is to achieve deep-ocean exploration by reaching depths of 6,000 meters. This initiative involves sending three aquanauts to explore the largely uncharted deep ocean, aligning with India's vision of enhancing its capabilities in deep-sea exploration. Reaching such depths presents significant challenges that require advanced technologies and careful planning to ensure the safety and success of the mission.

The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of India, as per the National Family Health Survey 2021, was 1.91, below the replacement level of 2.1. This decline in fertility rates has contributed to a smaller pool of primary school-age children, leading to a significant impact on school enrolment trends.

Let's examine each statement:

1. Prairies are temperate grasslands that are primarily found in North America and are known for their extensive root systems that help in moisture conservation.

This statement is correct. Prairies are indeed temperate grasslands located mainly in North America, and they have grasses with extensive root systems that aid in conserving moisture by reaching deep into the soil.

2. The predominant vegetation in prairies includes a mix of grasses, forbs, and shrubs, but they lack adaptations like narrow leaves and tough stems enriched with silica phytoliths.

This statement is incorrect. While it is true that prairies have a mix of grasses, forbs, and shrubs, they are characterized by adaptations such as narrow leaves, tough stems, and the presence of silica phytoliths, which help them survive in their environment.

3. Prairie ecosystems are maintained by natural factors such as grazing, fire, and drought, but they are unaffected by low temperatures.

This statement is incorrect. Prairies are indeed maintained by grazing, fire, and drought; however, low temperatures also play a significant role in shaping these ecosystems, as they are part of the natural environmental conditions prairies experience.

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

1. Nimbrix Missile - Designed to counter large aerial threats: Incorrect. The Nimbrix missile is designed to counter small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), not large aerial threats. It is a counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) missile.

2. Salina aurantiamaculata - A newly discovered species of butterfly: Incorrect. Salina aurantiamaculata is a newly discovered species of springtail, not a butterfly. Springtails are small soil-dwelling hexapods.

3. Monsoon Variability - Leads to concentrated bursts of rainfall overwhelming infrastructure: Correct. The variability in the monsoon is characterized by concentrated bursts of rainfall which do overwhelm infrastructure, leading to significant environmental and infrastructural challenges.

4. Fire-and-Forget Technology - Allows a missile to autonomously track and engage targets post-launch: Correct. The Nimbrix missile utilizes fire-and-forget technology, enabling it to autonomously track and engage targets after launch.

Thus, pairs 3 and 4 are correctly matched.

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct. Statement-I highlights the fact that India's school enrolment has decreased due to falling birth rates and a growing preference for private schooling. Statement-II elaborates on this by providing specific details from the UDISE data, confirming the decline in total enrolment across different classes and the contrasting trends between government and private schools. Statement-II explains the reasons behind the drop in enrolment mentioned in Statement-I, making both statements accurate and interconnected.