Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 2nd June 2025 - UPSC MCQ

1. Location - Incorrect. Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary is located approximately 64 km west of Ahmedabad, not east.

2. Area - Correct. The sanctuary spans an area of 120.82 sq km.

3. Ramsar Designation - Correct. Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary was designated under the Ramsar Convention in 2012, highlighting its significance as a wetland habitat.

4. Flora - Correct. The sanctuary hosts 48 species of algae and 72 species of flowering plants.

Thus, pairs 2, 3, and 4 are correctly matched, making a total of three correctly matched pairs.

- Statement 1 is correct. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was indeed established in 1957 following President Dwight Eisenhower's "Atoms for Peace" initiative. This initiative aimed to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy while preventing its use for military purposes.
- Statement 2 is incorrect. The IAEA is headquartered in Vienna, Austria, not Geneva, Switzerland. This is a factual detail that distinguishes the IAEA's main administrative location from other international organizations that are headquartered in Geneva.
- Statement 3 is correct. The IAEA was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005, recognizing its significant efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation and to ensure nuclear safety and security globally.
Thus, statements 1 and 3 are correct, making Option C the correct answer.

Statement-I is correct as data centres are indeed specialized facilities that store, process, and manage data, forming a crucial part of the digital infrastructure.
Statement-II is also correct as renewable energy is indeed essential for sustainable cooling solutions, as mentioned in the details provided.
However, Statement-II does not directly explain Statement-I. While both statements are individually correct, they do not have a direct explanatory relationship. Statement-I focuses on the purpose and function of data centres, while Statement-II emphasizes the necessity of renewable energy for sustainable cooling solutions in general.

Statement I is correct as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) indeed promotes the peaceful use of nuclear energy and works to prevent its misuse for weapon development.
Statement II is also correct as the IAEA was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005 for its efforts to curb the spread of nuclear weapons. However, Statement II does not directly explain Statement I. The fact that the IAEA was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize is a separate achievement and does not directly relate to its mission of promoting peaceful nuclear energy use and preventing weapon development.

The main objective of the Krishi Nivesh Portal is to streamline agricultural investments and various government schemes related to the agriculture sector. This digital platform integrates multiple schemes from different ministries and state governments, providing easy access to information for farmers, investors, and stakeholders. By centralizing investment opportunities and information about government initiatives, the portal aims to enhance the efficiency and transparency of the agricultural investment landscape in India.

Data centers primarily serve the function of storing, processing, and managing data within the digital infrastructure. These facilities house computer servers, network equipment, and storage systems, forming the backbone of the internet and cloud computing services.

1. Political encroachment and financial coercion are eroding academic freedom in universities.
This statement is correct. The source material highlights that increased political encroachment and financial coercion are significant threats to academic freedom, as political agendas and financial pressure are increasingly influencing educational policies and institutional autonomy.

2. Bureaucratisation in academia enhances democratic functioning and promotes intellectual debate.
This statement is incorrect. The text states that bureaucratisation actually undermines democratic functioning and promotes conformity, rather than enhancing debate and dissent. Leadership often prioritizes alignment with political ideologies over intellectual merit, which stifles open discussion.

3. The primary function of universities is to foster socially relevant knowledge, requiring autonomy to question and innovate.
This statement is correct. The text emphasizes that the core mission of universities is to foster socially relevant knowledge, which necessitates the freedom to question and innovate. However, this autonomy is currently under threat from various pressures that could lead to intellectual stagnation.

Thus, statements 1 and 3 are correct, making Option B the correct answer.

The primary mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is to monitor compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to prevent the misuse of nuclear materials. This involves conducting inspections, setting safety standards for nuclear facilities, and providing training and support during nuclear emergencies. The IAEA plays a crucial role in promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy while preventing its diversion towards weapon development.

- Statement 1 is correct. Cold plates and immersion cooling technologies are indeed more efficient than traditional air cooling methods, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 15–21%. This efficiency is achieved because liquid coolants transfer heat more effectively than air, leading to lower energy consumption and emissions.

- Statement 2 is correct. The use of renewable energy sources like solar and wind can significantly cut carbon emissions by 85–90%, regardless of the cooling technology employed. This is because renewable energy sources do not produce carbon emissions during electricity generation, thus enhancing the sustainability of any cooling methods used.

- Statement 3 is incorrect. Life cycle assessments (LCA) do not solely measure the water consumption of cooling technologies. Instead, LCA evaluates the full environmental impact from cradle to grave, considering various factors such as energy use, water consumption, material usage, and emissions throughout a product's lifecycle. It provides a comprehensive assessment to identify sustainability trade-offs and supports informed decision-making.

Thus, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only, as Statement 3 is incorrect.

1. Syunik Province : Proposed Zangezur Corridor

- Correct. The Zangezur Corridor is a proposed land route through Armenia's Syunik Province, connecting Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan region.

2. Nagorno-Karabakh : Conflict involving Armenia and Azerbaijan

- Correct. Nagorno-Karabakh has been the site of conflict involving Armenia and Azerbaijan, primarily due to territorial disputes.

3. Nakhchivan : Dispute between India and Pakistan

- Incorrect. Nakhchivan is an exclave of Azerbaijan bordering Armenia, Iran, and Turkey, and is not related to any dispute between India and Pakistan.

4. Syunik Province : Part of the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor

- Incorrect. Syunik Province is not a part of the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor. This corridor is separate from the Zangezur Corridor and involves different regions.

Thus, two pairs are correctly matched.