Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 30th July 2025 - UPSC MCQ

1. Statement 1: The Pralay missile is indeed a solid propellant quasi-ballistic missile and is capable of carrying a payload of up to 1,000 kg. This statement is correct.

2. Statement 2: The Pralay missile achieves a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of less than 10 meters, not 20 meters. Therefore, this statement is incorrect.

3. Statement 3: The missile is designed to engage various targets, including radar installations and airstrips, at terminal speeds exceeding Mach 6. This statement is correct.

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

1. National Population Register (NPR) - This is incorrectly matched. The NPR is conducted by the Office of the Registrar General of India under the Ministry of Home Affairs, not the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

2. National Register of Citizens (NRC) - This is incorrectly matched. The NRC's legal basis is under the Citizenship Rules, 2003, not directly under the Citizenship Act, 1955. The Citizenship Act, 1955 provides the framework under which the Citizenship Rules, 2003, are established, but the NRC specifically operates under the rules from 2003.

3. International Tiger Day - This is correctly matched. International Tiger Day was indeed established during the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit in 2010, where efforts were made to address the declining tiger populations.

4. Setubandha Scholar Scheme - This is correctly matched. The scheme provides fellowships for traditional scholars from gurukuls to engage in research at Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

Pairs 3 and 4 are correctly matched, hence Option B: Only two pairs is the correct answer.

1. Pralay missile - Solid propellant quasi-ballistic missile: This pair is correctly matched. The Pralay missile is indeed a solid propellant quasi-ballistic missile.

2. Payload capacity - 300-500 kg: This pair is incorrectly matched. The Pralay missile has a payload capacity of 500-1,000 kg, not 300-500 kg.

3. Range - 150-500 km: This pair is correctly matched. The missile has an operational range of 150-500 km.

4. Circular Error Probable (CEP) - Less than 20 meters: This pair is incorrectly matched. The Circular Error Probable (CEP) for the Pralay missile is less than 10 meters, not less than 20 meters.

The correctly matched pairs are 1 and 3. Hence, only two pairs are correctly matched.

The Pralay missile, as highlighted in the content, is described as a solid propellant quasi-ballistic missile. This feature is crucial in understanding its operational characteristics and strategic significance. Quasi-ballistic missiles like Pralay combine elements of traditional ballistic missiles with more advanced targeting capabilities, enhancing precision and effectiveness in engaging various targets.

The National Population Register (NPR) in India is maintained by the Office of the Registrar General of India (RGI) under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It serves as a register of "usual residents" in the country, with registration being compulsory for all such residents. The NPR contains demographic and biometric data, and it is prepared under the Citizenship Act, 1955, and the Citizenship Rules, 2003.

Statement-I is correct as the Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar initiative indeed aims to celebrate and promote India's diverse cultural landscape, as mentioned in the provided information.
Statement-II is also correct as the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission is focused on high-precision monitoring of Earth's surface changes, as highlighted in the details provided.
However, Statement-I and Statement-II are independent of each other and do not directly relate or explain one another. Therefore, the correct answer is option (b), where both statements are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I.

The primary goal of the 'Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar' initiative is to culturally map India's 6.5 lakh villages on a comprehensive virtual platform. This initiative led by the Ministry of Culture aims to celebrate and promote India's diverse cultural landscape, encouraging appreciation for India's culture and traditions which can lead to economic growth, social harmony, and artistic development in rural areas.

1. Sundarbans Tiger Reserve: Correctly matched. The Sundarbans Tiger Reserve is indeed located in the South and North 24-Parganas districts of West Bengal. It forms a part of the Gangetic Delta and is known for its unique mangrove ecosystem which supports a viable population of Bengal Tigers.

2. N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA): Correctly matched. NDMA has been historically used in the production of rocket fuel and is a volatile organic compound known to be a probable human carcinogen. Its presence in medications like Ranitidine is of concern due to its potential health risks.

3. Mansa Devi Temple: Correctly matched. The Mansa Devi Temple is located atop the Bilwa Parvat on the Sivalik Hills in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. It is a significant Hindu pilgrimage site dedicated to the goddess Mansa Devi, a form of Shakti.

4. Irrawaddy Dolphins: Incorrectly matched. While Irrawaddy Dolphins are found in several parts of Asia, including the Sundarbans, they are not predominantly found in freshwater rivers of the Sundarbans. They are more commonly associated with coastal and estuarine environments.

Thus, three pairs are correctly matched.

1. Statement 1 is correct. The Sundarbans is indeed the only mangrove forest in the world that supports a viable population of tigers, specifically the Royal Bengal Tiger. This unique ecosystem provides a critical habitat for these tigers, and the proposed expansion aims to further conservation efforts.

2. Statement 2 is incorrect. N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is typically formed when secondary or tertiary amines react with nitrite ions under acidic conditions, not primary amines. This distinction is crucial as it affects how NDMA forms in various environments, including industrial processes and food production.

3. Statement 3 is incorrect. The Mansa Devi temple is located on the Bilwa Parvat, which is part of the Sivalik Hills, not the Nilgiri Hills. The temple is an important pilgrimage site dedicated to Goddess Mansa Devi, a form of Shakti, but its location is geographically specific to the Sivalik range in Haridwar, Uttarakhand.

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

- Statement 1 is correct. The initiative was indeed launched by the Ministry of Culture as part of the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' celebrations marking 75 years of India’s independence.

- Statement 2 is correct. Official releases state that the project aims to culturally map and document the heritage of all 6.5 lakh villages in India.

- Statement 3 is correct. The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) is executing this initiative under the National Mission on Cultural Mapping, focusing on preserving and promoting the diverse cultural heritage of India's villages.

Therefore, all three statements are correct