Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 16th June 2025 - UPSC MCQ

1. Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) - Operates independently of the Ministry of Civil Aviation. - Incorrect. The AAIB is not truly autonomous as it is operationally tied to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, leading to potential conflicts of interest.

2. Seth Committee Report - Recommended reforms largely implemented in India's aviation sector. - Incorrect. The recommendations from the Seth Committee Report have largely been ignored, perpetuating systemic issues within India's aviation sector.

3. MGNREGS - Provides employment up to 100 days in urban areas. - Incorrect. MGNREGS is designed to provide employment in rural areas, not urban areas. It ensures the right to work for rural households.

4. Spending Cap on MGNREGS - Introduced to prevent over-expenditure and mid-year shortages. - Correct. The cap on MGNREGS spending is aimed at controlling expenditure to prevent mid-year shortages, as previous trends showed high fund utilization by September.

Only the fourth pair is correctly matched, hence the correct answer is Option A: Only one pair.

1. Statement 1 is correct. Spartaeus karigiri is indeed the first recorded instance of the Spartaeus genus being found in India, extending its known range from Southeast Asia. This discovery highlights the expanding biodiversity of spiders in the Indian subcontinent.

2. Statement 2 is incorrect. Spartaeus karigiri does not prefer aquatic habitats. Instead, it is typically found in rocky outcrops and forested terrains, often in crevices and other protected microhabitats, rather than freshwater ecosystems.

3. Statement 3 is correct. The genus Spartaeus, to which Spartaeus karigiri belongs, is recognized for its intelligent predation and unique visual hunting tactics, including prey mimicry. This behavioral trait is common among many species in the Spartaeinae subfamily, enhancing their hunting efficiency.

Thus, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 3 Only.

The primary objective of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) is to boost economic activity, promote the export of goods and services, encourage both foreign and domestic investment, create job opportunities, and enhance infrastructure development. SEZs are designated areas within a country that operate under different economic regulations to provide businesses with benefits such as duty-free exports, tax incentives, and improved infrastructure. These zones aim to drive economic growth and development in specific sectors while attracting investments and fostering employment opportunities.

A key issue identified in the governance of India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is the conflict of interest arising from its operational ties with the Ministry of Civil Aviation. This connection compromises the bureau's autonomy and independence, impacting the integrity and transparency of aircraft accident investigations. Resolving this conflict is crucial to ensure unbiased and effective investigation processes in the aviation sector.

1. Statement 1 is correct. The SEZ Act was indeed enacted in May 2005, with implementation starting on February 10, 2006. This is a factual statement about the legislative framework surrounding SEZs in India.

2. Statement 2 is incorrect. As of March 31, 2024, India has 280 operational SEZs, not over 300. This specific number is crucial for the accuracy of the statement.

3. Statement 3 is correct. The Indian government has indeed reduced the minimum land requirement for semiconductor-focused SEZs from 50 hectares to 10 hectares. This change is part of recent regulatory amendments aimed at promoting semiconductor and electronic component production within SEZs.

Thus, the correct answer is Option C: 1 and 3 Only.

1. Spartaeus karigiri - Discovered in Tamil Nadu: Incorrect. Spartaeus karigiri was first identified in the Karigiri region of Devarayanadurga, Karnataka. Although field specimens were also collected from Villupuram district in Tamil Nadu, the initial discovery was in Karnataka.

2. Peacock Tarantula - Arboreal Species: Correct. The Peacock Tarantula, also known as the Gooty Tarantula, is indeed an arboreal species, meaning it primarily lives in trees.

3. G7 Grouping - Includes Russia: Incorrect. The G7 consists of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Russia was once part of the G8 but was excluded in 2014, reverting the group back to the G7.

4. UNESCO Creative Cities Network - Lucknow nominated for Gastronomy: Correct. Lucknow has recently submitted its nomination to be recognized as a “City of Gastronomy” under the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

Two pairs are correctly matched: Peacock Tarantula as an arboreal species, and Lucknow's nomination under UNESCO Creative Cities Network for Gastronomy.

The SCORES Portal, as highlighted in the text, primarily serves the function of filing and tracking complaints against listed entities and SEBI-registered market intermediaries. It offers a structured online platform for investors to raise grievances, ensuring efficient redressal of complaints in a timely manner.

1. Asia's first Export Processing Zone - Kandla, Gujarat: This pair is correctly matched. The Kandla Special Economic Zone (KASEZ) was the first Export Processing Zone in Asia, established in 1965.

2. SEZ Policy Introduction - April 2005: This pair is incorrectly matched. The SEZ policy in India was introduced in April 2000, not 2005.

3. SEZ Act Enactment Year - 2006: This pair is correctly matched. The Special Economic Zones Act was enacted in May 2005, and its implementation began on February 10, 2006.

4. Reduction in Minimum Land Requirement for Semiconductor SEZs - From 50 to 20 hectares: This pair is incorrectly matched. The minimum land requirement for semiconductor-focused SEZs was reduced from 50 hectares to 10 hectares, not 20 hectares, as per the recent regulatory amendments announced by the Indian government on June 9, 2025.

Thus, only two pairs are correctly matched: Pair 1 and Pair 3.

Statement-I is accurate because the SCORES Portal was indeed set up by SEBI in 2011 to file and track grievances against listed entities and SEBI-registered intermediaries. Statement-II is also correct, as DNA analysis provides unique genetic profiles and overcomes challenges like degradation and contamination in mass fatality identification. However, the content of Statement-II does not explain the mechanism or purpose described in Statement-I, since one deals with forensic identification and the other with a market complaint portal. 

- Statement 1 is correct. The SCORES (SEBI Complaints Redress System) Portal is indeed established by SEBI to facilitate the online filing and tracking of complaints against listed entities and SEBI-registered market intermediaries. It was established to improve the efficiency of grievance redressal mechanisms for investors.

- Statement 2 is incorrect. While the platform requires entities to resolve complaints and submit an Action Taken Report (ATR), the stipulated time frame for submitting the ATR is 21 days, not 30 days.

- Statement 3 is correct. If a grievance remains unresolved, the investor has the option to escalate the issue to SEBI or request a Second Level Review, as part of the grievance redressal process.

Thus, the correct answer is Option C, as statements 1 and 3 are accurate, while statement 2 contains an incorrect detail about the time frame for ATR submission.