Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 7th April 2025 - UPSC MCQ

1. Victim Demographics: This pair is incorrectly matched. Victims of police torture in India are predominantly from marginalized groups, including Dalits, Adivasis, Muslims, illiterates, and slum dwellers, not upper-caste groups.

2. UN Convention Against Torture (UNCAT): This pair is incorrectly matched. India has signed but not ratified the UN Convention Against Torture, making it non-binding legally.

3. Judicial Apathy: This pair is correctly matched. There is consensus among legal professionals that magistrates often act as silent spectators and fail to adequately interact with the accused.

4. Human Rights Training: This pair is correctly matched. A significant majority of police personnel (79%) favor human rights training, as reported in the study.

Thus, pairs 3 and 4 are correctly matched, making the total number of correctly matched pairs two.

1. Statement 1 is correct. The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), launched in 2014, aimed to improve sanitation and hygiene across India, leading to the country being declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) ahead of the global Sustainable Development Goal deadline. The mission's success in this area is well-documented and aligns with its objectives.

2. Statement 2 is incorrect. The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) specifically targets providing clean drinking water to every rural household in India, not urban households. The distinction between rural and urban focus is crucial in understanding the mission's scope and target demographic.

3. Statement 3 is correct. The initiatives, particularly the Swachh Bharat Mission, have been reported to save rural households approximately ₹50,000 annually in healthcare costs, primarily due to the reduction in waterborne diseases, such as diarrhoeal diseases. This economic benefit underscores the health and financial impact of improved sanitation and clean water access.

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

Statement-I indicates that 55% of police personnel support using tough methods to instill fear among the public, which is a factual representation of the findings from the "Status of Policing in India Report (SPIR) 2024." Statement-II highlights that victims of police torture mainly belong to marginalized groups, such as Dalits, Adivasis, Muslims, illiterates, and slum dwellers, as per the report's insights. Both statements are correct based on the information provided. However, Statement-II does not directly explain or relate to the content of Statement-I but rather provides additional context about the demographics of victims of police torture. Thus, the correct answer is option B.

- Statement 1: This statement is incorrect. The UGC's new regulations do not include professional qualifications governed by statutory councils within their framework. These qualifications remain outside the scope of the new regulations.

- Statement 2: This statement is correct. The new regulations by the UGC replace the previous role of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) in issuing equivalence certificates. This change is part of a broader effort to streamline and enhance the process of recognizing foreign qualifications.

- Statement 3: This statement is incorrect. Franchise arrangements, where institutions operate under the name of a foreign entity, are not recognized by the new UGC regulations. The UGC emphasizes recognizing qualifications only from legitimate and accredited institutions to maintain the integrity of Indian higher education.

Therefore, only statement 2 is correct, making Option C the right answer.

The recent study on the "Status of Policing in India Report (SPIR) 2024" highlights that 55% of police personnel support using tough methods to instill fear among the public. This finding underscores a concerning aspect of police attitudes towards maintaining law and order.

1. Statement 1 is correct. Indian deep tech start-ups do face significant funding challenges because they are perceived as high-risk by investors. This perception limits their potential for securing necessary funding to innovate and remain competitive.

2. Statement 2 is correct. The scalability of Indian start-ups is indeed constrained by a domestic market with limited spending power. It is noted that 90% of the population cannot significantly contribute to growth, which hampers the ability of start-ups to scale effectively within the country.

3. Statement 3 is incorrect. India does not primarily rely on its domestic electric mobility and battery technology for global competitiveness. Instead, it is mentioned that India lags behind in these areas and heavily relies on advancements from countries like China.

Thus, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only, as only statements 1 and 2 accurately reflect the challenges and limitations faced by the Indian start-up ecosystem in the context of deep technology and innovation.

1. Statement 1 is incorrect. Although India signed the UN Convention Against Torture (UNCAT) in 1997, it has not ratified it. Therefore, the convention is not legally binding for India. Ratification is a necessary step for international treaties to become part of a country's legal obligations.

2. Statement 2 is correct. The "Status of Policing in India Report (SPIR) 2024" highlights that 55% of police personnel support using tough methods to instill fear among the public. This reflects a systemic issue within the police force regarding the use of force and the perception that fear is a necessary tool for law enforcement.

3. Statement 3 is correct. The SPIR 2024 report notes that there were zero convictions for custodial deaths from 2018 to 2022, indicating a significant lack of accountability within the law enforcement and judicial systems concerning cases of custodial deaths.

Thus, the correct answer is Option D. Statements 2 and 3 accurately reflect the findings of the report, while Statement 1 does not align with India's current legal status concerning the UNCAT.

The primary goal of the Ottawa Convention, or the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty, is to prevent civilian casualties caused by anti-personnel mines. These mines have been responsible for causing significant harm to civilians, even long after conflicts have ended. By banning the use, production, stockpiling, and transfer of anti-personnel mines, the treaty aims to reduce the suffering and casualties associated with these weapons. This international agreement underscores the commitment of the global community to protect civilians in conflict zones.

1. The first pair is correctly matched. The awarding institution must indeed be recognized by relevant accreditation bodies in its home country as a requirement for granting equivalence. This ensures that the qualifications are legitimate and meet a recognized standard.
2. The second pair is incorrectly matched. Franchise arrangements where institutions operate under the name of a foreign entity are not recognized under the new regulations. This is to maintain the integrity of educational qualifications and avoid issues with quality assurance.
3. The third pair is correctly matched. Entry-level requirements should align with similar programs in India, which is a condition for compliance. This is to ensure that the academic standards are comparable to those required in Indian institutions.
4. The fourth pair is incorrectly matched. Professional qualifications governed by statutory councils are not included in this framework. These qualifications are managed separately to ensure adherence to specific professional standards and requirements.
Thus, only two pairs are correctly matched, which are pairs 1 and 3.

Statement-I correctly states that the newly inaugurated Pamban Bridge by PM Modi replaces a century-old structure, improving connectivity between Rameswaram and the Indian mainland. Statement-II correctly mentions that the original Pamban Bridge, completed in 1914, was India's first sea bridge and considered an engineering marvel. However, Statement-II does not provide an explanation or elaboration for Statement-I, making option (b) the correct choice.