Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 25th April 2025 - UPSC MCQ

The recent suspension of the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani nationals was in response to a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam. This decision reflects the prevailing security concerns and tensions within the region. Such measures are often taken in response to security threats and to ensure the safety and stability of the region.

Statement 1: Reciprocal tariffs are indeed designed to protect local industries by imposing taxes in response to tariffs from trading partners. However, they often lead to retaliatory measures from affected countries, which can escalate economic tensions and create barriers to trade. This statement is correct as it aligns with the general outcomes of reciprocal tariffs, which often lead to retaliatory actions that increase economic tensions.

Statement 2: This statement is incorrect. The text indicates that India potentially faces a $7.76 billion drop in exports to the U.S. due to the reciprocal tariffs, not an increase. This reflects the negative impact of such tariffs on India's economy, contrary to what the statement suggests.

Statement 3: The Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) indeed faces implementation challenges, including those posed by adverse weather conditions. Heavy snowfall, for instance, can damage border infrastructure, complicating the deployment and maintenance of advanced surveillance technologies. This statement is correct as it reflects the real challenges faced in implementing the CIBMS effectively.

Therefore, only statements 1 and 3 are correct. Hence, the correct answer is Option C: 1 and 3 Only.

1. New Global Pandemic Treaty - Ratified by the U.S. This pair is incorrectly matched. The New Global Pandemic Treaty has not been ratified by the U.S., as the United States withdrew from the negotiations.

2. Tobacco Control Treaty - First legally binding WHO treaty This pair is correctly matched. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) of 2003 is indeed the first legally binding treaty by the World Health Organization.

3. Doha Round - Successful in reducing global agricultural subsidies This pair is incorrectly matched. The Doha Round has been largely unsuccessful, especially with regard to reducing global agricultural subsidies due to persistent disagreements and stagnation in negotiations.

4. WTO Appellate Body - Fully functional since 2019 This pair is incorrectly matched. The WTO Appellate Body has been dysfunctional since 2019 due to the U.S. blocking the appointment of judges, which has impaired its ability to resolve disputes effectively.

Only the second pair is correctly matched.

1. Helium Abundance Measurement Method - Utilizes Helium Spectral Lines in Visible Light:

This pair is incorrectly matched. The new method introduced by researchers utilizes spectral features from Magnesium (Mg) and Carbon (C) to estimate Helium abundance, not Helium spectral lines in visible light, which are absent.

2. Helium's Ratio to Hydrogen in the Sun’s Photosphere - 0.1:

This pair is correctly matched. The Helium-to-Hydrogen ratio in the Sun's photosphere was determined to be 0.1, corroborating previous studies and validating the new method.

3. Traditional Method for Estimating Helium - Solar Wind Observations:

This pair is correctly matched. Traditional methods included using data from hotter stars, solar wind observations, and seismological studies of the Sun’s interior to estimate Helium abundance.

4. Challenge in Measuring Helium - Absence of Observable Helium Spectral Lines in Visible Light:

This pair is correctly matched. One of the key challenges in measuring Helium abundance is indeed the absence of observable Helium spectral lines in visible light, complicating direct observation.

Three pairs are correctly matched.

The main objective of the 1972 Simla Agreement signed between India and Pakistan was to promote peaceful coexistence, respect each other's sovereignty, and provide a framework for the resolution of conflicts that arose after the 1971 Indo-Pak war. This agreement aimed to foster a peaceful relationship between the two nations and prevent future conflicts through diplomatic means, emphasizing respect for each other's territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs.

1. Simla Agreement (1972) - Conversion of the ceasefire line into the Line of Control (LoC): This pair is correctly matched. The Simla Agreement, signed between India and Pakistan in 1972, indeed converted the ceasefire line from the 1971 war into the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.

2. Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) - Govern over 40% of Syria: This pair is incorrectly matched. The Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) is an autonomous region in Iraq, not Syria. It does not govern any part of Syria. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), not the KRG, have control over parts of Syria.

3. Treaty of Sevres (1920) - Established Kurdish statehood: This pair is incorrectly matched. The Treaty of Sevres proposed a Kurdish state, but it was never implemented. The subsequent Treaty of Lausanne (1923) did not recognize Kurdish statehood, leaving Kurdish aspirations unfulfilled.

4. SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) - Fought against ISIS in Raqqa: This pair is correctly matched. The SDF played a significant role in fighting against ISIS, particularly in the battle to liberate Raqqa, the de facto capital of ISIS in Syria.

Thus, pairs 1 and 4 are correctly matched, making two correct pairs.

- Statement 1 is incorrect. The abundance of Helium in the Sun's photosphere could not be directly measured using Helium spectral lines in visible light, as there are no observable Helium spectral lines in this range. Previous estimates relied on indirect methods, such as data from hotter stars, solar wind observations, and seismological studies.

- Statement 2 is correct. Researchers at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics developed a novel method that uses spectral features from Magnesium (Mg) and Carbon (C) to directly estimate the Helium abundance in the Sun's photosphere.

- Statement 3 is correct. The Helium-to-Hydrogen ratio in the Sun's photosphere was determined to be 0.1, which corroborates previous studies and validates the effectiveness of the new method introduced by the researchers.

Therefore, the correct statements are 2 and 3, making Option D the correct answer.

The primary aim of the draft treaty for pandemic preparedness agreed upon by WHO member states is to address the inequalities in global health responses that were exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This treaty aims to enhance global preparedness and response to future pandemics by ensuring equitable access to vaccines and medical resources during health crises, emphasizing the need for a coordinated international framework to tackle global health challenges effectively.

Statement-I is correct as reciprocal tariffs indeed refer to taxes imposed in response to similar tariffs from trading partners, as mentioned in the context of international trade policy. Statement-II is also correct as it highlights the importance of counter-infiltration measures like border fencing and the CIBMS system in ensuring security, especially in regions prone to infiltration threats. However, there is no direct explanatory link between the two statements, hence option (b) is the most suitable choice.

Statement-I correctly highlights the potential consequence of the suspension of the 1972 Simla Agreement by Pakistan, indicating the increased risk of hostilities along the Line of Control (LoC). This aligns with the information provided in the source material about heightened tensions and potential conflict escalation.

Statement-II correctly observes that the absence of a formal agreement between India and Pakistan might create opportunities for third-party mediation in the Indo-Pak conflict. While this statement is accurate in the context of the source material, it does not directly explain or elaborate on Statement-I. Instead, it presents a separate potential implication of the agreement's suspension.

Therefore, both statements are individually correct in accordance with the information provided, but Statement-II does not directly provide an explanation for Statement-I, making option (b) the correct answer.