Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 22nd November 2024 - UPSC MCQ

The Green Grid Initiative, launched at the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference, primarily aims to establish a network of interconnected renewable energy sources. This initiative seeks to enhance the integration of renewable energy systems on a global scale to promote sustainability and combat climate change effectively. By fostering collaboration and connectivity among renewable energy sources, the Green Grid Initiative aims to accelerate the transition towards a cleaner and more resilient energy future.

1. SECI (Solar Energy Corporation of India) - Responsible for solar energy production and distribution in India.
This pair is incorrectly matched. SECI is responsible for facilitating the implementation of various government schemes in solar energy, including bidding and project management, but it does not directly handle production and distribution.

2. Rome Statute - The treaty that established the International Criminal Court (ICC).
This pair is correctly matched. The Rome Statute is indeed the treaty that established the ICC, adopted in 1998 and effective from 2002.

3. DISCOMs - State electricity distribution companies in India.
This pair is correctly matched. DISCOMs refer to the state electricity distribution companies responsible for distributing electricity to end-users in India.

4. Gautam Adani - Accused by the ICC of war crimes.
This pair is incorrectly matched. Gautam Adani is not accused by the ICC of war crimes. The reference to Adani in the provided material pertains to allegations of bribery in the context of SECI tenders, not ICC war crime charges.

Thus, two pairs are correctly matched: Pair 2 and Pair 3.

The primary aim of Project Veer Gatha 4.0 is to instill patriotism and national pride among students. By honoring the acts of bravery and selfless sacrifice of Gallantry Awardees, the project seeks to cultivate a sense of pride and love for the nation among the youth, fostering a deeper connection to the heroic contributions of these individuals. Through creative tributes such as poems, paintings, essays, and videos, students engage in a process that not only celebrates the courage of these individuals but also encourages a deeper understanding of the values they embody.

All three statements regarding Project Veer Gatha 4.0 are correct:

1. Statement 1: Project Veer Gatha was indeed launched in 2021 to recognize and honor the bravery and selfless sacrifices of Gallantry Awardees. This initiative reflects an effort to instill values of courage and heroism among students by celebrating the contributions of military personnel.

2. Statement 2: The participation of over 1.76 crore students from 36 states and Union Territories in Project Veer Gatha is a fact, highlighting the project's expansive reach and popularity among the student community. The project has seen a remarkable increase in participation over the years, emphasizing its effective outreach and engagement strategies.

3. Statement 3: One of the key aims of Project Veer Gatha is to promote national unity and pride across India's diverse school system. By engaging students in creative activities that honor national heroes, the project fosters a sense of patriotism and collective identity among young learners.

Thus, all the statements are correct, making Option D the right choice.

1. Project Veer Gatha - Launched in 2020 to honor the acts of bravery of Gallantry Awardees.

- Incorrect. Project Veer Gatha was launched in 2021, not 2020, to honor the acts of bravery and sacrifice of Gallantry Awardees.

2. Participation in Project Veer Gatha - 1.76 crore students from 36 states and UTs in the fourth edition.

- Correct. The fourth edition of Project Veer Gatha saw participation from 1.76 crore students across 36 states and UTs.

3. Main contributor to Delhi's PM2.5 pollution - Vehicles, including combustion exhaust and emissions.

- Correct. Vehicles, including combustion exhaust and wear-and-tear emissions, are significant contributors to PM2.5 pollution in Delhi.

4. WHO findings on air pollution - Adverse effects on nearly every organ in the body.

- Correct. WHO has found that air pollution can have adverse effects on nearly every organ in the human body due to systemic inflammation and potential carcinogenic effects.

The correct answer is Option C: Only three pairs.

Statement-I is incorrect as Delhi did not experience significant improvements in air quality during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. The lockdown period did reveal underlying systemic issues contributing to air pollution, as stated in Statement-II. The lockdown's impact on air quality was marginal, indicating that deeper systemic issues persist in Delhi's air pollution problem. Thus, both statements are correct, but Statement-II does not directly explain Statement-I.

1. Exhaustion of Local Remedies - Shortened to three years in the India-UAE BIT: This statement is correctly matched. The India-UAE BIT has indeed shortened the timeframe for exhausting local remedies before initiating investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) claims to three years, compared to the five years stipulated in India's Model BIT.
2. Redefining Investment - Includes subjective contribution to the host state's development: This statement is incorrectly matched. The India-UAE BIT has removed the subjective criterion of significantly contributing to the host state's development, focusing instead on objective economic characteristics like capital commitment, profit expectation, and risk assumption.
3. Exclusion of Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) Clause - Included in the India-UAE BIT: This statement is incorrectly matched. The India-UAE BIT actually excludes the MFN clause, which is a point of continuity with India's Model BIT. The exclusion helps prevent treaty shopping by investors.
4. Exclusion of Taxation Measures - Excluded from ISDS mechanisms in the India-UAE BIT: This statement is correctly matched. Similar to the Model BIT, the India-UAE BIT excludes tax-related disputes from ISDS mechanisms, reflecting India's stance that taxation is a sovereign function and should not be subject to international arbitration.
Thus, pairs 1 and 4 are correctly matched, making the correct answer Option B: Only two pairs.

Statement-I accurately reflects the reclassification of the king cobra into four species by the Kalinga Centre for Rainforest Ecology based on genetic variations. This reclassification is supported by genetic variances of 1-4% among the identified species. However, Statement-II is incorrect as the king cobra is classified as "Vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List, not as an endangered species. The IUCN Red List categorizes species based on their risk of extinction, and the king cobra falls under the "Vulnerable" category due to various threats to its population, habitat, and survival.

- Statement 1 is correct. The Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty was indeed launched during the G20 Leaders' Summit in Rio de Janeiro with the primary objective of eradicating hunger and poverty by 2030, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

- Statement 2 is incorrect. According to the Global Hunger Index 2024, India holds the 105th position among 127 countries, indicating a 'serious' level of hunger, not 'moderate'. This rank is below its South Asian neighbors like Bangladesh and Nepal, which are categorized as having 'moderate' hunger levels.

- Statement 3 is correct. The Alliance emphasizes strategies such as cash transfers, school meal programs, and support for farmers to achieve its goals.

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

Statement-I correctly highlights the primary goal of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, which is to eliminate hunger and poverty by 2030 in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals. This aligns with the information provided in the source material. However, Statement-II is incorrect as it states that the alliance relies primarily on a dedicated fund to finance its operations, which contradicts the information provided in the source material stating that the alliance does not maintain a dedicated fund and relies on contributions from member nations and institutions.