Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 14th February 2025 - UPSC MCQ

1. Flora - Bamboo species primarily support herbivores like elephants and deer: Correct. The Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary has a variety of bamboo species that provide sustenance to herbivores such as elephants and deer.

2. Fauna - Carnivores - Includes species like tigers and Malabar giant squirrels: Incorrect. While the sanctuary does have tigers, Malabar giant squirrels are not carnivores; they fall under small mammals & rodents.

3. Geographical Location - The sanctuary is located in Kodagu District, Karnataka: Correct. The sanctuary is indeed situated in the Kodagu District of Karnataka, within the Western Ghats.

4. Fauna - Primates - Features species like lion-tailed macaques and bonnet macaques: Correct. The sanctuary is home to several primate species, including lion-tailed macaques and bonnet macaques.

In this question, pairs 1, 3, and 4 are correctly matched, making the correct option Option C: Only three pairs.

The Arab League was established on March 22, 1945, in Cairo, Egypt. This founding meeting brought together countries such as Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria to promote economic, cultural, political, and military cooperation among member states. The League plays a vital role in fostering collaboration and addressing regional issues through diplomatic engagement.

1. Arab League Establishment Year - 1945: Correct. The Arab League was indeed established in 1945, specifically on March 22, in Cairo, Egypt.

2. Founding Members of Arab League - Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria: Correct. These countries were indeed the founding members of the Arab League.

3. Observer Nations in Arab League - Brazil, Eritrea, India, Venezuela: Correct. These countries hold observer status in the Arab League, meaning they can participate in discussions but do not have voting rights.

4. Arab Peace Initiative Year - 2002: Correct. The Arab Peace Initiative was proposed in 2002, aiming for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

All four pairs are correctly matched, confirming that the correct answer is Option D

1. Tax Year Concept: Income taxed in the year it is earned, replacing assessment year.

This pair is correctly matched. The New Income-Tax Bill introduces the concept of a 'tax year', where income is taxed in the same year it is earned, replacing the traditional 'assessment year' system.

2. Simplified Language: Reduced the length of the Income-Tax Act by 200 pages while maintaining chapters.

This pair is correctly matched. The bill simplifies the language and reduces the length of the Income-Tax Act from 823 to 622 pages, maintaining the same number of chapters.

3. Dispute Resolution Panel: Introduced new tax rates and compliance mechanisms.

This pair is incorrectly matched. The role of the Dispute Resolution Panel (DRP) is clarified in the bill, but it does not introduce new tax rates or compliance mechanisms. The focus remains on simplifying existing structures without changing tax rates.

4. Global Medical Education: Over 20,000 Indian students pursue medical studies abroad annually.

This pair is correctly matched. The globalization of medical education has led to a significant number of Indian students, over 20,000 annually, seeking medical education abroad due to domestic constraints.

Statement-I is correct as Israel has indeed established diplomatic relations with some Arab States. However, Statement-II is also correct as the 'Arab Peace Initiative' was indeed mediated by Saudi Arabia and was signed by Israel and the Arab League. While both statements are correct, Statement-II does not provide an explanation for Statement-I. The Arab Peace Initiative focused on proposing a two-state solution to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but it does not directly relate to the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and some Arab States. Thus, the correct answer is option (b).

1. Statement 1: The regulations mandate that telecom operators act on spam reports within 5 days, not 10 days. This is a significant reduction from the previous 30-day limit. Therefore, this statement is incorrect.

2. Statement 2: Telemarketers are indeed prohibited from using normal 10-digit numbers for promotional calls. Instead, specific number series like the 140 series are designated for promotional calls. This statement is correct.

3. Statement 3: The regulations require telecom operators to monitor spam activity based on factors like high call volumes and low incoming-to-outgoing call ratios. This monitoring mechanism is intended to detect and reduce spam communication effectively. Therefore, this statement is correct.

Thus, only statements 2 and 3 are correct. Hence, the correct answer is Option C: 2 and 3 Only.

Statement-I is correct as it accurately reflects the introduction of new regulations by TRAI to combat spam calls and messages. Statement-II is also correct, mentioning the denial of more time to YouTuber Samay Raina by the Maharashtra cyber police due to an "obscene joke" made by Ranveer Allahbadia. However, there is no direct correlation or explanation between the two statements, making option (b) the correct choice.

• Statement 1: Incorrect. Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Western Ghats of India, not the Eastern Ghats. The Western Ghats are known for their rich biodiversity, and while bamboo forests are present, they are not specifically noted as the primary habitat for wild pigs in this context.
• Statement 2: Correct. The sanctuary indeed serves as an ecological corridor linking Nagarhole National Park and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, playing a crucial role in the movement and genetic exchange of wildlife.
• Statement 3: Correct. There is an ongoing discussion about potential human-wildlife conflicts due to the Karnataka government's initiative to establish a tribal village in the buffer zone of the sanctuary. This brings into focus the balance between conservation efforts and tribal rights.

Thus, the correct statements are 2 and 3, which makes Option C the correct answer.

1. Statement 1: Incorrect. While military coordination is one of the objectives of the Arab League, it is not the primary objective. The Arab League's primary objectives focus on economic, cultural, political, and military cooperation among member states. Therefore, stating that the primary objective is military coordination alone is inaccurate.

2. Statement 2: Correct. The Arab League makes decisions based on consensus among its member states, which means that all member states must agree on significant resolutions. This consensus-based approach emphasizes collaboration among the member states.

3. Statement 3: Correct. The Arab Peace Initiative, proposed in 2002, is indeed an effort by the Arab League to provide a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, advocating for peace in the region. This initiative was a significant diplomatic move by the Arab League to address this long-standing conflict.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option D, as statements 2 and 3 are correct based on the objectives and initiatives of the Arab League.

The primary objective of the regulations introduced by TRAI under the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR), 2018, is to enhance monitoring mechanisms for detecting spam activity. These regulations aim to reduce the number of spam calls and messages by requiring telecom operators to analyze call and SMS patterns in real time to identify spammers and take necessary actions. This is a crucial step in combating the persistent issue of spam communications faced by millions of Indians.