Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 1st December 2024 - UPSC MCQ

The main objective of C-PACE (Centre for Processing Accelerated Corporate Exit) is to centralize the process of removing companies from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs Register. This initiative aims to expedite the voluntary winding up of companies in under six months through process re-engineering. By streamlining the process and operating under the supervision of the Director General of Corporate Affairs, C-PACE facilitates smoother exits for companies and contributes to improving the ease of doing business.

Statement-I correctly explains aortic stenosis, a condition caused by the narrowing of the aortic valve, affecting blood flow and potentially leading to heart muscle issues. Statement-II accurately describes C-PACE, a centralized system for expediting the voluntary winding up of companies from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) Register. While both statements are factually correct, they address separate topics and do not have a direct explanatory relationship, hence option B is the correct choice.

Statement 1 is correct. Lothal is indeed recognized as the only port town of the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), and it was discovered by Indian archaeologist SR Rao in 1954. This highlights its unique historical significance within the context of the IVC.

Statement 2 is correct. The dockyard at Lothal is acknowledged as the world's oldest known artificial dock, which was connected to a former channel of the Sabarmati River. This feature emphasizes Lothal's advanced engineering and its role in maritime activities during the IVC period.

Statement 3 is incorrect. While Lothal was a significant center of trade and known for its production and export of beads, gems, and luxury ornaments, there is no primary historical evidence emphasizing textiles as its main export. Instead, pottery was another significant industry, but not textiles. This misstatement about textiles being a primary export is what makes statement 3 incorrect.

Hence, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only.

1. Lothal - Known for its advanced drainage system and dockyard: Correctly matched. Lothal is famous for its advanced urban planning, including a sophisticated drainage system and an artificial dockyard, which is known as the world's oldest known dock.

2. Tungsten - Highest melting point among all metals: Correctly matched. Tungsten indeed has the highest melting point of any metal, at 3410 °C, which is a well-documented fact in material science.

3. Notre-Dame Cathedral - Venue for the coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte: Correctly matched. Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris was the site of Napoleon Bonaparte's coronation as Emperor in 1804, making this pair correctly matched.

4. Lothal - Located in the Bhal region of Dholka, Ahmedabad: Correctly matched. Lothal is indeed located in the Bhal region of Dholka, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, which is a significant archaeological site of the Indus Valley Civilization.

All four pairs are correctly matched, making Option D the correct answer.

The main objective of Exercise AGNI WARRIOR, as emphasized in the text, is to enhance mutual understanding of operational drills and procedures. This collaborative military exercise involving the Indian Army and the Singapore Armed Forces aims to foster jointness among the multinational forces operating under the United Nations Charter. By engaging in joint firepower planning, execution, and the utilization of New Generation Equipment, both armies work towards a common interface in artillery procedures, promoting cooperation and understanding.

1. WOH G64 Star - Located in the Large Magellanic Cloud: Correct. WOH G64 is indeed located in the Large Magellanic Cloud, which is a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way.

2. WOH G64 Star - Discovered in the 1990s: Incorrect. WOH G64 was discovered in the 1970s by astronomers Bengt Westerlunds, Olander, and Hedin. Thus, this pair is not correctly matched.

3. Magellanic Clouds - Orbit the Milky Way every 1.5 billion years: Correct. The Magellanic Clouds, which consist of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), do orbit the Milky Way approximately every 1.5 billion years.

4. Exercise AGNI WARRIOR - Involves collaboration between the Indian Army and the Singapore Armed Forces: Correct. Exercise AGNI WARRIOR is a joint military exercise between the Indian Army and the Singapore Armed Forces.

Pairs 1, 3, and 4 are correctly matched, while pair 2 is incorrectly matched.

The earthquake resistance of the Ramappa Temple is attributed to the lightweight bricks used in constructing the gopuram, which are made from a mixture of clay, acacia wood, chaff, and myrobalan fruit. This innovative construction method significantly reduces the risk of collapse during earthquakes by making the structure lightweight and capable of floating on water.

This question tests your understanding of the architectural features that contribute to the resilience of historical structures like the Ramappa Temple.

- Statement 1: This statement is correct. The Ramappa Temple, also known as the Rudreshwara Temple, was indeed constructed under the patronage of the Kakatiya ruler Kakati Ganapathi Deva. The temple was built by his Chief Commander, Rudra Samani, and is named after its chief sculptor, Ramappa.

- Statement 2: This statement is correct. The Ramappa Temple is noted for its unique architectural feature where the pillars are designed to produce musical notes, adding to its distinctiveness.

- Statement 3: This statement is correct. In 2021, the Ramappa Temple was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name "Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana."

All three statements are accurate, confirming that the correct answer is Option D. Each statement correctly reflects the historical and architectural significance of the Ramappa Temple as described in the provided text.

- Statement 1 is correct. Over-speeding was indeed responsible for 68.1% of road crash deaths in India in 2023. This highlights the significant role that speeding plays in road fatalities.

- Statement 2 is correct. Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of road accident fatalities among Indian states in 2023, with 23,650 deaths. This indicates the severe road safety challenges faced in the state.

- Statement 3 is incorrect. Infrastructure deficiencies, such as potholes and lack of underpasses, significantly contribute to road accidents in India. These issues are identified as major factors affecting road safety, leading to numerous accidents and fatalities.

Thus, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only.

Statement-I correctly highlights the road safety crisis in India, citing statistics from 2023 regarding road accidents and fatalities. Statement-II accurately mentions the stress in the microfinance sector due to increasing delinquencies and borrower indebtedness. However, these two statements discuss different topics—road safety and microfinance—without any explanatory relationship between them. Hence, both statements are correct individually, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I.