Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 19th February 2025 - UPSC MCQ

1. Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023 - Includes the Chief Justice of India in the selection panel: Incorrect. The 2023 Act specifically excludes the Chief Justice of India from the selection panel, which has been a point of contention and legal challenge.
2. Article 324 - Empowers the Election Commission of India to oversee elections: Correct. Article 324 of the Constitution of India indeed empowers the Election Commission to supervise, direct, and control the conduct of elections to the Parliament, State Legislatures, and offices of the President and Vice-President of India.
3. Section 7(1) of the 2023 Act - Excludes the Chief Justice of India from the selection committee: Correct. Section 7(1) of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, excludes the Chief Justice of India from the selection committee, which consists of the Prime Minister, a Union Cabinet Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition.
4. Article 141 - Allows the Supreme Court to issue binding decisions: Correct. Article 141 of the Constitution states that the law declared by the Supreme Court shall be binding on all courts within the territory of India.
Three pairs are correctly matched as per the above analysis.

The Supreme Court hearing on February 19, 2025, is primarily focused on reviewing the validity of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023. This law has been under scrutiny for excluding the Chief Justice of India from the selection panel for Election Commissioners, which has raised concerns about democratic principles and the integrity of the electoral process. The hearing aims to assess the implications of this exclusion and its potential impact on the independence and neutrality of the Election Commission.

1. Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): Incorrectly matched. LFPR reflects the percentage of the working-age population that is either employed or actively seeking employment, not just those who are employed. It measures the active portion of an economy's labor force.

2. Worker Population Ratio (WPR): Correctly matched. WPR indeed represents the proportion of the population that is employed. It is a direct measure of the employment level within the population.

3. Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC): Correctly matched. The CPC is a major pipeline that facilitates oil transport from the Tengiz oil field in Kazakhstan to the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, crucial for Kazakhstan's oil exports.

4. Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI): Correctly matched. IWAI is responsible for the development and maintenance of inland waterways in India, with regional offices in Guwahati, Patna, Kochi, Bhubaneswar, and Kolkata.

In conclusion, pairs 2, 3, and 4 are correctly matched, while pair 1 is incorrectly matched. Thus, three pairs are correctly matched.

1. Confidentiality in Arbitration Proceedings:
The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, indeed mandates the confidentiality of arbitration proceedings. This is critical for business disputes as it ensures sensitive information is protected throughout the resolution process. Therefore, Statement 1 is correct.

2. Arbitration Council of India:
The 2019 Amendment to the Act established the Arbitration Council of India (ACI), which is tasked with setting standards and promoting institutional arbitration in India. This was a significant step to improve the arbitration framework by enhancing the quality and credibility of arbitration proceedings. Thus, Statement 2 is correct.

3. 2021 Amendment on Arbitral Awards:
The 2021 Amendment to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act removed the provision of an automatic stay on the enforcement of arbitral awards in cases involving allegations of fraud or corruption. This change was made to streamline the enforcement process and promote a pro-enforcement stance, ensuring that arbitral awards are respected and implemented promptly. Consequently, Statement 3 is correct.

All three statements accurately capture the provisions and amendments related to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, making Option D the correct choice.

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct based on the provided information. Statement-I highlights the increase in LFPR from 49.9% to 50.4%, indicating a rise in the percentage of the working-age population employed or seeking employment. Statement-II mentions the improvement in the Worker Population Ratio (WPR) from 46.6% to 47.2% during the same period, reflecting an enhancement in the proportion of the population that is employed. The WPR is directly related to the LFPR, as an increase in LFPR often leads to a rise in the WPR as more people actively participate in the workforce. Therefore, Statement-II explains the positive trend illustrated in Statement-I, making Option A the correct choice.

1. Delhi-Hardwar Ridge: Continuous tectonic activity due to collision of Indian and Eurasian plates. - Correct. The Delhi-Hardwar Ridge is an area of continuous tectonic activity due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates, which causes the build-up of tectonic stress.

2. Aravalli-Delhi Fold Belt: Primarily caused by direct tectonic subduction. - Incorrect. The Aravalli-Delhi Fold Belt is not caused by direct tectonic subduction. It consists of ancient folded rock formations and seismic activity here is due to fault reactivation and local stress accumulation rather than large-scale tectonic shifts.

3. Groundwater Extraction: Known to potentially induce fault movements. - Correct. Excessive groundwater extraction can alter rock pressure and potentially induce fault movements, acting as a seismic trigger.

4. Himalayan Earthquakes: Caused by subduction of the Indian plate beneath the Eurasian plate. - Correct. Himalayan earthquakes are indeed caused by the subduction of the Indian plate beneath the Eurasian plate, which is a significant tectonic process in the region.

Pairs 1, 3, and 4 are correctly matched. Pair 2 is incorrectly matched because the seismic activity in the Aravalli-Delhi Fold Belt is not primarily caused by direct tectonic subduction. Hence, three pairs are correctly matched.

The main objective of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) is to provide timely data on employment and unemployment indicators. This survey helps in understanding the dynamics of the labor market, including metrics such as Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR), Worker Population Ratio (WPR), and unemployment rates across different demographic segments. It plays a crucial role in informing policymakers and the public about the employment scenario in urban areas.

Statement-I is correct as it reflects the recent elevation of diplomatic ties to a strategic partnership between India and Qatar. Statement-II is also correct as it provides geographical information about Qatar's borders and its surrounding bodies of water. However, Statement-II does not explain Statement-I directly; therefore, option (b) is the most appropriate choice.

- Statement 1 is correct. Qatar is a significant supplier of energy resources to India, providing over 48% of India's LNG imports and 29% of its LPG imports in the fiscal year 2022-23, underscoring its critical role in India's energy security.

- Statement 2 is correct. The Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) is indeed responsible for overseeing the defense cooperation between India and Qatar. This cooperation includes various activities such as training programs and naval visits, which are vital components of the defense relationship between the two nations.

- Statement 3 is incorrect. While the Indian community is the largest expatriate group in Qatar, it constitutes about 27% of the total population, not 50%. This community plays a significant role in Qatar's development, but the percentage mentioned is not accurate.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only, as both statements 1 and 2 are accurate, whereas statement 3 is not.

Statement-I correctly mentions the recent earthquake in New Delhi with its epicenter near Dhaula Kuan, emphasizing the city's seismic vulnerability due to its location in Zone IV of India's earthquake hazard map.
Statement-II, however, inaccurately attributes the recent earthquake solely to tectonic movements along the Delhi-Hardwar Ridge. While the tectonic activity in the region does contribute to seismic risks, the recent earthquake in New Delhi was not exclusively caused by movements along this specific ridge. The seismic vulnerability of Delhi is influenced by various factors, including its location in a high-risk seismic zone. Therefore, both statements are correct, but Statement-II does not adequately explain Statement-I.