Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 18th February 2025 - UPSC MCQ

1. 123 Civil Nuclear Agreement - Correctly matched. The 123 Civil Nuclear Agreement was indeed signed in 2007 with the aim to enhance civil nuclear energy collaboration between India and the US.

2. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) - Incorrectly matched. The renewed cooperation focuses on Indian efforts to utilize private sector expertise to enter the SMR market, not transferring technology to the US. Thus, the direction of technology transfer in the pair is incorrect.

3. Holtec International - Correctly matched. Holtec International is indeed in discussions with India’s Department of Atomic Energy for potential SMR collaborations, addressing technological and economic challenges.

4. Large-Scale Localisation - Incorrectly matched. The agreement emphasizes the joint construction of American-designed reactors in India, promoting local manufacturing and potential technology transfer to India, rather than favoring domestic manufacturing in the US.

Pairs 1 and 3 are correctly matched, while pairs 2 and 4 are incorrectly matched. Thus, the correct answer is Option B: Only two pairs.

The main objective of a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack is to disrupt the normal operation of a server, service, or network by overwhelming it with a flood of excessive internet traffic. This attack is aimed at rendering the targeted system inaccessible, causing operational disruptions, and potentially leading to revenue loss. Implementing robust cybersecurity measures is crucial to prevent and mitigate the impact of such attacks on digital services.

Statement-I correctly highlights the ecological role of the Aravalli Range as a natural green barrier, preventing the expansion of the Thar Desert into neighboring regions. Statement-II complements this by explaining another significant role of the Aravalli hills in groundwater recharge, functioning as natural aquifers. The groundwater recharge aspect is crucial for maintaining ecological balance and supporting the local ecosystem. Therefore, both statements are accurate, and Statement-II indeed provides additional insight that explains the significance of Statement-I.

• Statement 1: This statement is correct. Earthquake swarms are indeed characterized by multiple low-intensity earthquakes occurring in quick succession without a clear main shock. They are different from typical earthquake sequences, which usually have a main shock followed by aftershocks.
• Statement 2: This statement is incorrect. Active volcanism is a significant factor in the occurrence of earthquake swarms. The movement of magma beneath the Earth's surface can lead to the creation of earthquake swarms as it exerts pressure on the crust, causing seismic activity.
• Statement 3: This statement is correct. Slow-slip events are a type of slow-motion earthquake where movement along a fault occurs gradually over weeks to years. These events can contribute to the occurrence of earthquake swarms by gradually releasing stress and triggering seismic activity.

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

Statement-I correctly describes the DDoS cyberattack on the Kaveri 2.0 portal in Karnataka, impacting property registration services. Statement-II accurately describes Matsya-6000 as India's advanced generation deep-ocean submersible designed to withstand extreme oceanic pressures. While both statements are factually correct, they are unrelated topics, and Statement-II does not provide an explanation or additional information about Statement-I. Hence, option (b) is the correct choice.

1. Guru Shikhar - Highest peak in the Aravalli Range located in Gujarat: Incorrect. Guru Shikhar is the highest peak in the Aravalli Range, but it is located in Mount Abu, Rajasthan, not Gujarat.

2. Banas River - A tributary of the Yamuna: Incorrect. The Banas River is not a tributary of the Yamuna. It is an inland river in Rajasthan that drains into the Chambal River, which is a tributary of the Yamuna.

3. Aravalli Range - Acts as a natural barrier preventing the Thar Desert from expanding eastward: Correct. The Aravalli Range serves as a natural barrier, preventing the expansion of the Thar Desert into eastern Rajasthan and the Gangetic plains.

4. Forest Conservation Act, 1980 - Governs forest protection in the Aravalli region: Correct. The Forest Conservation Act, 1980, is indeed a legislative framework that governs the protection and conservation of forests in India, including the Aravalli region.

Thus, pairs 3 and 4 are correctly matched.

Statement-I correctly highlights India's ambition to reduce emissions intensity and increase non-fossil fuel electricity capacity as part of its NDC goals. Statement-II is also accurate in stating that thermal power plants contribute significantly to electricity generation, with a majority coming from coal. However, Statement-II does not directly explain Statement-I but provides related information about the source of electricity generation. Thus, both statements are correct, but they do not have a cause-effect relationship where one explains the other.

The main objective of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is to facilitate and promote the export of scheduled products. Scheduled products are specific goods that require exporters to register under APEDA to facilitate their export. APEDA plays a crucial role in setting standards, enhancing packaging, conducting inspections, and supporting exporters in the competitive global market.

- Statement 1 is correct. A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack involves overwhelming a target with traffic from multiple sources, typically using compromised systems, known as a botnet. This definition accurately captures the essence of a DDoS attack.

- Statement 2 is incorrect. The primary goal of a DDoS attack is not to permanently disable the target but to disrupt its normal operations temporarily by overwhelming it with excessive traffic, leading to service downtime. Permanent disabling is not usually the objective, as DDoS attacks are more about causing temporary disruption and denial of service rather than destruction.

- Statement 3 is incorrect. The Matsya-6000 is designed for deep-sea exploration at depths up to 6,000 meters and can accommodate three crew members, not four, within its 2.1-meter diameter sphere. This statement contains inaccuracies regarding both the operational depth and crew capacity of the submersible.

Thus, only Statement 1 is correct, making Option A the correct answer.

1. Tripura: Majority of electricity generation from coal - Incorrect. Tripura's thermal power share is primarily from natural gas, not coal. Therefore, this pair is incorrectly matched.

2. Parambikulam Tiger Reserve: Located in Kerala - Correct. The Parambikulam Tiger Reserve is indeed located in the Palakkad and Thrissur districts of Kerala. This pair is correctly matched.

3. Exercise Dharma Guardian 2025: Held in India - Incorrect. The Exercise Dharma Guardian in 2025 is scheduled to take place at Mount Fuji, Japan, not in India. This pair is incorrectly matched.

4. Uttar Pradesh and Odisha: Consume more electricity than they generate - Incorrect. These states generate more electricity than they consume, exporting the surplus to other states. This pair is incorrectly matched.

Thus, only Pair 2 is correctly matched.