Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 10th February 2025 - UPSC MCQ

1. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) - Significant budget increase for FY 2024-25: This pair is incorrectly matched. The budget allocation for PMAY was reduced from ₹30,170.61 crore to ₹13,670 crore for FY 2024-25, indicating a significant cut, not an increase.
2. Urban Challenge Fund - Targets ₹1 lakh crore with 50% private investment expectation: This pair is correctly matched. The Urban Challenge Fund indeed targets ₹1 lakh crore and anticipates 50% of the funding from private investments.
3. Direct Transfers to ULBs - Increased allocation in the current budget: This pair is incorrectly matched. The allocation for direct transfers to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) decreased from ₹26,653 crore to ₹26,158 crore.
4. AI Action Summit - Co-chaired by India and France in 2025: This pair is correctly matched. The AI Action Summit in 2025 is indeed co-chaired by India and France.
Therefore, only pairs 2 and 4 are correctly matched.

The primary objective of the NITI Aayog's Swavalambini Women Entrepreneurship Programme is to inspire and equip young women to become job creators and leaders in Northeast India. By focusing on developing entrepreneurial skills among female students in higher education institutions, the program aims to contribute to the economic development of the region by fostering women's roles in entrepreneurship.

1. CLNDA, 2010 - Correctly matched. The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages Act, 2010, indeed creates a structured mechanism for compensating victims of nuclear accidents.

2. Wandering Salamanders - Correctly matched. Wandering salamanders, like other salamanders, have regenerative capabilities allowing them to regrow limbs and tails.

3. Graphene - Correctly matched. Graphene is indeed recognized for its exceptional strength, being 200 times stronger than steel.

4. Vienna Convention - Incorrectly matched. While the Vienna Convention is related to international civil nuclear liability principles, it does not specifically provide guidelines for the liability of nuclear accidents; instead, it is part of the conventions aligned with CLNDA for nuclear liability.

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

Statement-I is correct as the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages Act (CLNDA) does indeed serve as the legal framework for addressing nuclear incidents in India, established by Parliament in 2010. Statement-II is also correct as it accurately describes graphene as a two-dimensional material made up of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb lattice. Moreover, Statement-II explains Statement-I by providing additional information about a different scientific concept.

To determine which statements are correct, let us examine each one based on the details of the Swavalambini Initiative.

1. Statement 1: This statement is incorrect. The Swavalambini Initiative does not focus exclusively on the Southern states of India; instead, it targets the Northeastern states, including Assam, Meghalaya, and Mizoram, to promote female entrepreneurship.

2. Statement 2: This statement is correct. The Entrepreneurship Awareness Programme (EAP) is indeed a two-day session designed to introduce 600 female students to the fundamentals of entrepreneurship.

3. Statement 3: This statement is correct. Participants in the Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) will receive six months of dedicated mentorship to help transform their business ideas into viable enterprises.

Thus, the correct statements are 2 and 3. Therefore, the answer is Option C.

The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages Act (CLNDA), 2010, establishes a principle of Strict and No-Fault Liability, where the operator of a nuclear plant is held liable for damages regardless of fault in the occurrence of a nuclear incident. This ensures that victims receive compensation without the need to prove fault on the part of the operator. This principle is crucial in ensuring timely and fair compensation for those affected by nuclear accidents.

Statement-I accurately reflects the information provided in the text regarding the budget allocation for urban development. The statement highlights the increase in the total outlay for urban development to ₹96,777 crore, with a comparison to the previous year's allocation. However, Statement-II incorrectly mentions India hosting the AI Action Summit in Paris, which is inaccurate as per the provided text. The summit is actually co-chaired by India and France, not hosted solely by India. Thus, Statement-II is incorrect.

1. Statement 1 is correct. The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages Act (CLNDA), 2010, specifies that the operator's liability for nuclear disasters is capped at ₹1,500 crores. This means that the operator is responsible for compensations up to this limit, and if claims exceed this amount, the government is expected to step in to manage the additional claims.

2. Statement 2 is also correct. The CLNDA mandates a specific timeline for reporting nuclear incidents. It requires that any incident must be reported to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board within 15 days to ensure timely action and assessment of the situation.

3. Statement 3 is correct as well. According to the CLNDA, the government's liability is limited to the equivalent of 300 million Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), which is approximately ₹2,100 to ₹2,300 crores. This establishes a clear cap on the government's financial responsibility in the event of nuclear damage.

All three statements accurately reflect the provisions and stipulations under the CLNDA. Therefore, the correct answer is Option D

1. Location: Between Tonga to the west and French Polynesia to the east
- Correct. The Cook Islands are geographically situated between Tonga and French Polynesia.

2. Highest Point: Aitutaki Island
- Incorrect. The highest point in the Cook Islands is Te Manga on Rarotonga, not Aitutaki.

3. Major Population Center: Rarotonga
- Correct. Rarotonga is indeed the major population center where the capital city, Avarua, is located.

4. Northern Islands Feature: Large volcanic islands
- Incorrect. The northern islands of the Cook Islands are mainly low-lying coral atolls, not large volcanic islands.

Pairs 1 and 3 are correctly matched. Hence, the answer is Option B: Only two pairs.

1. Swavalambini Women Entrepreneurship Programme - Initiated by NITI Aayog in partnership with Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship: This pair is correctly matched. The Swavalambini Women Entrepreneurship Programme is indeed an initiative by NITI Aayog, in collaboration with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, aimed at promoting female entrepreneurship in the Northeastern states of India.

2. Aero India 2025 - Scheduled at Yelahanka, Bengaluru, focusing on global defense partnerships: This pair is correctly matched. Aero India 2025 is indeed scheduled to take place at the Indian Air Force station in Yelahanka, Bengaluru, and is focused on enhancing global defense partnerships and showcasing India's growing capabilities in the aerospace sector.

3. UNSC - Effectively managing global conflicts and terrorism: This pair is incorrectly matched. The UNSC has been criticized for its ineffectiveness in managing and preventing global conflicts and terrorism, as major powers often disregard international law, leading to challenges in maintaining global peace and security.

4. SEBI's Algo Trading Framework - Allows unrestricted access to all algorithms for retail investors: This pair is incorrectly matched. SEBI's Algo Trading Framework does not allow unrestricted access to all algorithms for retail investors. Instead, it ensures that retail investors can access only approved algorithms through registered brokers, with necessary safeguards in place to protect the investors' interests.

Thus, only two pairs are correctly matched: pairs 1 and 2.