Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 5th April 2025 - UPSC MCQ

Statement 1: This statement is incorrect. The Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary is located in both the Chamarajanagar and Ramanagara districts of Karnataka, not solely in the Chamarajanagar district. Therefore, this statement is inaccurate.

Statement 2: This statement is correct. The Cauvery River, which traverses the sanctuary, is indeed home to the rare Mahseer fish, making the sanctuary significant for the conservation of this species.

Statement 3: This statement is correct. Hogenakkal Falls, referred to as "Smoking Rock" in Kannada, is a notable tourist attraction within the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary. Its presence within the sanctuary adds both ecological and cultural value to the area.

Thus, the correct statements are 2 and 3, which corresponds to Option D: 2 and 3 Only.

1. Pale-Chinned Flycatcher - Found in Sundarbans

This pair is incorrectly matched. The Pale-Chinned Flycatcher is rarely seen in the Sundarbans, but it is possible to find it in suitable undisturbed patches. Its primary distribution includes Eastern Ghats, northeastern states, Eastern Himalayas, and West Bengal in India, along with other countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar.

2. Kannadipaya - Made using Teinostachyum wightii bamboo

This pair is correctly matched. Kannadipaya is a traditional craft from Kerala, and the mats are made using a specific type of bamboo called Teinostachyum wightii, locally known as 'njoonjiletta'.

3. Hansa-3 Trainer Aircraft - Developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)

This pair is incorrectly matched. The Hansa-3 Trainer Aircraft was developed by CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories in Bangalore, not by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

4. Kannadipaya - Weaving process involves a ritual during a full moon

This pair is correctly matched. The process of creating a Kannadipaya mat involves harvesting bamboo, which is performed during a full moon as a ritual, with each trip to the forest taking a full day and night.

Hence, only two pairs are correctly matched: Pair 2 and Pair 4.

1. Statement 1: This statement is correct. India has 17 international cables that land in the country, and a significant concentration of these cables is in a 6-km stretch in Versova, Mumbai. This highlights the major hubs for India's subsea cable infrastructure, which include Mumbai and Chennai.

2. Statement 2: This statement is incorrect. India contributes only 3% to the global subsea cable systems, not 5%, indicating its underrepresentation in the global network. This is a critical point as it reflects India's relatively small footprint in the global subsea cable ecosystem.

3. Statement 3: This statement is correct. The deployment of undersea cables in India indeed faces significant challenges due to the extensive regulatory requirements. It is reported that 80% of the project time is spent on dealing with regulatory compliance, which involves navigating about 51 permissions from various departments, including the Department of Telecom, Ministry of Environment, and Ministry of Home Affairs. This poses a considerable hindrance to the timely deployment of subsea cables.

Therefore, statements 1 and 3 are correct, while statement 2 is not. Thus, the correct answer is Option C: 1 and 3 Only.

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct. Statement-I correctly identifies the location of the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in the Chamarajanagar and Ramanagara districts of Karnataka, India. Statement-II accurately mentions that the sanctuary covers an area of 1,027.535 square kilometers and is traversed by the Cauvery River. Statement-II provides additional relevant information that supports and explains Statement-I, making it a comprehensive and accurate description of the sanctuary.

Statement-I talks about the Pale-Chinned Flycatcher being sighted in Arunachal Pradesh, adding to the avian diversity of the area. Statement-II discusses the Hansa-3 Trainer Aircraft, its development in India, approval for aircrew training, and future manufacture by the private sector in India. Both statements are factually correct, but they are independent of each other and do not explain each other. Statement-I is about a bird sighting, while Statement-II is about an indigenous aircraft receiving approval for training purposes. Hence, the correct answer is option B.

The primary purpose of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 is to modernize Waqf governance by repealing outdated laws and to broaden the scope of donations to Waqf properties. This includes allowing non-Muslim individuals to donate movable or immovable property to Waqf, expanding the donor base, and broadening the definition of Waqf to include properties donated for religious or charitable purposes, regardless of the donor's faith. The aim is to update and streamline Waqf governance in India.

1. Airtel’s 2Africa Pearls - Connects Asia to Africa

This pair is correctly matched. Airtel's 2Africa Pearls is part of a larger undersea cable system connecting regions including Asia to Africa, enhancing internet connectivity across these continents.

2. SEA-ME-WE-6 - Connects Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Western Europe

This pair is correctly matched. The SEA-ME-WE-6 (Southeast Asia - Middle East - Western Europe 6) cable system is designed to connect these regions, providing a vital infrastructure for data transmission between them.

3. Chennai–Andaman–Nicobar Islands (CANI) - Domestic cable system in India

This pair is correctly matched. The CANI cable system connects the Indian mainland to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, serving as a domestic undersea cable infrastructure.

4. Bab-el-Mandeb Strait - A crucial chokepoint for undersea cables in the Mediterranean Sea

This pair is incorrectly matched. The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait is indeed a crucial chokepoint for undersea cables, but it is located between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula, and Djibouti and Eritrea in the Horn of Africa, not in the Mediterranean Sea. It connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, not the Mediterranean.

Thus, three pairs are correctly matched.

The distinctive feature that separates the male Pale-Chinned Flycatcher's dull blue-grey head and breast is the pale chin or throat patch. This feature is particularly notable in distinguishing the male from the female of this species. The pale chin or throat patch is a key characteristic of the male's appearance, adding to the bird's unique and subtle beauty.

1. Mawson Peak - Highest point on McDonald Islands: Incorrect. Mawson Peak is the highest point on Heard Island, not McDonald Islands. It is an active volcano and one of the most active in the southern hemisphere.

2. Heard Island - UNESCO World Heritage Site: Correct. Heard Island is indeed recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its ecological significance and rich biodiversity.

3. Heard and McDonald Islands - Governed by an Australian state: Incorrect. Heard and McDonald Islands are unincorporated external territories of Australia, meaning they are not governed by any Australian state but are directly governed by the Australian government.

4. McDonald Islands - Part of the same volcanic chain as Heard Island: Correct. McDonald Islands are part of the same volcanic chain as Heard Island. Both islands share geological features and volcanic activity.

The correctly matched pairs are 2 and 4.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill mandates that both the Central Waqf Council and State Waqf Boards must include at least two non-Muslim members. This requirement aims to promote diversity and broader oversight within these councils, ensuring that a wider range of perspectives is represented in decision-making processes. This change reflects an effort to enhance inclusivity in the management of religious endowments and properties, which historically may not have included non-Muslim representation. An interesting fact is that such provisions can help bridge communal divides and foster collaborative governance in multi-religious societies.