Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 23rd May 2025 - UPSC MCQ

The Self Reliant India (SRI) Fund Scheme follows an investment structure involving a mother-fund and daughter-fund for equity or quasi-equity investments in MSMEs. This structure aims to channel growth capital to MSMEs efficiently, with daughter funds required to invest at least five times the capital received from the SRI Fund.

Judicial custody refers to the period during which an accused is under the custody of the concerned magistrate and is usually held in a police station, awaiting further legal proceedings. This phase allows for the accused to be held in a secure facility under judicial supervision before trial or bail hearings.

1. Tianhe - Core module of the Tiangong Space Station: Correct. Tianhe is indeed the core module of the Tiangong Space Station, serving as the central hub to which other modules are connected.

2. Xuntian - Planned space telescope module for Tiangong: Correct. Xuntian is planned to be a space telescope module that will operate in conjunction with the Tiangong Space Station, although it will not be permanently docked.

3. Wentian - Spacecraft for lunar exploration: Incorrect. Wentian is not a spacecraft for lunar exploration; it is one of the science modules attached to the Tiangong Space Station, designed to conduct a variety of scientific experiments.

4. Mengtian - Science module of the Tiangong Space Station: Correct. Mengtian is indeed a science module of the Tiangong Space Station, similar in purpose to Wentian, providing facilities for scientific research.

Thus, three pairs are correctly matched.

The U.S. imposed significant tariffs on imported components essential for AI infrastructure to reduce reliance on foreign technology. These tariffs aim to bolster domestic industry and decrease dependency on external sources, ultimately reshaping global technology supply chains crucial for AI development.

1. Statement 1 is correct. The U.S. imposed tariffs on AI hardware components, reaching up to 27%, which has made AI infrastructure development more expensive. This aligns with the information provided about the economic policies following the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

2. Statement 2 is incorrect. While the tariffs have economic impacts, the specific claim that U.S. GDP growth rate reduced by 2% over five years is not supported by the text. Instead, the text mentions a potential 0.4% reduction in output growth over five years.

3. Statement 3 is correct. The tariffs have indeed driven companies to innovate by focusing on algorithmic efficiency and model innovations, leading to cost reductions for using AI models, as mentioned in the provided material.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option C, as only statements 1 and 3 are accurate given the context provided in the text.

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are factually correct based on the information provided in the text. The 2024 U.S. presidential election did indeed result in protectionist economic policies, including tariffs on AI components, and India is highlighted as a strategic alternative in the U.S.-China tech rivalry, with potential growth in AI and manufacturing. Statement-II explains the strategic positioning of India in the context of the protectionist policies mentioned in Statement-I. Thus, option (a) is the most appropriate answer as both statements are correct, and Statement-II elaborates on Statement-I.

The primary objective of the PM E-DRIVE scheme is to promote electric mobility through various incentives, aiming to boost the adoption of electric vehicles such as e-2Ws, e-3Ws, e-buses, e-ambulances, and e-trucks. This initiative aligns with India's commitment to enhancing energy security, reducing carbon emissions, and improving air quality by transitioning towards electric vehicles.

1. TASMAC - Alleged financial irregularities were part of the investigation initiated under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as well as the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA). The pair is correctly matched.

2. Sagar Bhavan and Polar Bhavan - These facilities were indeed established to enhance India's polar and ocean research capabilities, marking a significant step in this domain. The pair is correctly matched.

3. PM E-Drive Scheme - The scheme aims to establish a national EV charging grid with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) as the nodal agency responsible for demand aggregation for charging infrastructure. The pair is correctly matched.

4. Enforcement Directorate (ED) - The Supreme Court did criticize the ED for overstepping its jurisdiction; however, this criticism was specifically related to the federal structure implications of the TASMAC investigation, not general financial misconduct investigations. The pair is correctly matched in context.

All pairs are correctly matched based on the context provided, making Option C the correct choice.

1. SPICED Scheme - Aims to enhance spice productivity and exports: Correct. The SPICED (Sustainability in Spice Sector through Progressive, Innovative and Collaborative Interventions for Export Development) Scheme indeed aims to enhance spice exports and improve productivity in the spice sector.

2. Mission Clean and Safe Spices - Focuses on improving domestic spice consumption: Incorrect. Mission Clean and Safe Spices is part of the SPICED Scheme and focuses on ensuring the quality and safety of spices for export purposes, not just domestic consumption.

3. GI-tagged Spices - Spices that have a Geographical Indication status: Correct. GI-tagged spices are those that have a Geographical Indication status, which denotes that these spices are unique to a specific geographical location and are recognized for their quality and reputation.

4. Spices Export Value - India projected to export spices worth $4.25 billion in 2023-2024: Correct. It is mentioned that India is projected to export spices worth $4.25 billion in 2023-2024, capturing 12% of the global spice market.

Thus, pairs 1, 3, and 4 are correctly matched. Pair 2 is incorrect.

Statement I correctly describes the historical background of the Chagos Islands, outlining the initial settlement by enslaved individuals brought by French colonizers for plantation work.
Statement II accurately mentions the 2019 ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against the UK's governance of the Chagos Islands, emphasizing the call for the UK to withdraw from the archipelago.
While both statements are factually accurate, they present information from different historical periods and contexts without one directly explaining the other. As a result, the correct answer is option (b), where both statements are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I in a causal or sequential manner.