Test: Weekly Current Affairs: August 8th to 14th - UPSC MCQ

According to Hindu mythology, the Bhagirathi River is regarded as the source stream of the Ganges. Although hydrological studies identify Alaknanda as the true source due to its flow and length, the Bhagirathi holds significant religious importance in the Hindu belief system, being named after King Bhagirath who brought the Ganges to Earth.

This question tests your understanding of the religious significance attached to rivers in Hindu mythology and the cultural importance of the Bhagirathi River in the region.

1. Statement 1 is Correct: The Bhagirathi River does originate from the Gaumukh Glacier, which is located at the base of the Khatling and Gangotri Glaciers in the Garhwal Himalayas. Therefore, this statement is accurate regarding the origin of the river.

2. Statement 2 is Correct: In Hindu mythology, the Bhagirathi is indeed regarded as the source stream of the Ganges. This cultural and spiritual belief emphasizes the river's significance in Indian traditions and religious practices.

3. Statement 3 is Incorrect: The Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers join at Devprayag to form the Ganges River, not the Yamuna River. This is a factual error in the statement, as the Yamuna is a separate river that joins the Ganges further downstream at Allahabad (Prayagraj).

Thus, only statements 1 and 2 are correct, making Option B the accurate choice.

1. Bhagirathi River - Originates from the Alaknanda Glacier: This pair is incorrectly matched. The Bhagirathi River originates from the Gaumukh Glacier, not the Alaknanda Glacier. Alaknanda is a separate river that joins Bhagirathi at Devprayag to form the Ganges.

2. Devprayag - Confluence of Bhagirathi and Alaknanda: This pair is correctly matched. Devprayag is indeed the point where the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers meet to form the Ganges River.

3. Tritium - Naturally occurs in the upper atmosphere: This pair is correctly matched. Tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that is naturally produced in the upper atmosphere through the interaction of cosmic rays with atmospheric gases.

4. Tehri Dam - Located on the Alaknanda River: This pair is incorrectly matched. The Tehri Dam is located on the Bhagirathi River, not the Alaknanda River.

Thus, the correctly matched pairs are 2 and 3.

While Statement I correctly reflects the belief in Hindu mythology that the Bhagirathi River is the source stream of the Ganges, Statement II accurately points out that hydrological studies identify the Alaknanda River as the true source due to factors like flow and length. Both statements are correct in their respective contexts, but Statement II does not directly explain Statement I. Thus, the correct answer is option B.

The primary objective of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) is to enhance India's position in the global electronics value chain and establish the country as a global manufacturing hub for semiconductors. By supporting chip design startups, promoting indigenous intellectual property (IP) and technology transfer, fostering research and innovation in the semiconductor sector, and reducing import dependence, ISM aims to strengthen India's global semiconductor presence.

1. Statement 1 is correct. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is indeed a major producer of cobalt, responsible for 80% of the global supply. China's control over approximately 80% of this cobalt output is facilitated through agreements such as Sicomines, which exemplifies China's significant involvement in the DRC's mining sector.

2. Statement 2 is correct. African nations, such as Zimbabwe and Namibia, have initiated export bans on unprocessed critical minerals. These policy shifts aim to promote local beneficiation by ensuring that raw materials are processed domestically, thus retaining more economic value within the region.

3. Statement 3 is incorrect. The infrastructure-for-resources model used by China has faced significant criticism from African civil society groups. These groups have raised concerns over opaque contracts, minimal local benefits, and environmental degradation associated with Chinese mining projects. Hence, the model is not universally accepted as beneficial.

Therefore, the correct option is Option B: 1 and 2 Only, as both these statements accurately reflect the current challenges and policy shifts related to China's mining activities in Africa.

1. Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) - Cancelled the sale of Chemaf Resources to China’s Norin Mining. This is correctly matched. The DRC indeed cancelled the sale of Chemaf Resources to China’s Norin Mining following pushback from the state miner Gecamines.

2. Namibia - Implemented export bans on unprocessed lithium to encourage local beneficiation. This is correctly matched. Namibia has banned the export of unprocessed lithium in an effort to promote local value addition and beneficiation.

3. Zimbabwe - Enforced environmental standards on Huayou Cobalt's lithium plant. This is incorrectly matched. While Zimbabwe has implemented export bans on unprocessed lithium, the statement about enforcing environmental standards specifically on Huayou Cobalt's plant does not align with the given details.

4. Zambia - Renegotiated contracts with Sinohydro and China Railway Group. This is incorrectly matched. The DRC is the country that has been renegotiating deals with Sinohydro and China Railway Group, not Zambia.

Thus, only the first and second pairs are correctly matched.

The primary objective of the Income-tax Bill, 2025, is to modernize and simplify the tax framework, making it more accessible and understandable for taxpayers. By introducing a modernized structure and streamlining the legal framework, the Bill aims to enhance tax administration efficiency and effectiveness, ultimately benefiting taxpayers and ensuring a more coherent tax system.

1. Refunds: Incorrect. The new Income Tax Bill, 2025, actually restores the ability to claim refunds on belated returns, removing previous restrictions. Therefore, this pair is not correctly matched.

2. Tax Collected at Source (TCS): Correct. The Bill indeed clarifies that there is no TCS for Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) remittances for education funded by financial institutions. This pair is correctly matched.

3. Corporate Tax: Correct. The Bill addresses and corrects errors related to inter-corporate dividend deductions for companies opting for concessional tax rates. This pair is correctly matched.

4. House Property Income: Incorrect. The Bill clarifies that a 30% standard deduction applies after accounting for municipal taxes, rather than removing it. Hence, this pair is not correctly matched.

Based on this, only pairs 2 and 3 are correctly matched.

Statement-I correctly highlights the aim of the Income-tax Bill, 2025, to simplify the tax law for taxpayers. Statement-II accurately lists various factors contributing to wildfires, as mentioned in the provided content. However, the two statements address different topics related to economics and environment/ecology, so Statement-II does not directly explain Statement-I. Hence, option B is the correct answer.

The primary purpose of levying a cess in India is to allocate funds for specific designated purposes. Unlike regular taxes, a cess is earmarked for a particular purpose as stated in the law imposing it. This ensures that the funds collected through a cess are used solely for the intended purpose, such as education or sanitation, and cannot be diverted for general government expenditures.

- Statement 1 is correct. Cess is indeed levied for a specific purpose and must be used solely for that designated purpose. It cannot be diverted for general government expenditure, as highlighted by the distinction between cess and regular taxes. Conversely, a surcharge, while also an additional levy, is used for broader fiscal needs and is not earmarked for a specific purpose like cess.

- Statement 2 is incorrect. Both cess and surcharge are credited to the Consolidated Fund of India, but neither is shared with the states. The proceeds from both are excluded from the divisible pool of taxes shared with the states. However, cess is meant to be used for specific purposes, whereas a surcharge is not earmarked for a specific purpose.

- Statement 3 is incorrect. Article 270 of the Indian Constitution deals with the distribution of tax proceeds between the Union and the States, while Article 271 provides for the imposition of a surcharge on certain taxes and duties for Union purposes. The article related to cess is not Article 271, but rather, cess is governed by specific laws that must clearly state its purpose under the guidance of Article 270.

Thus, only Statement 1 is correct.

1. Cess - Levied for a specific purpose and must be used for that purpose only. - This is correctly matched. Cess is indeed levied for a specific purpose, such as education or sanitation, and the funds collected are supposed to be used solely for that designated purpose.

2. Surcharge - Credited to the Consolidated Fund of India and shared with the states. - This is incorrectly matched. While the surcharge is indeed credited to the Consolidated Fund of India, it is not shared with the states. The surcharge remains under the control of the Union government.

3. GST Rationalisation - Involves simplifying tax compliance and reducing costs for essential goods. - This is correctly matched. GST rationalisation refers to efforts to make tax compliance easier and reduce the tax burden on essential goods, which aligns with the stated purpose.

4. Red Fort - UNESCO World Heritage Site, symbolizing India's sovereignty. - This is correctly matched. The Red Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and serves as a powerful symbol of India's sovereignty, particularly highlighted during Independence Day celebrations.

Thus, pairs 1, 3, and 4 are correctly matched.

Returning sterilized dogs to their original locations is crucial for controlling stray dog populations because it prevents unsterilized dogs from entering and breeding in the territories occupied by sterilized dogs. This practice helps in stabilizing stray populations by maintaining territorial boundaries, thereby gradually reducing the overall numbers of stray dogs.

- Statement 1 is correct. Many major religions in India, such as Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity, generally support organ donation as it is considered an act of compassion and aligns with broader spiritual values of charity and helping others.

- Statement 2 is incorrect. The Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994, does not allow for brain death to be confirmed by a single medical expert. It requires a panel consisting of multiple medical experts to confirm brain death to ensure that ethical practices are strictly followed and to avoid any potential misuse of the declaration for organ retrieval.

- Statement 3 is correct. India's organ donation rate is indeed significantly lower than that of countries like Spain and the United States. Spain and the US have organ donation rates exceeding 45 per million people, while India's rate is around 0.8 per million people, indicating a major gap in the availability of donor organs relative to demand.

Thus, the correct answer is Option C: 1 and 3 Only.

The SC/ST scholarships mentioned in the passage aim to provide financial assistance to students from marginalized communities, enabling them to pursue education and access opportunities they might not have had otherwise. These scholarships play a crucial role in promoting inclusivity and bridging educational inequalities by supporting students in need.

1. Statement 1 is correct. It is proposed that the parental income limit for ST scholarships be raised to Rs. 4.5 lakh for both pre-matric and post-matric scholarships starting from FY 2026-27. This is part of the broader effort to increase accessibility to these scholarships.

2. Statement 2 is incorrect. The scholarships are indeed centrally sponsored schemes, but the typical funding ratio is 60:40 between the Union and State governments, and 90:10 for Northeastern states, not 50:50.

3. Statement 3 is incorrect. The number of SC pre-matric scholarship beneficiaries has actually decreased by 30.63% from 2020-21 to 2024-25, indicating a decline rather than an increase.

Hence, only Statement 1 is correct. Therefore, the correct answer is Option A: 1 Only.

1. Pre-Matric Scholarships: This pair is correctly matched. The scholarships are available for SC students from Class I to X if their parents are engaged in "unclean or hazardous" occupations, while generally available from Class IX to X for SC/ST students.

2. Post-Matric Scholarships: This pair is correctly matched. These scholarships support education beyond Class X for SC/ST students, providing financial assistance for higher studies.

3. L-G Nomination Power: This pair is correctly matched. As per the J&K Reorganisation Act, the L-G of J&K has the authority to nominate five members to the Legislative Assembly without seeking advice from the elected government.

4. Anglo-Indian Nomination: This pair is incorrectly matched. The provision to nominate Anglo-Indian members was indeed abolished by the 104th Constitutional Amendment Act in 2019, but this is a fact correctly stated, hence counted as a correctly matched pair in the context of the question.

Thus, pairs 1, 2, and 3 are correctly matched. Therefore, the correct option is Option C: Only three pairs.

Statement-I correctly mentions that the Centre is contemplating raising the parental income limits for SC/ST scholarships from FY 2026-27. Statement-II also accurately states that the Ministry of Tribal Affairs is considering raising the income limit to Rs. 4.5 lakh for STs for both pre-matric and post-matric scholarships. However, Statement-II does not provide an explanation or elaboration for Statement-I; hence, both statements are correct but not interrelated or explanatory.

The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) aims to reduce shipping times by approximately 40% compared to existing routes, connecting Asia, the Arabian Gulf, and Europe. By enhancing connectivity through this corridor, it seeks to facilitate more efficient trade and transportation between these regions, emphasizing the potential economic impact and benefits of improved connectivity.

- Statement 1 is correct. The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) was indeed announced during the 2023 G20 Summit in New Delhi. Its primary aim is to enhance connectivity between Asia, the Arabian Gulf, and Europe, featuring segments like the India-Gulf corridor and the Gulf-Europe corridor.

- Statement 2 is correct. The ongoing conflict in Gaza has indeed increased insurance costs for regional trade, which complicates the implementation of the IMEC. This reflects the geopolitical challenges the project faces.

- Statement 3 is incorrect. The IMEC does not include a high-speed freight rail linking India's western ports directly to Greece and Italy. Instead, it involves connecting India's ports to the UAE, then through Saudi Arabia and Jordan to Haifa, Israel, with further sea and rail links to Europe.

Therefore, only statements 1 and 2 are correct, making Option B the right answer.

1. India-Gulf corridor: Connects India's western ports to the UAE and further to Haifa, Israel.
This pair is correctly matched. The India-Gulf corridor is designed to link India’s western ports to the UAE and then to Haifa, Israel, via high-speed freight rail through Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
2. Gulf-Europe corridor: Connects Haifa to Greece and Italy by sea.
This pair is correctly matched. The Gulf-Europe corridor indeed connects Haifa to Greece and Italy by sea, followed by further transport through European rail networks.
3. EU as the largest trading partner: The European Union is the largest trading partner of India in fiscal year 2023-24.
This pair is correctly matched. The EU is indeed India’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $137.41 billion in FY 2023-24.
4. Saudi Arabia's involvement: Saudi Arabia was initially not expected to be involved in the IMEC.
This pair is incorrectly matched. Saudi Arabia was anticipated to be involved in the IMEC, particularly benefiting from Arab normalization with Israel. The expectation was that Saudi Arabia would participate in this corridor to enhance connectivity and economic ties.
Pairs 1, 2, and 3 are correctly matched, while pair 4 is incorrectly matched. Therefore, three pairs are correctly matched.

Statement-I is correct as per the information provided about the IMEC in the text. The corridor indeed aims to reduce shipping times by approximately 40% compared to existing routes.
Statement-II is also correct based on the details given regarding plastic pollution. Plastics are indeed persistent in the environment and are a significant source of litter. However, there is no direct relationship or explanatory link between the two statements, making Option B the correct choice.

The State Health Regulatory Excellence Index (SHRESTH) is a pioneering national initiative aimed at benchmarking and improving state drug regulatory systems across various states in India. By setting standards and monitoring performance based on predefined metrics, this initiative seeks to ensure consistent drug safety and quality across the nation. It plays a crucial role in identifying areas for improvement in human resources, infrastructure, and digital processes to enhance drug safety for citizens throughout the country.

1. Dhirio - Traditional bull fighting event in Goa: Correctly matched. Dhirio is indeed a traditional bull fighting event that is part of Goa's cultural heritage, often associated with local festivities.

2. Awaza Programme of Action - Initiative for landlocked developing countries: Correctly matched. The Awaza Programme of Action (2024–2034) is designed to address the developmental challenges faced by landlocked developing countries, as highlighted in the UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries.

3. SHRESTH - State Health Regulatory Excellence Index in India: Correctly matched. SHRESTH is an initiative aimed at benchmarking and improving state drug regulatory systems in India, launched by the Union Health Secretary.

4. Jallikattu - Traditional bull taming sport in Kerala: Incorrectly matched. Jallikattu is a traditional bull taming event, but it is primarily associated with Tamil Nadu, not Kerala.

The correctly matched pairs are 1, 2, and 3. Thus, three pairs are correctly matched.