Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 3rd August 2024 - UPSC MCQ

The primary goal of the Women Entrepreneurship Program (WEP) initiated by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) is to empower around 25 lakh women in India by equipping them with essential skills, knowledge, and resources to start and expand their businesses. This program aims to address the unique challenges faced by women entrepreneurs and foster economic growth by creating an inclusive environment for female business owners.

Statement-I correctly identifies the establishment of the Nirbhaya Fund following the 2012 Delhi gang rape incident to improve women's safety. Statement-II accurately describes the management and administration of the fund by the Ministry of Finance, overseeing the progress of sanctioned schemes in collaboration with other Ministries/Departments. Therefore, both statements are correct, and Statement-II effectively explains the significance and functioning outlined in Statement-I.

- Statement 1: Mission Poshan 2.0 indeed focuses on early childhood care and education targeting children aged 3-6 years. This is part of its broader aim to improve nutrition and health indicators among children and adolescents.

- Statement 2: Mission Shakti encompasses schemes aimed at the safety, security, and empowerment of women, including the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), which provides financial assistance to pregnant women and lactating mothers, and Ujjwala, which aims to provide LPG connections to women from below poverty line (BPL) households.

- Statement 3: Mission Vatsalya aims to provide better outreach and protection for children in need of care in a mission mode, ensuring their welfare and holistic development.

Therefore, all the statements are correct.

Correct Answer: D: 1, 2 and 3

The recent draft notification declaring the Western Ghats as an ecologically sensitive area (ESA) by the Union Environment Ministry aims to conserve and protect the biodiversity of this critical region. The Western Ghats are recognized as one of the 36 biodiversity hotspots in the world, making it essential to safeguard its unique and rich ecosystem from further degradation.

The country’s first Common Testing Centre for Unmanned Aerial Systems (drones) would be established in Tamil Nadu at an outlay of Rs 45 crore, the state government said.
Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) is the nodal agency for the implementation of the TN Defence Industrial Corridor, and one of the strategies of the corridor is to provide an ecosystem for the aerospace and defence industry.

- Statement 1 is correct: The Western Ghats is indeed one of the 36 biodiversity hotspots in the world and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

- Statement 2 is incorrect: The Gadgil Committee recommended that 64% of the Western Ghats be designated as Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA), not 37%.

- Statement 3 is correct: The Kasturirangan Committee's recommendations led to the demarcation of 37% of the Western Ghats as ESA, which is less compared to the Gadgil Committee's recommendation of 64%.

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

1. Western Ghats - UNESCO World Heritage Site: Correct. The Western Ghats are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are one of the 36 biodiversity hotspots in the world.

2. Kasturirangan Committee - Recommended 64% of Western Ghats as ESA: Incorrect. The Kasturirangan Committee recommended that only 37% of the Western Ghats be classified as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA), not 64%.

3. WGEEP - Chaired by Dr. Madhav Gadgil: Correct. The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) was chaired by Dr. Madhav Gadgil.

4. Cloudburst - Rainfall of 10 cm or more in an hour over a 10 km x 10 km area: Correct. A cloudburst is defined as a localized but intense rainfall event where 10 cm or more of rain falls within an hour over an area of approximately 10 km x 10 km.

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

Answer: Option C: Only three pairs

Answer: (a) Both Statement-II and Statement-III are correct and both of them explain Statement-I.

Explanation:

• Statement-I is correct because the Nirbhaya Fund was indeed established for the purpose of enhancing the safety and security of women in India.
• Statement-II is also correct as the Nirbhaya Fund is a non-lapsable corpus fund, and its administration is handled by the Ministry of Finance through the Department of Economic Affairs.
• Statement-III is accurate because the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) is responsible for appraising and recommending proposals for funding under the Nirbhaya Fund.

Thus, both Statement-II and Statement-III are correct, and they explain Statement-I.

Statement-I correctly identifies one of the core pillars of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), which indeed aims to enhance supply chain resilience and coordination among nations in the region. Statement-II accurately mentions the launch date and the initiator of the IPEF, U.S. President Joe Biden. However, Statement-II does not directly explain or elaborate on the content of Statement-I but provides additional context regarding the framework's inception. Therefore, both statements are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I, making option (b) the correct answer.

Answer: (c) Only three

Explanation:

• Row 1 is incorrect because Saksham Anganwadi is under the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD), not the Ministry of Education.
• Row 2, Row 3, and Row 4 are correct because these schemes fall under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, with their respective objectives accurately listed.

Thus, only three rows are correctly matched.