Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 26th July 2024 - UPSC MCQ

The primary goal of the DIGIPIN system is to establish a geo-coded addressing system throughout India, creating a National Addressing Grid to simplify address solutions for the seamless delivery of public and private services to citizens. By assigning unique codes to locations, DIGIPIN enhances address accuracy and accessibility, supporting India's digital transformation of postal services.

Note: The DIGIPIN system, a collaboration between the Department of Posts and IIT Hyderabad, aims to revolutionize address systems in India, facilitating more efficient and precise postal services.

1. Statement 1: This statement is correct. NOvA is indeed managed by the U.S. Department of Energy's Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, located outside of Chicago, United States of America.

2. Statement 2: This statement is also correct. The experiment involves sending a beam of neutrinos from Fermilab to a 14,000-ton detector located in Ash River, Minnesota, which is approximately 500 miles north of the laboratory.

3. Statement 3: This statement is incorrect. NOvA does not aim to study the strong force interactions of neutrinos. Instead, it focuses on studying how neutrinos change their type as they travel, a phenomenon known as neutrino oscillation, and aims to learn more about the ordering of neutrino masses.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only.

1. Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated on July 26, correctly matched.

2. DIGIPIN was developed by the Department of Posts in partnership with IIT Hyderabad, not IIT Bombay.

3. Dark Oxygen was found in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean, not the Atlantic Ocean.

4. Indian victory in the Kargil War was officially declared on July 26, not in May.

Hence, only the first pair is correctly matched.

Statement-I correctly states that illegal coal mining in India is governed by the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, 1973. This act nationalized coal mining in India and governs the eligibility and regulations surrounding coal mining operations. However, Statement-II is incorrect in associating the recent emphasis on private investors committing to sustainable investments with the concept of 'greenium' linked to green bonds. The 'greenium' concept refers to the pricing advantage related to green bonds, not private investments in sustainable projects.

1. Coal nationalization in India: 1971-73
This statement is correctly matched. Coal nationalization in India occurred in two phases: coking coal in 1971-72 and non-coking coal mines in 1973.

2. The Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act: 1973
This statement is correctly matched. The Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act was enacted in 1973 and governs coal mining eligibility in India.

3. Greenium: Yield discrepancy between a green bond and a conventional bond from the same issuer
This statement is correctly matched. Greenium refers to the yield discrepancy between a green bond and a conventional bond from the same issuer, indicating the pricing advantage linked with green bonds.

4. Maximum loan limit under revamped model skill loan scheme: ₹7.5 lakh
This statement is correctly matched. The revamped model skill loan scheme has increased the maximum individual loan size to ₹7.5 lakh from the previous limit of ₹1.5 lakh.

All four pairs are correctly matched.

The term "greenium" in bond offerings refers to the yield discrepancy between green bonds and conventional bonds issued by the same entity. Green bonds typically offer lower interest rates compared to traditional bonds, attracting investors who are interested in supporting environmentally sustainable projects. This pricing advantage reflects the market's perception of the environmental and social benefits associated with green investments.

Statement-I correctly states that dark oxygen is generated in the absence of sunlight, deep beneath the ocean's surface. This is in alignment with the concept of dark oxygen originating from mineral deposits located deep in the ocean.
Statement-II accurately describes that polymetallic nodules on the ocean floor can produce oxygen via electrochemical activity even in darkness. This explanation supports the generation of oxygen in the absence of sunlight, as observed in the concept of dark oxygen.
Therefore, both statements are correct, and Statement-II logically explains the generation of dark oxygen as described in Statement-I.

The correct answer is Option C: 1 and 3 Only.

- Statement 1: Correct. The Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, 1973, indeed governs coal mining eligibility in India, making it a true statement.

- Statement 2: Incorrect. Illegal coal mining is considered a law and order problem falling under State jurisdiction, not primarily a federal issue.

- Statement 3: Correct. Several factors contribute to illegal coal mining in India, including high demand for power exceeding legal coal supply and inadequate monitoring and enforcement in remote regions, making this statement true.

Therefore, statements 1 and 3 are correct, while statement 2 is incorrect. Thus, the correct answer is Option C: 1 and 3 Only.

1. Statement 1 is correct: The Kargil War concluded with the Indian Army officially declaring the complete withdrawal of Pakistani troops from Kargil on July 26.

2. Statement 2 is correct: The Kargil conflict was initially mistaken for jihadists infiltrating the Line of Control (LoC).

3. Statement 3 is incorrect: The extreme cold in Kargil, with temperatures plummeting to -30 degrees Celsius in winter, significantly impacted operations and equipment functionality, posing a major challenge during the conflict.

Thus, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only.

1. NOvA Experiment - Managed by CERN - Incorrect. The NOvA experiment is managed by the U.S. Department of Energy's Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab), not CERN.

2. Neutrinos - Elementary particles with no electric charge - Correct. Neutrinos are indeed elementary subatomic particles that have no electric charge.

3. Fermilab - Sends neutrino beams to Ash River, Minnesota - Correct. Fermilab sends a beam of neutrinos 500 miles north to a detector in Ash River, Minnesota.

4. Neutrino Oscillation - Phenomenon where neutrinos change type as they travel - Correct. Neutrino oscillation refers to the process by which neutrinos change their type (or flavor) as they travel.

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