Test: Weekly Current Affairs: July 22nd to 31st - UPSC MCQ

The Positive Indigenisation Lists (PIL) introduced by the Ministry of Defence aim to enhance self-reliance in the defence sector by promoting indigenous production of defence items, thus reducing import dependence. This initiative supports domestic defence industries by encouraging them to develop defence products without facing competition from imports, ultimately strengthening India's defence capabilities and fostering economic growth within the country.

All three statements provided in the question are correct and accurately reflect the key highlights of the Fifth Positive Indigenisation List (PIL) notified by the Ministry of Defence (MoD):
1. Statement 1: This statement correctly identifies the aim of the fifth PIL, which is to reduce import dependence by Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) by including various strategically important items such as Line Replacement Units (LRUs), systems, sub-systems, assemblies, sub-assemblies, spares, components, and raw materials.
2. Statement 2: This statement accurately mentions that the indigenisation of the items listed in the fifth PIL is expected to have an import substitution value of Rs 1,048 crore. This figure highlights the economic impact of the initiative in reducing India's reliance on imported defence equipment.
3. Statement 3: This statement correctly notes that the Ministry of Defence plans to expand the Positive Indigenisation List annually up to 2025. This incremental approach is part of a long-term strategy to achieve greater self-reliance in defence production, aligning with the broader objective of Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in defence.
Hence, all three statements are correct, making Option D: 1, 2 and 3 the right answer.

1. Dhanush - 155 mm Artillery Gun: Correct. Dhanush is an indigenously developed 155 mm artillery gun system.

2. Tejas - Light Combat Aircraft: Correct. Tejas is an indigenous Light Combat Aircraft developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

3. Vikrant - Submarine: Incorrect. INS Vikrant is an aircraft carrier, not a submarine.

4. HAL - Bharat Electronics Ltd: Incorrect. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) are separate Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs).

Thus, only pairs 1 and 2 are correctly matched.

Hence, the correct answer is Option B: Only two pairs.

Both statements are correct. Statement-I highlights the fact that the atmosphere is primarily heated by incoming solar radiation. Statement-II complements this by explaining that greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide are efficient absorbers of long wave radiation, which is crucial for understanding how the atmosphere retains heat. Greenhouse gases absorb some of the Earth's outgoing longwave radiation, trapping heat in the atmosphere and contributing to the greenhouse effect. This synergy between solar radiation and greenhouse gases elucidates the dynamics of atmospheric heating.

India's Neighbourhood First Policy primarily aims at promoting regional stability. By providing development aid to neighbouring countries, India endeavors to foster stronger political and economic relationships, stabilize the region, boost economic growth, enhance trade opportunities, exert strategic influence, address humanitarian needs, and strengthen its soft power. Regional stability is crucial for India's strategic interests and to ensure positive engagements with neighbouring countries align with its interests.

Statement 1 is correct. Bhutan did receive the highest development aid from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in the Union Budget 2024-25, amounting to Rs 2,068.56 crore. This is slightly less than the previous year's Rs 2,400 crore but still the highest among the listed countries.

Statement 2 is correct. The Chabahar Port Project in Iran has indeed received a consistent allocation of Rs 100 crore for the past three years.

Statement 3 is incorrect. The development aid for the Maldives was maintained at Rs 400 crore in the Union Budget 2024-25, which is not an increase compared to the previous year's revised amount of Rs 770.90 crore.

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

1. Bhutan: Rs 2,068.56 crore - Correct. Bhutan received Rs 2,068.56 crore in aid.

2. Nepal: Rs 700 crore - Correct. Nepal was allocated Rs 700 crore.

3. Maldives: Rs 770.90 crore - Incorrect. Maldives maintained a consistent allocation of Rs 400 crore, despite a higher revised amount of Rs 770.90 crore for the previous year.

4. Sri Lanka: Rs 245 crore - Correct. Sri Lanka received Rs 245 crore.

Hence, pairs 1, 2, and 4 are correctly matched. Thus, only three pairs are correctly matched.

The correct answer is: 4. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I.

Here’s why:

Statement-I is accurate because Buddhism in Andhra Pradesh did indeed integrate local practices, such as megalithic burials and local deities like goddesses and nagas, into its doctrines. This adaptation reflects how Buddhism absorbed and adapted to regional cultural and religious practices.

Statement-II is also correct. The Amravati School of Art is one of the three major styles of ancient Indian art, alongside the Mathura and Gandhara schools. The Amravati Stupa was a significant site of artistic and architectural activity, contributing substantially to Buddhist art in India.

However, Statement-II does not explain Statement-I. Statement-II focuses on the artistic achievements and significance of the Amravati School of Art, while Statement-I is about the integration of local practices into Buddhist doctrines in Andhra Pradesh. They address different aspects of Buddhism in the region.

GM Mustard plays a vital role in India's edible oil production, contributing around 40% of the total production. This variety of mustard has been genetically engineered for enhanced yield and resistance to specific herbicides, impacting the agricultural landscape significantly by increasing productivity and ensuring a steady supply of edible oil.

1. Statement 1 is correct: GM Mustard developed in India indeed contains two alien genes, 'barnase' and 'barstar,' which are isolated from a soil bacterium called Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. These genes are responsible for making the mustard herbicide-tolerant.

2. Statement 2 is correct: GM Mustard has shown a yield increase of approximately 28% compared to the national standard. This is a crucial point highlighting the potential agricultural benefits of adopting GM Mustard.

3. Statement 3 is incorrect: Justice Nagarathna criticized the GEAC for clearing the project without relying on any indigenous studies on the crop's effect in India and its possible environmental ramifications. It was Justice Karol who upheld the GEAC's clearance for GM mustard's commercial release.

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

1. GM Mustard - Correctly matched. GM Mustard was indeed developed by hybridizing the Indian mustard variety 'Varuna' and 'Early Heera-2'.

2. Barnase and Barstar Genes - Correctly matched. These genes are isolated from the soil bacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.

3. Kargil Vijay Diwas - Incorrectly matched. Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated to honor the soldiers who fought in the Kargil War of 1999, not the 1971 war.

4. National War Memorial - Correctly matched. The National War Memorial was inaugurated in 2019 to commemorate soldiers who sacrificed their lives in various conflicts and missions.

Thus, three pairs are correctly matched.

Statement-I: This statement is correct. GM Mustard in India, specifically the Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 (DMH-11), was developed by hybridizing the Indian mustard variety 'Varuna' with the Eastern European variety 'Early Heera-2'​ (ClearIAS)​ (Drishti IAS)​ (Vajiram & Ravi)​ (Drishti IAS).

Statement-II: This statement is also correct. GM Mustard, including DMH-11, is classified as a Herbicide Tolerant (HT) variety. It has been engineered to withstand specific herbicides, thereby aiding in weed control and enhancing crop yield​ (ClearIAS)​ (Vajiram & Ravi)​ (Drishti IAS).

Therefore, the correct answer is:

4. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I

The main objective of the India AI Mission is to establish a robust AI computing infrastructure in India to facilitate the development and testing of AI systems. This mission aims to create a high-end AI computing ecosystem with over 10,000 GPUs to support AI startups and research, along with other key components to foster AI innovation in the country.

Statement 1 is correct because the India AI Mission indeed aims to create a computing capacity of over 10,000 GPUs.

Statement 2 is incorrect. The initial phase of the India AI Mission involves procuring 300 to 500 GPUs, not 1,000 GPUs.

Statement 3 is incorrect. The India AI Datasets Platform provides access to non-personal datasets for startups and researchers, not personal datasets.

Thus, only Statement 1 is correct, making Option A the correct answer.

1. India AI Compute Capacity is correctly matched. It involves the creation of a high-end AI computing ecosystem with over 10,000 GPUs to support AI startups and research.
2. India AI Innovation Centre is correctly matched. It focuses on the development of indigenous Large Multimodal Models (LMMs) and foundational models for various sectors.
3. India AI Datasets Platform is incorrectly matched. The correct function of this component is to provide seamless access to non-personal datasets for startups and researchers, not to promote AI applications focusing on governmental problem statements.
4. India AI Startup Financing is correctly matched. It aims to provide funding access for deep-tech AI startups to support innovative projects.
Thus, three pairs are correctly matched.

Statement-I mentions that India's public spending on food security and nutrition has seen significant increases in recent years, which is a correct statement based on the information provided in the text. However, Statement-II claims that India's Global Hunger Index (GHI) ranking has improved consistently over the past decade, which is incorrect as per the information provided. In reality, India's GHI ranking has been a cause for concern, indicating significant issues in food security.

The repeated cancellation of the auction for the lithium block in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district was primarily due to the lack of interested bidders. Despite regulatory provisions allowing for a second round of auction with fewer than three qualifying bidders, the absence of interested parties indicated significant investor hesitation in the project.

1. Statement 1 is incorrect: The lithium reserves in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district are primarily clay deposits, not hard rock deposits. Clay deposits for lithium have not yet been commercially proven on a global scale, making the path to commercialisation uncertain.

2. Statement 2 is incorrect: The block in Reasi district is currently at the G3 level of exploration according to the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC). The G3 level provides preliminary and less confident estimates of the mineral reserves.

3. Statement 3 is correct: The absence of a beneficiation study to evaluate the feasibility of extracting and processing lithium has indeed raised concerns among potential bidders about the economic viability of the project.

Given these points, the correct answer is Option C: 3 Only.

1. Lithium Block in Reasi district - Clay deposits: Correctly matched. The lithium reserves in J&K's Reasi district are primarily clay deposits.

2. Successful auction in Chhattisgarh - Hard rock lithium deposits: Correctly matched. The successful auction in Korba district, Chhattisgarh, involved hard rock lithium deposits.

3. Exploration in Ladakh - Positive results leading to further exploration: Incorrectly matched. Exploration in Ladakh's Merak block yielded disappointing results, leading to suggestions to drop exploration efforts.

4. Exploration in Manipur - Stalled due to local resistance: Correctly matched. Lithium exploration efforts in Kamjong district, Manipur, have been stalled due to local resistance.

Thus, pairs 1, 2, and 4 are correctly matched, making it a total of three correctly matched pairs. 

Explanation:

- The lithium reserves in Reasi are indeed clay deposits, which have not been commercially proven yet.

- In Chhattisgarh, the auction involved hard rock lithium deposits.

- Exploration in Ladakh was not successful, contrary to what is stated in the pair.

- Local resistance has indeed stalled exploration efforts in Manipur.

Statement-I accurately reflects the challenges faced by India in securing domestic lithium resources, as highlighted in the provided information. On the other hand, Statement-II is incorrect. Lithium extraction from hard rock pegmatite deposits is a complex process that involves multiple intricate and costly processing stages, contrary to the claim that it is a straightforward process. This discrepancy makes Option (c) the correct choice.

The Bonn Challenge is a global effort launched in 2011 by the Government of Germany and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Its primary goal is to restore 150 million hectares of deforested and degraded land by 2020 and 350 million hectares by 2030. The challenge focuses on restoring landscapes to improve biodiversity, increase ecosystem services such as water and soil quality, and mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon. This initiative is crucial for enhancing ecological integrity and supporting sustainable development goals.

Under Article 361(4), no civil lawsuits can be filed against the President or Governor of a State during their term of office for any personal acts until two months after giving written notice.

• S1 is incorrect because rogue waves are not easily predictable with current weather models due to their sudden and random nature.
• S2 is correct. Rogue waves can be significantly larger than the surrounding waves, often twice the height of the largest waves around them.
• S3 is incorrect. While underwater earthquakes and volcanic activity can cause tsunamis, rogue waves are typically caused by different factors, such as constructive interference of wave systems, strong currents, and wind conditions.

• Option A is incorrect because the Oort Cloud is a distant region of the solar system that is thought to be home to comets, not asteroids.
• Option B is correct. Ceres is the largest object in the asteroid belt and is classified as both an asteroid and a dwarf planet.
• Option C is incorrect because asteroids are composed mostly of rock and metal, whereas comets are composed mainly of ice and dust.
• Option D is incorrect because while some asteroids have orbits that intersect Earth’s orbit, not all of them do. Many asteroids have orbits that remain within the asteroid belt.

Purvodaya Initiative: Develop a plan for the eastern region, including Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh, focusing on human resource development, infrastructure, and economic opportunities to drive Viksit Bharat.