Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 16th December 2024 - UPSC MCQ

The Ministry of Women and Child Development's campaign 'Ab Koi Bahana Nahi' aims at combating gender-based violence in India. This initiative is crucial in addressing the challenges faced by women in accessing and utilizing digital technologies, thereby promoting public accountability and action to tackle gender-based violence in the country.

Let's analyze each statement:

1. Statement 1: The BharatNet Project indeed aims to connect 250,000 panchayats through high-speed optical fiber networks to enhance rural internet access. This statement is correct. The project is a significant initiative to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural areas by providing broadband connectivity to rural communities.

2. Statement 2: The Digital India Programme was launched in 2015, not 2017. It seeks to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. Since the launch year is incorrect, this statement is incorrect.

3. Statement 3: The PM Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) aims to promote digital literacy among rural households, not urban ones. It specifically targets rural areas to ensure that one person in every rural household becomes digitally literate. Thus, this statement is incorrect.

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

Statement-I is correct as India indeed has 1.18 billion mobile connections and 700 million Internet users, reflecting the significant digital presence in the country. Statement-II is also correct as the Ministry of Women and Child Development did launch the 'Ab Koi Bahana Nahi' campaign to address gender-based violence. However, Statement-II does not directly explain or relate to the specifics mentioned in Statement-I. The two statements are separate facts regarding the digital revolution and the anti-gender-based violence campaign in India.

Article 44 of the Indian Constitution mandates the establishment of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in India. This article envisions the application of the same set of secular civil laws to all citizens of India, aiming to provide a common legal framework for personal matters regardless of religious affiliations. The UCC seeks to ensure equality and uniformity in areas such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance among all citizens.

Statement 1 is correct. Article 44 of the Indian Constitution is part of the Directive Principles of State Policy, which mandates the establishment of a Uniform Civil Code for all citizens. This article aims to replace personal laws based on the scriptures and customs of each major religious community in India with a common set governing every citizen.

Statement 2 is incorrect. The Special Marriage Act, 1954, is a law that provides for civil marriages across different religions. It is not limited to the Hindu community and allows individuals from different religious backgrounds to marry without changing their religion.

Statement 3 is correct. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, a key figure in drafting the Indian Constitution, supported the idea of a Uniform Civil Code. He believed that personal laws should be open to reform by the state to eliminate discrimination and inequities, thereby aligning with the broader objective of social justice.

Thus, the correct statements are 1 and 3, making Option C the correct answer.

1. Article 44 of the Indian Constitution - Correctly matched. Article 44 is indeed a Directive Principle of State Policy that mandates the state to strive for a Uniform Civil Code for its citizens.

2. Shah Bano Case (1985) - Incorrectly matched. The Shah Bano case was significant for highlighting the need for a UCC, but it was not related to the Hindu Code Bill. It dealt with the right to maintenance for a Muslim woman, which led to discussions on the necessity of a UCC to ensure uniform rights for all women.

3. Special Marriage Act (1954) - Correctly matched. This Act provides a framework for marriage, divorce, and other personal matters for individuals irrespective of their religion, allowing civil marriages across different religions.

4. KM Munshi - Correctly matched. KM Munshi was a staunch advocate for the UCC during the Constituent Assembly debates, arguing that it would promote national unity and ensure equality for women.

Thus, three pairs are correctly matched.

Statement-I correctly describes the physical dimensions of the Kerch Strait, mentioning its length, width, and depth. Statement-II is also accurate, indicating that the Kerch Strait serves as a connection between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Furthermore, Statement-II explains why the specific geographical details mentioned in Statement-I are significant in understanding the Kerch Strait's location and purpose. Hence, both statements are correct, and Statement-II provides essential context that supports and explains Statement-I.

The Firefly Sparkle Galaxy is an astronomical discovery made by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Let's evaluate each statement:

1. Statement 1 is correct. The Firefly Sparkle galaxy was indeed discovered by JWST and is recognized as one of the earliest low-mass galaxies, providing insights into early galaxy formation. This aligns with the information that it dates back to approximately 600 million years after the Big Bang, making it an early galaxy.

2. Statement 2 is incorrect. The Firefly Sparkle galaxy has a mass equivalent to 10 million suns, not 100 million, and its visible portion spans 1,000 light-years, not 10,000 light-years. This categorizes it as a low-mass and relatively small galaxy compared to larger galaxies like the Milky Way.

3. Statement 3 is correct. JWST utilized gravitational lensing to magnify the light from the Firefly Sparkle galaxy by a factor of 16-26 times, allowing for detailed observations of its star formation processes.

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

1. Firefly Sparkle Galaxy - Identified by Hubble Space Telescope: Incorrect. The Firefly Sparkle Galaxy was identified by the James Webb Space Telescope, not the Hubble Space Telescope.

2. POSH Act 2013 - Inspired by Vishaka Guidelines: Correct. The POSH Act was indeed inspired by the Vishaka Guidelines established in the Vishaka v. The State of Rajasthan case in 1997.

3. Carbon Credits - Allow the emission of 1,000 kilograms of carbon dioxide: Incorrect. Carbon credits typically represent the right to emit one metric ton (1,000 kilograms) of carbon dioxide or the equivalent amount of other greenhouse gases, not 1,000 kilograms.

4. Firefly Sparkle's Mass - Equivalent to 10 million suns: Correct. The Firefly Sparkle Galaxy is noted for having a mass equivalent to about 10 million suns.

Thus, only pairs 2 and 4 are correctly matched, making Option B the correct choice.

1. Statement 1: The National Energy Conservation Award is organized by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Ministry of Power, not the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Therefore, this statement is incorrect.

2. Statement 2: The awards do indeed coincide with National Energy Conservation Day, which is celebrated on December 14. This statement is correct.

3. Statement 3: The Award Committee is indeed led by the Secretary (Power) and includes representatives from various organizations such as the Ministry of Railways and the Central Electricity Authority. This statement is correct.

Since statements 2 and 3 are correct, the correct answer is Option D: 2 and 3 Only.