Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 26th March 2025 - UPSC MCQ

The Boilers Bill, 2024, intends to update regulations to align with modern safety standards, promote ease of doing business by decriminalizing certain offences, and reduce legal complexities for businesses. This legislative update is crucial for enhancing safety measures while also streamlining the regulatory framework to support business operations more efficiently.

1. Statement 1 is correct. The Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) was indeed established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1983. It addresses genetic resources for food and agriculture across various sectors, including plant, animal, forest, aquatic, and microbial resources.

2. Statement 2 is correct. The CGRFA includes 179 member countries and serves as a primary international platform for governments to discuss and address genetic resources concerning food security, nutrition, and climate change adaptation.

3. Statement 3 is incorrect. While the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) does recognize the contributions of farmers and establishes a global system for access to plant genetic materials, it was not adopted by the CGRFA but rather under the auspices of the FAO. The treaty focuses on the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of plant genetic resources, rather than being specifically about the protection of farmers' rights as described.

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

The primary objective of the Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS) introduced by the Government of India is to mobilize idle gold and bring it into the formal economy. This scheme aims to reduce gold imports, the Current Account Deficit (CAD), and encourage individuals and institutions to deposit their idle gold in banks, thereby utilizing these assets more effectively within the economy. Remember, the GMS was designed to address the issue of idle gold lying with individuals and institutions by providing them with a mechanism to earn interest on their gold deposits, thereby contributing to the economy's financial stability and reducing the reliance on imported gold for various needs.

1. Statement 1: Correct. The in-house inquiry process was indeed established by the Supreme Court of India in 1997 as a mechanism to investigate allegations against judges. This process is not explicitly outlined in the Indian Constitution but was developed to maintain judicial accountability and integrity.

2. Statement 2: Correct. The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) in the United Kingdom operates independently of the judiciary, providing an external mechanism for handling misconduct complaints against judges. This contrasts with India's in-house inquiry process, which relies on sitting judges and may create potential conflicts of interest.

3. Statement 3: Incorrect. In India, judges found guilty of misconduct through the in-house inquiry process do not typically face criminal charges. Instead, they may face resignation or impeachment, but this process often lacks the imposition of criminal liability, unlike other public officials.

Thus, only statements 1 and 2 are correct.

Statement I is correct as the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) was indeed established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1983 to focus on plant genetic resources. Statement II is also correct as the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) does recognize farmers' contributions to crop diversity and sets up a global system for access to plant genetic materials. Furthermore, Statement II explains the purpose and significance of the treaty in relation to the management of plant genetic resources, aligning with Statement I. Hence, both statements are accurate, and Statement II logically complements and elaborates on Statement I.

1. In-House Inquiry Process: Incorrectly matched. The in-house inquiry process is not explicitly outlined in the Indian Constitution; it was developed by the Supreme Court in 1997 to address allegations against judges.

2. Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO): Correctly matched. The JCIO is indeed an independent body in the United Kingdom responsible for handling complaints against judges and ensuring they adhere to ethical standards.

3. Glacier Melting: Correctly matched. Glacier melting is primarily driven by rising temperatures and is exacerbated by the deposition of black carbon, which increases solar absorption and accelerates melting.

4. Boilers Bill, 2024: Correctly matched. The Boilers Bill, 2024 aligns with decriminalization reforms under the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023, aiming to decriminalize certain offences and improve the ease of doing business.

Thus, pairs 2, 3, and 4 are correctly matched, making the correct answer Option B: Only two pairs.

The primary objective of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) is to enhance global food security and biodiversity through the sustainable management of genetic resources. This commission serves as a crucial international forum for governments to discuss matters related to genetic resources for food and agriculture, addressing various cross-cutting themes such as food security, nutrition, climate change adaptation, and access to genetic resources.

- Statement 1 is correct. The Gold Monetisation Scheme was indeed introduced in 2015 with the purpose of mobilizing idle gold and reducing the Current Account Deficit. By encouraging the deposit of gold into banks, the scheme aimed to bring substantial gold holdings into the formal economy.

- Statement 2 is incorrect. Medium-Term Gold Deposits (MTGD) under the Gold Monetisation Scheme allowed redemption only in gold, not in cash. This was a distinct feature of MTGD as compared to Short-Term Gold Deposits, which allowed redemption in both gold and cash.

- Statement 3 is incorrect. While the discontinuation of certain aspects of the Gold Monetisation Scheme aligns with changes in gold management policies, the Sovereign Gold Bond initiative was a separate scheme aimed at reducing the demand for physical gold, and its relation to the discontinuation of GMS is not direct as per the information provided.

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

Statement-I correctly highlights that glacier melting significantly contributes to rising sea levels globally. This is a well-established fact supported by scientific evidence. Statement-II correctly states that the primary driver of glacier melt is rising temperatures, with additional influences from factors like wildfires and dust storms. The absorption of solar energy due to darkening of ice surfaces by black carbon, for example, accelerates glacier melting. Therefore, both statements are factually accurate, and Statement-II provides an explanation for the impact of rising temperatures on glacier melting and its consequential effect on rising sea levels.

1. Cook Strait - Separates North Island and South Island of New Zealand: Correct. The Cook Strait is indeed the body of water that separates North Island and South Island of New Zealand.

2. Fiordland National Park - Located in the northeast of South Island: Incorrect. Fiordland National Park is located in the southwest of South Island, not the northeast.

3. Lake Wakatipu - Located in the South Island of New Zealand: Correct. Lake Wakatipu is one of the major lakes located in the South Island.

4. Canterbury Plains - Located on the west coast of South Island: Incorrect. The Canterbury Plains are located on the east coast of the South Island, not the west coast.

The correctly matched pairs are 1 and 3. Thus, only two pairs are correctly matched.