Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 3rd April 2025 - UPSC MCQ

The main goal of the Green Credit Programme (GCP) is to promote environmental sustainability through market-driven incentives. By allowing participants to earn green credits through activities like tree plantation and waste management, the program aims to encourage voluntary environmental actions and help participants meet sustainability targets. This approach aligns with the broader objective of fostering a market-based approach to environmental conservation and sustainability initiatives.

Both statements are factually correct. Statement-I highlights the strategic significance of Katchatheevu island in terms of its location and economic importance to Tamil Nadu. Statement-II correctly mentions the historical ownership settlement of Katchatheevu in favor of Sri Lanka through a 1974 agreement based on UNCLOS. Statement-II provides the context and explanation for why the ownership of the island is with Sri Lanka despite its proximity to India. Hence, both statements are accurate, and Statement-II explains the rationale behind the ownership status of Katchatheevu.

Statement-I discusses the successful penetration of lunar soil by Chandrayaan-3's ChaSTE experiment, which provided critical data on lunar surface temperatures and water ice deposits. This aligns with the details provided in the source material about the advancements made by ChaSTE in measuring temperatures near the Moon's south pole.

Statement-II refers to the Roman aqueduct discovered in Slovakia, highlighting the advanced engineering skills of the Romans in water management systems. Although not directly related to the Chandrayaan-3 mission, it is factually accurate based on historical information about Roman aqueducts.

Therefore, Option A is the correct answer as both statements are factually correct, and Statement-II complements Statement-I by showcasing a different historical example of advanced engineering in water systems.

1. ChaSTE - First instrument to penetrate lunar soil near the Moon's south pole: This pair is correctly matched. ChaSTE, a part of India's Chandrayaan-3 mission, successfully penetrated the lunar soil near the Moon's south pole, providing significant data on lunar surface temperatures.

2. ESA’s Philae lander - Successfully deployed its MUPUS instrument on Comet 67P: This pair is incorrectly matched. The ESA's Philae lander attempted to deploy its MUPUS instrument on Comet 67P, but due to an awkward landing, it failed to deploy correctly.

3. NASA’s InSight lander - Utilized a self-hammering device called "The Mole" on the Moon: This pair is incorrectly matched. NASA’s InSight lander was deployed on Mars, not the Moon. It included a self-hammering device known as "The Mole," which faced issues due to low friction, preventing it from collecting meaningful data.

4. Roman aqueduct - Used extensively during the Roman Empire to supply cities with water: This pair is correctly matched. Roman aqueducts were indeed used extensively during the Roman Empire to transport water from sources to cities, showcasing advanced engineering skills.

Thus, the correctly matched pairs are 1 and 4.

Let's analyze each statement:

1. Statement 1: "The BWC prohibits the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling, and use of biological and toxin weapons."
- This statement is correct. The Biological Weapons Convention is specifically aimed at banning these activities related to biological and toxin weapons as part of its core provisions.

2. Statement 2: "Article VI of the BWC allows states to file complaints regarding treaty violations with the United Nations General Assembly."
- This statement is incorrect. Article VI of the BWC actually provides the mechanism for states to file complaints regarding treaty violations with the United Nations Security Council, not the General Assembly.

3. Statement 3: "The United States, United Kingdom, and Russian Federation are the depositary governments of the BWC."
- This statement is correct. These three countries serve as the depositary governments for the BWC, holding the official documents and managing treaty-related diplomatic communications.

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

1. Statement 1: This statement is correct. The Green Credit Programme was indeed launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in 2023 during the UN climate conference in Dubai. This aligns with the information provided about the programme's initiation and launch details.

2. Statement 2: This statement is incorrect. The programme encourages voluntary, not mandatory, participation in activities such as tree plantation, water conservation, and waste management. The emphasis is on incentivizing voluntary environmental actions to earn green credits that can be traded.

3. Statement 3: This statement is correct. The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, an autonomous body under the Ministry, manages the initiative. The programme also aligns with the Mission LiFE, which advocates for a market-based approach to environmental action, supporting sustainable lifestyles.

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option C: 1 and 3 Only," as only statements 1 and 3 are accurate based on the provided information.

To determine the correct answer, let's examine each statement:

1. Statement 1: This statement is correct. ChaSTE successfully penetrated the lunar soil to a depth of 10 cm and continuously monitored temperature variations. This is one of the main achievements of the ChaSTE experiment, as it gathered critical data on lunar surface temperatures.

2. Statement 2: This statement is incorrect. ChaSTE measured in situ temperatures near the Moon’s south pole, not the north pole. The experiment's significance lies in its focus on the lunar south pole, where potential water ice deposits are a subject of interest.

3. Statement 3: This statement is correct. The probe indeed features a rotation-based deployment mechanism, which was pivotal for its successful penetration of the Moon's surface. This mechanism allows the probe to be pushed downward effectively.

Therefore, only statements 1 and 3 are correct, making Option C: 1 and 3 Only the accurate choice.

Statement-I correctly describes the provisions of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), which indeed prohibits the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling, and use of biological and toxin weapons. Statement-II provides historical information about the negotiation and adoption of the treaty, which is accurate but does not directly explain the content of Statement-I. Therefore, both statements are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I.

Article III of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) prohibits the transfer or assistance in acquiring biological weapons. This article plays a crucial role in preventing the spread of biological weapons by restricting the transfer of such dangerous materials or providing any form of assistance in acquiring them. Compliance with Article III is essential for maintaining the goals of the BWC and promoting global security.

1. Green Credit Programme (GCP) Launch Year - 2023: Correct. The GCP was officially launched in December 2023 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the UN climate conference in Dubai.

2. Implementing Body for GCP - Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE): Correct. The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), manages the GCP.

3. Alignment with - Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Sustainable Environment): Correct. The GCP supports and aligns with Mission LiFE, promoting a market-based approach to environmental action.

4. Criticism Related to - Promoting Sustainable Urban Development: Incorrect. The criticism is not about promoting sustainable urban development; rather, it is about concerns regarding the potential for forest diversion, impacts on ecologically valuable lands, and conflicts with compensatory afforestation policies.

Pairs 1, 2, and 3 are correctly matched, while pair 4 is incorrectly matched.