Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 8th May 2025 - UPSC MCQ

1. De-Regulation Initiative: Simplification of land acquisition processes - Incorrect. The De-Regulation Initiative mentioned in the content focuses on reducing unnecessary inspections and promoting self-certification in low-risk sectors, not specifically on land acquisition processes. Simplification of land acquisition is part of broader factor market reforms.

2. Operation Sindoor: Military operation targeting terrorist camps in India - Incorrect. Operation Sindoor was a military operation targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), not within India.

3. Factor Market Reforms: Updating labor laws to accommodate gig work - Correct. The reforms in factor markets include updating labor laws to accommodate new forms of employment, such as gig work, which is crucial for sustainable economic growth.

4. Transparency Initiative: Ensuring all approvals are publicly available online - Correct. Transparency and clarity in the regulatory process were emphasized by ensuring that all approvals and requirements are available online, reducing confusion and corruption.

Thus, pairs 3 and 4 are correctly matched.

1. Statement 1 is incorrect. The Art Deco style was introduced to India from Europe, specifically after being featured at the Paris Exposition in 1925. The style reached India via Bombay, where the first Art Deco building, the Syndicate Bank building, was completed in 1932. It did not come directly from the United States to Madras.

2. Statement 2 is correct. The Casino Theatre and Dare House are indeed notable examples of Art Deco architecture in Madras. These buildings showcase the characteristic sleek geometric shapes and luxurious materials associated with Art Deco.

3. Statement 3 is correct. Laxman Mahadeo Chitale was a significant architect who contributed to the development and integration of the Art Deco style in India. His works, such as the National Insurance Building and the Andhra Insurance Building, reflect a unique blend of modernity and cultural identity, thus playing a crucial role in the architectural history of Madras.

Therefore, statements 2 and 3 are correct, leading to Option C being the correct answer.

The recent establishment of a high-level committee for regulatory reform aims to simplify compliance processes, particularly in the manufacturing sector. This initiative seeks to reduce unnecessary inspections and promote self-certification in low-risk sectors, drawing on best practices from both India and Southeast Asia. By streamlining these processes, the goal is to eliminate barriers to growth and facilitate a more conducive environment for the manufacturing industry to thrive.

Statement-I correctly addresses the regulatory barriers faced by the manufacturing sector in India, emphasizing the need for reforms to foster growth. Statement-II accurately summarizes Operation Sindoor, a military initiative targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan and PoK. The connection between the two statements lies in the broader context of national development and security, showcasing different facets of challenges and responses within the Indian socio-political landscape.

- Statement 1 is correct. The United States and India have indeed engaged in agreements to diversify critical mineral supply chains, such as those for lithium and cobalt, to support clean energy technologies. This collaboration is partly aimed at reducing reliance on Chinese supply chains, which currently dominate the processing of these essential minerals.

- Statement 2 is also correct. India has set an ambitious target to expand its nuclear power capacity to 100 GW by the year 2047. This is part of its strategy to enhance its low-carbon energy portfolio to meet rising electricity demands and support sustainable development.

- Statement 3 is incorrect. The India-U.S. energy partnership is not primarily focused on short-term energy trade agreements. Instead, it emphasizes long-term strategic collaborations that include technology sharing, workforce development, and infrastructure development. This partnership seeks to build a resilient energy future through durable institutional frameworks and strategic clarity.

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

1. Critical Minerals - Correctly matched. The collaboration between India and the U.S. aims to reduce dependence on Chinese supply chains, which dominate rare earth processing. This is indeed a focus area for both nations as they seek to diversify critical mineral supply chains vital for clean energy technologies.

2. Nuclear Energy - Incorrectly matched. The target for India's nuclear power by 2047 is actually 100 GW, not 50 GW. India recognizes nuclear energy as a key component in its low-carbon energy strategy to meet rising electricity demands.

3. Energy Security - Correctly matched. India's energy security approach is indeed focused on predictable resource availability, supply chain protection, and sustainability in energy production. These pillars are crucial for India's development and climate strategies.

4. Strategic Vision - Incorrectly matched. The strategic vision emphasizes long-term collaboration rather than short-term alignment with the U.S. for energy partnerships. The aim is to build a resilient India-U.S. energy partnership for mutual assurance in a volatile global environment.

Thus, only pairs 1 and 3 are correctly matched.

The architectural style that emerged in the 1920s and 30s, known as the Art Deco style, is characterized by sleek geometric shapes and the use of luxurious materials. This style represented a departure from older architectural styles like Neo-classical and Indo-Saracenic, symbolizing modernity and cultural identity. Art Deco was embraced by various sectors, including banks, cinemas, and residential areas, reflecting a shift towards a more contemporary and visually striking architectural aesthetic.

1. Piprahwa Relics - Discovered by William Claxton Peppe in 1898: Correct. The Piprahwa relics were indeed discovered by William Claxton Peppe in 1898 during excavations at a site believed to be ancient Kapilavastu.

2. Cashless Treatment Scheme for Road Accident Victims - Provides coverage up to ₹1.5 lakh for a maximum of seven days: Correct. The scheme provides financial coverage up to ₹1.5 lakh per person, per accident, for a maximum of seven days from the date of the accident.

3. Operation Sindoor - Involved the use of precision-guided long-range weapons: Correct. Operation Sindoor involved precision strikes using advanced technology, including precision-guided long-range weapons.

4. HAMMER Missile - Air-launched cruise missile with a range of 450 km: Incorrect. The HAMMER (Highly Agile and Manoeuvrable Munition Extended Range) is a medium-range missile with a range of up to 70 km, not 450 km. The SCALP-EG is the air-launched cruise missile with a range of 450 km.

Pairs 1, 2, and 3 are correctly matched; Pair 4 is incorrectly matched.

Let's analyze each statement to determine its correctness:

1. Statement 1: The high-level committee for regulatory reform aims to simplify compliance processes by promoting self-certification in low-risk sectors.

- This statement is incorrect. The committee aims to promote self-certification in low-risk sectors, not high-risk ones. This is intended to reduce unnecessary inspections and draw on best practices, as mentioned in the text.

2. Statement 2: Reforms in land and labor markets are considered essential for sustainable growth, including the simplification of land acquisition processes.

- This statement is correct. The text highlights that reforms in land and labor markets are crucial for sustainable growth, specifically mentioning the need to simplify land acquisition processes and update labor laws.

3. Statement 3: The regulatory burden on manufacturing in India is primarily due to the lack of transparency in online approval processes.

- This statement is incorrect. While transparency and online availability of approvals are necessary to reduce confusion and corruption, the primary regulatory burden on manufacturing stems from outdated regulations and stringent inspection requirements, not merely the lack of transparency in online processes.

Thus, the only correct statement is 2. Therefore, the correct answer is Option C: 2 Only.

1. Bombay - Syndicate Bank building: Correct. The Syndicate Bank building, completed in 1932 in Bombay, is recognized as the first Art Deco structure in India.

2. Madras - Casino Theatre: Correct. The Casino Theatre, constructed in 1941, is one of the notable examples of Art Deco architecture in Madras.

3. Laxman Mahadeo Chitale - National Insurance Building: Correct. Laxman Mahadeo Chitale was a significant architect in introducing Art Deco to India, and he worked on the National Insurance Building, completed in 1938.

4. Indo-Saracenic - Art Deco: Incorrect. Indo-Saracenic and Art Deco are two distinct architectural styles. Indo-Saracenic combines Indian architectural elements with Gothic Revival and Neo-Classical styles, while Art Deco is known for its sleek geometric shapes and luxurious materials.

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