Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 12th May 2025 - UPSC MCQ

1. Total Fertility Rate (TFR) - Replacement level: 2.1

This pair is correctly matched. The replacement level TFR is indeed 2.1, which is necessary to maintain a stable population.

2. State with highest TFR - Bihar: 3.0

This pair is correctly matched. Bihar has the highest TFR in the country at 3.0 according to the data provided.

3. Mean age of marriage for females in 2021 - 19.3 years: 22.5 years

This pair is incorrectly matched. The mean age of marriage for females in 2021 is actually 22.5 years, not 19.3 years.

4. State with lowest elderly population - Kerala: 14.4%

This pair is incorrectly matched. Kerala has the highest percentage of elderly population (14.4%), not the lowest.

The correctly matched pairs are 1 and 2, making two pairs correctly matched.

In international law, for a state to invoke the doctrine of self-defence, it must meet specific criteria. One of the key conditions is that the state must have been repeatedly attacked by another state. This repeated aggression forms the basis for justifying the use of force in self-defence. This principle underscores the importance of a clear and sustained threat before a state can take defensive actions in accordance with international legal norms.

1. Article 51 of the United Nations Charter allows for self-defence in the case of an armed attack against a Member State. This statement is correct. Article 51 of the UN Charter explicitly provides for the right of self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member State.

2. The "unwilling or unable" doctrine is a universally accepted principle of customary international law. This statement is incorrect. The "unwilling or unable" doctrine is not universally accepted as a principle of customary international law. It is an emerging concept, particularly relevant since 9/11, and has been invoked by some states, but it remains controversial and is not widely codified or accepted by all states.

3. The right to self-defence under international law requires that the force used must be proportional and necessary. This statement is correct. The principles of necessity and proportionality are key criteria in the lawful exercise of self-defence under international law. The force used in self-defence must be necessary to respond to an armed attack and must be proportionate to the threat posed.

Therefore, statements 1 and 3 are correct, while statement 2 is not. Hence, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 3 Only.

Statement-I is correct as Janani Suraksha Yojna is indeed a safe motherhood intervention of the State Health Departments. Statement-II is also correct as the objective of the Janani Suraksha Yojna is to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality among poor pregnant women and promote institutional delivery among them. However, Statement-II does not explain Statement-I directly; hence, the correct answer is option (b).

1. Indira Point - Southernmost point of India: This pair is correctly matched. Indira Point is indeed the southernmost point of India, located on Great Nicobar Island.

2. Mount Thullier - Highest point on Great Nicobar Island: This pair is correctly matched. Mount Thullier is the highest point on Great Nicobar Island, rising to approximately 2,105 feet.

3. Galathea River - Flows through Andaman Islands: This pair is incorrectly matched. The Galathea River flows through Great Nicobar Island, not the Andaman Islands.

4. Shompens - Indigenous tribe of Great Nicobar Island: This pair is correctly matched. The Shompens are one of the indigenous tribes residing on Great Nicobar Island.

The correctly matched pairs are 1, 2, and 4. Pair 3 is incorrectly matched because the Galathea River is on Great Nicobar Island, not the Andaman Islands. Hence, three pairs are correctly matched.

The main objective of the Soviet Kosmos 482 spacecraft launched in 1972 was to study the surface and atmosphere of Venus. Despite its intended mission, the spacecraft experienced a malfunction that prevented it from leaving Earth's orbit, leading to its ultimate failure.

1. Statement 1: The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of India in 2021 is below the replacement level of 2.1.
- This statement is correct. The TFR in India for 2021 is reported as 2.0, which is indeed below the replacement level of 2.1. The replacement level TFR is the fertility rate at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next without migration.

2. Statement 2: The proportion of India's working-age population (15-59 years) has increased since 1971.
- This statement is also correct. The data indicates that the working-age population has increased from 53.4% in 1971 to 66.2% in 2021. This demographic shift signifies a higher proportion of the population being in the working-age group, which can be advantageous for economic growth if effectively utilized.

3. Statement 3: Bihar has the lowest Total Fertility Rate among all Indian states as of 2021.
- This statement is incorrect. Bihar actually has the highest Total Fertility Rate among Indian states, reported at 3.0. The states with the lowest TFR are Delhi and West Bengal, both at 1.4.

Thus, the correct statements are 1 and 2 only. Therefore, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only.

1. Article 51 of the UN Charter - Correctly matched. Article 51 indeed allows for self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a UN member state.

2. Nicaragua v. U.S. (1986) case - Incorrectly matched. The ICJ in this case defined an "armed attack" as the most severe form of force, not a minor one.

3. Unwilling or Unable Doctrine - Correctly matched. This doctrine permits a state to use force in self-defence against non-state actors if the state hosting them is unwilling or unable to address the threat.

4. India's Stance on Self-Defence - Incorrectly matched. India's stance on the unwilling or unable doctrine is evolving and not clearly supportive; it sets specific conditions and is somewhat ambiguous in its application of this doctrine.

Thus, only two pairs are correctly matched.

India's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) remaining stable at 2.0 in 2021 is significant as it indicates progress towards population stabilization. This TFR figure signifies the average number of children a woman is expected to have during her reproductive years. Achieving a TFR of 2.0 is crucial for maintaining a stable population, and this trend has implications for various social, economic, and healthcare policies in the country.

• Statement-I: The Chenab River is not a tributary of the Ganges River. It is a major tributary of the Indus River system. Therefore, this statement is incorrect.
• Statement-II: The Chenab River indeed originates from the confluence of the Chandra and Bhaga streams in Himachal Pradesh, specifically in the Lahaul and Spiti district. This statement is correct.
• Since Statement-I is incorrect and Statement-II is correct, and Statement-II does not explain Statement-I, the correct option is d.