Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 21st July 2025 - UPSC MCQ

Statement-I correctly mentions that India's food inflation rate is currently at its lowest since January 2019, as per the provided information.
Statement-II is also accurate as it highlights how the surplus monsoon in 2024 contributed significantly to the decline in food prices, aligning with the information presented in the text. The surplus monsoon led to bumper kharif and rabi harvests, easing food prices from early 2025, as stated in the original text. Therefore, Statement-II indeed explains why India's food inflation rate is at its lowest since January 2019, making option (a) the correct choice.

Statement-I correctly summarizes the Indian Army's strategy to integrate AI, ML, and Big Data Analytics for operational enhancements by 2026-27. Statement-II accurately describes the innovative water filter developed by Indian scientists using sunlight and mechanical vibrations to eliminate toxic industrial dyes. While both statements are factually correct, they pertain to different subjects and do not explain each other. The Indian Army's AI roadmap and the water filter technology are distinct topics with no direct correlation, hence Option (b) is the correct choice.

The regulation of temples in Tamil Nadu traces back to historical events such as the introduction of the Madras Regulation VII of 1817 during the British colonial era. This regulation aimed to address mismanagement in temple affairs, marking a significant step in the governance of religious institutions.

(Note: The Madras Regulation VII of 1817 was one of the early attempts to regulate and manage the administration of temples in Tamil Nadu. It was part of a series of legislative efforts to curb mismanagement and ensure accountability in the management of temple resources.)

- Statement 1: This statement is correct. The integration of AI in military operations is expected to reduce the risk to soldiers by enabling drones and other autonomous systems to perform high-risk missions, such as reconnaissance and mine-clearing, which traditionally would put human lives at risk. This is one of the key benefits of using AI in military operations.

- Statement 2: This statement is also correct. One of the significant risks associated with military AI is the potential loss of human control. Autonomous systems could operate at speeds beyond human capability, leading to actions that might escalate conflicts unintentionally. This is a well-documented concern in discussions about AI in defense.

- Statement 3: This statement is incorrect. The Indian Army's AI roadmap does not focus solely on administrative tasks; rather, it emphasizes employing AI tools for real-time battlefield awareness and enhancing decision-making processes. The roadmap includes areas such as drone swarming, real-time battlefield surveillance, and combat simulations, which go beyond administrative tasks.

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

1. Madras HRCE Act, 1951 - Incorrect. The Madras HRCE Act of 1951 did not establish hereditary trustees; rather, it replaced them with state-appointed officers to ensure government control over temple administration.

2. Self-Respect Movement - Correct. The Self-Respect Movement, led by Periyar E.V. Ramasamy, promoted the idea that temple wealth should benefit the public, particularly marginalized communities, challenging the traditional Brahminical dominance in temple administration.

3. Article 25(2)(a) of the Indian Constitution - Incorrect. Article 25(2)(a) allows state intervention in religious matters for social welfare and reform, not the protection of management rights of religious denominations. The protection of management rights for religious denominations is actually under Article 26.

4. Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959 - Correct. This Act permits the use of temple surplus funds for public purposes, such as education, aligning with the broader goals of social justice and upliftment.

Thus, only two pairs (2 and 4) are correctly matched.

1. Statement 1 is correct. The Gujarat Tribal Genome Sequencing Project indeed aims to sequence the genomes of 4,158 individuals, including 378 trio families, to create a reference genome panel of 2,000 samples. This statement is accurately reflected in the project's objectives as outlined in the provided information.

2. Statement 2 is incorrect. While the project will use SNP genotyping to filter closely related samples, it will also employ Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) on 2,000 diverse samples. This crucial detail about the project's methodology is important and indicates that statement 2 is not correct as presented.

3. Statement 3 is correct. The Gujarat Tribal Genome Sequencing Project is indeed part of the broader Genome India Project, which has the objective of mapping genetic diversity across India. This statement aligns with the overall goals of the Genome India Project as described.

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

Statement-I correctly highlights a provision of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959, allowing the utilization of temple surplus funds for public purposes, including education. Statement-II accurately reflects the role of the Self-Respect Movement, led by Periyar E.V. Ramasamy, in challenging Brahminical control in temple administration and advocating for the utilization of temple wealth for the benefit of the public. Therefore, both statements are factually correct, with Statement-II providing an explanation that aligns with the context of Statement-I.

Statement-I correctly identifies India's significant progress in agricultural productivity, transitioning from a food deficit to a surplus nation. This is supported by the fact that India has indeed become a leading exporter of rice and operates one of the largest food distribution programs globally (PMGKY).
Statement-II accurately describes the INVICTUS research program, a collaboration between the European Space Agency and Frazer-Nash, aimed at advancing hypersonic technologies for reusable vehicles capable of flying at speeds of Mach 5. This initiative focuses on developing technologies for reusable vehicles that can launch horizontally and aims to demonstrate critical technologies necessary for sustained hypersonic flight within the atmosphere.
While both statements are factually correct, they address unrelated topics and do not have a direct explanatory relationship, making option (b) the correct choice.

Using AI in military operations can significantly reduce risk to soldiers by delegating high-risk tasks to autonomous systems like drones, which can perform missions such as reconnaissance and mine-clearing, thereby safeguarding human lives. This technology allows for the execution of dangerous tasks without putting soldiers in harm's way, ultimately enhancing the safety and efficiency of military operations.

1. Statement 1: According to the Soil Health Card scheme, indeed less than 5% of soil samples in India are adequate in nitrogen. This highlights a significant issue in soil nutrient health, which directly impacts agricultural productivity and the nutritional quality of crops. This statement is correct.

2. Statement 2: The National Family Health Survey (NFHS 5) provides data indicating that 35.5% of children under five in India are stunted. This statistic reflects ongoing challenges in addressing malnutrition, despite improvements in overall food security. This statement is correct.

3. Statement 3: The PM-Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) is a significant program that provides essential food grains to over 800 million people, supporting food security across India. This initiative aligns with India's efforts to ensure that basic nutritional needs are met for a large segment of the population. This statement is correct.

All three statements accurately reflect the information provided, making Option D the correct answer. Each statement highlights a different aspect of India's food security and nutritional challenges, from soil health to child nutrition and food distribution programs.