Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 11th August 2025 - UPSC MCQ

1. Statement 1 is correct. The Awaza Programme of Action (2024–2034) is indeed designed to tackle the unique developmental challenges faced by landlocked developing countries (LLDCs). It emphasizes critical areas such as trade facilitation, connectivity, and structural transformation, reflecting the priorities discussed at the third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) held in Turkmenistan.

2. Statement 2 is correct. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 promotes linguistic diversity by recommending that students learn at least three languages, with an emphasis on including at least two languages native to India. This approach aims to preserve linguistic heritage while also equipping students with multilingual capabilities.

3. Statement 3 is incorrect. The implementation of the NEP 2020 has not been uniformly accepted across all Indian states. There has been notable resistance from states such as Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, primarily due to concerns about the imposition of Hindi and the preservation of regional linguistic identities. This opposition highlights the complexities involved in balancing national educational policies with regional preferences and the principle of federalism in India's education system.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option B.

1. Asiatic Lion Scientific Name - Panthera leo leo: This is correctly matched. The scientific name of the Asiatic Lion is indeed Panthera leo leo.

2. Current Range of Asiatic Lions - Kaziranga National Park: This is incorrectly matched. Asiatic lions are primarily found in the Gir National Park and surrounding areas in Saurashtra, Gujarat, not Kaziranga National Park, which is in Assam and known for its population of Indian rhinoceroses.

3. IUCN Status of Asiatic Lions - Endangered: This is correctly matched. The Asiatic lion is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, indicating a high risk of extinction in the wild.

4. Decadal Growth of Lion Population (2015-2025) - 70.36%: This is correctly matched. The lion population grew by 70.36% from 523 lions in 2015 to 891 in 2025, highlighting successful conservation efforts.

Thus, three pairs are correctly matched.

1. Dardistan - This pair is correctly matched. Dardistan includes regions like Chitral, Gilgit, Gurez Valley, and parts of Ladakh. These areas are historically associated with the Dard-Shin tribe.

2. Shina - This pair is correctly matched. Shina is indeed a language distinct from Kashmiri, spoken by the Dard-Shin tribe.

3. Chak Dynasty - This pair is incorrectly matched. The Chak Dynasty ruled Kashmir in the 16th century, but the British colonial period began much later, in the 19th century. Thus, it is incorrect to say they ruled before the British colonial period.

4. J&K Reorganisation Act 2019 - This pair is correctly matched. The Act allows the Lieutenant-Governor to nominate members to the J&K Assembly, including those from marginalized groups.

Three pairs are correctly matched, making Option C the correct choice.

1. Statement 1 is Correct: The Dard-Shin tribe is indeed primarily located in the regions of Dardistan, which includes areas such as Chitral, Yasin, Gilgit, Chilas, Bunji, Gurez Valley, and parts of northern Afghanistan. These regions are historically and geographically significant to the tribe.

2. Statement 2 is Incorrect: The Shina language spoken by the Dard-Shin tribe is not a dialect of the Kashmiri language. It is a distinct language with its own linguistic heritage, separate from Kashmiri.

3. Statement 3 is Correct: The Dard-Shin tribe is known for preserving their cultural traditions, including the practice of burning juniper leaves for land purification. This reflects their unique cultural practices among the Himalayan tribes.

The correct answer is Option C. Statements 1 and 3 accurately describe the cultural and geographical aspects of the Dard-Shin tribe, while Statement 2 is incorrect regarding the linguistic classification of the Shina language.

1. Barda Wildlife Sanctuary - Home to Asiatic Lions: Correctly matched. Barda Wildlife Sanctuary is indeed a critical habitat for the conservation of the Asiatic Lion and serves as a potential second home for these lions.

2. COCO 4.9 Ocean Model - Predicts tritium dispersion: Correctly matched. The COCO 4.9 Ocean Model is used to simulate oceanic conditions and predict the dispersion of nuclear contaminants like tritium, specifically in the context of the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

3. Tamil Nadu Initiative - Renaming based on linguistic reform: Incorrectly matched. The initiative in Tamil Nadu is not primarily about linguistic reform. It is an effort to remove caste-based names to eliminate social stigma and promote social cohesion, not just a linguistic change.

4. Gir-Barda Project - Initiated in 1989: Incorrectly matched. The Gir-Barda Project was actually initiated in 1979, not 1989, to develop Barda as a second home for the Asiatic Lion.

Only pairs 1 and 2 are correctly matched.

Statement-I correctly mentions the occurrence of the third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) in Awaza, Turkmenistan, focusing on the challenges faced by 32 landlocked developing nations. Statement-II accurately describes the Awaza Programme of Action (2024–2034) and its emphasis on various priority areas such as Structural Transformation, Trade Facilitation, and Enhancing Adaptive Capacity. Statement-II elaborates on the theme of the conference and complements Statement-I by providing additional relevant information. Therefore, both statements are correct, and Statement-II explains the context provided in Statement-I.

World Lion Day, observed every year on August 10th, is a crucial event aimed at raising awareness and promoting actions for lion conservation worldwide. This day serves as a reminder of the conservation efforts required to protect and preserve lion populations, especially endangered species like the Asiatic lion found exclusively in India. Celebrating World Lion Day helps emphasize the importance of safeguarding these majestic creatures and their habitats for future generations.

The 'Gir-Barda Project' initiated in 1979 aimed to develop Barda Wildlife Sanctuary as a second home for the Asiatic Lion. This project was crucial in the conservation efforts for the Asiatic Lion, providing a habitat beyond the Gir forest area to ensure the survival and growth of the lion population.

The Awaza Programme of Action, adopted at the LLDC3, focuses on enhancing trade, investment, and infrastructure development in landlocked developing countries. This initiative aims to address the ongoing developmental hurdles faced by these nations and emphasizes key priority areas like structural transformation, trade facilitation, transit, transport, connectivity, enhancing adaptive capacity, and implementation strategies. By prioritizing these aspects, the program seeks to drive progress through partnerships and mobilize investments to foster development in LLDCs.

1. Statement 1: The Asiatic lion is indeed found only in India, primarily in the Gir National Park and its surrounding regions in Saurashtra, Gujarat. This statement is correct as the Asiatic lion's range is limited to this area, making it a unique species restricted to a specific geographic location.

2. Statement 2: The Asiatic lion is listed as "Endangered" under the IUCN Red List, not "Vulnerable." This classification reflects the species' high risk of extinction in the wild due to its limited population and range. Therefore, this statement is incorrect.

3. Statement 3: The Asiatic lion population in India has indeed increased by more than 70% over the last decade, rising from 523 lions in 2015 to 891 in 2025. This significant growth highlights successful conservation efforts. Thus, this statement is correct.

The correct answer is Option C: 1 and 3 Only, as both statements 1 and 3 are accurate, while statement 2 is incorrect.